LVDell

Matt, that is initial buy-in and you should know better than ANYBODY else that the cost to run these suckers is insane! Just depends on how far down the rabbit hole you car to go.

By the way, where is that cup? I didn't see it.

LVDell

That a ridiculous statement.

Sure the 993 is nice but I beg to differ that is the car "everybody" wants.

Moving from a 6 to a 7 GT3 is a marginal upgrade IMHO not worth it. I would move to a cup over a 7GT3 if I wanted to "upgrade". However, if I was starting from scratch and didn't have any car, my budget would dictate what direction to go......buy the newest you can AFFORD.

tlarocque

Great thread! Looks like we'll have to wait a few months to see what the OP ends up doing but the re/search is half the fun. I'm in a similar situtation but with about 1/3, maybe 1/2 the budget. Don't want to hijack a thread but what do you guys think of something like the 1979 930 track car in the classifieds section? I only do DE's and have always been in love with the old widebody turbos. That and something like a 135 for dd? I already have my 1988 Carrera garage queen.

Option #2: 6GT3 and a Yugo

tcsracing1

Yeah, it really is marginal and hard to justify upgrading from a 996 3 to a 997 3. But im just saying he could upgrade with time to anything whether be the lastest GT3 at the time or perhaps even a cup if really serious......

Im in the same budget boat too. The closest to new i can afford.

mike1111

Just checked classified. there is a 00 996 cup asking 77. Would probably cost north of 20K to set up gt3 to get same performance, and yes I do understand operating cost is a little higher but we only have initial start up as a variable not operating costs.

LVDell

mike.....you cannot ignore operating costs. if you want to constrict it to just startup costs then we should talk about cars that are not to be driven

mike1111

Dell, trust me I fully understand operating costs... just giving my 02 not given operating costs as part of the equation Sorry for possibly going off topic from original thread not trying to get too far off topic so I'll leave it at this.

Wilder

Chuck: thanks again for the great post. A lot of the feedback I'm getting is that the RSCS clone idea is good but that lack of power will be an issue. Despite my lack of interest in turbos, those comments popped the idea in my head that maybe I should be thinking 993 GT2 clone instead...same great classic car with 450+ HP and 2,800 lbs. Comments?

Matt: love your optimism and enthusiasm man but going cup is a bit premature for me right now. I know a guy who runs a 997 cup and it ain't in my budget.

tcs: I've been in communication with two people who own several 911 track cars ranging from a 73 RS clone, a 993 RS, a 993 GT2 a 7GT3 and others. They both mentioned the 6 and the 7 GT3s are faster but not superior to the 993 or other early cars in terms of feel and the track experience. Those comments are part of the reason I started this poll and discussion. I've been on the passenger seat of a 7GT3 and a 7GT2 canyon carving and I'm very impressed with what I experienced but in many respects they feel very different to my beloved 993s.

tlarocque: Yes, I'm a few months away but want to be well prepared so I can hit the ground running. I hope we get some feedback on the turbo idea. I worry about the variable power of a turbo and can only fathom that a trubo will rule on long tracks but may not serve as well on short and windy courses as an NA 911.

iLLM3

Agreed with that!!!!

tcsracing1

Yeah, i tottaly know what you mean by "the feel and track experience" in the 993.
It is different then in a 996/997.

the 993 is so small and intimate. Alot of fun for sure. The tiny window pillars etc....

I was actually looking to buy a clone 993 RS for racing with a full cage as i really love 993s, but finding the right car to start with was a little hard within a small budget and when i was speaking with The Racers Group looking for a possible clone, they pretty much came out and told me that if i really wanna race, the 996 is the way to go. Better balanced car and all round user friendliness compared to the 993 on the track.

But to run a 993 on a track in its small cockpit has got to be cool!

I actually was looking to tarmac rally the 993 as its size and performance would be great! But alas i will be tracking more then rallying each year so i need to consider a car for track first as i really wish to perform good lap times as best i can.

My future 993 will be a street car only im afraid.

mike1111

I was partial to turbos till I rolled mine five times. 525 to wheels, what a kick in the pants. King of the straits, De winner. It was a 1988 and unfortunately I did not have my traction control on. A gt2 clone would definitely be tones of fun and I am sure scary at times. I also was way off the 75K budget, that is the north side...

Wilder

Mike, Thanks for the feedback. The more and more I think aobut it, the more and more a GT2 clone makes sense. I have time to decide but thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Juha G

I'll throw in my $.02 as well.

I have had the pleasure of owning and DE'ing an awesome track 993 that Chuck built. It is much more easier and fun to drive all out than my ex-996GT3, which is due to many reasons (and differences between the two cars).
The 993 is very light and nimble and gives great feedback. I think it's a perfect car for DE and only thing I would really need is some more power.
Of course we have to keep in mind that this 993 is heavily modified too.

The GT3 on the other hand is brutally fast and exactly like Chuck mentioned, it is much more difficult to drive on the limit. -> you end up driving at 80%, which in that car is very boring. It took me 8-10 DE weekends before I really got used to the GT3 and even though I enjoyed every mile I drove it, it was not as much fun to drive in the beginning as the 993 has been from day one.

I'm sure a good driver can make almost a 10sec difference at Sebring (2:20 vs 2:30) between these two cars but I'm still not convinced which one is more fun to drive.

My plan is to make mine a GT2 clone but focus on keeping the car driveable on the track (i.e. no huge turbos or too much power). I think 450hp would be enough to keep me smiling (and afraid) for years to come.

On a side note, yesterday we were playing with two CUP cars (a 996 and 997) at Ahvenisto circuit (=mini Nurburgring) and I can tell you there is NO subsitute for a real race car. CUPs are amazing machines!

Wilder

Juha, thanks for the great feedback. The more I think about my needs and aspirations, the more I believe a 993 C2 and possibly a TT is the right fit for me.

GT3 Nut

I don't agree with the idea of the 996 GT3 being difficult to drive at or near the limit. Quite frankly, MANY of the 996 GT3 owners seem to think they are so gifted if they can drive the car at or near the limit (not saying you feel this way - obviously you don't by your statement) . I think that as long as the car is aligned properly they are very predictable and easy to go fast in - almost too easy. Some 996 guys think that the 997 GT3 has "nannies" to save you and that is why they think the 997 is faster and they are better drivers than the 997 guys. I call BS on all of this nonsense.
The 996 GT3 (and the 997 GT3) is easy to drive - I would not be afraid of it AT ALL. And if you can drive it well, that doesn't AUTOMATICALLY mean you are some fantastic driver with incredible ability.
I am relatively fast in both cars - and I still suck! The cars make us look like rock stars.

They are very capable and VERY FUN cars.

And on the race car note - I could not agree more!!!
However I am scared that I will really suck in my 997 Cup when it arrives. I bet I will be slower than I was in my RS