I think its important to get the GT3 you want and can understand why you decided to wait.

That being said, I am interested to see if PADM is something that will last. I see it as a troublesome gimmick that a lot of owners may end up removing in favor of a more a classic, less finicky mount... 1st Gen PCCB's anyone? Of course Porsche may have perfected this first time out but I have my doubts.

I am on the fence about nose lift? I think I would want to make sure that it could still work with Moton Sports, JRZ's, or even Bilsteins before I made the plunge with this option. But this is coming from a guy that would most definitely take his GT3 home to the track!

Larry, sign up for POC drivers school event. I promise you will love it and it will truly open a new world for you.

Jason

 

The concept behind PADM is not knew and not created by Porsche. I think it will hold up as well as any other hydraulic shock would. It's a simple design really, just uses magneticly sensitive fluid.

 

Like you've said to many of us on here, myself included, only buy the car if it is exactly what you want; don't get emotional and compromise. Wait for the exact car at the exact price. You did the right thing.

So what color did you decide on?

 

Theres no real need to change this car too much from stock . In fact as much as PCCB's are not my choice over Brembo if I decide to keep a stock Gt3 I may opt for it . Since this car is the last Gt1 .. it may go down in history as a collector car . Part of me thinks its a daily driver and another part is ready to make it a garage queen . Either way it has to come right out of the box in top form speced to my taste .

My PDK car is one heck of a car . It should be ready tomorrow with the paddles and such .

I am going to drive it a bit . I worked very hard to score the discount on that car and price and select those mods.

I am going to drive it more.

 

Larry you have made a great decision. The only thing I would suggest is to get as MUCH seat time in the GT3 as possible. I think even a 997.1 GT3 or RS would work. Just so you get as much as possible experience and get to know all the nuances of the car. The howl of the motor alone will keep you intoxicated for months. But the other things will drive you nuts. The rattles the way the breaks squeak, the way the ABS comes in too soon. The stiffness of the clutch (you say you have one already on the TT). What drove me away was the back issues leading to surgery. I pray you never have that problem. I couldnt go to the track as much so I didnt see it shine the way it used to. just forgetting to come into my driveway at the right angle was a costly error.
The C2S PDK does so much SO well I dont find myself missing it. The only thing I think about is the rear spoiler. Do I want one or not. I cant figure that one out. Its so fast so quick compared to my 993TT and the 996 GT3 and equitable to the 997.1 GT3 its just great. In the mean time I had a 09 AMG C63 and I enjoyed the luxury part. BUt it wasnt a 911. So I bought the 911 back (PDK) after selling the AMG. It has all of what I liked about the AMG and the GT3 without the things I disliked about the GT3 and the AMG. It performs all the luxury stuff I liked in the AMG.
Its obvious you can afford what you want, so if so try to spec out a RS. For what you would lose on the PDK will make up the difference on the RS. (Just saying if you can take the loss on the PDK easily then the upcharge on the RS wont bother you abit.)
The obvious thing you have decided is to get it EXACTLY the way YOU want!! WHEN you want.
Also after what the Porsche dealers in North America did to us on the 997.1 RS MAKE SURE you dont pay a penny over MSRP. The dealers are already getting hungry for rippoffs on the RS. AGAIN. EVEN in this economy and thats greedy.

PS Since youre not going to track the thing PCCBs would be a must have on if nothing else but for resale. Tracking would make those a wear item. NOT tracking means they will last A LONG time. Probably for alot longer than you keep the car.

 

I'm relieved - on your behalf. It seemed that taking a bit of a bath on a new, beautiful and personally tailored 997S for an imperfectly spec'd GT3 was a tough tradeoff. And the absence of the new engine mounts would be a great loss. I'm a big fan of that type of technology. The lifting nose thing is less of an issue. Having a lowered 997S with a GT3 snoot, I can say that it's quite manageable - notwithstanding the road issues that you cited as part of the Florida landscape. And GT3's are not collector items. You will have your choice of the litter for years to come.
Enjoy the pair of P-cars you have. I'm not an advocate of the 'you can't appreciate them unless they're tracked' theme, so however driven, the fleet you have is outstanding.
And this gives you time to wait for the details of the 998 (or whatever they are calling it) while giving us more time to convince you to think about something that ends in RS! (I'm pretty sure that the RS will be the next P-car I own so I need your feedback)!
Congrats.

 

Congrats Larry on a wise decision, it was fun living vicariously thru you the past couple of days.
As others have mentioned wait for the right deal and spec a car exactly how you want it!

 

I empathize with your back pain. Here's some worst case scenario math guessing ..

The PDK car = (- 17K ) counts double because I woild lose it in the trade before I even make it up on their car . Using Sin911 and Buckwheats
numbers .

Paying msrp on gt3 = (- 20K)

-20K + 2(-17K) = -54K

No deal !!!! Not even close !!! And if I even came close to giving 2/3 of that then that car has to be exactly how I want it .

I'll sell my car privately after driving it and still make up room in that number or even supass it I can drive the cars as you suggest .. and hang onto my money .

Judging by the number of Gt3's available .. I am not alone in my thinking .

Maybe Porsche simply built too many .. and this late arrival of PADM is almost like launch cars with PDK and no chrono or Turbos with no axle lock . There is an almost two tier distinction within the breed but with a track car which appeals to track car buyers that hair splits pooly enoigh to leave Gt3's in inventorty rather than finding a new home.

 

Larry good thinking. I think they over estimated the desire for the new GT3 after basically hitting a home run with the 997.1. So yea the 997.2 is a Great car but for what it costs to upgrade and given the hard core GT3 community is not as big as Porsche thinks youre right. Too many. And yet some dealers dont hesitate to try to gouge as much as possible on the new RS.

 

Honestly thought that you were going to get it... Let us know when you do!

 

I thought so too but it has to be the right car and time is on my side.

 

uh oh - I found one kinda close .

It doesn't have ceramics
Although unusual --it has sport adaptive seats .
No noselift .
It does have engine mounts !!!!!!

MSRP is 10K less than the ones I looked at ( 129K) --was not on their website two days ago. have no idea what they'd offer in trade . No shortage of Gt3's . That's for sure .

686 - XM Radio
640 - Sport Chrono Package Plus
P23 - PCM 3.0 w/ Extended Navigation
P12 - Self-Dim Mirrors & Rain Sensor
P01 - Adaptive Sport Seats
25851 - Seat Stitching Deviating Color
24904 - Dev.Stitching Side Centr Cnsl
24903 - Door Handle Stitching Dev.Clr.
24902 - Door Stitching in Dev. Color
XSC - Porsche Crest in Headrest
490 - Sound Package Plus
XXZ - Foot Rest Aluminum
140 - Dynamic Engine Mounts
870 - Universal Audio Interface
810 - Floor Mats in Interior Color
619 - Bluetooth Phone Interface
603 - Dynamic Cornering Lights
24901 - Dashboard Stitching Dev. Color

 

Thanks, I feel even worse...

 

Don't feel badly . As it turns out this process has led me to evaluate the car and its options even more . It also strengthed my apreciation of the cars I have . It also has me finding dealership after dealership with Gt3's in inventory . That is the most surprising thing of all .

I am going to simply wait and drive my PDK car .

 

Looks well appointed, wonder why it's 10k less? Did the other one have PCCB's? Is this one red as well?