soulsea

I'm considering selling the R to buy a 997.2 GT2RS. (partly because I have a GT3 manual being delivered in a couple of weeks)

I have never driven a 997 of any type. Obviously I would do so before purchasing it but I was wondering if those of you who have driven both of these cars, if it is a worthwhile swap, or am I going to find the car 'dated' and be disappointed with the overall driving experience of the 997 2RS relative to the R?

I know both cars are hard core visceral, but how would you best describe the driving differences between the two?

Thanks a bunch.

MirageJHU

How much are you going to drive it? The GT2RS is definitely rarer, and a lot of folks (especially me) are somewhat partial to things pre-991. The cars were a bit smaller, the chassis a bit livelier, the engine a tiny bit more rear-ward. At the end of the day these are 2 wildly different cars with totally different experiences.

The 997 GT2RS is laggy, and on stock tune there's a weird dip in the middle of the RPM band after you're on boost (I suspect when the VTG's change diameter) but when you're on boost, it's a damn fast and scary car. It's awesome.

You'll miss the slightly artificial rawness of the 911R to be frank. The GT2 can feel like a standard turbo if you're not doing silly things. That said, the GT2's clutch and steering wheel will be much heavier than the R and the GT2 sounds more like the devil's vacuum cleaner. You won't hear much flat 6 noise.

The 997 doesn't have the rear steering and other tricks of the newer cars, so you'll need a good alignment and ***** to get it to turn in as aggressively as the R does. The TC and SC on the GT2 barely keep up with the car, expect to melt rear pads or learn to drive with them off & use your right food judiciously. No rev match etc so you'll do a lot more work on your own.

My main knock on the GT2RS was the party is over so quickly (under 7k IIRC) whereas the NA cars let you rip to 9...When you're full throttle that 7k comes up FAST and it's easy to understand why the 991 GT2RS is PDK.

You can't go wrong with either car, wish you miles and smiles.

96redLT4

Take a slow deep breath. Keep the R and be very glad you have it. Let someone else have the incoming GT3. Forget about the 2RS.

Jim

Larryf

Having owned all three: first the R cannot be compared to a turbo so I'll leave it at that. And from what others have said it doesn't compare to the GT3, but as I sold my R and passed on the GT3, can't speak from experience. I sold my 997.2 because it didn't sound like a Porsche to me, especially now compared to the new 2RS. It was wicked fast but wicked quiet. almost Tesla like.... As stated above, that turbo 7k creeps up fast. Wait until the GT3 comes then decide.

DK7

Why not get a (997.2 GT3 RS 3.8/4.0) 6-speed and a (991 GT2 RS) PDK, best of both worlds imho.

Bardman

TB993tt

Just to be a total pedant the 997 GT2RS can only be considered a 997.2 because visually it has the .2 rear lights and bumper, on this car every single other thing is exactly the same as a .1 . All 997.2 cars have the new A91 motors whereas the .1 turbo cars enjoy the venerable Mezger lump as does the GT2RS

Jrtaylor9

If you want something COMPLETELY different from the R concept, 997 gt2rs might be fun. Other than a few styling queues and P O R S C H E on the back, it's a wildly different car. I wasn't a fan of it. Unless u r an old-school turbo lag-boom-kick-"oh ****, shift" fan or u plan to put in on a track, I think there are more fun street cars at less than half the price. It's a great collectors item. It's a "meh" driving experience with exception of boost pinning you back in your seat, but a LOT of more recent cars continue to do heaps more of that.

The sound was lackluster even with SW exhaust.

My vote would be 997 4.0 as the emotional pinnacle of drive experience in the 997 platform (3.8 as a close 2nd). Or go even older and go 993/964RS.

Jrtaylor9

It also shows you how much the brand has opened up to a wider audience that such a coveted 911 as the R is being owned by buyers that never even drove a 997 of any type. That isn't at all intended as a knock on the new buyers; only that Porsche's target audience, especially for its GT/specialty product has EXPLODED from the 997 and earlier days.

993RR

997.2 GT3 is a Mezger afaik.

soulsea

Thanks everyone for the very helpful feedback.

I think I'm going to stick with R over the 997 2RS.

pissedpuppy

bingo

TB993tt

sorry I forgot about the GT3s

mcipseric

keep the R

sechsgang

Easily the R for driving of those two. a 997.2 RS 4.0 would be a more interesting comparison...but for road stuff, still wouldn't top the R for me.