EDUCATE ME

[e46e92love]

As I sit here deciding to go M3 or just say screw it and go Porsche I realize I don't know shit about Porsche other than she makes great sports cars. So before I go to a dealer, and yes I have spent ours on the website, I don't understand where the 911 Turbo, GT2, and GTS fit in the line. Forgetting price, is the 911 turbo for those wanting just straight power and the GT3 a better track car? Why is the GT2 faster than the GT3, shouldn't it be the other way around? Porsche is just confusing the hell out of me and I can't get my head around what car I should even be looking at.

When you guys are done flaming me as a noob, (Porsche is one car I know little about) let me know your thoughts. THANKS!!!

[GregW / Oregon]

Why are you coming to a BMW forum for a Porsche education, exactly?

[Voltigeur]

If I were single I would commit to a GT3. Pure magnificence.

And Greg raised a valid point (mystified??)

[M KiLLa CaM 3]

If you want a Porsche you should probably change your signature...lol

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Why are you coming to a BMW forum for a Porsche ecucation, exactly?

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

If I were single I would commit to a GT3. Pure magnificence.

And Greg raised a valid point (mystified??)

Cause here is where I am a member and here is where I know everyone and I know that most of the forum members seem to know a lot about Porsche and BMW and do a good job of objectively looking at both.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

If I were single I would commit to a GT3. Pure magnificence.

True enough that they are a distilled sports car, if that's what you're looking for. I have two friends that tired of theirs' within a couple years because they are so single-purpose. Not a good all-around car. If you can keep one in the garage for weekends and track days, great.

Here's a pick of my car with my frined's GT3 when we used to do Sunday "drives" on the back roads. I could pretty much keep up with him in those conditions without getting crazy. On the track is another story.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Here's a pick of my car with my frined's GT3 when we used to do Sunday "drives" on the back roads. I could pretty much keep up with him in those conditions without getting crazy. On the track is another story.

Nice photo Greg! The Pac NW forests are so lovely, must be great to drive those back roads when the weather is fair.
I agree w/ all you said. In my mind the GT3 is the distillation of Porsche excellence. But it is hard core.

And driving fast, not insanely so, the new M3 will be able to keep pace (drivers' skills not being too disparate).

I would love to own both: but that's a mite excessive.

[NavNurs]

[JEllis]

Basically the rankings go like this for me a standard no frills 911 is mostly called a C2 and currently has a 3.6L engine in 997 form. The C2S is basically the same as the C2 except with a 3.8L engine and along with it, more power. Above the C2S comes the 911 Turbo (in my mind). And, above the 911 turbo you have the GT2 which is basically a track version of the turbo with only RWD and a lot of weight savings. And, finally, you have the GT3 that has the super silky 3.6L (not anything like the 3.6 in the C2) race inspired engine, no turbos, and most of the same suspension goodies as in the GT2.....clear as mud?

[888]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

As I sit here deciding to go M3 or just say screw it and go Porsche I realize I don't know shit about Porsche other than she makes great sports cars. So before I go to a dealer, and yes I have spent ours on the website, I don't understand where the 911 Turbo, GT2, and GTS fit in the line. Forgetting price, is the 911 turbo for those wanting just straight power and the GT3 a better track car? Why is the GT2 faster than the GT3, shouldn't it be the other way around? Porsche is just confusing the hell out of me and I can't get my head around what car I should even be looking at.

When you guys are done flaming me as a noob, (Porsche is one car I know little about) let me know your thoughts. THANKS!!!

Just get the 997 Turbo (NB: NOT JUST STRAIGHT POWER), it handles great is very fast and you can drive it every day. It is the only one you should consider.

[RandyB]

The GT3 is the best 911 variant, IMO. I wouldn't want to drive one daily though. The M3 is better for the every day car and occasional weekend racer.

[lucid]

You realize the GT3 and the Turbo are not even close to the M3 in terms of cost? I went through a 911 consideration a few months ago, but I wasn't considering the GT3 or the turbo because of the price. The 911 that is on par with the M3 in term of performance is the 911S. You should be able to get ~$7k off the sticker on that, but a modestly optioned 911S will still cost you ~$90k out the door vs. ~$70k for a loaded M3.

[Hammer]

Hehe.

You want a 911, right?

First of all, you should know, what for you use the car.

