hesperus

totally agree with the OP.

here's how i look at it, having driven (albeit briefly) a 991GT3 back-to-back with my 997.1 GT3.

the new car is better-- much better-- in just about every measurable category. faster, handles better, brakes better, safer, more forgiging, more comfortable, more refined. and yes, it has to be said, looks the best of any car to wear the GT3 badge, IMO.

anyone that says it is not "exciting" or "involving" doesn't know what they're talking about.

HAVING SAID THAT... the older car is harder work-- because it is harsher, because it isn't as stable, because it requires rowing the gears yourself, and because it is generally just more tiring to drive.

but i'm now down to driving my cars at most once a week, for maybe 2-3 hrs on Sunday mornings. i hardly get out to the track anymore, and i'm more interested in simply feeling "alive" driving the few times I do drive, than setting better lap times. and for those 2-3 hrs, i prefer the feeling of having "worked" at driving the older car.

i'm no luddite, and i love the new tech. and won't stand in the way of it. and i would LOVE to have a 991 GT3 (RS please!) in my garage next to my 997.1. but for how I drive right now, the older car is the right car for me.

YMMV of course!

brake dust

^ Agree. The 991 technology is very impressive - but would not trade my 997 for one.

mdrums

Ding ding ding....you can end this thread with Joe's post!

ShakeNBake

Whot? Are we worried about riff-raff in the "I can drive a 911 fast" Club? That seems to be the problem.

If the 1.3 could tow, I would tow my 997 to the track with it. I wish I could have one as a daily driver. Instead, I am stuck with a chipped SUV.

surlynkid

You need more cowbell.

85Gold

I would put it a different way. GT-r gives an average driver a big dose of confidence. The downside is it encourages driving above ones skill set. Anecdote when I had my Boss at Sebring a buddy had his GT-r and we rode in each other's cars. The GT-r was faster but the Boss was more fun in his opinion. I was hooning a little and carrying some slip angle in a few corners. I was around 3 sec off the Boss best and his GT-r was 10 to 12 sec off its potential.

I have gotten over the need to be the fastest, I am average drover at best BUT I want envolvement in my driving not Nannies. Besides the $$$$ now are way more than I feel comfortable with on the track.

Peter

996FLT6

Shouldn't this topic be moved over to 991 gt3 forum? I guarantee you way more responses and debate. Mike

the_vetman

This is an excellent post. Let's be real - any idiot can drive a 997 also (fast or not) if you think about it that way. On the street? What, when you're going 5/10ths?

"Any idiot" phrase doesn't apply on the street either unless you're talking about the original 911 or an early Carrera driving fast in wet twisties. That takes skill. Remember, to the air-cooled aficianados 996 and 997 aren't real 911s either.

996FLT6

I agree with 85gold. Any car is pretty fun on the track cept my smartfortwo. Mike

TRAKCAR

Right. And it comes with 4 years warranty.
Drove my race legal RSA 250 miles to Miami and back yesterday. In a Thunderstorm downpour. Without seat belts. On slicks. That is tiring but we made it. Thinking about starting to smoke and drink more.

So you are also getting a 964?

TRAKCAR

LOL

ShakeNBake

I am not sure what your question really is. I have had the pleasure/misfortune of instructing many students in GTRs, and a couple instructor candidates for that matter - not that this means anything about their driving skills....

Fact is that you can carry way more speed in a GTR without actually being able to understand driving dynamics and cadence. Modern engineering will solve all of the at the limit issues that usually results in offroad excursions. Most students in GTRs run out of room in Green or Blue (Our novice groups in Texas) long before they actually have what I would consider to be intermediate driving skills. WORSE YET, some students are promoted to higher run groups because the instructor judges their skill based on speed. I think this is what people refer to....it's being able to carry a lot of speed, without being responsible for it.

I presume everyone here will this when I say the 911 is not an easy car to drive at the limit. Having learned to drive fast/race in BMWs, going to the GT3 was a shocker. Granted the 997 was easier than the 996, which was easier than the 993....etc. I don't really think it's that important for the discussion, other than to say the 991 is another step function in engineering that allows one to carry far more speed than one is truly responsible for.

Nizer

Rule #1 in my book is make it lightweight. Beyond that almost everything else is up for debate.

pissedpuppy

sure seems so on the 991 GT3 board, would love to get a ride in one (or even drive one, one day)

sounds like a beast

996FLT6

+110. Always in favor of any lightening of any car. Better longevity on all consumables. Mike