First Drive; GT3 and 996TT .. Some thoughts.
Discussion
Last weekend I had the great fortune to be offered back to back drives in a 996TT followed by a mark 2 GT3 .I'd never driven either before, I don't pretend to be even an average driver , and I can hardly claim to have had enough decent time in either car- both drives lasting about 40 minutes , but I though I'd put my thoughts down on both nevertheless.
First up , the TT ... Now before I say anything , it was a 'tip' , not my way to travel I have to admit , so I suppose that biased me slightly ..
Having said that , once the car warmed up , and I gave her a kick in the ass , I just couldn't fathom the power output , it just stuck its nose in the air and gobbled at the horizon , while all the while making me feel like I was the best driver that ever was .. Completely and utterly surefooted , but a monster none the less.
The thought struck me , as the car (not me !) laid waste to all in it's path , that this car was GT designed. It's a high powered , super strength mile eater , made to go the mega distances that one encounters in the likes of Germany , whilst cosseting and comforting the driver all the while . And I loved it. This is exactly the sort of car I would want for the daily drudgery of to and fro the place of work , and when the road clears in front of you ... Way-hey !! We're off .. Hammer of the Gods!!
So I jump straight out of the tt , and into a '03 comfort spec (but with sports seats) gt3.
What is it about this car? .. I can feel my fingers getting sweaty before the key even turns .. And when it does .. Holy Shit!! .. Mesmerising !! The sound of that motor , the twitchiness of the oil pressure gauge .. There's no doubting I'm in something really special.
I actually feel like I can't go through with it at this stage!! .. I feel like this mother is going to eat me up and spit me out ... But we get on with it anyway. And I'm absolutely amazed. I've read all the stories about the teeth crunching suspension , the fidgety, meandering steering ,the rock hard clutch , etc etc ... Rubbish!!
Okay .. laugh at me if you will , but this car can easily be an everyday car , driven old fart-like if you want to . This surprised me greatly. At no stage did I feel the steering wanted to follow contours on the road , nor did I feel 'this is too hard for long journeys' .. I did however feel ,that it was the most intoxicating drive I'd ever had. Once the car was opened up , the howl of that lump , and the exquisite delicateness of the steering .. It brings the perspiration flowing in a man!! This car , for sheer addictiveness , wins hands down.And I have to have one. Soon.
I won't go on further ... If you've read this far I compliment you! And if you own either of these models (but especially if you own a '3
) You have my undying envy..
First up , the TT ... Now before I say anything , it was a 'tip' , not my way to travel I have to admit , so I suppose that biased me slightly ..
Having said that , once the car warmed up , and I gave her a kick in the ass , I just couldn't fathom the power output , it just stuck its nose in the air and gobbled at the horizon , while all the while making me feel like I was the best driver that ever was .. Completely and utterly surefooted , but a monster none the less.
The thought struck me , as the car (not me !) laid waste to all in it's path , that this car was GT designed. It's a high powered , super strength mile eater , made to go the mega distances that one encounters in the likes of Germany , whilst cosseting and comforting the driver all the while . And I loved it. This is exactly the sort of car I would want for the daily drudgery of to and fro the place of work , and when the road clears in front of you ... Way-hey !! We're off .. Hammer of the Gods!!
So I jump straight out of the tt , and into a '03 comfort spec (but with sports seats) gt3.
What is it about this car? .. I can feel my fingers getting sweaty before the key even turns .. And when it does .. Holy Shit!! .. Mesmerising !! The sound of that motor , the twitchiness of the oil pressure gauge .. There's no doubting I'm in something really special.
I actually feel like I can't go through with it at this stage!! .. I feel like this mother is going to eat me up and spit me out ... But we get on with it anyway. And I'm absolutely amazed. I've read all the stories about the teeth crunching suspension , the fidgety, meandering steering ,the rock hard clutch , etc etc ... Rubbish!!
Okay .. laugh at me if you will , but this car can easily be an everyday car , driven old fart-like if you want to . This surprised me greatly. At no stage did I feel the steering wanted to follow contours on the road , nor did I feel 'this is too hard for long journeys' .. I did however feel ,that it was the most intoxicating drive I'd ever had. Once the car was opened up , the howl of that lump , and the exquisite delicateness of the steering .. It brings the perspiration flowing in a man!! This car , for sheer addictiveness , wins hands down.And I have to have one. Soon.
I won't go on further ... If you've read this far I compliment you! And if you own either of these models (but especially if you own a '3
) You have my undying envy..
Lads, I think he's got it ....
Great to hear you've had a drive of both, but I think to complete the exercise you've also got to drive a manual X50 (O/T similarly I've got to get my grubby mits on a Gt3 for 20 minutes at some stage).
