GT2 Widowmaker?
Discussion
I have been considering a GT2 to replace my Turbo - they are incredible value at the moment. But i have always been put off by the "widowmaker" tag.
Just how lethal are they ? Do you have to be a prof racing driver to drive one?
Would be interested to hear from any GT2 drivers - not so much performance feedback but how/what they are like to live with / ride quality / day to day use / how sure-footed they are esp in winter months in wet/slippery conditions etc.
Thanks
Rump
Just how lethal are they ? Do you have to be a prof racing driver to drive one?
Would be interested to hear from any GT2 drivers - not so much performance feedback but how/what they are like to live with / ride quality / day to day use / how sure-footed they are esp in winter months in wet/slippery conditions etc.
Thanks
Rump
Lots of power, turbo torque, no safety devices, fat low profile tyres... of course it's going to be a handful in the wet or on icy roads. If you want to tiptoe everywhere I'm sure it's fine. If you want to put your foot down, say hello to the badgers.
In the dry they seem fine from all reports.
Steve R/Guy R will be along with some better qualified observations soon, I hope
In the dry they seem fine from all reports.
Steve R/Guy R will be along with some better qualified observations soon, I hope
Can't see what the problem is...unless somebody was trading up from a 100bhp front wheel drive hot hatch in which case there might be some surprises and trouble ahead, but then only for the unwary or foolhardy. Surely a new owner would explore the envelope? If someone takes a 996 GT2 out on a cold wet greasy road autumn hoon and boots it into the first tree lined bend, that's up to them. Big torque rwd Porsches are drivers' cars not widowmakers.
GT2's are not that hard to drive and nowhere near as mad as a bike. So in the great scheme of things they are a pussycat. I drove one in the wet and was shocked at how easy it was to drive after all the horror stories.
Personally unless you can't drive for toffee don't worry about it and get one.
Personally unless you can't drive for toffee don't worry about it and get one.
GT2'S are not a nice car to drive in ''my opinion'' , i sold mine less than 2mth's of ownership and bought a GT3RS , yes they are good value for money but me ''personally'' think the GT3RS is 100% better to drive , handling, driving position, etc etc etc. The GT2 seems to do its own thing when going into bends at high speeds , where as the GT3RS seems to go exactly where you point it,i love the thing and would not change the car for anything , ive owned some hot porsche's and never have i drove a car with as much feedback as the GT3RS gives you , certainly makes you more confident at driving supercars. Anyway whatever you choose enjoy it !! ......keith
They are incredibly fast, no question about it.
If you are on a smooth road or track its great fun... managed to spin on start finish straight at Donny in the wet.... just on the gas too much too early.
Anyway, you do have to be careful using large dollops of throttle on undulating roads because there is little movement in the suspension and you will leave the ground much easier and if on the throttle you will spin up the rears.
Basically you cannot drive this car simply by putting your foot flat down, you have to feel the road and grip level and be constantly making small throttle adjustments but its brill and well worth the challenge, previous turbo4 was like driving a Hillman Avenger
>> Edited by porsche4life on Friday 11th November 22:00
If you are on a smooth road or track its great fun... managed to spin on start finish straight at Donny in the wet.... just on the gas too much too early.
Anyway, you do have to be careful using large dollops of throttle on undulating roads because there is little movement in the suspension and you will leave the ground much easier and if on the throttle you will spin up the rears.
Basically you cannot drive this car simply by putting your foot flat down, you have to feel the road and grip level and be constantly making small throttle adjustments but its brill and well worth the challenge, previous turbo4 was like driving a Hillman Avenger
>> Edited by porsche4life on Friday 11th November 22:00
This widowmaker stuff is just nonesense. No, you can't take liberties, but you know that. You drive to the conditions. Personally I think it's safer because there's no safety net giving a misplaced sense of invincibility. Depends what you want. If you want to tear into a corner in the wet at stupid speed knowing if you make a balls of it, the car will sort it out (probably!) keep the turbo.
