997.1 GT3 - things to look out for? - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

A friend of mine is selling his GT3. He has owned the car from new and it has been cherished. He is selling it because he is too busy to really use it. A 2007 car with less than 10,000 miles. Obviously FPSH etc etc. Pristine. Only negative on spec for me is the non bucket seats. It is going through a 111 point check next week (so that I can put a warranty on it after compulsory 3 month delay what's that about). Is there anything I should particularly ask Porsche to look at? Is it worth replacing the front splitter which has a couple of scuffs? It has silver wheels - any advice on painting them anthracite or similar? Porsche want £600+VAT for that.

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.] http://thumbsnap.com/sc/8Lv1OGOU.jpg

R1nur said: A friend of mine is selling his GT3. He has owned the car from new and it has been cherished. He is selling it because he is too busy to really use it. A 2007 car with less than 10,000 miles. Obviously FPSH etc etc. Pristine. Only negative on spec for me is the non bucket seats. It is going through a 111 point check next week (so that I can put a warranty on it after compulsory 3 month delay what's that about). Is there anything I should particularly ask Porsche to look at? Is it worth replacing the front splitter which has a couple of scuffs? It has silver wheels - any advice on painting them anthracite or similar? Porsche want £600+VAT for that. sounds a corker. Maybe retro fit buckets? great cars if you get a good one. With 10k miles and as you already know the car id say you are probably buying a good one. Lots have been ruined at that age by now by people who don't pay to maintain them properly

if it's going for a 111 check and you are buying a warranty then no issue. but if your friend is selling it you, get him to put a warranty on it and then transfer it to you. not that in this case you can avoid the 3 months lapse I guess. AS with most cars price is always key, buckets cost 6k and imo a GT3 type of car needs the buckets, so the price has to reflect that. I know many a dealer who will bid you right down or not even take the car in with normal seats, the older the car the more the next buyer wants buckets in this type of car. as you know, things to look out for are many , but tyres are £1k also disks and pads take a big hit, both easy to check. coil packs, rads, condensors, clutch's shocks etc can all go wrong and none of those are covered, the car is 8 years old now but low miles so hard to tell what might need doing.

Great idea about the warranty - thank you. I'd prefer buckets for sure but this car is too good to turn down. Back to back with my Cayman R - the buckets win hands down. The car had a 20,000 mile service at the end of April - all tyres discs pads tip top.

are you going to sell the R now ? if so just swap the buckets over, it will only knock 2k off the value or maybe nothing if you trade that car in some where. where as it will make the GT3 a far easier selling and valued car in the future. So worth taking a small hit now to swap them car to car imo esp if you are getting the GT3 cheaper because of no buckets. might be your biggest regret selling the R and driving a GT3 though :-) but that's not for me to say lol the engines a joy if you can get to the exciting bit of it alas your drives will be far a few between getting the most out of the GT3. I am up to knowing past 6 GT3 owners now with Cayman R's these guys are swapping back for a reason I can assure you. but some times that box needs to be ticked and every one into cars has to have owned a GT3 :-)

mrdemon said: are you going to sell the R now ? if so just swap the buckets over, it will only knock 2k off the value or maybe nothing if you trade that car in some where.) Another great idea - thanks! Will the GT3 seats fit the Cayman? My plan is to run the Cayman R and the GT3 for the summer. Then make a decision on which one goes! But the GT3 itch needs scratching and the price is fair. Edited by R1nur on Friday 9th May 13:37

R1nur said: Another great idea - thanks! Will the GT3 seats fit the Cayman? My plan is to run the Cayman R and the GT3 for the summer. Then make a decision on which one goes! should swap ok fun summer :-)

R1nur if you change your mind about buying this please PM me your mates contact number. I have been after one for a while but can't find the right one. I was contacted by Porsche on Wednesday (voice message) with one same description as your mates and in the 20 minutes it took me to call back it had been sold. I can tell you I was not happy

As well as the usual things , check the top mounts dont knock. Regardless of mileage or age the rubber can "give" and create an audible knock when driving slow speed which will drive you crazy. They are not covered under the warranty either so dont think that will save you. They are not lots of money but once they are done the car needs a full geo etc etc and it all gets tiresome. It goes without saying but I`ll say it anyway - get a printout of the over revs. Physically get it in your hand and look at it to make sure all is well and someone has not gone from 4th to 2nd gear thinking it will be 5th by mistake. Porsche should not put a warranty on the car if there is a problem but that can slip and then you are left holding the baby. I suppose the only other thing would be to get a good look under the car for any obvious oil leak. Again , regardless of age , mileage or use they seem prone to a weep here and there. Its going to be a good summer for you with those 2 to choose from. I wonder which set of keys you opt for 1st once you have owned them both for a while.

How do you plan to use the car? Every day, sunday blasts, touring, track days or a mixture. I think this is the key to what spec to look for, whether to go for club sport with buckets, or sports seats, sat nav and a sunroof. In addition to the other points raised by others I would also suggest the following: 1. Check the paint on the sills just ahead of the rear wheels - it tends to get gravel rash from the front wheels and can start to corrode. 2. Handling Balance - the cars are very sensitive to setup and this has a big affect on the driving experience. Mine has a JZM fast road / track setup but I have also driven one with a track focussed set-up and the different is surprising. So when comparing the driving experience take this in to account and also get the car geo set-up for how you want to use it.

One option with changing the seats is that there is nothing to stop you from installing 996 bucket seats (assuming that you didn't want to go aftermarket). Carnewal still seem to be able to get the nomex ones for €1995 including mounting hardware http://www.carnewal.com/products/P96/p96051/GT3-Se... . That is about your best option cost-wise and far less than the fixed or folding 997 items. [Naturally the only things that ever shipped with 996 buckets in a 997 shell were the early Ruf RT12s, but the precedent is there all the same]. That may be per seat though - nothing OE is ever cheap, but at least the £/€ is strong at the moment. Edited by DiscoColin on Friday 9th May 17:45

Far Cough said: As well as the usual things , check the top mounts dont knock. Regardless of mileage or age the rubber can "give" and create an audible knock when driving slow speed which will drive you crazy. They are not covered under the warranty either so dont think that will save you. They are not lots of money but once they are done the car needs a full geo etc etc and it all gets tiresome. The top mounts are covered by warranty, mine were done a couple of months ago. It is better, but still not silent. Also OP, don't discount the sports seats, I use mine as a DD and couldn't live the the buckets daily. The Sports seats are pretty good.

It looks like it has ceramic brakes, make sure you get them checked out to ensure they are not chipped.

I have some very important advice for you. Buy it!

Thank you for all your input/ideas/experience. Receiving lots of messages about the Cayman R - don't think it will take long to sell!

Got mine last October and seems like i did well moving so quickly when she came up on Pistonheads, when I rang previous owner he said it had only been online 10 minutes. I have not seen another similar GT3 in my price range since. It seems that prices are firming up everywhere and I think I bought well at the time. Even my old T350's seem to be going up in value by the day. Buy it you will not regret it! My Haywood and Scott by pass exhaust has just arrived so will be fitted next week, looking forward to an improved soundtrack Edited by griffgray on Saturday 10th May 19:21

R1nur said: Receiving lots of messages about the Cayman R - don't think it will take long to sell! They are all ex GT3 owners ;-)

And they say vaudeville is dead

^ he meant Audi TT owners.....

Car sailed through 111 point check and I took out a 2 year warranty. Seriously chuffed new GT3 owner.

Welcome to the club! You'll fricken love it!

R1nur said: Car sailed through 111 point check and I took out a 2 year warranty. Seriously chuffed new GT3 owner. Good man! Now take it into Europe, find the Grimsel Pass in Switzerland and spank that Mezger Before you do that though, put on a Hayward & Scott exhaust (you will thank me later)

anonymous said: [redacted] All true. Note thought that the 996 items are unusually comfortable for people of all sizes by bucket seat standards and also that any OE GT3 seats will retain residual value. They are far better IMHO than the fixed carbon option that was available on the 997.1 if you aren't racing driver sized. A decent pair would normally be expected to get the majority of their price back on resale too. The OP perhaps should keep a close eye on eBay though - a couple of times a year sets tend to show up somewhere (UK, US or Germany, though they carry a steep premium in the US). Last year a set of leather 997.2 folding buckets went through - less that £2.5k IIRC and a bargain for someone...

V8KSN said: Before you do that though, put on a Hayward & Scott exhaust (you will thank me later) Mine being fitted Monday morning, birthday treat to self

griffgray said: Mine being fitted Monday morning, birthday treat to self I have been considering one of these also so please post feedback on your experience.

F40GT346 said: griffgray said: Mine being fitted Monday morning, birthday treat to self I have been considering one of these also so please post feedback on your experience. Now been fitted and sports button now working too, as was previously not switchable. My god the soundtrack over 6k revs is awesome and now sounds how it should. Also doesn't seem to be too loud at cruising speed but will need a proper run to be sure. Very happy bunny

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.] http://thumbsnap.com/sc/uvSC94Pi.jpg

R1nur said: Gorgeous

As above..... Buy it! Got mine last November they are fantastic cars. Edited by VPD255M on Monday 16th June 18:44