what to do with GT3 ...
Discussion
I wonder what opinions there are out there, I may not be alone in this type of situation.
I have a 996 GT3 mk1, its lhd, done 19k miles and i've had it seven years. The trouble is that its getting very little use. I used to do a few trackdays a year but for the last three years, with multiple demands on time (not to mention school fees, always somet better to spend on etc) i've not done any. I do all school runs etc (i work for myself so time isn't an issue) - but no back seats means its useless for that. So is there any point in keeping it?
I did a few epic drives in the alps before kids and the promise/expectation of those makes me keep it.
Also the thought that i find the GT3.1 special, probably couldnt justify that sort of "selfish" purchase again if i let go of it.
I find myself wondering if i should let it go and if so, what the best place is carwise in terms of low depreciation. In the mk1, i think its in a pretty good place.
I had a 993 for five years before the GT3 and loved it. But they are strong money and susceptible to falls. And never go back? - am i looking back with rose tints?
A 996TT is attractive (cab perhaps), has fallen a lot, offers VFM but will it feel special enough? Perhaps a 964 or 3.2 Carrera, or the whole retro thing? Always loved the F355 but not sure how real world that is.
Or make the GT3 a keeper for special drives and to show kids how cars used to be! Its a great car, very cheap to insure and costs next to nothing in depreciation. Can i find all of that in a package?
Any rambles/opinions welcome
I have a 996 GT3 mk1, its lhd, done 19k miles and i've had it seven years. The trouble is that its getting very little use. I used to do a few trackdays a year but for the last three years, with multiple demands on time (not to mention school fees, always somet better to spend on etc) i've not done any. I do all school runs etc (i work for myself so time isn't an issue) - but no back seats means its useless for that. So is there any point in keeping it?
I did a few epic drives in the alps before kids and the promise/expectation of those makes me keep it.
Also the thought that i find the GT3.1 special, probably couldnt justify that sort of "selfish" purchase again if i let go of it.
I find myself wondering if i should let it go and if so, what the best place is carwise in terms of low depreciation. In the mk1, i think its in a pretty good place.
I had a 993 for five years before the GT3 and loved it. But they are strong money and susceptible to falls. And never go back? - am i looking back with rose tints?
A 996TT is attractive (cab perhaps), has fallen a lot, offers VFM but will it feel special enough? Perhaps a 964 or 3.2 Carrera, or the whole retro thing? Always loved the F355 but not sure how real world that is.
Or make the GT3 a keeper for special drives and to show kids how cars used to be! Its a great car, very cheap to insure and costs next to nothing in depreciation. Can i find all of that in a package?
Any rambles/opinions welcome
A car that never gets any use is a very hard thing to hold onto and can be psychological torment.
How about a 997 turbo with 4 seats, a DB9, a GTr, a Cayenne GTS or rob a few banks and get an FF.
The cars ive loved the most in life, the ones ive been most attached to weren't the best ones or the most focused or the ones with the most driver kudos ... No, they were the ones that i lived in, the ones that i use the most and which served me like an obedient companion. Those would include my EVOViii, my current Cayenne and my old 1.9 Pug GTi.
How about a 997 turbo with 4 seats, a DB9, a GTr, a Cayenne GTS or rob a few banks and get an FF.
The cars ive loved the most in life, the ones ive been most attached to weren't the best ones or the most focused or the ones with the most driver kudos ... No, they were the ones that i lived in, the ones that i use the most and which served me like an obedient companion. Those would include my EVOViii, my current Cayenne and my old 1.9 Pug GTi.
It does torment me every time i go into the garage....but the thought of moving to something more modern, and i think 911s have got a lot more modern recently, makes me feel i'm waving goodbye to what i loved about the 911 in the first place (have driven 997s and 991).
Depreciation wise without going into values i reckon ive lost around 12k in 7 years, not too bad and expect values to be largely flat.
Depreciation wise without going into values i reckon ive lost around 12k in 7 years, not too bad and expect values to be largely flat.
Probably a situation a lot of people find themselves in with no obvious answer. If you sell, you may never get in to one again and miss the memories. If you keep it, it bothers you that it is using resources / space etc.
You could put rear belts in the GT3 if you have a comfort model and your kids are small enough to use the space. I'm not sure it would be a lot of fun on the school run though.
I think some of the other options listed will not feel as special and probably cost more to run, but if you'll get more use out of them it might be worth looking in to. I think the smart money would be on a classic 911, ideally a good pre 73 car. Great to drive, very pretty, slow enough that you can extend them on the road ...... just very hard to find. I doubt the 355 will see any more use and will almost certainly cost more to run. My experience of the 996T is fast but not great fun on A / B roads (exactly the opposite of what I want).
