You may want to consider the reliability of the PDK and New motor with respect to repeated track use. In motorsport we rebuild the boxes or at least inspect them annually. If PDK fails under track stress (and none of us knows yet) you can bet porsche is not going to fix it under warranty. I'm sure Porshche has tested the new motor like crazy but until I see it in a CUP I would be hesitant.

At least with the GT3 you have a drivetrain designed for track use. Sure you'll burn out your diff eventually but that's 1/10 to 1/20th what a new PDK gearbox will be.

Not for nothing, but i'd be in the same position as you with my 6-GT3 if I wanted to move to a 997S or even a 7 GT3. I'd be lucky to get what i paid for it before I put 30k+ into making it race ready. Not very good math.

V

 

Not to mention the depreciation curve for any new car will be steeper than that of low volume specialty models like the GT3. In 5 years time I think the spread in values for your current GT3 vs the current 997S/Pdk will go from even to -30% more in favor of the GT3 (may be worth 80-90K versus $40-50K for the 2009 997S/with Pdk) in 2014. Also if the new engine develops new problems then the old classic GT1 configuration engine in your GT3 will be even more desirable (like the 993 versus 996 valuation).

 

have you guys been on cars.com recently. is it me or those gt3 and RS prices way too high?

 

All some excellent points... From the factory, you can add PDK and the sport suspension / diffy, which is going to add some significant dollars. Don't expect to get a big discount on a new car, while you should expect to take a bath on your car given the economy. As others have indicated, the GT3 has the well-tested GT1 design and it's got history of being reliable. The new engine should be fine, but who knows. Also, the tranny - look at all of the nightmares out there with the BMW SMG in the M3...

Again, if there's a need for PDK as I know some great guys here at the forum that simply cannot operate a clutch for physical reasons, then get PDK (vs. auto). But if you have a 997 GT3, hold onto it...

 

I have a friend that has an 08 M3 V8, he has a lot of problems with the tranny not shifting when he wants, and then shifting when the computer decides it is time.

I was behind him in turn 2 at Seattle and the car down shifted just before the apex, freaked me out, I can only imagine what he felt!

 

I was unaware of issues in the new M3, I was thinking about the E46... When I had my manual E46 M3 many of us were saying "Man, I wouldn't want to own an SMG out of warranty and while in warranty I sure hope they'd cover a car used in DE..."

 

PDK does the same thing. Will not hold a shift at the track. Will shift on its at mid corner if you are at redline. Not such a good thing.

Although my E46 SMG was replaced under warranty due to bad syncros (after 5K+ of track miles) at least it would not shift on it's own. All in all the SMG was pretty sporty at the track. But agree, owning outside warranty was a scary proposition.

My belief is the that the new DCT/PDK transmissions are being touted as faster, better, etc. but they are in reality a way for the car makers to in effect avoid "abuse" of the engine/drivetrain through little software safeguards.

Just my $0.02

 

I don't see a loophole being bypassed since you obviously drove it for over 14,000 miles. If I posted this however, a few names would be all over me...hahaa

Anyways I think the rules say you can't post a Feeler post with no FS price and it would go in the for sale section? dunno?

 

The guy that owns the car has been told by BMW that new software will be available soon, as the computer doesn't understand the heavy braking and down shifting that a driver wants to do on the track coming from a long straight into a hard corner. I will enjoy my old school 6 speed manual tranny and a heel toe. I will not even consider a semi automatic tranny at this point.

BTW, both myself and the BMW drivers are at the same level of experience, and we both have CO's. He has 380mm Brembo brakes and exhaust. My 997 C2S is so much faster on the track then the M3. I could only imaging how much faster 997 GT3 would then the M3. He emailed me last night and is now asking my advice as to what Porsche to buy, I told I would do a GT3.