996 GT3 - Try before you buy?
Discussion
I'm currently considering waving goodbye to my SC/CC Honda Exige and replacing it with a GT3.
Its my only car as I don't use a car for commuting during the week, so its just for pleasure and trackdays - which have mostly been European trips, Spa/LM for the last few years. Having done the M3 thing a few years back - the logical alternative to the Lotus would be to go GT3 and as I prefer to buy once the worst of the depreciation is over, 996s are looking favourites.
I am however, a little concerned that I might not get on with a 911 on track, that it'll feel a bit GT car and I'll miss the sharpness you get from an early, lightweight Elise. I drove Palmersports 996s a few years back, but that was for 5 minutes, on a 3/4 mile circuit and can't remember a thing about it really.
Its going to be impossible to get a feel for a car in this way on the road, so are there any firms running well maintained 996s as track hire cars which might give me an idea whether it'll float my boat or not?
Its my only car as I don't use a car for commuting during the week, so its just for pleasure and trackdays - which have mostly been European trips, Spa/LM for the last few years. Having done the M3 thing a few years back - the logical alternative to the Lotus would be to go GT3 and as I prefer to buy once the worst of the depreciation is over, 996s are looking favourites.
I am however, a little concerned that I might not get on with a 911 on track, that it'll feel a bit GT car and I'll miss the sharpness you get from an early, lightweight Elise. I drove Palmersports 996s a few years back, but that was for 5 minutes, on a 3/4 mile circuit and can't remember a thing about it really.
Its going to be impossible to get a feel for a car in this way on the road, so are there any firms running well maintained 996s as track hire cars which might give me an idea whether it'll float my boat or not?
I don't know the answer to your original question however I can comment from experience and I DONT think you will be disappointed with a move from your Lotus to the GT3.
I did exactly the same 3 years ago changing my track focussed Exige S2 (with a lot of Plans Motorsport modifications) for a 996 GT3.
Once you start to understand the different approach in driving style required to effectively pilot the Porsche it becomes a very deeply rewarding car to drive on both road and track with huge amounts of grip and grunt. As for steering feel it is one of the best and definitely up there with a well prep'd Lotus.
The whole package is just incredible and never fails to put a smile on my face and it continues to challenge my driving ability every time I get in it whereas the Lotus eventually felt almost too easy once you had grasped the cars handling traits.
The racing heritage, build quality, noise and styling all just add to the experience off being in something very special.
Hope this helps and what a nice quandry to have.
I did exactly the same 3 years ago changing my track focussed Exige S2 (with a lot of Plans Motorsport modifications) for a 996 GT3.
Once you start to understand the different approach in driving style required to effectively pilot the Porsche it becomes a very deeply rewarding car to drive on both road and track with huge amounts of grip and grunt. As for steering feel it is one of the best and definitely up there with a well prep'd Lotus.
The whole package is just incredible and never fails to put a smile on my face and it continues to challenge my driving ability every time I get in it whereas the Lotus eventually felt almost too easy once you had grasped the cars handling traits.
The racing heritage, build quality, noise and styling all just add to the experience off being in something very special.
Hope this helps and what a nice quandry to have.
What he said (Red3) thought I'd miss my SC/CC Honda Elise, but the 6 3 is really just a major event to drive each time & an amazingly capable vehicle, Non less the build quality, and way it covers ground.
you will need to get it geo'ed and not by OPC, 'caue just like the Exige it's not going to show you it's abilities without it
Oh and you'll need to re adjust you wallet out frequency sadly.
you will need to get it geo'ed and not by OPC, 'caue just like the Exige it's not going to show you it's abilities without it
Oh and you'll need to re adjust you wallet out frequency sadly.
subaqua said:
I drove Palmersports 996s a few years back, but that was for 5 minutes, on a 3/4 mile circuit and can't remember a thing about it really.
