Porsche 997.1 GT3 to 12C

Porsche 997.1 GT3 to 12C

Author
Discussion

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Hi
I have had my GT3 for nearly 5 year now. I thoroughly enjoy the rawness of this car, manual gear change. I have been thinking of changing to a 12c for a while now. Has anyone else moved fro a Porsche to a 12c. Is the 12c as involving.
I did test drive one a couple of years ago, but it was only a short drive as it was in London , busy traffic and wet.
I'm guessing it will be a big step forward, but will it still feel very involving to drive compared to my GT3.
Any thoughts gents or ladies.
Thanks

RamboLambo

4,843 posts

169 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Totally different car. Ballistically fast and accomplished but not a striped out racer. If you are looking for thrills hooning or on a race track the GT3 is probably better although that said a 997.1 GT3 wouldn't have even seen the 12C coming.
If you are looking for the best supercar money can buy the 12C is a steal. The acceleration is awesome but the sound and drive is lets say "less engaging" as its not a striped out racing machine. Very accomplished and useable supercar.

Sarnie

8,025 posts

208 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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evodarren said:
Hi
I have had my GT3 for nearly 5 year now. I thoroughly enjoy the rawness of this car, manual gear change. I have been thinking of changing to a 12c for a while now. Has anyone else moved fro a Porsche to a 12c. Is the 12c as involving.
I did test drive one a couple of years ago, but it was only a short drive as it was in London , busy traffic and wet.
I'm guessing it will be a big step forward, but will it still feel very involving to drive compared to my GT3.
Any thoughts gents or ladies.
Thanks
The 12c will never be "as involving"...............but it will have other areas that will wipe the floor with the Porsche.........acceleration.....tech........doors......drama........................it will certainly be a "different" experience its just whether what you gain and lose ticks enough boxes for you....

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
quotequote all
Thank you for input gents. I will see if I can drive one again. Will have to have one with a warranty. I here that is £,500 per year. My Porsche has and OPD warranty which I have renewed for the past 4 years, at a cost of £1940 for 2 years.

barchetta_boy

2,187 posts

231 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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I'm thinking of going the other way. We could meet up for a hoon if you like and try each other's cars. smile

F40GT346

211 posts

166 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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I have a 997.1 GT3 and test drove a 650S a few years ago. I was invited to a McLaren driving day and got a chance to drive a 650S, but not a full road test. I expected to return trying to figure out how to afford one, however, it left me fairly cold and a reminder of how engaging the GT3 is to drive. The 650S felt mega fast but a bit like hanging on to a rocket with control via a play station handset! Very easy to drive fast, easy to drive as a daily driver but not much engagement as the driver - seemed to be targeting wealthy owner who want an easy car to live with but which can occassionally scare the st out of a passenger with an oh my god lunge of acceleration. Of course everyone has their own preferences so you really have to try one for yourself.

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Thats something i think i will miss if i changed, the gt3 really is a challeging car to drive. I have to admit it has only seen a track twice and they were charity days so not hammered.It really is a thrill on A and B roads, evan at sisible speeds. I gues i would have to be going a lot faster in a Mclaren to get the same sort of envolvement.

Cosworth4388

71 posts

84 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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evodarren said:
Thank you for input gents. I will see if I can drive one again. Will have to have one with a warranty. I here that is £,500 per year. My Porsche has and OPD warranty which I have renewed for the past 4 years, at a cost of £1940 for 2 years.
I was looking at a 12c a few months back and almost bought one from rybrooks, as it came with a mclaren warrenty.
I was told it was just under £3500 for the warrenty for the following year .

breadvan

1,985 posts

167 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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barchetta_boy said:
I'm thinking of going the other way. We could meet up for a hoon if you like and try each other's cars. smile
I've gone the other way, sold my 12C last year, will let you know in August how the 991.2 GT3 compares. biggrin

_Superleggera_

2,003 posts

196 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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Having driven both I'd be keeping your GT3.

