Yes Dock from what I am told the stock GT3 dynos at 400hp.

 

I agree with you 100% Sharky.

 

I'm not a fan of heavy Porsches; however, in terms of acceleration a difference of 200 lbs just isn't a big deal. I'ts ~0.1 sec difference in quarter mile times.

 

Heya Dock, every 100 is worth 1/10 th in the 1/4mile and you're right about it not mattering too much in a straight line. I'm coming more from the point of driving the car around a track... It almost feels like a heavy caddy at times Less weight also equals better braking and handling

 

I have NEVER seen 993TT stock times 0-100 better the stock 996TT, every test I have seen has been 9.2 vs. 9.9 (993TT) to 100, otherwise how could a stock 996TT be consistent 115-6 mph 1/4 with 993tt's 112-13?

Bond

 

No question about lower weight helping in the corners. How much weight it takes thought to make a real difference is the question

I personally can't tell the difference in handling between just me and a 1/4 tank of gas, versus a full tank plus a 200 lb friend in the right seat (and it's not because I have a numb butt or bad hands). That's probably ~275 lbs difference. On a track I don't think the impact of the 275 lb. weight difference on lap times could be filtered out of what would be normal driver errors, car performance, or track condition with regard to the lap to lap time differences.

 

From owning both cars at the same time and testing them against each other as well as an article in EVO magazine a couple of years ago where they raced the cars side by side and came up with the 996TT flatter torque curve jumping the 993TT at the start but then the 993TT slightly pulling on the 996TT by 100mph. After 100mph, again from my own experience, the 996TT (probably due to better aerodynamics) would start gaining on the 993TT and eventually over take it.

That's why I was interested by this post because I never weighed either car and this would explain the results I got. If the 993TT is indeed in the 31xxlbs range and the 996TT is in the 34xxlbs then what would you expect from only 15hp and 14lbs/ft torque difference between the two?

 

Good point, Doc. I also admit that at my level, I won't be able to feel/tell the difference in handling whether my 6ft instructor was in the car or not. Think it's mainly due to the fact that on a track, I tend not to "toss" the car as much as I do on the road. I try to drive smoother on a track than I do on the street.

However, I must say that I can feel a lot of difference in a ~2850lb Boxster and my TT on the street. It feels that much less effort to change the direction of the Boxster and to slow it down. All of a sudden, the road seem to have that much more elbow room just because it's a lighter car.

I can only imagine what a 3.6TT in a Boxster-weight car would feel like!

 

The difference isn't as much weight as it is the low polar moment of inertia of the Boxster, and the fact that the Turbo's AWD makes the steering heavier. Most people interpret the heavy steering feel as "heavy" car. Also, the small cockpit of the Boxster magnifies the quickness in steering provided by the mid engine arrangement. I'm not sure the Boxster and Turbo share the same steering rack ratios either, which can make a huge difference.

BTW, my Boxster S weighed 3014 lbs, and didn't have nearly the grip in the corners that my Turbo does. Different tire size of course.