600LT Spider from a GT3RS

[angelus666]

Hi All, I'm thinking on getting into a 600lt spider and moving on from my 991 GT3RS. Anyone else made that move and can provide a view on the pros & cons for doing so? I like the idea of a convertible for the spring/summer and the spider still ticks all the boxes in terms of performance. I'd plan on sticking 6k miles a year on it, so would be used as intended.

[Gibbo205]

angelus666 said:

Hi All, I'm thinking on getting into a 600lt spider and moving on from my 991 GT3RS. Anyone else made that move and can provide a view on the pros & cons for doing so? I like the idea of a convertible for the spring/summer and the spider still ticks all the boxes in terms of performance. I'd plan on sticking 6k miles a year on it, so would be used as intended.

Hi there

I made the move from a 991.1 GT3 to a 600 LT Spider, zero regrets:

Positives of GT3 are:
- One of the very best sounding engines
- 9000rpm
- Plenty of front storage and storage behind front seats.
- Not crazy expensive to track.

Negatives of GT3 are:
- Harsh ride on the road
- Engine is pretty lifeless under 5500rpm
- It is special but does not always feel it
- It is quick but it aint remotely Mclaren fast.
- Impossible to enjoy on a UK road due to the gearing, 9000rpm in 2nd will see you beyond 70 and 9000rpn in 3rd is around 115mph, the car eggs you on so you want to rev it. It is either flat out or nothing.


600 LT Spider positives are:
- Looks amazing, a true supercar, the GT3 is not.
- Open up doors
- Better ride quality
- Performance is off the scale but it is also a more enjoyable car on the road, better damping, shorter gearing and its great fun to even drive on part throttle and short shifting, wind it out to 8000rpm and its mega quick but easy to enjoy the amazing gear box even on the public road.
- Far better steering feel!
- Better sound system (pick the 12 speaker option)
- Drop the rear window to hear the exhaust, yes top exit exhaust!
- Drop the roof for a panoramic view of the world
- No more expensive to service than a GT3
- Extended warranty cost are similar if you get a deal
- As quick on track on the Trofeo R


Negatives:
- Expensive to track, they do eat the disc and pads with track work, replacements are around £5000 for a set of ceramics if you can get a deal, otherwise budget 10k from a main dealer
- Corrosion issues, warranty for this is five years, so something to check closely
- Door hinge issues, they can crack, again check as extended does not cover and around £1600 to change
- Can't really think of any others.
- Not quite as much storage space as a GT3 but enough for a week plus driving trip.


No regrets getting rid of the GT3 for one, the 600 LT Spider is a better car for me and a lot more fun, it feels truly special every time I drive it. Just get a Spider its worth it for dropping back window alone, but once roof is down, like two cars in one.

[Boyd Rees]

I can wholeheartedly agree with everything Gibbo says

I went from a 991.2 GT3 to a 600LT coupe and would never consider swapping back.

[Hongkongphooey69]

I’m completely in agreement with the guys already posted. I was very much a lifelong Porsche 911 fan, and still am, I’ve had various 911’s but the last two being, 991.1 GT3, 991.2 GT3, so not the RS but have been out in one, the 600LT is in another league. I had a 600LT Spider and it’s by far the biggest bargain in that price bracket. They get slated about how they sound, but with the rear glass dropped it’s equally as good as the GT3, aside from that last 1000rpm

Only reason I sold was I now have a 675LT. I wouldn’t hesitate to have another 600 over a GT3, or any Porsche with the exception of a GT4RS, but even then that wouldn’t compete with a 600LT, I’d be buying for other reasons.

[WCZ]

if it's role is a spring/summer convertable as a special occasion car and you aren't using it on track then I'd just go 458 spider tbh

[Gibbo205]

WCZ said:

if it's role is a spring/summer convertable as a special occasion car and you aren't using it on track then I'd just go 458 spider tbh

As much as I love my 458 (Italia Coupe) I don't think I'd buy a 458 Spider over a 600 LT Spider simply as the latter is a much newer car, with better extended warranty for the same money.

Guess it comes down to drive both, the 458 is absolutely the more fun car on the road at legal speeds and of course its a Ferrari, but if you plan tracking even just rarely in Spider form the 600 LT is the superior car, no scuttle shake etc.

