911 Carrera S (2013) vs 911 GT3(2015)
#1
911 Carrera S (2013) vs 911 GT3(2015)
This is not a "flame" thread---so please take a moment before venting your opinions---
I spent 3 hours with a used 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 last week---It was a possible purchase for me and a car that I have been interested in owning for the past 2 years---inflated prices kept me from pulling the trigger. It didn't sit well with me that I was making an emotional choice to overlook financial common sense...
In short, the 2015 911 gt3 is a focused performance instrument that is best suited for track days and shorter road trips....the performance and grin factor are off the chart---but after a few hours I missed the additional capabilities of my 2013 911 S----my 911 is loaded (pdk, PCCB's, Burmester, msrp @ $148K)
What the GT 3 could not deliver:
-Relaxed Ride...it is not a good daily driver IMO...
-Sunroof Open on the coast listening to Year of the Cat on a great audio system
-Taking my little ones (i.e. back seat) on a short trip to get coffee and donuts)
I still want a gt3, but it cannot deliver what the 911 S delivers---and the 911 S delivers @ 80% of what the gt3 delivers.
Cheers
I spent 3 hours with a used 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 last week---It was a possible purchase for me and a car that I have been interested in owning for the past 2 years---inflated prices kept me from pulling the trigger. It didn't sit well with me that I was making an emotional choice to overlook financial common sense...
In short, the 2015 911 gt3 is a focused performance instrument that is best suited for track days and shorter road trips....the performance and grin factor are off the chart---but after a few hours I missed the additional capabilities of my 2013 911 S----my 911 is loaded (pdk, PCCB's, Burmester, msrp @ $148K)
What the GT 3 could not deliver:
-Relaxed Ride...it is not a good daily driver IMO...
-Sunroof Open on the coast listening to Year of the Cat on a great audio system
-Taking my little ones (i.e. back seat) on a short trip to get coffee and donuts)
I still want a gt3, but it cannot deliver what the 911 S delivers---and the 911 S delivers @ 80% of what the gt3 delivers.
Cheers
Last edited by CDH911C2S; 11-09-2016 at 05:59 PM.
#2
Get a 991.1 GTS, price is great right now and it will "likely" go up in value if you hang on to it. Not sure if other GTS owners feel the same, but it's rarer to spot a 991 GTS than a GT3/GT4. Example, KC has 7 GT4s and only 2 991 GTS that I know of.
GTS is the perfect bridge between GT3 and S (with wide body). Practical, sounds great, rare, and quick enough.
Like sex, most guys think they're naturally good at driving fast so they all think they need a GT3. The truth is less than 10% of those guys can extract even 80% of the GT3's potential. Hell, I've seen too many GT3s getting lapped by good drivers with stock M3s on the track.
In short, if you even mention about "comfort" or "relaxed" then the GT3 is NOT the car for you my friend. The C2S is very track capable, more than you think. Find the limits on the C2S, then decide if your skills surpasses its limit (which will take over a hundred hours on the track).
GTS is the perfect bridge between GT3 and S (with wide body). Practical, sounds great, rare, and quick enough.
Like sex, most guys think they're naturally good at driving fast so they all think they need a GT3. The truth is less than 10% of those guys can extract even 80% of the GT3's potential. Hell, I've seen too many GT3s getting lapped by good drivers with stock M3s on the track.
In short, if you even mention about "comfort" or "relaxed" then the GT3 is NOT the car for you my friend. The C2S is very track capable, more than you think. Find the limits on the C2S, then decide if your skills surpasses its limit (which will take over a hundred hours on the track).
Last edited by Jnosol; 11-10-2016 at 04:06 PM.
#5
Get a 991.1 GTS, price is great right now and it will likely go up in value. Not sure if other GTS owners feel the same, but it's rarer to spot a 991 GTS than a GT3/GT4. Example, KC has 7 GT4s and only 2 991 GTS that I know of.
GTS is the perfect bridge between GT3 and S (with wide body). Practical, sounds great, rare, and quick enough.
Like sex, most guys think they're naturally good at driving fast so they all think they need a GT3. The truth is less than 10% of those guys can extract even 80% of the GT3's potential. Hell, I've seen too many GT3s getting lapped by good drivers with stock M3s on the track.
In short, if you even mention about "comfort" or "relaxed" then the GT3 is NOT the car for you my friend. The C2S is very track capable, more than you think. Find the limits on the C2S, then decide if your skills surpasses its limit (which will take over a hundred hours on the track).
GTS is the perfect bridge between GT3 and S (with wide body). Practical, sounds great, rare, and quick enough.
Like sex, most guys think they're naturally good at driving fast so they all think they need a GT3. The truth is less than 10% of those guys can extract even 80% of the GT3's potential. Hell, I've seen too many GT3s getting lapped by good drivers with stock M3s on the track.
In short, if you even mention about "comfort" or "relaxed" then the GT3 is NOT the car for you my friend. The C2S is very track capable, more than you think. Find the limits on the C2S, then decide if your skills surpasses its limit (which will take over a hundred hours on the track).
#6
Unless you're a track rat, GT3s are much nicer in theory than in practice. Absolutely glorious cars but way too hardcore for normal use by most of us.
Turbo or Turbo S would be the choice for insane performance numbers that can still be used on the street (though the GTS is really nice, too).
Turbo or Turbo S would be the choice for insane performance numbers that can still be used on the street (though the GTS is really nice, too).
#7
Test drove a 2014 GT3 before ordering my GTS. Later I drove one on the track at a Porsche experience. Fantastic, exciting car, one I would love to own if I had another comma in my net worth plus a racetrack in my backyard. But not a daily driver for me. My GTS thrills me every time I get in and fire it up, and I am still learning how to drive it well.
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#8
....
Test drove a 2014 GT3 before ordering my GTS. Later I drove one on the track at a Porsche experience. Fantastic, exciting car, one I would love to own if I had another comma in my net worth plus a racetrack in my backyard. But not a daily driver for me. My GTS thrills me every time I get in and fire it up, and I am still learning how to drive it well.
I think a GTS with PCCB's is in my future---I cannot imagine owning a 911 without PCCB's now---they are so enjoyable to own---great performance and zero brake dust
Add an aftermarket exhaust (akrapovic, tubi, awe...) and the sensory part of the 911 S experience is much closer to a gt3----that red line run to 9,000 is pretty special though---
I wonder if the 911 R (which I cannot($)and will not ever own) is a good daily driver or better than a gt3?
Cheers
#10
Having owned a 991.1 S and now a GT3, and being a non-track car guy who went to buy a Turbo S but ended up with a GT3, what you are saying is somewhat true. For the average person, the S and GTS are amazing cars, they are well balanced sports cars that you use everyday and are very "fun". But for those that have a daily car and want a nice weekend car, GT3 is on a completely different level. Starting with the aesthetics, I mean come on look at it, the front bumper design, the spoiler, how low it sits, it looks as fast as it is. Not saying that a regular 911 with a GTS front is bad but GT3 is something else. You do have to push the car though to really enjoy it, the acceleration feels like its much faster than S or GTS, it rips through the RPMs, and its very agile, you really feel the "excitement" . I do miss my 991 S though, I used to drive it a lot more and probably will go back to a GTS one day as I think it's the perfect car in between. I also feel my S sounded better and required less effort to have "fun".
My GT3 is for sale BTW
My GT3 is for sale BTW
#11
I think the GTS is the perfect compromise for a practical sports car that is also a very capable on track. I considered a GT4/GT3 but i'm happier with my GTS as its more practical to live with and has back seats which is a must for me (I can drive it much more with the kids). Plus i'm blown away with the GTS performance on track (80% of miles are probably track miles). I have many years of racing/track experience too so this is not coming from a novice.
#12
I bought a GTS over a GT3 precisely because of its greater comfort, open top (targa in my case), and rear seats for the kiddie.
Most of us lack the skill to reach the full potential of a 911 let alone a GT car.
Most of us lack the skill to reach the full potential of a 911 let alone a GT car.
#13
Another very satisfied GTS owner here. For me, the use of the back seat is important with my small boys. For now, I can wheel them around and nurture their love for sports cars. And what better way than with a Porsche Carrera? I simply cannot think of a better alternative.
Will a GT3 be in my future? Especially when my boys outgrow the back seats? Perhaps. But I will keep the GTS; even after 3 month ownership, I already feel nostalgic about it. Every time I get in, I have a stupid grin on my face. Even if I am just driving to pick up coffee.
Will a GT3 be in my future? Especially when my boys outgrow the back seats? Perhaps. But I will keep the GTS; even after 3 month ownership, I already feel nostalgic about it. Every time I get in, I have a stupid grin on my face. Even if I am just driving to pick up coffee.
#15
op post simply illustrates why porsche has so many 911 models - lets people choose where on the functionality/comfort/features/sportiness/edginess spectrum they want to be
maybe pag overdoes it in terms of sheer number of 911 variants... but with computerized parts/supply chain/manufacturing they can handle the complexity without a huge efficiency penalty... so why not...
gt3/rs, while becoming a lot more habitable and comfortable in this latest iteration, are still not meant for everyone, even most porsche 911 customers... and many would rightfully argue that the gts models are probably the best 'straddle' car in the line
maybe pag overdoes it in terms of sheer number of 911 variants... but with computerized parts/supply chain/manufacturing they can handle the complexity without a huge efficiency penalty... so why not...
gt3/rs, while becoming a lot more habitable and comfortable in this latest iteration, are still not meant for everyone, even most porsche 911 customers... and many would rightfully argue that the gts models are probably the best 'straddle' car in the line