GT car too much for the street
Discussion
I couldn’t ask for a better car for the track. The involvement and concentration needed to drive my 997 GT2 on the Nurburgring was second to none, modern cars got boring after a few laps but the GT always left me wanting more - to do another lap before the track shuts.
I’ve now moved country and sold my my garage place (my car use to live at the “ring). Driving there in my vert and picking up the gt2 was probably the most funnest time I’ve had.
Now I drive it on the street as a weekend car and can’t match the enjoyment. It’s Sure fun for a bit, when the roads are empty late at night and I can push it a bit but for the rest of the time the harsh ride and creaking noises get to me. I’m mostly thinking to sell it and get into a modern c2s but everyone I speak to say they would always prefer a GT. I can’t help thinking I’d have more enjoyment driving a boxter 4.0/c2s most weekends with more realistic speeds/smoother ride. I love the involvement the gt2 requires to drive but perhaps it’s best left for the track?
I’ve now moved country and sold my my garage place (my car use to live at the “ring). Driving there in my vert and picking up the gt2 was probably the most funnest time I’ve had.
Now I drive it on the street as a weekend car and can’t match the enjoyment. It’s Sure fun for a bit, when the roads are empty late at night and I can push it a bit but for the rest of the time the harsh ride and creaking noises get to me. I’m mostly thinking to sell it and get into a modern c2s but everyone I speak to say they would always prefer a GT. I can’t help thinking I’d have more enjoyment driving a boxter 4.0/c2s most weekends with more realistic speeds/smoother ride. I love the involvement the gt2 requires to drive but perhaps it’s best left for the track?
Edited by stef1808 on Thursday 24th June 20:12
I know that it's not quite the same comparison, but I sold my 981 Cayman GT4 after 4 and a half years and replaced it with a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. For what I want from the car (20% daily commuting/trundling about, 75% fast road use, 5% track use) the GTS is/was more fun, more of the time.
7 months and 2500 miles later I have no regrets at all about making that decision. Moving from a GT2 to (say) a 911/992 GTS or 718 Cayster GTS would of course be much more noticeable as a step. But if the GT2 isn't going to spend significant amounts of time on track any more, then your gut feeling is probably correct.
7 months and 2500 miles later I have no regrets at all about making that decision. Moving from a GT2 to (say) a 911/992 GTS or 718 Cayster GTS would of course be much more noticeable as a step. But if the GT2 isn't going to spend significant amounts of time on track any more, then your gut feeling is probably correct.
Your not on your own. Do it, I did years ago and dont regret it one bit.
I learnt a long time a go that really good track and road cars cant be combined in one vehicle. As time goes on I value road manners over track prowess plus Im getting slower.
For me and many others the sweet spot is in Porsche GTS products. I drive a 991.2GTS, its a road car that can do some track, I do sometimes wonder if should have gone for an even softer 2S but it suits what I want for now.
I did order a BGTS 4.0 but decided the 991.2 gives me more of what I want (mostly subjective) so cancelled it but its close.
The easiest thing is to design a great track car that is noisy and with a ride like a trolley jack, the talent is in producing a road car with good suspension compliance and good NVH whilst maintaining handling dynamics and driving appeal.
I learnt a long time a go that really good track and road cars cant be combined in one vehicle. As time goes on I value road manners over track prowess plus Im getting slower.
For me and many others the sweet spot is in Porsche GTS products. I drive a 991.2GTS, its a road car that can do some track, I do sometimes wonder if should have gone for an even softer 2S but it suits what I want for now.
I did order a BGTS 4.0 but decided the 991.2 gives me more of what I want (mostly subjective) so cancelled it but its close.
The easiest thing is to design a great track car that is noisy and with a ride like a trolley jack, the talent is in producing a road car with good suspension compliance and good NVH whilst maintaining handling dynamics and driving appeal.
Friend of mine looked at a 997 GT2 quite recently and test drive it and came way saying he thought it’s best “use case” would be long European road trips….specifically Germany where you can really enjoy it’s power. He’s bought a 997.2 GT3 as a fast road/track car as he thinks that is a better car for the UK.
I own a 991.2 GT3….it can do the school run and is fantastic on track. Whether you would enjoy driving a car like that on the road depends on what you’re happy with in terms of ride. I would struggle to daily mine if I am honest.
I own a 991.2 GT3….it can do the school run and is fantastic on track. Whether you would enjoy driving a car like that on the road depends on what you’re happy with in terms of ride. I would struggle to daily mine if I am honest.
How about trying some softer springs and road friendly geo?
It's fully reversible and you would have it set-up to work best where you are actually doing miles.
You could then do some sound dampening if the ride worked for you - think you have enough power to handle the few additional kg from sound deadening mats!
It's fully reversible and you would have it set-up to work best where you are actually doing miles.
You could then do some sound dampening if the ride worked for you - think you have enough power to handle the few additional kg from sound deadening mats!
After you tracked your GT2 regularly, I can imagine that using it on the road is a bit of a downer. I do love my GT3s for road use, though. Whilst they are surely even more fun on track, I still prefer them over the vanilla 911s on the road. It's the sense of connection, directness and raw sensations I love. And they still work very well on long journeys, like the roundtrips to races at the Ring
BorkBorkBork said:
A 991.2 GT3 Touring. I think it’s the perfect road car. People do daily them and all the theatre and fun you could want in a car you can do the shopping in.
