Those who know, Porsche 996 questions

I have the 996TT as many know, and have done some tasteful and significant upgrades, it is a great car and is amazing to drive. It has 40K on it and with the mods makes around 525hp.

The question.

I may be offered a GT3 996 for $60K with just 8000 miles on it, is this what I want or do I just enjoy what I have. The GT3 makes less hp but is lighter and much more rare and desirable. It is silver which is a problem with Mrs Aussie.

Yeah I know, 1st world problems.

I will probably stick with my car but open to why you think I should or shouldn't

A friend of mine has a GT3 and told me that every one either has had body damage to the rear quarters, or will at some point in the future. The car's limits are incredibly high, but the transition from 10/10 to 11/10 is abrupt and pricey.

The AWD system on mine is incredibly forgiving of even ham fisted driving, the weight is there but at this level it is far from a Bertha. For a DD it is remarkable, and the forum members who have driven it are awe struck by the power.

I haven't driven the 996 GT3, only ridden in them. I have driven (one AX) the AWD TT 996. The AWD on the turbo car makes is incredibly forgiving to drive. It it was just about driving, I'd take the turbo, if it was about collectibility and future value, I'd take the GT3.

The Turbo you have will be more comfortable to drive and since it already has some miles you won't hurt the value by continuing to enjoy it. The GT3 will be a worry every time you drive it. "Am I adding too many miles? Will changes affect the value too much? Oh crap, another stone chip!"

Sorry 60K for a GT3 996 is way to much money especially when for 20-30K more you can get a fantastic 997 GT3.

The 996 Turbo is better in every single way then the GT3 on the street. Plus it is faster on the track in equal hands. The motor is more reliable and you know the history of the car you have in your hands.

I DD mine and I must say, the AWD is nice and probably worth the extra weight. Based on what you presented here, I don't know if the GT3 would be an upgrade.

Stick with the turbo. You know how much fun it is to have a car that is insanely fast and at the same time won't let you get into too much trouble other than speeding? The GT3 won't do that. Have you seen the posts by T2 on Rennlist where he talks about his 400k mile turbo and the relatively little work it has needed to do that? The GT3 won't do that either. Do you like that you can in theory do a track day in your turbo on the way to a ski resort on a snowy mountain? Not in a GT3. How about the well appointed, quiet and comfortable interior? Not in a GT3. Decent fuel economy? Not in a GT3.

If you're really looking for something different, I'd be looking at a 997.1 turbo (up to 2008). "GT1" engine, 997 looks and very similar to your 996TT in every other way.

Turbo>GT3.

wearymicrobe already mentioned it, $60k seems a little steep for a 996 GT3, even with that low mileage.

GT3s are really good at being a focused track machine/sunday blast car, whereas the 996TT was designed to get you to your meeting from one end of Germany to the other at ludicrous speed in total comfort. Unless you want a nuttermobile, stick with the TT.

$60k for a low mileage, pedigreed, undamaged 996 GT3 is a gift. It'll easily be worth that and more as time goes on.

That being said, unless you're a track rat and are planning on pretty much exclusively using the car on the track, skip it unless you have the spare cash laying around for it as an investment.

GT3's are extremely track focussed machines. Yes they have A/C and a stereo, but they're not a comfortable street machine beyond that. Your current TT is a much better street car in every regard...

I think you should get the GT3. Just give me enough notice so I can figure out how to buy your TT.

Maybe I am confusing things here. But I remember reading the GT-3's were delivered with a significantly stiffer suspension in keeping with its track car mission. It might be something to consider when you driving around the frost heaved roads of the upper mid-west.

I'm not sure how $60k is high for a 996 GT3 with that mileage. They were going for $45-50k a few years ago. Prices are going up. You're probably not going to see that happen with the turbo quite as much.

I do agree though that if you want something comfortable to drive around occasionally then the turbo is better. If you want to run the car at the limit I'd choose the GT3. A friend has one, I've ridden in it and it's fantastic.

How much "softer" is the GT3 compared to the GT3 RS?

GT3 is a fairly expensive track bitch. TT is a better all around car. I would keep TT.

People are misjudging the GT3 as an investment car. I don't think that low mileage GT3s will have extraordinary collectability in the future. They were sold as track day toys and are expected to be used as such. Each successive generation is better and more desirable than the one before it. Year for year, a lower mileage car will be worth more, but unless someone has an emotional attachment to a particular model year, they will generally buy the newest one that they can afford.

GT3s are not 1988 911 Club Sports. Those cars are collectible for different reasons.

docwyte wrote: $60k for a low mileage, pedigreed, undamaged 996 GT3 is a gift. It'll easily be worth that and more as time goes on.

In a 996 no it won't. Even in a 997, it takes a RS to bring out the investor buyers right now and for the foreseeable future. Again if it was a 997 with the adjustable engine mounts and the better interior at say 70K it would be a no brainer even with more miles.

Woody wrote: People are misjudging the GT3 as an investment car. I don't think that low mileage GT3s will have extraordinary collectability in the future. They were sold as track day toys and are expected to be used as such. Each successive generation is better and more desirable than the one before it. Year for year, a lower mileage car will be worth more, but unless someone has an emotional attachment to a particular model year, they will generally buy the newest one that they can afford.

I think this is spot on and vote to keep the multi-purpose TT.

I don't know why we consider cars as investments anyway. If you like the car for what it is, then you should get it, if you somehow get more money out of it at the end than you put into it, great, but you probably still didn't make as much money as you would have if you put that money into an S&P 500 index fund over that time.

Unless you bought an aircooled 911 a few years ago...

They've definitely outperformed an S&P index fund!

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Unless you bought an aircooled 911 a few years ago... They've definitely outperformed an S&P index fund!

Yeah I've had several car way out perform stocks over the years. I don't purchase cars as investments, but I definitely gauge the market and purchase cars that I like AND hopefully won't tank during my ownership..... If they gain value that's just a nice bonus.

Cotton wrote:

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Unless you bought an aircooled 911 a few years ago... They've definitely outperformed an S&P index fund!

Yeah I've had several car way out perform stocks over the years.

Which ones?

wearymicrobe wrote:

docwyte wrote: $60k for a low mileage, pedigreed, undamaged 996 GT3 is a gift. It'll easily be worth that and more as time goes on.

In a 996 no it won't. Even in a 997, it takes a RS to bring out the investor buyers right now and for the foreseeable future. Again if it was a 997 with the adjustable engine mounts and the better interior at say 70K it would be a no brainer even with more miles.

God I hope so, I'd love to own a 997 GT3 at some point but most P car prices are climbing away from me.

turtl631 wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote:

docwyte wrote: $60k for a low mileage, pedigreed, undamaged 996 GT3 is a gift. It'll easily be worth that and more as time goes on.

In a 996 no it won't. Even in a 997, it takes a RS to bring out the investor buyers right now and for the foreseeable future. Again if it was a 997 with the adjustable engine mounts and the better interior at say 70K it would be a no brainer even with more miles.

God I hope so, I'd love to own a 997 GT3 at some point but most P car prices are climbing away from me.

I don't see this happening myself. There just aren't enough of them to bring prices down. There will always be more demand than supply. I'd love to be proven wrong though and be able to buy a 996 or 997 GT3 for $40k some day with low miles.

Have you driven the GT3? Because to me, that's the deciding factor. Which would you rather drive?

Personally, I'd want the GT3 (based on my seat time of none in both cases). If color is an issue, get it wrapped. That'll help protect the paint as well if that's a concern.