Porsche 997 GT3 as a daily, long-distance car?
Discussion
Hi Guys. Some of you may remember me. For personal reasons I have not posted for 4 years.
I want to replace my 996 Targa with something more lively. It has to be a rear-wheel drive, so a Turbo is not an option.
So I test drove a C2S with power pack, and a GT3.
What a difference! What a fantastic car (the GT3)! It was not really any less compfortable than the C2S, and yet the roadholding capabilites are not of this world and way in excess of anything I have ever experienced. I found it easy to drive, too. Roadholding and "steadiness" at high speed are better than in any other car I have driven - probably down to the aero kit with the front and rear spoilers giving proper downforce. It is, however, louder than any car I have ever experienced - it is hard to believe that it is road-legal in Germany. I am totally smitten.
The 90 liter tank is good too - I don't have to fill up every 250 miles.
BUT:
I drive big distances at high speeds (80% of my time on german motorways). I need a certain amount of practicality too. I am thinking that the wonderful sound can be very irksome, if not very tiring. I drive 600-700 miles every time, around 40000 miles per annum, I can't do with a car that makes me tired. Other practicalities are questionable. Can you hold a telephone conversation once the engine is on? No rear parking sensors - so that's a new rear fender once a year. Can you get on or off the ferry or Eurotrain without scraping off the front spoiler every time? I scraped the front spoiler constantly just driving around (so that's a new one due every 3-4 months).
I am looking for the opinions of people who use a GT3 as a daily driver, and drive long distances. Give me your honest opinions. Tell me of your own experiences and impressions of the car on the road (preferably for more than 2 hours at a time). Sell me the car, or put me off. In the end, a C2S with power pack is better than a kick in the crutch ...
By the way, I already have the comment of a hardcore german friend - "what are you worrying about? The car is so fast, you can travel through Germany from left to right and top to bottom and never need more than 4 hours anyway"
Regards to all, Walteru
I want to replace my 996 Targa with something more lively. It has to be a rear-wheel drive, so a Turbo is not an option.
So I test drove a C2S with power pack, and a GT3.
What a difference! What a fantastic car (the GT3)! It was not really any less compfortable than the C2S, and yet the roadholding capabilites are not of this world and way in excess of anything I have ever experienced. I found it easy to drive, too. Roadholding and "steadiness" at high speed are better than in any other car I have driven - probably down to the aero kit with the front and rear spoilers giving proper downforce. It is, however, louder than any car I have ever experienced - it is hard to believe that it is road-legal in Germany. I am totally smitten.
The 90 liter tank is good too - I don't have to fill up every 250 miles.
BUT:
I drive big distances at high speeds (80% of my time on german motorways). I need a certain amount of practicality too. I am thinking that the wonderful sound can be very irksome, if not very tiring. I drive 600-700 miles every time, around 40000 miles per annum, I can't do with a car that makes me tired. Other practicalities are questionable. Can you hold a telephone conversation once the engine is on? No rear parking sensors - so that's a new rear fender once a year. Can you get on or off the ferry or Eurotrain without scraping off the front spoiler every time? I scraped the front spoiler constantly just driving around (so that's a new one due every 3-4 months).
I am looking for the opinions of people who use a GT3 as a daily driver, and drive long distances. Give me your honest opinions. Tell me of your own experiences and impressions of the car on the road (preferably for more than 2 hours at a time). Sell me the car, or put me off. In the end, a C2S with power pack is better than a kick in the crutch ...
By the way, I already have the comment of a hardcore german friend - "what are you worrying about? The car is so fast, you can travel through Germany from left to right and top to bottom and never need more than 4 hours anyway"
Regards to all, Walteru
I cant speak for the 997 'three but i am sure Pugsey and Geneve will be along shortly to fill you in.
HOwever, what I can say is that a fellow PH'er ran a 996 GT3 for about nine months last year.
Had no problem with long journeys - his daily commute was 65 miles.
It was easy to hold a telephone conversation
front splitter was a problem but not badly so.
I do circa 20k per year and if i didnt need rear seats i would have no hesitation in having one (subject to finding the cash of course!)
oh and welcome back
HOwever, what I can say is that a fellow PH'er ran a 996 GT3 for about nine months last year.
Had no problem with long journeys - his daily commute was 65 miles.
It was easy to hold a telephone conversation
front splitter was a problem but not badly so.
