Not really loving the GT3 these days
03-31-2015 | 07:08 PM
#79
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,829
Likes: 217
From: La Jolla
So many people posting such great, enthusiastic reviews about taking delivery and loving their cars. Makes me realize the fun I SHOULD be having with this car, but basically can't.
I'm in a funk and not really enjoying my GT3 much. At this point I think about the $150k (I own it outright) I have in it, and that I am blatantly wasting the car by driving it the way I do.
My life pattern these days allows for nothing more than stop and go traffic, or at least heavy traffic, with no time to actually go out and DRIVE it. I'd have to drive it like an ******* in traffic to get any sort of performance out of it.
In the 6 months I've owned it, I've been to the track only a couple times for a few short sessions. I've only been to the smokies 2 times. And I just don't see my schedule freeing up any time soon (next 2 years at least) to enjoy the car. Very frustrating - I find myself really missing my 991 Carrera S.
I'm definitely keeping it until the Smokies gathering in May, but I'm thinking after that, it's time to move on to something easier to drive. I have no idea what. Maybe a Turbo? Maybe something totally different.
I have no more room for an additional car, I find myself enjoying driving my lifted 2015 Rubicon more than my GT3.
Anyone else experiencing similar GT3 funk?
I'm in a funk and not really enjoying my GT3 much. At this point I think about the $150k (I own it outright) I have in it, and that I am blatantly wasting the car by driving it the way I do.
My life pattern these days allows for nothing more than stop and go traffic, or at least heavy traffic, with no time to actually go out and DRIVE it. I'd have to drive it like an ******* in traffic to get any sort of performance out of it.
In the 6 months I've owned it, I've been to the track only a couple times for a few short sessions. I've only been to the smokies 2 times. And I just don't see my schedule freeing up any time soon (next 2 years at least) to enjoy the car. Very frustrating - I find myself really missing my 991 Carrera S.
I'm definitely keeping it until the Smokies gathering in May, but I'm thinking after that, it's time to move on to something easier to drive. I have no idea what. Maybe a Turbo? Maybe something totally different.
I have no more room for an additional car, I find myself enjoying driving my lifted 2015 Rubicon more than my GT3.
Anyone else experiencing similar GT3 funk?
In the meantime, I continued to drive the car. Following Watts advice(he posted on this thread from NZ) I began to search for opportunities to experience what the car can do even though it was for a brief time. My feelings about the car began to change. So much so, that when I was offered my asking price I turned it down telling the buyer I just could not sell the car.
You need to drive the car for it to grow on you and appreciate it even though it may not always be in its track element. BTW, having owned a couple of TT's if you are bored with the GT3 you would kill yourself because of boredom driving a TT.
03-31-2015 | 07:51 PM
#80
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 13,422
Likes: 4,606
From: Mid-Atlantic (on land, not in the middle of the ocean)
I see the car as offering a spectrum of experiences:
1. At the base level, when the car is being driven relatively normally on the road, the car doesn't offer much fun but it offers reasonable comfort, so it can work as a daily driver and for long drives to/from the track.
2. For the spirited road driving, when the car starts to wake up, the car can be somewhat fun - but not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven at the same pace.
3. When driven on the road at a pace where you have really wonder if you're going to fast, the car is fun and impressive. It's specialness becomes evident. But you may indeed be going too fast ...
4. Driven on the track at intermediate pace, the car is even more fun and impressive. But not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven on the track.
5. Driven on the track at advanced non-pro level, the car is pretty dang amazing. Beastly performance, and a rewarding thrill to drive.
My driving of the car is mainly at levels 1 and 5, and I think it's quite an achievement that the car works so well at both of these extremes.
1. At the base level, when the car is being driven relatively normally on the road, the car doesn't offer much fun but it offers reasonable comfort, so it can work as a daily driver and for long drives to/from the track.
2. For the spirited road driving, when the car starts to wake up, the car can be somewhat fun - but not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven at the same pace.
3. When driven on the road at a pace where you have really wonder if you're going to fast, the car is fun and impressive. It's specialness becomes evident. But you may indeed be going too fast ...
4. Driven on the track at intermediate pace, the car is even more fun and impressive. But not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven on the track.
5. Driven on the track at advanced non-pro level, the car is pretty dang amazing. Beastly performance, and a rewarding thrill to drive.
My driving of the car is mainly at levels 1 and 5, and I think it's quite an achievement that the car works so well at both of these extremes.