Don't get me wrong the 12C is brilliant, but it's not as involving to drive as the GT3. The noise isn't as good either. The suspension is better on the 12C, the acceleration faster, running costs higher but all in all it's not quite as special as a Porsche GT. All in my professional opinion of course.

Have you tried the 991 GT3?

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
_Superleggera_ said:
Having driven both I'd be keeping your GT3.

Don't get me wrong the 12C is brilliant, but it's not as involving to drive as the GT3. The noise isn't as good either. The suspension is better on the 12C, the acceleration faster, running costs higher but all in all it's not quite as special as a Porsche GT. All in my professional opinion of course.

Have you tried the 991 GT3?
Hi Superleggera
Not tried a 991 GT3 yet. Have driven 991 Carreras with PDK box, and to be honest I really missed my manual.With the PDK you could use it every day, But I like my toys to come out for them special times.

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
breadvan said:
I've gone the other way, sold my 12C last year, will let you know in August how the 991.2 GT3 compares. biggrin
Hi Breadvan
Are you going manual or PDK with the 991.2 GT3

_Superleggera_

2,003 posts

196 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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evodarren said:
Hi Superleggera
Not tried a 991 GT3 yet. Have driven 991 Carreras with PDK box, and to be honest I really missed my manual.With the PDK you could use it every day, But I like my toys to come out for them special times.
See if you can get a drive in a 991.2 GTS. I picked one up 2 months ago if you want manual it would be the obvious choice. It's fabulous. Plus you must go for the carmine red on a GTS.



CTE

1,488 posts

239 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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Don`t write the 12c off just yet...it is pretty much what you want in most situations, but it is true that on overcrowded UK roads you cannot push it near its envelope for long anywhere, but isn`t that the same with a GT3 Porsche?
As for engaging, when pottering along on the public highway then it is extremely relaxed, but always an event, I am always engaged by just how superb it is and the very comforting V8 engine. How the car feels and the amount of engagement can be altered with the engine and suspension adjustments, which go from extremely relaxed to pretty hardcore track. When on track with all the settings adjusted appropriately, if driven properly I`d say it is extremely engaging, it is very responsive and is very fast. I run mine on the basic Pirelli corsa tyres and I think they are the best compromise, they are good on road, last for ages, do not wear out in 10 minutes on track, and do not grip so much that the car never moves (but the suspension works so well that they still grip unbelievably well), infact I find it quite playful and adjustable. I think most people who drive these cars do not get anywhere near the cars limits so never really experience what they are capable of. I went to a trackday in my V6 Exige last night and there was a guy there who had a 675LT...very nice... He said it was much better on track than his previously owned 12c as he sneered at me. Luckily for him we did not meet up on the track because he would not have seen which way I went, except perhaps on the straights...in other words he had no idea...
I have only had limited experience driving 911`s...997 GTS being the best and nearest to a GT3, and whilst I appreciate the GT3 is a more hardcore experience, I am afraid they do not do it for me...shame because I think they are lovely in most respects.

Bispal

1,603 posts

150 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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Very different cars. The GT3 is a hard riding physical car and wonderful for it. The 12C is a technical masterclass, very much quicker and easier to drive. it depends what you want? McLarens USP is its ability to be mind bendingly fast and capable beyond almost any other car while being refined, quiet and economical on a long trip. If you like the duality that the Mc provides it is fabulous. It trades the noise and manual gearbox of the GT3 for true duality.

The warranty is £3,500 per year and servicing will set you back £1,500. The warranty is 100% required, do not buy without . The £5,000pa has the be considered in the whole along with depreciation which is zero and has been for 18 months, in fact 'gentle' appreciation is the norm.

I went from a 911 to a 12C and there is no way I will ever go back....


duggan

909 posts

247 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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Conversely I went from 997 GT3 RS to 12C and now back to 991 GT3 RS.

Whilst the 12C is undoubtedly quick, you really have to be moving to have a feel of speed, whereas the 997 felt fast at lower speeds (if that makes sense).

