Porsche 997.2 GT3/GT3RS or 991 GT3/GT3RS

If you had the opportunity to buy a low mileage 997.2 GT3 /GT3RS right now would you? Or would you wait till the new 991 GT3 /GT3RS come out? I completely like the styling of the 997.2 . I'm not too sold on the new headlights of the 991 as they appear too bulbous in profile view. I do however like the tail lights. There are some reasonable deals on 997.2 GT3 /GT3RS 's out there right now. But I'm afraid if I wait till the 991 versions come out and it's not to my liking, then there will be less low mileage or desirable color 997.2 versions available. As an added twist, I would probably do European Delivery on the 991 version since I have more time to raise more money. Any thoughts would be appreciated. :thanks:

I think the first question you have to ask, is are you willing to wait for 2-3 years for the 991s to come out and actually be available................

Do you like the 2011 Cayenne? If you do and believe it belongs in a sports car wait. If you like the current simplistic interior style of the 997.2 then buy now. If it was me I would buy now and if the 991GT3 ended up being the all and end all I would sell and buy it. Honestly,I do not think either way you can go wrong. it just depends on if you want a car now or later.

I think the question is "will it be worth the wait?" I can wait a couple years, but like I said that just will limit the availability of good 997.2 versions that haven't seen the track or been abused.

I don't like the Cayenne at all. I guess you are hinting towards the Porsche 's move towards luxury and utility rather than a raw sports car. I sat in a new 991 at Rennsport Reunion IV and it definitely had more of a GT touring feel especially with the raised middle console. I think either way, it will be my last Porsche for awhile, that's why I want to make a good choice.

Details on the new 991 GT3 /RS are quite speculative at this point. One thing we do know is that it won't have the Metzger (GT1) engine. The 997.2 GT3 /RS are the last cars to use that engine, which has achieved something of a cult status among Porsche purists. IMHO it's really hard to go wrong with a 997.2 RS. They are phenomenal vehicles on the track. What is your intended use of the car?

997 GT3 hands down (.1 or .2). I just think this will be the car to own. I have done plenty of track days in them and have only great things to share. The 991 looks great but think the technology might get in the way of a pure drivers car.

The 997.2 GT3 is an amazing car. I've only driven it on the street and can only imagine what it would be like on a track. If you have the means to get one now, I would do so. Two years is a long wait and you'll be missing a lot of great driving adventures. When the 991 GT3 comes along, you'll then be able to make an informed decision on if the new GT3 is THAT much better than the one you own. If the answer is yes, then you'll still be able to sell the 997.2 GT3 for a decent price since they hold their value a bit more than a normal 997 would.

Depends what you're looking for. For example the 991 S is as fast or faster than the 997.2 GT3 (with current factory go-faster options like PDK , Sport Chrono Plus, PCCB etc. fitted). Probably not much you'll gain with the older model especially as the 991 is said to be much sharper than previous 997 CS. Maybe with the additional noise etc. and firmer suspension you'll get a bit more feel or something, but a suspension tweak will take care of that too. I really like the GT3 and I'd go for the 991 GT3 then when it arrives years later, but for now an old model is an old model. Especially when it is 'raw and sporty' yet seems to have little advantage in that department compared to the new basic one.

You indicated that you didn't want a car that had been tracked. Does this mean you don't intend to track it yourself? If not, I'm curious what draws you to the GT3 over a C2S? The GT3 really seems pointless if you are only going to drive on the street. Personally, I voted with my money and bought a .2 GT3 . It is the most amazing car I have ever owned and I'm not sure now a 991 will better what it has to offer. More performance that is easier to access? Less challenge, feedback; more electronic systems driving for you? No thanks.

I definitely want to get more involved in track days. I think a dedicated track car would help.

Since you have done plenty of track days, any pros and cons .1 versus .2?

Pete, Any thoughts collectability/value retention in the far future? .1GT3/RS vs .2GT3/RS? Which would you bank on if you were going to hold on to one for 20+ years? I know all too well about how a single year makes a difference in a collector's eye. Case in point my 1966 912 vs my 1965 912.

I definitely like how a GT3RS can stand out in a crowd both visually and performance wise. I faced the same issue when I purchased my CS Sport. I test drove most of the 997.1 line up (Carrera, Carrera S and Carrera 4S). Unfortunately, the handling of those models seemed to luxurious instead of sporty and I didn't want to blend into the crowd with another silver 911. Here in N.California, a silver 911 is quite a common vehicle. So I chose my CS Sport. It had the sports car feel to it and it stood out in a crowd with the graphics and color combo.

Yeah that's just my personal preference. I wouldn't be too enthused on dropping that kind of money on car that has seen lots of track time. I do intend to track the car myself, but I do intend on keeping it for a long time as well. So I think in the long run the extra money spent on a GT3 over a C2S would be worth it. Like Pistolpete mentioned before, GT3's seem to hold their values better than other 911's.

Pete offers sage advice. Few modern cars appreciate in value. Given that it will probably get a motor change we have little with which to predict what the next GT3 will be. The one thing we can be sure of is that it will be faster. The question is: will you buy the first in a new series, or will you then wait till the car is "proven"? Looking forward, Porsche has bigger numbers to hit - they will sell higher volumes, likely to further reduce the "investment" thesis. IMHO, if you have the inclination for a GT car now, get a 997.1 RS (aesthetics & track), 997.2 GT3 (street & track), or 997 GT2 (rarity, street & track). Winter is typically a reasonable time to buy (slower demand) and the economy is weak (acknowledged it may get weaker). Alternatively you might consider a 996 GT3 . Track rats love them; they are well depreciated and appear to be holding current value; good ones are becoming more difficult to find.

Buy a new Lotus Exige S (or Evora GTE) to have fun in until the 991 GT3 is available for you to buy.

997.2 I think the most important thing to consider is that this is the creme of the creme for the 997 that's been molded and perfected over the past 7/8-ish years. With the 991, it will be technically better, but "rudimentary" in form and not as perfected in performance as the 997.2 . This is like the '06 CS vs. '12 R - the oiling engine problems were found, and then addressed. Who knows what kind of gremlins you'll get in the 991. GT3 RS 4.0 would be EPIC (black only though :taunt Plus if you get the 997.2 now, more time to enjoy it! And warranty wouldn't be an issue since you're planning on tracking it anyways. The only defense that the 991 GT3 will have is the "new kid on the block" image in California. You'll be the new one to beat, but that's if that kind of stuff matters at all to you. And it's always easy to go unique with custom color schemes. I remember a guy posting on the teamspeed forum a photo shopped yellow/black 997.2 RS and it was HOT. No other one like it. Happy shopping!

Yeah it would be EPIC! It's epically out of my budget! How many black cars did they make? I had only seen them in white until my Excellence magazine came in the mail and a black one was on the cover.

Just a few thoughts after reading some of the comments since my previous post. I don't understand having a GT3 and not tracking it - GT3s were made to take to the track, and if I were to buy one, that would not put me off as long as the car was properly checked out prior to purchase. I also do not recommend starting out in a GT3 . You will learn a lot more driving a slower car fast, than a fast car slow. I have seen more than a few people try to start out in a GT3 or Turbo, and find out real quickly that they have way more car than they can handle on the track (and more than a few, show up with a 944 or something else sooner than later when they realize it). I've been doing DEs for a long time now, and I did a lot with the old Panoz Racing School, run in the most advanced BMW and PCA run groups and I still have no desire to get into a GT3 on the track - just way too much car for me.......... First suggestion then, if you want a GT3 , start tracking your CaymanS now. Learn, and find out if it is really for you. A much more effective and cheaper way to determine of a GT3 really makes sense at a later date. If not, I'd say get a 997 Turbo for the street as they are much more street friendly to drive than a GT3 . Regards

Yeah, if you don't track then just put coil-over suspension on a Carrera . And if the drive isn't the issue then put on some loud stickers on it or something...