997.1 v 997.2 GT3 RS

[TurboSHerts]

Having a serious look at a 997 GT3 RS (to either replace or go alongside my manual AM Vantage GT8) and am struggling to find much info re the key differences between the 997.1 and 997.2 variant of the GT3 RS ... anyone with knowledge and or experience that they can share ?

Thanks

[TurboSHerts]

Should have said - I intend to drive both and that will be the ultimate decision point - mainly road but occasional track days …

[TDT]

2 immediate differences:

- Engine … 3.6 c415hp vs 3.8 c450hp

- Wheels…. 5 lug vs Centrelocks

[isaldiri]

The 7.2rs is more differentiated from the 7.2 gt3 than the 7.1rs to the 7.1 gt3.

Centrelocks are a right pain but apart from that, personally i like the 7.2rs a lot and it would always be my pick if it was between the 2 cars.

[arcamalpha]

The 7.2 has much more advanced pasm which makes it a much better road car in my opinion. And a dsc unit makes it better still. I don’t have experience of them on track though.

[TurboSHerts]

Lots of love for the 7.2 … worth the extra £30-40k.

Finding one that I can drive (say 4,000 per year) without worrying too much about residuals will be the next challenge as low mileage ones seem to command a premium …

[LemonTart]

The 997.1 GT3RS 3.6 isn’t that different than the 997.1 GT3 it has a cage, the same power and is a bit lighter.

The 997.2 GT3RS is a 3.8 (up from previous gen’s 3.6) and over a standard 3.8 GT3 it is a bit wider, lighter and has circa 15 bhp extra, it seems to me Porsche committed to this a bit more.

The 997.2GT3RS was Evo car magazine’s favourite car of the first 200 editions, that alone probably makes it a better long term bet.

The 997.2s currently at JZM haven’t shifted for a while and neither has the one at Ashgood. I prefer the white over gold look at Ashgood.

Of the two options I would go 997.2 GT3RS but as I like to use mine for road trips and I couldn’t commit the extra funds I went for a 997.2 GT3 with buckets but no cage so it’s more usable as an exciting road trip car and probably much the same in that environment.

My GT3 does excel on track but I felt out of my depth, I enjoyed the days but not enough to commit to doing these regularly and getting satisfaction from being good at them.

Nice decision to have to make.

Good luck and post some photos if you buy one.

Cheers
Ed

[isaldiri]

Worth noting as well, the 7.2rs also is the 997 with shorter gearing (with longer 6th to compensate) - that makes quite a noticeable difference to the driver especially on the road to the other 7gt3s imo. Add in all the little bits that incrementally add up (dynamic engine mounts, wider front track, bit more power), it's imo that bit more special over the 7.1rs.

[GTRene]

besides the differences, a 997.2 RS is also more rare, you see that back in the prices.

ah and I saw this somewhere and saved that info.

>Very rare: GT3 RS generation 997.2, with manual transmission.
One of 541 units produced with the more powerful 3.8 L engine. 450ps<

so I guess the good one's with low mph/km are going up in price even more.

[isaldiri]

GTRene said:

ah and I saw this somewhere and saved that info.

>Very rare: GT3 RS generation 997.2, with manual transmission.
One of 541 units produced with the more powerful 3.8 L engine. 450ps< .

Uh....you might want to unsave that tbh. In total there were over 1500 of them iirc worldwide (and that's not even including the 600 4.0s) so not particularly rare.

[GTRene]

hm, yeah read something like that as well, but for all 997.2 RS (ex the 4.0)

so I'm confused lol, but, I save your thoughts also with that what I have

to see in the future were it stands and or what some people or websites say, so much confusion and different outcomes.

and then there's the Turbo versions of the 997, seems those numbers are a bit more clear, also about the GT2

[GTRene]

isaldiri said:

Uh....you might want to unsave that tbh. In total there were over 1500 of them iirc worldwide (and that's not even including the 600 4.0s) so not particularly rare.

hm, did another search, the numbers that I had was from US/Canada I guess, the numbers of the 997.2 GT3 RS are indeed way higher, see the next 2 web pages with the Porsche 996, 997 and 991 overview, both a bit different, but now saved, the other one is in the paper basket.

[ChrisW.]

Scary production numbers plus all the 981 and 718 GT4's ... compared to the 996/997 variants !!

[Grantstown]

A nice dilemma to have.

Maybe better to go .1 due to less fancy tech to go wrong (dynamic engine mounts for example). I’m no expert at all, but I think old school will become more and more appealing. Feel over fast. Good luck with your shopping!

[First Sea Lord]

Just a feeling, but I think that history will determine that 997.2 GT3 RS is peak GT3 (definition of "peak" undefined)

[Cheib]

Lots of the journalists people like us listen to rate the 997.2 RS as a high water mark for water cooled Porsche’s. It’s also hugely popular because people love the way it looks, it’s a 997 after all ! And then there’s the hype around the 4.0 which attracted people to its little brother.

My impression is a fair few just don’t get used…look at the SORN numbers on howmanyleft and you’ll see a lot of RS’s are SORN all year not just over winter. I think they’ve become a bit of a favourite for the collector/speculator….when the market was strong they were flying off the forecourt’s for very strong prices but they aren’t shifting now. JZM have had three or four up for sale for a couple of months now. At the low’s pre Covid the 997.1 was maybe £120k and the 997.2 about £150k…maybe they can pull back that far ?

997.2 is a car I want to own one day.

[GTRene]

yup, 997.2 GT models seems to rule, you hear more and more about those.

I guess at some point even the 997.2 Carrera S (3.8) versions will go up, now those lovely cars are pretty 'low' in price comparing to the expensive GT models.

you get a lot of good Porsche for the money with those 3.8 S models (I guess, never drove one but they seem to be good)

[Zumbruk]

GTRene said:

I guess at some point even the 997.2 Carrera S (3.8) versions will go up, now those lovely cars are pretty 'low' in price comparing to the expensive GT models.

Hope so.

[TurboSHerts]

Thanks all - really helpful.. looks like 997.2 is the preferred option ... key will be timing re when to purchase - if it drives like the reviews state... i might just ignore that !

[Digga]

Of the two RS’s I’d definitely pay the extra for the Gen 2 over the Gen 1.

As others mention though, it is interesting that these cars are sticking a bit.