991 GT3 purchase... advice appreciated

[phil bird]

Hi.... considering buying a Gt3 and doing my homework! i am concerned regarding the engine issues Porsche have had with the model, if i buy from opc with a two year warranty will any issues if they arise regards the engine be covered? how good is the warranty.

[breadvan]

Safest way to buy one, wouldn't stop me.

For added peace of mind, find one the dealer has known for its life, in my experience that adds another layer of goodwill if something goes wrong.

HTH

[Cheib]

Buy from an OPC rather than a specialist who has a car with an OPC Warranty....build a relationship with that OPC. Warranty is very good but it's down to an OPC whether work is covered or not so you're better having a relationship with them rather than being a total stranger. Car has to be 100% OEM for warranty claims to be valid....they may make an exception if say it was an electric window and you have a Sharkwerks exhaust but I'd personally sleep easier keeping the car 100% OEM.

[Paracetamol]

What engine issues?

Do these all rattle very loudly at idle?

[av185]

All rattle and sound like a bag of nails on tickover and low speeds.

All part of the drama. And worth it for the 9k limit. Great engine though and there won t be much difference in the gen 2 performance for road use at least.

Post c May 2014 built cars had the new revised engine factory fitted rather than earlier OPC engine swap cars which tended to lie around in compounds for a few months....so worth going for later models.

Try getting a 3 year warranty thrown in.

[breadvan]

av185 said:

All rattle and sound like a bag of nails on tickover and low speeds.

All part of the drama. And worth it for the 9k limit. Great engine though and there won t be much difference in the gen 2 performance for road use at least.

Agreed on performance but I've not heard mention of the rattle/bag of nails on the gen 2, anyone know?

[phil bird]

Thanks for info guys.. Just a bit of reassurance needed that Porsche don't give you excuses and wiggle out of a claim as many posts on pistonheads and other forums regarding the engine issues! Did the GT3 come with a 3 year warranty ? anybody know the costs of extended warranty for GT cars ? also if covers you on track or is that another policy!?

[Tony 1234]

breadvan said:

Agreed on performance but I've not heard mention of the rattle/bag of nails on the gen 2, anyone know?

I had a demo drive in a 991.1 GT3 a couple of years ago and it did indeed sound like "a bag of nails" and the shunting noise when coming off the gas was terrible!!!

So I passed on the car (£40k overs)

Hope my new car sounds better!

[Porsche911R]

phil bird said:

Thanks for info guys.. Just a bit of reassurance needed that Porsche don't give you excuses and wiggle out of a claim as many posts on pistonheads and other forums regarding the engine issues! Did the GT3 come with a 3 year warranty ? anybody know the costs of extended warranty for GT cars ? also if covers you on track or is that another policy!?

I think its a bad time to buy a 991 atm, you will get a flood of cars in the next 12 month due to the new gt3, which means more choice and lower prices.

Some GT3 came with 4 years warranty due to engine, track warranty is iffy.

[Cheib]

There will definitely be more choice of cars over the next 12 months. Whether it's a good or bad time is something I don't think is 100% defined.

If you see a car you like with the right spec/colour especially if you want say a PTS car I'd buy it. If you're after a white car I'd be in less of a hurry as it seems like 30 or 40% of 991.1 GT3's are white!

[JiggyJaggy]

When do the first 991.2 start rolling out? I have been passively looking at these also, maybe worth waiting a little. Conversely if anyone is looking to chop one in to purchase a 991.2 please let me know, I would be happy to purchase privately.

[v8ksn]

Macca (on here as well as on Rennlist) has some very detailed and in-depth knowledge and experience with the 991 GT3 engine.

Would be very much worth your time asking him for advice.

Here is some very useful information on engine codes (10th letter on the VIN) to help identify which engine your potential purchase has.

From Macca on Rennlist..... https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r...

[ralfw]

Tony 1234 said:

I had a demo drive in a 991.1 GT3 a couple of years ago and it did indeed sound like "a bag of nails" and the shunting noise when coming off the gas was terrible!!!

So I passed on the car (£40k overs)

Hope my new car sounds better!

Shunting doesn't sound right, but the sound of nails is normal due to light fly wheel and the diff, and presumably less sound deadening. I have a 991RS and was initially also surprised how noisy the transmission is, even compared to 996/7GT3. But I really like that aspect of the car.

[Flat0ut]

Porsche warranty is very good - in my experience the dealers seem to go out of their way to help you and I have dealt with 3 OPC's over the years, no particular relationship with anyone of them, its just always well handled, no quibbles etc.