And with the added benefit 99% of the population think it's a cooking 911. It's engaging even at modest speeds and I daily it outside the winter months.
The question is an interesting and valid one, and if I had more time I would give a more detailed answer.
However, I’ve had most GT models from 2.7RSL to 991.2 GT3 Touring, and, for U.K. roads, these cars have become progressively more frustrating.
What they deliver is best exploited on track. As road cars they can be quite tedious.
I changed the Touring for a lightly, but nicely, spec’d 991.2 ‘base’, manual, in PTS, and couldn’t be happier - use it more and enjoy it more of the time than the Touring, and don’t feel too precious about it.
Narrow body, 19” wheels and manual gearbox and it handles most U.K. roads more sweetly.
So much so, that I passed on the 992 GT3 - looks, size, tech, road compromises, price …… lost the appeal.
I can understand why so many people are so happy with the 718 4.0 GTSs
However, I’ve had most GT models from 2.7RSL to 991.2 GT3 Touring, and, for U.K. roads, these cars have become progressively more frustrating.
What they deliver is best exploited on track. As road cars they can be quite tedious.
I changed the Touring for a lightly, but nicely, spec’d 991.2 ‘base’, manual, in PTS, and couldn’t be happier - use it more and enjoy it more of the time than the Touring, and don’t feel too precious about it.
Narrow body, 19” wheels and manual gearbox and it handles most U.K. roads more sweetly.
So much so, that I passed on the 992 GT3 - looks, size, tech, road compromises, price …… lost the appeal.
I can understand why so many people are so happy with the 718 4.0 GTSs
993rsr said:
And with the added benefit 99% of the population think it's a cooking 911. It's engaging even at modest speeds and I daily it outside the winter months.
Loved that your Touring is LHD, but was slightly besotted with the 356 next door, also with the steering wheel on the correct side
I've driven a GT2 on road and track. Fantastic on track where heavy control weights and rugged feel makes so much sense. A little pointless and overly fidgety on road and you'd end up in jail or worse at twitch of a toe. As for what replaces that such a tough one. So many nice cars out there I'm at a loss what to pick out. Image is an issue but i'm thinking maybe a 986 or a 986 s for fun use at the mo. Or maybe a 996 C2 if you can make do without roof off motoring. Do not sell the GT2 
supersport said:
The penny drops, we were at a little gathering in Norfolk on Saturday morning. Never got a chance to talk.
Loved that your Touring is LHD, but was slightly besotted with the 356 next door, also with the steering wheel on the correct side
Ahh, have to catch up next timeLoved that your Touring is LHD, but was slightly besotted with the 356 next door, also with the steering wheel on the correct side
Dr S said:
Whilst they are surely even more fun on track, I still prefer them over the vanilla 911s on the road. It's the sense of connection, directness and raw sensations I love. And they still work very well on long journeys, like the roundtrips to races at the Ring
Would agree with this. As good as the gt cars feel on track, in all honesty if track driving is the main focus then a proper race car would do the job far better. A modern gt car is capable of fast laptimes but the feel and directness is imo not comparable to an outright track car.
As a car that is fun to drive on the road (although perhaps not as a daily) for road trips and works reasonably well that you can flog on track for a laugh with friends though, they have few equals.
isaldiri said:
As good as the gt cars feel on track, in all honesty if track driving is the main focus then a proper race car would do the job far better. A modern gt car is capable of fast laptimes but the feel and directness is imo not comparable to an outright track car.
Did a track dat recently on the Silverstone GP circuit in my 991.2 GT3…it was a Pirelli orgnaised/sponsored day so there were a few OEM’s there with cars you could have a go in, I drove a McLaren 620 R on track….it blew me away…it’s stability and grip levels were on a totally different level to my GT3 and you can put slicks on the 620R. If I was a serious track day driver I’d be very tempted by that or one of the other focused McLaren’s. Would love to try a 675 LT. Caveat that I have never driven a modern RS of any kind though.
Cheib said:
Did a track dat recently on the Silverstone GP circuit in my 991.2 GT3…it was a Pirelli orgnaised/sponsored day so there were a few OEM’s there with cars you could have a go in, I drove a McLaren 620 R on track….it blew me away…it’s stability and grip levels were on a totally different level to my GT3 and you can put slicks on the 620R.
If I was a serious track day driver I’d be very tempted by that or one of the other focused McLaren’s. Would love to try a 675 LT. Caveat that I have never driven a modern RS of any kind though.
Ah, the Pirelli day at the beginning/middle of June I guess. Didn't realise OEMs were offering the chance to rag some cars If I was a serious track day driver I’d be very tempted by that or one of the other focused McLaren’s. Would love to try a 675 LT. Caveat that I have never driven a modern RS of any kind though.
should have tried harder to make the day...darnFunnily enough I was talking to a couple of other people I know about the 620r at brands gp just earlier this week - both had previously owned or currently own a 675 and found the 620r the better car to drive actually. Will admit to being a little surprised by that as I thought the 675 was an exceptional car when I had a go in one years ago but as one of them definitely knows how to drive, it does seem the 620 is quite the car. Almost tempting but I have to admit my last experience with Mclaren have left me a little wary of ownership again. Great cars to drive but the associated ownership issues aren't necessarily quite as pleasant.
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