I do circa 20k per year and if i didnt need rear seats i would have no hesitation in having one (subject to finding the cash of course!)
oh and welcome back
I drive a 996 GT3 as an every day car if you can afford the depreciation i see no down side. Mine is an 04 model in C00 spec so also has 90 litre tank that is a must as an everyday drive I have had it eight months and done 12K last weeks service just cost me £560(AFN Chiswick) including a free top up bottle of moble 1 in the boot.
I dont know how much suspention geomotry has changed from 996-997 but on the 996 GT3 the ARB drop links have a habit of working loose on road use as the set up is so stiff my guess would be this has been resolved on 997 with soft pasim setting but its not tough to do yourself.
At (normal)motorway speeds phone calls (hands free) are no problem,i actualy think like all 911,s it is quierter at higher speeds in town you hear induction, diff gearbox suspention and tyres on motorway its just tyres and exhaust+ a little gearbox noise compared to the rubber damperd cooking types(of which I also rate Iv had 3 just prefer the GT3)but its not an issue
Go for it there great cars
I dont know how much suspention geomotry has changed from 996-997 but on the 996 GT3 the ARB drop links have a habit of working loose on road use as the set up is so stiff my guess would be this has been resolved on 997 with soft pasim setting but its not tough to do yourself.
At (normal)motorway speeds phone calls (hands free) are no problem,i actualy think like all 911,s it is quierter at higher speeds in town you hear induction, diff gearbox suspention and tyres on motorway its just tyres and exhaust+ a little gearbox noise compared to the rubber damperd cooking types(of which I also rate Iv had 3 just prefer the GT3)but its not an issue
Go for it there great cars
In brief for 997GT3 read everything mentioned by previous posters re 996 but assume any plus side is even better and any negative - eg comfort - is not as bad. C2S with power pack might appear to come close on paper but it actually doesn't. It's still nearly 50bhp down ( most 997GT3s seem to be showing at least 425bhp) and a much less exotic lump to boot, plus revised PASM in the GT3 is on another plane entirely. Fully specced C2S with power pack is pretty near GT3 money anyway and will depreciate faster IMO so why would you anyway?
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 13th March 14:34
It’s the best decision i made when i gave my 10k deposit in March last year 
The only thing i would advise is dnt get the LWB seats, if you’re going to be doing long distances. I get a back ache after around 1hours driving, and yes it does become tiring after some time of driving - but although that could be the down to the over excitement.
Holding a phone conversation is ok at relatively low speeds. Once above the 50 mark and depending on the tarmac - it does become rather noisy, that with the sports button off.
Regarding the front end - i have scraped mine quite a few times now. BUt the front splitter is replaceable, and after a few hard scrapes it hasn't broken.
My advice is if you can afford it - go for it
The only thing i would advise is dnt get the LWB seats, if you’re going to be doing long distances. I get a back ache after around 1hours driving, and yes it does become tiring after some time of driving - but although that could be the down to the over excitement.
Holding a phone conversation is ok at relatively low speeds. Once above the 50 mark and depending on the tarmac - it does become rather noisy, that with the sports button off.
Regarding the front end - i have scraped mine quite a few times now. BUt the front splitter is replaceable, and after a few hard scrapes it hasn't broken.
My advice is if you can afford it - go for it
Today I drove from my home in Gloucestershire, up the M4, across London to Portland Place. Had a meeting and lunch, popped down to Knightsbridge, bit of shopping, then out of town and home.
About 5 hours driving, 250 miles and 24 mpg. Trip was faultless, apart from the parking ticket (fed the wrong meter
), comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable. Can't fault the breadth of its capabilities. Wonderful little car.
About 5 hours driving, 250 miles and 24 mpg. Trip was faultless, apart from the parking ticket (fed the wrong meter
), comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable. Can't fault the breadth of its capabilities. Wonderful little car. [quote=Pugsey]In brief for 997GT3 read everything mentioned by previous posters re 996 but assume any plus side is even better and any negative - eg comfort - is not as bad. C2S with power pack might appear to come close on paper but it actually doesn't. It's still nearly 50bhp down ( most 997GT3s seem to be showing at least 425bhp) and a much less exotic lump to boot, plus revised PASM in the GT3 is on another plane entirely. Fully specced C2S with power pack is pretty near GT3 money anyway and will depreciate faster IMO so why would you anyway?
You are absolutely right. I was surprised at the massive difference between C2S with power pack and GT3. The C2S felt like it was standing.
I've specced up a GT3 and a C2S with power pack and the price difference end up at around 3000 pounds sterling, which, considering the total ürice, is neither here nor there.
