Discussion
I've now done about 600 miles in my new GT3, and I don't really like it- am I missing something? It seems very skittish on anything other than the smoothest of surfaces, to the extent that I find myself slowing down just to feel comfortable that I'm not going to be thrown off the road- seems to understeer like crazy, until you lift off, when the nose tucks in VERY sharply- it just doesn't seem like a happy, balanced chassis. Is this something to do with the set up of my car, or are they all set up like this to prevent idiots spinning all the time? Is it over-tyred for the road? Am I a crap driver? I just end up disappointed at the end of every journey.
Sorry to hear of your concerns. Never driven a GT3 but simple advice which applied to most cars and Im sure you have tried,
but have you checked the tyre pressures?,
Ask a OPC to test drive, (although from experience of other makes this may or may not help)
ask them to put it on a ramp to check all the bits are there/ not broken. ie anti roll bars
My 911 feels better to me with a full fuel tank, it does need to be spot on/ close to the correct tyre pressures.
but have you checked the tyre pressures?,
Ask a OPC to test drive, (although from experience of other makes this may or may not help)
ask them to put it on a ramp to check all the bits are there/ not broken. ie anti roll bars
My 911 feels better to me with a full fuel tank, it does need to be spot on/ close to the correct tyre pressures.
I wouldn't be too concerned: this characteristic seems to be echoed to some extent in the latest issue of EVO, where your beastie goes head to head with the Ferrari 360 Stradale.
This is often a criticism fired at the more extreme 911s, including now considered seminal models like the RS variants...
I'm quite sure that perhaps, as has been suggested, with a dab of adjustment here and there - but probably a slice more time behind the wheel - the whole package will start to gel.
Don't forget though, that whichever way you look at it, a track-biased Porsche is rarely going to feel as planted on our generally dire road surfaces as something BMW-esque, for example.
Just pull your goggles down, grip the wheel a little harder, explore the hammer/anvil relationship to a more horizontal degree and revel in the glorious sonics from astern...
You're a lucky fellow - remember that!
This is often a criticism fired at the more extreme 911s, including now considered seminal models like the RS variants...
I'm quite sure that perhaps, as has been suggested, with a dab of adjustment here and there - but probably a slice more time behind the wheel - the whole package will start to gel.
Don't forget though, that whichever way you look at it, a track-biased Porsche is rarely going to feel as planted on our generally dire road surfaces as something BMW-esque, for example.
Just pull your goggles down, grip the wheel a little harder, explore the hammer/anvil relationship to a more horizontal degree and revel in the glorious sonics from astern...
You're a lucky fellow - remember that!
First off,run the car in.i am led to beleive that the ride height and suspension will settle down after a couple of thousand miles on a GT3.
Once you have done this you may be happier,I had a new 996 on a sports chassis and I had similar concerns with that at first.Whether it settled or I got used to it I don't know but it felt much better after a few months.
I would get in touch with PCGB or Titanic GT3 forums,the suspension on your car is fully adjustable,there is a lot to play with interms of roll bar settings and camber.The car is out of the box and can be set up for fast road to aggressive track work.
I know from 993 RS that nobody seems to run on standard
settings,I imagine that this is part of the fun and once it has settled and you dial in your requirements I am sure you will be more than impressed with your new car,,,have fun palying around.
Once you have done this you may be happier,I had a new 996 on a sports chassis and I had similar concerns with that at first.Whether it settled or I got used to it I don't know but it felt much better after a few months.
I would get in touch with PCGB or Titanic GT3 forums,the suspension on your car is fully adjustable,there is a lot to play with interms of roll bar settings and camber.The car is out of the box and can be set up for fast road to aggressive track work.
I know from 993 RS that nobody seems to run on standard
settings,I imagine that this is part of the fun and once it has settled and you dial in your requirements I am sure you will be more than impressed with your new car,,,have fun palying around.
My advice is don't judge it untill you have grown into the car, the GT3 is a slightly organic alive experience & you will take time to get man & machine in tune. They ARE a fantastic drivers machine & as C.S. says once it is run in & you can get it flying down the road engine howling behind your right ear, you will pobably want to marry it !!
Having said this it depends on what your requirements are, it will always be raw, noisy & uncomfortable on B roads with a rock hard ride. My local OPC had a number of customers getting out of the last GT3 because the reality was too raw.
The GREAT NEWS is you are in a WIN WIN situation, you can afford to run it for a little longer & find out if you gel with the car. If not you can sell it,probably for a small profit(you lucky person) & look at a Carrera, C4S or Turbo as alternative, these are less focused, but still great drivers cars.
In reality I think you will fall in love with the GT3 once you "bond" !!!!
Having said this it depends on what your requirements are, it will always be raw, noisy & uncomfortable on B roads with a rock hard ride. My local OPC had a number of customers getting out of the last GT3 because the reality was too raw.
The GREAT NEWS is you are in a WIN WIN situation, you can afford to run it for a little longer & find out if you gel with the car. If not you can sell it,probably for a small profit(you lucky person) & look at a Carrera, C4S or Turbo as alternative, these are less focused, but still great drivers cars.
In reality I think you will fall in love with the GT3 once you "bond" !!!!
While out getting a sandwich & generally letching at the summer city totty,I was distracted by a very nice new Gt3 complete with GT03--- plate.
I have seen a few of these now but this was a clubsport in lapis blue like my old 996...The car seemed to sit fairly high and was not immediately striking,,,it was very much understated even with the unpainted cage visible.You really could have walked straight past it if you didn't know.
Suprisingly subtle and possibly my next car once premiums have settled down.
I have seen a few of these now but this was a clubsport in lapis blue like my old 996...The car seemed to sit fairly high and was not immediately striking,,,it was very much understated even with the unpainted cage visible.You really could have walked straight past it if you didn't know.
Suprisingly subtle and possibly my next car once premiums have settled down.
Is that you Mr Eaton?
If it is, then I think you know the answers to your questions
From what I've heard GT3s are sensitive to tyre pressures in similar ways to the 7. They also handle very differently to a 7 so a track session with a known good Porker pilot might help too...
Did you try out the Turbo? Might be a better prospect on the roads round you?
Have always wondered about the 911 thing, so let me know how you get on...
If it is, then I think you know the answers to your questions
From what I've heard GT3s are sensitive to tyre pressures in similar ways to the 7. They also handle very differently to a 7 so a track session with a known good Porker pilot might help too...
Did you try out the Turbo? Might be a better prospect on the roads round you?
Have always wondered about the 911 thing, so let me know how you get on...
Hi
I have done 2000 miles in my new GT3 now, 350 of them on track, and I am very surprised you feel the car handles this way. My car feels in control on most surfaces, bumpy B roads are a problem but supercars were not made for these roads. The handling is a dream, and very well balanced.
What car did you have previously? I came from 3 boxsters and a 996 C4S so maybe I am use to it. I have had other people drive my car and they don't find it a handful.
As other people suggest, check the tyre pressures, also have the ride height checked, they bump it up to the highest setting so they can get the cars on the transporters, may be worth getting it dropped. My car came on Michelin's and handled well. I then changed the tyres for Corsa's for track use...
Ask the OPC to drive it and see what they think. This car should handle like a Go-Kart, and mine definetly behaves this way.
Sean
I have done 2000 miles in my new GT3 now, 350 of them on track, and I am very surprised you feel the car handles this way. My car feels in control on most surfaces, bumpy B roads are a problem but supercars were not made for these roads. The handling is a dream, and very well balanced.
What car did you have previously? I came from 3 boxsters and a 996 C4S so maybe I am use to it. I have had other people drive my car and they don't find it a handful.
As other people suggest, check the tyre pressures, also have the ride height checked, they bump it up to the highest setting so they can get the cars on the transporters, may be worth getting it dropped. My car came on Michelin's and handled well. I then changed the tyres for Corsa's for track use...
