2 very different cars and you can't have everything, either way you pick, unfortunately. That said, fortunately, either way you pick, you will end up with one of the best sports cars in the world.

As others have mentioned: GT3 is the better track car and the very top pick for many track enthusiasts, and deservedly so. For the Turbo to come close, it would need some modification to the suspension. With stiffer suspension, the Turbo could start to mimic a GT3, but it would still be on the heavy side and the linear response fo the GT3's NA engine is usually preferred on the track.
The GT3 for most people would have to be the second car in the garage; in other words, very likely you need another car to be your daily driver, and GT3 to be the "fun" car.

However, if you only have a GT3, you will be forever wondering what it's like to have the straightline power and low end torque of the Turbo, which might not be important to some people (no right or wrong, just preference), but in my mind is a must-have-once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal. When it comes to straightline power and low end torque, the GT3 is not even remotely close to the Turbo, and no amount of mod will narrow the gap.
The Turbo is also far better as daily driver (anyone who debates about this is either very very young or is sadistic in nature -- LOL). As such, the Turbo could be the only car in your garage -- you don't need a second car unless you live in snow country. The Turbo is also the ONLY way to go if you enjoy having your SO join you on weekend/long distance cruises.

 

Thanks everyone for the informative contributions. I'm very interested in the OP's question and the members' helping thoughts. Personally, I am still moving towards getting back into a used, recent model (07-09)Pcar, but my budget still not firmed up for a purchase this year (or perhaps next). Meanwhile I have been filling my brain with different car options. My leaning is still towards the 07-09 TT coupe, but when I hear the GT3 exhaust note and reminders of the pure nature of the RWD uncluttered 911's, I can definitely be led astray... To complicate matters, the new gen. PDK cars are certainly something to consider too, with what they now bring to the table (as in Yrralis1' comments)
Having rambled on a bit about all that, I think that Can and others put it well when stating that the TT's combination of power, comfort, reliability, and daily useful nature is the best. Plus I suppose you can add the word "practical" to the discussion when talking about the TT and the non-GT3 997 offerings, with the somewhat limited but-still-there-rear seating, NAV, and connectivity options,etc., (as long as your audience is sympathetic to our passion for these cars) LOL.
So, I think that if you have the dollars or ability to finance/lease your purchase, and you aren't a true track enthusiast, you can't go wrong with the Turbo. And if you decide to occasionally track the TT, it will probably be more car than you'll ever want for that too! (If not, then just get the mod bug!)

 

This forum rocks . Very good info. I'm also pleasantly surprised the turbo cars are quite reliable; not something I would necessarily expect from a high performance car.

It definitely wouldn't be the only car in the stable. We currently have an (older) SUV for snow and mild offroading and an MKV GTI as my wife's daily driver. My vehicles are the Z3 (which would be replaced by the Porsche eventually) and my sport bike, which I ride to work most days (I'm not very patient with traffic ).

I also told my wife it's quite a sensible purchase since it has a backseat that fits a kid (I tricked her into that one nicely ).

 

Luciano -- Gt3 does not have a back seat .

 

Interesting, I thought all 911 based cars had one. Not a big deal but I guess another small +1 for the turbo.

 

This is probably more relevant to us all-season drivers in the Northeast, but I recall that the GT3 has less corrosion protection. Although everything in the car is pretty much galvanized or stainless, so there is still protection.

Luciano, where in OC are you? I got married last year At Pelican Hill. Love it there.

'Rocket

 

That's a beautiful place!! I'm in Huntington Beach.

 

So, Luciano, what did you get? What do you think?

 

Once you go Turbo you can never go back.

 

More good information for me...I was hanging out in the GT3 area where a similar question was placed...looks like the TT for DD and a few track days and practical in a sense and the GT3 is just raw fun and aggressiveness for the track and is the total play car in either the 2nd, 3rd, etc, etc, bay of the garage.

Looks like I may have my answer.

TT

I can't wait.

M

 

Hey guys!

I still had this thread bookmarked . It might take a while but I've pretty much decided on the TT. Most likely the 997 TT but the 996 TT is a potential candidate as well. The main focus now is find a good new job opportunity since the company I worked for is finally going out of business and I'm back in the market. Pretty much a good thing because I was way overdue for a change! So, it's a long term plan but a definite go! It's an amazing machine and kind of a bargain for the performance you get!

 

Fixed...

 

In what way does the GT3 require more maintenance?

 

A lot of great info in this thread I wonder now with more time having passed if anyone has any different perspective or comments on this comparison. I have a 997.2 turbo manual and have been pining for the idea of a 997.1 gt3 (MK2s have gotten too expensive...) - but I have never driven one. With the 997s now being considered by many as the just right generation size wise driving engagement wise does that make either of these two stand out and more the one to have. I should give more context around usage - I don't track the TT but I do the 73 a few times a year and I would the GT3 a few times a year, and the TT is like being in Starwars and hitting hyper drive when you get on the gas, incredible, BUT it is trickier to modulate the throttle and redline comes SO fast in 1st gear - the NA car (73) is just foot in the gas without the hyperdrive - and I really like that, BUT the TT is so luxurious AND powerful...

Also I am not sure if I could keep the turbo if I got the gt3. I have the 73 hot rod that I drive most weekends and an m3 f80 comp mt as my daily.

What do you all think given the passage of time.