The 996 GT3 still has "it"
07-22-2012, 05:20 PM
#1
The 996 GT3 still has "it"
Last three years my 6GT3 has been collecting dust, since I've had full racing calender. But this weekend I decided to sneak into my local DE and go into the "I'm gonna win my DE"-group, just to check out how well the car was doing against those new beasts that Porsche has produced.
There is still a lot of punch into the old 6! Sure, as soon as you hit the straight every modern super Porsche just leaves you dead. I once thought I hit 5:th instead of 3:rd when some VTG left me on the straight in some exhaust cloud. But the modern cars are not that incredibly quicker in corners and the driver difference even at some higher level still can make up for lack of technology.
But I'm afraid that when the 991 GT3 shows up, it just might be a bit too much.
I know, it's apples and oranges. But I think a 6GT3 is good bang for the buck still.
There is still a lot of punch into the old 6! Sure, as soon as you hit the straight every modern super Porsche just leaves you dead. I once thought I hit 5:th instead of 3:rd when some VTG left me on the straight in some exhaust cloud. But the modern cars are not that incredibly quicker in corners and the driver difference even at some higher level still can make up for lack of technology.
But I'm afraid that when the 991 GT3 shows up, it just might be a bit too much.
I know, it's apples and oranges. But I think a 6GT3 is good bang for the buck still.
07-23-2012, 09:03 AM
#2
Race Car
Couldn't agree with you more, despite them aging now and being out gunned power wise our '6 GT3's are still insanely capable. I was at a lapping / test and Tune day this last weekend with my car and it lapped quicker than anything there including an exige cup, factory ford Mustang 302s race car, cayman interseries car, etc.
Not saying my car was actually more capable than those cars, but in the right hands and maybe the other cars NOT in the right hands it's pretty satisfying what our cars can still run with.
Not saying my car was actually more capable than those cars, but in the right hands and maybe the other cars NOT in the right hands it's pretty satisfying what our cars can still run with.
07-23-2012, 12:49 PM
#3
Like Andy, I don't find the 6GT3 to be left "dead" by most of the new Porsches. None of the newer NA are substantially faster, even the new GT3s. They might pull a little on the straight, but they don't realy "run" away (although the newer Turbo S and GT2/RS do have some go.) Some of it is obviously driver, but more important is the superb engineering of the 6GT3. A new diff and you're definitely not a backmarker.
Another way I make myself feel better about the aging 6GT3 is to compare it to the cup cars at my local track (1.7 miles). The 997 Cup car fast lap is around 1:14. My street GT3 will run 1:19-1:20. So there's only 5-6 seconds between street 6GT3 and full on cup car. That means there's not a lot of room for a 997.1 GT3, 997.1 GT3 RS, 997.2 GT3 and 997.2 GT3 RS to slot in there. See, I feel better already.
-td
Another way I make myself feel better about the aging 6GT3 is to compare it to the cup cars at my local track (1.7 miles). The 997 Cup car fast lap is around 1:14. My street GT3 will run 1:19-1:20. So there's only 5-6 seconds between street 6GT3 and full on cup car. That means there's not a lot of room for a 997.1 GT3, 997.1 GT3 RS, 997.2 GT3 and 997.2 GT3 RS to slot in there. See, I feel better already.
-td
07-23-2012, 12:56 PM
#4
Race Car
Our Cape Town track is 1.15-25 with the quite well driven cups and very light 3.9 6-RS doing the 15-16, a well chopped but expertly driven MK1 6 doing 19s and some of the stock 7-2s doing 23s with 'gentleman racers' at the helm ... So quite similar. In the wet the difference between drivers is more pronounced and cars less so from what I've seen this season. Our championship is being led by that yellow MK1 with the 3.9 in second.
Glad to see you're having fun Rassel
Glad to see you're having fun Rassel
07-23-2012, 02:47 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
I spent some time in a 2010 GT3 this weekend. I remember my 4l 996 putting a bigger smile on my face.
The 996s are still very capable. The 997s add a much higher level of refinement that make them more suitable as dual purpose cars. I think for many though, since a GT3 is typically the toy in the stable, it's a moot point.
The 996s are still very capable. The 997s add a much higher level of refinement that make them more suitable as dual purpose cars. I think for many though, since a GT3 is typically the toy in the stable, it's a moot point.
07-23-2012, 06:43 PM
#7
The 996s are still very capable. The 997s add a much higher level of refinement that make them more suitable as dual purpose cars. I think for many though, since a GT3 is typically the toy in the stable, it's a moot point.
From what I've seen, the difference between a 996 Mk.II and 997 Mk.I is less than a 7 Mk.I and 7 Mk.II. But this is just by observation.
With the Cup cars the 997 Mk.I gained a lot because of the seq. gearbox and without it, it's really not much quicker than a 996 Mk.II. The difference between 997 Mk.I and II is more substantial.
HiWind, sure did have fun! DE is a luxury.
