Serious Moral Dilemma with Regards to Porsche Trading

My local dealer, Bluegrass Porsche, just got in my dream car. It's a 2007 Speed Yellow GT3, 24,000 miles and CPO through 2013. They are asking $84,900 and they will graciously knock $500 off the price 'cause I'm such a nice guy. They had one similar, but not CPO, last year and it sold in 2 days. They are offering me $25,000 trade in allowance on my Guard's Red 2002 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Savanna Beige interior, supple leather power heated seats. Question is, should I do it? My wife is surprisingly okay with it (on the understanding that she gets a convertible 3 series as I won't have a convertible anymore). The main thing I noticed is that driving the GT3 makes my current Pcar feel like driving a luxury sedan. It really beats the hell out of you (which is awesome). And it barely gets over the curb at the end of my driveway. And it's not so good at getting over speedbumps. Link, (with pics!!!): http://porsche.bluegrassauto.com/pre...17S792893.aspx

Go for it. Is almost summer, what the heck!

Moral dilemma? Sounds more like a financial dilemma. And if you tend to drive it a lot (e.g., a dailly driver). I think that your affection for the "rawness" and the low ride height might soon wear off.

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+100 Unless you are going to track the car, that is a different story. Keep the Cab! (I'm partial to Guard Red Cabs).

If the money and having a rear seat wasn't an issue, I'd definitely have a GT3.

Bobby, If you and your wife are planning on kids, think about it... For me, even my C4S was "too much" for me to put my kid in, etc, hence it's gone - for now. But that's just me.

My local dealer, Bluegrass Porsche, just got in my dream car. So what are you waiting for? : )

If you can afford it, do it. I might be your only shot (kids etc.)

Don't want to be laying on your death bed thinking, "I wish I had bought the Speed Yellow GT3".......

seems a bit dear....no?

Part of the problem is that the reason(s) to own either car are different. The cab is more practical--but isn't as exciting. The GT3 is more exciting--but not as practical. Hm-m-m.

I'm having difficulty ascertaining the moral dilemma in the scenario. Is it that Bobby's struggling with having to give up the comfort of the c4 for the pain he will endure by driving the gt3? Or the guilt of having his wife have to suffer by driving a bimmer when she was accustomed to living the pcar lifestyle? Perhaps there's a life lesson for all of us here. Perhaps Bobby should consider a late model turbo cab, which should solve both of these life changing morality issues. I don't know. What would Kant do?

I had my cab for 7 years and it was one of the most enjoyable cars I've ovned, and I've owned a lot since the late '60s. I too have thought about replacing it with a GT3, even looked at some. Then reflecting on my positive Carrera experiences, the best all occured with the top down. The cab just seems to make the whole experience better, a lot better. I felt the GT3 would be fun in the twisties and to wind it out on lonely desert highway, but it is really a track tool and I no longer involve myself with the stresful duties of racing. I have decided my next P car will be another Cabriolet, this time with a turbo. I have driven a few T coupes and they feel pretty awsome. From talking to people that have had both, they almost always recommend a Turbo over a GT3 for street duties. If you track, the GT3 is a tool that is nice, but not nearly as nice as it could be with a tweeked suspension, interior mods, brake upgrades, tires, enclosed trailer. We could be over $50k above the cost of the car and that's the short list. Now what are you going to drive? Lots of considerations, and another important one is that I've seen an awful lot of 997 GT3s for sale, a lot more than I can imagine there are buyers for, just look on Cars.com and Auto Trader. I'm thinking these may depreciate like a falling rock. I've actually started to see the 996 GT3s get stronger price wise than a year ago. Good luck with your moral delema

last problem with the GT3, they could be pretty beat up with even 3k miles on the odo, because if they only see the trailer and the track, 3k miles is a lot of hard driving. That is my main problem with the GT3, you will never really know how lucky was the track, how many times did it go off tracks and stuff. ok they are built for tough use but that always bothered me a bit I think you can drive a great deal on track with a standard 911, the only people who should buy GT3 are the one who plan to trailer them at the track and go on a monthly basis, if not I think that is overkill. Most open track session are like 15 min long anyways and the base 911 should be able to hold just fine for that amount of time. If you plan on racing 30 minutes straight then GT3

If you plan on 80% Street and 20% track use then the C4 cab. is going to be much more practical. If your plans are 50/50 track street or any varient of more track then get the GT3. Two or Three DE days each year and maybe 50 sunshine filled street days the better choise is the C4. You will not be unhappy no matter which Porsche you pick.

IDK I mean I "want" a lot of cars but in my heart I know that I cannot use the car the way it should be used or justify "that type of car" to drive back and forth to work. if you have exhausted your cars abilities at the track and need more.... get the GT3, if its just cause you want a GT3... not so much - just my .02

Hmmm. Not sure about it being a "moral" dilemma, but it certainly is a dilemma to be sure. I'd have to say that a speed yellow GT3 is pretty much my dream car too (although I would take a 2011 GT3 with all that crazy orange and graphics lipstick; it has smitten me in looks, though I've never driven one), so I'm right there with you on how tough of a choice this is. I really like the comments so far from everyone; I'm on board with them all. I do really like Nick49's take on a TT. If you're a track junky to any extent, I think this car is your car. But if you want a GT3 for the sake of a GT3 like Ed said above (which is part of my own problem too), then I like Nick's idea of a TT. You get DD road manners and a crazy performer. Just my 0.02 based on everyone else's. Ha! I think I may even now have a new dream car after reading this thread! Good luck with your choice, keep us posted.

