‘Flacht’ Out Expensive: It’s Our Own Fault the New 911 GT3 Costs So Much

Years of paying dealer markups led to increased 911 GT3 prices, and that makes the base Carrera an even better bargain.

Porsche recently revealed the 2025 992.2 GT3 and GT3 Touring models. Once again, they appear to be brilliant cars with a few moderate improvements from the 992.1 models. And as you would have probably expected, Porsche raised the price for the 2025 models. But what you may not have expected is the amount of the price increase. Excluding delivery charges, the new GT3 models start at $222,500.

The 2024 cars had an MSRP of $189,900. So, the 2025 models have increased by $32,600, which is more than 17 percent.

Context: the base 992.2 Carrera saw a much more modest 5 percent increase. So why did the 911 GT3 models experience a price increase at more than triple the rate of the base cars? The new GT3 has shorter gear ratios, less weight and some cool new options. But $32K more for essentially the same car?!? We did this to ourselves.

When I say “we,” I mean all the GT3 buyers out there that have been paying huge dealer markups for GT3s in the last few years. Mind you, I have no hard facts to back up this theory. However, I think that Porsche saw that people were willing to pay $300K-plus for the GT3 so they figured they may as well get that money instead of dealers. And you can’t really blame them for that, can you?

I have been saying for years that paying over sticker for these cars wasn’t a good idea. And now, we are all being stuck with higher prices. However, it has had one interesting side effect–the base 992.2 Carrera is turning into a downright bargain.

Real 911 GT3 Prices

The starting MSRP is going to be $222,500, but we all know that no 992.2 GT3 will sell anywhere close to that. Porsche options are notoriously expensive, and most GT3 buyers love to load up their cars with “Paint to Sample” and every other option under the sun. Most people will want the Weissach PackageWeissach Package or Lightweight Package on their GT3.

The new GT3 configurator is not yet live, so I am guessing a bit now but assume that either of those will be a $15K option. The magnesium wheels will be another $15K. You are at $252K already. Figure another $30K in for paint, trim, and technology options, and you are in the $280K ballpark.

And don’t expect dealers to stop tacking on their additional profits to the bottom line. Figure at least a $50K dealer markup, and now your new GT3 is going to be more than $330,000.

I think I am being conservative, though. It would not surprise me to see some 992.2 GT3 models offered for sale with a price in the $400K range.

Which is madness.

Historical GT3 Pricing vs Base Carrera Pricing

Let’s go back a decade. A base 2015 911 Carrera started at $84,300 and the 2015 GT3 started at $130,400. The GT3 was about 55 percent more than the base car. And that is a price delta that you can justify as the GT3 engine, suspension and so on makes it a better car.

For 2025, the base Carrera is $120,100. Which means the GT3 is now more than 85 percent than the cost of the base car. And the base car can be bought without a dealer markup. I ordered a 2025 Carrera for myself (currently sitting at Emden port) and my car stickers at just over $150K.

A well-optioned GT3 would cost DOUBLE that amount. I won’t argue for a second that the GT3 is the better car. But double? Heck, the new GT3 is priced only 10 percent less than the GT3 RS. In theory only, of course.

I am starting to feel better about my decision to order a base car. The price gap between it and the GT3 has gotten out of hand. Maybe I will step up to a model in-between someday, but a new GT3 is no longer in the cards.

911 GT3 Future Values

Some will argue that the GT3 can justify the higher price because it retains its value better than the base Carrera. And that is true–the GT3 will retain better value but don’t think for a moment that they are depreciation proof.

There is a slew of 992.1 GT3 cars sitting on lots across the country right now having their prices slashed every day. You can easily pickup a really nice example for well under $250K. Right now, there is a 2022 clean title, no accident history GT3 in Shark Blue for sale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has 11,500 miles, carbon fiber seats and a manual transmission. Current asking price is $220K and it was originally listed for sale back in July for $250K.

About two years ago I looked at a nearly identical GT3 local to me. Only difference is at the time it had only 2,000 miles on it. The dealer wanted $308,000. If I bought that car and drove it 5,000 miles a year, I would have lost nearly $90K in depreciation in two years. So, don’t think the GT3 is a blue-chip investment.

GT3 vs Base Carrera Performance

On the performance front, there is no question that the GT3 is superior to the base Carrera. But consider this.

For about $15,000, I can put an exhaust, sticky tires, lower the suspension, and tune my base Carrera. At that point it will make about the same horsepower as the GT3 and significantly more torque.

Now, it still won’t be a GT3, but from just a driving experience perspective it will be maybe 90 percent of the way there and for 50 percent of the price.

Again, I am not saying the base Carrera is a better car, but a lightly modified one for over $150,000 less is a compelling option.

Driving Magic or Marketing Magic

Porsche has done an incredible job marketing the GT3. It is to the point that many feel that they can’t be happy with any 911 below the GT3.

I see it on Rennlist all the time with forum comments from people stating that they would never buy a base 911 and NEED at least an S or GTS model.

And even the 911 Turbo models are not good enough. They are quick sure, but the GT3 is the real driver’s car. You NEED to have a GT3, and it MUST have a manual transmission, or you don’t really have a decent Porsche. That is nonsense of course.

A manual transmission GT3 is fantastic, we all know that. But the other cars in the 911 range are also fantastic. They may not quite match the GT3 in some areas but now that the lower spec 911 cars are so good and perform so well, and the GT3 has gotten so expensive, the GT3 is starting to make less sense.

The GT3 has a wonderful engine and a sweet suspension setup, and the Touring option is super cool. And if money is of no consequence to you, then by all means get the GT3.

Heck, get two of them. But for folks that have at least some sort of a budget you really need to ask yourself if the GT3 has become “Falcht out” too expensive.

Photos: Porsche  

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.