2018/2019 GT3 Allocation (I've been offered one)

I found a dealer with one remaining allocation that is slated to go in late this year or potentially slip to next year and become a 2019 build. The dealer is requesting a $2500 deposit in check form and won't accept credit card. All the cars I've owned and put a deposit on I've always used a credit card. Should I be leary of this dealer requiring a check?

I've done it both ways. Last time was a check. Just be sure to get a receipt. Congrats on the allocation.

It costs a business to take payment via credit card. A check avoids that, and it'll clear LONG before you actually do the order.

Should you be leery? No! what difference does it make to you. If you have cash, CC or efectivo, no differerence. You are lucky to get a slot. My dealer simply laughed when I asked him just out of curiosity.

Congrats! Those are going to be beasts! Obvisouly go manual and it should holds it value well if not appreciate!

Thanks! I'm mailing the check tomorrow. Attached screenshot confirms the allocation. I do have a question about financing vs. leasing when it comes to the GT3. How is it dealing with Porsche Financial Services? Is it better to lease the GT3 or finance it? I do have my own business and could write-off lease payments through the company. The goal is to keep the car indefinitely, but considering I haven't kept a sports car longer than two years maybe I should lease. Any feedback is appreciated. (PS, I'm not a Dr. I'm sure it was a typo and the CA meant Mr.)

I haven't decided on the transmission just yet. My head tells me manual but my gut tells me PDK -S. I haven't really thought much about resale or appreciation, but I assume that it will hold value regardless of the transmission choice, right?

I don't want to sound like a jerk but is that really an allocation? In my experience a firm allocation is V200 with a commission number in the Porsche Sales & Vehicle Management System.

You can always buy out the lease if you decide the car is a keeper. And despite what some people believe, you can do that any time... not just at lease end.

No C4 and now no GT3? Do they even sell Porsches? lol

The CA explained to me that they were given 5 allocations, but the last one is not confirmed for a 2018 build and could slip to a 2019 build. He also said that the production number is expected to come in late this year. Should I question the CA regarding my deposit for the allocation? I'd hate to find out later this year that my deposit did not actually yield me a guaranteed build. This is my first time dealing with Porsche so I have no way of knowing if what he said is accurate.

If they take your money then most likely it is a real allocation. Since you have absolutely no discount leasing and buying would cost the same for you; however, you'll be way ahead once you start the tax write off. Definitely get a manual and an option you must have is " Front Axle Lift System".

From what I was told, a deposit does not guarantee an allocation. It helps the dealer request a car, an allocation from Porsche because there is a customer for such a car. Porsche may or may not oblige. In my case, since I am a Porsche owner, my SA told me that there is a greater chance that Porsche will give him an allocation. Sometimes it takes a long time so I was advised to be patient. I may know in the fall if Porsche will build a C4 for me. Or may not. If you really have an allocation for a GT3, you are very lucky.

Ok. That makes sense. I'm sure that's the gist of what the CA explained to me. I called him and he said to get the cc code/build to him by the end of the year when they go to Porsche for the request. So, I guess I don't have a guaranteed allocation but more like a strong chance to get one approved by Porsche. Sorry for the confusion on this, as this is my first time dealing with Porsche. I'm definitely hoping to get the allocation, but worse case (still a best case) is that I'll find a used one to buy.

Interesting on Front Axle Lift being a must have option. I was reading from some owners on Renn and they said the plastic front lip is a throw away item and is cheaper to just buy another one if needed. Most people said they only used the lift system once or twice in their lifetime with the vehicle.

If this is your first Porsche and the dealer is willing to give you an allocation, I would jump at that chance. My SA told me that he has more potential buyers than cars so doesn't even take orders for a GT3. I think those who have bought other high end 911s get first dibs. The GT3 is a rare model and they will certainly not offer me an allocation. I am just a lowly Boxster owner.

^ you'll get the complete range of opinions on front axle lift. Depends on circumstances. I use it every trip as it's needed to exit my drive. On my Cayman I nearly wore away the air dams ahead of the front wheels so knew the GT3 would need it. Yes the front lip is only about 180 bucks + shipping, but if you wreck one every week it adds up. Some have used ramps at their drive ways etc. For me it was just easier to get the lift.

I will definitely consider myself lucky if I actually get to place an order between end of year and next Spring. I've spent the last several months contemplating my next toy and it came down to two vehicles: GTR Nismo and GT3, both used. When I watch videos of the GT3, read about it, listen to the sound of it, etc, I get major goosebumps and even a slight increase of adrenaline. To me, the car just seems to embody everything one could want in a pure sports car. A lot of cars these days lack soul and that connection, and the GT cars seem to be the last of a dying bread.

I agree with zedcat. I don't think you actually got an allocation. I've done this twice now where I ordered a Porsche right at the Model Year change so I've become familiar with how the allocations work to time my order correctly to get the next model year. PCNA issues allocations to dealership on a quarterly basis. I "placed my order" in March 2017 for a June build for a 2018 C4 right as the model year changed. I actually didn't technically get an allocation until the second quarter so on April first, my order was actually placed in the Porsche Sales & Vehicle Management System with a commission number. Your dealership probably has an expected number of future allocations of GT3s based on their previous history. I suspect you got placed on a list and you are inside that expected number. Ordering GT cars may be different but I doubt it.

From how that letter was worded the explanation above seem a more accurate assessment of the situation...

Man, I'm just ecstatic that I'm on any type of GT3 list with a deposit down. I contacted 15 top-rated dealers across the country and 99% of them either sold out all allocations, had a wait list, were doing a lottery, and marking up anywhere from $25-60K. I had zero hope of being able to get on a list that wasn't two years out, but lo and behold one dealer responded stating what you read in the letter. Now, it could still take two years from when the dealer get the allocation to when I would take delivery. My plan B is to buy a used GT3 if for some reason I'm unable to get a new one. One dealer is selling a 2016 metallic blue GT3 with 5K miles for $157K, lol. I asked him if he realizes that you can buy the new one for that amount and he laughed. He said it will be impossible to find a dealer selling at MSRP and that a $60K markup is considered a low markup.

I ding the front lip of my SPASM C2S almost every day and have had it come off once or twice. It just pops back on. I'll replace it when I sell it or when I can't stand to look at it anymore. Unless it's on a known route or your own driveway, you'll likely never activate the front lift in time.

Yea. When I get the GT3, I know all the routes and places to stay away from. My drive way need a small ramp added, but other than that I shouldn't have to worry too much.

I've starting thinking about the financing vs lease scenarios for this GT3. Currently, my plan is to lease the vehicle so I can write off the payments through my company. However, I do want put on a clear bar to at least 3/4 of the car, install a GMG exhaust and maybe even an intake. I know that I can always sell the parts later and put back on the original parts, but I honestly feel that I will keep the car for a good while. The used market for GT3's seems to be pretty solid, as the lowest price I see for a certified 2015 with less than 11K miles is going for $140-145. In order for me to keep my payment in the $1500 month range, with either leasing or financing, I would have to put down at least $30-40K based on a $150K sales price. Does it make sense to put down a lot of cash on a lease? If I finance then I know it's whatever I want to do since I won't have any restrictions on the car. What are your opinions?

You can still write off on a finance, but the writeoff is limited. I personally prefer the purchase/finance route" for something like a GT3, because a purchase allows to make money or break even. And there are still some great auto loans out there. PenFed CU has great rates, and anybody can join PenFed, with the easy option they offer in the fine print. Also, some nasty things have happened at lease-end, to some leasees. Purchase is my preference.

If used value of the car stays close to the purchase price or increases, you can buy out the lease at any time and sell the car privately. On two occasions, I've had the buyer pay out Porsche Financial via the dealer, and the dealer wrote me a cheque for the difference. Lots of folk don't appreciate that a lease is just a different finance deal with a ballon payment at the end, or the option to give the car back. All residuals are structured (using the manufacturers best guesses) so any car turned back in has significant upside for resale. Even trading for another Porsche, the dealer/manufacturer is going to come out WAY on top of the transaction. In almost all cases, it's better to sell the car privately at or near the lease term end, or buy it out and keep it. With four-wheeled appliances like trucks and econocars, giving the vehicle back might make reasonable sense financially, and that's a situation where extra charges for wear and tear are more common. Typically, Porsche sports cars are in pretty good shape at lease end and there's money to be made by the leasee doing the secondary transaction (buy it out and sell it privately or have the buyer pay out the lease to Porsche) rather than just tossing the keys across a counter. I think its pretty likely that a GT3 lease would work hugely in the leasees favor if they sold it privately at lease end, or picked it up at the low residual that won't likely be anywhere close to market value.

if you put a bunch of cash down on a lease, make SURE that your insurance will pay out the market value of the car, not just the outstanding amount on the lease contract. Don't assume it will. And even if you don't put much down, take steps to ensure insurance will pay the market value in the event of a total loss. (On my last lease where I put about $15k down, I insisted on getting it in writing from my insurance company.) In fact, you don't own the leased car; Porsche does, and in the contract it will state you can't modify the car without their permission. Practically, they don't have any reason to come after you for an exhaust or an intake, but they would have the legal right to enforce whatever the clause says is the remedy for "breaking" the terms of the lease. If for some reason you turned the car back at lease end, it would need to be 100% original or you'd face some hefty charges to make it so. That includes items such as OEM pads and rotors as well as N-spec tires.

Thanks for replies. At this point, I'm leaning towards finance because I'll likely put down at least $25k and go with an 84-month loan.

Re: 2018/2019 GT3 Allocation (I've been offered one)/ 2019 model? NO! What’s the differences? If he’s a Porsche dealer he’s reputable. Better a dealer like him then one that holds his allocations instead of giving them to his customers and orders a car under a name then when the car comes they sell it for 20k over sticker on the internet. I was fortunate to get a allocation for a 2018 911 GTS Touring with a November 2018 build, and I have a commission number! What I don’t know is will it be a 2018 or a 2019 and if a 2019 will it have the new 2019 911 body style and new dash shown in spy photos/ videos on the internet.