My 996 GT3 has been trouble-free for 4 years, and it is now my "track only" car... The biggest expense is track tires for track days. With my aggressive alignment, I get 3 days out of the tires before heat cycling/cording. At $1,400 for four Sport Cups at Tire Rack, that is can get expensive.

As a street car, the ride is a bit jarring. The track is really where they belong. I am looking at buying a 997GT3 as a DD as, truth be told, it is a bit "softer" than the 996 for daily use...

My $0.02,
-B

 

research before you buy a Cayman for track only duty. there are known issues for gen 1 vehicles. nothing too expensive to get track ready, but you should be aware of power steering system over heating, leaking. Air Oil Separator leaking oil into the intake as well as oil scavenging issues if you're running the car hard.

 

My '3 has been not gone wrong once in 3 years and 16,000 miles. It has been fairly cheap to maintain (just engage brain rather than walking into a stealer, and keep your eyes peeled for sensible parts deals e.g. cup splitter, cayenne discs if you track it) and has held its value very well. Prices have now stabilised.

I find it perfectly comfortable, and with a porsche roof rack, pretty practical for missions across europe.

Edit: it also does about 15 mpg even when I absolute thrape it, and I can't recall it using or losing even a drop of oil.

Absolute no brainer.

Edit again (!): Per blakegt3's post, tyres are pricey. They are also sometimes hard to get hold of (at least in England) because Porsche stockpile them for sale and ludicrous stealer prices. In fact generally, down with Porsche stealers- they suck.

 

I remember your screen name from Lotustalk, you had a black one right?

How is the ride quality on the street? To me the Elise was bad enough that I wouldn't want to daily drive it, is the GT3 as bad? I imagine the overall experience is better with more sound insulation and less rattles. Do you daily drive your GT3?

How about the handling comparison, I bet the GT3 has similar limits but is the feel as good? Is the acceleration a lot better under 60 mph? How about the brakes, they've GOT to be better than the Elise brakes right?

Sorry for the 100 questions

 

Thanks, I have read about some of those issues. If one thing scares me it's motors blowing up from oil starvation or any other catastrophic failures at a track/autocross event which is why the GT3 with it's track ready setup is more appealing.