Which is as well - as I understand it those are track prepped tiptronic Carrera 2 based machines and nothing like the GT3 experience...The bad news for you is that I can't think of anywhere that you could rent one other than with a stratospheric excess at the Nurburgring (at this time of year, I wouldn't opt for that though).
subaqua - you will absolutely love it without a doubt. You may need to get a focused geo setup and/ or upgrade the dampers, etc to get the best out of it, but it will be money well spent, unless you buy one that is very focused to start with. What you will enjoy in the future is going past Exiges and Elises on track days like they're mobile chicanes 
The steering feel is on a par with the Lotus, but the grip/ traction is in a totally different league - you'll be amazed how early before the apex you can nail the throttle and a well set up car will be very forgiving on the limit on track too - i.e. when you have to lift off mid corner, etc...
There are a few nice track focused cars for sale at the moment. Mine has a full raft of Manthey mods (mk 1 996) and is high mileage (well over 70k now) and has been faultless - I wouldn't worry about history of accident damage either - so long as it has been repaired properly and gets the seal of approval from a proper PPI by a reputable company.
The steering feel is on a par with the Lotus, but the grip/ traction is in a totally different league - you'll be amazed how early before the apex you can nail the throttle and a well set up car will be very forgiving on the limit on track too - i.e. when you have to lift off mid corner, etc...
There are a few nice track focused cars for sale at the moment. Mine has a full raft of Manthey mods (mk 1 996) and is high mileage (well over 70k now) and has been faultless - I wouldn't worry about history of accident damage either - so long as it has been repaired properly and gets the seal of approval from a proper PPI by a reputable company.
You're welcome to have a wee go in my mk1 once I've got it back from Ninemeister. I'm based in London like you, but keep the car out in Oxon.
Likely to be heading out of GT3 weather (mid-Nov) when it's back, but if a while in the car would be of help then let me know.
(Sorry if this delays a possible purchase of that Manthey car, guys ;-)
Likely to be heading out of GT3 weather (mid-Nov) when it's back, but if a while in the car would be of help then let me know.
(Sorry if this delays a possible purchase of that Manthey car, guys ;-)
[quote=DiscoColin]
Which is as well - as I understand it those are track prepped tiptronic Carrera 2 based machines and nothing like the GT3 experience...
[quote]
Ding... this makes sense, they are tiptronic (I did grab fastest in the Porsches (and the Clio Cups - cos they're similar right?)
Thanks for the offer of a drive of your P&J Ben.... but I'd prefer to run half a trackday in something and that'd be a bit cheeky even for me.
I'm definitely not going to break the bank to borrow one of Ron's cars... as I wouldn;t learn much trolling round the ring in second gear, not knowing which way to go round after the next blind crest.
And as for the chicane thing... I'm not sure that is relevant in a 400bhp/tonne Exige. I never have a problem with them - is getting past elises something you boys worry about then
Which is as well - as I understand it those are track prepped tiptronic Carrera 2 based machines and nothing like the GT3 experience...
[quote]
Ding... this makes sense, they are tiptronic (I did grab fastest in the Porsches (and the Clio Cups - cos they're similar right
?)Thanks for the offer of a drive of your P&J Ben.... but I'd prefer to run half a trackday in something and that'd be a bit cheeky even for me.
I'm definitely not going to break the bank to borrow one of Ron's cars... as I wouldn;t learn much trolling round the ring in second gear, not knowing which way to go round after the next blind crest.
And as for the chicane thing... I'm not sure that is relevant in a 400bhp/tonne Exige. I never have a problem with them - is getting past elises something you boys worry about then
Edited by subaqua on Thursday 27th October 09:02
Edited by subaqua on Thursday 27th October 09:03
Hi Sub, I did a similar thing a few years back. I got a fairly new mk11 gt3 and enjoyed a few trackdays with it.
It is a more grown up car than the exige, for one thing getting in and out is no different to a mondeo which in this case is actually good.
If you close your eyes it will be just like the exige, noisy in the cabin, bumpy over most roads and incredibly uncomfortable on long journeys unless you are under 30 years old when you wont notice any of the afforementioned.
when you open your eyes again and look in the rear view mirror (that might take some getting used to if you know what i mean) you will see a queue of exiges waiting for the next straight to pass you.