Could the GT3 have been driven in the manner a manual X50 was on a certain damp December morning..... Just remember if you want to drive like a
which one is safer.
DAZ
(a )
Could the GT3 have been driven in the manner a manual X50 was on a certain damp December morning..... Just remember if you want to drive like a
which one is safer. DAZ
(a
) Edited by dazren on Thursday 29th March 17:04
Spot on mate. I did the same back to back at Paragon a few weeks ago. Same experience down to the Tip.
The TT is an awesome car. Just so immensely capable. More lag than I expected, but once it on boost... PHWAAAR!! Its quick. It seems to me (taking into consideration my limited skills) that its more of a point and shoot...
The GT3. What a beaufiful machine!! Its has a feel of real purpose which differs from the TT. You feel lower and more connected... Also, that noise... The TT sort of goes "whooosh", the GT3 slaps you across the face while shouting words of encouragement!
I never thought I would like a GT3, always been adddicted to the rush of the turbo. However, the "purity" of the GT3 is something I would take over the devastating capabilities of the Turbo.
That said, I won't kick a TT out of bed. So any freebies can be chucked my way... I'll even stump up for insurance and tax.
The TT is an awesome car. Just so immensely capable. More lag than I expected, but once it on boost... PHWAAAR!! Its quick. It seems to me (taking into consideration my limited skills) that its more of a point and shoot...
The GT3. What a beaufiful machine!! Its has a feel of real purpose which differs from the TT. You feel lower and more connected... Also, that noise... The TT sort of goes "whooosh", the GT3 slaps you across the face while shouting words of encouragement!
I never thought I would like a GT3, always been adddicted to the rush of the turbo. However, the "purity" of the GT3 is something I would take over the devastating capabilities of the Turbo.
That said, I won't kick a TT out of bed. So any freebies can be chucked my way... I'll even stump up for insurance and tax.
dazren said:
Could the GT3 have been driven in the manner a manual X50 was on a certain damp December morning..... Just remember if you want to drive like a
which one is safer. DAZ
(a
) Yes Daz , you sure gave it a good kick in the nuts that morning , and no ,I feel it wouldn't have been a wise thing to do in a GT3
, and I'm really looking forward to my first manual tt drive , be it X50 or not. I really really don't want this thread to degrade into the usual tt/'3 slagging .
It came home very forcibly on the day that both cars have jobs they were designed to do .. And boy do they live up to their 'Excellence' tradition , and do those jobs 110%.
But I also can't help but feel whichever I'd be lucky enough to own , I'll always lust after t'other.
What a super motoring life this is turning out to be
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AdvocatusDiaboli said:
If it helps, I know a chappie who fits seat belts into GT3's rear "seats" - very useful at a push. Legality of this has been debated, but I have yet to see a definitive answer. If this interests anyone, let me know.
SBS in Stanmore do this. Excellent service and quality work. www.quickfitsbs.co.uk/
polarexpress said:
AdvocatusDiaboli said:
If it helps, I know a chappie who fits seat belts into GT3's rear "seats" - very useful at a push. Legality of this has been debated, but I have yet to see a definitive answer. If this interests anyone, let me know.
SBS in Stanmore do this. Excellent service and quality work. www.quickfitsbs.co.uk/
Will avail of their services myself, should I be lucky enough to be in that position! Seen their work, very good.
ballcock said:
Last weekend I had the great fortune to be offered back to back drives in a 996TT followed by a mark 2 GT3 .I'd never driven either before, I don't pretend to be even an average driver , and I can hardly claim to have had enough decent time in either car- both drives lasting about 40 minutes , but I though I'd put my thoughts down on both nevertheless.
First up , the TT ... Now before I say anything , it was a 'tip' , not my way to travel I have to admit , so I suppose that biased me slightly ..
Having said that , once the car warmed up , and I gave her a kick in the ass , I just couldn't fathom the power output , it just stuck its nose in the air and gobbled at the horizon , while all the while making me feel like I was the best driver that ever was .. Completely and utterly surefooted , but a monster none the less.
The thought struck me , as the car (not me !) laid waste to all in it's path , that this car was GT designed. It's a high powered , super strength mile eater , made to go the mega distances that one encounters in the likes of Germany , whilst cosseting and comforting the driver all the while . And I loved it. This is exactly the sort of car I would want for the daily drudgery of to and fro the place of work , and when the road clears in front of you ... Way-hey !! We're off .. Hammer of the Gods!!
So I jump straight out of the tt , and into a '03 comfort spec (but with sports seats) gt3.
What is it about this car? .. I can feel my fingers getting sweaty before the key even turns .. And when it does .. Holy Shit!! .. Mesmerising !! The sound of that motor , the twitchiness of the oil pressure gauge .. There's no doubting I'm in something really special.
I actually feel like I can't go through with it at this stage!! .. I feel like this mother is going to eat me up and spit me out ... But we get on with it anyway. And I'm absolutely amazed. I've read all the stories about the teeth crunching suspension , the fidgety, meandering steering ,the rock hard clutch , etc etc ... Rubbish!!
Okay .. laugh at me if you will , but this car can easily be an everyday car , driven old fart-like if you want to . This surprised me greatly. At no stage did I feel the steering wanted to follow contours on the road , nor did I feel 'this is too hard for long journeys' .. I did however feel ,that it was the most intoxicating drive I'd ever had. Once the car was opened up , the howl of that lump , and the exquisite delicateness of the steering .. It brings the perspiration flowing in a man!! This car , for sheer addictiveness , wins hands down.And I have to have one. Soon.
I won't go on further ... If you've read this far I compliment you! And if you own either of these models (but especially if you own a '3 ) You have my undying envy..
First up , the TT ... Now before I say anything , it was a 'tip' , not my way to travel I have to admit , so I suppose that biased me slightly ..
Having said that , once the car warmed up , and I gave her a kick in the ass , I just couldn't fathom the power output , it just stuck its nose in the air and gobbled at the horizon , while all the while making me feel like I was the best driver that ever was .. Completely and utterly surefooted , but a monster none the less.
The thought struck me , as the car (not me !) laid waste to all in it's path , that this car was GT designed. It's a high powered , super strength mile eater , made to go the mega distances that one encounters in the likes of Germany , whilst cosseting and comforting the driver all the while . And I loved it. This is exactly the sort of car I would want for the daily drudgery of to and fro the place of work , and when the road clears in front of you ... Way-hey !! We're off .. Hammer of the Gods!!
So I jump straight out of the tt , and into a '03 comfort spec (but with sports seats) gt3.
What is it about this car? .. I can feel my fingers getting sweaty before the key even turns .. And when it does .. Holy Shit!! .. Mesmerising !! The sound of that motor , the twitchiness of the oil pressure gauge .. There's no doubting I'm in something really special.
I actually feel like I can't go through with it at this stage!! .. I feel like this mother is going to eat me up and spit me out ... But we get on with it anyway. And I'm absolutely amazed. I've read all the stories about the teeth crunching suspension , the fidgety, meandering steering ,the rock hard clutch , etc etc ... Rubbish!!
Okay .. laugh at me if you will , but this car can easily be an everyday car , driven old fart-like if you want to . This surprised me greatly. At no stage did I feel the steering wanted to follow contours on the road , nor did I feel 'this is too hard for long journeys' .. I did however feel ,that it was the most intoxicating drive I'd ever had. Once the car was opened up , the howl of that lump , and the exquisite delicateness of the steering .. It brings the perspiration flowing in a man!! This car , for sheer addictiveness , wins hands down.And I have to have one. Soon.
I won't go on further ... If you've read this far I compliment you! And if you own either of these models (but especially if you own a '3
) You have my undying envy..It's possible to have your cake and eat it, it's called the GT2...............try one..................soon.
ballcock said:
Jeez that DOES open up a whole new universe to me ..
Although I'd never be happy having my kids in a car with questionable insurance ...
Although I'd never be happy having my kids in a car with questionable insurance ...
Yup, thats the whole/only reason I've put a deposit on a TT and not a GT3 !.. Luckily I can change my driving to enjoy the TT as it should be...
Must to convince childlest m8 to buy GT3 
s3am said:
dazren said:
(O/T similarly I've got to get my grubby mits on a Gt3 for 20 minutes at some stage)
Next Vmax do??
Would love a passenger run but I think you have bucket seats in your car which I'm fine as a passeneger but is a
from a driving perspective (it has previously resulted in my declining a drive of a certain VMAX record holding GT2. 
). Welcome to the land of GT3, it's a special place, appreciated by very few of us, but if you're a true GT3'r, I need to add no more. It took me about 5 yards to know I had to have one, and 13K miles in 10 months of DAILY use I would not change it for anything in the world, bar a 997 version!
dazren said:
s3am said:
dazren said:
(O/T similarly I've got to get my grubby mits on a Gt3 for 20 minutes at some stage)
Next Vmax do??
Would love a passenger run but I think you have bucket seats in your car which I'm fine as a passeneger but is a
from a driving perspective (it has previously resulted in my declining a drive of a certain VMAX record holding GT2. ). Why is that??
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff