997GT3 1000 mile report + & -
Discussion
Now that I can use the cars full rev range & having completed the Milbrook experience course plus a good few weeks of daily commute, I thought it was time for a first ownership report on the 997GT3.-
Plus points +
This car means business & as you approach it shouts “focussed sense of purpose,” not so much because of the huge rear wing & gaping front air scoops, more because it sits so low, hunkered down, wheels filling the arches & front splitter skimming the ground! You know it is going to deliver a full-on driving experience before you have even turned a wheel, settle down into the “grippy” sports seat, the words “GT3” shout back at you from the central rev-counter as you notice it doesn’t red line until nearly 8.5k! You wrap your hands around the chunky Alcantara steering wheel, then you turn the key & the engine roars before settling to a grumpy idle, your left hand pushes firmly to engage first, a chunky “manly” gearbox where you can feel the cogs engage. Then as you lift your foot off the clutch you feel the horns start growing out of your head
!
On the move the car meets your high expectations, it is awesome, alive, you feel part of the machine! Even better (IMO) than some of the past Pork with over twitchy steering, it filters out what is unnecessary & leaves the pure feel-some detail. It is direct, darty, obedient, you sort of "feel" it around corners & it doesn't hop & skip & twitch like GT3's past on bumpy B roads, it follows your directions rather than the road surfaces! There is zero body roll & its cornering potential is simply gobsmaking! I thought the car defied the laws of physics in the hands of the instructor at Milbrook! You can feel it listen, move and come alive, directly in line with your inputs, much more so than the Turbo or C2 (996 or 997)!
It sounds awesome, from grumble to guttural growl, to bellow, then a howl then a screaming howl & above 4500 revs it pulls as fast as pretty much anything else on the road as you scream towards the 8400 rpm limit! At Milbrook I hit just under 180mph & the car was still pulling like a train & it stops as quickly as it goes! On a twisty track this car is unbeatable for its combination of grunt, grip, interaction, feedback & ability at this price point, whilst still being able to drive you in relative comfort over 100 miles on an M road!
The further good news is when you can resist the calling of the race-car inside, it is also pretty fine on the drudge of the daily commute! I haven’t encountered any major issues with the low splitter & it offers a ride pretty much as good as the 996 with 030 sports suspension (firm but fair!!) yet the handling balance is hard core! And this to me is the revelation in the new GT3, you can have your cake & eat it, with standard seats (plus C-G lock for track)& a decent upgraded stereo it is perfectly comfortable for my daily drive into traffic, but when the empty B road route opens up it rips off its suit , puts its pants over its trousers & turns into super-car!!
Minus points –
I'm not 100% sure about some of its styling or image, coming out of an AMV8 I have noticed much more aggression & less courtesy from other road users. On the move it certainly looks supercar, but parked up it can look a bit aftermarket Scooby-ish
from some angles (without the gold wheels) add a lairy paint colour & it also has the equivalent of gold wheels! The Mrs says it has had a trip to Halfords (she preferred the Aston 
it is stunning to look at!) but you certainly can't argue with the GT3s driving credentials or value & looks are clearly subjective!
The gearbox is very notchy & obstructive when cold, but very quick & direct when fully warmed up!
There is a vibration on all the cars around 3k revs, variable & it is only a problem if you have major rattles, mine is minor, but the door still buzzes noticeably!
It smokes on start up more than other Pork I've had, but mine seems to be doing less each week!
My brakes are grumbling badly when used hard, with the odd load thump & the clutch had developed a slight judder on take up, I'm going to get these checked!!
We have all commented on the short life of the tyres & their increased aquaplaning risk, but they are awesome when warmed up! But one negative not commented on, is the fact that stone chips stick to them like glue, only to be flung off as you build speed, I already have a deep stone chip on the drivers door believe it or not, from those sticky front tyres, don’t know how it will fair as the mileage grows.
Summary:
I think Porsche have achieved the “win-win” scenario with this car, it isn’t vastly better than the 996GT3/RS in terms of its ultimate driver involvement or performance, but it is a quantum leap forward in terms of refinement & on road handling without loosing the “ultimate drivers car tag”! Two cars in one….stuck in a traffic jam with the decent stereo (sound pack option) playing in relative comfort it is pretty much as good as any other 997, but on track or favourite B road, it is on an entirely higher level as a pure drivers car! Oh & it sounds better than any standard 911 ever, including the air-cooled ones!!!!
Plus points +
This car means business & as you approach it shouts “focussed sense of purpose,” not so much because of the huge rear wing & gaping front air scoops, more because it sits so low, hunkered down, wheels filling the arches & front splitter skimming the ground! You know it is going to deliver a full-on driving experience before you have even turned a wheel, settle down into the “grippy” sports seat, the words “GT3” shout back at you from the central rev-counter as you notice it doesn’t red line until nearly 8.5k! You wrap your hands around the chunky Alcantara steering wheel, then you turn the key & the engine roars before settling to a grumpy idle, your left hand pushes firmly to engage first, a chunky “manly” gearbox where you can feel the cogs engage. Then as you lift your foot off the clutch you feel the horns start growing out of your head
! On the move the car meets your high expectations, it is awesome, alive, you feel part of the machine! Even better (IMO) than some of the past Pork with over twitchy steering, it filters out what is unnecessary & leaves the pure feel-some detail. It is direct, darty, obedient, you sort of "feel" it around corners & it doesn't hop & skip & twitch like GT3's past on bumpy B roads, it follows your directions rather than the road surfaces! There is zero body roll & its cornering potential is simply gobsmaking! I thought the car defied the laws of physics in the hands of the instructor at Milbrook! You can feel it listen, move and come alive, directly in line with your inputs, much more so than the Turbo or C2 (996 or 997)!
It sounds awesome, from grumble to guttural growl, to bellow, then a howl then a screaming howl & above 4500 revs it pulls as fast as pretty much anything else on the road as you scream towards the 8400 rpm limit! At Milbrook I hit just under 180mph & the car was still pulling like a train & it stops as quickly as it goes! On a twisty track this car is unbeatable for its combination of grunt, grip, interaction, feedback & ability at this price point, whilst still being able to drive you in relative comfort over 100 miles on an M road!
The further good news is when you can resist the calling of the race-car inside, it is also pretty fine on the drudge of the daily commute! I haven’t encountered any major issues with the low splitter & it offers a ride pretty much as good as the 996 with 030 sports suspension (firm but fair!!) yet the handling balance is hard core! And this to me is the revelation in the new GT3, you can have your cake & eat it, with standard seats (plus C-G lock for track)& a decent upgraded stereo it is perfectly comfortable for my daily drive into traffic, but when the empty B road route opens up it rips off its suit , puts its pants over its trousers & turns into super-car!!
Minus points –
I'm not 100% sure about some of its styling or image, coming out of an AMV8 I have noticed much more aggression & less courtesy from other road users. On the move it certainly looks supercar, but parked up it can look a bit aftermarket Scooby-ish
from some angles (without the gold wheels) add a lairy paint colour & it also has the equivalent of gold wheels! The Mrs says it has had a trip to Halfords (she preferred the Aston it is stunning to look at!) but you certainly can't argue with the GT3s driving credentials or value & looks are clearly subjective! The gearbox is very notchy & obstructive when cold, but very quick & direct when fully warmed up!
There is a vibration on all the cars around 3k revs, variable & it is only a problem if you have major rattles, mine is minor, but the door still buzzes noticeably!
It smokes on start up more than other Pork I've had, but mine seems to be doing less each week!
My brakes are grumbling badly when used hard, with the odd load thump & the clutch had developed a slight judder on take up, I'm going to get these checked!!
We have all commented on the short life of the tyres & their increased aquaplaning risk, but they are awesome when warmed up! But one negative not commented on, is the fact that stone chips stick to them like glue, only to be flung off as you build speed, I already have a deep stone chip on the drivers door believe it or not, from those sticky front tyres, don’t know how it will fair as the mileage grows.
Summary:
I think Porsche have achieved the “win-win” scenario with this car, it isn’t vastly better than the 996GT3/RS in terms of its ultimate driver involvement or performance, but it is a quantum leap forward in terms of refinement & on road handling without loosing the “ultimate drivers car tag”! Two cars in one….stuck in a traffic jam with the decent stereo (sound pack option) playing in relative comfort it is pretty much as good as any other 997, but on track or favourite B road, it is on an entirely higher level as a pure drivers car! Oh & it sounds better than any standard 911 ever, including the air-cooled ones!!!!
Edited by grant3 on Monday 2nd April 12:48
AndrewKillington said:
nice post; thanks
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
The bowl, the mile straight was about 160-170-ish from memory & some very hard braking!
