GT3, why are they so special?

[HoHoHo]

No, I'm not a troll

I've owned a Boxster S. 996 C2, and 997 C2 S but never driven a GT3 in any carnation.

Can someone please explain in simple terms why are they so special?

What's difference for example between the C2 S I owned, a GTS, perhaps even a Turbo and a GT3 either RS or whatever.

Owners seem to rave about them, the new 991 owners are currently on a massive high......

So, what's it all about? (and if you can, what's the difference between a 996, 997 and 991?)

Thanks

[NBTBRV8]

Performance, precision, feedback and how they make you feel as a driver. They are so rewarding.

[HoHoHo]

NBTBRV8 said:

Performance, precision, feedback and how they make you feel as a driver. They are so rewarding.

To be fair, after my 535D my 997 C2S did that!

[doneitnow]

I picked up my first GT3 three weeks ago, all I can say is as soon as I took it for a test drive my first impression was that it reminded me of driving a go-kart, drive one and I will be amazed if you are not hooked immediately, I know I was.

[jackal]

its the only road-legal factory tintop i've driven that feels properly connected, direct, pure and analogue like a good elise or caterham

throw in the whole rear engined 'rubiks cube' dynamic which gives it dimension and a level of difficulty and BINGO !

Edited by jackal on Sunday 22 December 20:21

[mollytherocker]

Pure race car pedigree. 50 years in the making.

Well, apart from the new one that is.

[mrdemon]

Great cars, but you will find with most they will have many many owners, this is because the dream is not quite as good as the ownership so get flipped quite often.
My local OPC often gets the same few cars in and out all the time some 997.2 even on 7 owners.
You will get the few who worship them and say ok as a daily and that's also fine "for them"
Would like one as a 4th car but not as one of my 3.
If you have a need for one then it could be the perfect car, for the other 99% of us they don't work for the road.
Yes for me the perfect car on that perfect road, or that Spa trip but that's such little use for me, owning another one is out the question.
The 991 will prob change all that though and is seen as more usable more of the time.

Resale is also a nice issue with the cars if you pick a good one.

Please don't re quote me, it's just imo,

Edited by mrdemon on Sunday 22 December 21:51

[majordad]

mrdemon said:

Great cars, but you will find with most they will have many many owners, this is because the dream is not quite as good as the ownership so get flipped quick often.
My local OPC often gets the same few cars in and out all the time some 997.2 even on 7 owners.
You will get the few who worship them and say ok as a daily and that's also fine "for them"
Would like one as a 4th car but not as one of my 3.
If you have a need for one then it could be the perfect car, for the other 99% of us they don't work for the road.
Yes for me the perfect car on that perfect road, or that Spa trip but that's such little use for me, owning another one is out the question.
The 991 will prob change all that though and is seen as more usable more of the time.

Resale is also a nice issue with the cars if you pick a good one.

I must be an exception then, my 2008 7.1 GT3 I kept for five years and my 7.2 RS I 've had for three years and still counting. Previous posters have hit the nail on the head, pure, best of their type, usable on a regular basis, sonorous when revved and gladdens your heart better than anything else.

[marky911]

mrdemon said:

this is because the dream is not quite as good as the ownership

This!
You dream about getting one and the reality is even better.

[Zyp]

jackal said:

its the only road-legal factory tintop i've driven that feels properly connected, direct, pure and analogue like a good elise or caterham

throw in the whole rear engined 'rubiks cube' dynamic which gives it dimension and a level of difficulty and BINGO !

Edited by jackal on Sunday 22 December 20:21

Playing Devils Advocate here, but does an Exige not feel like that, and at a fraction of the cost?
(I also have never driven a GT3, but have been passenger in a 7.2 RS around Oulton)

[marky911]

Exiges are untouchable for the cost but they feel every bit as cheap as their price suggests compared to a GT3.

If my budget wouldn't stretch to a GT3 then an Exige would maybe be on my radar but they are also a joke to get in and out of.

