997 turbo or 997 gt3?
Discussion
How long would you keep the car? Buying an old GT3 as a 12k per year daily driver doesn’t make any sense to me, and you will be burning big £ in depreciation each year with high maintenance costs and a harsh ride for every day. Definitely consider a Turbo or 997 GTS if you really want a daily 911. The Turbo does the job particularly well in all weathers with the GTS not far behind. Better still get yourself a GT3 for the weekend and something like a low mileage 1 litre ecoboost Ford Focus/Fiesta as your daily that will cost under £8k and give you over 100k miles of cheap happy motoring!
Made a similar decision 18 months ago...
- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
Evening
Sold my 997.1 GT3 earlier this year after 9 months and 1200 Miles....
Fantastic car and an absolute event every time you drive it.
Problem is it’s not often enough and it can be hard work s a daily . The clutch is soooo heavy and the car can ware you down. On a open uncongested road or track it’s perfect.
Now own a manual 997.1 Turbo which is ferrying me to le mans this week. Much less of an occasion but much easier to live with and faster in the real world.....
Came from a 997 C2S myself.... brilliant car
Sold my 997.1 GT3 earlier this year after 9 months and 1200 Miles....
Fantastic car and an absolute event every time you drive it.
Problem is it’s not often enough and it can be hard work s a daily . The clutch is soooo heavy and the car can ware you down. On a open uncongested road or track it’s perfect.
Now own a manual 997.1 Turbo which is ferrying me to le mans this week. Much less of an occasion but much easier to live with and faster in the real world.....
Came from a 997 C2S myself.... brilliant car
ispcarsurvey said:
Made a similar decision 18 months ago...
- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
Interesting. What’s your annual mileage in the car?- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
c4sman said:
ispcarsurvey said:
Made a similar decision 18 months ago...
- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
Interesting. What’s your annual mileage in the car?- 997.2 turbo. Fast but lacked noise/sense of occasion. Was convinced it was the car I would buy. Disappointed...
- 997 GTS. Test drove the same day as the turbo. Preferred it to the turbo (to my surprise). But so close to GT3 money...
- 997.1 GT3. Everything I hoped it would be and bought one. Fitted rear seat belts so it’s just as practical for kids (actually more space as no seat bolsters). Also added a sharkwerks bypass pipe which sounds great - normal mode equivalent of sport mode before and sport mode has loads of interesting noises happening. Ride is firm but not unpleasant. Clutch is heavy if you’re in traffic.
The main thing that the gen 2s have is the improved Sat Nav/stereo. In all honesty, I never use the stereo as the engine is all you’ll want to hear.
My advice. Buy a GT3.
I’d agree that if using every day and your commute includes lots of traffic/queues it wouldn’t be ideal. Also it’s not a fan of speed bumps or steep inclines (car parks) as the front splitter catches. But it’s less than £200 for a new one.
But as soon as you’re away from queues, speed bumps and car parks you’ll be happy with your choice.
AndrewO said:
Had a 997.1 gt3 and now the 997.1 turbo but if I was buying again I’d go for a late 997 c4s and use it more.
Gt3 is too low for a daily and both are mileage sensitive.
driven all extensively inc the 997 gts, owned a c4s.Gt3 is too low for a daily and both are mileage sensitive.
I'd go for the gt3 personally tbh, they are just so much fun. the c4s is actually imo quite a boring car but makes an alright daily
Working on the premise that we are all going to be in a box a lot longer than we are going to be here I'd pack as many thrills into each day as you could. Buy the GT3 and drive it every day. When you get old and start dribbling maybe buy a golf as well - or some plastic battery on wheels more likely by then - and drive the GT3 at weekends only. Oh and at track days as well of course
Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff