Well after 500 miles on the gt3 I wanted to post my observations and opinions for people interested in the gt3. As many of you know I came from a stage 3 turbo with the following modifications-giac stage 3, ruf exhaust, ruf suspension, k24’s, sachs clutch, ruf steering wheel, ruf pedals, sport seats, and reus audio. I highlight the modifications in order to give you all a sense of what my observations are based on. I have had tons of track time with the turbo and felt that the safety of the turbo’s four wheel psm drive system made for a great time on the track although it did impede on my progress as a driver. However it did allow me to safely get use to incredible speeds that might have taken me years in another car to achieve. However I found the psm and lack of rear mechanical differential to be a constant problem on the rotors and pads and quite expensive at times. In addition the bear claw nature of the four wheel drive system was often frustrating at times.

After driving this car I have come to the conclusion that you can’t just modify a car and make it a track car with simple mods such as the ones above. Yes you can improve the speed drastically, improve the sound, and alter the suspension but you can’t get the racecar feel out of a turbo. Don’t get me wrong. I think every modification to the turbo did improve the car but after all was said and done I felt that I had a phenomenal street car which could be taken on the track. What I yearned for was a track car that I could take on the street. And this is where the gt3 shines.

The gt3 has a light get up and go feeling that makes you want to go after every turn with a vengeance yet respect. The turbo on the other hand makes you want to take the straights with a vengeance and no respect. For me I prefer the delicate nature of the turns but for many the power of the straights is more alluring and hence the turbo might be a better choice. I call it the JLO of the 996 series b/c you feel the *** on every aspect of the drive. With the turbo I always felt somewhat detached from the road (this is actually what makes it a fantastic and maybe one of the all time best street cars). With the gt3 I have actually slowed down my speeds b/c the cars sensitivity is humbling at points and much more tactile. Clearly I have much more confidence with my old turbo and hopefully time will narrow the gap. The gearbox on the gt3 is far superior. There is no slop. However if you choose the wrong gear you are severely hampered in the power band much more so then the turbo.

If you love the power of the turbo then the gt3 might not be the car of choice. If you dislike not feeling the engine modulation of the turbo, want a lighter more nimble car, and often feel detached in the turbo then the gt3 might offer some advantages.

The steering is much lighter then the turbo and the clutch five times stiffer. After you turn the wheel for the turn the car keeps turning in. You have to unwind the steering wheel a bit which highlights the sensitity of the car. As for the decreased sound proofing materials-I am still sorting out some squeaks in the gt3 that I did not have in the turbo.

For those who say that the 997S offers a similar performance which makes for a logical alternative-No way-both cars are designed with an entirely different purpose in mind. The gt3 rewards a great driver and forces one to work with the car. The 997S is a better 996 with an objective of being a street car.

Can the car be a daily driver is often asked? Without a doubt it can be daily driver but the clutch is much harder. The suspension is harsher but also the geometry of the car is set up for the track. You feel that the back is a bit higher and there is less of the typical 996 relaxation comfort feel. There is also bump steer when the road changes surfaces or there is a pitch in the road. Besides this the grip is amazing

As i wrote in an article for excellence regarding driving in the snow. Yes four wheel drive is faster but two wheel drive is more fun. (turbo aside) My feelings are the same with the gt3

I can appreciate why guys would want the 73rs. The problem with both the turbo and gt3 is that the tires have so much grip that you really need to have some velocity to get the car to step out of line. And stepping out of line is where most of my fun comes from. With the 73RS I wonder if the smaller tires and lighter construction would make the limits approach quicker and perhaps maybe on a routine sunday drive. With that said as i drive the car I will post more impressions.

Although i am on the wait list for the 997turbo i think that porsche is going in a very predicatable path. They will continue to add more HP, wider tires and more stability control functions. Fist it was traction, then PSM, and now PSM with the steering wheel angles. There will be no end. The cars will be faster, have better lap times and more grip but will miss on the fun factor. Or better yet, the fun factor will be in the speed of the car and not the speed of the driver. Don't get me wrong, this will prove profitable for them and perhaps they feel that the true driving enthusiast will opt for the gt3, gt2 models. However, i also don't recommend someone get a gt3 as their first porsche unless they have had track experience and are sure that they want this style car. Not b/c of the difficult nature of the car but more b/c they might find it not the comfort package that they crave.

