Around July of 06 I had my mind set on either a new 997 GT3 or a Ford GT. I found a new Ford GT just the way I wanted it ( black with 2 options, red calipers & BBS wheels ). My son was looking to buy a used Ferrari 360 at the same time and I told him a Ford GT would be a better car both now and in the future as I thought they would appreciate and be way less money to maintain. I was so set on not seeing him buy a 360 that I passed on the Ford GT and let him buy it. Because of the depreciation factor I decided to look for a very low mileage 996 GT3 which I did eventually find about a year later. For me the GT3 is a better car as I can drive it most places without drawing a lot of attention. My son just uses the Ford GT for joy rides because he doesn't feel comfortable leaving it out of his sight. As far as driving goes they are very different cars. They both sound nice running to redline. The GT3 builds power, the GT is instant power. The Ford GT doesn't feel like its 3500 lbs. because of the mid engine. Feels more like my Boxster in that respect. My wife doesn't like the Boxster for the lack of interior room so I knew she wouldn't be happy with the Ford GT. After having the GT3 for a year now for me I think I made the right choice. Even though I probably would lose $10k today if I sold it I'm happy to have it. I'm sure my son could make money if he sold the GT but he tells me its a keeper. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. It is more a question of what you expect from the car.

 

Hello BMA2,

I am in love with my 996 GT-3, I can't bring myself to sell it. I drive it quite a bit more than the 997 GT-3. That being said I am also convinced that the 997 is a better all around car. I am sure that in the hands of a good driver the 997 is also faster around a track.

There is a bumpy road by my house that I travel over everyday. One particular bump will bottom the suspension of the 997 every time. After the initial bump it handles the following bumps fine. My partner also has a 997 and experiences the same thing. The 996 and all my other cars handle this road fine, no bottoming, no upset at all. For me it characterizes the 997, you can catch out the computer and electronic suspension control. Sometimes I am not exactly sure what to expect with the 997. With the 996 it reacts exactly the same way every time. I know exactly what to expect. The 996 often gives the smallest bit of a tail wag and then sets the suspension and you know for sure what is happening. I don't get that feeling with the 997 but the 997 has a much nicer interior, my wife does not mind riding in the 997, (she hates being in the 996 as it is too noisy and harsh for her) and the 997 gets much better gas mileage for the way I drive.

So I am conflicted. The wife bugs me to sell the 996 but I can't let it go, I prefer to drive it. The 997 is really the better car and most everyone I know will call me a fool to sell it and keep the 996 so I just keep them both and I am happy.

I can say the same for the Ford GT. It is so much fun to own (both driving it and looking at it in the garage) that I can't see wanting to sell it. I suspect in a year or two most Ford GTs will end up in the hands of folks that feel the way I do and there will not be many of them showing up for sale. It is the kind of car that if you understand it you won't want to sell it - ever.

Dave

 

996 vs. 997 GT3... Own a 997, have driven several 996s bone stock through fully race modified.

If a combination street / track car, the 997 without question. If raw track car with significant modifications and more "choices" for mods, perhaps the 996. If even quicker track car desired, then fully modified 997.

By all accounts I've seen, the 997 is the quicker car - and it should be as it is the next generation and Porsche typically doesn't try to make slower cars as they evolve.

 

PM sent.

 

