donquixote30

Currently I have a 2006 997S (11,700 miles) and a 2007 Honda S2000 (6,200 miles). I enjoy both a great deal but am thinking about trading them for a low-optioned 2010 GT3. What truly excites me about sports cars is not high speed but rather the sort of organic relationship (or dialog) that is established between the driver and a well-designed machine. Have never deriven a GT3 but the overall character of the 997S and the exciting nature of the well-balanced, high-rev S2000 give clues about how glorious it would be driving one. Is it justifiable to go for a GT3 even when not having plans to take it to the track? What do you think?

PNUT

absolutely, mine is currently cooling its heels on the dock in san diego waiting for a ride to come to papa.
i too will do very little track if any at all, but as you say, the pure visceral experience of such a machine is euphoric and i plan a long term relationship with her.

alan

911dev

Having owned a 997tt, a 997 C2S and C4S Cab, I am anxiously awaiting my Nov build GT3. It will also be my dedicated fun/sun car with likely no track time. I have 335 xi coupe as my dd, so the gt will be the weekend occasional work day car.

I feel exactly as you do, the ultimate speed is not the issue, it's the bond of a pure blood sports car that gets me excited. The gt3 just happens to be stupidly fast also. I could go the speed limit to the grocery store and feel more satisfied driving a gt3 than any of the above cars. The car will get driven as it should on the back roads of course.

Barfly

I wouldn't. But if you do purchase the car for the street, you may end up tracking it anyway. You will want to explore the limits of the car, and you won't be able to come close on the street.

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Jason

LERA GT2

The GT3 is the highest ranking modern PCar that:

"excites me about sports cars is not high speed but rather the sort of organic relationship (or dialog) that is established between the driver and a well-designed machine"

Track or street!

Riz

Remember - GT3's are street cars that can be tracked. I drive mine on the road almost all the time.

911/Q45

More fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

mooty

actually you HAVE driven gt3
it's like that 997S that rev's like a s2000

Barfly

Could not agree more.

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Jason

OldGuy

911/Q45 hit the nail on the head. To be honest compared to the new C2S the Gt3 is a pain in the butt on the street. Its noisy so the stereo is worthless. The suspension is harsh so the normal day to day driving is not that enjoyable on our detiorating streets.
The momentary joy you get from the mountain roads is cool but the car shines on the track. It really does.
The New C2S is closer to a GT3 than you would think (I have had 2 GT3s 996 and 997) Your wife wont want to go and you wont want to drive it on long drives. Stop and go traffic is a pain in the *** with the GT3s heavy clutch.
I understand the testosterone speaking but go drive the new C2S first and then get someone to let you ride or drive a GT3 and make your mind up based on what feel.

donquixote30

Thanks guys for your thoughtful and generous input. Although your opinions are about equally divided, I understand and appreciate the validity of what each of you has to say. If I ever makeup my mind, I'll let you know the outcome. Thanks again!

Ritesh

I own a GT3 and personally - I wouldn't trade in a S2000 and a 997S for it.

just my 2 cents.

OldGuy

Really what you have to do is drive both. THe 997.2 C2S is just amazing. But so is a GT3.
Take out both and make up your mind. The C2S has MUCH more flexibility and that makes it a better
all around in my (getting older ) mind. Put an aero kit on it and go to town. The GT3 997 version has two suspension settings harsh and harsher. If youre a young pup you might not have a problem. If youre an OldGuy with back problems then you might want to get something else.
But really when I bought my first GT3 I went out and drove all of them then the GT3 blew me away.
But I was getting ready to increase my track days. So its what I wanted. Then the back started to go and the 997 with 2 suspension settings was maybe the solution but it was too harsh. I had it on the track a couple time and OH BOY!! But I drove it less and Less.
But to be honest I went in to look at the PDK and just drive it. But it was so amazing and so versatile that it stuck in my mind until I went out and bought it.
My other option was a GT3RS

SpeedGeek

My 996 GT3 RS is my daily driver. If you can use a rock-hard 996 as a DD, the 997.2 GT3 with PASM and nose lift will be a doodle.

The "organic relationship" described earlier is spot on. The relationship I feel with my GT3 has nothing to do with its speed, it has to do with its chassis. The GT3 connects the driver to the experience like no other car I've driven. The 997 Carrera S, even the 911 Turbo, are great cars in their own right, but they simply cannot provide the "hardwired-to-the-nervous-system" experience of the GT3. It's the perfect daily driver for the true sports car enthusiast.

leif997

Amen to that, Brother!!

we recently added a 997.2 C4S cab to the stable and while its sounds and drives really nice......"it ain't no GT3 by a long shot"..... period....no matter what you have to say to yourself to love your current non-GT3; its not going to replace the "missing factors".