By the way, althought I have never driven one, my assumption is that a 996 GT3 would be too much of a track car to enjoy on twisty roads on the weekend... too harsh for even that duty[/QUOTE]

No way. The GT3 is a road car thats great on the track. The car is spectacular on the twisties.
Dont talk yourself into it being too harsh a ride. If you only drive it on weekends its that much more special.
Go for it.

 

I have both.

The short answer is yes.

 

lol.

 

What about the mechanics of the two cars????
When I fist read this thread I figured the well educated 6 speeders would blast this guy......If you had the cars on a lift side by side they have very little in common. A better comparison would be to a BMW M3 or an Audi....

The GT3 is a work of art, a canvas that has been developing for over 30 years.... It is an amazing car, that will do amazing things....I wonder how many Hours a stock 997 would hold up on the race track... I bet a stock GT3 could run a 24 hour enduro right off the show room floor. How many other cars can you say that about.... none that I can think of. Maybe a CGT....

The 997 is a great car, but shares very little with the GT3 mechanically. That alone is enough to answer this queston for me....

The only 997 I would every own would be a full leather cab.... Very nice on for a sunny drive to the Oregon coast....

 

awesome

 

Lets take RS197's thought a step further, what marque other than Porsche, makes cars that can go from the dealer to the track and last? Let's face it, a Boxster S is a hell of a good DE car too, right out of the box.

No doubt I too get tingly all over knowing I have a dry sump, 8400 rpm redline, adjustable suspension, a race car (or 996 turbo)derived gearbox and case, etc.

BUT

I have yet to hear of a 997 C2S falling apart on the track during a DE. I have one friend with at least 75 track days on his C2S without a hiccup. It's got some minor mods and slicks. He is wickedly fast.

They are BOTH street cars. They are both assembled on the same line at the factory. They have a lot in common. Remember this thread started with money as the prime factor. If money doesn't matter and you dig the narrower focus of a GT3, its a no brainer.

RS197, I do like your idea of putting a new GT3 into a 24 hour enduro.
My personal alcohol induced fantasy involves me and my time traveling GT3 blowing by Richard Attwood's 917 (while throwing a Steve McQueen salute) to become the first Porsche to win LeMans in 1970!

Kinda like "Herbie Rides Again" but much much cooler.

Peace my P-Car brothers.

 

I drive both on and off track, lotsa experience in both seats. Impossible to compare both, coming from we, the **** retentive!
A minor incursion to comment would be to say clearly, if you are a track hack AND do many DE's, the "real" 911 is the way to go, for part endurance purposes, TO SAY THE LEAST! How can u have fun at the track with that DAM PSM....tried trail braking with it?
That said the "S" ROCKS, fast as a mother f'er and reels in the turns-to a degree anyway. THATSWITCHISBS!

 

You may find this hard to believe, Mr. RacerX, but I once saw a guy in a C2S lapping a few GT3s on the Keystone State's big tri-oval.

So I better get back to my XBox 360 and practice if that injustice is ever to be undone.

Auf Wiedershen