christallon

I'm thinking hard about getting back into a GT3, and I had assumed it would be a 996. I have been hunting around recently and find that the price delta between equally clean 996 and 997.1 GT3's is in the $25K range. Firstly, do any of you believe this delta will shrink over time, and secondly at what point does the price difference between the two make it a no brainer to go with the 997.1 version?

I understand the differences between the two and have bought into the purity of the "no-nannies" aspect of the 04-05 vs. the more usable, yet less "single-minded" aspect of the newer car, although after spending time doing some research, I'm not so sure of my initial basis of opinion as I once was. The 2007 car is beginning to creep into the foreground of my daily imaginings.

Anyway, thanks for indulging my curiosity. Best to all.......

I'm posting this on both GT3 boards

Chris

mooty

i had both.
you are right, on street, i would take 997
if you tracked a lot, it's a toss up. 997 is the better car, but 996 has mover "feel", though it doesn't turn in as well as 997.

i dont think the delta will shrink (my guess of course)

obviously they look different, so that's a consideration.

Serge944

You're paying for better aesthetics and a nicer interior with the 997. Is that worth 25k to you? I was tempted with the same question when I saw 997s getting into the 70s, but didn't think it was worth it for me.

996FLT6

^ once u get .2 RS u can say u had all. Damn u!!!! Mike

mooty

^ it's more than int and looks, the 7 is BETTER (meaning faster lap time) when everything being equal. but you are correct in the price delta. the value proposition is the key.

996FLT6

Mooty and I have similar laptimes(when he had a 6) but he walks me on consistency lap after lap. The 997 is definitely faster then the 6- midrange punch is way better(at straightaway between t15 to t1 he pulls on me between 2-3 carlengths and seems like turn in is better then the 6-the 6 u have to finesse it abit. Both great cars. Can't go wrong with either. Mike

Mr Michael B

I have a few pals that are in this same position right now. One gent in particular is truly a toss up and the other leans well into the 997.1 category. With the first gent his quandary is that too many 997.1 were made - and he likes a relatively rare machine of the 996 GT3. I tell him that the 996 is fantastic for what it is, a real knifes edge limited production car. The other gent could care less about how many were produced - he prefers the Volvo like suspension gizmos and Cadillac Nav screen and the Jaguar Saloon like sunroof. I tell him "that 997.1 is for you!" I like them both and can't wait for more of my pals to get in either of them.

christallon

Thanks for your responses. I was looking at 6's based on the price play, and on knowing them. I had assumed that the 997's were completely out of reach, and frankly knew very little about them. I then happened onto an ad in the high $70's which sort of shocked me into comparing them. The $25K diff is still big enough, but with a smaller spread (read more depreciation coming), it becomes more possible, hence the question. With more produced and with their amenable nature (ie. easier for more folks to drive), I had always put them in a different class. I watched a couple of first drive vids. yesterday and was captured. Love the center out pipes, the more aggressive body styling, the interior, even the PASM. I don't like the sunroof though, and am not sure about exclusivity based on build quantity's ie future appreciation when the time comes

The next step is to drive a 997.1 and see what the initial differences, feel are from behind the wheel. Any 6 owners here drive the 997 and want to share their impressions? Were there any converts? Thanks again for your valued input. Much appreciated.

Enjoy your weekend!

Chris

zed996tt

Chris:
You have a PM.

mooty

there will be no appreciation in any of these cars. no GT3's are limited production, other than marketing. even CGT i do not consider limited production. there are over 1000 units world wide. if you want one, you can get one. so....

dep'n, no doubt 7 will depreciate faster and more for a few more years.

do you like 964 more than 993?
if so, this might help you as an analogy (i also had 993 and 964)
6gt3 drives more like 964 (you feel it with your butt)
7gt3 drives more like 993.
i think a short drive in 6 and 7 will solve your prob.

roberga

neither is rare. Have had both. Both are great cars. The 7 is faster but I can no longer say I have a real almost race car. I will just have to live with it.

Mr Michael B

I cant believe I have to defend GT3's on a GT3 forum... but here are some numbers for you to ponder.

16956 is the production numbers of what GM considers their limited production 2009 Corvette

Ferrari built a record 4595 cars in 1991 to meet the seemingly insatiable demand for the red cars. Then, as a reaction to the Asian meltdown and a global tightening of money, demand virtually disappeared. Ferrari built a limited production run (their words) of 2289 cars in 1993. This year, Maranello is on target to dispatch 6500 cars -- an 11-percent increase over a few years ago in 2005.

Aston Martin? The limited production DB9 could allow for approximately five thousand units per year

Porsche? Limited production 1973 Carrera RS? 1636

Originally planned as a limited production run of 1000 (quoting Porsche), the exotic 3.0 "Turbo" featured advanced technology borrowed from the automaker's racing experience. Production of the 3.0 turbo? 2876

Fast forward: 4322 normal 911 turbo's built in 2003 alone.

The 997 is the most commercially successful 911 of all time, having sold 100,000 units between its introduction in 2004 and July of 2007.

The 996 GT3? 1000? (maybe 500 good ones left?) Yep, I would say limited. But you can say what you would like.

mooty

^ dont mean to argue, "limited production" it is.
i was commenting on dont buy the car thinking it will appreciate, that's all.
we all love the '3, any version is peachy.

996FLT6

Still havent reached 6GT3's high limits so thus it's a keeper for now. I've learned alot from this car. Mike

roberga

loved mine but it was time to go: 62,000 miles. like the 7 more