996 GT3 to V12 Vantage
Discussion
Afternoon All,
I'm thinking of making the hop from Stuttgart to Gaydon and swaping my 996.2 GT3 for a V12 Vantage.
I absolutely adore my GT3 its in rude health and on track or the right road is simply wonderful... and there is my issue im not always at Spa and our roads are only 996 GT3 apt maybe 3 months a year.
So onto the v12 Vantage, I've long sinced admired them and it seems a natural step for something a bit softer but still super special after the GT3.
My uncle up until this year ran the VIP sales programme so am familiar the cars but id welcome some owners views and also anyone who had made the jump.
I had a go in a late car at Aston Martin Walton on Thames and properly fell for it. But it felt quite pricey at £79k.
So yeah for someone that is a GT3 nerd but knows not much about the fobles of a V12 Vantage what should I look for? Car will be used for Sunday morning drives, a few trackdays and euro trips.
Thanks in advance
Car I saw below
I'm thinking of making the hop from Stuttgart to Gaydon and swaping my 996.2 GT3 for a V12 Vantage.
I absolutely adore my GT3 its in rude health and on track or the right road is simply wonderful... and there is my issue im not always at Spa and our roads are only 996 GT3 apt maybe 3 months a year.
So onto the v12 Vantage, I've long sinced admired them and it seems a natural step for something a bit softer but still super special after the GT3.
My uncle up until this year ran the VIP sales programme so am familiar the cars but id welcome some owners views and also anyone who had made the jump.
I had a go in a late car at Aston Martin Walton on Thames and properly fell for it. But it felt quite pricey at £79k.
So yeah for someone that is a GT3 nerd but knows not much about the fobles of a V12 Vantage what should I look for? Car will be used for Sunday morning drives, a few trackdays and euro trips.
Thanks in advance
Car I saw below
Joseph, I too made the switch back in 2008 from a 996 albeit a C2 originally to a V8 Vantage and absolutely loved it. Made the big mistake of driving the V12 Vantage at the launch in 2009 and yearned after one thereafter. I’ve had my 2011 Carbon Black V12 for the 4 years and never tire of it from the looks, sound and of course performance.
Mine is a high mileage car with just over 70K miles and since I’ve owned it, the clutch was replaced just after I bought it due a serous judder when really hot and crawling in traffic virtually paid for by Grange who sold me the car.
About two years ago I experienced a failure of the lower main water pipe to radiator from the pump which was actually a failure of the plastic connector!
Apart from that regular annual servicing and outings are the order of the day.
The GT3 is a great car, but the Vantage is a beautiful car and in V12 guise a beast as well
Mine is a high mileage car with just over 70K miles and since I’ve owned it, the clutch was replaced just after I bought it due a serous judder when really hot and crawling in traffic virtually paid for by Grange who sold me the car.
About two years ago I experienced a failure of the lower main water pipe to radiator from the pump which was actually a failure of the plastic connector!
Apart from that regular annual servicing and outings are the order of the day.
The GT3 is a great car, but the Vantage is a beautiful car and in V12 guise a beast as well
V12VMan said:
Joseph, I too made the switch back in 2008 from a 996 albeit a C2 originally to a V8 Vantage and absolutely loved it. Made the big mistake of driving the V12 Vantage at the launch in 2009 and yearned after one thereafter. I’ve had my 2011 Carbon Black V12 for the 4 years and never tire of it from the looks, sound and of course performance.
Mine is a high mileage car with just over 70K miles and since I’ve owned it, the clutch was replaced just after I bought it due a serous judder when really hot and crawling in traffic virtually paid for by Grange who sold me the car.
About two years ago I experienced a failure of the lower main water pipe to radiator from the pump which was actually a failure of the plastic connector!
Apart from that regular annual servicing and outings are the order of the day.
The GT3 is a great car, but the Vantage is a beautiful car and in V12 guise a beast as well
Thanks for the response. It certainly is a special car, however whilst that engine is epic its actually quite easy to drive compared to the GT3 which is ultimately what I want. Mine is a high mileage car with just over 70K miles and since I’ve owned it, the clutch was replaced just after I bought it due a serous judder when really hot and crawling in traffic virtually paid for by Grange who sold me the car.
About two years ago I experienced a failure of the lower main water pipe to radiator from the pump which was actually a failure of the plastic connector!
Apart from that regular annual servicing and outings are the order of the day.
The GT3 is a great car, but the Vantage is a beautiful car and in V12 guise a beast as well
Ive speaking to Alcon about some steel discs so I can pop the cermics on a box for if and when I sell it.
What do I need to watch out for?
Thanks
vpr said:
I would not even look at a 996 GT3 as opposed to a V12v and I love a bit or sporting Pork
Unless you're primarily using it for track then the Aston wins hands down on most fronts.....soooooo much more of an occasion
They are very different cars. I do a few days at Spa and then some UK days a year for those times the GT3 is magnificent. But yes you are right the Vantage has more theatre. Unless you're primarily using it for track then the Aston wins hands down on most fronts.....soooooo much more of an occasion
For 500bhp its not that manically quick though only marginally faster than my GT3 but thats a weight thing. It felt a darn lot easier to drive though more like an M3 in balance which makes sense.
