Exactly.

Even the not sportscars (all the SUV's, sedans, also high end cars such as MB, Cadillacs, BMW's etc.) that almost 100% of them have sunroof, VERY rarely when I see them open.

I've recently paid attention to it and even here where it's summer all year round, I hardly ever see anyone with sunroof open (and also during the winter when it's sunny but not hot).

Convertibles down, yes but not sunroofs open. I honestly don't remember when was the last time I saw a Porsche with a sunroof open.

And now it's in a GT3, ain't that great?

 

Ironically, I noticed that Alon's was open in this picture on the first page here:

http://www.993registry.org/

 

Porsche Engineering Services Inc.
1965 Research Drive
Troy, Michigan 48083

Porsche Engineering Group GmbH is a subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Our focus is on contract engineering activities, i.e. developments carried out for client companies in the areas of automotive and industrial engineering.

Porsche Engineering

 

Sunroof and the stupid bumper things on the rear. Why is is the Porsche is the only manufactuer that has these things on the rear bumper cover?

 

Actually, I have the sunroof open any time it's between 70-75F here, which is most of the time. In fact I just closed it five minutes ago. Great way to get fresh air without the buffeting of a side window open.

HOWEVER...a sunroof has NO place in a GT3. (Nor does PASM or PCM, for that matter.)

The excuse seems to be US DOT certification...but with Porsche continuing to boast record profits, that is no excuse. Make the feds happy...crash a damn GT3 without sunroof into a wall already...rather than dilute the 'GT' branding by turning it into a glorified option package!

 

Is there ne talk about a widebody(C4 chassis) GT3 convertible : )? Mike

 

I might have to do some covert/undercover spying on that place!!

 

According to the Porsche car configurator the sun roof, PCM, xenon, phone and other stuff is optional. So if you dont like it, dont order it. Very simple. You dont order a burger with onions if you dont like onions, dont you?

 

That's Europe...US markets are a different story. PCNA packages standard equipment differently. We can't get a 997S without sunroof and PASM, for instance.

 

That sucks if they ship the GT3 only with sun roof. For those who like to use their GT3 at a track i hope PCNA offers the club sport package as well.

 

Nice find - thanks for posting!

As for the sun roof,....I admit, I open it as often as weather permits. Does the sunroof really take away that much structural integrity in today's modern chassises (whatever the plural of chassis is)? I can't imagine the weight difference is more than a few kilos...no?

 

Weight savings for 'track' versions of street cars, no matter the make, come from small weight savings in many different places. It's bad enough that we're stuck with multiple airbags, power windows, etc...but when manufacturers like Porsche continue to add 'features' like sunroofs, center consoles with PCM screens, etc., we end up paying dearly for expensive weight-saving parts made of carbon fiber and ceramic to offset them. So you get a feature-laden, more expensive car full of exotic materials that's heavier than the outgoing model. We'll see the same thing with the next M3. Just doesn't make sense for us purists that grew up on 2,200-2,700 lb 911s (and M3s).

 

The wart (chrono) and the screen are OPTIONAL on the US 997 GT3. Alan-the M3 is already a very heavy car compared to the old ones I loved - 4 cylinders, 190 HP and very light.

 

Good to know. Hope the sunroof ends up being optional as well.

That was exactly the point of the post above...the M3 CSL has lots of expensive carbon fiber bits, but is still heavier than the E36 M3, the '95 CS version of which was heavier than the E30. Late-1980s 911s were similarly light, lighter than RS versions of the 964, etc...on up to the 997 GT3, which is heavier than the '99 996.

 

i know that mjspeed, many others and myself like to drive the car on street, and to the track and back. but the wt of these cars and various frivolous options is driving me insane. i just dont have the skill to drive or the cojones to tell my wife that i NEED a cup car, a trailer and a big tow vehicle. otherwise..... heehee.

sorry for the rambling, but just tired of these huge leather covered cars with holes on top.