My local dealer, Bluegrass Porsche, just got in my dream car. It's a 2007 Speed Yellow GT3, 24,000 miles and CPO through 2013. They are asking $84,900 and they will graciously knock $500 off the price 'cause I'm such a nice guy. They had one similar, but not CPO, last year and it sold in 2 days.

They are offering me $25,000 trade in allowance on my Guard's Red 2002 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Savanna Beige interior, supple leather power heated seats.

Question is, should I do it? My wife is surprisingly okay with it (on the understanding that she gets a convertible 3 series as I won't have a convertible anymore).

The main thing I noticed is that driving the GT3 makes my current Pcar feel like driving a luxury sedan. It really beats the hell out of you (which is awesome). And it barely gets over the curb at the end of my driveway. And it's not so good at getting over speedbumps.

Link, (with pics!!!):
http://porsche.bluegrassauto.com/pre...17S792893.aspx

 

Go for it. Is almost summer, what the heck!

 

Moral dilemma? Sounds more like a financial dilemma. And if you tend to drive it a lot (e.g., a dailly driver). I think that your affection for the "rawness" and the low ride height might soon wear off.

 

+100

Unless you are going to track the car, that is a different story.

Keep the Cab! (I'm partial to Guard Red Cabs).

 

If the money and having a rear seat wasn't an issue, I'd definitely have a GT3.

 

Bobby, If you and your wife are planning on kids, think about it...
For me, even my C4S was "too much" for me to put my kid in, etc, hence it's gone - for now. But that's just me.

 

My local dealer, Bluegrass Porsche, just got in my dream car.

So what are you waiting for? : )

 

If you can afford it, do it. I might be your only shot (kids etc.)

 

Don't want to be laying on your death bed thinking, "I wish I had bought the Speed Yellow GT3".......

 

seems a bit dear....no?

 

Part of the problem is that the reason(s) to own either car are different. The cab is more practical--but isn't as exciting. The GT3 is more exciting--but not as practical. Hm-m-m.

 

I'm having difficulty ascertaining the moral dilemma in the scenario. Is it that Bobby's struggling with having to give up the comfort of the c4 for the pain he will endure by driving the gt3? Or the guilt of having his wife have to suffer by driving a bimmer when she was accustomed to living the pcar lifestyle?

Perhaps there's a life lesson for all of us here. Perhaps Bobby should consider a late model turbo cab, which should solve both of these life changing morality issues. I don't know. What would Kant do?

 

I had my cab for 7 years and it was one of the most enjoyable cars I've ovned, and I've owned a lot since the late '60s. I too have thought about replacing it with a GT3, even looked at some. Then reflecting on my positive Carrera experiences, the best all occured with the top down. The cab just seems to make the whole experience better, a lot better. I felt the GT3 would be fun in the twisties and to wind it out on lonely desert highway, but it is really a track tool and I no longer involve myself with the stresful duties of racing.

I have decided my next P car will be another Cabriolet, this time with a turbo. I have driven a few T coupes and they feel pretty awsome. From talking to people that have had both, they almost always recommend a Turbo over a GT3 for street duties.

If you track, the GT3 is a tool that is nice, but not nearly as nice as it could be with a tweeked suspension, interior mods, brake upgrades, tires, enclosed trailer. We could be over $50k above the cost of the car and that's the short list. Now what are you going to drive?

Lots of considerations, and another important one is that I've seen an awful lot of 997 GT3s for sale, a lot more than I can imagine there are buyers for, just look on Cars.com and Auto Trader. I'm thinking these may depreciate like a falling rock. I've actually started to see the 996 GT3s get stronger price wise than a year ago.

Good luck with your moral delema

 

last problem with the GT3, they could be pretty beat up with even 3k miles on the odo, because if they only see the trailer and the track, 3k miles is a lot of hard driving. That is my main problem with the GT3, you will never really know how lucky was the track, how many times did it go off tracks and stuff. ok they are built for tough use but that always bothered me a bit

I think you can drive a great deal on track with a standard 911, the only people who should buy GT3 are the one who plan to trailer them at the track and go on a monthly basis, if not I think that is overkill.

Most open track session are like 15 min long anyways and the base 911 should be able to hold just fine for that amount of time. If you plan on racing 30 minutes straight then GT3

 

If you plan on 80% Street and 20% track use then the C4 cab. is going to be much more practical. If your plans are 50/50 track street or any varient of more track then get the GT3. Two or Three DE days each year and maybe 50 sunshine filled street days the better choise is the C4. You will not be unhappy no matter which Porsche you pick.