I have an 03 e46 M3 and am thinking about an 07 GT3. I expect it will be a ton faster and handle better. Anyone with direct experience? Will the learning curve on the track be longer. I have no experience with the rear engine set-up? Am I right in assuming You need to brake earlier into a turn and be on gas sooner to plant rear end? PASM on or off ultimately? What would I have to do wrong to cause major oversteer? Thanks

 

I have both cars, but I had only tracked the GT3, I must say that after driving the GT3 the E46 will never be the same!!

I'm keeping my E46 for civil use, since the GT3 is taking a shape more track oriented.

 

Make sure you get some seat time with an instructor with lots of 911 experience.

 

Luis is quite right!! modern 911 have a very neutral behavior free of vice, but still a 911 experienced instructor makes a big diference!!

 

Appreciate the tips. Great shots BTW. At least its right side up.

 

I love my M3. I don't plan on selling it soon either.

However the GT3 is one of the most special cars I have had the privilege of driving.

It will be my next sports car.

Good luck....I am jealous.

 

sold my M3 E46 a year ago and got the GT3 since 2 months..Well i had the same calipers and rotors on the M so it was easy getting familiar with the brakes (late braking). I noticed i needed to jump earlier on the brakes because the car reaches higher speeds quicker than the M. i got tricked the first time . i still dont know how how the car is behaving in quick corners compared to the M. i will find out sunday (1st track day with the car)

 

If you dont want massive oversteer don't lift and don't coast.

The most important thing to do is be on the brakes or be on the gas all the time.

Leave PSM on, I had a E46 M3 and an E60 M5 their DSC is no where near the PSM of Porsche. The E46 and the E60 would both have DSC going crazy just from simply switching gears fast. In my 997TT I can go through corners with the tires chirping the entire time and the car's PSM light doesn't flash once.

It will let you be at the adhesion limits through a corner and wont be intrusive unless you cause serious oversteer, so it will give you a chance to really get familiar with the car and push it safely.

 

Good plan!


Ow darn, 997 GT3 mk1 does not have PSM

 

I think you are thinking of he 996 GT3 the 997 GT3s have PSM.

 

+1

I loved my E46 M3! The GT3 does just about everything better and is more fun though! Lighter, more powerful, and higher revs

 

GT3 does not have PSM. It has TC which is much, much different than the PSM on the Turbo and other 911s.

 

Thanks for the informative posts. Iam shopping for the right GT3 and can't wait to own one. I have been dreaming of Porsche ownership for many years. BTW at the track in the M3 I always turned off the tc. In the GT3 I believe it comes with PASM correct? Do you leave it on I would imagine so at least to begin with. Have fun at the track with the new GT3!

 

A few quick points on the acronyms:

PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management - essentially a stiffening of the shocks for different road conditions including track. This is standard on the 997 GT3.

TC - Traction control - Merely wheel spin management. Standard on the 997 GT3.

PSM - Porsche Stability Management. This is the stability control system which can save your *** in a bad situation. This is not on the 997 GT3. It is on the Turbo and all other 997s. It is similar to the DSC on the E46 M3. Owned a couple of these in the past. PSM is a little less restrictive than DSC.

Hope that helps.

 

PASM can be either in the sport mode (stiffer suspension) or normal mode. There is no OFF mode... I always track my GT3 in the sport mode unless the track is wet.

TC is not intrusive so you won't even notice when it's acting in acceleration after the apex of a corner... but you should get used to track your car without it because it eats the rear pads very quickly with no TC light flashes at all !