997GT3 questions

[grant3]

Does any one know exactly what leather "bits" are standard on the new GT3?
Porsche aren't very clear, beyond saying leather & alcantara sports seats, what about dash front/top, door tops etc, leather, leatherette or alcantara, have seen plenty of photos of the interior, but you can't tell if they show standard or the usual option fest!

I must be the odd one out because I don't like white,and dark colours are always dirty the second you drive 3 inches, they also show all the marks & scratches, any thoughts on the following colours appreciated ............

Arctic silver..always looks clean, pork racing colours, doesn't show marks a much, looks great but fancy a change!

Cobalt Blue.. looks stunning in some light, but a bit tarty in others? What about re-sale?

Guards Red.. wouldn't normally consider red, but the GT3 & RS4 look tasty in red, is coming back in?

>> Edited by grant3 on Saturday 20th May 18:24

>> Edited by grant3 on Saturday 20th May 18:24

[forthright MC]

i think i would go for Midnight Blue Met with the racing seats and the sand beige leather/carpets (if it is available on the GT3 that is!) i passengered in a 996 TT X50 in that combo and it looked fantastic and i think it would look great on the 997 GT3 too.
good luck with the GT3 if you decide to get one, i hear it is a fantastic car!
FMC.

[sammy]

Not sure about the leather - and neither is my dealer suprise, suprise!
Was convinced I was going for white/clubsport. Now I've seen the red which looks good. Think that orange would look good too. Hate to say it because I want a change but............think silver would work well too. Doh! My dealer doesn't think that there will be many different colours at June 3rd launch either although surely some of the race series cars that will be there must be different colours?

[JFT]

Nothing in leather is standard. Everything is plastic (soft touch paint) or leatherette. Full leather interior is a nice and necessary option for teh GT3 if you ask me.

[Geneve]

JFT said:

Nothing in leather is standard. Everything is plastic (soft touch paint) or leatherette. Full leather interior is a nice and necessary option for teh GT3 if you ask me.

I'd disagree.

By its very nature, the GT3 should be functional and durable with no more superfluous luxury items than necessary.

I even prefer the non-PCM centre console. It's easier and more intuitive to use, and the PCM screen just looks like something from Amstrad. And a portable sat nav would probably do a better job.

The biggest issue is PCCBs. The new GT3 was designed around this latest generation set up and all the factory test cars have them. I've been told by one authority that the steering, braking, handling and ride are all at their vey best with PCCBs. Without them you will not get the optimum GT3.

[sammy]

Geneve said:

JFT said: Nothing in leather is standard. Everything is plastic (soft touch paint) or leatherette. Full leather interior is a nice and necessary option for teh GT3 if you ask me. I'd disagree. By its very nature, the GT3 should be functional and durable with no more superfluous luxury items than necessary. I even prefer the non-PCM centre console. It's easier and more intuitive to use, and the PCM screen just looks like something from Amstrad. And a portable sat nav would probably do a better job. The biggest issue is PCCBs. The new GT3 was designed around this latest generation set up and all the factory test cars have them. I've been told by one authority that the steering, braking, handling and ride are all at their vey best with PCCBs. Without them you will not get the optimum GT3.

Completely agree re. trim. I'm going for Clubsport pack. I think leather etc. goes against whole ethos of GT3. I've also heard same comments re. new PCCBs but am still being warned off them for track work and by my dealer who still thinks they'll be worthless - or worse - on resale.

[Grant3]

[redacted]

[sammy]

Grant3 said:

I agree about the Ceramics, but just can't bring myself to part with the money when durability is such an issue, just ask some of the GT2 guys (e.g. Guy)! Also the standard brakes are so good & have been uprated for the 997! I realise unsprung weight is improved, but how much difference will you actually feel? Back to leather, I agree to a certain extent about the "functional racing feel" for the GT3, so will keep the alcantara wheel rather than the NCO leather one, but I still want the interior to look special, sort of "classy racy"!!!! So am pondering the 1600 squid for extra leather. At the moment am thinking no, but wanted to ask you guys your thoughts.. I used to be indecisive but I'm not sure now!! Obviously the way a car drives is the most important thing, but also the way it looks outside & feels inside is all part of the bonding process

I reckon anyone walking towards a new GT3 will be thinking 'wow I want a closer look'. IMO if the interior is standard Porsche interior with leather etc. it won't follow up on exterior promise - Clubsport pack with cage and buckets on the other hand will look the business. It'll pay dividends at the 'Ring etc. too and make ownership that bit more special - I don't want it to feel like my 997S. I'm not going for PCCBs - they take the car from £86k to over £90k - and the standard brakes won't exactly be rubbish! Plus I'm sure a specialist will upgrade them for a lot less than the £5k PCCBs cost. Know all about reducing unsprung weight etc. but I'll live with missing out on that.

[JFT]

Geneve said:

I'd disagree. By its very nature, the GT3 should be functional and durable with no more superfluous luxury items than necessary. I even prefer the non-PCM centre console. It's easier and more intuitive to use, and the PCM screen just looks like something from Amstrad. And a portable sat nav would probably do a better job. The biggest issue is PCCBs. The new GT3 was designed around this latest generation set up and all the factory test cars have them. I've been told by one authority that the steering, braking, handling and ride are all at their vey best with PCCBs. Without them you will not get the optimum GT3.

It's a matter of personal taste of course. I for one do not consider full leather interior a "superflous luxury item". It really adds the needed ambience to a $100k+ car. Just because it's very fast and sporty doesn't mean it needs to look cheap inside. After all, it's not an Elise we're buying. But, again, each to his own.

Fully agree with you about PCM though. Ugly and unneccesary. I will get a separate portable Satnav (new Blaupunkt unit looks good). On PCM my dealer, who himself owns a 996 GT3 RS, has warned me against them. He has seen a lot of failures and doesn't have it on his car. No worries about handling "needing" them to get the maximum out of the 997 GT3. The test cars are all specced with them to make sure buyers like us spec them (for a fortune). Don't get me wrong - they are amazing when they don't break - but so are the standard items. If money is no object it's a nice, but not necessary option.