Carrera 2S GT3 aerokit - any benefit?

[kevinf1]

Hi All,

I am about to change the Exige for a 997 Carrera 2S as I need something a bit more sensible for commuting and ideally with some sort of rear seats so the Porsche seems to fit the bill, despite the horror stories about engine failures - I am hoping these are magnified by the likelihood of people complaining about an issue vs. those who are quietly happy..

Car will be used for a combination of commuting 2-3 days per week, weekend fun on A / B roads and a few track days per year. Likely model / spec - gen 1, with all the usual plus the chrono pack.

I have a couple of questions for you guys with considerable more Porsche experience than I do -

- Obviously I'll be undertaking a few test drive, but given my usage scenario do you think the C2S will fit the bill?
- Does the GT3 aerokit make much / any difference to the handling?

Thanks in advance!

K

[kevinf1]

Just realised my mind was wandering a bit when I wrote this - apologies for the rubbish subject line!

[IanHug]

kevinf1 said:

Hi All,

I am about to change the Exige for a 997 Carrera 2S as I need something a bit more sensible for commuting and ideally with some sort of rear seats so the Porsche seems to fit the bill, despite the horror stories about engine failures - I am hoping these are magnified by the likelihood of people complaining about an issue vs. those who are quietly happy..

Car will be used for a combination of commuting 2-3 days per week, weekend fun on A / B roads and a few track days per year. Likely model / spec - gen 1, with all the usual plus the chrono pack.

I have a couple of questions for you guys with considerable more Porsche experience than I do -

- Obviously I'll be undertaking a few test drive, but given my usage scenario do you think the C2S will fit the bill?
- Does the GT3 aerokit make much / any difference to the handling?

Thanks in advance!

K

I switched to a Gen 1 CS2 from an Elise and it's much more capable everyday car - although you'll find youself going much faster without feeling it.

Back seats are very practical and the boot is huge. Motorways are very comfortable - I used earplugs in the Elise. It will cope with speed bumps if you take it easy.

I've had mine from new from 2007 and haven't had any real issues on reliability - it's had an RMS, gear cable and couple of small things under extended warranty. Much more reliable than the Lotus. So far the warranty has cost more than the repairs but I'd expect more things to go wrong as it gets older and wouldn't go without the warranty. The OPC gets paid by a thirdparty for warranty work so they tend to look hard for things to fix.

It doesn't feel like the Lotus. A GT3 would be closer and although more expensive to buy would probably work out cheaper. It would be less practical than a CS2 bur much better for track days and weekends.

As for extras: forget the chrono pack, it's completely pointless on a C2S or GT3. Go for the Sports Exhaust (PSE) on the CS2. I suspect the aero kit is all about looks and does very little to the handling.

[ROK]

It's a zero-lift "cup" aerokit.

it takes a rather staid looking average joe 911 to an entirely new aesthetic level - a head turner. it's a must have option for me.

[monthefish]

ROK said:

it takes a rather staid looking average joe 911 to an entirely new aesthetic level - a head turner. it's a must have option for me.

I agree.

Even better if you can source the genuine GT3 bumper (with the vents) and have the car lowered.

[Mutt]

ROK said:

It's a zero-lift "cup" aerokit.

it takes a rather staid looking average joe 911 to an entirely new aesthetic level - a head turner. it's a must have option for me.

Look at me! Look at me!

[subaqua]

Sounds a bit like buying an Exige bodied S1 Elise to me

[kevinf1]

IanHug said:

I switched to a Gen 1 CS2 from an Elise and it's much more capable everyday car - although you'll find youself going much faster without feeling it.

Back seats are very practical and the boot is huge. Motorways are very comfortable - I used earplugs in the Elise. It will cope with speed bumps if you take it easy.

I've had mine from new from 2007 and haven't had any real issues on reliability - it's had an RMS, gear cable and couple of small things under extended warranty. Much more reliable than the Lotus. So far the warranty has cost more than the repairs but I'd expect more things to go wrong as it gets older and wouldn't go without the warranty. The OPC gets paid by a thirdparty for warranty work so they tend to look hard for things to fix.

It doesn't feel like the Lotus. A GT3 would be closer and although more expensive to buy would probably work out cheaper. It would be less practical than a CS2 bur much better for track days and weekends.

As for extras: forget the chrono pack, it's completely pointless on a C2S or GT3. Go for the Sports Exhaust (PSE) on the CS2. I suspect the aero kit is all about looks and does very little to the handling.

Thanks - sounds like you had a similar move to me, I know I'll be dropping a little acceleration (my exige currently runs ~228rwhp so probably about 4 seconds to 60), and a bit of outright handling + braking, but I am hoping to keep enough of the fun, and for it to feel a bit more special. I'd love a 997GT3, but my budget is around 35k so that is not an option at the moment! I certainly can't think of much that would be better and still give me the practicality of rear seats, even if the space is limited!


