GT3 or RS?..again

[Mid life]

Its decision time as I have to decide on the Spec for my RS. Having read numerous articles I'd be interested in anyones views on the following:
- are Ceramic brakes a good idea if if its going to be used predominantly for Track Days. When I had my previous 996 RS they got a bit of a slating
- Autocar seemed to suggest the gearing was too high and that there is a lower gearing option. Any views?
- You can now have the RS in White (at over £2,000!). What do you think- that or Orange?


Finally..please remind me why I should get the RS rather than the GT3 Club Sport!?

[glenn mcmenamin]

Mid life said:

Its decision time as I have to decide on the Spec for my RS. Having read numerous articles I'd be interested in anyones views on the following:
- are Ceramic brakes a good idea if if its going to be used predominantly for Track Days. When I had my previous 996 RS they got a bit of a slating
- Autocar seemed to suggest the gearing was too high and that there is a lower gearing option. Any views?
- You can now have the RS in White (at over £2,000!). What do you think- that or Orange?


Finally..please remind me why I should get the RS rather than the GT3 Club Sport!?

The performnce of the ceramics is great, but nobody knows about track life expectations yet, but you need to
expect to replace them at some time or other that's for sure.

Haven't read the Autocar review, but i thought the new gearing is lower than the previous model... ?

White looks fab on a GT3, but i think one of the main reasons of going for the RS is because it is more lairy, so this should be reflected in the colour IMO
And £2k is a total piss take for plain White !!!


I would only consider going RS if:

1. you can really afford the extra.
2. you will mainly be using the car on track.


My 0.02p


G.

Edited by glenn mcmenamin on Friday 9th February 12:05

[Rob_R]

Mid life said:

Its decision time as I have to decide on the Spec for my RS. Having read numerous articles I'd be interested in anyones views on the following:
- are Ceramic brakes a good idea if if its going to be used predominantly for Track Days. When I had my previous 996 RS they got a bit of a slating
- Autocar seemed to suggest the gearing was too high and that there is a lower gearing option. Any views?
- You can now have the RS in White (at over £2,000!). What do you think- that or Orange?


Finally..please remind me why I should get the RS rather than the GT3 Club Sport!?

Ceramics is a tough one. If cost is going to concern you (the pads are pricey too) then just go for the standard disks they are already well up to the task.

Gearing is fine IMO. Pulls very strongly through all the gears.

Colour is a personal choice.

As for your last question; just how serious are you about driving the car? If you are very serious then nothing other than an RS will do. Mind the GT3 CS is a very decent car. It's just that the RS has that extra something, it feels super special.

[993rsr]

Rob_R said:

Mid life said:

Its decision time as I have to decide on the Spec for my RS. Having read numerous articles I'd be interested in anyones views on the following:
- are Ceramic brakes a good idea if if its going to be used predominantly for Track Days. When I had my previous 996 RS they got a bit of a slating
- Autocar seemed to suggest the gearing was too high and that there is a lower gearing option. Any views?
- You can now have the RS in White (at over £2,000!). What do you think- that or Orange?


Finally..please remind me why I should get the RS rather than the GT3 Club Sport!?

Ceramics is a tough one. If cost is going to concern you (the pads are pricey too)- Not sure on the GT3 but a set for a CGT is under £400 before the dreaded. then just go for the standard disks they are already well up to the task.

Gearing is fine IMO. Pulls very strongly through all the gears.

Colour is a personal choice.

As for your last question; just how serious are you about driving the car? If you are very serious then nothing other than an RS will do. Mind the GT3 CS is a very decent car. It's just that the RS has that extra something, it feels super special.

[Geneve]

I think I'd rather have a GT3 CS with PCCBs than a GT3 RS with steels.

