Next generation GT3 coming here?

Anybody know anything about the next generation GT3 coming to the USA? I was at the Paris Auto Show this September and asked a representative from Porsche France about the next generation GT3. He said that they would be taking GT3 orders starting this December for delivery next Summer in France. No word on price. <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Put a "deposit" on one atleast 2 months ago (@ list)so I'll probably never get one, but the dealer says I'm #3 on his list.Also ask about 'em w/ the dealer I bought my'02 C2 from, said no deposit nessary..supposed to start in January for orders, & if they get slotts I'm in! "02 C2 O. Red/ Factory ordered Aero Kit/ "Sport EX"/B&M SS "91 C2 G.Red Fairly well sorted Track Meister

Looks like my "French Connection" was right. I haven't received my issue yet , but it's topical on other internet sites, the latest Autoweek has an article about the GT3 coming to the USA <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> ! Projected price is $145K , up over $50k from what it used to cost in Europe. Amazing how PCNA continues to screw the performance addicts; there is no reason other than profit for the increase. Go here for <a href="http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=&content_cod e=08632658" target="_blank">Autoweek GT3 Article</a>

[quote] Amazing how PCNA continues to screw the performance addicts; there is no reason other than profit for the increase. <hr></blockquote> Ummm... they are a business.

Yes, they are in business to make money. I almost wrote in my post that I would unfortunately do the same if I could price my product for such profit, but couldn't bring myself to it. I wonder though how good it can really be in the end for their business to develop a reputation as such bald faced profiteers. What is good for the bottom line today, may not be the best for the future tomorrow. <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

I think they must really enjoy gouging the US customers, case in point this $145K GT3. We have been complaining about not getting the original GT3 for a few years now and this is their answer, to give the americans a GT3 and jack up the price $50K! F***k it, I'll buy a Z06 if I want a track car.

The interesting thing is that you can buy a brand new 2003 GT3 Cup car from PMNA for $20K less than the street car. The Cup car and the street car used to be priced much more closely. Karl

[quote]Originally posted by DJ 996: <strong>I think they must really enjoy gouging the US customers, case in point this $145K GT3. We have been complaining about not getting the original GT3 for a few years now and this is their answer, to give the americans a GT3 and jack up the price $50K! F***k it, I'll buy a Z06 if I want a track car. </strong><hr></blockquote> Funny you mention this -- I got my first ride in a Z06 w. a white student who was looking for a 1-session instructor: <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> OMIGODICAN'TBELIEVETHIS

I have a standing order for the GT3 with my dealer. If the price is anywhere near the Autoweek pricing comments, PCNA can have my slot. For me personnaly, $145,000 is nuts. I worked to hard for my money to throw it at a $145,000 GT3. Others may disagree. Actually, I find it hard to believe, given the economy as it is, the Autoweek number. All you have to do is look at the number of GT2's (with significantly lower production numbers)available to conclude PCNA would have a very tough time moving a $145,000 GT3.

So Robert, you're saying the Z06 is fast !

I was really disappointed about the 145,000 number as well. I have a 996TT that I love to track and was planning on getting the GT3 as a track car but that price is nuts. Lets see, 40 less hp than the 996TT with limited tunability, no leather, no PSM, and no 4 wheel drive. I was excited about the prospect of driving a raw, spartan, light, agile GT3 but NOT at any price. I will simply upgrade my car at this point. Here's what I'm thinking: 1. H&R or Techart coilovers 2. Kinesis or BBS track wheels with Michelin Pilot Cup sprots 3. GT3 seats vs. current ****ty seats with harness and 5 point seat belts What do you guys think? Thanks, jmmitias

The next 'Sports' 996 surely must be an RS badged version following past principles...less weight + more power = brilliant drivers car, think of the 993RS for example. Anything else would be as POINTLESS as a 996 GT2. The 996TT X50 is better buy than a 996 GT2 - hope PAG has learned lessons from the 996 GT2.