Cheers for the other replies - I actually think I prefer it without the kit looks wise, especially as I have never been one for trying to make a car look like something it isn't (like the elise / exige analogy), I was just interested if the kit offered any noticeable handling / grip improvements

cheers

K

[RatBoy M3CSL]

..Leave it as it is... if you want a gt3 .. get 1...

[anonymous-user]

kevinf1 said:

I was just interested if the kit offered any noticeable handling / grip improvements

Might be worth a couple of tenths a lap on a track at best and only then if you are absolutely on the limit. On the road it will make no difference whatsoever.

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

The Aerokit saves weight.

My 997 C2S on corner weighting scales came in at 1440kg with tank of fuel etc. Wheras a 996 GT3 with cage was 1480kg on same scales.

Mine is now minus rear seats and a few other bits, so circa 1415kg.


The aerokit saves weight, supposedly adds downforce but most of all it looks stunning and really sets the car off, its not a GT3 kit though, it has different front bumper/apron, different rear, centre exhaust etc.

[anonymous-user]

Gibbo205 said:

Hi there

The Aerokit saves weight.

Is that a joke or am I missing your logic? How did you work that out from comparing a 997 C2S against a 996 GT3??

[nsm3]

Although the rear wing looks the same as the GT3 (I assume we are talking gen 1?), the little rubber "gurney flap" (?) is missing on the aerokit wing, or was on the 2/3 examples I have seen?

Not sure what, if any effect any of it has on the road, but I do know that driving fast in the pi55ing down rain, you can get a monster rooster tail going, which impresses me no end

[Nano2nd]

nsm3 said:

Although the rear wing looks the same as the GT3 (I assume we are talking gen 1?), the little rubber "gurney flap" (?) is missing on the aerokit wing, or was on the 2/3 examples I have seen?

Not sure what, if any effect any of it has on the road, but I do know that driving fast in the pi55ing down rain, you can get a monster rooster tail going, which impresses me no end

aerokit and GT3 rears wing on the 997 are the same

to the OP i happen to know someone with a C2S Aerokit car that might be looking for a deal on a Exige

[Gibbo205]

uktrailmonster said:

Is that a joke or am I missing your logic? How did you work that out from comparing a 997 C2S against a 996 GT3??

Depends how you have taken the context of my reply.

The Aerokit reduces the C2S in weight, it does not make it lighter than a GT3 however, however depending on how cars are specified a C2S could be spec'd to be lighter than a GT3 with lots of options ticked.

Yes my 997 C2S is lighter than some 996 GT3's, this is not a joke.

[anonymous-user]

Gibbo205 said:

Depends how you have taken the context of my reply.

The Aerokit reduces the C2S in weight, it does not make it lighter than a GT3 however, however depending on how cars are specified a C2S could be spec'd to be lighter than a GT3 with lots of options ticked.

Yes my 997 C2S is lighter than many 996 GT3's, this is not a joke.

I'm still not with you on this? How much lighter is the aerokit exactly? I'm finding it hard to believe that a rear wing, side skirts etc reduce the weight of your car. Or are you saying that the aero front and rear bumpers are a lot lighter than the standard items? If so how much is the overall weight saving? I'm not really sure what relevance your 997 C2S v 996 GT3 comparison has in this context?

[Nano2nd]

uktrailmonster said:

I'm still not with you on this? How much lighter is the aerokit exactly? I'm finding it hard to believe that a rear wing, side skirts etc reduce the weight of your car. Or are you saying that the aero front and rear bumpers are a lot lighter than the standard items? If so how much is the overall weight saving? I'm not really sure what relevance your 997 C2S v 996 GT3 comparison has in this context?

there are no side skirts on a C2S aerokit btw

can't comment on the GT3 specifically but isn't the 997 light than the 996 for starters? (spec for spec i assume)

[Durzel]

Without knowing specifics I can't see how the Aerokit would be lighter (in a practical sense) than the stock items since both the stock items and the Aerokit would be polyurethane in construction.

Having just recently bought an Aerokit for my Cayman the parts are light enough to hold comfortably with one hand. There is certainly not 40kg of weight in between OEM and Aerokit even if we were to assume a comparison of 996 GT3 and 997 C2S were logical.

Also as above I really don't see the significance of comparing two different cars with completely different engines, alloys, tyres, seats, etc and saying "mine is lighter ipso facto Aerokit is lighter". It's a total non sequitur.

[Skittles001]

Nano2nd said:

aerokit and GT3 rears wing on the 997 are the same

Just one small difference: the top flap of the gt3 wing is adjustable whereas its fixed on the Aerokit.

[nsm3]

And the rubber gurney, don't forget the rubber gurney - makes all the difference, don't ya know?