Great to stretch the cars legs, the day has given me a new respect for all you guys that do track days!
Grant,thanks for your excellant report. I know i only picked my car up yesterday but as yet i've not got that rattle you mention with the door.
I am however struggling to downshift from 3rd to 2nd without crunching the gears, unless i'm going pretty slow in third. Have you or other owners had any problem in this area or is it becuase it is still new?
I am however struggling to downshift from 3rd to 2nd without crunching the gears, unless i'm going pretty slow in third. Have you or other owners had any problem in this area or is it becuase it is still new?
997gt3 said:
Grant,thanks for your excellant report. I know i only picked my car up yesterday but as yet i've not got that rattle you mention with the door.
I am however struggling to downshift from 3rd to 2nd without crunching the gears, unless i'm going pretty slow in third. Have you or other owners had any problem in this area or is it becuase it is still new?
I am however struggling to downshift from 3rd to 2nd without crunching the gears, unless i'm going pretty slow in third. Have you or other owners had any problem in this area or is it becuase it is still new?
You only notice the vibration at steady revs 3-3.5k revs, give it a try & see.
When cold my gearbox is pretty truculent, but once warmed up it is very quick, although always chunky! I think you are probably just getting used to the shortshift kit, which has a real mechanical feel that you have to push through to engage the gears.
PS I watched the video clip, nice running in technique
!!! grant3 said:
AndrewKillington said:
nice post; thanks
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
The bowl, the mile straight was about 160-170-ish from memory & some very hard braking!
Great to stretch the cars legs, the day has given me a new respect for all you guys that do track days!
Grant,
I've done 2,500 miles and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. And, I can relate to all your Plus Points - the car is so tactile and rewarding, yet amazingly refined. I can't get enough of it.
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
With regard to the Minus Points; mine doesn't 'smoke' any more than my other Porsches, there are no rattles or vibrations (other than the characteristic 'hardening' at 3000 rpm), brakes are faultless, and gear change is normal for a 'short shift'. Tyres are fantastic, but a road tyre probably makes more sense for day to day use.
The latest Autocar sums it up, "....the 997 GT3 is, well, something else again. The best high-performance car in the world, in fact"
I've done 2,500 miles and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. And, I can relate to all your Plus Points - the car is so tactile and rewarding, yet amazingly refined. I can't get enough of it.
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
With regard to the Minus Points; mine doesn't 'smoke' any more than my other Porsches, there are no rattles or vibrations (other than the characteristic 'hardening' at 3000 rpm), brakes are faultless, and gear change is normal for a 'short shift'. Tyres are fantastic, but a road tyre probably makes more sense for day to day use.
The latest Autocar sums it up, "....the 997 GT3 is, well, something else again. The best high-performance car in the world, in fact"
grant3 said:
AndrewKillington said:
nice post; thanks
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
were you on the bowl at 180 or the one mile straight?
Andrew
The bowl, the mile straight was about 160-170-ish from memory & some very hard braking!
Great to stretch the cars legs, the day has given me a new respect for all you guys that do track days!
Respect 180mph around the bowl thats faster than the Porsche Instructor was happy to do which was 170mph ish. Managed to hit 169mph down the 1 mile straight only 2 mph behind the best run the instructor has ever managed, he mentioned the 997 TT is 2 seconds slower.
Well I've done 600 miles now, and would also agree with all the plus points you mention.
I seem to have a bit of vibration/squeaking noise coming from I think the passenger seat area which is not rev related, just hasn't annoyed me enough to look for it yet !
I actually love the looks, maybe the black makes it look a bit more subtle.
Tried the 'Sport' setting on the PASM yesterday for the first time (forgot all about it), but don't think I'll bother again on the roads around here, pretty firm to say the least.
I have also noticed the extra legroom over the 996 models, the first Porsche I haven't had to have the seat in the fully back position.
Only minus point I've noticed so far is the pretty cheap/nasty looking tyre pressure gauge !!
All in all a really special car.
I seem to have a bit of vibration/squeaking noise coming from I think the passenger seat area which is not rev related, just hasn't annoyed me enough to look for it yet !
I actually love the looks, maybe the black makes it look a bit more subtle.
Tried the 'Sport' setting on the PASM yesterday for the first time (forgot all about it), but don't think I'll bother again on the roads around here, pretty firm to say the least.
