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EDIT: Price lowered to $99,991
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I have this learning disability.

Do I need help?

997.1 Turbos were great cars. But unfortunately, so were 997.1 GT3s.

So I sold my Turbo and bought a GT3.

About a year later I wanted the PDK's mind bending 2.6 second acceleration and bought a 997.2 Turbo S Cab.

Another year later I can't shake lusting after a 997.2 GT3.

I don't daily drive the 911. I have a tuned 2014 550i BMW with over 500HP that keeps me entertained daily.

The GT3 is a great track car right out of the box - but I don't really want to go to the track. I like canyon driving. The Turbo also does that very well.

I had put the Turbo up for sale in December here when I first wanted a GT3:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ple-black.html $99,991

When the GT3 I wanted to buy got sold I did not pursue it further. Now another one popped up and I got the itch for a GT3 again.

The crazy part is that eventually I'll end up wanting a 991 Turbo anyway.

After writing all this one thing became clear to me. There are some people who can buy a Porsche and be very satisfied with it for 50 years and then there are the people who can not.

It is just like driving a Porsche is not just about getting to your destination. The drive IS the destination - the experience.

Can the same thing be said about wanting to drive different Porsches?

Are the subtle nuances, the evolution from one model to the next the ultimate experience? Just like the drive is the destination?

 

That kinda reminds me of myself - the DAY I bring home a *new* car I start scouring for sale ads with what I can already replace it with. Its definitely the journey for me (dreaming, looking, chatting up forums/owners, flying out, inspecting, buying) - that when I finally GET it I feel like I need to start over again and the loop is never ending. For some that same equation applies to women, for some in jobs, careers, watches, guns, houses, gambling, clothes - whatever else it might be. I feel like cars (finances permitting) is a pretty harmless sport

Luckily I have still been **very** happy with my 997.1tt as my weekend toy, but Ive been lusting after an LP gallardo for months now -- but do start realizing that sacrifices start being made (like 'almost' nonexistent manual LPs out there) trading in one wonderful machine for another - and then I back of and enjoy what I got for a bit!!

But yes even subtle changes can bring on a whole new perspective and feel to essentially the same 'platform' car and I totally get your desire to switch back and forth (my previous base rwd 997 and my current 997tt are nothing alike) !! I myself am a sucker for the GT3s as well (all 997s and 991) - and do not rule out having one someday as well.

I for sure can never be one of those 'hold on to the same car for 50+ years' mantra. I see multiple car experience exactly like 'travel' - sure you can live in a 'world' class , desirable city your entire life and never get out - but what fun would that be? NYC is great to check out - but Chicago can offer up a plethora of differences as well! The world has so much to offer!!

 

Sure, there is nothing wrong with wanting to drive different Porsche's; I would if I could (afford it). But... just to play devil's advocate for fun, why limit yourself to Turbo and GT3, why not throw in something like Cayman, which IMHO is the "best" handling car of all mass-market Porsche's (feels very different - very fast turn in and cleaner chassis movement - from our rear engine 911)?

BTW the evolution of one model to the next is not always better in *all* aspects, newer Porsche's are nearly always faster yes, but the elusive and subjective "driver's involvement" and/or "sense of connection" has not always improved from an old model to the next. This also seems to apply to recent BMW models btw, for me anyway.

 

Well I have a 2011 Turbo S Cab and during my first track day, I had chance to hop into my instructors 997.1 GT3 for some hot laps. I know EXACTLY what you are feeling.

I drive mine on sunny days, but feel the need for about 2-4 track days/yr. just to unleash what the beast was meant to do.

I also am plotting for my next "just for fun" vehicle and I am considering the GT3. However, I will make sure the GT4 is on my must drive list before I make my purchase. I think these are going to be very popular. It will also be interesting to see when the McLaren 570 MSRP lands as well (but probably at least 2X the cost of the GT4)

Enjoy your search!

 

If you arent going to track the GT3 what is the point? The Turbo is the daily driver with a few track days. The GT3 is also a daily driver but for a number of track days. Having the "best of the best" doesnt do anything. You want the best for what you want to do. Owning a 7500$ handgun might be cool to tell all your friends about but when you enjoy long range shooting it doesnt help you personally. Get what is built for what you want to do.
A GT3 is not just a canyon car and a Turbo would probably be faster start to finish anyways. On a track it might be different so you will have the best track production car that you dont use for the purpose it was built

 

Cannga - good to see you back in the forum, thanks for all the advices on my recently purchased 997.1TT, still loving it
Recently I been looking to add a GT4 to the garage, but one obstacle "the wife". GT3 prices are way up the roof and GT4 seem like a Perfect car compare to GT3.

 

Thanks. BTW, what have you decided to do with the front lip?

GT4? You are a man of good taste :-), With mid-engine layout and manual transmission, for me too the GT4 has replaced GT3 as the perfect dream car to add to our Turbo. It has better handling feel (especially in tight left-right-left transition) and really the only reason it lags behind the GT3 in track time is Porsche's deliberate attempt to hold it back.

