997.1 GT3 v's 997.2 Turbo
Discussion
Apologies if this has been done already but if you had circa £65-70k would you buy an 07 plate GT3 (its a comfort spec with nav and chrono) or a 10 plate Turbo if both had similar miles on say 30-35k?
Things to consider:-
2nd car kept in garage
looking at best residual value in say 5 years
approx mileage 5k a year
minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
I have sold my house and am in the process of buying a new build. Unknowingly i was offered a government backed help to buy which basically is the government putting around £50k deposit in interest free for 5 years, hence I could use the money for 5 years and pay it back on month 59 without any penalties. I was saving for a 996 C4S and have the other £20k already.
What would you choose and why?
Things to consider:-
2nd car kept in garage
looking at best residual value in say 5 years
approx mileage 5k a year
minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
I have sold my house and am in the process of buying a new build. Unknowingly i was offered a government backed help to buy which basically is the government putting around £50k deposit in interest free for 5 years, hence I could use the money for 5 years and pay it back on month 59 without any penalties. I was saving for a 996 C4S and have the other £20k already.
What would you choose and why?
As ever, buy on condition and always get an independant PPI - buy in haste, repent at leisure etc. etc.
A lot of this is going to be subjective though - until you've tried both, you don't really know what your gut feeling is. 5 years is a long time to expect to keep a car that you bought solely with your head and not your heart too.
a4ash said:
2nd car kept in garage
looking at best residual value in say 5 years
approx mileage 5k a year
minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
Probably, as a best guess, a GT3 is always going to edge a Turbo.looking at best residual value in say 5 years
approx mileage 5k a year
minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
a4ash said:
approx mileage 5k a year
minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
But to me, all this says Turbo.minimal track use, perhaps once a year if lucky
1 european rd trip circa 2k miles a year plus weekend use
A lot of this is going to be subjective though - until you've tried both, you don't really know what your gut feeling is. 5 years is a long time to expect to keep a car that you bought solely with your head and not your heart too.
A 997 gt3 can do the second car occasional European trip etc very well - it's more 'comfort' than say a 996 gt3.
Ultimately as above its horses for courses - drive both and see what you think, but for me there is no choice to make as its gt3 every day and twice on Sunday - it's such an event, probably not as 'capable' than a turbo but if it's an occasional car I would go for 'the event' every time
At a risk of yet another gt3 price/value thread post, the gt3 will be worth more in five years time and for some people (like me) it is another consideration when deciding
At the end of the day both are ridiculously good though
Ultimately as above its horses for courses - drive both and see what you think, but for me there is no choice to make as its gt3 every day and twice on Sunday - it's such an event, probably not as 'capable' than a turbo but if it's an occasional car I would go for 'the event' every time
At a risk of yet another gt3 price/value thread post, the gt3 will be worth more in five years time and for some people (like me) it is another consideration when deciding
At the end of the day both are ridiculously good though
mm450exc said:
The Turbo is a boring car compared to a GT3. Every GT3 owner who had a turbo can tell you that.
Drive both cars and see which suits you.
Drive both cars and see which suits you.
5517 said:
The turbo is sooooo boring!!!
Drive them both and you will feel the difference instantly,
Not just boring, but easier to live with, more suited to everyday use. A better proposition for drivers who either don't have the skills or had them once but are now a bit past it. A car your wife can borrow without you worrying about it cannoning her through a hedge.Drive them both and you will feel the difference instantly,
If you listen to people who know - i.e. Walter Rohrl - they'd say a turbo for the road every time but, in an instant, a GT3 for the track.
ETA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IimssB9B8ds
Edited by Digga on Thursday 30th July 08:20
I went from a Carrera 2S to a GT3 but before I bought the GT3 I had a drive in a turbo. It was insanely fast! The boost would come on so strong and hard and it made you giggle every time 
Went back home, had a think, went for a drive in a GT3 and was sold on it straight away.
Yes the GT3 is more 'hard work' but that is what I wanted, I wanted a car you have to DRIVE and the GT3 delivers that in spades.
You really need to drive both before you make a decision and they are like chalk and cheese.
Went back home, had a think, went for a drive in a GT3 and was sold on it straight away.
Yes the GT3 is more 'hard work' but that is what I wanted, I wanted a car you have to DRIVE and the GT3 delivers that in spades.
You really need to drive both before you make a decision and they are like chalk and cheese.
V8KSN said:
I went from a Carrera 2S to a GT3 but before I bought the GT3 I had a drive in a turbo. It was insanely fast! The boost would come on so strong and hard and it made you giggle every time
Went back home, had a think, went for a drive in a GT3 and was sold on it straight away.
