Which GT3 should I go for.
Discussion
Having owned my CSL for almost a year I getting itchy feet and feel like it's time for a change of car.
At the moment the plan is to sell both my CSL and E30 M3 and purchase a diesel run around / tow car and a fun car for the weekend.
Should have around £40-45k to spend but having been very sensible (boring) over the last few years, so a smallish loan of say 10-15K is definitely a consideration if required to get the car I want
At the moment if I can find a decent one a 996 GT3 RS seams to be ideal, I've kind of been offered one which is a clean low millage car but we've not talked money yet.
Do people think the RS is worth the £15-20k over a standard 996 GT3? I was hopping that with the minimal millage I would be putting on the car the RS would hold it's value well, I'm not fussed about having the cash tied up in a car but don't really want to be loosing £000's per year in devaluation on top of maintenance costs.
The other option is an early 997 GT3, I was offered a low millage club sport for £58k a few weeks ago but needed to keep the CSL until after this weekend. Again what are the pro's and cons to the 997 over the 996, presumably the running costs are much of a much?
and then just to confuse matters even more a quick look on the autotrader and I see this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
£65k for a 997 GT3 RS, slightly high millage compared to others but love the orange 997's
At the moment the plan is to sell both my CSL and E30 M3 and purchase a diesel run around / tow car and a fun car for the weekend.
Should have around £40-45k to spend but having been very sensible (boring) over the last few years, so a smallish loan of say 10-15K is definitely a consideration if required to get the car I want
At the moment if I can find a decent one a 996 GT3 RS seams to be ideal, I've kind of been offered one which is a clean low millage car but we've not talked money yet.
Do people think the RS is worth the £15-20k over a standard 996 GT3? I was hopping that with the minimal millage I would be putting on the car the RS would hold it's value well, I'm not fussed about having the cash tied up in a car but don't really want to be loosing £000's per year in devaluation on top of maintenance costs.
The other option is an early 997 GT3, I was offered a low millage club sport for £58k a few weeks ago but needed to keep the CSL until after this weekend. Again what are the pro's and cons to the 997 over the 996, presumably the running costs are much of a much?
and then just to confuse matters even more a quick look on the autotrader and I see this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
£65k for a 997 GT3 RS, slightly high millage compared to others but love the orange 997's
Edited by andye30m3 on Wednesday 19th October 14:34
Hi there
If its purely a track / fun car with track being the primary reason then 996 GT3 RS all the way, its probably the purist most hardcore GT3 there is.
However on the road the 997 GT3 really comes into its own and is 90% as good on track as the 996 GT3 RS, plus the power of the 997 and OPC warranty are a bonus too.
If its purely a track / fun car with track being the primary reason then 996 GT3 RS all the way, its probably the purist most hardcore GT3 there is.
However on the road the 997 GT3 really comes into its own and is 90% as good on track as the 996 GT3 RS, plus the power of the 997 and OPC warranty are a bonus too.
cheers for the replies
I guess the car would be used mostly for weekend drives and the occasional trackday or sprint. Not to fussed if it's quite raw, for the last two weeks I've been crashing around in my E30 race car.
Ade, I'll drop you a PM regarding the 996rs shortly, definitely interested so long as I can get the M3's sold without too much hassle
I guess the car would be used mostly for weekend drives and the occasional trackday or sprint. Not to fussed if it's quite raw, for the last two weeks I've been crashing around in my E30 race car.
Ade, I'll drop you a PM regarding the 996rs shortly, definitely interested so long as I can get the M3's sold without too much hassle
Just one word on the 96gt3's
To drive fast they are difficult, & not just in my opinion either-plenty of instructors day the same.
Now, a lot of track day gods will say that's the whole gt3 ethos, & yes a buy in to that as well-it's a challenge that may take a few years to master. But plenty of people may prefer to go with the safety nets that a 997 brings, even if you only use them on a wet track day.
Think I'd still take the 996rs with that budget mind
To drive fast they are difficult, & not just in my opinion either-plenty of instructors day the same.
Now, a lot of track day gods will say that's the whole gt3 ethos, & yes a buy in to that as well-it's a challenge that may take a few years to master. But plenty of people may prefer to go with the safety nets that a 997 brings, even if you only use them on a wet track day.
Think I'd still take the 996rs with that budget mind
I was looking at exactly the same thing in the last two weeks, ended up getting a 997 GT3 (collecting Saturday). The 996 makes a great track car, but what is said above is true IMHO.
If you have your heart set on a 996, I know of a mint 20k miler in black for a reasonable price.
Pm me for details if you wish & I'll put you on to the owner.
