New to the group - 997.2 base GT3
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
New to the group - 997.2 base GT3
After sitting on the decision for 6 weeks, impulse took over; I joined the 997 family yesterday! Picked up a bone-stock base GT3 with 15000km on a relatively low optioned car (Clubsport package with Nomex seats). While red isn't my favorite color from get go, I jumped on it cuz 7.2 GT3 (and of course including RS) is on my bucket list. Meanwhile, my friend picked up another good condition one a week ago, so that's how it started ...
Coming from a 981 GT4, I definitely notice the age of the 7.2 cars. The GT4 has far better AC, has better seating position (at least 918 buckets seem to sit lower or feels more natural), has a better shifter, frunk isn't as hot, chassis is more rigid, and much easier rev match at lower revs. Porsche engineers didn't sit there doing nothing in between the 9x7 and 9x1 generations. Someone once wrote along the lines of "The 981 GT4 is a better car, and the 997 GT3 is a better machine" -- that really sums it up well. The 7.2 GT3 feels harder to drive smoothly around town in slower speeds/revs. Rev-matching is weird. Initially I thought the flywheel must be mad heavy, as I would jab the throttle and the revs would barely pickup when trying to rev-match around town. Maybe it's the factory mapping on the throttle; it's feels difficult to rev the engine precisely down there. Car felt quite underwhelming when I drove it out of the dealer lot. It felt like the car is just missing something under 3500rpm in town.
However, once the revs go over 3500, then all the these complaints are gone. It feels as if the engine is a completely different one above 3500rpm. Rev matching becomes far easier, and the sound the engine makes is just intoxicating. The last time I spent a fair bit of time on a 997 GT car was around 15 years ago over a few days when I had the keys to 7.1 GT3 and 7.1 turbo, and way before days of 981 GT4. This reminds me why I was sold on the 987.1 Cayman back then and always wanted the 997 GT cars. The engine really is the highlight of the car. The steering is just really good. I would argue GT4 has one of the best electric steerings out there, even better than some hydraulic assisted ones out there. That said, the 7.2 GT3 steering is just at another level. The GT3 feels more special and engaging.
I'm planning to get hoses welded, the harmonic balancer, and Numeric Racing shifter + cables as mods. I have the Numeric Racing shifter package on my GT4 and am very happy about it. I feel the GT3 shifter has too much flex (not so much slop). Will then later see if it's a good idea to swap to 3.89 R&P with taller 6th. Likely keeping the GT3 on streets while GT4 gets more track time. I feel there is so much more to learn on the GT3
Coming from a 981 GT4, I definitely notice the age of the 7.2 cars. The GT4 has far better AC, has better seating position (at least 918 buckets seem to sit lower or feels more natural), has a better shifter, frunk isn't as hot, chassis is more rigid, and much easier rev match at lower revs. Porsche engineers didn't sit there doing nothing in between the 9x7 and 9x1 generations. Someone once wrote along the lines of "The 981 GT4 is a better car, and the 997 GT3 is a better machine" -- that really sums it up well. The 7.2 GT3 feels harder to drive smoothly around town in slower speeds/revs. Rev-matching is weird. Initially I thought the flywheel must be mad heavy, as I would jab the throttle and the revs would barely pickup when trying to rev-match around town. Maybe it's the factory mapping on the throttle; it's feels difficult to rev the engine precisely down there. Car felt quite underwhelming when I drove it out of the dealer lot. It felt like the car is just missing something under 3500rpm in town.
However, once the revs go over 3500, then all the these complaints are gone. It feels as if the engine is a completely different one above 3500rpm. Rev matching becomes far easier, and the sound the engine makes is just intoxicating. The last time I spent a fair bit of time on a 997 GT car was around 15 years ago over a few days when I had the keys to 7.1 GT3 and 7.1 turbo, and way before days of 981 GT4. This reminds me why I was sold on the 987.1 Cayman back then and always wanted the 997 GT cars. The engine really is the highlight of the car. The steering is just really good. I would argue GT4 has one of the best electric steerings out there, even better than some hydraulic assisted ones out there. That said, the 7.2 GT3 steering is just at another level. The GT3 feels more special and engaging.
I'm planning to get hoses welded, the harmonic balancer, and Numeric Racing shifter + cables as mods. I have the Numeric Racing shifter package on my GT4 and am very happy about it. I feel the GT3 shifter has too much flex (not so much slop). Will then later see if it's a good idea to swap to 3.89 R&P with taller 6th. Likely keeping the GT3 on streets while GT4 gets more track time. I feel there is so much more to learn on the GT3
Last edited by KingSize.Hamster; 06-11-2024 at 06:34 AM.
#2
Congrats! I’m a huge fan of guards red and you look to have a very nice example.
