brake dust

Add to me the list that Sharkster's post sums it up perfectly. The idea of the R makes sense - but this limited production makes no sense whatsoever. You would think Porsche would do a little more on understanding the market and price and build as many cars as the market will respond to at that price point.

hesperus

Assuming that Auto Express article is accurate, and the 991.2 GT3 will have a manual transmission again, then Porsche's strategy may actually be spot on-- if you're a Porsche shareholder anyway.

Think about it:

Porsche: "manual tranny is dead, GT3 is all about track performance. market will get over it."

Enthusiasts: "oh no! no more manual GT3's!" followed by 996/7 GT3 prices going thru stratosphere

Porsche: "hmmm... maybe we were wrong. how do we turn this around? I know, let's launch a limited sort-of-GT3 with a stick, and charge thru the nose for it, for those willing to pay!"

(Wealthy) Enthusiasts: "Yay! gimme! gimme! gimme!"

Motoring Press: "a manual 991 GT3 would be the best car ever!"

Porsche: "ok, NOW let's release the 991.2 GT3 with the manual"

ilko

991R = Coke Classic. Only difference is you can't actually buy one...

997 GT cars still cost significantly less than 991 GT cars. Porsche is on their, what, 3rd attempt to fix the 991 GT3 3.8 motor? I lost count. As those ticking time bombs run out of warranty who do you think would want to buy them?

And Porsche has been increasing the prices on their new offerings by double-digit percentage points from one sub-generation to the next. So the 991-2 GT3, with perhaps finally a solid motor, (and maybe a 6-speed) will cost a lot more than the current one.

Now tell me how all that is going to soften 997 GT car prices?

madmurdock

Truth be told I would not be buying this car even if they made eleventeen hundred of them and all sold at MSRP.

The R might be great for most, but I would much rather have a GT3 or better yet an RS with a manual.

Drove my .2 RS yesterday and I'm happy!

tgil

I like the idea of historic R touches to pay tribute to some of that history, but too bad we'll only get to see one when a collector displays one at very special event; at least now owners of new and newer GT3 cars actually drive them. ..maybe thats what Porche really had in mind similar to the 918 with severely limit production. MT or PDK, does it really matter to most unless it affects some of our GT cars.

multi21

A buddy of mine who has a 2007 ZO6 texted me yesterday to make fun of us kook-aid porsche owners. His first sentence, was "gee, Corvette had 505 HP, light weight and manuel tranny 10 years ago and someone could buy one off the showroom floor. You P car guys are swooning over a car that doesn't even have modern day performance numbers, is WAY over priced and you couldn't get one if you tried".

I have to admit, he's right. Also have to agree that once the 991 GT3s are off warranty, it's not going to be pretty with those non metzer engines having issues....

time for Porsche to wake up... the emperor has no clothes

madmurdock

But that Corvette is nowhere near as fun or involving IMO. I think the new Viper or GT350 are better comparos and a much better value. But the lucky few who get their hands on the R can drive them all day long and recoup the money down the line. You usually can't do that with the good ol boy cars.

I am seriously thinking of getting a GT350 but I have to get my 997.2 RS to NZ when I move. If that's easy I will import the GT350.

r6elmo

the C6Z can be had nowadays for 40K or so and demonstrates good value, I used to have one and it was a neat DD with brute force, just not as fun/engaging as the 7-3.

I agree the GT350R appeals, possibly the BMW M2, but I've driven or sat in neither so it's hard to say.

Perimeter

+1, keen eye.
Ferraris 488 actually has a lower MSRP than the 458 Italia so they screwed their past customers. They also made thousands of the 458 in huge quanitites. I would wait 2 years when 488 Spiders are soaking the market as I think you'll have great choices and better prices.




Completely tangential but what happpens if there is an economic downturn?
Which seems to happen once a decade...

C2 Turbo

They should put that honda style rear spoiler on this car too

Bigfra32

Wonder what everyone's opinion on the car would actually be if they were not making limited numbers and the majority of people could get one.

997rs4.0

Just hope Porsche don't raise the price to much with next gen gt3. That will likely price a lot of the track enthusiasts out of the market. Myself included. A $100k+ track car is already pushing it.

Lets say 991.3.2 will be 4.0l with MT as option. How can they charge $145k? When R is $185k.

ilko

Oh belive me, they'll find a way

Larry Cable

I'd still wnat either a GT3 or an RS w/6MT (and LWFW) over this car...

Bigfra32

Fair enough, I quite fancy one. Just need to wait and see