cyk

So I had the pleasure of experiencing a 997.2 GT3 today and it was intoxicating. The drive encompassed interstate, suburbia, and 20 miles of mountain roads (@ ~8k feet). I just wanted to give impressions from a 996 turbo owner.

For starters, the engine & exhaust note (especially at 4k rpm) might be the most glorious sound known to any production car........truly, truly, truly spine tingling.

Suspension - the ride/handling compromise is amazing.......in comparison to a stock 996tt (i.e. soft/wallowy) the GT3 is imminently planted and while it's certainly stiff, I might say that it would be tolerable as a daily driver.

Clutch - it's stiff, but engagement is progressive and communicative. Very unlike the rheostat like feel that is the 996tt.

Brakes - the car I drove had the steel stoppers, but holy goodness do they stop! I've driven carbon ceramics as well, but my recollection of them didn't have them biting any harder than the steel units. Of course it wasn't track duty and heat wasn't an issue in driving today, but in comparison to the poor bite exhibited by the 996, I was amazed at the stoppers.

Motor - kind of reminds me of a small displacement sport bike where it just needs to be on the boil to get any thrust. I think all of us here on the turbo forum can agree that our cars (especially with a modest tune) are hard to beat in a straight line. I was expecting more out of the GT3, but again, we are a jaded group when it comes to outright acceleration; 8k elevation doesn't do the na motor any favors either.

Overall it makes me appreciate the street-ability of the 996tt even more. Don't get me wrong....if I had the funds, I would have a turbo and a GT3, but being forced to pick one, the turbo would be it......qualified with PSS10's and an ecu tune

Happy motoring.

Dock

Thanks for the report. How was the steering?

jumper5836

I've driven the 997 GT3 RS.1 and RS.2. Both feel great but pss10's do the same job on my tt. The power in the gt3's was pretty tame even with 450 hp gt3.2. My tt is chipped and quicker and you can actually feel the power. The gt3.2 just felt tamed.

James88

Thanks for the report and insight.
I always wondered how they compared, I do like a tight handling car but I think I'd prefer the straight line
power as well, but having said that I think my car seems to handle pretty pretty well on the Porsche group drive days.

SSST

I had the same reaction to the one I drove. The steering is certainly better in the GT3 as is the shifter. Braking distance is a function of weight, suspension and tire grip. The TT brakes are more than enough to lock up the wheels. Heavier weight, softer suspension, and smaller tire patch are what gives the TT the longer stopping distances.

Can't do much about the weight unless you want to strip it down, but you do have options for suspension and contact patch which will help.

For me the TT is a better all round street car, but the GT3 is a blast to drive hard.

On the clutch, go with a lighter helper spring and clutch feel will improve dramatically.

When I had my x73 installed, my indie test drove it and commented that it rode and handled a lot like his GT3, so suspension work can really help a lot. I don't think the ride is that bad, and the handling improvement is dramatic.

cyk

@Dock.....sorry for the omission on the steering; pretty silly of me.

I felt the steering was oddly lighter/more boosted and maybe even a bit more filtered than the 996. I was surprised by this, but it gave it what could be considered a bit more refined feeling at the wheel. There's no question there was plenty of feedback and it felt like you could certainly put the contact patches exactly where needed. Better or worse than the 996?.......not sure I'm willing to make that call either way.

cyk

@SSST.....

Im in total agreement that the 996tt is a better street car, but I think most folks would come to that conclusion based simply on magazine write ups or even Porsche's own marketing machine. I like your comment,

"For me the TT is a better all round street car, but the GT3 is a blast to drive hard."

and to take that a bit further, I'd say the GT3 gets better the harder you drive it and the Turbo gets scarier.

Love them both, wish I could have them both! Maybe a 997.1 or .2 Turbo is in my future

tguaturbo

The 996tt with a bit of suspension help, tune and brake upgrades is a great car on the road course. I once had my instructor at an HPDE drive my car on high boost around 650 hp/tq with 350 girodisc 2pc rotors and race pads and fluid and he came off pwr and into a corner on the brakes and said, "no brakes!". Since then he refers to my tt as Frankenstien. LOL.

I have since then added a 6 GT3 and retired the tt to DD status. The GT3 shines on the track but I don't think I could live with it very long as a DD, whereas the TT can do both. I love them both, the MACHETE for what it is and the SCALPEL for how it comes alive at the track. Hope to keep them both for many years to come.

powdrhound

The 997 GT3 brakes are fantastic. I run the 2011 GT3 PCCB brakes with 380/350 steel floating rotors and the difference compared to the stock turbo or even the 6GT3 brakes is night and day... Part of the difference is due to the 7GT3 master cylinder which makes the pedal rock hard compared to the turbo MC..

"02996ttx50

i like that. "machete" and "scalpel". an analogy i fully understand.

7500rpm

I've been on the fence with this 2002 35k miles 996TT and with each read of your comments, I am tipping over towards 'buy it'! My 06 C2S is already half a GT3 after spending more than sensible mod money on her. All it needs now is that GT1 engine
Looks like you guys were able to feel big power difference, favoring your TT, despite the GT3's great power to weight ratio. That's what I need to know. I am concern that the 414bhp would be concealed by the rather hefty TT and the better insulations. The wife's going to kill me when she sees two 911s in the garage. So last question, is the 996TT worth dying for?

Dock

Drive one and decide...

Dock

It's difficult for the GT3 to compete with the Turbo's torque.

Additionally, it doesn't take much money to bump the Turbo's HP/torque. It's way more work getting more HP/torque out of a GT3 engine.

The beauty of the 996 Turbo is it can be either a Stradivarius, or if you drop the hammer, it turns into a T-Rex. Compared to the GT3, I really like the Turbo's low end torque as driving around town you don't have to wind the Turbo up to an RPM frenzy to get any power out of it.

7500rpm

Thanks Dock,
When I got my C2S, I marveled at what a nice GT it was However, the track bug bit me and I turned her into a semi GT3 and she now drives sharp but is harsh, needs to be wound past 3.5k and lost her two rear seats to a harness bar. The 996TT is for getting the family back in the car, whilst justifying our 4th car. I couldn't justify it myself if the car didn't give a real performance gain.

SSST

You'll definitely feel the difference in power and a $1000 tune will get you iin spitting distance of 500 HP with no adverse impacts.