997 GT3 vs Ferry
Author
Discussion

carsarecool

Original Poster:

4,456 posts

270 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
Anyone tackled ferry ramps in a 997 GT3?

Or alternatively the Chunnel?

  • fingers firmly crossed*
Cheers.

pete a

3,799 posts

215 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
You may need a new front splitter, but they are a consumable really anyway, I like to look at the splitter like I would a tyre, they need replacing now and then.


ttdan

1,113 posts

224 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
chunnel is never an issue, they will keep you downstairs. Ferry saves a few bob usually, you can take the splitter off in 5 mins.

Sandy59

2,733 posts

242 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
I recently took the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, without the front lift system I believe it would have been very close, although taking the ramp at an angle might have just been ok.
My biggest issue was being positioned at the right hand side bulkhead where there was no room to open the door to get out !!
Also ended up leaving the car unlocked as the alarm kept going off I guess due to the motion, but the car deck was locked anyway for the transit. If you have the tracker you need to advise Cobra or they'll be on the phone, I left the transponder in the car for the return journey, quite surprised there was a signal from inside the ferry.
Apart from that pretty straightforward.

Rrroro

452 posts

186 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
ttdan said:
chunnel is never an issue, they will keep you downstairs. Ferry saves a few bob usually, you can take the splitter off in 5 mins.
+1

Took my 997 GT3 to Calais on the Euro Tunnel, no issues, they automatically just wave sports cars down to the lower deck

petfroguk

103 posts

230 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
Taken the RS on Dover-Calais this Summer: No problem if you approach all ridges etc at an angle.
Also Eurotunnel likewise no problem, use angles of entry to lift nose a tad and no damage done.

Scelto

619 posts

188 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
On the off-chance that the channel tunnel folk do try to direct you upstairs, you can always wind the window down and ask them if you can stay downstairs. They're pretty responsive to that sort of thing in my experience.

threesixty

2,068 posts

234 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Sandy59 said:
I recently took the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, without the front lift system I believe it would have been very close, although taking the ramp at an angle might have just been ok.
My biggest issue was being positioned at the right hand side bulkhead where there was no room to open the door to get out !!
Also ended up leaving the car unlocked as the alarm kept going off I guess due to the motion, but the car deck was locked anyway for the transit. If you have the tracker you need to advise Cobra or they'll be on the phone, I left the transponder in the car for the return journey, quite surprised there was a signal from inside the ferry.
Apart from that pretty straightforward.
If you lock the car in the correct way it shouldn't go off, pretty sure its two quick presses of the button? it says in the handbook anyway.

Anyway as is pretty clear by now, you shouldn't have any problems on ferry of chunnel!

Diesel130

1,549 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
threesixty said:
If you lock the car in the correct way it shouldn't go off, pretty sure its two quick presses of the button?
Yes, correct.

Also, regards the tunnel, they put me and an Aston on the lorry/coach section which is a) flat and b) wider than the regular carriages.

WalterU

470 posts

308 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
carsarecool said:
Anyone tackled ferry ramps in a 997 GT3?

Or alternatively the Chunnel?

  • fingers firmly crossed*
Cheers.
#



I've never dared taking the ferry. Although I've done it many times in a limousine,
I wouldn't recommend the ferry with a GT3.

Tunnel no problem with a GT3. I've done 20+ crossings. Be carefuö with the rims, though.

Rgds, walteru

Rhodie

112 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Poole to Cherbourg no problem in a 997 GT3.2 RS with lifter on the fast ferry. Without the lifter forget it, go the Eurotunnel route.

996 GT3 RS also go Eurotunnel route.

Rhodie

112 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Poole to Cherbourg no problem in a 997 GT3.2 RS with lifter on the fast ferry. Without the lifter forget it, go the Eurotunnel route.

996 GT3 RS also go Eurotunnel route.

carsarecool

Original Poster:

4,456 posts

270 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Rhodie said:
Poole to Cherbourg no problem in a 997 GT3.2 RS with lifter on the fast ferry. Without the lifter forget it, go the Eurotunnel route.

996 GT3 RS also go Eurotunnel route.
Exactly the route I was planning on.....without a lifter....bugger.

Can the lift system be retro fitted & if yes, for how much £'s?

Sandy59

2,733 posts

242 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Can you not just take the splitter off and re-fit later ??

nsm3

2,831 posts

227 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Don't think you can fit litters to Gen 1's?

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

257 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Was on the Chunnel sat evening and the Italian registered calafornia infront of us had no problem getting on. He was directed downstairs. BTW it did sound fantastic.

ttdan

1,113 posts

224 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
Sandy59 said:
Can you not just take the splitter off and re-fit later ??
yes you can. It's also considerably cheaper than fitting a lift kit...

petfroguk

103 posts

230 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
quotequote all
There isn't an OEM front lifting kit for 997.1, there is for the 997.2

martyspain

76 posts

200 months

Wednesday 2nd November 2011
quotequote all
I've done the Chunnel in a 997 GT3 with an exe-tc suspension kit fitted (it rode a little lower than standard) and there were no issues whatsoever. I was a bit careful just to make sure I didn't scrape the splitter (it wasn't my car) but I needn't have worried. There was also a chap in front of me with a standard 997 GT3 who had no problems either, so providing you get on the lower level you should be fine!

markmullen

15,877 posts

265 months

Wednesday 2nd November 2011
quotequote all
When delivering cars to Europe I've taken very low cars on both the ferry and channel tunnel without incident, as said the lower deck on the tunnel is where you want to be, on the ferry the deckhands are pretty good at bringing planks of wood to lower the angle, even a 993 Cup Car was managable with assistance.