[jackal]

Zyp said:

jackal said:

its the only road-legal factory tintop i've driven that feels properly connected, direct, pure and analogue like a good elise or caterham

throw in the whole rear engined 'rubiks cube' dynamic which gives it dimension and a level of difficulty and BINGO !

Edited by jackal on Sunday 22 December 20:21

Playing Devils Advocate here, but does an Exige not feel like that, and at a fraction of the cost?
(I also have never driven a GT3, but have been passenger in a 7.2 RS around Oulton)

Sorry when i said elise i meant any elise chassis based car so yes that would include an exige.

Dont complicate the quote though. An exige should be a fraction of the cost. Its a throwaway piece of plastic kit car junk next to a gt3 which makes you feel like you want to hold onto it forever and ever. Even in v6 form the exige engine is incomparable to a gt3 lump as well.

Edited by jackal on Sunday 22 December 22:17

[Zyp]

Bluntly put, Jackal

I love the Exige, but as I said have never driven a GT3.
I don't even 'get' the 911 of any kind (I did once have an X50, but it wasn't for me) but perhaps that would change with a GT3.

[Red 3]

Zyp said:

Playing Devils Advocate here, but does an Exige not feel like that, and at a fraction of the cost?
(I also have never driven a GT3, but have been passenger in a 7.2 RS around Oulton)

You are not far wrong. I had an Exige which became heavily modified in its time with me and is infact raced with some success on the continent now. When I wanted MORE there really was only one option.

The GT3 (996) is just so analogue, so fast, so raw, so special.

I liken it to vinyl in an i-pod age.

And as others have said, the challenge of the rear engine layout is just part of the experience and once you " get it" becomes so rewarding to drive.

Awesome, awesome, awesome bits of kit and for me, the benchmark I will never be without.

[Skrambles]

HoHoHo said:

No, I'm not a troll

I've owned a Boxster S. 996 C2, and 997 C2 S but never driven a GT3 in any carnation.

Can someone please explain in simple terms why are they so special?

What's difference for example between the C2 S I owned, a GTS, perhaps even a Turbo and a GT3 either RS or whatever.

Owners seem to rave about them, the new 991 owners are currently on a massive high......

So, what's it all about? (and if you can, what's the difference between a 996, 997 and 991?)

Thanks

A spine-tingling sound and a directness which make it unique in the 911 range. I've only been a passenger in the 996 gt3 rs (quite a few laps round Brands), but have driven the 997.1 and 997.2 gt3. Haven't been in the 991 gt3 yet. I came very close to getting the 997 gt3 instead of a turbo, but the turbo was just the fuller package. A GT3 (997 or 991) is very likely to be my next 911.

[jackal]

Zyp said:

Bluntly put, Jackal

I love the Exige, but as I said have never driven a GT3.
I don't even 'get' the 911 of any kind (I did once have an X50, but it wasn't for me) but perhaps that would change with a GT3.

Dont get me wrong, i have always championed the strengths of the elise cars and i was one of the very first guinea pig owners of both the s1 111s and 340r. I refer to them to make a point about the GT3 precisely because of their purity and brilliance. But they are what they are ... plastic, kitcar esque and with undesireable mainstream engines sourced from very humble origins. Its because of these reasons that, beyond pure diving dynamics and sensations, they will never be what a gt3 is.

[Zyp]

So in essence, what a gt3 is, is its engine?

Put that engine in almost any well set up car and it would be as good?

[mollytherocker]

Zyp said:

So in essence, what a gt3 is, is its engine?

Put that engine in almost any well set up car and it would be as good?

How many other rear engined cars are there?

[Slippydiff]

mrdemon said:

Nothing new, or indeed vaguely constructive

Abridged version :

Bought one, didn't get it. Sold it. Now knock it at every available opportunity. (but definitely not because I'm a troll/p*ss artist) ;-)

P.S Don't quote me, it's just all just imo.

[Zyp]

mollytherocker said:

How many other rear engined cars are there?

Is that the specialness then - not the engine but where it's placed?

If thats the case then it doesn't really help those of us asking the question, as there are (off the top of me head) no other rear engined cars made today.

Loads of rear engined cars have been made in the past, but none so revered as the gt3.