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This pricing discussion depends greatly on options and especially if you want LWB's. Private party sale in Dallas on a low optioned 2015 with LWB's with 16K miles sold for $123K. If you don't need LWB's - tons of GT3's for sale. The LWB's is a bit more challenging. I am in the market and as soon as my 350R sells I will be getting a 2015. Also, keep in mind if you are going to track the car you will need to add in the cost of the center lock hub maintenance. A used one may have some track miles (probably will) and you need to account for those dollars.
I've owned both a 997.2 GT3 and GT3RS. I've also owned a 997.1 GT3RS. The 997.1 RS is comparable to the 997.2 GT3. But neither of these cars are anywhere close to the 997.2 RS. The .2 RS is one of the great 911's ever (90% 4.0) but a good one will exceed a $100k budget. And you want a good unmolested car. The 981 GT4 is excellent and to me preferable to all previously mentioned other than 997 3.8 RS. Respecting the budget, however, I prefer the 981 Spyder to the GT4. I have owed almost 60 cars since 1980 including 959, every MT GT3RS, 964RS and (non 918 VIP factory blessed) 991 R. I drive all my cars. I love the Spyder and consider it one of the best Porsches. I used to say it was underrated and undervalued. That may not be so much the case today as Spyder fans seem to be growing. I have almost 15,000 miles and have driven it in Europe and all over the US. When I'm told it's just a Boxster I reply it's a mid-engine 911 wrapped in a Boxster body. It never fails to put a smile on my face. Good luck
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981 Spyder on a beautiful fall day Colorado 2016
A day out comparing 997.2 GT3 v GT3 RS Fall 2013 in New Jersey My Mom in the 959 probably early 2000's in Florida
I drove my 959 regularly and serviced it myself with the help of an old school master tech. I could write a book about it. It was cool to own and use. It was exciting to see in my garage. The compound body angles just forward of the rear wing is more beautiful than any photo can show. But, it was not my favorite car to drive. And I certainly would limit top speed to the 150 mph range. The suspension would not support anything faster in a safe way. The technology was revolutionary but not quite ready for "prime time." The hydraulic pneumatic suspension, that is, the ability to raise the ride height, was fun on dirt roads but severely compromised the street/track handling ability. The S model eliminated the up/down ride height and has double coil overs which made for a much better handling car. BTW, the S is not that much different than the "Komfort" other than the double coil overs and decontented trim. All that being said, I'd much prefer to drive my 964RS, 964 Speedster, 997.2 RS, R and Boxster Spyder than the 959! I don't get the ooo's and ahhhs' at a Cars and Coffee but for me it's about driving not showing. Pano Cover All the goodies including the amazing torque multiplying wrench for the center-lock wheels. Notice unobtanium 85HP upgrade chips...uninstalled and also required 951 Turbochargers and home made per factory service manual instructions Radio Shack test box. Pano Cover Colorado 119 Front diff check with home made wire coat hanger dip stick and blue paper towel for indicator....no other way to check it!
I don't know why you'd even consider a 991.1 GT3 if your wife wants manual. My wife couldn't care less about my cars but if she wanted a particular feature in a car she was going to drive, I'd get it.
So we had a newer C2S 3-pedal car that just wasn't doing it for me (wanted more grunt, get-up-and-go, and noise), so it sat too much and I really only like to keep one modern car at a time, so sold it. Now the wife says she misses it....needless to say, I've now got my eye out for a "new-to-us" 3-pedal car....she is liking a 3.2, 993, and she's starting to like a long-nose option (which is what i'm hoping for)....
So the moral of this story is: Buy the GT3 PDK and then be a nice guy and find your wife a 3-pedal to go with it
I went from a 15 GT3 to a GT4 and had a lot of fun with the GT4. I logged 20,000 trouble free miles on it including 6 Smokies GT Spring/Fall events plus a few additional smaller groups in the Smokies. NEVER regretted going from the 15 GT3 to the GT4. Adding Dundon's headers/tune and TPC's DSC certainly helped with the fun factor. No problems keeping up with GT3s in the mountains. Currently driving an 18 GT3 PDK. I sometimes think I should have kept the GT4. I know I'd still be happy with it.
I went from a 15 GT3 to a GT4 and had a lot of fun with the GT4. I logged 20,000 trouble free miles on it including 6 Smokies GT Spring/Fall events plus a few additional smaller groups in the Smokies. NEVER regretted going from the 15 GT3 to the GT4. Adding Dundon's headers/tune and TPC's DSC certainly helped with the fun factor. No problems keeping up with GT3s in the mountains. Currently driving an 18 GT3 PDK. I sometimes think I should have kept the GT4. I know I'd still be happy with it.
This is a great example of why I am keeping both. At least for now.....
My wife and I want a real performance car, having owned 991 2S and 997 4s models in the past. We are going to buy a 997 cab at some point as well, so we are focused on something higher performance, with 2 seats.
Our budget is $100,000, give or take a bit; to me, that says GT4 or GT3. I want as new of a car as possible, so the 997 is out. We want to do drive the car on weekends, weekdays, and on DE weekends. Both of us prefer something a bit more "focused" than a Carrera.
I have time in a 997 GT3 (amazing) and a GT4 (also amazing). My wife would prefer a manual: I am OK with either transmission.
I live in a very rural area, so a test drive is out of the question. I believe most of you live in urban areas (and would yell "just go test drive"), but some of us live in the much-maligned "flyover country" and have to deal with buying remotely.
Nearest GT3 is 5 hours away, and it isn't priced well! I don't want to waste anyone's time at a dealership, as I will buy private party from a fellow enthusiast.
Which car should we target? The GT3 is attractive with the 10-year motor warranty. the GT4 is attractive with the stock parts (having proven to be reliable) and with a 3-pedal gearbox
I figure there is a $15,000 to $20,000 spread between the two.
What type of roads do you have around you? I think you cant go wrong with a gt4, if you are comfortable with the size, and its going to hold its value equally to the gt3.1 gen cars. I also drove an evora, and its a great car, but no pcar. So size matters if you want a smaller footprint and love the feeling of a mid engine car, the gt4 is the car to buy. I wanted a gt3 and a manual. so waited and bought the car i wanted. I also was searching for years and could not get excited over the PDK. I have a macan gts, and still dont see the fun factor in the PDK, so if the manual is a deal breaker for your wife. Either wait, and get a gen 2 gt3 or really look for the gt4 that hits all the boxes.
03-23-2019, 10:20 AM
