I often run in the instructor group with a buddy who has a very nice but not materially modded 996GT3. I've only done a half dozen days with my new 7.2RS but we more-or-less stick together on the track driving at 8/10ths. The RS is faster on the straights but he is better driver than I am so he's right there in the corners. I've got lots of respect for 996GT3s and think they are THE value proposition right now.

 

They are a good value for sure... but on our local track (Tremblant), a good driver can do 1.45 second lap times in a 997.2 RS and the best driver will not go below 1.49 second with a comparable set-up with a 996 (slicks and suspension).

 

I´ve been driving GT3:s for 9 years and my input to all this is that

1) A 996 GT3 mk1 is slower than the 997 GT3 mk1. Always!!!
2) A 996 GT3 RS (my car) is faster than any 997 GT3 or GT3 RS mk1 on any track!. Especially on a tight track. I have accumulated approx 1000 laps on Nürburgring Nordschleife and even on that track is the 996 GT3 RS faster. However the 997 GT3 and 997 GT3 RS mk1 has a high speed stability that no 996 GT3 or 996 GT3 RS never will have. Due to this average drivers will be faster in the 997 compared to the 996 on a fast track.
3) 997 GT3 mk2 and 997 GT3 RS mk2 is faster than any previous GT3. Even with average drivers.

 

I'm jealous, I'd kill for just 1 lap of the Ring. That said, higher speed stability increases lap speed virtually everywhere on a track, so does more power. The 997 GT3 RS has more of both.

 

Sounds like a good evaluation as well. In any case, new beats old

That basically puts a 996 at 4.5 seconds under the 997.2 RS. Or about $15,000 per second. lol.

-td

 

No offense to 996 owners, but I would rather be slower by a second (which is not the case anyway) than have those headlights on my car... hahaha...

 

2 seconds : ). Mike

 

Touche!

 

But seriously given equal driver on same tires RS wins for sure : ). Mooty when he had his pumpkin kicks my *** all the time and we both pretty equal drivers. Mike

 

What have you done to make your RS to make it faster than a 7?

My 6RS is definitely slower than a 7 and harder to drive as well!

 

seconding what PatrikT said (although I have never driven the ring - but someday). The weights on the cars are pretty much identical (996 an 997 GT3). The 997 GTRS is lighter though but in my opinion not to be a huge factor at shorter tracks. However, if I am not mistaken the 997 versions have a bit of a longer wheelbase and a slightly different weight distribution and as such they are much steadier at high speeds and less jittery at lower speeds.

In my opnion it boils down to the driver preference in this case. To date I talk to folks who prefer the way the 993 handles over the 996 or 997. Having driven them all in various formats, they each have their characterstics but I personally am faster in a 997 than a 996 and faster in a 996 than a 993.