cds4402

I think the GT4 would have been a better car for me, since I prefer the tech, interior, and daily driveability. But I had wanted a 997 GT3 since they were new, and so I had to get GT3 ownership out of my system. So that’s what I got. It sounds like you’re in the same boat. If you have wanted the GT3, get it. Most of these decisions are based on emotion as it is, instead of objective comparison.

That being said, now that I have a 997 GT3, what I really want is a 997 GT2.

Waxer

If the GT3 is your dream car you answered your own question regardless of which may be better at autocross. If you buy the GT4 won’t there always be part of you regretting it?

Life’s short. Buy what will make you happier. Only you know that answer.

My vote..Buy your dream car.

engerman

I like lots of raw/feel in whatever car I consider, which generally = bad daily but i couldnt care less. That being said I'd choose a 997 GT3. imo the best thing to do is test drive both, record your face and buy the one which makes u smile more .

9872SpeedYellowCS

Drive both so you know for certain. I was pretty underwhelmed with the 981 GT4 and ecstatic with the 997 GT3, but I'm sure you can find the opposite on the internet.

sumbaco

The GT4 is a better design and package. I think the exterior design is great. I love the GT4 in dark blue with buckets and carbon ceramics--it's just a wonderful combo that looks great on the road and in the garage. The interior design is better, the steering wheel design is better. The brake pedal feels good and firm. The gear change is a pleasure. You can feel the front tires give up grip through the steering wheel. It is a good road car and capable on track and in autocrosses. The motor feels like it doesn't have 400hp though. You can't break the rear tires. It takes full throttle pretty easily, at least where I drove it. Maybe conditions could change that. I think the GT3 motor can overcome the design deficiencies to the GT4. To close the emotional gap on engines I think you just need to uncork the exhaust on the GT4 with an aftermarket setup.

The GT4 has a great gearbox and a pretty good engine. The GT3 has a great engine and, imo, one of the most frustrating gearboxes I've ever used. There's a reason you see videos of people doing weird things like double de-clutching and revving the motor on upshifts. The revs fall pretty fast and the gearbox is an old and clunky design. The syncho on second is not very good and needs some help with rev matching to slot into place. In my experience it is difficult to get the car into second no matter how warm or fast you're going. If you enjoy pulling away from stops and accelerating through 2nd and third on the road, the GT3 is going to be frustrating. It's a car meant to stay in 2nd and above. It's not a problem on track because you don't have to go from first to second but once. 2nd to third, third to fourth are fine when things are warm and you're on it. The GT3 does not like to be driven slowly or softly. It's a special occasion car. The GT3 is exhilarating and scary and sounds like le mans on narrow and twisty road. The GT3 motor is also a joy at slow speeds-- it gives emotion and pleasure at lower rpms than the GT4. I enjoy just hanging out in the 4 to 6k rpm range around town. Sure there's 2400 rpm more, but you're attracting too much attention if you're using it in town. The GT4 you have to push to get the juice, which is why I think an aftermarket exhaust is mandatory--it helps lower the threshold of engagement. The GT3 has great steering weight and feedback. The brake pedal is nice and firm. I'm over six feet and there's more leg room in the GT3. I love the extra airiness that the space behind the seats of a 911 offers over the GT4 setup. I also like the mentality that the GT3 has a le mans motor and is a motorsport derived product. It's mostly psychological, but it prevents me from wanting much of anything else. I bought it to be the one car collection, as I'm limited by space. I'd probably put more miles on a GT4, but I'm glad I bought the GT3 first. If I bought the GT4 first I'd always wonder what I'd be missing. I would feel much better about buying a GT4 in the future after having had a GT3.

pissedpuppy

^^^ a lot of subjective information ^^^

Spyerx

I should also add I had a 981 spyder and i felt that was the better car over the gt4, in pretty much all aspects except the open roof as I burn very, very easy :-)

@sumbaco
997GT3 gearbox frustrating? Clearly never driven it in anger lap after lap after lap. the box is balky around town when cold, fine when warm, and sings on the track when driven in anger, I feel one of the best gearboxes (and I has an S2000 which might be THE best gearbox action ever). The GT4 and spyder boxes were fine, but, not as amazing. If you had problems grabbing second your box or the one you drove was trashed.

Once warmed up I don't find either better or worse around town driving. The clutch on the 997 is heavier.

M. Ryan Humphris

here you go. Funny thing is not too many comments from them. Maybe it speaks to an additional reason to go for the gt3

https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...requested.html

sumbaco

To the OP, some swear by the GT3 shifting, but in my experience the shift quality has weaknesses. The ultimate advice is to drive the car for yourself. That's the only experience that matters.

Spyrex, on track second and above is fine, and the higher the revs when shifting, the better. It emphasizes my point that the GT3 works best on special occasions. Gearbox isn't trashed. There are the numerous threads about people switching cables, shifters, gear oil, and motor mounts to improve the shifting. I had an s2000 also. IMO, they share similarities with weight, throw and cross gate action in a narrow band of operation. Cheers.

tasman

GT3

Had both. GT3 still here. Nothing wrong with the 4. Think you answered your own question with the dream car statement

mchrono

and we probably dont need to mention that wont always be the case, nor which will do better as time moves on

cds4402

Funny, I had an S2000 as well, and while I liked the shifter, I didn’t like the transmission itself. I had my AP2 (2005) from 6k miles to 20k miles or so, and I couldn’t shift quickly at all, the synchros couldn’t keep up. Lots of grinding.

With the GT3 tranny, I find the 3rd to 2nd shift to be so long!

christallon

GT3, Fo Sho. No substitute for the best.

XrussianX

When Porsche builds a GT3, it’s the best they can do for that generation. The GT4 will always be second to a GT3 it’s by design. Personally I don’t know how you can turn the key and rev that legendary engine and still have thoughts of the basic motor that’s in the cayman. The heart of the beast is what it is. You’ll always lust after the GT3. You won’t be lusting for the GT4. If Porsche was to give the cayman the true GT treatment then we can debate. I’d opt for the RS if you can swing it🤙🏼

DK7

GT4 is a very good car, but it is way less emotional than a 997 GT3/RS. Engine in 981 or 718 GT4 sucks.