991s

 

991S optioned out (PSE, Sport Chrono are musts, NO PSP if you want connected feel) and built-to-order in terms of exterior and interior choices that make it exclusive TO YOU. And there's nothing like the pregnancy of waiting for YOUR car, exactly the way you ordered it, to come across the Atlantic to YOU. Being "exclusive" to others is folly. Make it yours and you will love it for a long time.

 

This is always a difficult one which I have come across with many a clients. Gen-2 997 GT3 is a beast of a machine and very enjoyable. The 991 S as many have said is a dual rolled car with the best of both worlds comfort and low speed and extremely capable at higher speed and gives you that pure Porsche feel when you desire. I noticed you may not track whatever car you select I will say that you may get the DE bug or Open track desire cause of our lack of ability to enjoy on the US roads and if new to the track the learning curve on the 991 s will be much more forgiving. Below is an article I have shared with a few who had same questions. I think its sums things up nicely.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...iews/120519830

And should you decide to track the 991s is well lets see pretty darn capable =)

 

Sometimes the "GT3" badge snobbery comes in to effect as well

 

I tried a GT3 for a few hours before deciding on my 991C2S (Sport PASM). Sure it felt more of what passes for "racy" with steering wheel dance and an unsurpassed engine note with its center sport exhaust. Finally decided I didn't need the harshness and fear of front body damage in a car with no objective performance benefits, given my street rather than track use.

Full disclosure- I am a PDK convert and am lusting after the new GT3. If I can convince myself it is street worthy....

 

I had a 981S, which I was going to trade in for a 991 C2S convertible 7 speed manual.

My 7.2 GT3 then became available, and luckily, the 991 freeze date had not passed, so I cancelled it.

If you have an M5 already, go for a 7.2 GT3. The M5 takes care of the luxury autobahn charging. My M5 equivalent is my magnificent CLS55 AMG.

Why 7.2 GT3? It's much more "visceral" than the 991. I think of the 991 as listening to music on CD, and the 7.2 GT3 as being at the concert itself. GT3 is less comfortable than the 991 definitely -- but you already have a comfortable car in the M5.

I had a 991 C2 7 speed covertible for a weekend, driving some 400 miles in it. The 991's manual transmission is not a patch on the GT3's gearbox for involvement. 991 box is super slick, like knive through butter, but for me, it's too slick, too CD quality. GT3 transmission needs to be warmed up, and even then requires precise inputs and more effort -- it's so much more engaging though. You really feel the GT3's box doing its thing; in the 991, the box is more distant, like you are looking through glass.

Ride wise, the 991 wins hands down. The extra wheel base and the super stiff new platform, together with improved noise insulation means that the GT3 is much less refined and is no where near as good as flattening out bumps as the 991. There is more noise, more suspension activity and generally more rawness in the GT3. Again, you have a comfortable riding car in the M5.

The ride in the 7.2 GT3 is not harsh, it's firm. Body control is exemplary. On really rough roads, the GT3 will skip and bounce a bit, but it is never unruly. Damping is really rather good for a car that sits so low and corners so flat. No one who I have given a ride to in my 7.2 GT3 has complained about the ride. They have all loved the experience.

In summary, if you did not have an M5, I would say go for 991 with Sport PASM. As you have an M5, for contrast, and for the real McCoy 911 'experience' before cars became all digitised and photoshopped to perfection, the 997.2 GT3 is where the action is.

On top of all this, the GT3 will depreciate less. And the mezger engine is utterly intoxicating -- pass 4000 rpm to 8500 rpm is where flat 6 motoring heaven resides, try it for yourself, and you will see the light

As others have said though, you do need to drive the GT3 for yourself.

Here's mine at Goodwood Motor Circuit:

 

What car would you take when the 991 gt3 were available in manual ?

 

I have to correct you in that one

 

I agree

 

997.2 GT3 because I am broke and cannot afford to even think of trying a non existent manual 991 GT3

 

I drive a 2013 S4 for my daily and purchased an early 2012 991 C2S 16 months ago. The 991 is a very comfortable car on the street. With PSE on I got the sound fix I needed but could not extract even 5/10ths of the performance on the street. You will not (safely) see the high performance side of either of your choices on the street.

That said, I DE'd the C2S three times and there were very few cars that could keep up with it. However it was missing some of the rawness that I was looking for. I considered a 997 GT3 very seriously up until a couple weeks ago when I traded my C2S in and placed an order for a 991 GT3. I still have second thoughts (daily) about a 997 GT3 but ultimately the track performance of the 991 GT3 got my vote.

In summary - understanding what else you have in your garage, your age and where you will drive the car - I'd say go for the 997 GT3. Based upon your posts, I believe the 991 is not edgy enough for you. Then sign up for a DE with your local Porsche club - you sound like someone who would get hooked.

 

I thought 991 GT3 order slots had been filled out months ago.

 

Technically I am waiting for my allocation. Although my C2S is formally traded in and my local dealer has me on their list for the second GT3. They have been looking to place their allocations locally to ensure the cars are serviced at the shop and have said no to out of state sales inquiries. I made the deal about 10 days ago and expect my build date asap. Being my fourth P car purchase from them in 5 years - I assume they haven't mislead me here.

 

To the OP, Pazzo009, get the 991 gt3, get over that MT fetish ! Trust me ! I did the factory tour today in zuffenhausen/Stuttgart. I saw 991 turbo, turbo s and gt3, both standing still and driving on the parking lot and around town. The gt3 eclipses all 911 to date, including the new 500+ hp turbo s. it has a unique presence that's hard to put into words. The aura of heritage, of pureness, off performance, is overwhelming when seen and heard in person. Raw animal attraction !

 

Thank you but I cannot subdue the compulsion for a manual. I have a DCT in my M5 and that is a leading factor amongst others for the reason of this desire for a opposite spectrum car.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I won't ever get a 991 GT3. Maybe after this need is satisfied and time goes by we'll see what happens. I totally agree that the 991GT3 is absolutely gorgeous in many different ways. If it had a option of manual I would consider it. Aside from that, many allocations are spoken for and it's higher priced than where I would like to be.

Thank you for your advice though