Carrera GT

The decision to sprinkle leather and carbon fibre trim was made with some reluctance. In the final analysis, I chose the rationalisation of deciding the "real" MSRP of the 996 GT3 and the 997 GT3 had to include Xenon lights and leather cabin. I find it easier to reconcile spending $100K+ on a Porsche if it at least has the quality of "touch" materials to reflect the quality of the mechanicals. Especially since both cars were bought with the intention of them being track-oriented daily drivers.

To go one step further, I think the real MSRP of the GT3 (with or without the RS wide body) should reflect shell seats, roll bar, harnesses, safety gear and a first visit to a trusted alignment shop to get the ride height, corner balance and alignment settings dialed in.

Somewhat ironically, while I believe the DAS bar out of the 996 GT3 (without sunroof) will fit the 997 GT3 (with sunroof,) there's so much more head room in the 997, I'd want to get a new bar enlarged to offer the extra space.

mjb

Very sweet Looks like 997 GT3&RS will be clogging the roads around here soon

I agree with you there. Seems to me that a $100K+ car that isn't dedicated to the track should have leather at a min. Plastics in 997 may be upgraded vs. 996 but I still likes the leather.

Carrera GT

True. Well, I might be overstating the case a little there, but they're better than most about safety.

Flying Finn

Looks very very cool, congrats!

chris walrod

Congrats! What a car indeed!!
Love to see more images!!

Bluehinder

Outstanding. Love white. Happy Bday!

MJSpeed

Congrats!! Enjoy her in good health.

Carrera GT

Finally got behind the wheel. I think I'm the last to drive this thing!

Great first drive. I think the first 997 GT3 I drove (for only an hour) didn't have the crisp throttle response I feel in this car. Quite noticeable. Especially when I got back in the 996 GT3 to drive home (about 30 miles) and really noticed how the 997 pours on the torque and makes the car feel lighter.

Pity I didn't get Nav -- I got lost in the hills around my own house -- ended up running down to fumes in the tank at 250 miles and totalled 300 miles before I got out. And as soon as I got out, I wanted straight back in. Given Nav is 300 grams, I'll get it in the next one.

Everything feels low and tight. The engine note is very close to making you think there's a Cup car close behind you waiting to pass.

Point to point on familiar winding country roads, the 997 GT3 is lightening quick and communicates to the driver without the jostling of the factory 996 GT3 suspension.

Overall, I think the 7 shows excellent results from the years of development invested in the 911 since the 6. I have to wonder if Porsche always intended the 6 to be the car to take the brunt of backlash against watercooled engines in production 911's and the 7 comes all the way back to the 993. From the headlights to the window controls, it's pays its respects. If only they'd not gone with the Carrera/Boxster centre console cutting the dash down the middle -- they really should have stayed with the signature straight line across the dash. I hope I can figure out a "console delete" for the 997.

Other bullet points.

* Crappy plastic cabin, door handles, radio switches. Blecch!
* Very quiet with the windows closed
* Ample head room despite the sunroof
* Much improved Sport seats
* Excellent door sound (not as good as the vault sound of the 993 but much better than the Toyota sound of the 996)
* Ripped the crap out of the chin spoiler already -- have to go to the RS bits anyway.
* Not great fit and finish in the cabin plastic trim either -- the speaker covers aren't a perfect fit
* Full leather and some cabin carbon fiber options really makes the cabin feel like a $125K car
* PCCB pedal feel is not as firm as properly set up steel brakes
* Xenons are good but no better than a Prius : |
* The look of the PCCBS filling up the 19's with 380mm ceramic rotors is spellbinding

That said, on first impressions, if I had to choose between the 993 Turbo and the 997 GT3, money aside, I am tending to think I'd keep the 993. Time will tell.

Flying Finn

Thanks for a great, informative write-up.

MJSpeed

Great write up and enjoy!!

zellamsee

Carrera GT -- thanks for the great write-up -- last line caught my eye (I have a 993, and an RS on order) -- curious what you like about the 993 over the GT3, at least based off of an initial first impression of the GT3?

icon

interesting comment adam.
do you mean as a daily driver,
or dual purpose track and street,
or for the track?

Joe S.

Beautiful car! Congrats Adam!

Olav A.

What time do you get to the track? I couldn't see it on their web page.

BobbyC

Congrats! Beautiful car. Plan on putting on any graphics?