I would greatly appreciate your opinions --

In the past, I've owned a 996 TT. I got the new-car bug and traded it in for an M3. At that time, I had never driven my 996 (or any car) at the track. Then, this past weekend I went to my first Porsche DE event (in my M3), and I'm already totally addicted! As you can imagine, I have serious seller's remorse about my 996 TT. I really like my M3, so I don't plan to sell it. However, I do want a genuine sports car that I will use only for the track. Because I'm not going to sell my M3, I am on quite a tight budget for my track car. I thought the answer would be to get a 993. However, after posting on a 993 board, I am convinced that a 993 would require substantial mods (suspension, racing tires, etc.) even for my purposes of simply thoroughly enjoying DE events (not competition anytime in the near future). So now I'm thinking that if a 996 (non-turbo) would not require mods for my purposes, it may be in fact more economical than a 993. So - my question is - would a 996 require all sorts of mods for my purposes, or would it be pretty good in stock form? Thanks in advance!

 

You can track it stock and it's going to be quicker around than your M3 no question.

To make it slightly faster, you would only need to consider R compound tires and maybe 030 suspension if it doesn't have it already. Oh, and maybe new brake pads, but that isn't absolutely necessary b/c the stock brakes are great.

I'm amazed you sold your TT to get the M3. M3's are nice, but whoa. Any 996 is a much better track car than an M3 although, M3's are obvsiously no slouch.

 

Thanks for the response -

Keep in mind I didn't sell my 996 TT to get just an M3... I sold it to get an M3 + a lot of cash + lower payments + paid off in fewer years.

 

hehe. I hear ya. The way it read, it sounded like you just wanted a different car and went with the M3.

 

For just DE, the stock standard 996 is fine. Anything beyond that will require significant upgrades. Chris Cevelli (sp)from Technodyne racing has a lot of good info on tracking the 996, it's a good read. You might also take a look at my recent rant over on the Rennlist about the 996-997. Generally, the weak points of the 996 for heavy track use are the engine and transmission and the strong points are the superior suspension/ aero package.

 

Just make sure you get a C2 rather than AWD. Nothing quite as fun as spending most of the day looking at the track ahead of you through the door windows. Powerslide, moi?

 

Doug,

What is 'weak' about the 996's engine and tranny for track use? (at least according to the thread you read)

I missed that since I don't really go to Renn much.

 

Wonder if it's not really a generic problem. One specialist company over here has a couple of 996 C2s that are run at many of the tracks I go to, and are used purely for that, track days. One's stock, the other with an aerokit and rollcage. The cars get a complete thrashing and are fairly abused, generally being taken out for 15 minutes at a time by anyone from complete novices to professional demonstration drivers. Admittedly they are 2002 models, and I have no experience of the previous generation 996s, but problems have been pretty much non-existent. As opposed to the Evo VII and Scooby they run which are constantly on a ramp.

 

Scott,
The chief weakness of the M96 engine is the lack of a true dry sump oiling system, crankcase design, and abandon of the expensive Nikasil cylinder treatment as found on all prior 911 series engines and the GT3/TT variants.
The "integrated dry sump" is not a true dry sump with a separate oil tank. On a 3.4L engine there is a motorsports oiling kit that alleviates potential oil starvation on the 4-6 cylinder side of the engine during high G turns(left). The kit includes a new oil pan with aluminum baffles instead of plastic/rubber and a new oill scavenge pump on the 4-6 side with an external return line to the cam cover. This is available for about $1360 plus labor($5-700). This was alleviated somewhat on the '02 3.6L engine, but I think the X51 kit still uses an external return line based on pictures I have seen. Perhaps someone with an X51 3.6 will confirm this. This potential oil starvation is probably not a problem on street tires, but I'll be doing this mod as soon as my warranty expires anyway (still cheaper than an extended warranty)
The other weakness is the crankcase itself, being one piece with the cylinder block and split down the middle. Contrary to the GT3 having a two piece crankcase and cylinder block assembly where the crankase holds the crankshaft separately. Maybe this explains the number of RMS failures/ engine replacements.
The crankshaft is now nitro -carbide treated instead of plasma nitrited (GT3) crankshaft which is harder and has higher torsional resistance. Now this probably a minor concern on a street car but it is an example of the cost cutting measures of the newer engines compared with the relatively over-engineered GT3/TT/older 911s.
The transmission is not a direct derivative of the G50 as found in the GT3/TT (G96/50). The G96/00 6 speed transmission has a one piece case that is non-servicable. If you burn a synchro you have to buy a new transmission. But I have to believe there is some way around this.
Chris Cervelli (sp) of Technodyne racing has written extensively on racing the 996, worth the read on their website.

 

The m3 is also a great track car. I just recently drove one and thought that the car is very confident and predictable. If you have a cab you can run it tracquest. As for the 993 vs 996-I think they both will have the same reliablitly for the track at a novice level. A used 99 can be bought for 40K with a two year warranty from a dealer. I can't see you loosing that much in depreciation. Maybe 12K over two years. As for R compound tires. I don't recommend this for a novice. They are clearly better but don't give you the warning sounds of a regular steet tire and are not as forgiving. First learn on the m3 and then see what direction you want to go.

 

What is "traquest"?

By the way -- I think I'm going to follow your advice exactly. I had a lot of fun driving the M3, and I'm a bit obsessed with the 997 spy pics I've seen. So - I think I will just put some miles on the M3 for a year, gain some experience, and buy a 997 when they arrive.

 

The M3 is a great all around car, you are only a novice. Learn how to drive on track, car control, braking, shifting, accelerating. Talk to other drivers at the track watch other cars, most track people are very friendly, talk to both 993 & 996 track people who are at higher levels and drive there cars harder. Ask them how they are holding up, what kinds of problems if any with the 993 & 996 that have been on track for a few years then make your decision.