[quote]Originally posted by laurence '97 C4S: <strong> All you have to do is look at the number of GT2's (with significantly lower production numbers)available to conclude PCNA would have a very tough time moving a $145,000 GT3.</strong><hr></blockquote> I keep reading on this board that there are GT2's for sale and assuming you mean from dealers rather than speculators, the numbers do not support this conclusion. At the end of October PCNA reported exactly 11 in dealer inventory against 15 sales for the month. Yes, there are a few for sale at greatly inflated prices from speculators but I just can't see how folks are concluding that these cars have been hard for dealers to sell. At a quarter of a million I'd agree they probably are a tough sell, but the dealers are moving them as fast as they come in. Btw, total sales through October are only 168 against 1939 of the regular turbo model.

I agree with all of you, $145K is BS! You can't really figure the logic they use on the pricing. GT-3 street car is nothing more than a 996 Aero with about $5K worth of suspension and another $35K motor. Now thats $40 of retail additions with not credit for the parts that would normally be supplied. My guess is that it cost PCNA about $10K extra to produce this car. Even adding a "premium" for the rarity they should be in the $90-95K range. You can buy a race ready GT-3 Cup Car delivered with a much better suspension and transmission, better gearing, roll cage, air jacks and so on for about $120K. Irony, you'd have to spend another $30K on a street Gt-3 to get it to the same level as a cup car making it a $165K buck board with no place to run but in some crazy modified race class.... And, then, you'd have to give the car away because the resale value would be all but gone.... They need to wake up! Its not just ZO6's, its M3's, Audi's, and now the likes of Nissan, Toyota and Mazda that will be popping out cars that are cheaper buy a large margin and produce superior power. Power aint everything, certainly not for the track junkie, but common sense with your hard earned dollar is hard to ignore. I was so anticipating the GT-3's release, if $145 is the number I'll add a supercharger to my car, buy a nice new 350Z, a ski boat and a couple of new snowmobiles then take the fam out to dinner to celebrate!

You mean the "fam" to dinner in Paris at Lucas Carton with wines from Domaine Romanee-Conti and Chateau Yquem of course. The other thing that gets me is at that price Porsche made no attempt to lighten the new GT3. At 3045 pounds it is the same weight as the old GT3. Even given that the car holds 25 liters more fuel at that weight than a standard C2, it's obvious no real attempt was made to lighten it. Be real interesting if they deleted the Titanium connecting rods used in the old GT3 and don't add the carbon brakes of the GT2 at that price. While Jaguar, Audi, Honda and others are using or planning to use lightweight aluminum for the whole body, Porsche uses steel for every body panel. Audi even uses lightweight forged aluminum wheels for some cars. Aluminum has been used by Porsche in the past; the 928 introduced aluminum for the front fenders, hood and doors in 1976!!! The forged aluminum wheel was introduced on the 1967 911S and for years was the standard for road wheels. Magnesium was used for all or parts of the engine and/or transmission beginning in 1969 until 1998. Porsche have abandoned these materials to produce a cheaper to build car, and we step up to buy them at these prices (and profits)!!! <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

[quote]Originally posted by Robert Henriksen: <strong> a white student </strong><hr></blockquote> Wow, I guess you can still get away with that in the south... Just kidding Robert, I couldnt resist... As for 150k for a GT3, no thanks. I'll take one of <a href="http://www.pcarracing.homestead.com/radical1.html" target="_blank">these</a> for 50k and drive circles around any GT3 (including the RS). E. J.

Rodger J Spoke with my brother yesterday. There is a dealer in Boston who has GT2 at list for quite some time. Just one car I know about, without doing any searching. Clearly with only 250 cars over two years they are not going to be on every street corner. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

I think $145k is an error (or maybe a PAG test balloon). I think the price will end up being in the low $90k's (before options). My dealer promised &lt;$100k...

I wanna go w/ Grant, on the appx $90-100k pricing. At $140-150K ,IMHO it would be a bad joke. Back in September( I think,.. have article @ office) from online News service-Automotive News stated something like 85-90 Euro's,or priced between the C4S & the Turbo & it's definitly coming to the US, w/ A/C as an option on the "plain" GT3, w/ 3.8L and also offering a GT3 "Club Sport" w/ roll bar & few other goodies. I also seem to remember thoughts of production numbers to be increased to appx 1100-1400 units, maybe a few more. Here's hoping. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> Buck '02 C2 factory Aero Kit/Sport Ex/ B&M SS O.Red '91 C2 G. Red Fairly well sorted"Track Meister"

$145K for a GT3?! It's a joke to pay that $50K mark up to PCNA. I would rather spend that kind of money on a 360 Modena over a GT3 at any time! May be PCNA would like to create some opportunities for gray import GT3 for the USA... There is no way a street GT3 would cost more than a 996TT. Guys at PCNA are dreaming!

Why the GT3 SHOULD cost more than a TT 1. Coil over suspension 2. Adjustable sway bars 3. Better brakes (6 piston 380mm) uh oh... running out of items. I think the bottom line is 2 fold. 1. PCNA will probably gouge like they did the GT2 2. They will probably make alot less GT3's than they have TT's. This means that the development costs will be spilt less ways. This makes any limited production item more expensive. The X51, X74 options are great examples. The new parts don't cost any more to make than the originals, so why so much $ for the option... simple development costs. It cost $200,000 for Porsche to make the first set of X74 supsension and if they only sell 100 sets, thats $2000 each. If you want it, its worth it.

Ed, your theory about development cost is correct, but how could a street GT3 managed to costs $25-30K more than a track GT3R Cup Car? The Cup car has much more advance motorsport technologies in it and it will be built in much lesser quantity than the street GT3. How could your theory apply to that?! In Europe the street GT3 was priced around $100K and no way the US enthusiasts have to pay more on development cost on GT3 than the porsche GT3 owners in Europe! Your theory is correct some how, but it can't apply to that ridiculous $45K markup from PCNA. IMO, it is simply a rip-off!

I don't think they can call a $50K markup a development cost on a car they have already produced in the very recent past. Albeit there are a few upgrades on the new GT3 ( more hp and '02-on facelift). I would say there is probably less differences between a 99-00 and a '03?-4 GT3 than those between a 99-01 and '02- 996. Oh, and I think they'll crank out the GT3s if they sell as they have done with the 996TT. Those can be had for the low $90s now( and falling), so much for exclusivity. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

i have the #2 slot at a dealer in boston and have been told the price is right at $100,000 and that there will be a "deal" on the ceramic brakes. frankly, i think porsche pricing is fairly rational. the biggest complaint i have is that a turbo doesn't come equipped with everything as part of the base price. by the time i added what i wanted the price was about $160,000. they should have a well-contented car for about $125,000 and then offer the GT2 at about $150,000 all-in. at $100,000 the GT3 is a great buy, imho. the minute i got the price and basic description, it resolved all my issues on which one to buy (i had been looking at 993TT's and 964 3.6 S cars and couldbn't get my head around the 996TT). -gordon

Some potential good news. A friend of mine was told the GT3 price would be "less than a 100K" from the same straight forward salesman he and I have bought Porsche cars from for many years. The salesman said he was told this at a PCNA sales meeting a few weeks ago and that the cars would be available in the spring. He also made the comment that $145K "would be silly, you could have an X50, Twin Turbo with ceramic brakes for that kind of dough". So, we will see as the saga plays out.

02_996_C2 You wrote "your theory about development cost is correct, but how could a street GT3 managed to costs $25-30K more than a track GT3R Cup Car?" I agree. However, I think the question to ask is the cost to federalize the GT3 over limited numbers. (I assume the GT3R Cup Car does not have to meet fed. regs. as it is a track car.) So this cost could be fairly high when spread over 1,000 to 1,500 street cars. Mind you I am not defending PCNA's well deserved reputation for gouging.

laurence, Ferderalize any car to sell in the US is not cheap. But if PCNA is going to add on a $45K markup on the US GT3, they are just creating rooms for gray import GT3s much like the Euro Spec 360 problem Ferrari NA is facing now. I believed many people here already got some insider information that the US GT3 will be priced around $100K which is about right when you compare it to the Euro GT3.