Personally I prefer to be in control, no matter how crap a driver I am. I don't wnat to put my life in the hands of a device I can't see and don't understand. You might be different.
Ride is hard...no getting away from that.
I had mine out in the snow last year (not on purpose!) but it was fine. Traction control device that's fitted to my right leg seemed to work without any problems. Certainly better than the big saloons I've been caught out in in similar circumstances.
Personally I prefer to be in control, no matter how crap a driver I am. I don't wnat to put my life in the hands of a device I can't see and don't understand. You might be different.
Ride is hard...no getting away from that.
I had mine out in the snow last year (not on purpose!) but it was fine. Traction control device that's fitted to my right leg seemed to work without any problems. Certainly better than the big saloons I've been caught out in in similar circumstances.
they are not everyday cars, they are track day cars. the ride is too firm for sunday blatts round country road and it will bounce you out of line easily. they are also so low to the ground that you can't get them over speed bumps, and don't even think about going into car parks.
i bought one, had a driver training day at millbrook to explore its limits, but still ended up sideways on a country road. the training saved me from a hedge, but to this day i'm still not too sure how it happened.
my advice is that unless you intend to track it don't get one. don't let vanity put you upside down in a hedgerow.
i bought one, had a driver training day at millbrook to explore its limits, but still ended up sideways on a country road. the training saved me from a hedge, but to this day i'm still not too sure how it happened.
my advice is that unless you intend to track it don't get one. don't let vanity put you upside down in a hedgerow.
[
slight exaggeration.. std is 462bhp or 483bhp for later ones[/quote]
The cars Miracle refers to are 993 GT2 which have been brought to 550 plus by various routes , couple started life at 430 bhp the other is an EVO which had 450bhp....................in Germany people went for 600 plus on these cars mainly with RS [Rheinhold Schmerle ]who really knew his stuff and also how to charge for it !
slight exaggeration.. std is 462bhp or 483bhp for later ones[/quote]
The cars Miracle refers to are 993 GT2 which have been brought to 550 plus by various routes , couple started life at 430 bhp the other is an EVO which had 450bhp....................in Germany people went for 600 plus on these cars mainly with RS [Rheinhold Schmerle ]who really knew his stuff and also how to charge for it !
Rob_T said:
they are not everyday cars, they are track day cars. the ride is too firm for sunday blatts round country road and it will bounce you out of line easily. they are also so low to the ground that you can't get them over speed bumps, and don't even think about going into car parks.
i bought one, had a driver training day at millbrook to explore its limits, but still ended up sideways on a country road. the training saved me from a hedge, but to this day i'm still not too sure how it happened.
my advice is that unless you intend to track it don't get one. don't let vanity put you upside down in a hedgerow.
Agree on the ride but not on the lowness. Not had any significant problems with spped bumps or anything else.
IMO it's the best looking car in the 996 range by many a mile, and definitely the fastest...and the biggest bargain. These may be important considerations.
sambaman said:
GT2'S are not a nice car to drive in ''my opinion'' , i sold mine less than 2mth's of ownership and bought a GT3RS , yes they are good value for money but me ''personally'' think the GT3RS is 100% better to drive , handling, driving position, etc etc etc. The GT2 seems to do its own thing when going into bends at high speeds , where as the GT3RS seems to go exactly where you point it,i love the thing and would not change the car for anything , ive owned some hot porsche's and never have i drove a car with as much feedback as the GT3RS gives you , certainly makes you more confident at driving supercars. Anyway whatever you choose enjoy it !! ......keith
GT2's do need the suspension adjusted to personal preferences, standard setup is OK for some people, not others, but it is totally adjustable so it will handle and turn in however you want it too, so don't make that a deciding factor. The driving position is strange... having had both from behind the wheel the only difference I know of is the nice bit of leather on the dash of the GT rather than plastic on the RS. Both are great cars, but need driving is different ways....
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