ADOGNY

Their refusal to sell will also help the resale - No supply to meet the demand. This was another factor in my buying the GT3 to top it all off - unreal performance value (who would think that sounds smart at $108K??)

Thusly - sound like you got yourself a great car there for a good price. Some think they do not hold because the performance options added can suggest a roughly driven car, assuming the driver ordered the options to max the performance out of the car. I bet that is probably the case 95% of the time... The other 5% waste the money for status.

You are forgetting a few things though - GT3 also has better brakes, tranny, tranny oil cooler, lighter wheels, 380 HP, exclusivity and limited production. If you add the few options that you can to match the GT3, you will be pushing 100K on your car. Then you have to ask yourself is it worth 10-15 K less at this point? You still have a considerable power disadvantage - the answer was NO for me... Think it thru HARD if it isnt too late...

Adam

Weng

I have driven both cars - more or less back-to-back at a factory-sponsored event in Malaysia. The X51C2 was fitted with sports suspension, PSE, aerokit, and GT3 seats - I believe about as hard core as you can spec it from the factory. Was lucky enough to have the opportunity to push the car on both A and B-roads with a police escort in the distance clearing traffic for us (driver's heaven - no enforced speed limit and clear daytime roads allowing for several top speed spurts). As a GT3 owner (mk1 & 2), I was very pleasantly surprised by how spirited the X51 is. There's really not much in it straight line through the first couple of gears. That said, the 7,000-8,200 band in the GT3 is where you can really feel the difference. Get into this range through 2nd, 3rd and 4th and the X51 is history.

I actually prefer the X51/X74 combination on B-roads to the GT3 which tramlines a lot (although less so in the mk2 than mk1). In fact, on back roads with lots of camber changes and at high speeds, I've seen stock 993C4's pull away from GT3/2's. On the track though, the chassis setup and the big LSD in the GT3 makes a big difference. That said, if I didn't have a track habit, I'd be very happy in a X51C2 - it's a very good car.

ADOGNY

Well if you dont plan on ever taking the car to the track, then why would you spend the $13K+ on the X51? And if you plan to track, may as well go GT3 for all of the previous mentioned reasons.

1AS

Adgony- Isn't everything a compromise. If you don't go to the track a lot, the GT3 may be more compromise than you need or want. I like responsive and livable road cars, and I have 4 street licensed vintage racers. Guess what- the race cars are a blast on the street for a few miles- but every time I need to go 10 miles, I'm in my X50. If you have enough cars, some can be really extreme- but you won't drive those much. AS

markbuka

!

ADOGNY

AS - X50 and X51 are two different worlds. I was merely comparing cost vs performance. If you are getting the X51, you obviously want more performance, maybe even want to take it to the track here and there, especially X51 with suspension upgrades. Add all those options to a base 996 and see where you are in comparison to a GT3. You are very close in price (More in some cases) and not even 1/2 way there in performance. That was my point - goto www.porsche.com and build the car yourself with X51 and see what the MSRP is.

Adam

ADOGNY

I just did it again and was going to try to load it here, but a C4S with the same options as my GT3 had an MSRP of $114,725. My GT3 was $108,490... So over $6K more without suspension, brake, wheel upgrades, 345HP vs 380HP, no tranny cooler or race tranny for that matter.. That is all I was getting at and I just dont see why anyone would buy the X51 unless they stole the car used and couldnt afford a GT3. New vs New makes no sense...

Rob in WA

Unless you wanted a cab , but your right. If you wanted a coupe, I'd much rather have the GT3 motor, you could always change the suspension to soften it up (?) if you wanted.

Christian K

Even if the GT3 actually is a street car, its engine (dry sump lub.) and transmission (G-50 derived) are racing-derived constructions - a street car suitable also for the track.

Engine and transmission in the 996 C2 and C4 are constructed for street use and not really for racing and track use. It probably means nothing to most people, but sometimes even if you don't really need it, it's just great owning 'the real thing'.

I have never ridden in or driven a GT3, but have experience from the 964RS (not america). Anyone who have experience from both models who can describe how they compare to each other in 'harshness'?

cheers

Christian

1990 C2
ex. 1984 Carrera