GT3 reliability
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GT3 reliability
Hi to all,
I am new to this forum and live in AUS... I have recently placed a deposit with my dealer for a 997 gt3 mkII . This is my dream car and unfortunately here in Australia they don't come cheap at approx $290k on the road... probably the sort of money you guys are paying for gt2s!!! None the less owning a Porsche has always been a goal and I intend to track it with some professional training etc.
Having read through the forums for the last little while, I have only one concern...Reliability! One of the reasons I have opted for the GT3 is for its suposed "bulletproof" reputation...Thoughts would be greatly appreciated as there have been conflicted reports of late in some threads. I am well aware of the RMS issue (which I can't believe hasn't been sorted) but what else am I to expect?
I currently drive a Nissan (sylvia in some countries) 200sx s15 (2lt turbo, 180kw, 1150kg) and whilst it doesn't even remotely compare in performance dispite fantastic acceleration (beaten a 996 carrera off the line till 120km/h before the 911 came back and pulled away) it has astounded me for reliability. It has 145000 km on the clock and is constantly driven like its stolen- abused to the crap!... Apart from regular servicing it has been nearly faultless- only cracked the rear crossmember assembly once (freak according to Nissan) but probably due to my constant clutch dumping @ 4000+rpm and the original clutch even went for 125k km. Tyres that should last 30+K are gone in 15-20k and that ain't from being ripped up either.
Lots of pointless info, I know, but the point is that this car has set the bar stupendously high for reliabilty and whilst the GT3 won't be abused in the same manner, is it good to go the distance? Will it be reliable? What should I realisticly expect because Porsche repairs certainly ain't gonna be cheap? Or will I be dissapointed after having spent 7 times the cost of the Nissan?
(FYI- Nissan hasn't been tracked and GT3 won't be a daily drive- weekender and track car)
Kind regards
Chris
I am new to this forum and live in AUS... I have recently placed a deposit with my dealer for a 997 gt3 mkII . This is my dream car and unfortunately here in Australia they don't come cheap at approx $290k on the road... probably the sort of money you guys are paying for gt2s!!! None the less owning a Porsche has always been a goal and I intend to track it with some professional training etc.
Having read through the forums for the last little while, I have only one concern...Reliability! One of the reasons I have opted for the GT3 is for its suposed "bulletproof" reputation...Thoughts would be greatly appreciated as there have been conflicted reports of late in some threads. I am well aware of the RMS issue (which I can't believe hasn't been sorted) but what else am I to expect?
I currently drive a Nissan (sylvia in some countries) 200sx s15 (2lt turbo, 180kw, 1150kg) and whilst it doesn't even remotely compare in performance dispite fantastic acceleration (beaten a 996 carrera off the line till 120km/h before the 911 came back and pulled away) it has astounded me for reliability. It has 145000 km on the clock and is constantly driven like its stolen- abused to the crap!... Apart from regular servicing it has been nearly faultless- only cracked the rear crossmember assembly once (freak according to Nissan) but probably due to my constant clutch dumping @ 4000+rpm and the original clutch even went for 125k km. Tyres that should last 30+K are gone in 15-20k and that ain't from being ripped up either.
Lots of pointless info, I know, but the point is that this car has set the bar stupendously high for reliabilty and whilst the GT3 won't be abused in the same manner, is it good to go the distance? Will it be reliable? What should I realisticly expect because Porsche repairs certainly ain't gonna be cheap? Or will I be dissapointed after having spent 7 times the cost of the Nissan?
(FYI- Nissan hasn't been tracked and GT3 won't be a daily drive- weekender and track car)
Kind regards
Chris
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Chris, Welcome to the "6"!
I drive my 997 GT3 exactly how you plan on driving yours, for weekends/track events/or whenever I get the itch. So far I have approximately 6800 miles without a single problem! I am just about to mount new tires on it and you're right, things can get a little pricey.
The return is the most driver engaging vehicle that I have ever driven on the streets (it's even more fun on the track). I love it, highly recommend it, and haven't had a concern to date. My advice to you, buy it and drive it like it was meant to be driven, you won't be sorry.
I drive my 997 GT3 exactly how you plan on driving yours, for weekends/track events/or whenever I get the itch. So far I have approximately 6800 miles without a single problem! I am just about to mount new tires on it and you're right, things can get a little pricey.