I would say go for a nice early coupe of some sort - 993 is a great car but you've done that. 964 or earlier sounds like the way forward. Still some nice cars out there if you are not in a rush ..... and you shouldn't be if you don't use the car often.
Perhaps a good offer on yours would get the ball rolling.
You could put rear belts in the GT3 if you have a comfort model and your kids are small enough to use the space. I'm not sure it would be a lot of fun on the school run though.
I think some of the other options listed will not feel as special and probably cost more to run, but if you'll get more use out of them it might be worth looking in to. I think the smart money would be on a classic 911, ideally a good pre 73 car. Great to drive, very pretty, slow enough that you can extend them on the road ...... just very hard to find. I doubt the 355 will see any more use and will almost certainly cost more to run. My experience of the 996T is fast but not great fun on A / B roads (exactly the opposite of what I want).
I would say go for a nice early coupe of some sort - 993 is a great car but you've done that. 964 or earlier sounds like the way forward. Still some nice cars out there if you are not in a rush ..... and you shouldn't be if you don't use the car often.
Perhaps a good offer on yours would get the ball rolling.
I am in the same boat with the GT2 less than a 1000 miles in 12 months, and i think the water-cooled cars need driving more than the old air-cooled stuff.
I know i will end up selling it and regretting due to their rarity & i've always wanted one
But it doesn't seem right putting belts in the back of it.
I am fancying a pre-impact car not an S can't afford now, or a nice 3.2c and put some money away...........or a 964 Carrera 2..............not than keen on 993's................or a mint SC if there is such a thing?
Or do i just get a 996C4S with PSE and enjoy it....................or back to a 996 Turbo but a Cab................as you can see i haven't got a feckin clue!!!
Or should i be sensible and sell car and pay off my mortgage?
Actually a 996 Turbo in Cab form fits the bill, i enjoyed my Supersport Cab a 2 or 3 yrs ago & as its a weekend thing a Cab ticks a lot of boxes.
I know i will end up selling it and regretting due to their rarity & i've always wanted one
But it doesn't seem right putting belts in the back of it.
I am fancying a pre-impact car not an S can't afford now, or a nice 3.2c and put some money away...........or a 964 Carrera 2..............not than keen on 993's................or a mint SC if there is such a thing?
Or do i just get a 996C4S with PSE and enjoy it....................or back to a 996 Turbo but a Cab................as you can see i haven't got a feckin clue!!!
Or should i be sensible and sell car and pay off my mortgage?
Actually a 996 Turbo in Cab form fits the bill, i enjoyed my Supersport Cab a 2 or 3 yrs ago & as its a weekend thing a Cab ticks a lot of boxes.
Crimp a Length! said:
I am in the same boat with the GT2 less than a 1000 miles in 12 months, and i think the water-cooled cars need driving more than the old air-cooled stuff.
I know i will end up selling it and regretting due to their rarity & i've always wanted one
But it doesn't seem right putting belts in the back of it.
I am fancying a pre-impact car not an S can't afford now, or a nice 3.2c and put some money away...........or a 964 Carrera 2..............not than keen on 993's................or a mint SC if there is such a thing?
Or do i just get a 996C4S with PSE and enjoy it....................or back to a 996 Turbo but a Cab................as you can see i haven't got a feckin clue!!!
Or should i be sensible and sell car and pay off my mortgage?
Actually a 996 Turbo in Cab form fits the bill, i enjoyed my Supersport Cab a 2 or 3 yrs ago & as its a weekend thing a Cab ticks a lot of boxes.
Don't mate. Just wind you're windows down and pretend you're in a cab. That Gt2 looks really special in blueI know i will end up selling it and regretting due to their rarity & i've always wanted one
But it doesn't seem right putting belts in the back of it.
I am fancying a pre-impact car not an S can't afford now, or a nice 3.2c and put some money away...........or a 964 Carrera 2..............not than keen on 993's................or a mint SC if there is such a thing?
Or do i just get a 996C4S with PSE and enjoy it....................or back to a 996 Turbo but a Cab................as you can see i haven't got a feckin clue!!!
Or should i be sensible and sell car and pay off my mortgage?
Actually a 996 Turbo in Cab form fits the bill, i enjoyed my Supersport Cab a 2 or 3 yrs ago & as its a weekend thing a Cab ticks a lot of boxes.
I really think an early car is the way forward if it is for sunny days only .... pre 73 cars are beautiful but expensive and buying a good one is very hard.
Something like this might have been a good compromise http://www.911virgin.com/porscheforsale/511/3.0SCC...
I am personally not that keen on the wide body / super sport / tubo cars but if it floats your boat and you'll use it then why the hell not. Buy what you like and make syou want to get out and drive.
