Probably a long shot but I thought I would reach out regardless -

Has anyone had experience driving both a 996.2 GT3 and a 997.1 Turbo (stick shift)? (Street driving, not track).

If so, I would be very interested to get impressions of how the driving characteristics compare / differ.

Thanks in advance.

 

not really comparable cars... best to drive both if searching for one and have not driven

 

Yes, Jekyll and Hyde in personality.

The GT3 is pretty raw and noisier with a high-revving engine. The Turbo is going to much more fluid and street-mannered. It's a faster, quieter car with a lower redline.

You hear everything inside the GT3 cabin. The soundproofing inside is less (thinner carpets) and don't expect to hold a phone conversation or listen to the radio. You have to like it for what it is.

The Turbo will be quieter inside, more refined in character, but charges forward as expected from a turbocharged car.

Both are great cars with great engines.

 

Thanks for this information Marv.

148k miles on your car! Clearly you've spent quite a bit of time on the road with it. How would you describe the ride characteristics of the GT3? (To preface that, a 996.2 GT3 would not be a daily driver for me - just for occasional driving.)

Regarding the ride on the street - I've read many different accounts - ranging from (and summarizing here) "absolutely intolerable" to "very firm but compliant". I realize that everyone has their own expectations and experiences that they draw comparisons from - and a test drive for me will ultimately answer the question for me (although a few minutes behind the wheel of any car can only reveal so much...)

Given the extensive amount of time you have in your car Marv, I would be very interested to understand your impressions / assessment of the street ride characteristics.

 

This question depends on the roads around you. If the roads are pitted, pocked and broken like they are around me, it is more or less intolerable IMO.
But on the rare newly paved, smooth road, it is perfectly fine.

 

Any complaints about the ride (which is not bad to begin with) can easily be remedied with a set of Ohlins if you want more compliance.

Hopefully you can get a ride in both prior to purchase. I think that will explain why (imo) nobody really cross-shops these.

 

I've owned a 997.2 C2S in the past - which was an outstanding car overall, however it ultimately came to feel too sedate for me. I sense some of this in the 997.1 Turbo.

I'm not after the over-the-top speed or acceleration. I'm much more interested in a connected experience with the car.

The 996.2 GT3 visually is much more of a sleeper than the 997 Turbo - and I like that about it. Certainly a classic Porsche 911, now and in the future.

 

149K miles now. Bought it with 5,500 miles, so we have a lot of road experience. As others have said, bad roads take the fun out of it, but good roads are just fine. We've driven it on long trips, put it on the Autotrain, use it as a daily driver around town. I'm fine with it and love driving it everywhere. However, that's me. My wife prefers her new Macan (another great car).

It sounds like the GT3 would make you happier than a C2 or even a Turbo. I consider the GT3 a real sports car, as subjective as that is. The Ohlins suspension gives you a wider range of adjustable suspension options than OEM. Michelin 4S tires are the bomb on the street.

 

I have Michelin PS 4's on my current 911. They are really great.

 

I've had both.
PM me if you want to chat

 

Beautiful car!

 

996gt3 is the most fun canyon/ weekend driver. I daily drove mine for a year in LA. Was fine. Imo prob the most fun stock Porsche made.

997.1 turbo I found extremely mundane. Maybe with a ton of mods would be fun in terms of power.

 

This is good information for me. Thanks.

Everyone's situation is different of course - when and where they would drive a car like this. In my case, it would be driven only at chosen points in time and places. I live in Idaho where there is no shortage of winding mountain roads - all in comparatively good condition. Lots of open, little travelled roadways. One of the many great things about living here.

The 996.2 GT3 is a far more special / significant Porsche than many (probably most) people realize (at this point in time.)

 

agreed👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

-Apples and oranges
-The road less traveled… For good reasons
-If you eschew “luxury” in a sports car, there is no choice
-If you like engine and suspension noise, there is no choice
-if the Turbocharged moniker and hype makes you cringe, there is no choice
-A more track car suspension on a street car Any so-called cure for the suspension is minimal at best

What do the turbo owners say?
you should do whatever they tell you.🤔😃

 

I own a 997.1 gt3 now and without a doubt if I was driving a country backroad / canyon id reach for the 996gt3 keys if I owned both.