New to forum so I bet this has been asked before, but here goes. Which would you buy and why 997 GT3, Audi R8, Nissan GTR, or ferrari f430? Car to be used in NE summers with occasional track use. Which car is fastest around a track?

 

I would think that the fastest around the track would be

GTR
F430
GT3
R8

This is based on what I have seen while I am on the track.

However, Nissan has some strict rules to the usage and warranty of the GTR and the F430 is the most expensive. The R8 is the least involved (based on feed back from a few guys that track them).

I would go for the GT3, it is very fast, and a lot of fun to drive.

 

you forgot to put M3 on your list.

 

Interesting. I have an e46 M3 that is bone stock and I am thinking of upgrading suspension, wheels and tires for more track fun. I assume you are referring to new M3

 

I would say that if you track it without electronic assistance (why go on track to play Nintendo ?), the GT3 is the fastest by far... depending on your driving ability obviously !

 

Agreed, go with the GT3

 

Good points. I felt that I had to list GTR due to its incredible performance for the money. The R8 looks great and I heard it was very well balanced, but is under-powered. V10 may fix that for a price. Who doesn't want a ferrari in there garage? Its the maintenance that will kill you. That leaves the GT3, incredible performance in a good looking package. Why it came with a sunroof is anyones guess-seems counter-intuitive.

 

What he said.

 

This may be biased so far because it's a GT forum.

But I own none of these, and am a member on all forums.

Sounds like you'll be happiest with the GT3.
It's cheaper than the R8 and F430. It's reliable, you can DD and track, it's fun and performs, it has mod potential that is often overlooked (oem wheels weigh a ton.. get some lightweight champions or hre, RS flywheel/clutch, sharkwerks club kit - evo software, bmc filter, exhaust bypass) and it's even quicker and more responsive and sounds amazing.

best choice all around.

 

Being a porsche forum you'll get a bias, but having encoucounter all the cars it really becomes a drivers contest. Maybe the questions should be what car is the easiest to extranct the best track times for an average club driver. If thats the case
GT-R
R8
F430
GT3.
The F1 transmission gives the Ferrari a slight edge of the the GT3 manual gear box.
I wouldn't have considered an R8 until I encountered one this week at a track day.
The car was set up and on Hoosiers and it just stuck everywhere. I believe the Audi is way underated.
One car you didn't mention is a CLK63 black, which is more like a Gt3 in that its' built for track use.
Jimmy

 

I tried an R8 once on a track and it may be the specific set-up of this car which was wrong, but the paddle shifting had a long lag between speeds and I could feel an important weight transfer to the front end at every upshift...

 

GT3 or F430....

 

If you are just going to track, you should also consider the 997 GT3 RS instead of the GT3.

 

Thanks. I am leaning towards the GT3 due to overall package. The GTR is amazing on paper but because it seems that anyone can drive it fast due to electronic gizmos -this is a turn off. I should have mentioned that I have an e46 M3, so the R8 is not that much faster, but is probably better balance din the right hands. Is there anything bad to say about Ferrari? I wish it was the fastest around the track. Accumulating a lot of miles kills resale it seems more so than any other car. With the GT3 you would't feel as guilty driving it all the time.

 

Dodge Viper ACR is the fastest around a track