Newbie with a 996 GT2

[SpeedYellow]

Hi guys,

Well I've been lurking in the background reading all the posts whilst making a decision on what to buy and after a long time thinking made the decision to go with a GT2. Finally found the car I wanted and am now the proud owner of a Speed Yellow GT2 Club Sport.

The first question I've got for everyone is about wheels and tyres....

When the tyres need replacement (very soon I think after already putting 2K miles on the car) what are the best for road use and only a couple of track sessions a year???

Also I can get hold of 19" tyres very cheaply but not 18"s.... is it worth changing to 19"? Anyone done this? Are there any issues? Can only get 295's in 19" is the first potential problem?

Thanks for all your help!

[verysideways]

first of all, Welcome!
secondly, YOU LUCKY B*GGER! Nice car...


Now, on the subject of tyres, within the last couple of weeks people have mentioned Chris Harris (Autocar journo) who mentioned GT2 tyres recently.

I'm sure if you search the porsche forum using the excellent search facility and use the words:
chris harris gt2 tyres
you'll get all the info you need.

As for 19's - anyone?

VS

[SpeedYellow]

Saw the info from autocar, they were talking about the Pirelli Corsa's, the same tyres I had on my GT3RS, great tyres, but didn't last well on the RS... on the GT2 I think you'd be lucky to see 4K miles from the rears? Or maybe that's what I should be expecting???

[verysideways]

Well my 993 C4S on my favourite all rounders, the Conti SportContact N2's, was going through rears every 6000 miles and fronts every 12000. I am guessing my turbo will be a little harder on these (considering i've got the same footprint and brakes but with 408bhp instead of 285!).
So i reckon a GT2 using a pair of rears in 4k miles means you're using the car properly!

My Fireblade used to go through a rear tyre in 1500 miles, and i'de wear it out equally across the whole width, sidewall to sidewall...

VS

[911nutter]

welcome and congratulations on your new purchase... was it the one from specialist cars of malton? good spec car that one... i seriously considered it for a while. i went through the tyre thinking process myself. i have now accepted that they cost a lot and will be parting with best part of £850 for the four. a car this powerful needs the right tyres. you don't want to end up in a ditch wearing 295's... you'll forever be thinking 'what if...'

are you going to be tracking the car? be rude not to really... any pics too?

[SpeedYellow]

Yes it is the one from specialist cars, looked around all the OPC's and must say most of the cars were strange specs and some were looking very tired. This was is truely mint, only 4K miles, Porsche warranty and even has the Becker Sat Nav (girlfriend arguement avoidance system!). Must say I can recommend Specialist cars to anyone, cleanest car I've ever bought! (including new ones!).

Booked in for the Vmax in July at the moment and of course the annual road trip to Le Mans is happening and one evening at bedford in July are planned at the moment.

After a Mk1 GT3 and a GT3RS I can't beleive just how fast and engaging the GT2 is, very scarey too but that's part of the charm. I'd beleived all the hype and not driven one.... anyone who out there who still thinks these are bad cars needs to drive one. Very different from a GT3, too different for a real comparison but rewarding in a very different way.

Better start shopping for tyres then....

www.bm3w.co.uk/ug/showgallery.php?ppuser=5472

Some poor quality pics taken on day one... will post some better ones soon.

[granville]

Hail to thee, you must have g'nads the size of your home county!

[911nutter]

SpeedYellow said:

Booked in for the Vmax in July at the moment and of course the annual road trip to Le Mans is happening and one evening at bedford in July are planned at the moment.

good man! hopefully see you at all three and we can compare notes / near death experiences etc.

[dazren]

Nice one, look forward to seeing it in July. Sounds like we're going to have at least four GT2s at VMAX.

DAZ

[johnny senna]

Well done Speed Yellow, congrats!!

[GT3 Rob]

SpeedYellow said:

... Very different from a GT3, too different for a real comparison but rewarding in a very different way.

Hi SY
Congrats on new purchase..
How would you describe the GT2 being so different from the GT3.?
The cars are very similar in layout and weight, GT2 having more low down torque and overall power.. just curious question on your views.?
Does the GT2 have the same initial understeer of the GT3.?

Cheers
Rob

[speedyellow]

This is a difficult one to answer, why two cars that are basically the same bar a couple of turbo's can feel so different... but...

Steering feel and turn in seems to be mid way between the GT3 and the RS, some understeer but as with the RS can be totally controlled with the throttle peddle. This is where the big difference comes, the GT2's turbo's mean that there is lag and wooliness in the power delivery which makes playing the throttle to adjust the balance a much more challenging concept, but with the extra width and rubber at the back end, when it does hook up it seems to dig in even harder than the 3 (guess all that extra weight is back there as well pressing down), but it is more difficult to sense when it is going to slide!!!

Thing that has amazed me after all of the comments from the press about the car, is when it does slide, you really can control it just like the GT3, takes lots of effort and feather light touch on throttle, but it is a very controlable car.... (you watch it will be in a hedge or barrier within a week! lol).

I could drive a GT3 hard and get 8-9/10ths out of it quite easily... The GT2.... well I know I'm slower than I would be in a GT3 at the moment, but god is it fun to be at 6/10th of the cars abilities and have to really work at it!