Best of luck!
If you have your heart set on a 996, I know of a mint 20k miler in black for a reasonable price.
Pm me for details if you wish & I'll put you on to the owner.
Best of luck!
I would say get out there and drive the 996 and 997. You may like one over the other just from the drive.
Got to love that Orange 997 RS, and 40,000 miles in nothing on a GT3.
Tough call... 997 RS with 40,000 miles or a 996 RS with around 15-20,000 miles!!
Also think how many miles per year you will do, if its low the 997RS could be a good buy as over time you'll bring the miles to average.
Got to love that Orange 997 RS, and 40,000 miles in nothing on a GT3.
Tough call... 997 RS with 40,000 miles or a 996 RS with around 15-20,000 miles!!
Also think how many miles per year you will do, if its low the 997RS could be a good buy as over time you'll bring the miles to average.
I think it's the RS I really want and to be honest budget would dictate that it would need to be a 996, I guess the tight git inside me also suspects the RS will hold it's value better which whilst not the most important thing, it is a consideration.
I've been talking to a guy about a 1 owner 996 RS, 2x,000miles, a few mods and very good condition not being used as the owner has other cars. Apparently it's not for sale but he did write and print out a spec list for me which would suggest otherwise. Any idea what this would be worth as a private sale?
I've been talking to a guy about a 1 owner 996 RS, 2x,000miles, a few mods and very good condition not being used as the owner has other cars. Apparently it's not for sale but he did write and print out a spec list for me which would suggest otherwise. Any idea what this would be worth as a private sale?
andye30m3 said:
I've been talking to a guy about a 1 owner 996 RS, 2x,000miles, a few mods and very good condition not being used as the owner has other cars. Apparently it's not for sale but he did write and print out a spec list for me which would suggest otherwise. Any idea what this would be worth as a private sale?
A one owner 96RS with 20,000 miles...I would say around £59-62k?
Been driving a number of these of late and i'd personally pick the 96 everytime, whether for road or track. I might be out on my own here but i didn't find the 97mkii anymore composed or better mannered over rough roads .... Just a bit more remote and 'polished'. Coming from my 993 it almost felt a bit halfway house 'jack of all trades'... For a weekend toy I'd rather have the proper connected racecar for the road 996rs or if i wanted a real world every single day road car then a 997turbo or a GTS which can do country lanes and compliance as well.
As said earlier, drive both passive and non passive. They are very different cars and you will know which you prefer straight away. Ultimately the passive is far more communicative. Some like that, some feel intimidated by it and some find it wearing.
I'd just look for a good 996gt3 with excellent provenance. If the car you find is an RS and it's in your budget, great if not don't worry. Any 996GT3 will be a great drive. In terms of driving experience, it is a myth that the RS is a handful on the road. In reality it's as accommodating as any non passive GT3 on the road. It just depends on how you set up your car. The real benefits in the RS are on the track and even there it is not a quantum leap forward. Maybe a second a lap which the vast majority of drivers won't notice.
As I say, just go for the car with the best provenance that suits your budget and make sure it's inspected by an expert. Whatever you end up with, you won't be disappointed.
Good luck
I'd just look for a good 996gt3 with excellent provenance. If the car you find is an RS and it's in your budget, great if not don't worry. Any 996GT3 will be a great drive. In terms of driving experience, it is a myth that the RS is a handful on the road. In reality it's as accommodating as any non passive GT3 on the road. It just depends on how you set up your car. The real benefits in the RS are on the track and even there it is not a quantum leap forward. Maybe a second a lap which the vast majority of drivers won't notice.
As I say, just go for the car with the best provenance that suits your budget and make sure it's inspected by an expert. Whatever you end up with, you won't be disappointed.
Good luck
Steve Rance said:
As said earlier, drive both passive and non passive. They are very different cars and you will know which you prefer straight away. Ultimately the passive is far more communicative. Some like that, some feel intimidated by it and some find it wearing.
I'd just look for a good 996gt3 with excellent provenance. If the car you find is an RS and it's in your budget, great if not don't worry. Any 996GT3 will be a great drive. In terms of driving experience, it is a myth that the RS is a handful on the road. In reality it's as accommodating as any non passive GT3 on the road. It just depends on how you set up your car. The real benefits in the RS are on the track and even there it is not a quantum leap forward. Maybe a second a lap which the vast majority of drivers won't notice.
As I say, just go for the car with the best provenance that suits your budget and make sure it's inspected by an expert. Whatever you end up with, you won't be disappointed.