[Bryanston]

I had the same dilemma and in the end went for the same specification as the RS in the initial Autocar roadtest:

Orange (£1500!)
Xenons
Chrono pack
Ceramics
Colour centre console

[b7ett]

Do you go for the ceramics for the weight saving or the extra braking ability ? as aftermarket Alcons etc seem to be the preferred option at replacement time. Is the weight saving (un-sprung weight and all that) noticable ? if not really I think steels will be my choice.
Also are Xenons worth £800 if the cars not gonna see much nightime use.

[DanH]

What extra braking ability on ceramics?

[Geneve]

Porsche's 'claimed' benefits for the PCCBs over the standard steel brakes, on the latest GT3, are:

- Faster response
- Shorter braking distances ("even in the toughest road and race conditions"
- "Low levels of fade due to consistent friction values"
- "High safety resreves under high levels of stress"
- Longer life
- No corrosion
- No brake dust
- Reduced unsprung weight (for improved ride and handling)

I haven't used mine on track yet, but even on the road they are incredibly impressive. I'd even have them on a Boxster.

[clubsport]

When PCCB are specified on the car, it comes with larger discs than the standard steel...surely that must improve braking performance slightly.

[Glenn McMenamin]

clubsport said:

When PCCB are specified on the car, it comes with larger discs than the standard steel...surely that must improve braking performance slightly.

The caliper is larger, as is the disc (380mm vs 350mm) so this should in turn
result in stronger retardation.

[Mid life]

Thanks for that. RS it is then!. My dealer specifically told me the orange was a standard no cost option but will now defer to one who has actually paid for it! Autocar said although the 3 to 6th gearing is closer on the 997 the first 2 gears are longer (2nd goes to 84mph!). Still milling over those ceramics though - from a replacement cost point of view

[Glenn McMenamin]

Mid life said:

Thanks for that. RS it is then!. My dealer specifically told me the orange was a standard no cost option but will now defer to one who has actually paid for it! Autocar said although the 3 to 6th gearing is closer on the 997 the first 2 gears are longer (2nd goes to 84mph!). Still milling over those ceramics though - from a replacement cost point of view

2nd could be longer as the car revs to 8400 now instead of 8200rpm

[bund]

Someone at Porsche Reading said to me that having ceramics could be a reason for them not to bid on a car when it comes to buying back. We were talking about 997 GT3's at the time.

When i said i'd heard a lot of problems from the 996 RS's owners(on here) they said they had never heard of them . If that is the case why would having ceramics stop them bidding on a car?

[Bryanston]

I've only had the car a few months and haven't had it on the track but the brakes are a quantum leap over the GT3 MK11 with steels (standard disc with Padgid pads/upgraded fluid). The standard colours are silver and black, anything else you pay extra. I believe that the Xenons are essential particularly if you do European road trips or if you like making progress...also helps resale in my opinion.

[DanH]

Glenn McMenamin said:

clubsport said:

When PCCB are specified on the car, it comes with larger discs than the standard steel...surely that must improve braking performance slightly.

The caliper is larger, as is the disc (380mm vs 350mm) so this should in turn
result in stronger retardation.

But the standard system is limited by tyre grip not the calliper/disk anyway, unless the extra mass of the 997 has suddenly tipped the balance vs a 996 (but I suspect not!).

They made similar claims about the 996 system, but it never stood up to close examination in any tests that I saw. It was in one of the german mags.

I'm sure the brakes are good, and will benefit from the greater stability of the new model. Jack G who posts on here didn't like them compared to the 996 version at Brands on Monday though. They were also starting to show the same flecks on the material that mine exhibited and which caused me to box them up for safe keeping.

Edited by DanH on Friday 9th February 17:44

[clubsport]

Agree PCCB have yet to be proven for use by the trackday hobbyist.....
I doubt there is a question of grip with the latest tyres under ideal conditions. If we are going to get that detailed, then surely the minutae of weight saved by fitting the PCCB should help the braking performance

[vpr]

question is how would they stand up sitting in the garage looking pretty?

[clubsport]

vpr said:

question is how would they stand up sitting in the garage looking pretty?

Surely one Porsche garage queen is enough Lee.....at least use one of them