The return is the most driver engaging vehicle that I have ever driven on the streets (it's even more fun on the track). I love it, highly recommend it, and haven't had a concern to date. My advice to you, buy it and drive it like it was meant to be driven, you won't be sorry.
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G'day Chris
I drive my '04 996 GT3 regularly on the street and on track days as well. I've got 34000+ miles on my car, with no problems. You will wear out tires (which, if you love Michelins as I do, are far from cheap) but the car is very strong. I change the oil at 6K miles or after 2 track days, but other than that and tires, it is a very reliable car (and more fun than you can yet imagine)
I drive my '04 996 GT3 regularly on the street and on track days as well. I've got 34000+ miles on my car, with no problems. You will wear out tires (which, if you love Michelins as I do, are far from cheap) but the car is very strong. I change the oil at 6K miles or after 2 track days, but other than that and tires, it is a very reliable car (and more fun than you can yet imagine)
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Same here: daily driver with 30,000 km on the clock after one year, a couple of track days and .... 30,000 km worth of smiles. No reliability issue, in spite of the high temperatures and aggressive desert weather.
You can drive this car every day and track it on weekends. Just be ready to spend money on Sport Cups, brake pads and brake disks.
Enjoy!
You can drive this car every day and track it on weekends. Just be ready to spend money on Sport Cups, brake pads and brake disks.
Enjoy!
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Hi fellas ,thanx for the welcome...
I like yourslves have long had an ambition to own a 911 and this has always been the one! Its great to hear your positive responses as I intend to use it in much the same way as you guys... The regular wear and tear stuff, I am expecting including the tyres which are frightfully expensive here. I'll probably remedy that by driving on something more affordable on the streets and saving the michelin cups for track days... And I'll track it as the budget allows parts wise...
My concerns arose from the constant talk of RMS and pulley issues on these forums. I just want a fantastic looking car (hopefully with a Sharkwerks exhaust) that I can just jump in, turn the key and have fun in without the heartache...
I understand that its all quite driver specific but what is the typical lifecycle of a clutch on a GT3? (Assuming, 4-6 track days a year)
Cheers
Chris
I like yourslves have long had an ambition to own a 911 and this has always been the one! Its great to hear your positive responses as I intend to use it in much the same way as you guys... The regular wear and tear stuff, I am expecting including the tyres which are frightfully expensive here. I'll probably remedy that by driving on something more affordable on the streets and saving the michelin cups for track days... And I'll track it as the budget allows parts wise...
My concerns arose from the constant talk of RMS and pulley issues on these forums. I just want a fantastic looking car (hopefully with a Sharkwerks exhaust) that I can just jump in, turn the key and have fun in without the heartache...
I understand that its all quite driver specific but what is the typical lifecycle of a clutch on a GT3? (Assuming, 4-6 track days a year)
Cheers
Chris
Last edited by 911rox; Apr 7, 2008 at 06:20 AM. Reason: error
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Hi fellas ,thanx for the welcome...
I like yourslves have long had an ambition to own a 911 and this has always been the one! Its great to hear your positive responses as I intend to use it in much the same way as you guys... The regular wear and tear stuff, I am expecting including the tyres which are frightfully expensive here. I'll probably remedy that by driving on something more affordable on the streets and saving the michelin cups for track days... And I'll track it as the budget allows parts wise...
My concerns arose from the constant talk of RMS and pulley issues on these forums. I just want a fantastic looking car (hopefully with a Sharkwerks exhaust) that I can just jump in, turn the key and have fun in without the heartache...
I understand that its all quite driver specific but what is the typical lifecycle of a clutch on a GT3? (Assuming, 4-6 track days a year)
Cheers
Chris
I like yourslves have long had an ambition to own a 911 and this has always been the one! Its great to hear your positive responses as I intend to use it in much the same way as you guys... The regular wear and tear stuff, I am expecting including the tyres which are frightfully expensive here. I'll probably remedy that by driving on something more affordable on the streets and saving the michelin cups for track days... And I'll track it as the budget allows parts wise...
My concerns arose from the constant talk of RMS and pulley issues on these forums. I just want a fantastic looking car (hopefully with a Sharkwerks exhaust) that I can just jump in, turn the key and have fun in without the heartache...
