GT3 as first track car?
06-04-2021, 09:34 PM
#1
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GT3 as first track car?
Years ago, I was a track rat. Spent at least 1 weekend per month at Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, or Sonoma. I had an e36 M3 which I built into a well sorted race car over a 2-3 year period, planning to get my license start racing GTS3. Then work got super busy, had a son, sold the M3, and haven’t been on track since 2018.
Getting the itch again. I have an allocation for a 992 GT3. Should I track it? It was my dream car and now I can afford to total one. But it vastly exceeds my abilities then, certainly now. Or should I get something lower power like a GT4 or even a prepped Cayman and work my way back up.
I also struggle with the idea of tracking a car without proper safely equipment (minimally a half cage, 5 point, and HANS) hard. But I don’t really want to tear up a GT3 or at least want to keep it reasonably street-able.
Thr answer is probably a TTS to DD and a lightly track prepped GT3, which is finally fine but would **** off wife. Help.
Getting the itch again. I have an allocation for a 992 GT3. Should I track it? It was my dream car and now I can afford to total one. But it vastly exceeds my abilities then, certainly now. Or should I get something lower power like a GT4 or even a prepped Cayman and work my way back up.
I also struggle with the idea of tracking a car without proper safely equipment (minimally a half cage, 5 point, and HANS) hard. But I don’t really want to tear up a GT3 or at least want to keep it reasonably street-able.
Thr answer is probably a TTS to DD and a lightly track prepped GT3, which is finally fine but would **** off wife. Help.
06-04-2021, 11:05 PM
#2
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Get the 992. Enjoy it on track, and make sure you drive it back home. Simple!
06-05-2021, 12:48 AM
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If you can get two cars - TTS + something - I'd suggest something other than the latest and greatest GT3 for the track car. There are many options.
But if you'd rather have only one fun car, or specifically want the GT3, just get the new GT3, enjoy the heck out of it, and just be smart about driving it on the track. Despite what many say, you do not require a lower-powered car to master driving. A GT3 can be a lower-powered car if needed - just do not push the pedal all the way in or short-shift, and here you go - you have yourself a GT4-equivalent power, or even Miata-equivalent if you'd like. You do not need to use all the power all the time (but you have the option to, which is nice). Similarly, it's not as digital as some say - the nannies can be easily turned off, and it does not actually drive for you. Actually, I'd rather keep nannies on at least at first and look at the data for when they are interfering - that's when you did something wrong. They are so good in the modern GT3 that in 95%+ of cases they interfere only when you actually screw up. And if you do not crash, it's not that pricey to track - service need is minimal, the warranty covers everything within normal track use (I had one towed by dealer right from Sonoma when it spilled guts in Turn 9 - Porsche put a new engine in and apologized for inconvenience), and consumables are same or even cheaper than other street-legal track cars.
Yes, GT3 allows lazy driving - rely on nannies to cover up mistakes and on power to pass slower cars and win every track day even without skill. But that's not the only way it can be used, and you can choose not to be lazy and use it as a proper driving tool. It's very much possible, just takes some discipline, and it will reward you generously.
So yeah, if you WANT a GT3, you can track GT3 just fine and use it to learn to drive well if you want that too.
But if you'd rather have only one fun car, or specifically want the GT3, just get the new GT3, enjoy the heck out of it, and just be smart about driving it on the track. Despite what many say, you do not require a lower-powered car to master driving. A GT3 can be a lower-powered car if needed - just do not push the pedal all the way in or short-shift, and here you go - you have yourself a GT4-equivalent power, or even Miata-equivalent if you'd like. You do not need to use all the power all the time (but you have the option to, which is nice). Similarly, it's not as digital as some say - the nannies can be easily turned off, and it does not actually drive for you. Actually, I'd rather keep nannies on at least at first and look at the data for when they are interfering - that's when you did something wrong. They are so good in the modern GT3 that in 95%+ of cases they interfere only when you actually screw up. And if you do not crash, it's not that pricey to track - service need is minimal, the warranty covers everything within normal track use (I had one towed by dealer right from Sonoma when it spilled guts in Turn 9 - Porsche put a new engine in and apologized for inconvenience), and consumables are same or even cheaper than other street-legal track cars.
Yes, GT3 allows lazy driving - rely on nannies to cover up mistakes and on power to pass slower cars and win every track day even without skill. But that's not the only way it can be used, and you can choose not to be lazy and use it as a proper driving tool. It's very much possible, just takes some discipline, and it will reward you generously.
So yeah, if you WANT a GT3, you can track GT3 just fine and use it to learn to drive well if you want that too.
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06-05-2021, 10:26 AM
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06-05-2021, 10:35 AM
#5
Years ago, I was a track rat. Spent at least 1 weekend per month at Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, or Sonoma. I had an e36 M3 which I built into a well sorted race car over a 2-3 year period, planning to get my license start racing GTS3. Then work got super busy, had a son, sold the M3, and haven’t been on track since 2018.
Getting the itch again. I have an allocation for a 992 GT3. Should I track it? It was my dream car and now I can afford to total one. But it vastly exceeds my abilities then, certainly now. Or should I get something lower power like a GT4 or even a prepped Cayman and work my way back up.
