Help! Which to buy.... 996 GT3 or 997 GT3?

[maxgforce]

I'm getting ready to sell my 1984 911 Turbo RSR Replica. Once I turn that car into cash, I'd like to get a more modern car. I want a GT3 for sure, but I cannot decide if a 997 GT3 is worth the price premium over a 996 GT3. Has anyone out there owned and/or driven both cars? I'm willing to stretch financially to buy the 997 if it's worth it, and I do think it's the better looking car. Any thoughts would be helpful, thanks all.

[Jad]

I have tracked both cars and they are worlds apart. The 996 feels like a solid track car with minor setup, the 997 is a ridiculously fast street car. It feels heavier and softer, but with way more power and insane brakes. If you want to leave it stock and go really fast and have the experience to control it, the 997 does it all. The 996 stripped would be faster and cheaper.

How do you plan on using the car? For me, the 997 is way better, but the thought of tracking $120K is a little scary . Both are nice, but the 997 is better at everything, just beware you will reach scary speeds and should have a full cage in the car.

[ttweed]

The 996 GT3 is a great car, but even if I had to stretch for it, I would get the 997 GT3--there have been many refinements/revisions which make the 997 better, and the newest one is probably best of all. But this is coming from a guy who has only read about driving them and will probably never own one. I just hate the look of the 996 headlights compared to the 997, too.

The place I would go to get the most current opinions on this issue would be the 996/997 GT3/GT2 forums on Rennlist http://forums.rennlist.com/; or on the GT3/GT2 forums on 6speedonline.com http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/gt3-gt2-gt-12/. You could waste hours there.

TT

[993Panzer]

I've driven both cars on the street and on the track. I prefer the 997 GT3. If you plan on tracking it you'll need to make a few suspension mods on the 997 GT3 to make it a little more solid in feeling. If you're just going to drive it on the street then it will be fine as is. If you can find owners of both cars that will let you drive them do it. You should be able to feel the difference and decide is which is best for what you want it for. If you're like most of us that have had the privilege of driving both you'll probably choose the 997 GT3.

[maxgforce]

Thanks for all the helpful responses so far. I don't plan to track the GT3 much for two reasons: I prefer my motorcycle on the track and I cannot afford to crash a GT3. So basically I'm just looking for an amazing road car to carve canyons on the weekends when it's too cold for the bike. I plan to drive it hard, maybe do autocross to learn the car, and I will certainly put in a half cage for safety.

Perhaps some of you view this as a waste, but I'm just concerned that if I buy a 997 S or C4S it might not thrill me enough and then I've just wasted a lot of money. And I also believe that the GT3 will hold better value over time vs. other modern 911s, so it actually seems more financially sensible to me if I can stomach the higher entry fee.

[Michael Dolphin]

Just a few months ago, Excellence Magazine did an excellent comparison -- and found that the "real world" 996 GT-3 had some driver based advantages over the 997 GT-3 sort of along the lines of Jad's comments. Should be easy to locate, I don't have my copies handy to specify which issue.

[Curt Yaws]

Having driven both cars, I'd concur that the 997 is faster with a more compliant suspension. It also has electronic gadgetry that the 996 does not. The 996 seems a bit less refined in both suspension and power. I'd take the 997 in a heartbeat. Either way, they both need safety gear and suspension work. It took me about a year of track driving to lose my fear of my 996 GT3 and it's power-on oversteer tendency. There are a lot of GT3's with damaged rear-ends. It's easy to apply too much gas on corner exit, and the rear is unforgiving. It is not a comfortable car on the street. If you look around, there are a lot of very low mileage GT3's available, I think because of the comfort issue. The 997S has more torque and is probably a better street/canyon car.

Performance wise, I've been beat at Fontana twice by less than a second by a similarly prepared 997 GT3, both on Hoosiers. I like to think he has been a better driver, and I'll get him this year. We were both beat by the Duncan's Koni Challenge car and Steve Eguina's GT2, so either way, you'll be in good company.

All that said, can you think of a better deal than a mid $50's 996 GT3 or a mid $70's 997 GT3 with a crazy great motor and most of the suspension goodies you'll need? Remember, it is the track version of the 911, and it will be happiest there.

I'll be happy to give you a ride.

[Cajundaddy]

Thanks for all the helpful responses so far. I don't plan to track the GT3 much for two reasons: I prefer my motorcycle on the track and I cannot afford to crash a GT3. So basically I'm just looking for an amazing road car to carve canyons on the weekends when it's too cold for the bike. I plan to drive it hard, maybe do autocross to learn the car, and I will certainly put in a half cage for safety.