Last edited by Manifold; 04-01-2015 at 08:29 AM.
03-31-2015 | 07:55 PM
#81
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 418
Similar experience except I never seriously considered selling. Just took a while to adapt to the car and appreciate it. The more I drive it the more I like it. Last Friday I got in the car and drove 500mi across central Tx to the panhandle to visit my dad. Parked the car at the end, grabbed my gear and walking away, stopped, turned back and looked at the car covered in dead bugs and the engine and exhaust ticking and thought- man I love this car. Only took me 5k mi!
03-31-2015 | 08:39 PM
#82
Banned
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Sticks
Similar experience except I never seriously considered selling. Just took a while to adapt to the car and appreciate it. The more I drive it the more I like it. Last Friday I got in the car and drove 500mi across central Tx to the panhandle to visit my dad. Parked the car at the end, grabbed my gear and walking away, stopped, turned back and looked at the car covered in dead bugs and the engine and exhaust ticking and thought- man I love this car. Only took me 5k mi!
03-31-2015 | 09:27 PM
#83
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 2
From: Roswell, Ga.
Sean, I understand what you are saying. Sometimes anticipation and planning for a car is more fulfilling than the ownership itself. I think when we all get together in May, the true value of the car will come thru. In the meantime, get up to the track and hang out with some like minded people. There are several of us there with GT3s. I'm SURE this will help.
Best, Allan
Best, Allan
04-01-2015 | 12:06 AM
#87
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,541
Likes: 1,021
From: Chattanooga, TN
And interestingly, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I was out of town for a couple days. Got home from the airport in the Rubicon and took the GT3 out for a good run. It was awesome.... truly awesome.
I need to drive it less.
04-01-2015 | 09:13 AM
#89
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 349
From: Florida
I see the car as offering a spectrum of experiences:
1. At the base level, when the car is being driven relatively normally on the road, the car doesn't offer much fun but it offers reasonable comfort, so it can work as a daily driver and for long drives to/from the track.
2. For the spirited road driving, when the car starts to wake up, the car can be somewhat fun - but not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven at the same pace.
3. When driven on the road at a pace where you have really wonder if you're going to fast, the car is fun and impressive. It's specialness becomes evident. But you may indeed be going too fast ...
4. Driven on the track at intermediate pace, the car is even more fun and impressive. But not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven on the track.
5. Driven on the track at advanced non-pro level, the car is pretty dang amazing. Beastly performance, and a rewarding thrill to drive.
My driving of the car is mainly at levels 1 and 5, and I think it's quite an achievement that the car works so well at both of these extremes.
1. At the base level, when the car is being driven relatively normally on the road, the car doesn't offer much fun but it offers reasonable comfort, so it can work as a daily driver and for long drives to/from the track.
2. For the spirited road driving, when the car starts to wake up, the car can be somewhat fun - but not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven at the same pace.
3. When driven on the road at a pace where you have really wonder if you're going to fast, the car is fun and impressive. It's specialness becomes evident. But you may indeed be going too fast ...
4. Driven on the track at intermediate pace, the car is even more fun and impressive. But not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven on the track.
5. Driven on the track at advanced non-pro level, the car is pretty dang amazing. Beastly performance, and a rewarding thrill to drive.
My driving of the car is mainly at levels 1 and 5, and I think it's quite an achievement that the car works so well at both of these extremes.
04-01-2015 | 10:37 AM
#90
Race Car
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,487
Likes: 133
From: Europe
I see the car as offering a spectrum of experiences: 1. At the base level, when the car is being driven relatively normally on the road, the car doesn't offer much fun but it offers reasonable comfort, so it can work as a daily driver and for long drives to/from the track. 2. For the spirited road driving, when the car starts to wake up, the car can be somewhat fun - but not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven at the same pace. 3. When driven on the road at a pace where you have really wonder if you're going to fast, the car is fun and impressive. It's specialness becomes evident. But you may indeed be going too fast ... 4. Driven on the track at intermediate pace, the car is even more fun and impressive. But not necessarily more fun than many other cars driven on the track. 5. Driven on the track at advanced non-pro level, the car is pretty dang amazing. Beastly performance, and a rewarding thrill to drive. My driving of the car is mainly at levels 1 and 5, and I think it's quite an achievement that the car works so well at both of these extremes.
Great post!
This explains very well the difference between previous gt3s and 991gt3.
This car is a lot better at points 1 and probably better at 5 as well!
The 997gt3 is probably better at point 2-3?