Getting the itch again. I have an allocation for a 992 GT3. Should I track it? It was my dream car and now I can afford to total one. But it vastly exceeds my abilities then, certainly now. Or should I get something lower power like a GT4 or even a prepped Cayman and work my way back up.
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Hella-Buggin' (06-06-2021)
06-05-2021, 12:18 PM
#7
On temporary vacation
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ProCoach (06-05-2021)
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06-05-2021, 03:26 PM
#8
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If you can get two cars - TTS + something - I'd suggest something other than the latest and greatest GT3 for the track car. There are many options.
But if you'd rather have only one fun car, or specifically want the GT3, just get the new GT3, enjoy the heck out of it, and just be smart about driving it on the track. Despite what many say, you do not require a lower-powered car to master driving. A GT3 can be a lower-powered car if needed - just do not push the pedal all the way in or short-shift, and here you go - you have yourself a GT4-equivalent power, or even Miata-equivalent if you'd like. You do not need to use all the power all the time (but you have the option to, which is nice). Similarly, it's not as digital as some say - the nannies can be easily turned off, and it does not actually drive for you. Actually, I'd rather keep nannies on at least at first and look at the data for when they are interfering - that's when you did something wrong. They are so good in the modern GT3 that in 95%+ of cases they interfere only when you actually screw up. And if you do not crash, it's not that pricey to track - service need is minimal, the warranty covers everything within normal track use (I had one towed by dealer right from Sonoma when it spilled guts in Turn 9 - Porsche put a new engine in and apologized for inconvenience), and consumables are same or even cheaper than other street-legal track cars.
Yes, GT3 allows lazy driving - rely on nannies to cover up mistakes and on power to pass slower cars and win every track day even without skill. But that's not the only way it can be used, and you can choose not to be lazy and use it as a proper driving tool. It's very much possible, just takes some discipline, and it will reward you generously.
So yeah, if you WANT a GT3, you can track GT3 just fine and use it to learn to drive well if you want that too.
But if you'd rather have only one fun car, or specifically want the GT3, just get the new GT3, enjoy the heck out of it, and just be smart about driving it on the track. Despite what many say, you do not require a lower-powered car to master driving. A GT3 can be a lower-powered car if needed - just do not push the pedal all the way in or short-shift, and here you go - you have yourself a GT4-equivalent power, or even Miata-equivalent if you'd like. You do not need to use all the power all the time (but you have the option to, which is nice). Similarly, it's not as digital as some say - the nannies can be easily turned off, and it does not actually drive for you. Actually, I'd rather keep nannies on at least at first and look at the data for when they are interfering - that's when you did something wrong. They are so good in the modern GT3 that in 95%+ of cases they interfere only when you actually screw up. And if you do not crash, it's not that pricey to track - service need is minimal, the warranty covers everything within normal track use (I had one towed by dealer right from Sonoma when it spilled guts in Turn 9 - Porsche put a new engine in and apologized for inconvenience), and consumables are same or even cheaper than other street-legal track cars.
Yes, GT3 allows lazy driving - rely on nannies to cover up mistakes and on power to pass slower cars and win every track day even without skill. But that's not the only way it can be used, and you can choose not to be lazy and use it as a proper driving tool. It's very much possible, just takes some discipline, and it will reward you generously.
So yeah, if you WANT a GT3, you can track GT3 just fine and use it to learn to drive well if you want that too.
Well said. Get the GT3! The principles you've learned with your old E36 will help you be a lot faster with the GT3. People will dismiss it as the car doing the work for you, but to drive a modern GT3 at the limit takes a decent amount of skill IMO and it's a new challenge compared to a FR car. I find it more of a handful to drive than the E36 M3 race car and E46 M3 track car I swap from frequently.
06-05-2021, 10:43 PM
#10
My 991.1 GT3 has 17k miles, most of which are drive to the track, track it, drive it home. I have played with Hoosiers and I have trailered it to the track, but it is a phenomenal track car. You will not be disappointed. I also drive it to work. Nothing puts a smile on my face more than the morning start up and the rush to work. Nothing beats a spirited drive home after a long shift. And it’s ALWAYS ready for a track day...
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06-06-2021, 01:55 PM
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i started D.E with a 2007 GT3RS. Loved it. Great street/track toy. 991 and 992 GT3 would be even better, however i quickly swapped out for a caged cayman that was wreckable to save my beloved RS.
If i had my time back, i would have perhaps started out with a slow car as opposed to a fast car. Better to learn at 10/10ths then driving around 6/10ths.
2012 PDK Cayman S or R.
If i had my time back, i would have perhaps started out with a slow car as opposed to a fast car. Better to learn at 10/10ths then driving around 6/10ths.
2012 PDK Cayman S or R.
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85Gold (12-24-2021)
06-07-2021, 07:29 PM
#13
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getting the itch again. I have an allocation for a 992 GT3. Should I track it? It was my dream car and now I can afford to total one. But it vastly exceeds my abilities then, certainly now. Or should I get something lower power like a GT4 or even a prepped Cayman and work my way back up.
.
.
and
buy a prepped cayman or ? for more fully motivated tracking.
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RSBro (06-08-2021)