Just to muddy the waters a bit...
I love both versions of the GT3. As the ultimate street legal track weapon it is hard to beat but as others have said, it is most at home on the track. I suggest the next step is to go drive some cars. Get in the GT3 of your choice, a nice 997S and a Cayman S and put them through a little real world driving. You may be surprised by what you find. For your intended use I suspect the GT3 is racecar overkill, the 997S a world class GT, and the Cayman S a nimble and amazing sports car. I doubt you would be disappointed with any of them.

[RETII]

Ahh Curt where were you when I needed you? A 997 GT3 in the 70's? Next time I go car shopping I'm taking you to negotiate for me!!

[Curt Yaws]

Sheila's was for sale recently for $73k. I don't know if it sold yet.

[4est]

(perspective from a poor man)

I have never seen a 997 GT3 in the low 70's; mostly hovering a lot closer to 100, but have seen several 996 GT3's in the 50-60 range. If money is no object, then get the newest Porsche you can. But for my dime, It is hard to justify the 25-30K exspense for the small difference that the average sports minded driver would be able to notice and capitalize on. In this example, it equates to half again as much, and I don't think the 997 GT3 is half again the car.

I'll shut up and go back to the salt mines now....

[Curt Yaws]

I think I should pitch in my vote with Smilin' Dave for the Cayman S. If it's just good fun you are looking for, the Cayman S is really hard to beat. It's fast, balanced, and will make your jaw fall open in a tight corner. Maybe it's not as fast top speed, or as dependable as a dry-sump engine, but for sheer fun, a Cayman S is pretty hard to beat.

[Dan Chambers]

I think I should pitch in my vote with Smilin' Dave for the Cayman S. If it's just good fun you are looking for, the Cayman S is really hard to beat. It's fast, balanced, and will make your jaw fall open in a tight corner. Maybe it's not as fast top speed, or as dependable as a dry-sump engine, but for sheer fun, a Cayman S is pretty hard to beat.

And now ... to further muddy the h2o a bit .... what about the recently released Boxter Spyder? Lighter than a Boxter S/Cayman S, more HP, built to drive .... Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, the possibilities ...

Hey Forrest, it's hot down here in the mines! Hand me that shovel.

[Jad]

Thanks for all the helpful responses so far. I don't plan to track the GT3 much for two reasons: I prefer my motorcycle on the track and I cannot afford to crash a GT3. So basically I'm just looking for an amazing road car to carve canyons on the weekends when it's too cold for the bike. I plan to drive it hard, maybe do autocross to learn the car, and I will certainly put in a half cage for safety.

Perhaps some of you view this as a waste, but I'm just concerned that if I buy a 997 S or C4S it might not thrill me enough and then I've just wasted a lot of money. And I also believe that the GT3 will hold better value over time vs. other modern 911s, so it actually seems more financially sensible to me if I can stomach the higher entry fee.

Hate to be the realist here, but there is no logical reason to chose either. You can buy/build a faster car and buy another more luxurious car for less. It is really about what you want. My guess is you want, 997 GT3 and are trying to justify it. As a street car ALL modern Porsche, and many other cars are WAY more car than can possibly be maximized on the streets and an AX certainly isn't hard on a GT3 nor can I remember a GT3 every getting top time of day at any event. I also don't believe the financial arguement. A new 996 GT3 was about $110k, a similar 996 was $70-75k. Now the GT3 is $50-60k and the 996 is $30-35k, GT3 cost $50-60, 996 $35-40 and that doesn't figure in time value of money, extra maintenance, insurance, etc. But, if everytime you see the GT3 while driving your 996 you feel inferior, the entire reason for a buying a luxury sports car is gone.

Drive all of them, look at your bank account, and the decision will probably be easier to make and you really can't go too wrong.

Come join us at a taste of the track event and really experience what the cars can do.

[Carl Vanders]

Just sticking up for the Gt3. I believe at one of the last event's, Peter took TTOD and I believe his Gt3 has had TTOD a couple of times. Also last year, Gary T (OCR )in his 996 gt3 took ttod a few times, and that includes some highly modified X class cars.

Choices, choices, so many choices. This month's car mag (Road and track i think) did a rather large track comparison. The Cayman S and the 997S put down the exact times. The Cayman was killed in the straights but made it back in the corners. If I were addicted to the G's from riding a bike and wanted to go canyon carving,autoxing,and some track days, I would look at 06-09 base Cayman and swap a 3.8x51. This can be done for apx 50,000 out the door. 30 base cayman, 15 engine, Plus u can resell the engine for 5-7, then add 5 for some extras ie chip, header exhaust, gt3 front bumper. And it's a sleeper. And good resale as it is sought after combo. I think Ruf may currently have one for sale, it maybe a Boxster.(just as fast and you have the choice of top down) or http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/la-2009 ... pyder-0/#3