Good luck
I have to agree the whole idea that 996 rs is too compromised on the road is bullsI'd just look for a good 996gt3 with excellent provenance. If the car you find is an RS and it's in your budget, great if not don't worry. Any 996GT3 will be a great drive. In terms of driving experience, it is a myth that the RS is a handful on the road. In reality it's as accommodating as any non passive GT3 on the road. It just depends on how you set up your car. The real benefits in the RS are on the track and even there it is not a quantum leap forward. Maybe a second a lap which the vast majority of drivers won't notice.
As I say, just go for the car with the best provenance that suits your budget and make sure it's inspected by an expert. Whatever you end up with, you won't be disappointed.
Good luck
t imo..An Exige/Csl etc easily as much of a handful on the road and the only time my Rs needs serious concentration is only on really poor road surfaces where my 964 turbo would have equally attempted to jump off the road.Dilute the Rs's slightly 'twitchy' nature and the car loses the reason for ownership imo..if you dont want that buy a 996/997tt..I must admit that owning an RS in my lifetime is a goal that has never gone away for me. My problem is that the lowest entry point is the 6RS and a really good one commands a £15-20K premium over a top 6GT3. For me thats too hard to justify spending on a weekend toy.
The problem is that the 6RS has to be at its lowest price in the next 4 months or so, during the winter they are difficult to shift and then you get the traditional hike in price as the track season approaches. If you can justify it go for it. If you dont want £60K+ tied up in a fair weather toy, I would suggest that you look at 6GT3 with the same must have bits as the RS (buckets, A/C,etc) You should get a really top 15-20K miler with an unblemished history for around £45K now, maybe a few grand less in the dead of winter.
But remember that you only live once and owning any RS is some achievement!
The problem is that the 6RS has to be at its lowest price in the next 4 months or so, during the winter they are difficult to shift and then you get the traditional hike in price as the track season approaches. If you can justify it go for it. If you dont want £60K+ tied up in a fair weather toy, I would suggest that you look at 6GT3 with the same must have bits as the RS (buckets, A/C,etc) You should get a really top 15-20K miler with an unblemished history for around £45K now, maybe a few grand less in the dead of winter.
But remember that you only live once and owning any RS is some achievement!
kayc said:
I have to agree the whole idea that 996 rs is too compromised on the road is bullst imo..An Exige/Csl etc easily as much of a handful on the road and the only time my Rs needs serious concentration is only on really poor road surfaces where my 964 turbo would have equally attempted to jump off the road.Dilute the Rs's slightly 'twitchy' nature and the car loses the reason for ownership imo..if you dont want that buy a 996/997tt..
Bit of a turnaround from your infamous anti-GT3 rants when you had a 996TT some years back. t imo..An Exige/Csl etc easily as much of a handful on the road and the only time my Rs needs serious concentration is only on really poor road surfaces where my 964 turbo would have equally attempted to jump off the road.Dilute the Rs's slightly 'twitchy' nature and the car loses the reason for ownership imo..if you dont want that buy a 996/997tt..
AL001 said:
Bit of a turnaround from your infamous anti-GT3 rants when you had a 996TT some years back.
Not really..if someone wants a mega-quick safe road car buy a 996/997tt or GTR..if they want a toy to take out occasionally for fun(not necessarily as fast)buy a gt3..personally i think 996 gt3's and especially rs's have got too cheap compared to the amount of 'good' supply available..i would never argue my rs would be quicker on the road than a tt..but more fun probably and rarer.kayc said:
I have to agree the whole idea that 996 rs is too compromised on the road is bullst imo..An Exige/Csl etc easily as much of a handful on the road and the only time my Rs needs serious concentration is only on really poor road surfaces where my 964 turbo would have equally attempted to jump off the road.Dilute the Rs's slightly 'twitchy' nature and the car loses the reason for ownership imo..if you dont want that buy a 996/997tt..
IME 911's arent especially good on bumpy country lanes in general, but GT3's are very poor. Yes, of course you get used to it and yes of course its fun and 'invloving', and for many, not too compromised. But in the wider context of what's possible and how other cars are setup, a GT3 down some real rough stuff is hopeless. I drove a 97 mkii the other day and its behaviour down the narrow lanes was atrocious - comfort or sport. They are incredible cars for what they are but like any car, they are a set of comporomises and just can't be good at everything.t imo..An Exige/Csl etc easily as much of a handful on the road and the only time my Rs needs serious concentration is only on really poor road surfaces where my 964 turbo would have equally attempted to jump off the road.Dilute the Rs's slightly 'twitchy' nature and the car loses the reason for ownership imo..if you dont want that buy a 996/997tt..Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff