Weekend Warriors and the GT3. Too much car?

[Loomis]

So I have this half-baked "life plan" about moving up to a GT3 when the kids are out of the house, bills are paid, etc. Hey, dreaming is free...

Anyway, I am reevaluating that dream due to the fact that I see more GT3s off track than any other car. In a good year I might get 12 track days, which is probably enough to scare myself, but not enough to drive the car like it's meant to be driven.

I get passed in the Cayman S all day long by GT-R's with no drama. Not that I'd want one, but at least they're not spun out at the next corner like the GT3s. Seems like the guys driving the race-prepped 911s and 914s have the biggest grins, while the guys in GT3s have tight, pasty look on their faces. Like WTF did I just drop all that cash on?

Ever get halfway down a double black diamond ski run, only to realize you're really not that good?

[Dottore]

I know this dilemma. I've been seriously looking at GT3s for the past couple of years just because they are the ultimate iteration of the 911—and it seemed I should own one once. In fact a GT3 was high on my bucket list for a while. Each time I came close to pulling the trigger I asked myself exactly the questions you are. How many track days am I going to see with this? Do I really want this for the road? etc. Every time I asked those questions I just couldn't justify buying the thing.

I scare the bejeezus out of myself just driving my 997S. Don't really want to kick that up a notch.

One of the things I learned years ago in Europe is that if you are going to be driving only on public roads, you can often have more fun in small car that you can drive at the limit (or close to it)—than a seriously fast car the limits of which you cannot begin to explore. Renting a Fiat 500 in Italy or France and blasting along the B roads is about as much fun as you can have in a car off-track IMO.

Sometimes less is more. And that stiff clutch in the GT3 will kill you in traffic.

If you're a real track-rat or have unlimited funds you need to get the GT3. If not, you'll tire of it quickly—unless of course you are a serious poser.

My 2 cents.

[masraum]

Obviously, you'd be much better off getting a miata!!



You know, you can always buy, drive it for a year or a couple of years just to get the experience and then sell and get something that's a better compromise.

If you were on the market, and an amazing woman approached that was way, way out of your league. Would you give it a go or turn her down because you didn't think you could keep up?

[UconnTim97]

you'll shoot your eye out!

[speeder]

Basically, unless you're really good/fast, it's waaay too much car. Same for a Z06 and other cars in that league. Sure, they can be driven safely at half their potential on the track but what's the point? Also, they're a big compromise as a street car compared to a regular 997. (Which is also very capable on the track).

What Dottore said about going faster in a slower car + you already own the best weekend warrior/DD car that Porsche has ever made, IMO.

[pwd72s]

They have such cute graphics, though...

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Dottore

One of the things I learned years ago in Europe is that if you are going to be driving only on public roads, you can often have more fun in small car that you can drive at the limit (or close to it)—than a seriously fast car the limits of which you cannot begin to explore. Renting a Fiat 500 in Italy or France and blasting along the B roads is about as much fun as you can have in a car off-track IMO.

Sometimes less is more. And that stiff clutch in the GT3 will kill you in traffic.
.

Yep and yep.

After I was run off the road in my 964, I seriously analyzed what I really was looking for in my next sports car.

I honestly really prefer running around town in my F-150, so a DD with comforts (A/C) wasn't on the list.

Track car. No. I am hours from Summit Point. That, and weekends are farm living.

So, back to driving fast, slow.

[Dan J]

I've owned a couple, have a 6cup now. The motor in these cars was sent down from heaven
If you can, do it. The stock suspension sucks though hence the cars off track get it fixed doesn't cost much