What do you guys think.....A new GT3 (assuming I can find one) or a used 2001 or 2002 911 Turbo?

Please provide pros and cons and any advice is much appreciated. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

 

Regarding new Porsches...keep it simple. Get the GT 3, if you can find one.

 

Personally, I am an AWD and turbo freak. That is the main reason why I did not buy a GT2 (the AWD that is). The same holds true for the GT3 as it lacks both. RWD and non-turbo. Part of the reason why the Ferrari 360 Modena fell short in my eyes as well.

That's just my opinion, of course. I am not saying that one car is better than the other. There is just something about a turbo charged car that can't be replicated by an N/A engine. The GT3 is an incredible car and VERY nimble. It has a weight advantage over the AWD Turbo, so that is a nice selling point.

 

If you are very experienced with Porsche driving characteristics and can handle the GT3 then I would get that. Do not be fooled, the GT3 is fast, and challenging to drive and if you don't know what you are doing then you can easily crash it. I do a lot of tracking but have pause in driving that car without AWD and PSM to bail me out when I screw up.

 

Georg Kacher, who has written for years for many German and Brit car mags and is quite adept at driving 911s sideways around corners says the new GT3 is a bear to keep steady above 125 mph compared to a TT. He says its a thrilling car , but very edgy and says it " separates the men from the boys " . He also stated he didn't know which category HE fit after testing it. I began 20 years ago on lighter 911s w/o the weight, AWD, ABS, PSM etc of today's TT and had my share of " thrilling" road moments . I'll take the TT anyday .

 

What are your needs?

 

STUPID QUESTION:
What is the GT3? I have a TT, but I cannot find any info on Porsche's website regarding a GT3. Short of calling the dealer and sounding like a fool, can you guys give me some input as to where I can find info on it?

Thanks

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

 

My FWIW thoughts...I think in many ways it becomes a question of what context one is going to be driving the car in...track or roads with unknown curves and conditions. I spent many years in the 80's competing in Formula Fords and Pro Super Vee across the country. These are wonderful and very fine handling cars...the best I have driven in the case of a well sorted Super Vee. However, they would not be much fun to try to hustle down a back road where you want benign and somewhat forgiving handling characteristics because you do not know what is around the next bend. For this reason, I recently chose to purchase a 996tt and have it tuned. I am sure the GT-3 is a wonderful track car, however I am not sure that it is the best back road blaster. Further, I am pretty sure that Porsche would have made the GT-3 all wheel drive if the sanctioning bodies would have allowed it to race that way :-)

John

 

the GT3 is very intriguing. i almost put my name on the list. but here's my take. yes, it retains value better, but only if you don't drive it too much. i put 20k miles on my car every year. if you track lots, GT3 is fun on track. but if you drive most on streets, i like the TT better with more torque and AWD.

 

The GT3 is a great car, but dont fool yourself, a stock 996TT will usually be faster around most tracks.

Certainly with $5K in mods the 996TT will hand the GT3 its ***.

And you can find a pristine 02 or even used 03 996TT for less than you will pay for a GT3.

That being said, I wish I had a GT3

 

Chris,

Are you sure about that?

The new GT3 with 380hp has nearly identical acceleration times with the Turbo. How can the TT be faster around most tracks? The GT3 is faster around the 'Ring and Hockenheim, and on short tracks its nimble handling and less weight definitely gives it an advantage.

What $5K mod is going to hand a GT3 its ***? Are you talking about doing a chip to increase boost? Sure, this might help in a straight line, but won't do much on a track. The GT3 already comes with an adjustable suspension from the factory...

There are lots of ways to mod a GT3 also.

 

Yes, I am sure.

I think out of the box the GT3 may beat a 996TT around a road course.

The original post was a question which implied that the purchaser has a budget in mind. My point is that for the same $$$ a slightly used 01 or 02 turbo, plus a few mods (good coilovers, chip, exhaust, weight removal via new seats, etc) will beat the GT3 on the track.

The net GT3 is only about 250 lbs lighter than a 996TT. This does not make a world of difference at most tracks. The added torque of the turbo (not to mention AWD) will allow the turbo to squirt away out of the corners better and have better accel over 100 MPH. (4th gear on)

Point being for $100K you can have a new 380HP 3000 LB GT3 or a 500HP 3150 lb 996TT.

I know that my 996TT is only a few seconds slower around a 3 mine road course than a 996 GT3 cup car. So I am fairly confident it will handle a GT3 street car.

Again, the GT3 is awesome, I'd have one of them if I could afford 3 porsches

 

Chris, Your TT is at least 3,395 lbs.,and 3,494 lbs. with Tip. Plus fuel and driver it's almost an SUV.

 

i would think in the hands of an avg driver the TT would beat the GT3 around a course. Just a thought.

 

Ahh yep... what "JAC " sez.... the 996 TT's almost a "****" ... Sexy Luxury Utility Vech. at its track weight!

Now the GT-2 hauls A$$ without all the Fluff and 4 wheel drive thingies. How's the European track times compare between the GT-3 & the GT-2? Those cars are in the same family... out & out race cars... not "tootle molbiles".