Wanted to start a thread on this, didnt find any on my search here, pondering a $53k 2004 gt3 with some lite track mods verses a 2006 997C-S. I would plan to have my car setup with a more aggressive then stock alignment for street and track, gt3 seats, harnesses, pull out what i could for weight. My thought process is that it seems in appearance at least, that the 997 is more re-fined and may provide more for the dollar.

Thank you for any thoughts to be shared

Dean

#1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GT3-P...US_Cars_Trucks

# 2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carre...US_Cars_Trucks

 

For the type of duty that you are looking at, get the GT3. I love my Carrera, however it will never be what a GT3 is on the track.

 

i would also get 996 gt3 for this, but how to make sure what is the condition of a such car? if it got engine nearly done - well, no warranty, no CPO - it is kinda totally different ballgame compared to CPO 997 C2(S) car.

 

If it's going to see that much track time, and you dont need the back seats, I'd get the GT3 in a heartbeat

 

If you plan on stripping it out for the track use then the GT3. The cars are already on the light side but for the 50% DD use the 997 will be so much better. The 996 GT3 is loud, rattles, stereo is no better then a circa 50s car, ect but it is purpose built! The people that get a 996 GT3 don't care about that stuff.

The 997S will weigh a little more but the street use will be gobs better and you can throw on a few goodies to make it better on the track (i.e. GT3 LCAs for better camber, wheels, DOT rubber, ect).

Go drive each and let us know!

 

I normally don't like 996, but that GT3 is one bad mf!

997 C2S is a more tame car, you can drive easily on the street every day. According to an instructor at PCA the 996 GT3 has a much more raw feeling to it. Never drove his car though...

 

The 996GT3 is not a comfortable daily driver. If you have any intentions of using it as such, you will be disappointed, or require a chiropractor.

On the track, it is a razor sharp scalpel, with no electronic nannies. A purist's dream machine.

 

You have a real dilemma there. I've had a 997.1 C2S with minor mods, 997.1 GT3, and now a 997.2 C2S with moderate mods. I've also driven more than a few 996 GT3s. I don't like the 996 GT3 as a street car at all (nor do my friends - they all sit in the garage until track day). The 997.1 is a great car, but hard to "update" for the track without some issues. For example, suspension upgrade is not easy due to PASM and while others have had good experience with Damptronics, mine wasn't as good. Seats is another thing - without going with the 997 Sport Buckets you are going to have an airbag fault issue. That's not something I would do with a car that's on the street. For example, you have a passenger and you've changed the federally tested / approved seat, the thorax airbag is missing, etc. Pete Stout was in agreement with my thoughts on this and wrote as such in Excellence about a year ago (why they put the Sport Buckets in the Cayman Project).

So, it sounds to me like a 997.1 C2S with Sport Buckets / Techquipment bar / 6-points might do the trick for starters, then if you felt you must, change the suspension. But enjoy the car with the stock PASM for a season or so until you have really pushed 100% of what the stock suspension has to offer (which is quite a lot -- 1:02s at Lime Rock in my 997.1). You will be changing the front control arms for the GT3 versions to get a proper alignment - relatively inexpensive at places like Tarett. Fluid and pads...