GT3 or RS dilemma

[jacko nic]

Just before and xmas and in jan feb there were lots of mk2 GT3s for sale which at the time I was not in the position to buy,now I am seriously looking there dont seem to be many coming up,OPC had about 6 at one stage now 1,wrong colour for me. But 996 RS's seem to be fairly avaiable.What do I do,spend up to an extra 10k on finance and go for RS or wait for GT3 to come up.Is the RS dream worth the extra dosh ,will it hold its extra value and is it that different to GT3,etc.I would like a car in place for the summer and need a weapon for Leman.I will do some track days,and drive a lot in Normandy,where I think either car would be great,otherwise it will be for a blast at the weekend for me and my lucky 3 yr old.What am I gonna do,life savings at stake???????

[speedyellow]

If it's going to be more road car than track car, go for the regular GT3, the ground clearance of the RS will get irritating, expecially in Northern France where the crown in the centre of the roads has removed front brake cooling ducts on mine....

[jacko nic]

SL apart from the roads in France is there a lot of difference between the 2 cars,can an RS be used for trips around the Uk,I've had a Turbo 2 before,which was low and had rock hard suspension and a Cerbera before,these may be totally different I dont know yet.I've driven several GT3 mk1 and 2,they dont tramline like the turbo did.

[poon]

my Polar Silver Mk2 996 GT3 is for sale at www.saffroncars.co.uk, they do excellent finance if you need it, ask for Kevan and make him an offer. Its a very nice car!

Only selling coz I have bought an RS : )

[FINFAST]

I was in the same position as yourself recently and decided to go the RS route and 3 weeks into ownership have not looked back - aesthetically I find the car so much more pleasing than standard GT3's - its got the, how do I say "va va voom..."

But on a serious note the car is incredible in all areas, but if your expecting it to be leagues better than a standard GT3 - then the honest answer is its not - the extra 10K is for exclusivity a few carbon extras and the hope that depreciation will not be as bad...

[shooomer]

I bought good OPC Mk2 GT3 last year and I'm still hovering around RS classifieds

[murcielago_boy]

FINFAST said:

- the extra 10K is for exclusivity a few carbon extras and the hope that depreciation will not be as bad...

Sorry mate - I do NOT agree. The extra £10K is for: (IMO of course!)

1. For a front end which feels MUCH more connected and stuck to the road.
2. Related to that - sensational Mk1 GT3 style turn-in.
3. A (typically) more powerful car (the engine is definitely punchier than a Mk2 GT3 regardless of Porsche's official quotes)
4. The dicernible weight loss.
5. The LWF.

The RS utterly focuses the MK2 GT3 which was already a fabulous car.
Looks, exclusivity (open to debate), residuals, (also open to debate), RS-factor, carbon bits are side issues.

I had a Mk2 GT3 and it was fabulous. The only thing the RS doesn't have is the Speed Yellow paintwork I loved soo much on the Mk2.

[seawise]

jacko,

i am new to lightweight porsche ownership so this are my initial impressions.

for a start it's a RS so if you're planning to keep it there is no doubt that the cars heritage will play an important role in deciding future residuals.

as far as the the drive is concerned, i would suggest u consider the car a gt3 mk2 + 10 percent. i haven't been able to get on a circuit yet, but those who have comment that car is much less compromised. as far as the road is concerned, it's much better than i had been led to believe from the motoring press. it's not a car that u could use everyday, but to me thats part of the appeal.

to be honest the RS just felt so much more special than a standard gt3, even visually there seems to be quite a difference in stance.

seeing as u r currently undecided, i would suggest u stamp up the extra spondoolies and go for it. if u don't be be very surprised that u don't come to regret yr decision.

+ + +

[jacko nic]

Thanks all,does anyone know the history of the Paragon car(now sold,it was a bit cheap?????)and the Camtune car,which I have looked at and it does look the part.I think RS is the way to go if I can get some xtra dosh.

Edited by jacko nic on Monday 19th March 17:44

[Merritt]

Im going to throw the other opinion in here..

There are very few track day drivers that can extract anything close to max performance from any GT3. Pretty much every GT3 I know of that goes on track regularly has had a geometry set up on it which makes the MKII much sharper.

I can count on one hand the number of GT3RS's that are quicker (with identical drivers) than MKII / MKIs and all of them have had suspension and / or engine mods.

In short - they are all great cars. If you can afford the extra 10k and fancy the RS then go for it but a MKII or MKI in most peoples hands will be just as quick on track.

Steve

Edited by Merritt on Monday 19th March 18:08

[seawise]

the ex-paragon car is in my hands now - previously it was kurgen's - it was cheap?

well it's probably the first sub £60k car, why ? well i assume its because it hasn't got aircon (no skin off my nose), its done a fair amount of track miles and has a few choice mods.

i'm certainly not complaining, it's bloody fast and well sorted.

[hunter 66]

Agree with Merrit here there has only been 1 Rs quicker than the comfort spec Mk2 and that was trailered to the track.So as to power etc there is very little in it on the track. The Rs looks great though but as I have a12 year old daughter it would be a no go on the school run.The old RSs 993 and 964 were subtle lightweights , maybe just age catching up.The 996 RS should have been 100kg lighter to make worthwhile.By the way Steve I liked your lap of Snett.

[clubsport]

seawise said:

jacko,

i am new to lightweight porsche ownership + + +

Great cars, but at around 1400kg they are hardly lightweights unless you are comparing them to a Cayenne.

Gt3 mk2 seems slightly unloved, despite being incredibly capable and in the shadow of RS version, this will make it a real bargain if it is not that already.

[poon]

my RS is no quicker than my old Mk2, it spools up quicker in slow corners but in my numpty hands round a track theres very little in it. I wanted a change and couldn't justify a new 997 GT3 so a logical move was to an RS, pli=us I love the way it looks, that said no-one outside my circle of Pork loving mates likes it. It is the subject of much p!sstaking at work and home, but who cares I like it!

[jacko nic]

Seawise you beat me to it!!!!!!!!!!
Any one else know the Camtune car,it has mods,it would be nice to know it bit about it.

Edited by jacko nic on Monday 19th March 18:58

[jacko nic]

poon what do they take the piss out of?

[FINFAST]

jacko nic said:

Seawise you beat me to it!!!!!!!!!!
Any one else know the Camtune car,it has mods,it would be nice to know it bit about it.

Edited by jacko nic on Monday 19th March 18:58

Ask Parr they may let you know the history...

[jacko nic]

Good idea Parr helped me before like that...cheers, by the way my wife wants to know why there is a climbing frame in the back poon

Edited by jacko nic on Monday 19th March 19:21

[DanH]

speedyellow said:

If it's going to be more road car than track car, go for the regular GT3, the ground clearance of the RS will get irritating, expecially in Northern France where the crown in the centre of the roads has removed front brake cooling ducts on mine....

The ride height is adjustable though, and once your ducts get torn off you are the same as a mk2 in clearance afaik.

Whichever car, the ducts and splitter are unfortunately sacrificial. c'est la vie.

[poon]

they say its a bit boy racer(ish), philistines!

my climbing frame is black so its not too noticeable!