I have also noticed the extra legroom over the 996 models, the first Porsche I haven't had to have the seat in the fully back position.
Only minus point I've noticed so far is the pretty cheap/nasty looking tyre pressure gauge !!
All in all a really special car.
anglebox10 said:
I actually love the looks all in all a really special car.
Geneve said:
Grant,
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
Guys I agree that the car is probably the best looking slice of of Pork out there (IMO!!!) & in keeping with its thuggish racecar intent, but the AMV8 was stunning & I do think Porsche need to move the game on with regards to their cars esthetics/looks, I vote for the Carrera GT style!
grant3 said:
anglebox10 said:
I actually love the looks all in all a really special car.
Geneve said:
Grant,
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
Looks-wise, I adore it. The splitter is a bit low and the rad vents a bit exposed, but the styling is perfectly in keeping with its purpose.
Guys I agree that the car is probably the best looking slice of of Pork out there (IMO!!!) & in keeping with its thuggish racecar intent, but the AMV8 was stunning & I do think Porsche need to move the game on with regards to their cars esthetics/looks, I vote for the Carrera GT style!
Yes I agree.
The standard GT3 can look a little after market in down beat colours. It almost needs the shouty colours to lift it.
Which is why the GT3RS' look fab -- to me anyway.
Viper green and black anybody ?
You couldn't do that with an R8 !
ChrisW. said:
Yes I agree.
The standard GT3 can look a little after market in down beat colours. It almost needs the shouty colours to lift it.
Which is why the GT3RS' look fab -- to me anyway.
Viper green and black anybody ?
You couldn't do that with an R8 !
Yes well, each to their own, one mans down beat colour is another's orgasm & as they say....love is in the eye of the beholder, but Viper green & black
, next you'll be telling me you chose a banana colored car so as not to get noticed! Edited by Grant3 on Monday 2nd April 23:05
Just got back from a Porsche Club meet & long route home
Car now has 231 miles on it. No significant rattle from the door trim, just a faint buzzing/vibration at the stated revs; solution - push the sport button
Managed to overcome the gear crunch on downshift from 3rd to 2nd. Whilst changing down, blipping the throttle makes for a smooth gearshift - sorted!
The tyres are slightly annoying for picking loose stones up and throwing them around your wheel arches.
My 'free' full tank of fuel runs out soon - does anybody want to fill it back up for me??
Car now has 231 miles on it. No significant rattle from the door trim, just a faint buzzing/vibration at the stated revs; solution - push the sport button
Managed to overcome the gear crunch on downshift from 3rd to 2nd. Whilst changing down, blipping the throttle makes for a smooth gearshift - sorted!
The tyres are slightly annoying for picking loose stones up and throwing them around your wheel arches.
My 'free' full tank of fuel runs out soon - does anybody want to fill it back up for me??
Grant. So,no probs going from gentleman to yob then! I'd get your gearbox checked - you meantion it a few times. As Geneve has said it's got a typical Porsche 'short shift kit' feel to it but it shouldn't feel as bad as you describe, especially as you're used to an Aston 'box from cold anyway! Millbrook was fun wasn't it. Monsoon conditions when I did it and the speeds STILL weren't that far off yours. For me the most memorable moment was when the instructor suggested I take my hands off the wheel, fold my arms and let the car start down low on the banking and then naturally ease itself up to the top lane of it's own accord as the speed built. All in the streaming wet. Good fun! Enjoy.
Pugsey said:
Grant. So,no probs going from gentleman to yob then! I'd get your gearbox checked - you meantion it a few times. As Geneve has said it's got a typical Porsche 'short shift kit' feel to it but it shouldn't feel as bad as you describe, especially as you're used to an Aston 'box from cold anyway! Millbrook was fun wasn't it. Monsoon conditions when I did it and the speeds STILL weren't that far off yours. For me the most memorable moment was when the instructor suggested I take my hands off the wheel, fold my arms and let the car start down low on the banking and then naturally ease itself up to the top lane of it's own accord as the speed built. All in the streaming wet. Good fun! Enjoy.
Hi Tony,
Where have you been, don't tell me another holiday?
The gearbox isn't as bad as the Aston, but it is pretty obstructive when cold, I agree with you about getting it checked, I'm going to put a few more miles on it & then probably do the oil change & get all the little bits & pieces sorted out in one go!
I'm loving the GT3, but just like you spookily still missing the Aston, are you still going for the Roadster?!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff