997.1 GT3 vs 997.2 GTS - Which as a daily? - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

I have a decision to make. I am bored of PDK in my 997.2 C4S; it is crap compared to the 991 GT3 and although it does everything else well i miss the emotion of a throttle blip. Also, i think it would be nice to have an 'analogue' car to go with the new-tech 991 GT3. So, i know the "can i use a GT3 as a daily" has been done to death... but seriously, what would you choose? Here's my situation: - 30yo in a month... - A nagging girlfriend but no kids yet! - Commute circa 40min, covering A20 and M20 - 1,200 miles in total My current C4S is on lowering springs and BBS, to make it look more racey. I bought a Sharkwerks to make it sound more racey. I hit every speedbump in it but it actually rides slightly better than stock with the H&Rs. I'm looking at the manual GTS because it's a step closer to a GT3 with the addition of the Power Pack and alcantara interior (heard the GTS has harder ride than standard car though?). So come on then... its 1am... talk me into a GT3 or or out of it! I really WANT the GT3 but will i regret it after a week? Ride? PCM2? Gen 1 interior? Will i cry?

It's post 1am so irreverent posts essential... Clearly you are being a bit soft and should go for the gt3. Seriously, I'm trying to find a gt3 right now. Strikes me as a good mix of daily driver and road racer. You're a young guy. If you can't go with the road racer now then when will you? Man up my son James

GT3? I'd go for a GT3 RS

Well it's now a more sensible time of day and I still agree with the other posters: man up and enjoy the best of Porsche whilst you are in a position to do so

Buy it. Try it. If you don't like it, sell it. It's not like you are going to lose much in the process.

I've just picked ups 997 Gen 1 and am surprised at how docile and compliant that it is on the road. I think that as a daily driver it is absolutely fine. Porsche are generally not given to over statement but they call the M engine 'the masterpiece'. I have to say that I'm inclinded to agree.

Having both a 997.2 GTS and a GT3, the character of both is very different. But I was happy to use my 996 as a daily and did 10k miles in 12 months in it when I first bought it. I'm now using the GTS as my daily. It is more refined in every way. The engine, while very capable, doesn't feel anything like as special at any speed. Good, but not a patch on the GT3 engine. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending a GT3 as a daily. They make every journey feel very very special. No matter how short.

Just to say, thanks for the words of encouragement! Having missed out on the Cayman GT4 i have done a deal on a 997.1 GT3 and will be picking it up next week. I am looking forward to comparing it to the 991 GT3 sitting at home! An extra bit of good news is that my dad is going to keep the my C4S; he's been using it for the last week and can't bear to see it go!

hondansx said: Just to say, thanks for the words of encouragement! Having missed out on the Cayman GT4 i have done a deal on a 997.1 GT3 and will be picking it up next week. I am looking forward to comparing it to the 991 GT3 sitting at home! An extra bit of good news is that my dad is going to keep the my C4S; he's been using it for the last week and can't bear to see it go! Lovely great news any pics and details? where did u find her?

hondansx said: Just to say, thanks for the words of encouragement! Having missed out on the Cayman GT4 i have done a deal on a 997.1 GT3 and will be picking it up next week. I am looking forward to comparing it to the 991 GT3 sitting at home! An extra bit of good news is that my dad is going to keep the my C4S; he's been using it for the last week and can't bear to see it go! So you'll be wanting a good deal on a pair of Sharkwerks exhaust's for the 997 & 991 GT3....? Great choice by the way. If I didn't need the 4 seats I would be hunting down a 997.2 GT3 and saying goodbye to the GTS

Ha! The key is trackday noise limits as they will be being used properly! Did you know you can make the 997 GT3 a four seater? I thought about the GTS, but a comfort GT3 is not much more money so thought i should just go for it. The car is through Porsche Colchester. It was being sold on behalf of a customer.

Cayman R makes a awesome daily ;-)

hondansx said: Ha! The key is trackday noise limits as they will be being used properly! Did you know you can make the 997 GT3 a four seater? I thought about the GTS, but a comfort GT3 is not much more money so thought i should just go for it. The car is through Porsche Colchester. It was being sold on behalf of a customer. AH I think I remember you buying this did they have two for sale at the same time? Demon, I do think Cayman R a great little motor but sadly no GT3

PorscheGT4 said: Cayman R makes a awesome daily ;-) Surely you should just be happy it's a manual!

Scooty100 said: AH I think I remember you buying this did they have two for sale at the same time? No, they literally got the car in yesterday and it was chance i was looking! There's three other comforts for sale at the moment.

Scooty100 said: AH I think I remember you buying this did they have two for sale at the same time? Demon, I do think Cayman R a great little motor but sadly no GT3 who want's a GT3 as a daily drive !, it's a good thing the R is no GT3, I would have sold it if it were ;-p just got to hope the GT4 is just as usable as my R.

hondansx said: Ha! The key is trackday noise limits as they will be being used properly! Did you know you can make the 997 GT3 a four seater? I thought about the GTS, but a comfort GT3 is not much more money so thought i should just go for it. The car is through Porsche Colchester. It was being sold on behalf of a customer. With the valves closed you should be ok for most trackdays with sensible limits... I was told the rear floor was thinner in the 997 GT3 preventing sufficient seatbelt anchorage and was only listed as a 2-seater so making a 4-seater would have insurance issues. At the time it all sounded feasible unless you know different? I love my GTS but a 997.2 GT3 would be my ultimate 911 (bar the 991 GT3 which is now daft-money, unless you own one!)

chrisABP said: With the valves closed you should be ok for most trackdays with sensible limits... I was told the rear floor was thinner in the 997 GT3 preventing sufficient seatbelt anchorage and was only listed as a 2-seater so making a 4-seater would have insurance issues. At the time it all sounded feasible unless you know different? I love my GTS but a 997.2 GT3 would be my ultimate 911 (bar the 991 GT3 which is now daft-money, unless you own one!) The 997.1 GT3 you can add rear seatbelts, but not the 997.2. The number of seats on the V5 is not a problem for an insurer such as Mannings.

