Possibly crazy? Cup car purchase...
Discussion
I'm possibly crazy but... I've just sold my 996.2 GT3 CS and bought a 997.2 Cup Car. I've been researching them for a little while and I know I'm in for a big learning curve but that was part of the attraction. Its a scratch that I felt I had to itch. There is something about the purity and the fact that its completely fit for purpose that I find very appealing...
The car is a 2011 997.2 Cup but I think it was first run in 2012. It won the British Carrera Cup in 2013. GT Marques ran the car for most of its life. It was re shelled in 2014. It now has a Holinger paddle shift system fitted. It has 21hrs on the engine and 6hrs on the gear box since full rebuilds and 6hrs on the drive shafts. It has a vbox fitted and a spare passenger seat along with a bunch of spares... front and rear bumpers, splitters, clutch, radiator, discs, pads, wheel bearings, etc, etc. And 16 wheels that all need a proper cleaning!
A cup car purchase has been on my mind for over a year. I've tried to go into the purchase with my eyes open. Maintenance is one thing but I also want to learn to drive it properly... I'm planning on just doing some track days to begin with.
A cup car purchase has been on my mind for over a year. I've tried to go into the purchase with my eyes open. Maintenance is one thing but I also want to learn to drive it properly... I'm planning on just doing some track days to begin with.
Congrats. I have a 2013 997.2 cup, but I haven't done the paddle shift conversion and am still running without ABS. They are fantastic things. Nothing can come close to them imo. Who is going to run it for you?
I'll now only use mine on test days or race car only days / private track days, as the closing speeds are so high you fail to get a clear lap in as you are constantly driving round slower traffic. There are a few of us that have them that get out and play together, it would be great to have another cup car owner out as well.
I'll now only use mine on test days or race car only days / private track days, as the closing speeds are so high you fail to get a clear lap in as you are constantly driving round slower traffic. There are a few of us that have them that get out and play together, it would be great to have another cup car owner out as well.
Cool car but brave one!
Running costs will be very high if you want to keep it performing it’s best.
I admire cars like this but any racing car will have been trashed to the max, more so it it won races. If yours has been rebuilt fully than that’s cool but if not maybe not ideal.
If you can afford it enjoy it, it will be much more connected on a track day for sure. Like you said take your time to learn it. Are you going to use Cup spec tyres as well? If so that’s were I would start the learning, pressures, operating temperatures and how to keep them on the sweet spot.
Running costs will be very high if you want to keep it performing it’s best.
I admire cars like this but any racing car will have been trashed to the max, more so it it won races. If yours has been rebuilt fully than that’s cool but if not maybe not ideal.
If you can afford it enjoy it, it will be much more connected on a track day for sure. Like you said take your time to learn it. Are you going to use Cup spec tyres as well? If so that’s were I would start the learning, pressures, operating temperatures and how to keep them on the sweet spot.
CrgT16 said:
Cool car but brave one!
Running costs will be very high if you want to keep it performing it’s best.
I admire cars like this but any racing car will have been trashed to the max, more so it it won races. If yours has been rebuilt fully than that’s cool but if not maybe not ideal.
If you can afford it enjoy it, it will be much more connected on a track day for sure. Like you said take your time to learn it. Are you going to use Cup spec tyres as well? If so that’s were I would start the learning, pressures, operating temperatures and how to keep them on the sweet spot.
The car had an in depth inspection by a Cup Car specialist. Running costs will be very high if you want to keep it performing it’s best.
I admire cars like this but any racing car will have been trashed to the max, more so it it won races. If yours has been rebuilt fully than that’s cool but if not maybe not ideal.
If you can afford it enjoy it, it will be much more connected on a track day for sure. Like you said take your time to learn it. Are you going to use Cup spec tyres as well? If so that’s were I would start the learning, pressures, operating temperatures and how to keep them on the sweet spot.
Numptie beginners question (so go easy) 
What's the main differences? I've heard of "cup" cars although mainly when looking at the various Lotus Exige models, and I've got an idea of what a 997 GT3 would give (I've driven a 996 GT3 but decided the Turbo was better for me) but I'm guessing there's a major step up somewhere?
What's the main differences? I've heard of "cup" cars although mainly when looking at the various Lotus Exige models, and I've got an idea of what a 997 GT3 would give (I've driven a 996 GT3 but decided the Turbo was better for me) but I'm guessing there's a major step up somewhere?
renmure said:
Numptie beginners question (so go easy)
What's the main differences? I've heard of "cup" cars although mainly when looking at the various Lotus Exige models, and I've got an idea of what a 997 GT3 would give (I've driven a 996 GT3 but decided the Turbo was better for me) but I'm guessing there's a major step up somewhere?
It's the factory built race car used in carrera cup. What's the main differences? I've heard of "cup" cars although mainly when looking at the various Lotus Exige models, and I've got an idea of what a 997 GT3 would give (I've driven a 996 GT3 but decided the Turbo was better for me) but I'm guessing there's a major step up somewhere?
Okay...I know absolutely sweet FA about these things apart from they are bloody expensive to maintain so thus relatively cheap to purchase for what you’re getting !
Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
Cheib said:
Okay...I know absolutely sweet FA about these things apart from they are bloody expensive to maintain so thus relatively cheap to purchase for what you’re getting !
Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
If using it as a toy and not racing it I think you'd be pleasantly surprised on the running costs vs. tracking your own road car. The capital value of cup cars is pretty static. Comparing the running costs vs what it would cost to do the same in your road car is not that dissimilar when you consider the depreciation and wear and tear on your road car (assuming you are tracking a GT3 or RS). Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
Cheib said:
Okay...I know absolutely sweet FA about these things apart from they are bloody expensive to maintain so thus relatively cheap to purchase for what you’re getting !
Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
Prior to the introduction of the 991, the engines were basically the same as those in the roadgoing GT3 equivalent. The main differences being the lack of Variocam, different inlet cams, larger ports in the cylinder heads, and cable (rather than FBW) throttle actuation. Their claimed power outputs were usually understated...Looking at the engine specs output they aren’t that different from the GT3 road cars ? I assume they’re much more rev hungry than the road car engine. If you bought one of these cars would it totally ruin the experience to put an engine in that doesn’t need rebuilding as often ?
The 2009 Cup engine I put in my Mk1 996 GT3 road car was rated at 420hp :
though in reality they ran at closer to 440 according to Wayne Schofield. By the time he'd mapped it, arrived at the best strategy for the two resonance flaps in the inlet plenum, worked out a way to drive them, and we'd fitted some far superior exhaust manifolds, it produced a very healthy 465hp at 8400 rpm.
Quite the Q car ...
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