I agree with you on the GT2 buckets in your 997 vs the 918 buckets in the GT4, the 918 buckets sit lower and feel more sporty to me.
Here’s the question, if you could only keep one for street driving, which would it be?
I agree with you on the GT2 buckets in your 997 vs the 918 buckets in the GT4, the 918 buckets sit lower and feel more sporty to me.
Here’s the question, if you could only keep one for street driving, which would it be?
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KingSize.Hamster (06-11-2024)
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KingSize.Hamster (06-11-2024)
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KingSize.Hamster (06-11-2024)
#5
Rennlist Member
Congrats! I'm looking at the driver's seat and going, "Wow looks brand spanking new". Then I realized.
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#6
Rennlist Member
Congrats, beautiful car.
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
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#7
Racer
Thread Starter
Congrats, beautiful car.
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
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#8
Congrats on a 911 GT3 in the best generation.
Your last sentence nails the 997GT3, there is so much to learn in driving this car, it never gets old trying to make all the inputs work.
It is subjective, but the arrangement of The 997 shifter/engine/steering/911rearengine-feel are the ultimate IMO.
The car just provides a lot of character -- always trying to orchestrate the symphony of the various inputs.
Sounds like you like your GT4 and appreciate some of the newer items from your GT4, slicker shifter, better AC, mid-engine-chassis, etc....
Having been to Hong Kong many times, maybe the 997 gets driven more in cooler months on dedicated drives where you can appreciate the unique character of the car and your GT4 can be your do it all newer car with better AC and less hot Frunk.
Congrats again - car looks great!
Your last sentence nails the 997GT3, there is so much to learn in driving this car, it never gets old trying to make all the inputs work.
It is subjective, but the arrangement of The 997 shifter/engine/steering/911rearengine-feel are the ultimate IMO.
The car just provides a lot of character -- always trying to orchestrate the symphony of the various inputs.
Sounds like you like your GT4 and appreciate some of the newer items from your GT4, slicker shifter, better AC, mid-engine-chassis, etc....
Having been to Hong Kong many times, maybe the 997 gets driven more in cooler months on dedicated drives where you can appreciate the unique character of the car and your GT4 can be your do it all newer car with better AC and less hot Frunk.
Congrats again - car looks great!
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KingSize.Hamster (06-11-2024)
#9
Rennlist Member
Congrats! Those seats are so sweet.
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KingSize.Hamster (06-11-2024)
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KingSize.Hamster (06-12-2024)
#11
Rennlist Member
Congrats, beautiful car.
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
I would suggest trying to find someone local to you with a 997 GT3 and the numeric shifter and cables before you commit to them. While it may have been a large improvement on your GT4, many 997 GT3 owners report that it's a bad combination on our cars, and I am one of them. Specifically the cables and the 997 GT3 shifter, it's a very hardcore experience and in my opinion not in a good way - and that's coming from my perspective as a racer. I removed them from my car, kept the numeric shifter and went back to stock cables and it's a much better experience in my opinion.
Enjoy your new car, 15000 km it hasn't even been broken in yet!
I wish I could have both as I like the muted feel of the stock shifter for the mountains. I like having the Steel cables though and still have them…
The one thing not talked about lately is the extra weight in my shift ***, I don’t even know if the custom weights are avail anymore since that was a hobby project.
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KingSize.Hamster (06-12-2024)
#12
Rennlist Member
However, once the revs go over 3500, then all the these complaints are gone. It feels as if the engine is a completely different one above 3500rpm. Rev matching becomes far easier, and the sound the engine makes is just intoxicating. The last time I spent a fair bit of time on a 997 GT car was around 15 years ago over a few days when I had the keys to 7.1 GT3 and 7.1 turbo, and way before days of 981 GT4. This reminds me why I was sold on the 987.1 Cayman back then and always wanted the 997 GT cars. The engine really is the highlight of the car. The steering is just really good. I would argue GT4 has one of the best electric steerings out there, even better than some hydraulic assisted ones out there. That said, the 7.2 GT3 steering is just at another level. The GT3 feels more special and
It’s not super easy car to healtoe perfect, below 4K the non-RS kinda feels like you gotta stamp it and the RS feels like your going to hit the redline.
Really the car is designed to be at 5k and above for healtow and petals are positioned to expect heavy breaking to get the heal down…
so when your on a track the car starts to make you feel a lot better about yourself
#13
Rennlist Member
Beautiful! Congratulations!
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KingSize.Hamster (06-12-2024)
#14
Lovely car, and in the perfect colour IMO! Congratulations!!
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KingSize.Hamster (06-12-2024)
#15
Racer
Thread Starter
I generally prefer the "OEM+" route. It'll probably take me a while before I could get anywhere close to the real potential of the car anyway ...