GT3 verse GTS

[LukeS]

I have been looking for a GT3 for some time now but can't seem to find the right car and am getting impatient so have been looking around for an alternative.
I have never driven or been a passenger in either of the 2 cars but looking at reviews ,BHP, specifications, and performance the GTS would make sense as an alternative. Given that I really want the car for a summer weekend ride and most likely would not be track focused (May do an odd day) the GTS seems to fit the bill.

The GTS has the benefit of having my must haves, sports seats and exhaust as well as other bits and bobs and looks almost equal in performance. How well regarded are these cars and residuals, there seems to be a reasonable selection of cars on offer unlike the GT3s which are few and far between.

The other down side is my limited budget means I'm looking at a GEN1 and since starting to look at the end of last year the GT3s have gone up around 5-8k.

Anyone tried both and moved from a GT3 to a GTS?

[mr pg]

GTS's were a run-out gen 2 model, and holding their value very well, so sounds like they may be above you budget.

[LukeyLikey]

I have previously had a 996 C4S and 997 C2, then went to more exotic stuff like Astons, Ferraris and currently a McLaren. I was looking for a 'cheaper' car to go where I couldn't always take the Ferrari and Mac and would not depreciate too much with mileage. A 997 cab was on the cards (I also wanted to be able to have some open air motoring for the summer).

I checked out various things but ended up with a manual GTS cab. I'm really pleased with it. The engine is wonderful - very powerful, very sonorous with the sports exhaust and the linear power delivery only a NA can give.

My Mac spider is rock solid stiff, even a 430 spider I owned previously was pretty stiff, however, the GTS is not and there is more scuttle shake than I expected. Still, that may not apply to you and it only really bothers me on rough roads. Mostly the GTS is a brilliant car. The suspension is stiff (exacerbates the scuttle problem) but not harsh and there is great feel from the seat, steering and chassis.

The key thing is this - I love driving it. It offers something different to the other cars I have and fully deserves the highest praise. I have never owned a GT3, which is probably something I should put right one day but in the meantime, the GTS probably suits me better and will continue to depreciate fairly slowly I reckon. Still, of I can't compare it to a GT3, I can compare it to a lot of other stuff and it is a great car.

[mrdemon]

GTS is nothing like a GT3 in any way, if you want a GT3 then a GTS will not fit the bill imo.

GTS is a nice car but a cut down GT3 it is not.

[Fish]

Had a Gen1 and 2 C4S 997 and decided the C4s was not enough of an event, I had PSE but found it quiet and I always drove the car with sport mode on and PSE on. Still it felt too normal. Now just got a 997.2 GT3 and what a proper car it has theatre it goes well and sounds great.

What I'm trying to say is the GTS will be good but it is not a GT3 and I concur with the above if you are looking for a GT3 I don't think a GTS will fit the bill..

[jackal]

chap coming with us to Austria just chopped his GTS in for a Gen1 and said the same thing .... worlds apart

[LukeS]

Thanks all for the constructive comments.

I guess I need to bide my time until the right GT3 comes up.
My concerns with the GT3 was that it may be too track focused to enjoy on the road and the ride may be skate board hard not just stiff.

Anyone selling a low mileage, low owner, GEN1 GT3?

Edited by LukeS on Monday 12th May 13:15

[mrdemon]

your concerns are very justified and hence why I don't want one.

[mm450exc]

LukeS said:

Thanks all for the constructive comments.

I guess I need to bide my time until the right GT3 comes up.
My concerns with the GT3 was that it may be too track focused to enjoy on the road and the ride may be skate board hard not just stiff.

Anyone selling a low mileage, low owner, GEN1 GT3?

Edited by LukeS on Monday 12th May 13:15

I thought so too. But end of the day I did not care.

My new 997.2 GT3 is way more comfortable than my old 991.1 Turbo. Shocking! The buckets are just awesome. You can spend 24hrs in there no problem.

[av185]

Interesting quandary you have OP....both are great cars for sure but chalk and cheese..as recently discussed at length on recent threads.....

Just over two years ago I was in your situation and considered either a GT3 or GTS...and bought a GTS which, to me, and after many 911s, has proved to be almost the perfect 911. Like you, I am not interested in track, the car purely being used for weekends and spirited A and B road drives for which I would consider the GTS to be as rapid as a 458, especially in the wet. Its a 2wd and PDK sport chrono although clearly some prefer the much rarer 'manuel'....

Basically, I found the 997 GT3 too hardcore, no good as a daily driver and no quicker than the GTS (for my kind of driving and road use). Regular trips to the Lake District, Wales and Scotland would be compromised and it also had severely restricted front ground clearance (even with lift) and running costs would be a lot more than the GTS.

Residually, both cars are very strong, and there has been a recent surge in GT3 prices of late due to its now 'obsolete' gearbox and 'analogue' features now lost on the 991. Good spec and mileage cars of both models sell quickly especially at OPCs....

I view my GTS as a keeper and would want to run it alongside my 991 GT3 when it arrives...:

[V8KSN]

I wanted a GT3
I bought a GT3

No other 911 appealed to me when I was looking for a replacement for my 997.1 C2S

I am VERY happy with my choice

Anyone who says they are uncomfortable is a girl

[mrdemon]

V8KSN said:

I wanted a GT3
I bought a GT3

No other 911 appealed to me when I was looking for a replacement for my 997.1 C2S

I am VERY happy with my choice

Anyone who says they are uncomfortable is a girl

And anyone who says the gear ratios work on UK B roads is a *********** **********

did you know a power pack C2S is also in fact quicker to 60 and 90 mph than a gen 1 gt3 due to having far far better/shorter ratios !!!

A GTS would prob out pace a gen 1 GT3 on UK B roads esp a PDK one.

[av185]

mrdemon said:

V8KSN said:

I wanted a GT3
I bought a GT3

No other 911 appealed to me when I was looking for a replacement for my 997.1 C2S

I am VERY happy with my choice

Anyone who says they are uncomfortable is a girl

And anyone who says the gear ratios work on UK B roads is a *********** **********

did you know a power pack C2S is also in fact quicker to 60 and 90 mph than a gen 1 gt3 due to having far far better/shorter ratios !!!

A GTS would prob out pace a gen 1 GT3 on UK B roads esp a PDK one.

After driving both I would agree with most of this.....

[V8KSN]

mrdemon said:

V8KSN said:

I wanted a GT3
I bought a GT3

No other 911 appealed to me when I was looking for a replacement for my 997.1 C2S

I am VERY happy with my choice

Anyone who says they are uncomfortable is a girl

And anyone who says the gear ratios work on UK B roads is a *********** **********

did you know a power pack C2S is also in fact quicker to 60 and 90 mph than a gen 1 gt3 due to having far far better/shorter ratios !!!

A GTS would prob out pace a gen 1 GT3 on UK B roads esp a PDK one.

I didnt mention anything about gear ratios
I dont care which one is quicker and by how many seconds
In some situations, a Clio 197 is quicker than a McLaren F1 - who cares?

Why do you always have to 'kick off' on GT3 threads?
Just because you cant drive there is no need to vent your fustration on every GT3 thread!

[AndrewO]

I'd say the GTS is more of a daily drive. I had one on the shopping list along with a 997turbo, 991pdk but at the end of the day I didn't need a daily just something for fun. The GT3 should also hold it value better but finding the right one is near impossible.

[jackal]

V8KSN said:

mrdemon said:

V8KSN said:

I wanted a GT3
I bought a GT3

No other 911 appealed to me when I was looking for a replacement for my 997.1 C2S

I am VERY happy with my choice

Anyone who says they are uncomfortable is a girl

And anyone who says the gear ratios work on UK B roads is a *********** **********

did you know a power pack C2S is also in fact quicker to 60 and 90 mph than a gen 1 gt3 due to having far far better/shorter ratios !!!

A GTS would prob out pace a gen 1 GT3 on UK B roads esp a PDK one.

I didnt mention anything about gear ratios
I dont care which one is quicker and by how many seconds
In some situations, a Clio 197 is quicker than a McLaren F1 - who cares?

Why do you always have to 'kick off' on GT3 threads?
Just because you cant drive there is no need to vent your fustration on every GT3 thread!

Don't listen to Demon. Its well documented elsewhere that his taste is pansy-like in the extreme and he can't deal with a rear engined car in general, esp. one that's a little stiffer.

The 97 Gt3 is a pussycat. Very polished, modern and comfy IMO.

People's tastes in this matter also differe wildy so always best to try out for yourself. One man's "crashy and undriveable" is another's "too soft and VAG-like" !

[fioran0]

mrdemon said:

And anyone who says the gear ratios work on UK B roads is a *********** **********

did you know a power pack C2S is also in fact quicker to 60 and 90 mph than a gen 1 gt3 due to having far far better/shorter ratios !!!

A GTS would prob out pace a gen 1 GT3 on UK B roads esp a PDK one.

Biggest
Facepalm
Ever

[Mermaid]

AndrewO said:

I'd say the GTS is more of a daily drive. I had one on the shopping list along with a 997turbo, 991pdk but at the end of the day I didn't need a daily just something for fun. The GT3 should also hold it value better but finding the right one is near impossible.

Wife & Mistress.

[supermono]

I would tend to agree that a gts is a fancy carrera with none of the history of a gt car.

It doesn't have the racing pedigree of a gt engine like a gt2,3 and turbo has but it depends on what you want. It can make a racket if you love that and it has a G and a T on the back

[supermono]

As regards comfort I just drove 160 miles in my GT2 last night in rain, shine, bumpy, smooth, open road and traffic.

Let me count the times I was wishing for the comfort of my Jaag or the old turbo or a carerra. Ok, counting them all that's a total of zero times

SM