Fun car to pair with 996 GT3
Fun car to pair with 996 GT3
Author
Discussion

Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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I'm looking at a second 'fun' car to pair with my GT3.

Boxsters are great value but think I actually want a lower grip, RWD, front engined dynamic. Also something without Porsche tax..

GR86 keeps coming to top of my list...no miler used ones are about for £30k...ideas?

Cylon2007

578 posts

94 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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The answer is always MX5 wink

g7jhp

7,017 posts

254 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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Do you have another car besides the 996 GT3?

How about a hot hatch (being different to another coupe) or a convertible?

andylaight

187 posts

142 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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caterham, lots of involvement and fun at non license losing speeds

Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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Car will live outside.

The hot hatch is probably most sensible but Jesus I hate FWD...maybe I need to drive one with a sorted LSD

Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
g7jhp said:
Do you have another car besides the 996 GT3?

How about a hot hatch (being different to another coupe) or a convertible?
The wife will always have a hatchback of some sort. Our kids are getting older now so my taxi duties are nearly done. My Merc e350 estate can get ditched.

NNH

1,546 posts

148 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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WRX or Focus RS for completely different dynamics?

JNW1

8,726 posts

210 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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Unless you need the extra rear space and practicality of a hot hatch I'd say the GR86 sounds a pretty good shout.

I can also see the appeal of an MX5 if you fancy open air motoring and if security's a concern due to it having to stand out there's always the RF model (albeit to my eye they never look quite as good as the convertible with the fabric roof). And with either model there are plenty of options available to increase the power and/or improve the handling if you find a standard one doesn't quite hit the spot!

Still think I'd go GR86 though.....

bennno

13,932 posts

285 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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If you've 30k to spend and need 4 seats then Id have a used Mustang GT over a GR86.

Or if 2 seats suffice a nice 981 or a used F Type 3 or 5L





JNW1

8,726 posts

210 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
bennno said:
If you've 30k to spend and need 4 seats then Id have a used Mustang GT over a GR86.

Or if 2 seats suffice a nice 981 or a used F Type 3 or 5L
To me a Mustang's more of a GT cruiser than a sports car though; ditto the auto only F-Type.

Can't argue with a 981 - or even a 987 Generation 2 - but finding a nice example might not be that easy. Most 981's are probably PDK - which makes the choice more restricted if you want a manual - and even the newest are pushing 8 years old now (and probably still fetching more than £30k). But yes, a nice Boxster or Cayman would go very nicely with a 996 GT3!


Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
bennno said:
If you've 30k to spend and need 4 seats then Id have a used Mustang GT over a GR86.

Or if 2 seats suffice a nice 981 or a used F Type 3 or 5L
Yes, I'm a bit of a weight freak so trying to get something at the nimbler end of the scale.

I've a stripped out MX5 dedicated track car that I plan to keep on next season.

I guess I just want something 'fun' for the times I'm not at track or in the 996 GT3 (which will be used more for dedicate runs to Scotland or Europe).

I work at home for myself so not a commuter as such.

ZX10R NIN

29,294 posts

141 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
Andyoz said:
I'm looking at a second 'fun' car to pair with my GT3.

Boxsters are great value but think I actually want a lower grip, RWD, front engined dynamic. Also something without Porsche tax..

GR86 keeps coming to top of my list...no miler used ones are about for £30k...ideas?
370Z Nismo, not the lowest grip but a very good steer that'll live outside with ease:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310173...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310253...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309222...

Leftfield

Corvette C6 manual with the all important Z51 package:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175945172350?hash=item2...

New Supra:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...



bennno

13,932 posts

285 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
JNW1 said:
To me a Mustang's more of a GT cruiser than a sports car though; ditto the auto only F-Type.
F-type can be bought with a 3L engine and a manual gearbox.

OP has now said lightness is important.... although id still take a 981 boxster over a GR86.

I got my GR86 intending to move the boxster on, but preferred the boxster and sold the GR.

BMW 135i/235i coupe?

Slippydiff

15,626 posts

239 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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Ah, I know the answer to this OP.

Another 996 GT3 smile

CG2020UK

2,658 posts

56 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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At £30K has to be an BMW M2.

Practical, very quick, loads of personality, proper laugh, reliable and loves nothing more than a good twitch of the rear end.

Drive it quick and keep a handle on it and it can do serious lap times as well all day long.

Get the M2 OG with the seriously reworked N55 and it’s pretty bombproof, sounds brilliant and full of character.

bigmowley

2,315 posts

192 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
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Elise for me. S1 111S. Completely different to the Porsche but no slower in the real world. Make sure it’s got an LSD for proper RWD dynamics. Just leave it in the garage with the top off and use it when the weather and the mood is right. No passengers, too much extra weight. They are a tremendous drive and utterly absorbing even at reasonable road speeds. Make the Porsche feel like a limo.
They weren’t the PH best car of the last 25years without good justification.

