Noble or 997 GT3
Noble or 997 GT3
Author
Discussion

gizard

Original Poster:

2,272 posts

312 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
All in the title really. I'm thinking of defecting - if I buy a 997 GT3 what shall I miss out on?

hollowpockets

5,910 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
never owned or driven either of the two, but GT3 looks awfully good in the last CAR magazine write up.

kinetic

348 posts

273 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
GT3 no question if money is not the issue. The 997 version looks the business.
Can't se you missing out on anything although you will have a significantly larger hole in your wallet!

Edited by kinetic on Thursday 11th January 09:41

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

269 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
However good the car is, it's looks like just yet another 911. That's my issue with it.

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
gizard said:
if I buy a 997 GT3 what shall I miss out on?


Hmmm, no one will say "Nice car, what's that Mister?"

joolski

813 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all

I ran a Porker for years. Loved it most of the time, but after the Noble it just felt 'wrong'.

Con's

1) Nobody will let you out at a junction.
2) People will think you are having a mid life crisis (if over 35ish)
3) 'Nodding dog' on bumpy 'B' roads.
4) The ability for it to completely drain your bank acount.
5) Just looks like any other porsche on the road.
6) People who hardly know you will refer to you as the 'w****r with the porsche'

Pro's

1) Solid as a rock. I only ever broke down once.
2) Very little deprication over time.
3) Comfortable, and not too noisy.
4) German engineering.

After driving a Cayman the other day, I'd never buy another 911. It was just awesome.

--Jools

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
joolski said:
6) People who hardly know you will refer to you as the 'w****r with the porsche'


roflroflrofl

Marlon

735 posts

287 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
joolski said:
2) People will think you are having a mid life crisis (if over 35ish)

Of course, that thought would never cross their mind if you were driving a Noble...

trackdemon

13,422 posts

290 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
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No contest - GT3 every time. In white.

Nickytwohats

2,093 posts

270 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
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With the delays to the M15. I've got about the right amount of money (read overdraftfacility) for a GT3.....
But I just can't get my head around the idea of a porsche (enough people think I'm a w&nk3r already).

Any other suggestions?

satans worm

2,464 posts

246 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
Buy a car because you want it, not because of what other people think of of it!






Edited by satans worm on Thursday 11th January 13:16

joust

14,622 posts

288 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
Wait for the M15, run the current one for just a bit longer?

Or, join ecurie (make sure you put my name on the referred by part if you do) and drive theirs for a weekend, along with the others, to see if you really want to.

It'll cost about 6 months TCO cost of running a GT3....

J

gizard

Original Poster:

2,272 posts

312 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
Hmm all very interesting replies !

I do need to go and drive a GT3 - I might hate it!

As for the M15 - I recon if you were to buy a GT3 and an M15 together the M15 will depreciate far quicker which is one reason not to go down that route - that said i'm sure the M15 will be an awesome car.

As for the - w***ker in the Porsche thing - I don't care what other people think that's there problem - the same goes for the - oh it's just another 911 - that said I actually quite like the look of the 997 GT3 - but hate the lights on 996 version.

As for performance - in the real world there must be very little between them - you only have to look at the RSR version in GT racing to see how porsche wipe the floor with everyone else more or less all the time (Le Mans) although I think last year a 911 was winning and crashed in the last few laps!!!

The real problem is I have to find someone to buy my GTO3 first

Nickytwohats

2,093 posts

270 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
satans worm said:
Buy a car because you want it, not because of what other people think of of it!






Edited by satans worm on Thursday 11th January 13:16


Problem is it's ME that'd think it!

DanH

12,287 posts

289 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
joolski said:

I ran a Porker for years. Loved it most of the time, but after the Noble it just felt 'wrong'.

Con's

1) Nobody will let you out at a junction.
2) People will think you are having a mid life crisis (if over 35ish)
3) 'Nodding dog' on bumpy 'B' roads.
4) The ability for it to completely drain your bank acount.
5) Just looks like any other porsche on the road.
6) People who hardly know you will refer to you as the 'w****r with the porsche'

Pro's

1) Solid as a rock. I only ever broke down once.
2) Very little deprication over time.
3) Comfortable, and not too noisy.
4) German engineering.


