997 GT3 - Delivery Times???
Discussion
At the moment, only a relatively small number of enthusiasts are aware of the GT3 and RS, and how good it is. So demand hasn't properly developed.
However, you should move quickly. Once the full UK road tests start being published and broadcast, and it becomes clear that the new GT3 is so accomplished on both road and track, then demand is likely to go way beyond supply.
However, you should move quickly. Once the full UK road tests start being published and broadcast, and it becomes clear that the new GT3 is so accomplished on both road and track, then demand is likely to go way beyond supply.
Geneve said:
At the moment, only a relatively small number of enthusiasts are aware of the GT3 and RS, and how good it is. So demand hasn't properly developed.
However, you should move quickly. Once the full UK road tests start being published and broadcast, and it becomes clear that the new GT3 is so accomplished on both road and track, then demand is likely to go way beyond supply.
However, you should move quickly. Once the full UK road tests start being published and broadcast, and it becomes clear that the new GT3 is so accomplished on both road and track, then demand is likely to go way beyond supply.
I agree this is a distinct possibility.
Does anyone know how much Porsche could/would ramp up production if required ??
I would've thought the specialised nature of the GT3 esp. the engine might limit the numbers a bit - maybe not !
flemke said:
Go to the Continent.
You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
Never been able to understand that arguement - if you live and drive solely or mainly in UK. Sure a left hooker will cost a bit less but then it will be worth a bit less when you sell. Heard all the arguements re. seating position/pedals etc. too and hopping between cars at the factory recently it wasn't something you'd even give a second thought - whereas you do immediately notice sitting on the wrong side! Pity the poor Americans though - boy do their versions look ugly. You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
Porsche Centre Reading are saying they won't have any slots until September 2007 at the earliest, and realistically a couple of months after that. I saw a couple of GT3s awaiting collection last Friday, and although they were jaw droppingly gorgeous, I'm just not comfortable stumping up the whole £10k deposit 12 months in advance. Now if I could get a cancelled delivery slot early in the New Year that would be different...
Pete
Pete
Pugsey said:
flemke said:
Go to the Continent.
You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
Never been able to understand that arguement - if you live and drive solely or mainly in UK. Sure a left hooker will cost a bit less but then it will be worth a bit less when you sell. Heard all the arguements re. seating position/pedals etc. too and hopping between cars at the factory recently it wasn't something you'd even give a second thought - whereas you do immediately notice sitting on the wrong side! Pity the poor Americans though - boy do their versions look ugly.You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
On the assumption that you're not using a GT3 mainly for driving in town, then the LHD is better because of
- better pedal position,
- about 30% larger fuel tank
- indicator stalk on opposite side to gear stick, so you can operate both at same time (without taking both hands off wheel, that is
) Why do the ergonomics of RHD Japanese cars often feel right? Because they're designed to be RHD.
Unfortunately all German cars are designed to be LHD, so it's no surprise that they don't work as well in RHD form.
flemke said:
Pugsey said:
flemke said:
Go to the Continent.
You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
Never been able to understand that arguement - if you live and drive solely or mainly in UK. Sure a left hooker will cost a bit less but then it will be worth a bit less when you sell. Heard all the arguements re. seating position/pedals etc. too and hopping between cars at the factory recently it wasn't something you'd even give a second thought - whereas you do immediately notice sitting on the wrong side! Pity the poor Americans though - boy do their versions look ugly.You'll get a better car at a better price, and you'll get it sooner.
On the assumption that you're not using a GT3 mainly for driving in town, then the LHD is better because of
- better pedal position,
- about 30% larger fuel tank
- indicator stalk on opposite side to gear stick, so you can operate both at same time (without taking both hands off wheel, that is
) Why do the ergonomics of RHD Japanese cars often feel right? Because they're designed to be RHD.
Unfortunately all German cars are designed to be LHD, so it's no surprise that they don't work as well in RHD form.
Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 22 November 10:44
Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 22 November 10:59
pete said:
Porsche Centre Reading are saying they won't have any slots until September 2007 at the earliest, and realistically a couple of months after that. I saw a couple of GT3s awaiting collection last Friday, and although they were jaw droppingly gorgeous, I'm just not comfortable stumping up the whole £10k deposit 12 months in advance. Now if I could get a cancelled delivery slot early in the New Year that would be different...
Pete
Pete
You dont have to stump up £10k. Its a £1k deposit and 10% when you spec at Reading - or at least it was whenever ive ordered cars there..
My suspicion is that the RS is now what the GT3 was originally. The original GT3 was a limited production special designed to the ultimate track going tool - well this is now the RS. I think the first GT3 did superbly on a residual basis as there was nothing like it previously nor after for 4/5 years. There is currently a fair number of 00 GT3's and 04 GT3's plus no cap on current production which combines to say they wont be as solid gold residually as the initial model was.
Bennno
bennno said:
pete said:
Porsche Centre Reading are saying they won't have any slots until September 2007 at the earliest, and realistically a couple of months after that. I saw a couple of GT3s awaiting collection last Friday, and although they were jaw droppingly gorgeous, I'm just not comfortable stumping up the whole £10k deposit 12 months in advance. Now if I could get a cancelled delivery slot early in the New Year that would be different...
Pete
Pete
You dont have to stump up £10k. Its a £1k deposit and 10% when you spec at Reading - or at least it was whenever ive ordered cars there..
My suspicion is that the RS is now what the GT3 was originally. The original GT3 was a limited production special designed to the ultimate track going tool - well this is now the RS. I think the first GT3 did superbly on a residual basis as there was nothing like it previously nor after for 4/5 years. There is currently a fair number of 00 GT3's and 04 GT3's plus no cap on current production which combines to say they wont be as solid gold residually as the initial model was.
Bennno
The £10k deposit was specifically for the GT3 and RS. This was to prevent speculators and only semi-serious customers from pre-ordering cars and then putting them up for sale or changing their minds, which can distort the market.
Edited by Geneve on Wednesday 22 November 11:28
Pugsey said:
Don't dissagree with the three facts that you sight (although wasn't aware that LHD tank capacity is larger - by how much?) but don't agree that, in reality, they are actually issues - their returns to the UK owner are IMO so negligable as to be not worth the hassle that comes with LHD - predominantly visibilty. The pedal position in my car is absolutely fine - so much so that until this thread I hadn't given it any thought and, as I said I couldn't feel a huge improvement when sitting in LHD cars. In the 1500 miles that my car has done in it's first week I can't say that I've given the gearstick/indicator a second thought either. I have visited fuel stations often enough to discover that the fuel tank has an irritating habit of developing an airlock when I'm trying to fill up though!
I have seen so many different numbers for what the fuel tank capacity allegedly is for RHD that it is a joke (64, 67, 68, 72), but 72 has the most credibility. LHD is 92, IINM.
This is because a Porsche's fuel tank is in front, and is designed around the steering mechanism of the LHD cars. With the st. wheel on the opposite side, the full-size tank gets in the way.
The thing with the pedals is based on the fact that in cars with mid and rear engines and wide front wheels/tyres, the back/inside of the wheel arch is pushing the footbox towards the centre of the car.
Your left foot sits on a static footrest; the footrest and your left foot can therefore sit hard against the back of the wheel arch.
Because the throttle pedal moves, in a RHD car the pedal and your foot upon it need clearance away from the back of the wheel arch - otherwise the right edge of your shoe would be fouled by the carpet on the back of the wheel arch.
The offset in 997s is less bad than it was in 996s, which was better than in 993s, etc. Nevertheless, until we get to the point where there is a surplus of width (which could only happen if the car was wider or the wheelarch or the centre console narrower), RHD in these cars will always be compromised.
Just have a look in your car and you will see that the steering wheel is not centred on the midpoint between the pedals. It is offset to the right, which skews your body.
It is also offset in the LHD, but not as much.
As for the indicator/gearstick issue, assuming that you only indicate when there is a need to do so, there will be times when you are downshifting when approaching a RAB or turning and a car will appear, to which car you want to signal at the moment when your hand is still on the gearstick.
In these cases it is easier (and safer, for that matter) to be able to indicate with a finger of the hand on the wheel.
This is why Japanese cars have the indicator stalk on the right side of the steering column.
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