Contemplating move to 996 GT3 from modified C2

Question for the 996 group: anyone have seat time behind a modified c2 and a stock gt3 in the canyons? What am I missing out on? Most feedback concerns the track but my primary usage is just spirited canyon runs. I haven't been in a 996 GT3 but there's a big part of me that wants to make the leap. Part of that, or most of it, comes down to owning something that's considered a greatest hit but also part of it is due to many saying it's a rawer, more visceral experience. Mind you, I'm completely enamored with how dialed my car feels in the canyons. Today, coming down from Newcombs I left with a small group of sport bikes and a 718 gts. The 718 let me ahead of him and I ended up spending a majority of the time behind the two fastest sport bikes doing some very spirited driving. The car felt absolutely planted and confidence inspiring even into the low 3 digits. I think there's a certain pace in the canyons that a vast majority of people say that this is fast enough even though their car is capable of much more and that a dialed in 996 in the right hands is able to play at that pace. My car is a 99 C2, Ohlins R&T, fresh engine rebuild, GT3 seats and fister mod weighing in around 2970 with an unknown amount of fuel (forgot to record fuel amount during corner balance). One of the things I do like a lot about having a 996 c2 is that I can mod it over time (hot rod?) without concern for eroding value of a much more expensive item. Thoughts, suggestions, guidance?

You can't go wrong with a 996 GT3....probably the best true sports car from the factory with some old school feel. However, it sounds like you have a pretty dialed in car and you are exactly right that its a car you can continually mod....for me that is the fun. I did that with my C2 Aero and now I have a car that out performs a 996 GT3 and maybe even a 997.1 GT3.. So my vote is build your own (though I would support buying a GT3 too). The fun was modding it and here is what I did.... And this is the result....this is the only car of mine that my 19 year old son wants to inherit. He loves driving it more than the others. Oh and inside I have roll bar and Euro GT3 seats and a really cool instrument cluster.

I own a 996 GT3 and I absolutely love it. It is a very special car. Buying this car was a bucket list item for me. But, to be completely honest, while the motor in the GT3 is epic, especially when your wiring its neck, I think a wel sorted C2 can be almost as good. In my opinion there are only two things you can't do to C2 to make it match a GT3. the GT3 uses a C4 body and is much stiffer as a result the motor has a very different nature Everything else can be copied or improved upon. My advice; if you do not have a "thing" for the GT3 and just want a great handling car, keep fine tuning your C2.

+1 to what Johann said ^

Right there with ya. first time I saw my X51 equipped Aero Targa I thought it was the 996 Gran Turismo Porsche never built. I believe original owner ordered it with same idea: NO PASM/Targa/X51/Aero/PSE/Full Carbon interior. It was more $$ than a Standard GT3...and could fit his golf clubs in the hatch. The glass top also work well with a Sea Sucker bike rack, which for me adds to the touring aspect of my car. In my stewardship, I�ve added wheels and euro buckets. Another bonus with Targa, the hatch allows for easy access to backseat storage with the fixed back bucket seats. Next step, put an FSI 4.0 in it. Retire and drive the wheels off it around the country.😎 Or sell it and get a �REAL� GT3.

My issue with switching to a GT3 would be, I wouldn't feel right about making it mine. They are so special and rare I don't feel like I could bring myself to use it for what I use my car for and what I want out of it. That said, the real selling point of the GT3 for me from a performance standpoint is the motor - from a handling and feedback perspective - a well sorted carrera is extremely capable and from what I have seen on the track, has no issue keeping up with a GT3 in the corners and on the brakes. The issue with the carrera is the motor really lets the chassis and sometimes the driver down. Underpowered and reliability issues hiding around each corner. If those reliability issues hit me in the future, I'll be looking for a totaled 997 GT3.

I have a 99 C2 with the M030 suspension and LSD riding on 19” wheels with 235s/295s and have driven it back to back with a heavily modified GT3. The engine on the GT3 is what really is the difference. From a handling perspective most of the feel of the GT3 I could dial in on the alignment rack. If you rebuilt your engine and it is modified I think you would probably be surprised how well it would stay with a GT3. When I accelerate side by side with my friends he only pulls away at the very top of each gear. So driven at 9/10s both cars seem very similar. I think for the 35-50K price delta I am not sure it will seem 50K better. All that being said....I want one.

This is in line with what I was hoping to hear. @zbomb Yeah, the build process is what I really enjoy about these cars (not just the 996 but in particular, the air-cooled). In all my hobbies, the researching and speccing a build is where a lot of the fun is. The only challenge I have is wrapping my head around that going down this direction, I need to realize and be okay with not getting a lot of the money back. A gt3 I wouldn't modify and would represent the most likely to preserve value but I'd also see usage of it as detracting from value which would undermine some of the fun of having it. @lowpue I saw your build in another thread and it's definitely inspiration for me to continue down the c2 path. I tried twice to get a speed yellow car but neither passed inspection, so I'm definitely jealous. @85eurocarrera love the 40th anniversary cars. I think I'm leaning back towards wanting to continue to evolve my 996. I think next up is to make the experience in the cabin more raw and visceral. My thoughts are to do firmer transmission insert mounts (function first), remove rear sound deadening, RSS semi solid mounts and then finally, if each isn't enough, a Fabspeed maxflo with gundo hack. These will all increase NVH and create a more immersive experience when pushing the car. I think the car is a little too refined right now. Long term goal is to also drop another 100 lbs on the car (should be roughly 2950 now).

I applaud your leanings....I enjoyed my build so much I am in the process of looking for another 996 project car. I have already acquired the aero wing and side skirts. Still looking for bumper. Once I have that I will revive some 996 and make it special. For me the mK1 Areo is just beautiful....to me its art and the 911 at its best.