One major weakness with 996 is...

The standard and/or stock seats. Seriously folks, this car is supposed to be a sports car and instead we get treated to sloppy, unsupportive, awfully heavy and utterly useless seats. I mean my 27 year old 930 (old school 911 turbo) has FAR better and supportive seats (ok they're chocolate brown but that's besides the point). One of the best mods for these cars has to be the GT3 seats. Yes there are better/lighter race seats out there but there's no denying that GT3 seats not only save weight, keep you and your butt in the seat better when going through the twisties (or on the track) and yes look better. There's nothing worse than being in a high HP TT at the track where your **** slides around every corner and you're having to use your knee to brace yourself against the door. I know they're not for everyone but even tall people can couple these with a lowering bracket. Each seat with the bracket is 29 pounds. The stock seats? You don't even want to know. Try 2.5X... and almost 2 for the sport seats. I honestly feel a pair of these for roughly 2.5K is the best 2.5K you can spend on modding these cars- it took a couple of customers this week to remind me of that fact. Porsche (at least in Europe) really got it right. And just because they're GT3 seats, it doesn't mean one can't bling them up a bit with carbon, yellow paint and/or alcantara. One GT640 car has the yellow thing going on (really neat) and the other GT640 is full of carbon (the owner is obviously trying to rival me with the most carbon found in any 996TT). Both owners, who have modded their cars up the wazzoo have said the same thing to me. "...possibly, best 2.5K I've ever spent on this car". I get asked at least 20X times a week "What's the best mod that you think one can do". Maybe GT3 seats and a roll bar are it? If nothing else you can use 5 points, be safer and hang a set of rear Moton canister mounts.

I can't agree more...but having said that...I am using mine as a daily driver, don't track...so wouldn't the Gt seat be a little uncomfy?? I don't think my wife will be happy sitting in those seat for a 4 hour trip with the top down...no seat heating..no possibility for a lumbar support? When I get enough cash..I will buy myself a coupe with stick and do the yellow "thing" to it...love the speed yellow and black combination!

I say YUCK to that mustard over done interior.

I agree too. Very good points. But what's your oppinion on the OEM Sport seats as they are deeper and more laterally supportive than the stock?

GT3 seats though are going to be more for a track only car though. Something I've been toying with buying is this thing I see advertised in Roundel that is like a cinch you can put on your 3 point seatbelt to lock it in place, that was you can make it tight on your body enough that you won't have to support yourself with your legs.

Sure the yellow car is decked out nicely, but getting fancy sports seats and driving an automatic...????... call me a purist, but these cars shouldn't be sold other than as a manual...

That does seem a bit poserish.

Except for the fact that the new 997 Turbo automatic is quicker than the 6-speed. That said I enjoy my manual and would not get a auto right now. However, if and when Porsche works the bugs out of its DSG style transmission I may be game. On the GT3 seats I think they are a great addition as long as the car is not also performing daily driving duties or taken on long trips. Somehow I don't think I would ever get to take the Porsche on long trips when my wife was going to be in the car with those seats.

The GT3 seats are definitely one of the sweetest seats out there, if not the best. BUT, I would also have to question how comfortable it is over long road trips. I sat in one before and it hugs you x1000000 more than the stockers, but that may be a bit annoying for long rides??? Any GT3 seat owners care to chime in?

Agreed.... The GT3 seats are the best upgarde made to the car yet..... Unbelieveable when at the track compared to the stock power seats.....

Question regarding safety. I have toyed around the idea of getting GT3 seats or a racing seat installed. I am tall and could use the head room, they look better, will keep me from slidding in autoXing, and are much lighter; however, I thought that in order to have these seats you need to have a roll bar because the backs do not break away in a roll over like our standard or sport seats do. Any thoughts on this?

Good question........I would like to get a source for those clamps that are used with stock seat belts? Where can I get one?? Steve

I googled it and figured out the name. CG Lock. It appears their website is http://www.cg-lock.com/ . I haven't tried it, but I am intrigued.

I have the GT3 seats and love them. I use the car for track events and commuting a few days a week. I find the GT3 seats more comfortable than the stock sport seats, but I have had "larger" people in the car and they found the seats uncomfortable. If you can, sit in a car with them before you buy. Pros: You feel like you're a part of the car in them, like integrated into it. No more sliding around in the seat. Lighter than stock seats. Good for harnesses. They look awesome. Cons: Give up your back seat (if you have one). Might be uncomfortable for larger folks. There is slightly more effort required to get in/out of the car with them. Not a good option for taking lady in a dress out to dinner. That's my 2 cents, I would never go back to stock seats.

Anyone know what the GT3 seats weight w/o brackets?

IIRC when I wieghed them before installation they were 24 to 25 lbs each without the brackets....

For using the car as a DD, I couldn't DISAGREE more. The stock seats are far better than any other road car I've driven, including the M series. Track geeks may have a completely different experience. -- M

Actually if you sit in them first.. I'd say 7/10 people usually say they're very comfy. It's hard to say becaue it really depends on the person's dimensions to put it politely Wives? Well they complain about most things in Porsches so you'd be right. There is lumbar support (manual and you move it up and down behind the cusion yourself) but no heat. I did once install/retrofit the heating kit on to a set of GT3 seats. Doable...