I understand that its all quite driver specific but what is the typical lifecycle of a clutch on a GT3? (Assuming, 4-6 track days a year)
Cheers
Chris
Don't worry about a few drops of oil. That's essentially all that is going on when the RMS leaks. We know why and its because Porsche decided to use the newer teflon style one that has given them issues on 997S' (darned summer student program). You can wait until your dealer replaces it for you or just use the 996/997TT version (with the spring) which we know from experience doesn't leak. Tire wear can be anywhere from 2000 miles (mentioning no names SnowBoarder!) to 10,000 depending upon how its driven. The gearbox is strong as hell as is the clutch. You can throw in a LWF if/when you have the dealer do the RMS under warranty. We don't know that the cause of the pulley failure is the LWF but if need be and if it makes your dealer feel better then use the RS pulley, bolt and washer.
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Hi Chris
What part of Aus are you from ? I've had my 997 GT3 for nearly a year now and 8500 kms later have had no problems.I have friends you have 996 mark I's and they also have enjoyed fault free running.No issues with pulleys or RMS.
Mine is a weekender and I'm a member of the Porsche Car Club.I track day it every couple of months for around the $160 each day on the best race tracks we have.A very affordable alternative to having the car impounded under our "hoon" laws on the street.
To date the only running expense has been a second set of rims for the Pilot Cup Sport tyres for track work and a new set of Pilot sports for the road.
The car is every thing you have read and heard ...and more !!
What part of Aus are you from ? I've had my 997 GT3 for nearly a year now and 8500 kms later have had no problems.I have friends you have 996 mark I's and they also have enjoyed fault free running.No issues with pulleys or RMS.
Mine is a weekender and I'm a member of the Porsche Car Club.I track day it every couple of months for around the $160 each day on the best race tracks we have.A very affordable alternative to having the car impounded under our "hoon" laws on the street.
To date the only running expense has been a second set of rims for the Pilot Cup Sport tyres for track work and a new set of Pilot sports for the road.
The car is every thing you have read and heard ...and more !!
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Hi Chris
What part of Aus are you from ? I've had my 997 GT3 for nearly a year now and 8500 kms later have had no problems.I have friends you have 996 mark I's and they also have enjoyed fault free running.No issues with pulleys or RMS.
Mine is a weekender and I'm a member of the Porsche Car Club.I track day it every couple of months for around the $160 each day on the best race tracks we have.A very affordable alternative to having the car impounded under our "hoon" laws on the street.
To date the only running expense has been a second set of rims for the Pilot Cup Sport tyres for track work and a new set of Pilot sports for the road.
The car is every thing you have read and heard ...and more !!
What part of Aus are you from ? I've had my 997 GT3 for nearly a year now and 8500 kms later have had no problems.I have friends you have 996 mark I's and they also have enjoyed fault free running.No issues with pulleys or RMS.
Mine is a weekender and I'm a member of the Porsche Car Club.I track day it every couple of months for around the $160 each day on the best race tracks we have.A very affordable alternative to having the car impounded under our "hoon" laws on the street.
To date the only running expense has been a second set of rims for the Pilot Cup Sport tyres for track work and a new set of Pilot sports for the road.
The car is every thing you have read and heard ...and more !!
I too am from Melbourne's inner north... Great to meet a virtual neighbour on these forums. What you describe is exactly what I am hoping to do and why I've taken the plunge and put myself in line for one. I glad you've had a faultless machine, just what I'm wanting to hear in parting with such a large chunk of money...
How do you find it around the suburbs? Is it a little too harsh on our roads or quite manageable, how does it cope? who do you have doing your suspension set up and maintenance? I had driven a 996 gt3 mkII but as yet haven't had the pleasure of a 997. The dealer is waiting for one to come into the lot for me to drive. They had one at PC Melb in early Jan but I had broken a bone in my foot jetskiing (freak accident,lol) and by the time I could drive again, it was gone...
Hoping they get another in soon as I would love a taste of what I'll be waiting for, for the next couple of years...
Regards
Chris
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hey chris, honestly I can't think of a better car to drive to the track, on the track and then home again. These cars make me smile every time I drive, whether it's our RS or one of JWGT2's fruit loops Don't worry about a few drops of oil. That's essentially all that is going on when the RMS leaks. We know why and its because Porsche decided to use the newer teflon style one that has given them issues on 997S' (darned summer student program). You can wait until your dealer replaces it for you or just use the 996/997TT version (with the spring) which we know from experience doesn't leak. Tire wear can be anywhere from 2000 miles (mentioning no names SnowBoarder!) to 10,000 depending upon how its driven. The gearbox is strong as hell as is the clutch. You can throw in a LWF if/when you have the dealer do the RMS under warranty. We don't know that the cause of the pulley failure is the LWF but if need be and if it makes your dealer feel better then use the RS pulley, bolt and washer.
