+2.....

 

Responses in red above!

 

i've been looking at 10 GT3 prices for several months. On Avg they look to be in the low $100s (100-110k)

I was speaking to my salesman yesterday and he believes these will be in the $80's (retail) in about a year.

 

The axle lift on the GT3's is awesome. And I live in the hills of Los Angeles.

1st choice = GT3

2nd choice = GTS

 

It seems the price data as been covered. I will comment on the numerous posts telling you not to get a GT3, don't listen to them.

I received the same warning that a GT3 is not a weekend car. I highly disagree, i enjoy my GT3 everyday, not just the weekend. If i only drove it on the weekend i wouldn't mind if it was even louder and more raw.

1) The low front spoiler has never limited me front entering any entrance. Just have to enter at the right angle, and if it scrapes, no big deal, you can hardly notice it, and its designed to do so.
2) The suspension never feels too stiff, the cabin never too loud, just felt like some special. (i've taken it on 4 hour drives as well.) My significant other doesn't even complain about the stiffness.
3) I have Ceramic brakes and they almost never squeal
4) Stock tires can easily be replaced with something much more suited for street (MPSS as mentioned above), even with that said, i have the MPSC and i can say i have never not taken the car out due to weather, yet.
5) The heavy clutch can get bothersome in stop and go traffic, but you don't take a car out on the weekend to be stuck in traffic
6) the only downside i have is leaving the car in a public place, but that wouldn't matter if it were a GT3 or GTS.


It seems that unless you plan on tracking the car this board deems you unworthy of ownership and points you elsewhere. As if the GT3 was not designed to be driven on the street. May be they are that way because past GT3's were much more raw and not as street-able, but the 2010+ is a joy to drive everyday IMO.

There is no other car in Porsche's lineup that delivers the sensations of a GT3, if i chose a GTS per the recommendations here i'd be missing out on the 8,000 rpm sound track. While i plan on taking it to the track to enjoy 10/10ths of the car, i certainly have enjoyed the car thoroughly on the street.
I've accumulated about 3500 miles in 4 months time and they've all been fun, the only downside is that in a few months i'll have to put her away for winter hibernation.

 

I do some occasional DE's now days, but mountain drives on the weekends have become the main event with my GT3. I join a couple buddies and we have a blast. Those runs have become a real joy, pretty amazing drives. 5-8 hour journeys that require you to be in the moment. No interstate daydream cruises. I always think of Snowboarder as an inspiration, with all his mountain road exploits.
The GT3 shines.

 

I think if you have access to nice B-roads with light traffic and law enforcement then you have your own, natural, "track". I'm always convinced I'm going to loop the car under power (esp in 2nd gear), despite never managing it on track...

 

I bought mine for mountain roads, occasional commute, and a handful of DEs a year. I love the on track experience, but don't like the scene that much.

Coming from air-cooled 911s, my only complaint has been the brakes -- not stopping ability -- but "feel" especially at low speeds in traffic. They are a bit soft if you are used to a rock hard pedal all the way through. The PCCBs are awful in this regard, but awesome in others. I've got Brembos steels now, and much better.

I would definitely prefer a bit more feel, though I think this car is (just about) as feelsome as they come nowadays.

My DMV told me the other day that my car ('11) had a market value of 104k FWIW. This is Alabama, mind you (insert Banjo joke of your preference).

 

I'm told putting in SS brake lines improves feel a lot. Am having mine installed in a few days.

 

As lessons learned, you should go over to the Turbo section and ask some questions there. There are many that bought GT3s expecting them to be fine on the street, only to find them too stiff and too much work for the driver to deal with. These are very hard core sports cars with a lot of compromises. If I was not a track junky, I would have a Turbo or an F430 instead as both are so much easier to live with on a daily basis. A GT3 is a track car that can be driven on the street, while a Turbo or a Carrera S will be a street car that can be driven at the track. These cars are not a Carrera S with an aerokit, they are very different.

1. There are no quiet/street oriented brake pad options with the steel brakes. If you want brakes that don't sound at times like an entire school class of children scratching all their fingernails on a chalkboard in unison, but a Carrera S or Turbo.

2. You can use whatever tires you want, but you lose a lot of the sharpness that makes a GT3 a GT3 by going to something less grippy and softer while still keeping the harshness from the stiff suspension. If you want something that isn't harsh and doesn't scrape all the time, but a Carrera S or a Turbo.

3. The suspension is far stiffer that anything you have driven and you have no direct comparison. Having driven only a 550 Maranello, Cayman, and a Corvette GS; those cars are all soft, squishy and floaty compared to a GT3. There isn't much that compares: a Ferrari F360 CS or an F430 Scuderia are probably the only close comparison cars you can look at.

4. If you don't like the big wing, this is yet another reason to get a Carrera S or Turbo. The wing is functional and the 10' got stiffer springs to compensate for the additional downforce it creates. To mess with it will mess with the entire balance of the car.

 

I hope your salesman is right about prices next summer...that's when I plan to start looking for one.

 

PM sent

 

Couldn't tell much of a difference re lines. Good fluid, and a really good bleed (after letting the car become very cold) really helps. Those last couple of bubbles can hurt feel. Also, street pads retain their feel better than track pads (too efficient at dissipating heat).

 

You guys are the best! I love the active interest and knowledge here! Thank you, sin911, triode, bmardini, aussie jimmy, QueenCity911, 911rox, kosmo, richk, Richie18, fjpdds, jlr, 10 GT3, and vdodici for the great advice!

- In summary, so it's the steel rotors that squeak when cold?... Wow, I heard it on a Akrapovic ad on youtube - sounded like the pads had to be replaced.
- How do the PCCB sound and feel compared to steel?...
- Should the PCCB have to be replaced (yikes $16k), do you recommend going with Brembo steel rotors for street use?...

I am relieved to hear that 2010+ GT3 are more street friendly than the previous years. I am also glad that there are street friendly tires- the MPSS might be the ticket. I saw an over-optioned 2011 GT3 with PCCB rotors, bucket seats, dynamic mounts, sport chrono, etc. I might be willing to swap the bucket seats in the future with conventional seats if ends up to be a back buster. The dealer is hounding me down, but I haven't made an offer yet because I wanted to ask you the aforementioned questions to the forum first. I wonder if it makes a difference if I buy cash, NO financing?...

10 GT3, I might just pose the question to the 911 Turbo section too... Measure twice, buy once!

... I can't depart this world without at least entering one track event at some point. I hope to see some of you there if I get one. NOTE: should you have the faster car, I am the type that will let you pass. That's how you know it's me. In the meantime, I am totally content escaping into the back roads, or weekend trips to Cape Cod to get away from the operatory - barring the huge traffic. The driving excitement would keep me going all week, until the next weekend excursion...

Thanks again everyone!

 

+1 fjpdds!
If you have the roads to enjoy the car in your area and no track available, why deny yourself the pleasure of having the Pcar you would really want and are thrilled to drive vs. a compromise. (Driven reasonably on highway of course.) Personally, I have lots of options for country driving in my region ranging from fun twisties to long open prairie high speed, low law enforcement highways for lots of variety and ability to enjoy a GT3 or a TT (not to the max of course but fun nonetheless). The S wouldn't inspire me in the same way these models do.
As an owner of the 09 C4S pdk and the GT3 , fjpdds, I would imagine that you can be one of the folks here who can actually attest to the pros and cons of both models (not the CTS perhaps unless you have experienced that model), and likely I expect that you would always choose your GT3 to drive for fun for the reasons others have expressed. I don't see why it should be just a track car and nothing else. As far as ride and comfort, clutch,etc. is concerned,I don't see how anyone can pass judgement on what the OP would really be comfortable with (speaking as a past air-cooled Pcar and heavily clutched, rough cars owner). Those things can be part of what an owner wants to actually experience, not a negative aspect of the experience.
I think the OP needs to get some seat time in the GT3 and TT (and perhaps a CTS) to evaluate them and then decide - just my .02 worth...