I have a 02 tt and I am trying to decide whether to keep it for the long term, or to get into something else that interests me more before the 997 tt hits and REALLY hammers tt values.

I love the looks of the tt, and the acceleration, obviously, and it is a GREAT gt car, no doubt. But it IS heavy and AWD and just a little too soft around the edges. The totally-numb clutch annoys me no end, the shifter is too long, yada yada yada. I know certain things can be cured with aftermarket, but the weight, the clutch, and the AWD cannot, at least now without radical money spent.

I know the GT3 is a harder-edged car, and I would certainly be visiting the track with it from time to time. It wouldn't be a heavy-use track car, though, as I just don't have the time these days. it would need to do decent duty as a street car as well (although not as a daily driver). Just how livable is a GT3 on the street? On a tour? How many clearance issues? How hard a ride? I may love it, but would any passengers I take hate it?

Thoughts?

 

The ride is fine on the street. Even my Mother thinks it rides well and that shocked me. If it's not a daily driver, there is no finer Porsche, imho. Clearence can be a problem on some speed bumps and inclines, but it really isn't that bad...

 

if you search here you'll much discussion on GT3 daily driving.

the net/net:
-great daily driver, but some people prefer softer suspensions
- i daily drove my GT2's/3's and currently my CS, if that gives you a datapoint

 

the torque on TT is probably the thing u'll miss the most. other than that i can't think much else. btw, i haven't found anyone like to be in the passanger seat in the GT3 especially females. but hack that's my car!

 

lol if you drive a CS as a daily driver, i am not sure you qualify as a "typical person". no suspension too low or too hard?

one thing that is atypical for a gt3 purchase is i want it to be at LEAST tolerable for my wife. i enjoy her company on trips, etc, and it would bother me if she hated the car/ride. i am guessing it sucks a bit as a DATE car.

and before anyone jumps my ****, i KNOW that isn't what it was designed for, but i need a car that is reasonable in both capacities...track car and street car, and "street car" includes passengers being able to stand it. which is why i started this thread in the first place. i want the weight, the RWD, and the NA aspects of the GT3, but can I LIVE with it?

might line one up to test drive this weekend.

 

gt3 is a great car, but is already starting to depreciate, so if you are trying to avoid abig hit on depreciation, neither would be good to hold on to. In this class for a gt 550/575 will have already depreciated a lot and have a relatively linear depreciation curve. for race cars, the cs which should maintain its value. the downside is potiential costly repairs, neither of which should be found in the p-car. IMHO, keep the turbo esp if you're planning for a 997tt

 

Once you have a 996 GT3 you won't want a 997 TT, you will want a 997 GT3. It is the type of car that made Porsche's reputation to begin with.

 

hmm never drove a GT3 but I drove 996 Turbo S and I liked the seat feeling better in the Turbo then the GT3. I also perfer the looks. Guess I cant realate till I drive the GT3.

 

The turbo's booty is definitely much better looking than the GT3, although the stock tt rear spoiler is lame lame lame.

I considered the 575/550, but that is just another (heavy) GT car. Plus, I don't want to bring a lot of $$$ to the table.

I am struggling with "the Ferrari question", but the maintenance aspects (and pure reliability) just bug the crap out of me. I don't want to be worrying about potential expensive repairs every time I hit the track.

 

I love the stock TT spolier. Basically the Turbo S looks perfect stock bug wider rear wheels couldnt hurt. It looks asthetically perfect to me at least.

 

I drove my Mk1 GT3 for 3 years as my daily driver without any problems. If you came from a 993 you would wonder what everyone was moaning about the ride being too stiff.

It is down to personal taste but I think the GT3 is a great car for taking road trips, I have done 2 trips in excess of a 1000 miles without any problems and went to Le Mans last year in the RS with camping gear and the like without any problems.

If you are a turbo man then you might stuggle with the lack of low down Oomph, the GT3 only really comes alive in the upper rev range.

Best thing is borrow one for a weekend and take your wife somewhere nice to see how you get on.

My good lady has no problem with the ride or noise but hates the seats as she says it is not possible to make a lady like entrance when clamped into Recaros finest!

Interest to hear your first impressions.

Regards

P.

 

"upper rev range" defined as...? i love reving as much as the next guy.

i will definitely post my impressions, although i am guessing they will limit me to a relatively harmless test drive. but i have never driven a non-AWD 911 before, so the sudden lack of PSM coupled with the RWD could produce some fun if I get too sporty. lol

 

speaking of 997 gt3...won't it be "new" engine technology instead of another iteration of the gt1?

 

If your wife likes the ride of the GT3 . . marry her!! . . I mean again.

My wife will have nothing to do with it . . and that is not entirely bad.

 

If you have the ask, the GT3 might not be the right car for you.

A GT3 is daily driveable unless there is inclement weather like snow. Even when we had the huge storm in California last month, I drove the GT3 daily with no problem.

A Ferrari 550/575 simply cannot be compared to a GT3, period. They are two totally different cars, unless you are talking about the CARE/ES Motorsport 550 Le Mans Limited Edition, which is a $260,000 modified 550 Maranello loosely based on the Le Mans-winning Prodrive 550 GTO.