Good comments. A couple other thoughts - make sure your wife can tolerate the ride characteristics if you plan on any "road trips" in it. Also consider the "look at me" factor a speed yellow GT3 possesses. I'm not saying that from an ego perspective, I'm saying that from a "are you comfortable driving it and parking it places" without creating undue anxiety for you if it's out of your sight for more than a couple minutes. They are attractive to enthusiasts and idiots alike. I have always wanted one as well, but as particular as I am about my cars, that does impact my thoughts about how much I would drive it as a DD in fair weather vs keeping it as a garage queen. That said, if it's the car you've always wanted and can afford it without sweat, then get it and enjoy it. Do it now while you can. No one ever gets to their death bed and says "gee, I wish I would have worked more". If it's on your bucket list, get it and check it off the list!

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This sounds strange to me. A GT3 is great out of the box, you don't need to spend $50k on it. Also, you won't ever need to upgrade brakes, and any car needs tires. If you want a race car, buy a cup. If you want a street car that can play on the track, the GT3 is fine as-is. What do you mean by beat up? Most people who get GT3s as track only cars - with trailers - are meticulous about their maintenance. They are no more beat up with 3000 miles of track duty than any other car with 3000 miles of track time. If you are bothered about GT3s that see the track, you should be out of your mind about M96 engines that see the same number of laps... Very few actually race them. If you're talking DEs, most sessions are 20-25 minutes down here. Almost all cars can hadle that, from Mustangs to GTRs.

I agree that most (if not all) track cars are better maintained than street cars... the fear of owning a car that has been to the track is rediculous, in fact I would prefer if the owner was a track rat, that way I know NO saftey/maintenance items were neglected!!

OK.......say you trade the cab in....get the GT3 and get the wife a nice bimmer convert. That is at least $90 big ones out of your pocket. That is a lot of coin. That would be my dilemma....and the wife would never have entered my mind.

I dont have a dillema with $90 big ones..... I dont have them to dilema about

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A real track rat owner is okay because they know how to do maintenance and shift correctly and so on. The problem owners are the rich guys who fancy themselves track stars who go out and can't heel-toe right and miss shifts and so on.

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Same boat my friend.

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+1 on that now that i am tracking driving a few times a year, no maintence item is missed. my previous 993, which i did not track, i managed to put off items cause i didnt really need them iin a dd SURFER161

If you want to trade up to a GT3 and you think it's a great deal as structured...then I say pull the trigger on the SY GT3 and don't look back.

GTS Cabriolet.

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+1

I would not fear a GT3 used a fair amount for track duty in the hands of an enthusiast. Like others above, my experience is that any enthusiast who tracks their car over maintains it. Just ask for maintenance records from PO.

It sounds like, if you're considering it enough to post it here, you can get past the financial aspect.

Buy the best (in my opinion) Porsche ever produced, and I do have track and street time in a a GT3. It's just a car at the end of the day, drive the hell out of it, just report back how much damn fun you are having. Sorry, I can't buy into the concept that any 911 is practical, GO FOR IT! It's just for fun anyway, and you might not have another chance for 20 years.

I agree that a GT3 is a bit of a selfish purchase, but that is part of what makes it special. That said, you can always sell it if it turns out not to be the right fit. Just make sure that it's discounted enough now, to help offset future depreciation. Also, I haven't been following 7.1GT3 pricing, but $500 off doesn't seem like much of a deal to me? If it definitely has everything that you're looking for (you know that they can be spec'd with upwards of $30K in options), then do it!

The 7Gt3 is a wonderful upgrade. A dream car? Yes. The question you gotta ask yourself is If this car is going to be practical for your needs/wants. If all the different points are checked (financials, purpose, goals, etc) then I say go for it.

I appreciate all the feedback! Admittedly, I was being intentionally silly when calling this a "moral dilemma". Hereis the latest, wife is at the dealership to put $1000 deposit on the car. I am too emotionally invested to be a rational negotiator, so hopefully her lawyerin' skills will payoff today! I got approval from Penfed for 2.99% financing, so payment is relatively reasonably. At the end of the day, with insurance and payment, the GT3 is going to cost about $600 more per month than the 996.

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Yikes. Definitely a step up from your past vehicles. Post pics as soon as you get the GT3!!

As long as you're able to *comfortably* swing it, I say go for it.

We'll try to wait patiently for lots of pics, good for you. Also nice to have your wife support you with this decision.

I've gotta marry a lawyer.

Sounds like you married a great woman and your getting a GT3. Good job!!!!!!

Congrats Bobby! You have a keeper........and the car is not bad either.

Yeah, Katie's pretty awesome. Now if only we could teach her how to drive a stick shift.

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Years ago, I learned from Porsche Pete's Boxster Board, that a lot of guys would try to teach their wives or GFs to drive stick while in the bath tub. Not quite sure if I understand exactly what they meant. But my own idea comes to mind. ???