Well with 640HP, dialed in suspension and some monstrous brakes I'd say this car would likely run rings around any manual... Purist is fine, heck I have a 930 myself but I also recognize that times change and I'm also going to give it up to Porsche on the 996Tip. They did an awesome job. Period. At least they admitted on the 997TT that the tip is faster than the 6speed. Does it make it more fun to drive? No but that's a different story.

You hit the nail right on the head. That's how so many of us see it.

I have 37,000 miles on my car in 2 years - all driving in NYC. I might as well just sit on bicycle seat than install those.

I think they're fine for the track, but for the street, it's nice to have an option of switching positions, etc.

This is an intersting set of opinions, but the stock seats are not that unsupportive or uncomfortable. I do wish mine had the lumbar option though. They do have better bolstering and are more supportive than the stock seats than originally resided in my 79' 911 S/C. I have no problem with a comfortable driving position or being held firmly on the track on R-compounds. Strangely, I've come to notice that the 996' sports seats aren't really bolstered more than the regular seats from sitting in a couple 40th An models. They just have the wide upper supports in the backrest. With older versions of the 911 (901, 964 and 993 chassis) and the new 997 there is substantual more bolstering in the sport seat options. I rode on the track in car with GT3 seat race seats and they do hold you very securely. They are also fairly costly. Sharkster, I would put a little more support in your position if you were going to sell a set of cloth GT3 race seats for $1500 including the sliders though. On the other hand, I would consider this a pretty wasteful discussion at twice that price.

My position on these is that I rarely "buy" them... and even rarer do I sell them. In fact as I stated in my original post, search around on the internet or through various Porsche dealers to get the best price. I'm in no way saying buy them from me.. Far from it. I'm just throwing out a bunch of impressions for whatever they're worth (if anything at all). I'd love to sell Porsche GT3 race seats in clotch for 1500 a pair but since I neither make nor do I really sell them you'd have to let your feelings be known to Porsche Let me re-iterate, this is NOT a for sale post. I am not "blowing out GT3 seats for cheap so PM me" etc.. Far from it. In fact, please do _not_ Email me to get them since a)they're really pricey and b)since I don't make them you should go direct to the source for a better price and c)find your local dealer because shipping is often $100 per seat. That way you guys can save some money. I'm just sharing my experiences with having installed a good few and relaying what some customers have said etc...

I don't like the fact that the standard Porsche seats have virtually no side bolsters around the thigh area. That is just absurd in a car like this. That said, mine's a daily driver so I need a seatback that folds forward. I've been looking at some of the Recaro seats online but haven't driven the 3-4 hours to the nearest dealer to give them the '***' test. Does anyone have recommendations for well bolstered Recaro's that aren't too hard-core for the street (ie, not GT3 style racing buckets) but a good compromise between everyday use and support?

If I had a 2nd P.....I would install the seat, because they look great and they are comfortable! And all that BS about tip versus stick...I have been driving stick since I was 17 years old in Europe (yes a year before my legal driving age!!) and love stick...but here in the wonderful US of A,,,where 99% drives like retards...all over the road and in the left lane at 45MPH plus in SOCAL 90% of the time in huge traffic jams...why in godsname would you want to drive stick??? And now that the 997 turbo came out with a faster tip than stick...gone is all your blah blah about purism....because in the end it is all about speed and getting from a to b in the fastest time possible (also on the track!) Lat time I checked Lambo and Ferrari's lost their clutch pedal a while ago...just wished that Porsche would come with the F1 ( or whatever you call them) on the steering wheel....Sorry for my rant, but I have been attacked a couple of times about the TIP issue....and I love driving stick...but my wonderful American wife...would screw up my clutch within 5 minutes....and I am glad that I knew and that I bought a TIP......nice and lazy.....and it is also a CAB, even less purist. My apologies to all you wonderful wannabe Schumachers.....hope you can find you STICKS over you fat beer bellies!!! ( I AM KIDDING!!! So please no hate mail back!!)

Alex, thanks for a refreshing post. I don't think many took it as a "promotion".

Which is why you should have bought the stick: she wouldn't want to drive and you'd have it all to yourself.

Have you tried the Sports Seats? I think they're outstanding compromise between the stock and GT3 seats. I'd say very good lateral support.

But wouldn't that restrict the ability to put my golf clubs behind me?

My hips are too wide, my back is too tall and my shoulders are too wide (I'm 6'4" and built like a skinny lineman - 260lbs) for the GT3 seats. I'd have to bolt it directly to the floor for my head to clear with a helmet. I wanted them but cannot. One of the seat manufacturers makes a seat for us larger people with bigger ***** but I'm not so sure I want to lose my power heated seats.

Sparco EVO II or is it III are made wider and very good seat for around $600. But of course they are not meant for daily driving.

merlinespike....see I didn't think about that....I am called an a hol by her all the time and inconsiderate, but I guess I am not!!

Thanks Eli! Glad you saw it for what it was. Yeps we do a lot of different thing to 996/997s but it really hit home that last week doing 3 sets of GT3 seats and then listening to the customer feedback again. We had already done all of the power, suspension etc.. mods and yes they were very happy with that but they felt the seats really let them be comfortable and more able to drive the cars hard... The GT3 seat isn't a "real" racing seat, I mean it's too heavy and actually more comfortable than a "real" racing seat (yes it really is) but I like the compromise/balance they provide. And then there's the "other" weakness of ALL 996 (especially the TT) and 997s being the weight. At least the seats get rid of some!