Regards, Walteru
You are absolutely right. I was surprised at the massive difference between C2S with power pack and GT3. The C2S felt like it was standing.
I've specced up a GT3 and a C2S with power pack and the price difference end up at around 3000 pounds sterling, which, considering the total ürice, is neither here nor there.
Regards, Walteru
Kidhaa said:
It’s the best decision i made when i gave my 10k deposit in March last year
The only thing i would advise is dnt get the LWB seats, if you’re going to be doing long distances. I get a back ache after around 1hours driving, and yes it does become tiring after some time of driving - but although that could be the down to the over excitement.
Holding a phone conversation is ok at relatively low speeds. Once above the 50 mark and depending on the tarmac - it does become rather noisy, that with the sports button off.
Regarding the front end - i have scraped mine quite a few times now. BUt the front splitter is replaceable, and after a few hard scrapes it hasn't broken.
My advice is if you can afford it - go for it
The only thing i would advise is dnt get the LWB seats, if you’re going to be doing long distances. I get a back ache after around 1hours driving, and yes it does become tiring after some time of driving - but although that could be the down to the over excitement.
Holding a phone conversation is ok at relatively low speeds. Once above the 50 mark and depending on the tarmac - it does become rather noisy, that with the sports button off.
Regarding the front end - i have scraped mine quite a few times now. BUt the front splitter is replaceable, and after a few hard scrapes it hasn't broken.
My advice is if you can afford it - go for it
with "LWB seats" do you mean the carbon bucket seats?? Thanks a lot for the useful advice - I'll watch out for that.
Regards, Walteru
Geneve said:
Today I drove from my home in Gloucestershire, up the M4, across London to Portland Place. Had a meeting and lunch, popped down to Knightsbridge, bit of shopping, then out of town and home.
About 5 hours driving, 250 miles and 24 mpg. Trip was faultless, apart from the parking ticket (fed the wrong meter), comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable. Can't fault the breadth of its capabilities. Wonderful little car.
About 5 hours driving, 250 miles and 24 mpg. Trip was faultless, apart from the parking ticket (fed the wrong meter
), comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable. Can't fault the breadth of its capabilities. Wonderful little car. the fuel economy of the GT3 surprised me too. I drive the C2S around 175 km, 100 km motorway, 75 km country roads. Averagde speed around 95 km (60 mph). Fuel economy was somewhere in the teens. The GT3 I drove 100 km motorway, 100 km country roads. Fuel economy about 22 mpg, average speed also around 60 mph
Sensational.
Regards, Walteru
jeremyc said:
walteru said:
has anyone had any experience to offer on getting on or off the ferries or on and off the Eurotunnel train??
Not direct experience with the 997 GT3, but my 996 GT3 is noticeably lower than the 997 and I've had no problems getting on and off the Eurotunnel trains. 
I've said it before, but it's worth repeating - jeremyc; your 996 GT3 is the dog's bollox. Of the two cars in that photo, it's yours I'd run away with.
Check out the frickin' comedian. Dude..... get on Ducati Gary's case when you can. The last roadtrip was over all too soon. Best laugh ever. I recently (last December) drove to Cornwall and back - round trip of 750 miles... Some gorgeous roads down that part of the world by the way... and apart from the obligatory comfort break... could have repeated the whole journey again.
Now don't get me wrong, the 997 GT3 is not armchair comfortable - but it is perfectly acceptable as a daily drive. I have the Comfort Spec - so my car does not have the fantastic looking but not too comfy Carrera GT lookalike seats - and I find the car as comfy as my old 997 C2S.
The drive is quite epic in a GT3 - and high speed motorway journeys are a piece of cake in this car and the noise is to die for....
Now don't get me wrong, the 997 GT3 is not armchair comfortable - but it is perfectly acceptable as a daily drive. I have the Comfort Spec - so my car does not have the fantastic looking but not too comfy Carrera GT lookalike seats - and I find the car as comfy as my old 997 C2S.
The drive is quite epic in a GT3 - and high speed motorway journeys are a piece of cake in this car and the noise is to die for....
walteru - don't take too much notice of people saying that the LWBs are uncomfortable. I found them superb, even over long journeys and I know others who like them too. I actually prefer them to the 'comfort' seats. An equal number of people find them uncomfortable though so it does seem very dependent on your shape. Try them before you spec. is the answer. They are a definate 'no no' if you're a chubster I'm afraid.
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