The GT4's front suspension is lift-over from GT3 and rear is totally different from regular Cayman. Cup tire and lowered 30mm (this is a lot), this car will be a absolute hoot on canyon roads .

 

I scrape the bottom more often than I realized, decided not to use fiberglass material on the lip and buy eBay urethane AEROKIT style lip. Still looking for a pair of GT2 side skirts (paintable version).
As for the GT4, my dealer taking everyone preorder, I doubted they will have more than two or three allocation but I am way down on their list. Chances are I won't get it from a dealer but may be in a used market ;(

 

I am seriously considering the GT4 and keeping my Turbo. Not a huge fan of the 6speed but the rest of the car will make up for it.

 

Just to add a note that as enamored I am of both GT3 and GT4, they are NOT replacement for our beloved :-) Turbo. The Turbo will absolutely **smoke** both of these cars when it comes to low end torque, power, and straight line acceleration.

GT3, and particularly GT4, are among the world's best handling cars at the track, but because they don't have any power until 4000-5000 rpm, they are not exactly exciting, in fact tiring, to drive on the street. It's great to add either to our Turbo, but do test drive them first; you will be surprised how weak they feel in the low end compared to the Turbo.

Because I value handling as much as power, my compromise is to put after-market coilover (Bilstein with stiffer springs) in my Turbo, making it for me the best of both worlds: an extremely powerful car with near GT3 handling. My itch to add GT3/GT4 has nearly disappeared as the suspension tuning is now adjusted to my taste (I live in a mountainous area with curvy roads, including a switch-back in the back of my house. ).

 

Hey Can, how've you been? Curious what you think of your m3 now that you've owned it for a while, even though it is the wife's car, given that it has exactly the same problem. Don't want to thread jack too much, but it is an interesting point.

 

Guess that explains it. First thing I always do is drop the seat to the floor.

 

Z-Bird...you are not alone and thanks for sharing your comments.

Like many here, between work and family the fun car is far down the list of prioritites. I have enjoyed putting 2,500/miles annually on my turbo and have always felt joy driving each and every time. Made it my own with a few updates and it's as clean as they come. However, after 5 1/2 years of ownership it is time for a change. Wanted the 991 GT3 but will not give in to the market demands = well over MSRP.

I'm taking the plung into a 2013 Lambo LP with 2k miles. Wanted something with a NA motor and sound that is unmatched. Add the styling and color and I look forward to the next 5+ years...

Good luck as you work through your search.

 

OT: Hello Conrad, good and still pretty nutty about my Turbo. :-) That's a good question. The V8 M3 is another one of those high RPM cars, but subjectively it feels quite a bit more powerful in the low end and as a result A LOT more street friendly (more "relaxed" and powerful at low rpm) than the GT3. The engine specs provide some explanation: although both cars have peak torque at around 300 lb-ft, BMW V8 peaks around 3900 rpm, while 997 GT3 peaks at 6200 rpm. HUGE difference.

FWIW, the Turbo torque is of course, epic :-), around 460 lb-ft, but will come at 2000-3000 rpm so much sooner than NA engine. People always say NA engine feels more linear at the track, which is true of course because there is no turbo kick-in, but for me because the NA engine power comes in so late and there is a power-void at low rpm, the Turbo IMHO is the more linear one, especially if you keep the car at 3000 rpm. HP sells cars but torque wins races - that is why we are in love with our Turbo.

One more general comment about the 2011 PDK M3, which I love and plan to keep for many years: the BMW automatic suspension (PASM) system is night and day better than stock Porsche 997.1 Turbo PASM system (shame to you Porsche for releasing such a flaw design), the BMW V8 is also an amazing engine, the V8 NA exhaust sound is musical (it sings) and intoxicating, M3 has a trunk and is of course more comfortable, the steering ratio is faster and is very nice. In all other aspects, the Turbo (as expected because it costs twice as much and is meant to be a world class GT, etc, no fault of BMW) feels like a much, much "better" and more robust sports car. The rear engine configuration makes the Porsche feels lighter, more sporty, and more agile in corners (the BMW's front end "feels" heavy and not as fun). In particular, the BMW brake feels like it's not enough (biggest criticism), whereas Turbo's PCCB feels like the hands of God that could stop an 18 wheelers. (Porsche's brakes, both PCCB and big red, tells me more about this company than anything else. Best sports car company in the world. :-))

 

Nothing wrong, as long as the $ can fund the lust for the experiences!

You are right, for some it's about the research, the new car sensation - always looking for a new sensation and driving experience. Nothing wrong with that at all, these are all great cars and should be experienced by enthusiasts to really see what they are all about.

I'm afraid we will eventually see the day that cars and transportation becomes so automated and numb - we live in a great time, enjoy it!

- Jason