Yes the GT3 is more 'hard work' but that is what I wanted, I wanted a car you have to DRIVE and the GT3 delivers that in spades.
You really need to drive both before you make a decision and they are like chalk and cheese.
^This.Went back home, had a think, went for a drive in a GT3 and was sold on it straight away.
Yes the GT3 is more 'hard work' but that is what I wanted, I wanted a car you have to DRIVE and the GT3 delivers that in spades.
You really need to drive both before you make a decision and they are like chalk and cheese.
For me, the compromise - what I was after and (most importantly!) could realistically afford - fell on the side of the turbo, but I can totally, completely and absolutely get why for many the GT3 is the way. In an ideal world, I'd have both, without doubt.
A comfort 997 GT3 is not a chore in the slightest. The short gearing is the only thing that would stop it being from a perfectly usable daily driver.
As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
hondansx said:
A comfort 997 GT3 is not a chore in the slightest. The short gearing is the only thing that would stop it being from a perfectly usable daily driver.
As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
+1As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
hondansx said:
A comfort 997 GT3 is not a chore in the slightest. The short gearing is the only thing that would stop it being from a perfectly usable daily driver.
As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
Short gearing?As soon as i saw you wrote "2nd car", the decision was immediately GT3. For reference, I have owned both a 997.1 and 997.2 Turbos. Neither are exciting, special or rewarding enough to be weekend cars, in my opinion.
StuH said:
Anyone who finds a turbo boring isn't doing it right! 
I went turbo as its a daily driver - about the best there is point-to-point. For a weekend toy I'd get an atom
I'd agree with a caveat: anyone who finds a manual turbo to be boring isn't doing it right. I can see why tip or pdk turbo drivers get a bit bored. 6 years in, I'm still enjoying my manual turbo as a special weekend drive but also one that doesn't get on my tits when I'm stuck in traffic.I went turbo as its a daily driver - about the best there is point-to-point. For a weekend toy I'd get an atom
However, if it's residuals (& track use) that are a concern, I'd get a gt3.
Skrambles said:
I'd agree with a caveat: anyone who finds a manual turbo to be boring isn't doing it right. I can see why tip or pdk turbo drivers get a bit bored. 6 years in, I'm still enjoying my manual turbo as a special weekend drive but also one that doesn't get on my tits when I'm stuck in traffic.
However, if it's residuals (& track use) that are a concern, I'd get a gt3.
You have to do the PDK right as well However, if it's residuals (& track use) that are a concern, I'd get a gt3.
- I test drove several gen1 997's both manual and tip and was underwhelmed coming from the V10 M5. However the 997.2 chassis just felt more alive, and the PDK is everything the e60 M5's SMG II should have been. As a daily driver that I can use through the winter and with 100% confidence in the wet, that the Mrs is happy to drive, and has seats in the back for the kids I think it's near perfection! I ALMOST bought the new M6 but the TT definitely felt more special and is properly chuckable. I've started finding excuses to go driving the long way home again just as I used to in the Noble 
If anyone thinks a Turbo is boring come along to a British hillclimb championship round and see for yourself, no GT3 comes close,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, as of yet 
StuH said:
Anyone who finds a turbo boring isn't doing it right!
I went turbo as its a daily driver - about the best there is point-to-point. For a weekend toy I'd get an atom
When I bought my GT3 I test drove a Turbo to make sure I was making the right decision.I went turbo as its a daily driver - about the best there is point-to-point. For a weekend toy I'd get an atom
The bottom line is I simply preferred the noise, precision and delicacy of the GT3.
Wish I could afford a Turbo though as a dally. A truly devastatingly capable piece of kit
Enjoy driving both to make up your own mind.
Ignoring residuals for a moment....
If you're not going to track a GT3 at least a few times a year I think it's a bit pointless buying one as you'll never really get the true GT3 experience. You'd just end up driving a car on the road that wasn't really suited for it: gearing is too long, the suspension very firm even in Normal (although it would be doable for longer trips if you didn't have buckets I think) and Sport suspension setting is essentially useless for the road I'd say. On that basis, a Turbo would probably be a better car for the job.
BUT, if you are going to track it a bit or residuals are important, GT3 is probably the way to go
If you're not going to track a GT3 at least a few times a year I think it's a bit pointless buying one as you'll never really get the true GT3 experience. You'd just end up driving a car on the road that wasn't really suited for it: gearing is too long, the suspension very firm even in Normal (although it would be doable for longer trips if you didn't have buckets I think) and Sport suspension setting is essentially useless for the road I'd say. On that basis, a Turbo would probably be a better car for the job.
BUT, if you are going to track it a bit or residuals are important, GT3 is probably the way to go
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