I love my car as a motorsport product its my favourite GT3 the rest are a bit sanitised but this is also its weakness hence the want for the V12.
nn7man said:
I've had plenty of GT Porsches, currently in a GT2 RS and recently picked up a late model V12VS manual. Its a joy to drive, much more road-trippable than any Pork GT and lots of fun with its dog-leg box. I won't be tracking mine but I'm sure it would be fun.
This is what I am after and I live so close to the Chunnel! And I have the fortune of the old man having a 964 RS and 997.2 Clubsport so can always get my fix!
Joehow said:
Thanks for the response. It certainly is a special car, however whilst that engine is epic its actually quite easy to drive compared to the GT3 which is ultimately what I want.
Ive speaking to Alcon about some steel discs so I can pop the cermics on a box for if and when I sell it.
What do I need to watch out for?
Thanks
Clearly as you’ve identified the carbon ceramics are one thing to look out for, as far as I know mine are the originals so a good advert there I guess. Frankly they are well sorted and the V12 is epic (not quite so many Torques as the V12S - but plenty nonetheless!) it does use a bit of oil so worth keeping an eye on it. To be honest and I know I’ll regret saying this in 4 years of ownership she has been fine apart from the issues I already spoke of. Ive speaking to Alcon about some steel discs so I can pop the cermics on a box for if and when I sell it.
What do I need to watch out for?
Thanks
There are better folk than me to comment on here about what to look for!
If you are getting one from a main dealer you should get a years warranty so all should be covered.
I had a 2009 coupe for 3.5 years and currently a little over a year into a 2012 Roadster.
The coupe suspension is quite firm, can't compare to a 996 GT3 as I've never driven one, but I'd imagine the V12V is not far off. On smooth tarmac it's absolutely fine, so the Euro trips will be a doddle, it's just those local back roads that can make it feel like a bucking bronco at times - This along with the power delivery combine to make it an 'eventful drive'. Even though as you say, it's not the fastest 500bhp car in the world, I never remember getting out of it and thinking 'I could have done with a bit more power there to enjoy it more'.
Over that period I did a couple of track days and predictably, the tyres and brakes take a hammering. You mention sourcing steels, so that should take care of that if you are going to track it regularly, just make sure you get one with a decent set of disks to start with. Other than that, off the top of my head, I had to replace - battery, front lower wishbones, N/S door module, handbrake cable with pads and front pads. I bought it at 16000 miles and sold at around 32000.
Overall it was a great car and the fact it's the longest I've owned any vehicle must mean something. I certainly enjoyed using it for the period I owned it.
The coupe suspension is quite firm, can't compare to a 996 GT3 as I've never driven one, but I'd imagine the V12V is not far off. On smooth tarmac it's absolutely fine, so the Euro trips will be a doddle, it's just those local back roads that can make it feel like a bucking bronco at times - This along with the power delivery combine to make it an 'eventful drive'. Even though as you say, it's not the fastest 500bhp car in the world, I never remember getting out of it and thinking 'I could have done with a bit more power there to enjoy it more'.
Over that period I did a couple of track days and predictably, the tyres and brakes take a hammering. You mention sourcing steels, so that should take care of that if you are going to track it regularly, just make sure you get one with a decent set of disks to start with. Other than that, off the top of my head, I had to replace - battery, front lower wishbones, N/S door module, handbrake cable with pads and front pads. I bought it at 16000 miles and sold at around 32000.
Overall it was a great car and the fact it's the longest I've owned any vehicle must mean something. I certainly enjoyed using it for the period I owned it.
Gettoff said:
I had a 2009 coupe for 3.5 years and currently a little over a year into a 2012 Roadster.
The coupe suspension is quite firm, can't compare to a 996 GT3 as I've never driven one, but I'd imagine the V12V is not far off. On smooth tarmac it's absolutely fine, so the Euro trips will be a doddle, it's just those local back roads that can make it feel like a bucking bronco at times - This along with the power delivery combine to make it an 'eventful drive'. Even though as you say, it's not the fastest 500bhp car in the world, I never remember getting out of it and thinking 'I could have done with a bit more power there to enjoy it more'.
Over that period I did a couple of track days and predictably, the tyres and brakes take a hammering. You mention sourcing steels, so that should take care of that if you are going to track it regularly, just make sure you get one with a decent set of disks to start with. Other than that, off the top of my head, I had to replace - battery, front lower wishbones, N/S door module, handbrake cable with pads and front pads. I bought it at 16000 miles and sold at around 32000.
Overall it was a great car and the fact it's the longest I've owned any vehicle must mean something. I certainly enjoyed using it for the period I owned it.
Its firm but nowhere near as harsh as the 996. Agreed on the power it felt a perfect balance and it sounded glorious. The coupe suspension is quite firm, can't compare to a 996 GT3 as I've never driven one, but I'd imagine the V12V is not far off. On smooth tarmac it's absolutely fine, so the Euro trips will be a doddle, it's just those local back roads that can make it feel like a bucking bronco at times - This along with the power delivery combine to make it an 'eventful drive'. Even though as you say, it's not the fastest 500bhp car in the world, I never remember getting out of it and thinking 'I could have done with a bit more power there to enjoy it more'.
Over that period I did a couple of track days and predictably, the tyres and brakes take a hammering. You mention sourcing steels, so that should take care of that if you are going to track it regularly, just make sure you get one with a decent set of disks to start with. Other than that, off the top of my head, I had to replace - battery, front lower wishbones, N/S door module, handbrake cable with pads and front pads. I bought it at 16000 miles and sold at around 32000.
Overall it was a great car and the fact it's the longest I've owned any vehicle must mean something. I certainly enjoyed using it for the period I owned it.
Yes agree on discs, no point in buying a car woth ropey ones.
Yes i could feel it was a car that was nice to just sit in. Really special.
Joehow said:
Its firm but nowhere near as harsh as the 996. Agreed on the power it felt a perfect balance and it sounded glorious.
Yes agree on discs, no point in buying a car woth ropey ones.
Yes i could feel it was a car that was nice to just sit in. Really special.
Good stuff, some things I would do from the off on your first AM:Yes agree on discs, no point in buying a car woth ropey ones.
Yes i could feel it was a car that was nice to just sit in. Really special.
Get rid of the number plate plinth and mount the plate direct to the body, flush with the bottom of the grille.
Secondary decat and exhaust bypass switch. For about £600 give or take, you can have more of that V12 noise when you want it, while keeping the neighbours sweet on those early morning drives.
Other than that just choose what you like and buy it, as long as you're happy with something monochrome, there are plenty to choose from. There aren't many colour options with the early cars but they look good in most shades, mostly in no small part to the beautiful original shape.
Never had a GT3, but I did have a 997.2 C2S and binned it after three months and went back to a V8VS........then a V12........then a V12S. They’re quite addictive as you may well find out.
If you really want to change the discs for steels then make damn sure you declare that to the insurers. I’m pretty sure that if you pranged it then they would argue that you had deviated from the manufacturers spec brakes to what they would probably argue are inferior steels. Not saying they are at all, but look at it from an insurers point of view........and we all know how keen they are to find a reason not to be liable.
Ceramics must start to get a bit cheaper as time moves on, as more and more cars have them (or have the option to).
Anyway......stop messing and get busy buying
If you really want to change the discs for steels then make damn sure you declare that to the insurers. I’m pretty sure that if you pranged it then they would argue that you had deviated from the manufacturers spec brakes to what they would probably argue are inferior steels. Not saying they are at all, but look at it from an insurers point of view........and we all know how keen they are to find a reason not to be liable.
Ceramics must start to get a bit cheaper as time moves on, as more and more cars have them (or have the option to).
Anyway......stop messing and get busy buying
Yeah I am am all mods declared kind of guy. Ive got a few cup car bits on mine and all declared.
In terms of ceramics my issue is most manafacturer ceramics bar maybe Ferrari seem to have issues.
My old mans 997 GT3 has Surface Transform ceramics which are servicble and far more durable to hard use. So they would be an option but the initial outlay is large.
But a small part of the car everything else seems lovely. Not sure whether i want the m3 CSL cut down pole positions or the big arm chair...
Junking the pirellis would be an early start as well. Michelelin rubber in my experience is vastlt better.
In terms of ceramics my issue is most manafacturer ceramics bar maybe Ferrari seem to have issues.
My old mans 997 GT3 has Surface Transform ceramics which are servicble and far more durable to hard use. So they would be an option but the initial outlay is large.
But a small part of the car everything else seems lovely. Not sure whether i want the m3 CSL cut down pole positions or the big arm chair...
Junking the pirellis would be an early start as well. Michelelin rubber in my experience is vastlt better.
The Bamford Rose manifolds transform the car if you are looking to mod the car and get a bit more power.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Joehow said:
Not sure whether i want the m3 CSL cut down pole positions or the big arm chair...
I've had both for a similar amount of time. If a coupe, I'd probably go with the lightweights, if it was a roadster then it'd be the sports seats as they have heating. The important thing with this decision is that you are comfortable in whichever you choose, so if you can get a longer test drive then all the better to help make the choice. Some people can get backache with one or the other and we all have different body shapes, so being comfortable, specifically over a long trip would be my prime concern. There are a few who 'absolutely must have the lightweights because x,y,z..' but I never found a great deal of difference between the two in terms of comfort or grip. Having an alcantara base helps to stop the sliding about under cornering that can sometimes happen, but if you are on the wide side like me then the door and transmission tunnel stops you going too far!
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