You should know that GT3's are really easy meat for an exige, your really buying a target car so get used to having done to you what you did to them.
On the plus side you should get 32-34 mph and 6+ on a trackday.
Cant you keep the exige as well?
It is a more grown up car than the exige, for one thing getting in and out is no different to a mondeo which in this case is actually good.
If you close your eyes it will be just like the exige, noisy in the cabin, bumpy over most roads and incredibly uncomfortable on long journeys unless you are under 30 years old when you wont notice any of the afforementioned.
when you open your eyes again and look in the rear view mirror (that might take some getting used to if you know what i mean) you will see a queue of exiges waiting for the next straight to pass you.
You should know that GT3's are really easy meat for an exige, your really buying a target car so get used to having done to you what you did to them.
On the plus side you should get 32-34 mph and 6+ on a trackday.
Cant you keep the exige as well?
Type 49 said:
when you open your eyes again and look in the rear view mirror (that might take some getting used to if you know what i mean) you will see a queue of exiges waiting for the next straight to pass you.
You should know that GT3's are really easy meat for an exige, your really buying a target car so get used to having done to you what you did to them.
On the plus side you should get 32-34 mph and 6+ on a trackday.
lol, not in my experience and I know a lot of other quick GT3's too - they take a while to learn to get the best out of and depends how they are set up too - but quicker than an Exige no doubt. However as with any car they can be owned and driven by those that cannot drive quickly and then give the rest of us a bad name You should know that GT3's are really easy meat for an exige, your really buying a target car so get used to having done to you what you did to them.
On the plus side you should get 32-34 mph and 6+ on a trackday.
Back to the OP - you'll be amazed just how much grip a GT3 has when you finally get to drive one on track - wish you luck
4pot said:
what are the true running costs for a 996 GT3 that would do 10k pa. Mostly road, but with say 4 td's a year as well.
Don't know if this is a wind up or not but I would budget an average of £2500/£3000 per year - it won't be that much every year but something always wears out and is a pain to get to and/or then gives you the opportunity to repace a load of other stuff. My annual service last year cost around £5000 as the motor had to come out to fix a little oil leak and that led to looking at all the bits you can't see normally. Funnily enough, until the oil leak issue, it looked like it was going to be £500 + VAT which would have been a result.Take a look at my running costs, they are fairly accurate with the exception of a few hundred pound spend here or there, although not baed on 10k per annum the car does the odd track day and trans European blat.
Regarding the Type 49 comment. Obviously driver skill and circuit layout plays it part but from my experience of tracking both and encountering the other, the GT3 was always the quicker car over the distance. A 350+ bhp trackday special exige may be a different story but then you arent talking horses for courses.
Apply the same level of mods to the GT3 and you move the game on again. The Lotus is a fabulous car but not in the same league IMHO.
Regarding the Type 49 comment. Obviously driver skill and circuit layout plays it part but from my experience of tracking both and encountering the other, the GT3 was always the quicker car over the distance. A 350+ bhp trackday special exige may be a different story but then you arent talking horses for courses.
Apply the same level of mods to the GT3 and you move the game on again. The Lotus is a fabulous car but not in the same league IMHO.
There's always one eh? Seriously though, type 49 has a bit of a point as on a TD we do tend to use guys with better hardware to compare ourselves against (as that way, there's an easy get out if they walk away from you).
The Exige is plenty fast enough round most circuits although s
tty aero and long straights do tend to blunt acceleration eventually - but Kemmel and the Mulsanne (on parade laps) are the only places its been evident.
A grown up Exige would be nice....
Thanks for the 997 Track day tip.... its an option!
The Exige is plenty fast enough round most circuits although s
tty aero and long straights do tend to blunt acceleration eventually - but Kemmel and the Mulsanne (on parade laps) are the only places its been evident.A grown up Exige would be nice....
Thanks for the 997 Track day tip.... its an option!
Edited by subaqua on Friday 28th October 09:44
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