Is the 991 gt3 special enough
Is the 991 gt3 special enough
Author
Discussion

stef1808

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

186 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Since I decided its time to make my move into Porsche land and deciding the gt3 is the car for me my question is this:

Will the 991 gt3 feel special enough as a weekend car / few track days car

I test drove a 997 and was really impressed with the car and the driving involvement, even at slow speeds it felt special.

I'm sure 991 technology wise is far above the 997 and a lot more user friendly, but is this necessary a good thing? Or does it remove that special factor that makes you get out of bed early Sunday morning to enjoy your favourites roads???

I'm interested to hear your replies, will help me make up my mind on what to buy

Thanks

(Ps: if I decided to go 991 - would then pick up a 07 saloon rs4 as always loved this car as a dd - just seems wrong to go manual as dd and auto for weekend. Would you do this or go c63 dd and 997 weekend car????)




DS240

5,673 posts

247 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Hmmm. Interesting problem.

There does seem to be a trend towards questioning the rate of progress and what effect this has on cars bought for the love of driving. Do the latest crop actually deliver emotionally rather than just delivering out right speed? What is too fast and efficient for the road?

I think a full on club sport spec 991 gt3 would still feel special no matter the tech. It all depends how much you embrace the latest tech.

Only way to know would be to drive both and let the heart decide.

Oh, and it would be a C63 for me for the DD.

Tom911

692 posts

192 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
chris harris to the rescue!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVdme4ISq8Y
hope this helps smile

keep it lit

3,388 posts

196 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
stef1808 said:
I'm sure 991 technology wise is far above the 997 and a lot more user friendly, but is this necessary a good thing? Or does it remove that special factor that makes you get out of bed early Sunday morning to enjoy your favourites roads???
suspect 991 drivers going for an early Sunday morning blast will do so in their PJ's ... where as 996/7 owners naturally go stark bk .... !!!

OggyDJ

533 posts

171 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
keep it lit said:
stef1808 said:
I'm sure 991 technology wise is far above the 997 and a lot more user friendly, but is this necessary a good thing? Or does it remove that special factor that makes you get out of bed early Sunday morning to enjoy your favourites roads???
suspect 991 drivers going for an early Sunday morning blast will do so in their PJ's ... where as 996/7 owners naturally go stark bk .... !!!
laugh

What about 964/993 owners....smoking jacket & slippers ?? biggrin

Shep911

605 posts

172 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
You've rolled the proverbial snowball into hell with this thread.......although its probably been done to death

IMO it's fair to say that on a dynamic and technical basis the 991 is ahead - it's a statement of fact that the PDK box puts the power down smoother and more efficiently than a manual ever could - consequently faster times result, that's before you get into all the cool stuff like rear wheel steer etc

HOWEVER (and this is where the Luddite accusations begin), all the reviews I've seen to date (and this includes the Harris video) suggests that the 991 is awesome but somewhere lacking something from the 997.

It's quicker round the track than a 12c (evo) which is one hell of an achievement but simply, there are less controls in a 991 than a 997 and therefore it cannot be as involving (quicker yes, dynamically better yes, easier to drive yes), but for those that can drive it cannot offer as much interaction as something has been taken away (although yes you would be faster).

Before the recriminations begin, this is MY opinion, it's horses for courses but if I had 100k to spend, it would be on a 997.2RS (and yes I know the 991 will be quicker, but it's not the point FOR ME

Others, will think differently and that is more than fair - I just like to heel and toe, shift my own knob....

To be honest, I'm just waiting for the day when some moron posts a video on you tube of themselves accelerating their GT3 to the max IN AUTO (cos its a sure bet it will happen) and at that point I will simply scream noooooooooo

OggyDJ

533 posts

171 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Shep911 said:
You've rolled the proverbial snowball into hell with this thread.......although its probably been done to death

IMO it's fair to say that on a dynamic and technical basis the 991 is ahead - it's a statement of fact that the PDK box puts the power down smoother and more efficiently than a manual ever could - consequently faster times result, that's before you get into all the cool stuff like rear wheel steer etc

HOWEVER (and this is where the Luddite accusations begin), all the reviews I've seen to date (and this includes the Harris video) suggests that the 991 is awesome but somewhere lacking something from the 997.

It's quicker round the track than a 12c (evo) which is one hell of an achievement but simply, there are less controls in a 991 than a 997 and therefore it cannot be as involving (quicker yes, dynamically better yes, easier to drive yes), but for those that can drive it cannot offer as much interaction as something has been taken away (although yes you would be faster).

Before the recriminations begin, this is MY opinion, it's horses for courses but if I had 100k to spend, it would be on a 997.2RS (and yes I know the 991 will be quicker, but it's not the point FOR ME

Others, will think differently and that is more than fair - I just like to heel and toe, shift my own knob....

To be honest, I'm just waiting for the day when some moron posts a video on you tube of themselves accelerating their GT3 to the max IN AUTO (cos its a sure bet it will happen) and at that point I will simply scream noooooooooo
Very good post.

However much as I still love manual cars, I think (hope) this new GT3 is a game changer.

Just listening to it change, it sounds more like a rally car than a road car. How could anyone possibly get bored of that ?? biggrin

If I had the money (which unfortunately I don't), I would buy one in a heartbeat however would keep something old (and manual) in the garage as a complete contrast for when the mood takes me.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

200 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
OggyDJ said:
However much as I still love manual cars, I think (hope) this new GT3 is a game changer.
Agree it will be a game changer and the 991.2 will refine that game further. The 997 is not changing.

Err Indoors

909 posts

216 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
OggyDJ said:
keep it lit said:
stef1808 said:
I'm sure 991 technology wise is far above the 997 and a lot more user friendly, but is this necessary a good thing? Or does it remove that special factor that makes you get out of bed early Sunday morning to enjoy your favourites roads???
suspect 991 drivers going for an early Sunday morning blast will do so in their PJ's ... where as 996/7 owners naturally go stark bk .... !!!
laugh

What about 964/993 owners....smoking jacket & slippers ?? biggrin
Sandal's socks & a beard

GRBF430F1

4,843 posts

199 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Drove a 997 GT3 manual at silverstone and have to say IMHO the clutch was so heavy and the gear change so slow it confirmed to me that the 991 GT3 was a game changer and definitely the way to go but its horses for courses.

I have a manual F355 GTS, a F430 F1 spider and a Honda Civic FN2 Type R manual so the 991 GT3 PDK is a good addition to the stable.

Some cars suit the paddle shift and others don't, F355 F1 was poor, 360 was better but F430 F1 is very good although no where near as fast, refined, sophisticated and smooth as a PDK

Believe me the 991 GT3 will be VERY special not just in comparison to the 997 but anything else currently out there even up to twice its price

Only thing I would have over it is a 458 spider but I can't justify paying twice the price

Mermaid

21,492 posts

200 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
GRBF430F1 said:
...Believe me the 991 GT3 will be VERY special not just in comparison to the 997 but anything else currently out there even up to twice its price
yes

boxsey

3,579 posts

239 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
stef1808 said:
Since I decided its time to make my move into Porsche land and deciding the gt3 is the car for me my question is this:

Will the 991 gt3 feel special enough as a weekend car / few track days car
Hmmm... could be tricky to answer this one until there are some actual owners that have run a 991GT3 for a few months. scratchchin

Hoopsuk

125 posts

232 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
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stef1808 said:
Will the 991 gt3 feel special enough as a weekend car / few track days car
Surely being able to lap twisty tracks quicker than someone in a Mclaren 12C (as published by evo) who has spent twice as much money will feel more than a bit special on the few track days.