All the 991 GT3's are noisy at crawling speed, down to the lightened flywheel I believe. Some people like the sound as it sounds more 'raw' but its not that bad / you get used to it. I don't think the Gen 2 has the lightened flywheel so may sound different...

Engine issues are a small percentage and tend to be the people that shout loudest, you never hear from the people who don't have issues so it gets exaggerated in my opinion. Anyway if you did have an issue its covered by the Porsche warranty that can be renewed until the car is 15 years old so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Its different in the US with warranties which seemingly can't be extended like over here.

Hardest thing is trying to get one in the colour / spec you want, particularly if its a clubsport you want as most are comfort spec. There is a high spec / low miles / 1 previous owner / Clubsport one at Bolton OPC which looks good value to me.

I bought a 991 GT3 Clubsport 6 months ago, no regrets at all, they are phenomenal cars, if anything the prices have creeped up a little since then but that could be the summer effect. when the Gen 2 comes out it will be £180k+ no doubt on used market so will make the Gen 1 look good value. I don't think there are going to be a flood of Gen 1 GT3's suddenly on the market - most of the Gen 1 owners didn't even get an allocation - me included!

[phil bird]

Porsche911R said:

I think its a bad time to buy a 991 atm, you will get a flood of cars in the next 12 month due to the new gt3, which means more choice and lower prices.

Some GT3 came with 4 years warranty due to engine, track warranty is iffy.

Agree poss better to wait as more choice would be good! A few for sale but mostly white and comfort spec. My preferred being Gt silver, Club Sport with front lift... Mr JWWs car would have been perfect but high miles. Anyone know if he still has it or sold?

[Cheib]

JiggyJaggy said:

When do the first 991.2 start rolling out? I have been passively looking at these also, maybe worth waiting a little. Conversely if anyone is looking to chop one in to purchase a 991.2 please let me know, I would be happy to purchase privately.

First .2's are being delivered in July/August I believe.

[JiggyJaggy]

phil bird said:

Porsche911R said:

I think its a bad time to buy a 991 atm, you will get a flood of cars in the next 12 month due to the new gt3, which means more choice and lower prices.

Some GT3 came with 4 years warranty due to engine, track warranty is iffy.

Agree poss better to wait as more choice would be good! A few for sale but mostly white and comfort spec. My preferred being Gt silver, Club Sport with front lift... Mr JWWs car would have been perfect but high miles. Anyone know if he still has it or sold?

@phil_bird I think this sold through GVE?

@ Cheib thanks mate, and helps to put this on ice for a little while.

[phil bird]

JiggyJaggy said:

@phil_bird I think this sold through GVE?

@ Cheib thanks mate, and helps to put this on ice for a little while.

Just looked on GVE facebook page and yes does look like they sold it without even advertising it!

[IREvans]

phil bird said:

Hi.... considering buying a Gt3 and doing my homework! i am concerned regarding the engine issues Porsche have had with the model, if i buy from opc with a two year warranty will any issues if they arise regards the engine be covered? how good is the warranty.

I've had two 991 GT3s, and a 991RS. The 1st GT3 needed to have a replacement engine, and the 2nd was delivered with the revised engine. I did several thousand miles in each car, and never had a problem. I wouldn't concern yourself over the engine issues, the problems appear to have been fully resolved - there are some cases of more failures, but these seem to be minimal.

If I was buying now, I would only buy from an OPC with a full 2 year warranty. I seem to remember that all cars were delivered with 3 year warranties, but were extended by Porsche after the engine replacement campaign, with 4 year warranties...A chat with your local OPC will clarify this.

I've never needed to claim against a warranty, I've never had a problem, so can't comment on how good the warranty is. Stick to the rules, and I'm led to believe it's ok.....

[Tony 1234]

ralfw said:

Tony 1234 said:

I had a demo drive in a 991.1 GT3 a couple of years ago and it did indeed sound like "a bag of nails" and the shunting noise when coming off the gas was terrible!!!

So I passed on the car (£40k overs)

Hope my new car sounds better!

Shunting doesn't sound right, but the sound of nails is normal due to light fly wheel and the diff, and presumably less sound deadening. I have a 991RS and was initially also surprised how noisy the transmission is, even compared to 996/7GT3. But I really like that aspect of the car.

I think the "shunting noise" was because of the single mass flywheel, new car has a duel mass flywheel which should stop the shunting noise I understand?

Edited by Tony 1234 on Wednesday 3rd May 09:14