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I had a chance to drive a 991.2 GT3RS on track for a few laps yesterday. Since it wasn't my car, I was taking it somewhat easy with the car, but I think I got a meaningful sense of the car's character. Comparing with my lowly 991.1 GT3, I wasn't blown away by the RS, as I expected to be. The family resemblance between the cars is very strong, and they seem like variations on a theme rather than different cars. I sensed that the RS will generate more grip and a better lap time, but it felt more refined than my GT3, whereas I expected it to feel rawer - I prefer rawer.
I had fantasized about upgrading to the RS for track use, but now I'm happier than ever with just sticking with my GT3, at about half the cost and years to go on the engine warranty. Maybe the 992 GT3 will be different enough to make me want to upgrade.
You are totally right. The improvements are real but they are single digit percentages which translate into a couple of seconds a lap. I think the pressure to swap comes when you are slightly competitive and you realise you cannot keep up with your mates anymore in the newer cars. At first you tell yourself it doesn’t matter but at some point you find yourself doing man-math to justify a trade-up, spending $100k to find 5 seconds.
You are totally right. The improvements are real but they are single digit percentages which translate into a couple of seconds a lap. I think the pressure to swap comes when you are slightly competitive and you realise you cannot keep up with your mates anymore in the newer cars. At first you tell yourself it doesn’t matter but at some point you find yourself doing man-math to justify a trade-up, spending $100k to find 5 seconds.
LOL, in my neck of the woods, guys put Hoosiers and slicks on the car to get that faster lap time. To me, having to trailer the car is too high a price to pay, plus I'm not sure I want to be going that fast in a car without a roll cage, race seats with halos, fire suppression, etc.
I cannot agree more with the original post. I have owned various GT cars, GT4, 997 GT3, and now a 991.1 GT3. As much as I lust for a 991.2 GT3 or 991.1 RS, I question the price difference in order to satisfy the craving. They meaning the newer versions always are incrementally better but to what degree. Holding steady till a GT4 RS or 992 GT3 comes along
Aleks turning consistent 1:34s at LS in a .1 GT3. I know he has stripped some of the weight out of it and done some aero upgrades but that is still an amazing session for a "lowly .1 GT3"
In the hands of DE’ers the better driver is the main difference. Full stop.
For the the average Joe it’s really the draw of the famed “RS” moniker and over the top looks.
However, in skilled hands apples to apples at the limit the new RS will be substantially faster per lap (2+ seconds or more) on average length tracks (2 miles or so) than a .1 GT3. No question.
In the hands of DE’ers the better driver is the main difference. Full stop.
For the the average Joe it’s really the draw of the famed “RS” moniker and over the top looks.
However, in skilled hands apples to apples at the limit the new RS will be substantially faster per lap (2+ seconds or more) on average length tracks (2 miles or so) than a .1 GT3. No question.
No question that the RS will be faster, my comments are more about the overall driving experience as influenced by all of the factors - handling dynamics, grip, steering feel, power, throttle response, shifting, brakes, sound, etc.
Just because a GT2RS is faster and 50% more money doesn't mean its the right one for everyone.
If I had a .1 GT3 with warranty I would keep it till it ran out of warranty for sure.
No question that the RS will be faster, my comments are more about the overall driving experience as influenced by all of the factors - handling dynamics, grip, steering feel, power, throttle response, shifting, brakes, sound, etc.
Understood. You like your .1 GT3 and weren’t impressed by the RS vis a vis what you have.
No no issues with your subjective impressions or choice.
The RS is the better car. A bit faster. A bit more special. It is still a GT3 but the RS is a bit more track focused. Glad you don’t need the incremental value between the cars, but i am sure a lot of people really do see the value. It is cool that Porsche makes so many 911 models to suit micro tastes.
Once you’re on the Porsche wheel it’s tough to get off. Every incremental (and that’s really all they are) improvement car by car does improve performance. But at a cost - relative of course to your wallet.
My advice:
- come to grips that DE isn’t a race, it’s you against the track (for fun)
- all of these are awesome cars but none are race cars
- spend money on coaching and safety equipment before switching cars
- if none of that works consider buying a purpose built race car, it will change your attitude toward your street cars and quite possibly save you money
Note: I went from .1GT3 to .1RS to .2GT3 so who the heck am I to say!!!
The RS is the better car. A bit faster. A bit more special. It is still a GT3 but the RS is a bit more track focused. Glad you don’t need the incremental value between the cars, but i am sure a lot of people really do see the value. It is cool that Porsche makes so many 911 models to suit micro tastes.
To each his own on the value question. Main observation I wanted to report is that I found the experiential difference between the cars to be a lot smaller than I expected, given that it's a jump from both .1 to .2, and regular GT3 to RS. I kind of wanted the difference to be bigger so that I could justify getting an RS, which I've lusted after for years, so a bit sad actually that it didn't work out that way, but I guess I'm also a bit relieved too, since I wasn't keen on paying track insurance for such an expensive car.
I think the jump from the 997 to 991 was much larger. I suspect that the jump from the 991 to 992 won't be quite as large, but maybe Porsche will pull something surprising out of their engineering hat.
The 991.2 GT3 RS is in a totally different league on the track, versus a 991.1 GT3.
But the GT3 RS is also in a totally different price league.
Check out these hot Nordschleife lap times by Porsche factory teams...
You are comparing Apples versus Oranges.
11-02-2019, 09:22 AM
.1 GT3 vs .2 GT3RS on track