Don't worry about a few drops of oil. That's essentially all that is going on when the RMS leaks. We know why and its because Porsche decided to use the newer teflon style one that has given them issues on 997S' (darned summer student program). You can wait until your dealer replaces it for you or just use the 996/997TT version (with the spring) which we know from experience doesn't leak. Tire wear can be anywhere from 2000 miles (mentioning no names SnowBoarder!) to 10,000 depending upon how its driven. The gearbox is strong as hell as is the clutch. You can throw in a LWF if/when you have the dealer do the RMS under warranty. We don't know that the cause of the pulley failure is the LWF but if need be and if it makes your dealer feel better then use the RS pulley, bolt and washer.Thanks heaps for the feedback... I'm glad I've posed the question in this thread, as having heard from so many of you guys has gone a long, long way to putting my mind at ease about the whole reliability concern i had. As I am now in the waiting line for a 3, hopefully by mkII they'll finally sort it out in any case. If not, i'll just do as you mentioned.
Ps. hope you ship to Aus, lol... heard that bypass exhaust on your website, sounds amazing... may need to chat to you in regards to it one day...
regards
Chris
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Bruce Andersen of Excellence technical notes recently (Oct. 2008 issue)replied to GT3 RMS leaks. Evidently it is not a serious problem and the new seals may be installed backwards (improperly) and the slight seepage is normal for cars not driven a lot. So Go drive the cars more frequently improves its health and conditions the seals.
.
Enjoy the GT3 in Australia!
.Enjoy the GT3 in Australia!
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Hi Chris
I've just had the RMS done on my GT3 by PCM under warranty.It had a slight oil leak and I only drive the car on weekends and trackdays.
Other than that 11,000 magnificent kms.
By the way.. with Sharky's help ,I fitted the bypass muffler about 2 weeks ago.The video doesn't do it justice.The noise simply has to be heard to be believed.
The guys from the Porsche Car Club voted it as the best sounding 911 at Sandown last Sunday !!
It sets off car alarms in residential streets !!!
I've just had the RMS done on my GT3 by PCM under warranty.It had a slight oil leak and I only drive the car on weekends and trackdays.
Other than that 11,000 magnificent kms.
By the way.. with Sharky's help ,I fitted the bypass muffler about 2 weeks ago.The video doesn't do it justice.The noise simply has to be heard to be believed.
The guys from the Porsche Car Club voted it as the best sounding 911 at Sandown last Sunday !!
It sets off car alarms in residential streets !!!
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Hi Chris
I've just had the RMS done on my GT3 by PCM under warranty.It had a slight oil leak and I only drive the car on weekends and trackdays.
Other than that 11,000 magnificent kms.
By the way.. with Sharky's help ,I fitted the bypass muffler about 2 weeks ago.The video doesn't do it justice.The noise simply has to be heard to be believed.
The guys from the Porsche Car Club voted it as the best sounding 911 at Sandown last Sunday !!
It sets off car alarms in residential streets !!!
I've just had the RMS done on my GT3 by PCM under warranty.It had a slight oil leak and I only drive the car on weekends and trackdays.
Other than that 11,000 magnificent kms.
By the way.. with Sharky's help ,I fitted the bypass muffler about 2 weeks ago.The video doesn't do it justice.The noise simply has to be heard to be believed.
The guys from the Porsche Car Club voted it as the best sounding 911 at Sandown last Sunday !!
It sets off car alarms in residential streets !!!
Great to hear from you again... I didn't doubt how amazing the bypass system would sound as it certainly looks the part. The family must hear you coming from a couple blocks away, lol! Did you do the install yourself?? Do you do track days with PCM or the Porsche Car Club?
Trust you've have had no other probs apart from the RMS? I just hope that there isn't an engine change to the GT3 for the mkII, fingers crossed...
I hope to see you cruisin' around sometime soon. Would love to hear this thing in action even though it'll make me even more impatient for mine...
If any of the club days are open to the public, please drop me a reply. Would love to come and check out the action.
Regards Chris