Hmmm... Depends...
- I get let out at junctions, and allowed to cut into traffic when I screw up which lane I'm in etc.
- Also get lots of thumbs up and generally more positive attention than I did in the Noble and not just from 10 year olds (I didn't expect that).
- It's been cheaper to run than my noble was and I use it harder.
- I don't think a GT3 looks just like any other Porsche, but I did get cut up a bit when test driving a 996 GT3 non RS - not the case with the RS.
- bumpy b roads. lol, not much fun in a GT3 at all. I ground my splitter on yomps, the suspension has no droop, you get the picture... Not a car for b roads unless you completely change the setup for road optimised settings and boost the ride height etc. That won't do it any good on track.

gizard - you may not like how a 911 drives on your first go. They feel very different to mid engined cars. I rather like it now, but the first few weeks were a bit of a shock. I haven't regretted my move for 1 second (and nor have the CSL traitors from what I can gather)

There is also a good bunch of GT3 owners who do a lot of trackdays etc as well as Christmas parties, trips to Spa etc.



Edited by DanH on Thursday 11th January 20:23

mgbond

6,749 posts

261 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
I have always been a bit against 911's mainly due to people buying them for status rather than the performance car they are.

My friend was in the market for a 911 so I convinced him to get a 996 GT3 (This was a year ago) as I think the majority of people buy them for the great car it is. I'm sure your average status owner would probably think the GT3 is a bit loud looking.

I will say that he never got the attention that the Noble does young or old.

Both are great and it comes down to personal choice.

Bondy

DanH

12,287 posts

289 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
mgbond said:

I will say that he never got the attention that the Noble does young or old.


I'm guessing it's not an RS then?

To be honest I don't really see the attention as a plus point, but my car definitely gets a lot.

trackdemon

13,422 posts

290 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
DanH said:

- I don't think a GT3 looks just like any other Porsche, but I did get cut up a bit when test driving a 996 GT3 non RS - not the case with the RS.
- bumpy b roads. lol, not much fun in a GT3 at all. I ground my splitter on yomps, the suspension has no droop, you get the picture... Not a car for b roads unless you completely change the setup for road optimised settings and boost the ride height etc. That won't do it any good on track.


The 997 GT3 - the car to which the OP refers - has been roundly lauded as a very good b-road tool, in addition to its obvious track qualities. It is *quite* low at the front but not as low as a 996RS; the lowest plastic part of the front end is effectively disposable, and is commensurately cheap to replace.

The GT3 variant of the 997 is aesthetically further removed from standard than the 996 was, and I think it looks fabulous. Whilst out in Ecurie's white GT3 recently it certainly drew attention, all of which was positive.

doksie

498 posts

250 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
I dont think you will be missing out if you were 2 buy a 997 GT3, its an enthusiasts car just like the Noble. the only thing you may notice is that it MIGHT not feel as explosive as the Noble, but bet its just as quick or even quicker around a track,(driver depending of course) GT3's have awesome breaks too,1st thing i noticed when i drove my Dads. i saw the 997 GT3 at goodwood and in my opinion thought it looked amazing. you know it will never let u down either. your on a winner as your gonna end up with either a Noble or a GT3....they're both fantastic cars maybe wait 4 the GT3 to come down in price 1st though....all the best.

DanH

12,287 posts

289 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
DanH said:

- I don't think a GT3 looks just like any other Porsche, but I did get cut up a bit when test driving a 996 GT3 non RS - not the case with the RS.
- bumpy b roads. lol, not much fun in a GT3 at all. I ground my splitter on yomps, the suspension has no droop, you get the picture... Not a car for b roads unless you completely change the setup for road optimised settings and boost the ride height etc. That won't do it any good on track.


The 997 GT3 - the car to which the OP refers - has been roundly lauded as a very good b-road tool, in addition to its obvious track qualities. It is *quite* low at the front but not as low as a 996RS; the lowest plastic part of the front end is effectively disposable, and is commensurately cheap to replace.

The GT3 variant of the 997 is aesthetically further removed from standard than the 996 was, and I think it looks fabulous. Whilst out in Ecurie's white GT3 recently it certainly drew attention, all of which was positive.


I've still got the Evo which says what a wonderful b-road tool my RS is lol. All I can say is that they must have smoother b-roads in Wales than the ones in Essex we've covered. I know a few guys with 997 GT3s and the splitters ground out just the same (www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=344088&f=48&h=0). As to being cheap hmm. They are about 150 quid on the 996 and rather more engineered and expensive looking on the 997 so I guess that depends on your definition of cheap!

It's bound to be a great car that moves the game on, but journos really do pedal a load of hype/crap. You still get them claiming that the ceramics are wonderful, but only justified for track usage - riiiight!

It's essentially the same shell as the 996 (once you remove the swelled arches + new mini lights), the uprights from the 996 RS, a mildly breathed on engine, better interior, PASM & traction control. I was hoping for the rumoured 3.8l engine - this is an interim model whatever anyone says.

p.s. Steve, what are you up to these days? Haven't seen you since the farewell mini blat. You quit working the wharf right?


Edited by DanH on Thursday 11th January 22:45