I own both, but choosing between the two would be one very tough choice.

[Purso]

the 600lt is a generation newer and mclaren are usually ahead of the game from a product perspective so not really a fair comparison. If you want the badge then ferrari are way ahead plus the 458 is such a pretty car but if you want to use the car as intended 600 is an easy choice.

[mogg]

Yes, I changed from a 991.1 GT3RS to 600LT Spider and agree with most of the above comments.

Basically the LT is much more of an occasion to drive, with more drama and theatre and is 2 cars in 1.

Have to disagree re the B&W sound system in the LT being better. Bass response is terrible ! Haven't had the LT for very long, maybe I should get the system checked out, maybe some speakers are duff or not connected !!

[Gibbo205]

mogg said:

Yes, I changed from a 991.1 GT3RS to 600LT Spider and agree with most of the above comments.

Basically the LT is much more of an occasion to drive, with more drama and theatre and is 2 cars in 1.

Have to disagree re the B&W sound system in the LT being better. Bass response is terrible ! Haven't had the LT for very long, maybe I should get the system checked out, maybe some speakers are duff or not connected !!

Find the bass in mine strong and punchy, the staging of the sound is never gonna be amazing though due to the carbon tub design of the car but for me I find the 12 speaker upgraded system fantastic.

[mOrtt]

I thought the B+W sounded great when I tested it out yesterday. Reminded me of my Meridian system in my Range Rover Sport. Definitely glad I went with it instead of the 4 speaker system for long trips!

[davek_964]

Maybe worth playing with the settings. In my 650, I found the bass was a bit pathetic (I only had poverty spec audio though) - when I had a 540 as a courtesy car I found the stereo sounded much better, even though it was also the cheap option. Took a look at the settings, which had obviously been played with - including an increase in bass - so copied that to mine, and it was much improved.

Still waaaaaaaaay below the premium audio I had in the Aston I part exchanged, but adequate.

[RSbandit]

When you consider the list prices of these most LT Spiders were above £220k while a 991 GT3 RS was more like £150k? Hardly suprising that the former is more of an event but makes them a relative bargain used given the Porsche is in general the same price or higher.

[Streetbeat]

I wonder how many 600lt's they could have sold and what the price would be now if they drip fed them into market at gt3 money, let alone all the other cars they would have sold to have had to get a decent build slot, i suppose thats the downsides of the high retail, but at least you could just buy one.

[fridaypassion]

I made exactly this swap just crack on and get the 600. The 991RS is the second worst car I have ever owned (When you factor in the cost and hype) funnily enough the worst car was a Cayman R. Two completely overhyped cars. The Porsche will be a distant memory after 5 minutes in a McLaren.

[R33FAL]

fridaypassion said:

I made exactly this swap just crack on and get the 600. The 991RS is the second worst car I have ever owned (When you factor in the cost and hype) funnily enough the worst car was a Cayman R. Two completely overhyped cars. The Porsche will be a distant memory after 5 minutes in a McLaren.

I see you have had a 458 Italia as well...! all 3 cars (600lt/458/3RS) in contention for me....if you had to choose between the 2 (guess 3RS is out) how does the 458 compare to the 600lt as a special weekend car?

[fridaypassion]

The 458 is a very special car I loved mine but was keen to try some different cars being in the lucky situation to be able to do so.

Pros and cons

Brakes on the 458 most of the time are horrifically bad they need regular wake ups by heat cycling to get good bite the McLaren brakes are just awesome and the pedal weighting is very good too (often criticized by people who don't know what they are talking about!)

The 458 is always going to have a better engine note

Both great looking cars

The chassis is next level on the McLaren often something that's overlooked but they have a carbon tub for gawd's sake! Very comfortable on the road with very good compliance where the 458 prefers a smooth road

Interior of the McLaren is next level obviously a much newer car so to be expected

Both are excellent on track the 458 especially wakes up on track it would be a dream track car for me I have to say! McLaren is obviously faster but you feel like the car is doing more of the work

Running costs probably similar although it's fair to say the Ferraris are pretty bullet proof where there McLarens enjoy a more mixed reputation

Very hard to pick a favorite they are both absolute top level cars but in different ways. I'd love to have both! The 458 is the only car that would ever replace the 600. Unless I find a cheap 620R!