welikethetrack

this is an old wives tail about the rear engine thing. The 997 was extremely refined for its time and much much more refined than a 993 for instance.

go drive a 993 (not even going back too far like 964/930, etc.) and tell me the 997 is rear engine biased.

i find it insane anyone says this, they are one of the easiest cars to drive on the racetrack….from someone who’s actually driven a one owner not modified perfect example…ON THE RACETRACK

I don’t get this rennlist narrative of trying to act like the 997 gt3’s are hard to track and you have ti wrangle them like they’re a raging Bull lol, I find this perspective completely delusional and I have something like 75 track days at this point in the last 15 years

its one of the easiest sports cars to drive on track, Porsche made a great car that was very easy to extract the full potential out of, no idea why that’s seen as a bad thing around here

welikethetrack

the gt3rs is a much more impressive machine but it’s it not as fun imo. Just like how a 997gt3rs is a less impressive machine to say a 991, but it’s more fun!!!

I track cars and I still think fun is the only thing that matters at the end of the day, hence manual and hence smaller

if it’s smaller and it’s manual….it’s probably more fun

00 Scrub

I got to drive a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 back to back for many laps with my 997.2 GT3 on an autocross course and I think it comes down to what you like more. I figure the GTS 4.0 should be similar enough to the GT4 to offer some applicable comparisons.

• The Cayman GTS has more low end power (and might sound a bit better!?)
• The Cayman inputs are far lighter (shifter, clutch, steering). I'm not sure how different the scrub radius is between the two cars but there was much less movement in the Cayman wheel over broken pavement than in the GT3.
• The Cayman GTS exhibits turn in oversteer much more than the GT3. I'm guessing this is because I was trail braking it pretty hard since that is required for the GT3.
• The Cayman GTS front end is much easier to place and more responsive without trail braking. You don't have to be as deliberate with the Cayman as with the 997.2 GT3.
• The Cayman GTS more resistant to controlling the line with throttle application/removal. In the 997.2 GT3 I could adjust my line in sweepers to a larger degree than in the Cayman just by lifting or applying throttle.
• The Cayman GTS had a harder time putting power down than the GT3. The GT4 wider rear tires might help here. The GT3 almost always felt more composed than the Cayman on corner exit. It was much easier to kick the back end out on the Cayman and get a bit crossed up.
• The AC blew far cooler in the Cayman. It was nice and comfy waiting for my next run.
• It was much easier to hit by helmet on the door sill getting in/out of the Cayman than the GT3.
• I ran ~0.9sec slower on a ~35sec lap in the Cayman than the GT3, but I imagine with more seat time and stickier tires they would be pretty similar.

Overall they were both pretty damn fun.
I agree with what welikethtrack is saying. The 997.2 GT3 hasn't been scary to drive. It's a bit of a handful if you really lift hard and upset it, but that takes some effort. Otherwise trail brake it into corners and you're most of the way there.

jreifler

Man - If a GTS sounds better than your 7.2, you need a proper exhaust ASAP.