There are,IMHO, some relevant observations about these two cars, particularly fish dave's thoughts. I also am fortunate in owning both the Ford GT and the GT3 RS. The Ford['05] has ~ 22,000 miles and the RS['08] has ~ 9,000 miles. Both cars have been tracked[VIR, Summit Point etc], taken on long trips, picked up KFC for dinner etc.
The Ford has had a pulley, tune, short shifter kit, oil trans cooler, Bob Ida exhaust, and engine bay fire suppression system installed. It has dynoed at 658 hp and 647 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. The RS is pretty much stock with a Shark Werks exhaust[great sound!] and Toyo R888 tires with a track set up on the suspension.
I think it depends on what you want from the car in deciding which one to purchase. If you want to be The Hero of the week at Starbucks, be on every one's cell phone, and blow most Ricers away at every stop light drag race, get the Ford GT. If you want to scare the livin' hell out of your wife/girl friend/boss/yourself, get the Ford GT with a pulley and tune[or a larger Whipple, or twin turbos] It is an absolutely stunning looking car-arguably one of the most attractive cars ever built. Don't plan, however, on going on a long trip with someone else in the car unless you Fed Ex your luggage ahead,as there is practically very limited storage space. As has been said, visibility is marginal due to the two large a pillars, seating position, and engine location. Stock Goodyear tires are crap[be VERY careful on cold roads with cold tires and cold driver!], steering feel and feedback excellent, brakes outstanding[stand on 'em, no fade, no ABS etc], gear box very good, and instrumentation visibility and presentation is also excellent. The Ford GT, however, IMHO, is not a track car. One can take it to the track run it, and have fun. But I would suggest that before doing this, the driver should have a good bit of track experience and have attended a racing school such as Bertil Roos, Barber, Bondurant etc. Due to its power, even in a stock configuration, throttle management is critical on corner exits. The car WILL go into snap over-steer if an aggressive and early throttle application is used. The GT can be trailed braked into corners but does not "like" this, especially if the stock tires are used. It is VERY important to keep the car dead straight under braking, down to turn in speed, off the brakes, turn in, and let the fun begin on working the gas through and out of the corner. The stock suspension set-up is ok for most of us[including me], but to be a more serious track car, the GT needs to be lowered, have after market adjustable shocks[Penske etc], and a good set of Hoosiers. The GT will also have the propensity to run very warm during hot days at the track. Engine temps, even with an after market exhaust, will quickly get to max limits after 4-5 "spirited" laps and require a couple of "parade" laps to get things cooled down. Lastly, due to the limited head clearance inside the car, the driving position with a helmet on a track is just uncomfortable. I am 6' 2'' and have to move the seat forward and recline the back rest to obtain sufficient clearance between the top of my helmet and the door overhang. Visibility is therefore worse than normal, knees are higher resulting in more difficulty heel and toeing, and arm position is not perfect.
As for the RS, contributors to this board know more about this car than I currently know. It is the first Porsche I have had the privilege of owning, and it is simply great-on the street, track, anywhere. The car has to be one of the finest engineered and mechanically built automobiles ever produced. A couple of "negative" observations. The RS is so good that I feel it makes a driver think he/she is a better driver than we really are, particularly on a track. I have to remind myself that I can NOT drive this car like Patrick Long could, and I should not entertain any stupid thoughts about trying to do this. The other point is that the gear box is very "notchy." A driver has to be precise when shifting, especially going from 2nd to 3rd. But what I love and now appreciate with the RS is the fact that you can drive it to the track, adjust the tire pressures, check the torque on the lug nuts, check the oil, drive the **** out of it for a couple of days, re-set the tire pressures, turn on the nav system, CD, cruise control, place a latte in the cup holder, and go home-and the car does this again and again. And when you get home, after you clean her up, go get the dry cleaning, do a big shopping at Food Lion, get dinner at the Chinese take out, and on the way back home, go by the big SUV driven by a lady with the soccer ball on the rear window at 8000+ rpm's in 2nd gear just to watch the "reaction[I know-not "politically correct" in these days and time but fun nonetheless!]."
All being said and done, if I had to pick one of these cars, I would take the Ford GT. The car is and always will be unique. I doubt we will see, in the immediate future, another car built by an American manufacturer for the same reasons Ford built the GT in '05 and '06. There will be other Porsche GT3's, RS's, 911's etc down the road, and they will be superb cars. But when I go out to my garage late at night, turn the spot lights on, and sit there with a glass of wine looking at these two cars, I always want to reach for the Ford GT keys first.

 

^ Now that gets my vote as best first post of the decade! Nicely written.

 

Tiger6, owning both cars myself, you are to be commended for doing an excellent job of highlighting the differences. I think you nailed it right on!!

 

I would always go with the FOrd GT, no doubt good car quality and safety.

 

Tiger6,
Written by a true car guy!
Great read, thanks.

 

Tiger6, EXCELLENT post!! I don't have an RS, but I do have a 911TT and a Ford GT. Apart from the 8000 RPM blow by, and the fact that 4WD does cause some significant understeer in the case of my 911 Turbo, I echo your sentiments on both cars.

PM Sent.

Zippy, yes, you MUST get one soon!! Let's start looking in Feb/March.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only FGT owner that spends time in the garage just looking at the car.

Best Regards,