Ask the OPC to drive it and see what they think. This car should handle like a Go-Kart, and mine definetly behaves this way.
Sean
Yeah, I use 32 front 39 rear.
For the track I set them at 28 and 35, do some hot laps come in and then set the pressures to 32 and 39, these seems to work pretty well....
Always make sure I give the tyres time to cool down before leaving the circuit, and make sure the pressures are returned to above settins...
Cheers
Sean
For the track I set them at 28 and 35, do some hot laps come in and then set the pressures to 32 and 39, these seems to work pretty well....
Always make sure I give the tyres time to cool down before leaving the circuit, and make sure the pressures are returned to above settins...
Cheers
Sean
Thanks for your comments everbody, very useful and have spurred me into trying a bit harder to enjoy it!
My previous tin-top was a new M3 and I've owned a powerful-ish 7 for about 7 years, driving it on circiuts for the last 3, and I have an SZ that handles like a dream, so I have some experience with fast track-oriented bits of machinery. I think I just wasn't expecting it to be so different- may be down to having the engine in a silly place and therefore being balanced so differently?
I'll continue my experimentation and report back, might even be brave and try it on a circuit- I'll probably pop along to the OPC too and have them check/adjust- are they generally good and knowlegeable? My experince of other marques' dealerships isn't good I have to say- are Porsche a cut above the rest and do they actually know and understand about vehicle dynamics, or are they just trained how to change an alternator like the others? Is there an alternative specialist/race team who can adjust and would this invalidate the warranty?
Thanks folks.
p.s. yes Andy, and how's the 355?
My previous tin-top was a new M3 and I've owned a powerful-ish 7 for about 7 years, driving it on circiuts for the last 3, and I have an SZ that handles like a dream, so I have some experience with fast track-oriented bits of machinery. I think I just wasn't expecting it to be so different- may be down to having the engine in a silly place
and therefore being balanced so differently? I'll continue my experimentation and report back, might even be brave and try it on a circuit- I'll probably pop along to the OPC too and have them check/adjust- are they generally good and knowlegeable? My experince of other marques' dealerships isn't good I have to say- are Porsche a cut above the rest and do they actually know and understand about vehicle dynamics, or are they just trained how to change an alternator like the others? Is there an alternative specialist/race team who can adjust and would this invalidate the warranty?
Thanks folks.
p.s. yes Andy, and how's the 355?
Just in from collecting it (GT3) from Colchester, took the long way home.
Last Porsche I owned was a 911 Club Sport ,( E911 TOJ where are you ?) that departed in 1992 , so it`s been a while since I`ve driven one. Still have the Griffith and also aquired a Focus R.S.
Coming back home today I travelled over familiar roads and a disused airfield somewhere in Suffolk.
Discount the EVO journo`s, the RS is a very sorted car capable of using all it`s power and torque, wet or dry and the TVR is what it is, big grunt and big staight line speed....... but this GT3 is so good. ( So it should be comparing costs)
Not using above 5k and not abusing tyres or brakes , I found the first sensation of understeer disappeared if the right ammount of power is fed in , keep commited and it all becomes planted.
I.M.O.
Keep you posted.
Last Porsche I owned was a 911 Club Sport ,( E911 TOJ where are you ?) that departed in 1992 , so it`s been a while since I`ve driven one. Still have the Griffith and also aquired a Focus R.S.
Coming back home today I travelled over familiar roads and a disused airfield somewhere in Suffolk.
Discount the EVO journo`s, the RS is a very sorted car capable of using all it`s power and torque, wet or dry and the TVR is what it is, big grunt and big staight line speed....... but this GT3 is so good. ( So it should be comparing costs)
Not using above 5k and not abusing tyres or brakes , I found the first sensation of understeer disappeared if the right ammount of power is fed in , keep commited and it all becomes planted.
I.M.O.
Keep you posted.
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