996 gt3 with 50k budget? Lol
nfw.
50k will get you a nice 911SC or Carrera for pca E class, will hold its value, cheap to maintain.
996 gt3 will eat you alive in $.
I know, I have a 997 gt3, costs are same as 996 gt3.

 

 

How many events a year? For a half dozen DEs or so that will probably work well, and it will be easier to sell a street car than a race car.

If you want to spend a lot of time at the track or have any interest in eventually doing TT or racing, something like a Spec 996 is likely to serve you better.

In any case the 996 (and 986) platform is a good price to performance ratio today.

 

What parts are expensive for the GT3? Ive heard about the brakes, what else?

 

Expensive is such a relative term.

Tires 1500.00 minimum, pads 700.00. rotors 700.00
Motor rebuild in case of money shift, 40K.

 

Yep.. With a $50k budget and a 911 being the parameters, your experience with a newer 911, (I'm assuming by "dedicated track car" you will tow it) I would look for a fairly fresh 99-01 996 already built for PCA Stock H class with a log book. If you can't find that, start with a stock 99-01 996, have the oiling (IMS, etc.) mods done, cage/seats/harnesses done (of course a HANS for you), brake flush with race fluid, race pads, track alignment with some >200 wear tires and go learn and have fun. Once you max the car's abilities out spend the $$ on (if legal) GT3 LCA's, adjustable shocks, etc etc. and build the car up to whatever is allowed in that class. Old air-cooled 911's are always going to be my first choice, but with the prices being what they are for parts now, engine rebuilds over $20k, etc. they could exceed your budget quickly unless you are really lucky and find a fresh one at a fire sale.

 

Does the $50k budget need to account for a truck and trailer as well? Once you go down the dedicated track car path the costs of the car and consumables are not all you need to consider.

 

For $50K you could grab the SP996 above (probably $30K, and get a truck trailer combo for the remaining 20).

 

- stock Limited slip diff last too little, needs a good unit, parts+labor=$3,500 average

- clutch is not long lasting, take transmission out, get new diff, put new clutch

- engine swings to 8,200rpm, but 150-200 hours of DE use (less if you club race competitively) and a rebuild is in the $25k-$30k range

- transmission rebuilds

- normal consumables are more expensive: rotors, brake pads

If budget is a concern, the best Porsche 911 for track use is a sorted out 996. I would go for a 996TT converted to RWD, as the car already has the dry-sump engine, the only other 996s with dry sump are the GT3/GT3RS and GT2. You already have the 996TT, so build from there, and use the track car money to get a 2009 Carrera S (a better DD than a 996TT) or C4S if you need AWD.

 

Depending on whether you plan to tow it or drive it to track, either get the linked/listed Spec 996 for $30k (with fresh motor and transmission!) or get a street-legal 996 preferably with some track goodies already in it. They are the most undervalued 911's with the most abundant and cheapest parts, so a 996 will give you the most 911 track bang for your $. A good 996 GT3 will cost $70k+ to get and will be costlier to maintain.

 

If only DE and not race, then Cayman R would be one of my first choices.
Though engine oiling issues will be an issue if you run sticky tyres and pull "lottsa" G's in corners.
"Integrated dry sump" is NOT true dry sump.

Why?
Great balance / handling / aesthetics right from the showroom.
Not so overpowered / nannified that you can't actually learn to drive rather than operate a "video game" <grin>.
Consumables readily available and mostly easy to upgrade.

I'm considering one for DE days.


Have fun.

 

 

I've seen a few nicely set up first Gen Cayman S's for sale in the 30's. These cars are typically street legal, rollbar, race seats, harnesses, coilovers, sway bars, brake pads and cooling, oil cooler, maybe an extra set of wheels and some aero. Seems like a nice option if you are looking for a modern Porsche track car. I drove a friend's nicely set up 996 and it was great with the JRZ suspension, fun to drive on the street too.

 

for that budget, a 2011-2012 Cayman R with PDK. Get harness bar and seats.

No messing about with wrenches etc.... Just show up and drive.

Dont bother with 996 or older 911... you are coming from a 997 turbo..

 

Very true, but my advice is free and may be worth exactly what the OP pays for <grin>.
I know that the 987.2 engines have additional oil pickups, but did not realize that they no longer had oil starvation issues.
Thanks

Craig