PorscheGT4 said: who want's a GT3 as a daily drive !, it's a good thing the R is no GT3, I would have sold it if it were ;-p just got to hope the GT4 is just as usable as my R. Will you sell it if it's not? Sounds like they have really stiffened it up. Not sure it will be compliment enough for you.

Richie200 said: Well it's now a more sensible time of day and I still agree with the other posters: man up and enjoy the best of Porsche whilst you are in a position to do so I think anyone who uses a GT3 for a daily drive needs a slap! That's NOT what they are for! If they were, they would've been mass produced... Definately not your RS either Richie! Have my M3 as a daily, I'll use your GT3 for a weekend/trackday monster (which is what they were designed for!!!!!!!!!!)

People - don't talk me out it AFTER i've bought it!

hondansx said: People - don't talk me out it AFTER i've bought it! Good man. I'm not jealous at all....! Will put 1 x 991 GT3 and 1 x 997 GT3 Sharkwerks systems to one side for you from our next shipment in 3-4 weeks ;-)

chrisABP said: I was told the rear floor was thinner in the 997 GT3 preventing sufficient seatbelt anchorage and was only listed as a 2-seater so making a 4-seater would have insurance issues. At the time it all sounded feasible unless you know different? I don't think it is a thinner rear "floor" it is an omission of the mounting points, the extra metal bits which the belt mounts attach to. They were left out of the GT2RS for weight saving (it says this in the blurb) and according to post above also left out of other 997.2 GT models.

TB993tt said: chrisABP said: I was told the rear floor was thinner in the 997 GT3 preventing sufficient seatbelt anchorage and was only listed as a 2-seater so making a 4-seater would have insurance issues. At the time it all sounded feasible unless you know different? I don't think it is a thinner rear "floor" it is an omission of the mounting points, the extra metal bits which the belt mounts attach to. They were left out of the GT2RS for weight saving (it says this in the blurb) and according to post above also left out of other 997.2 GT models. It's really the 997.2 GT3 which I would love to own next after the GTS but this info is great as I will have to get my head around the fact it only has 2 seats so my boys will just have to take it in turns (or argue as 4 and 6 year olds do...!)

I would have loved a Gen 2 also, they look awesome. However, it's another £15k for a comparable car and i was ultimately put off by the stiffer ride. I will be using the car as genuine daily; i'll be doing 1,000 miles a month. As with the 996 GT3, the first gen car is the more road orientated.

I do get the gen 2 argument when looking at the classifieds but in the real world not once have I ever looked at my gen 1 or been driving it and thought to myself "dammit I wish I bought a gen 2. This car is not all the car I ever need" It really is the dogs dangleys. A green RS would be nice though and to be fair it's the same car but green.

Good pep talk Pete - thanks!

Lucky man, sounds like an awesome combo you have there! I wonder which one you'll want to keep over the long term... Freddie 997.1 GT3 CS

chrisABP said: With the valves closed you should be ok for most trackdays with sensible limits... My 7.1 GT3 won't pass a static test at Bedford but will sail the drive by easily i.e. the noise guy just needs a little persuasion to give me a sticker then it's all good.

Congrats OP. Does your car have buckets? Mine has and I wouldn't DD it, but with regular seats it'd be very manageable IMO

Mario149 said: Congrats OP. Does your car have buckets? Mine has and I wouldn't DD it, but with regular seats it'd be very manageable IMO Agreed, although I'm sure we'd cope

The seats aren't the potential problem with using a GT3 as a daily driver - the clutch and comparatively tall 1st gear in crawling traffic are the thing that make you want to be in something else. A couple of times last year I got caught in 2 hour+ jams last year in the GT3 and frankly under those conditions I really would have rather been in my 3 series automatic. Out of context for the OP in this case, but it also takes at least 3-5 miles just to warm the oil up in a GT3, so if you are doing really short haul stuff it isn't the right thing to have. As a daily driver I would always council the 997 GTS with the PDK gearbox, but only if you already had a GT3 in your life. Otherwise get a GT3 and get whatever falls in budget for a second car as the daily. Nice that the OP has pulled the trigger though, and I wise them clear flowing roads on their commute now and in years to come

Demon comment about GT3's overly long gearing in 3.... 2.... 1... But yes, the clutch in stop/start traffic gets tiresome, along with speed cushions. If the OP's commute has little to none of those, then all will be sweet!

I haven't had a manual car in years, so it will take some getting used to! It was probably the biggest decision to make, but i've figured for the occasional bad journey, 90% of the time it'll be fine.

Amazing car but not for me as a daily, the clutch is too much in traffic for my liking.

GT3 is a fantastic thing but when I've had to use one of mine as a DD it just shows up its weaknesses. Abysmal ground clearance, notchy gearshift and heavy clutch mainly. It always seemed such a waste to put miles on mine in heavy traffic or wet speed bump infested city streets.