JNW1

8,726 posts

210 months

Saturday 28th October 2023
quotequote all
bennno said:
JNW1 said:
To me a Mustang's more of a GT cruiser than a sports car though; ditto the auto only F-Type.
F-type can be bought with a 3L engine and a manual gearbox.

OP has now said lightness is important.... although id still take a 981 boxster over a GR86.

I got my GR86 intending to move the boxster on, but preferred the boxster and sold the GR.

BMW 135i/235i coupe?
It's true you could get the V6 F Type with a manual but by all accounts it wasn't great to use and they're not thick on the ground used because so few were sold new (although looking on Auto Trader there are a handful of manual coupes available).

In terms of Boxster 981 v GR86, that's one only the OP can decide. If I could find a nice 981 S (Cayman or Boxster) that's probably what I'd choose as well - partly because I've never had a Porsche and it would be scratching an itch - but I got the impression the OP wasn't really wanting a Boxster?

Out of interest what made you sell your GR86? Looking at the number of nearly new ones available you're not alone although I suspect quite a few of those on sale were bought by people who always intended to try to flip them for a quick profit and never had any intention of keeping them (not that I'm saying you fall into that category!).




Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Sunday 29th October 2023
quotequote all
bigmowley said:
Elise for me. S1 111S. Completely different to the Porsche but no slower in the real world. Make sure it’s got an LSD for proper RWD dynamics. Just leave it in the garage with the top off and use it when the weather and the mood is right. No passengers, too much extra weight. They are a tremendous drive and utterly absorbing even at reasonable road speeds. Make the Porsche feel like a limo.
They weren’t the PH best car of the last 25years without good justification.
Yes, I've driven a few but issue is I've only got one garage spot and the GT3 takes that.

It needs to be half practical as myself and the wife might get out for trips overnight in it a bit (she won't go in GT3 with me LOL)


Andyoz

Original Poster:

2,920 posts

70 months

Sunday 29th October 2023
quotequote all
JNW1 said:
bennno said:
JNW1 said:
To me a Mustang's more of a GT cruiser than a sports car though; ditto the auto only F-Type.
F-type can be bought with a 3L engine and a manual gearbox.

OP has now said lightness is important.... although id still take a 981 boxster over a GR86.

I got my GR86 intending to move the boxster on, but preferred the boxster and sold the GR.

BMW 135i/235i coupe?
It's true you could get the V6 F Type with a manual but by all accounts it wasn't great to use and they're not thick on the ground used because so few were sold new (although looking on Auto Trader there are a handful of manual coupes available).

In terms of Boxster 981 v GR86, that's one only the OP can decide. If I could find a nice 981 S (Cayman or Boxster) that's probably what I'd choose as well - partly because I've never had a Porsche and it would be scratching an itch - but I got the impression the OP wasn't really wanting a Boxster?

Out of interest what made you sell your GR86? Looking at the number of nearly new ones available you're not alone although I suspect quite a few of those on sale were bought by people who always intended to try to flip them for a quick profit and never had any intention of keeping them (not that I'm saying you fall into that category!).
GR86 market is interesting at the moment. Lads were flipping them for £35k early summer but Toyota announced they were opening up the UK order books for half of October. That's dumped used prices to £30k...

I'm under no illusions what the GR86 is...It's got GR in the name but it's not really a GR product like the GR Yaris. I like the idea of something (relatively) cheap 'n cheerful WITH A WARRANTY. That last bits important as would be nice to just hand a car back to dealer when stuff breaks...

JNW1

8,726 posts

210 months

Sunday 29th October 2023
quotequote all
Andyoz said:
GR86 market is interesting at the moment. Lads were flipping them for £35k early summer but Toyota announced they were opening up the UK order books for half of October. That's dumped used prices to £30k...

I'm under no illusions what the GR86 is...It's got GR in the name but it's not really a GR product like the GR Yaris. I like the idea of something (relatively) cheap 'n cheerful WITH A WARRANTY. That last bits important as would be nice to just hand a car back to dealer when stuff breaks...
If a good warranty's important that would add weight to the argument for a GR86 as I think they come with a 10 year warranty subject to a 100k mile limit? You can obviously get warranties on things like older Boxsters as well but I'm getting the impression you're wanting something newer where you can just get in and go and not be worried about dealing with the sort of issues that inevitably come with older age and higher mileage?

So if you haven't done so already it sounds like a next step might be to have a test drive in a GR86 and see how it matches with your requirements? A lot of the motoring press were raving about them when it was launched but some of the comments on here and elsewhere would seem to suggest not all owners were similarly bowled over when their cars arrived. Perhaps those press reports had created some unrealistic expectations but regardless there's no substitute for having a drive yourself and making up your own mind!