991 GT3 vs 458 Italia
01-20-2014, 07:27 PM
#1
991 GT3 vs 458 Italia
Now that some of you have had seat time in your new GT3's, I'm looking for some comparative info relative to the 458 Italia. Specifically, in the categories of:
* Acceleration (flat 6 vs V8)
* Handling (rear engine vs mid engine)
* PDK vs F1
* Ride Comfort
* Interior Noise Level
* General Enjoyment
Which car would you rather have at the track? Which car would you rather use as a DD? Which car would you rather take on a long road trip?
PS - I should add that I've got quite a bit of seat time in a 458, but zero seat time in a 991 GT3, so any comparative data you can provide would be meaningful... thanks!
* Acceleration (flat 6 vs V8)
* Handling (rear engine vs mid engine)
* PDK vs F1
* Ride Comfort
* Interior Noise Level
* General Enjoyment
Which car would you rather have at the track? Which car would you rather use as a DD? Which car would you rather take on a long road trip?
PS - I should add that I've got quite a bit of seat time in a 458, but zero seat time in a 991 GT3, so any comparative data you can provide would be meaningful... thanks!
Last edited by eilig; 01-20-2014 at 07:31 PM. Reason: added info
01-20-2014, 08:17 PM
#2
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I have been in both at the track after this past weekend.
* Acceleration is very close. The new GT3 is much faster than the old ones and even the 997.2 RS's
* Both handle very very well and lap times are almost identical in reviews
* I almost prefer the PDK-S over the 458 DCT F1. You feel the shifts a bit more and the down shifts they have more decel fuel and it sounds a bit meaner on the GT3
* GT3 is probably a bit more comfy for a DD
* Again pretty close
* You can't go wrong with either one but at the price point I don't see a reason to buy a 458 over a GT3 unless you want the exotic factor which the 458 has over the GT3 for sure
* Acceleration is very close. The new GT3 is much faster than the old ones and even the 997.2 RS's
* Both handle very very well and lap times are almost identical in reviews
* I almost prefer the PDK-S over the 458 DCT F1. You feel the shifts a bit more and the down shifts they have more decel fuel and it sounds a bit meaner on the GT3
* GT3 is probably a bit more comfy for a DD
* Again pretty close
* You can't go wrong with either one but at the price point I don't see a reason to buy a 458 over a GT3 unless you want the exotic factor which the 458 has over the GT3 for sure
01-20-2014, 08:25 PM
#4
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The 458 is gorgeous indeed and I've had one. My only issue with the 458 is the gigantic wheel wells and how it looks like a 4x4 stock. The front end has a huge amount of fender gap. The GT3 however looks lowered stock and the stance is great. The GT3 in person has a bit of wow factor IMO. It looks amazing in person.
01-20-2014, 11:17 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
If you were tracking it regularly, I'd choose the GT3. The 458 is gorgeous and performs well on the track, but why risk an exotic on the track when the cheaper GT3 does such a great job out there? The great thing about the 458 is how comfortable it is in sport mode and then how much harsher it is in race mode or traction/stability control off mode. They are both superb cars. Performance-wise I'm sure both cars are very similar, but "wow factor", exclusivity, Formula-1 heritage, and a special event to drive and look at hands down goes to 458. No debate.
02-07-2014, 11:42 AM
#7
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i own a F458 italia and did 11K km with it in 7months but i had less than two hours seat time in a GT3 991
(so i think i know something about the former and very little about the latter). however, even this limited GT3 experience left me convinced that the GT3 in normal mode feels and behaves somewhat like the F458 in RACE mode (or at least somewhere interpolating between SPORT and RACE). i like the fact that the ESP is very tunable in the F458, even WET mode is useful under heavy rain or snow. contrarily the ESC in the GT3 seems to come in very very late but maybe the car has more overall grip (certainly more rear grip than the F458). also i love the fast steering in the F458 (although it is not too full of feedback) and i feel that it turns in nicer than the GT3. of course, longer seat time in the GT3 could make me change my mind on this last issue.
all in all, i feel that the F458 is the car with the wider spectrum of usability than the GT3 while the GT3 is more race car-like and more focused. in any case it is a bargain for the money it costs and i'd love to own one.
also, i test drove a turbo S 991 twice and it did nothing to me. it felt....flat and boring even when going at mindless speeds.
esthetically, i prefer the F458 by far (even though i agree on the wheel arch issue). however the front of the GT3 looks spectacularly good but i still cannot decide whether the rear wing looks cool or simply aftermarket boy-racer style. but this takes nothing away from the car.....except rear visibility which is a mess (and no rear view camera......). the turbo S just looks boring and is.
peter
(so i think i know something about the former and very little about the latter). however, even this limited GT3 experience left me convinced that the GT3 in normal mode feels and behaves somewhat like the F458 in RACE mode (or at least somewhere interpolating between SPORT and RACE). i like the fact that the ESP is very tunable in the F458, even WET mode is useful under heavy rain or snow. contrarily the ESC in the GT3 seems to come in very very late but maybe the car has more overall grip (certainly more rear grip than the F458). also i love the fast steering in the F458 (although it is not too full of feedback) and i feel that it turns in nicer than the GT3. of course, longer seat time in the GT3 could make me change my mind on this last issue.
all in all, i feel that the F458 is the car with the wider spectrum of usability than the GT3 while the GT3 is more race car-like and more focused. in any case it is a bargain for the money it costs and i'd love to own one.
also, i test drove a turbo S 991 twice and it did nothing to me. it felt....flat and boring even when going at mindless speeds.
esthetically, i prefer the F458 by far (even though i agree on the wheel arch issue). however the front of the GT3 looks spectacularly good but i still cannot decide whether the rear wing looks cool or simply aftermarket boy-racer style. but this takes nothing away from the car.....except rear visibility which is a mess (and no rear view camera......). the turbo S just looks boring and is.
peter
Last edited by markow; 02-07-2014 at 12:10 PM.
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02-07-2014, 12:23 PM
#8
I own a 458, I have driven one extensively on the track (not mine) a 991 Turbo and a GT3 in 6 weeks. It's not fair to compare the 458 to a GT3. A 270 or so car to a 140 or so car. The Ferrari is an exotic the GT3 is not. FWIW I think the 991 turbo is awsome and makes a great companion to my 458. A Ferrari is it's own experience.
02-07-2014, 01:51 PM
#9
Race Director
If you were tracking it regularly, I'd choose the GT3. The 458 is gorgeous and performs well on the track, but why risk an exotic on the track when the cheaper GT3 does such a great job out there? The great thing about the 458 is how comfortable it is in sport mode and then how much harsher it is in race mode or traction/stability control off mode. They are both superb cars. Performance-wise I'm sure both cars are very similar, but "wow factor", exclusivity, Formula-1 heritage, and a special event to drive and look at hands down goes to 458. No debate.
Last edited by kosmo; 02-07-2014 at 06:07 PM.