To sum up the 12C:

+ Very quick
+ Show-Off car (cameras came out wherever you went)
+ride quality is unbelievable
+great Facebook owners group

-unfinished product – niggling things going wrong (rear lights / wiper arm corrosion)
-dealer network – truly terrible service if you live in London…

After 2 years in the 12C had enough of the poor quality service from the dealer (eg: 5 phone calls/e-mails without return to book in a routine service and eventually being told it would be a 2 month wait) and sold it. Now in the 991 GT3 RS and love the thing – Porsche all day long – you’ll only regret selling it (as I did on my 997)

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
Bispal said:
Very different cars. The GT3 is a hard riding physical car and wonderful for it. The 12C is a technical masterclass, very much quicker and easier to drive. it depends what you want? McLarens USP is its ability to be mind bendingly fast and capable beyond almost any other car while being refined, quiet and economical on a long trip. If you like the duality that the Mc provides it is fabulous. It trades the noise and manual gearbox of the GT3 for true duality.

The warranty is £3,500 per year and servicing will set you back £1,500. The warranty is 100% required, do not buy without . The £5,000pa has the be considered in the whole along with depreciation which is zero and has been for 18 months, in fact 'gentle' appreciation is the norm.

I went from a 911 to a 12C and there is no way I will ever go back....
Warranty on my GT3 is around £960.00 a year and servicing is every two years £600 minor £1200.00 - £1,300 major service, quite a bit cheaper. Yet was a lot cheaper to purchase.

evodarren

Original Poster:

428 posts

133 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
duggan said:
Conversely I went from 997 GT3 RS to 12C and now back to 991 GT3 RS.

Whilst the 12C is undoubtedly quick, you really have to be moving to have a feel of speed, whereas the 997 felt fast at lower speeds (if that makes sense).

To sum up the 12C:

+ Very quick
+ Show-Off car (cameras came out wherever you went)
+ride quality is unbelievable
+great Facebook owners group

-unfinished product – niggling things going wrong (rear lights / wiper arm corrosion)
-dealer network – truly terrible service if you live in London…

After 2 years in the 12C had enough of the poor quality service from the dealer (eg: 5 phone calls/e-mails without return to book in a routine service and eventually being told it would be a 2 month wait) and sold it. Now in the 991 GT3 RS and love the thing – Porsche all day long – you’ll only regret selling it (as I did on my 997)
Got to admit the service from Colchester Porsche has been great. They even put a brand new battery on my car last year, because I had to replace with a non original in an emergency. They supplied it FOC and gave me my old one back to take home.

isaldiri

18,406 posts

167 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
Sarnie said:
The 12c will never be "as involving"...............but it will have other areas that will wipe the floor with the Porsche...........it will certainly be a "different" experience its just whether what you gain and lose ticks enough boxes for you....
That is a good summary I think.

The 12c is on a vastly different scale of running costs if you want to maintain the car properly compared to the 997 gt3 though, as one might I think not unreasonably expect from a car that started life as a low volume £170k car which is about twice that of the gt3 that shares a lot of commonality with the other Porsche range. Fwiw i don't think any of the Mclaren road cars loses much if anything to any of the 9X1 gen Porsches (.1gt3/rs and gt4 inclusive) as a driver's car though outside of the NA/turbo thing which is not insignificant to be fair.

barchetta_boy

2,187 posts

231 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
Agreed. The other thing about the 12C, well, any modern Mac actually is the sound. It's great that it revs out to 9k but you don't get the music of the Mezger flat 6, and I'd place it significantly behind offerings from Porsche, AMG, Lambo in the sound stakes. It doesn't sound bad, just not as nice as a proper bent 8, flat 6, straight six, V10 etc. For me it's the disappointing part of the driving experience.

They are stunningly capable. One of the nicest cars to do a long journey in, and if you hit the twisties, amazingly capable. Something Lotus-esque about it, albeit through a lens of twin-turbo paddle-shift computer-controlled modernity.