I ll make some categories and list em ascending by my rating of the attribute:

i ll compare: Carrera S( means 3,8 instead of 3,6litere and 355 instead of 325hp compared to normal carrera) , Carrera 4S(has 4wheeldrive) ( both with the sportexhaust!!!)
Turbo
GT2
GT3

Luxury :
Turbo
Carrera 4S
Carrera S
GT3
GT2

Sound(motor, exhaust etc):

GT3
Carrera 4S / Carrera S
GT2
Turbo

Performance on the track:

GT2
GT3
Turbo
Carrera S
Carrera 4S

Performance straight line:

GT2
Turbo
GT3
Carrera S
Carrera 4S

Safety ( e.g. with rain etc):

Turbo
Carrera 4S
Carrera S
GT2
GT3 ( just semislicks, less eletronic help etc)

"Fun" ( i just drove the gt3 and 4S, therefor i just replay what other porschefanatics tell):

GT3
GT2
Turbo
CarreraS
Carrera 4S

if you want a trackcar, get a GT ( GT2 > GT3, but GT3 is more fun (better sound, 100% Porschefeeling)). If you want a dailydriver with a great sound take the Carrera S (if you want a bit more safety and a better look, take the 4S, it is 44mm wider in the back, but a bit slower). If you want a "understatement"-porsche ( as far as possible), with great performance take the Turbo.

I think, you have a lot of informations on the internet.

One last suggestion: contact the www.pff-online.de and make a thread in the 997-subforum. You ´ll get plenty of information and help.
I m member on that board since i bought my first porsche and it´s absolutly fantastic. The only problem ll be, that it is german(and a bit english). But dont mind, if you ask, you ll get help.

[devo]

Keep in mind that there is a facelift and power bump due in MY2009. The 911tt is an excellent daily driver that handles great and blows most cars off the road. Add a set of Bilstien coil overs and you are good to go on the track.

Also try Rennteam for more info.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by devo

Keep in mind that there is a facelift and power bump due in MY2009.

+1 and not to forget the rumored GT3 MkII with PSM...


Best regards, south

[Epacy]

Greg, guess you won't forget your license plate number when you go into the DMV.

[dechoong]

For daily road use, the C2S, C4S and Turbo are all you need. The C2S and C4S has the same 3.8L engine but the 4S having a wider "Turbo" body and 4wd. The 4wd drivetrain in the 997 C4S is the same as the 996 C4S, but different to the 997 Turbo.

The more advanced 997 Turbo 4wd system is derived from the Cayenne. Also, the Turbo has a highly touted VTG turbocharger which varies the vane's angle to build up boost faster at low revs and allows higher throughput at high revs. The turbo has a smaller 3.6L engine, but do not for a moment think it is a lesser engine to the 3.8L. This block is based on the 1999, 2000 Le Mans GT1 champion racer and is an extremely tough unit. Porsche has been using this same block in the 996 Turbo, 996 GT3, 996 GT2, 997 Turbo, 997 GT3 and the latest 997 GT2.

The 997 GT2 is basically a track version of the Turbo, rwd, with revised VTG turbocharger, intake and full titanium exhaust. Its suspension is more in line with the GT3 (eg. rose joint) than the road going turbo for track work. The GT3's normally aspirated block has different internals for obvious reason and the most telling being titanium conrods. While the 997 GT2 and GT3 (both standard with LSD) are more road friendly compared to the 996, they still require dedication from enthusiasts. IMO, the GT3 is 911 in its purest form, while the GT2 is a bona fide track monster (Nordschleife 7:32). However, take note of both cars' extremely low road clearance (3 inches) and their long front overhang... you'll have trouble clearing big speed bumps and parking lots' on and off ramps.

Edit: Just for the kick of it, here are the official GT2 numbers.

0-62mph in 3.7s
0-100mph in 7.4s
0-125mph in 11.2s

Top Speed 204mph

[southlight]

^ Thanks for the nice summary/insight!
Do you happen to know the road clearance for the Turbo, dechong?


Best regards, south

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by southlight

^ Thanks for the nice summary/insight!
Do you happen to know the road clearance for the Turbo, dechong?


Best regards, south

Hi south,

I don't have the exact number, but there is another way to gauge. The normal C2S has a 3 fingers clearance between the tyres and the wheel arc, the Turbo 2, and the GT2 and GT3 only 1

[southlight]

Originally Posted by dechoong

Hi south,

I don't have the exact number, but there is another way to gauge. The normal C2S has a 3 fingers clearance between the tyres and the wheel arc, the Turbo 2, and the GT2 and GT3 only 1

Thanks again, dechong!


Best regards, south

[Hammer]

I d like to add:

the gt3 production was stopped in jan 08. dunno why they didnt removed it from their site yet.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Hammer

I d like to add:

the gt3 production was stopped in jan 08. dunno why they didnt removed it from their site yet.

coz not all dealers are out of them maybe?