Something like this might have been a good compromise http://www.911virgin.com/porscheforsale/511/3.0SCC...
I am personally not that keen on the wide body / super sport / tubo cars but if it floats your boat and you'll use it then why the hell not. Buy what you like and make syou want to get out and drive.
I don't know if I'm allowed to on here, but I'd suggest considering something like a BMW 3.0CS (or CSL), or an Austin Healey 3000 MKIII. If you buy the right car in the first place (just as with an early 911) then running costs will be sensible and you'll more than likely be measuring appreciation rather than depreciation. Both have rear seats and should be an occasion to drive but (more in the case of the BMW) sufficiently practical for school trips/runaround use from time to time.
Actually have had the same thought with my GT3RS gen2 only done 3.2k mies in two years and due to the rain even less use this year. I just don't know, me with no Supercar in the garage, not me, but other things in life take over, the guilt of not using it, the loss if I sell it, the very real thought that I will never have another super car, also the very real thought that this maybe the last true manual RS car Porsche ever make.
I fancy the new Boxster s , but would I struggle with the change downwards? Or a Merc SL just something that I could leave in the rain and not worry about would be nice.
I fancy the new Boxster s , but would I struggle with the change downwards? Or a Merc SL just something that I could leave in the rain and not worry about would be nice.
This is a proper Pistonheads thread, love it! 
I've had similar dilemmas with nearly every car I have owned; as long as the next car is something to look forward to and cherish, it helps get over the feeling of loss over the one that's just been driven away by its new owner!
Good luck!
I've had similar dilemmas with nearly every car I have owned; as long as the next car is something to look forward to and cherish, it helps get over the feeling of loss over the one that's just been driven away by its new owner!
Good luck!
Same here - I only use 1 tank of fuel (250 miles) per month and with the warranty renewal coming up and the apparent significant depreciation (guess about 7 grand plus PA?), I am agonising over whether to keep or sell?
We only do 15k miles total PA in the household, but as the other half can't/won't drive the GT3, the majority of the miles fall to the other car, which can cause problems sometimes with "double booking" of the main car.
I do know that once it has gone, it won't be replaced with anything similar and therein lies the problem. Not sure if I should hang on 12-18 months and pick up a nearly new Cayman (like the Boxster a lot, but just not a convertible fan), which will be used or just get out altogether and buy another "ordinary" car?
We only do 15k miles total PA in the household, but as the other half can't/won't drive the GT3, the majority of the miles fall to the other car, which can cause problems sometimes with "double booking" of the main car.
I do know that once it has gone, it won't be replaced with anything similar and therein lies the problem. Not sure if I should hang on 12-18 months and pick up a nearly new Cayman (like the Boxster a lot, but just not a convertible fan), which will be used or just get out altogether and buy another "ordinary" car?
..I went back from a 7.1 GT3 to a 6-4S... the '3' just wasnt getting used, 1500 miles in 18 months, just loved that car, it hurt to sell it, but I couldn't live with it every day for shopping / business / going anywhere and being stuck in a traffic jam was sooo tiring, the car ended up making the decisions not me on when I drove it pending the roads on the way to where I wanted to go, I ended up in a golf diesel for my daily driver and hardly used it.. so I sold it and dropped back to a 6-4S and use it for my daily driver, it's excellent.. goes everywhere, leave it anywhere, fast enough for the road, does 24mpg, 30 on a run, sounds a little '3' ish with the PSE and I'm still driving Pork.. it was the right decision for what I needed a car to do.. love it.. 
Could I have sold it if I didn't have a race car for kicks..? that would have felt like asking me to cut a leg off, that '3' really got under my skin... I feel your pain Sir...!
Could I have sold it if I didn't have a race car for kicks..? that would have felt like asking me to cut a leg off, that '3' really got under my skin... I feel your pain Sir...!
Edited by RatBoy M3CSL on Tuesday 12th June 08:49
uktrailmonster said:
Well anyone looking for a totally mint 3.0SC please feel free to PM me as I just happen to have one for sale - due ironically to lack of use. Not advertised anywhere at present, but just about to.
I remember you buying that car its a nice one.Love the SC, my first 911 was a 78 in Guards purchased it in 2002/03 from the that Goose fella on here
If i had the room i'd keep the GT2 and buy another old air-cooled.
decisions decisions............
Love the looks and the buzz with the GT2 its so bloody quick in fact too quick for the UK roads, but you have to plan whether any roads have speed bumps etc and as we all know the british network of roads is festooned with pot holes/speed bumps which don't lend themselves to the GT2 (Too low) i'm afraid.
So i reckon i will be back into something older before too long.
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