As for the gt2-maybe someone can add there opinion who has had the turbo, gt2 and gt3.

As for modifications- I just put the alcantara steering wheel and shifter from the RS model in the car and find it great. Purchased from Gert and Carnewall. Great modification for any car!!

As for why i waited to get the car? I was waiting to drive the new elise and thought that for the money it would be fun to have the turbo and elise. However i felt that i would be bored with the elise in a week. The engine was not exciting although the brake feel was great. Cool car but not my ideal track car.

The car was purchased from our board Sponsor Silver Star in Rosyln New York and I can never say enough good things about Arte and Jack. Both guys run a class operation, don’t give bull**** and don’t take it.

michael

 

Awesome write up, Thank you..

 

Very informative write-up. Thanks!

 

exactly!

 

Great write up, which pretty much sums up my feelings about all the Porsche models. They are all great cars and reward the driver uniquely.
If money is not an issue, I'd own them all (boxter, 996c2, 996tt, gt2, gt3) without mods and drive them as they were meant to.

 

do you miss the torque?

Mike

 

i miss it a bit b/c i haven't been able to really open up the car and the engine really needs to be in upper rpm's to feel the power. However, i actually was fed up with the turbo torque and missed the normally aspirated feel of the cars as well as the lightness even associated with a 996 c2 or 993. Don't get me wrong, the torque is a big thrill but the driving for me is much more of the game. I bet when the new ferrari comes out then I will crave the torque of a 480HP normally aspirated engine. The turbo power dampens the engine and throttle response a bit for me. The rush of air is cool. I drove a friends gt3 at summit point last year for a lap and really felt that the turbo power was far superior. What I need to learn is to drive the gt3 well and hopefully i'll be at the same lap times. There is no greater feeling however then shooting down the back straight of the glen with 540HP-this is where i will surely miss the power. It's amazing that the lap times should be similar considering the difference in HP which really highlights the different yet competent nature of both cars.

 

Again, well put. That's why one needs a NA and a turbo car so you don't have to miss anything

When I drove a boxter for a day I just loved the lightness and throttle response. It feels like there are 1000 less moving parts than in a TT.

 

Thanks for the post, good reading.

 

Thanks for the nice write-up.

Seems like it comes down to:

-If I want a "race car": get a GT3

-If I want a "street car" (with better power modding potential): get a Turbo or GT2.

Me? I'm more into a street car so 911GT2.

 

Excellent write-up!
I ,somtimes, feel that I might be happier with a GT3, but I drive the tt, and I seem to conclude that I'm better off with it as opposed to a GT3.
If the new GT3 comes up before the new tt, I might decide to go for it, right now, GT3 production for this part of the world is no more.

 

I agree I drove a GT3 this week and I just tore up the road, its truely an amazing automobile. After driveing the GT3 my heart was pumping so fast and my left leg was tired which I LOVED. The thing that I like about the Turbo is for me as young as I am I feel afraid that I might get into a lot of trouble in a GT3. My Dad doesn't want me to race cars on the track because he thinks I will do it on the road, so basically I have to drive insanely on the road in order to discover the art of driveing. With that being said I think the awd system in the Turbo is a great defense mechanism against un-expected road ocnditions such as gravel or puddles. I also live in Ohio so it rains half the time and I think most would agree a GT3 in the rain is a recipie for disaster. Thanks for the great right up and I hope you really enjoy your car the GT3 is a ***** to the wall machine! Be safe though

 

Great write up! Thanks for taking the time to write it!

When I got my TT I had the opportunity to drive both the GT2 and GT3 prior to delivery. The GT2 was a beast and when it starting raining I scarde the sh#t out of myself. I never really got to try out the GT3 but like the GT2 it was a raw car. It took a lot of concentration to drive the cars. Then I got into the TT. It was a dream to drive. It seamed like it didn't notice the rain.

With my driving skill level I'll stick with the more relaxed of the cars. That being said I'd like to have both a TT and GT car.

Time to call the builder.

 

Mike, I'm glad to see another Silver Star customer. I also have a GT-3 purchased from them and I only track the car. I just came back from three days at the Glen with Metro PCA and I really have improved my times over the turbo. I have one sugestion, have the car aligned and corner balanced, you will see a marked handling improvement. You might also soften up the front sway bars one hole. Good luck, maybe we'll see eachother one day.

 

great write up