911 GT3 versus the world

Jack Olsen · 06-23-2003, 11:57 PM

A hypothetical question:

Is the GT3 the fastest street-legal production car for less than 100K in the USA? My criteria for 'fastest' is this: in stock form, is there a production car that would be quicker around a track like Willow Springs?

(I know that Willow Springs is a regional track that most people aren't familiar with -- but it's a 3rd to 6th gear track with a lap average speed of a little more than 100 mph.)

Would a Corvette stand a chance? The only real competition I can imagine is the new Viper. Is there anything available in 2003 that I'm not thinking of?

Eric Mckenna · 06-24-2003, 03:04 AM

Nooooope!. I may show favortism but the GT3 seems to be a great total package jack...
it really does..
Eric

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

With a MSRP of $181,700 I should hope it is faster than anything under $100K. Porsche GT2
-Chris
I had a senior moment there, Jack was talking about the GT3 (MSRP $99,900) not the GT2. Doh!

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

Can you get Lotus' over there? Exige, Elise 190 etc.

1fastredsc · 06-24-2003, 04:31 AM

He said GT3, not GT2. The GT3 is the normally aspirated 996 on steriods. And it's priced just shy of 100k. Personally, i don't think anything can compete straight from the manufacterer with that car.

Roy M · 06-24-2003, 05:00 AM

The new M3 CSL? - Don't know if you will get it in the states but it certainly looks to take the fight to the GT3

Example stories

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/motoring/firstimp/2003/06/10/story_1.html

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/bmw_m3csl.asp

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

In the Uk, the fastest road legal production cars round a track are cars like the Radical and the Noble .

A British TV show called Top Gear puts new cars around its test track and ranks them in order of time. The Pagani Zonda was quickest but costs hundreds of thousands of pounds. Next is a Mitsubishi Evo8 which beat a 996 Turbo by a few seconds.

The cars are driven by Perry McCarthy so he should know what he's doing.

1fastredsc · 06-24-2003, 05:13 AM

Doesn't Tiff Needle drive?

Deeks · 06-24-2003, 05:20 AM

Chris...

I agree that Lotus have come up with some pretty formidable track machinery in the last few years, but I doubt any Exige would be able to keep a GT3 in it's sights on a high speed (3-6th gear) circuit like Willow Springs.

Howabout the Noble M12 ? Bang for your buck, I don't think it gets much better. I don't know if it's legal/available in the states, but in the UK it costs £40,000 and has been voted best handling track/sports car by a number of magazines. At the last trackday I was at (in a lotus Elise), this Noble M12 was screaming past us every few laps - definitely the fastest car there !!! However I don't think the top speed is as high as high as GT3, it's turbo charged six maxing out at around 165 mph. It ain't bad to look at either

http://www.noblecars.com/large/image3.html

Deeks · 06-24-2003, 05:24 AM

Quote:

In the Uk, the fastest road legal production cars round a track are cars like the Radical and the Noble .

oops... too slow.

Roy M · 06-24-2003, 05:29 AM

The latest issue of Autocar or something (read it in the supermarket) shows a 996 Turbo being faster on a road run that the Noble (and the Noble fell to bits!!). Given the GT3 / Turbo relationship that sorts that one for me. Not sure if the noble was the higher power one though

BTW I like the Noble immensely -it's a great car and the 'incident' above was well explained as a one off.

k9handler · 06-24-2003, 05:42 AM

Seen this at the Nurburgring!

PeteBrown · 06-24-2003, 06:40 AM

$100,000 is a lot to play with when it comes to speed. Depending on your definition of production and stock forms, there are some interesting specialty cars that may compete with a GT3 such as:

Ultima
http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/usa/index.html
Exige with a Honda s2000 engine
http://www.prototyperacing.com/k20kit.htm
Lotus 7 with a Honda s2000
http://www.wcmultralite.com/main.html

BlueSkyJaunte · 06-24-2003, 06:54 AM

$100k buys a lot of car--like 500hp of turboed 3.3 in a flared, lightweight, pre-impact-bumper chassis.

And a 'Vette Z06 for going to the grocery (they do have a lot of trunk space). Can you still get 0% financing on Corvettes?

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

"Doesn't Tiff Needle drive?"

He's moved from the BBC to Channel 5's Fifth Gear.

masraum · 06-24-2003, 08:48 AM

Unfortunately most of the cars you Brits and Euro guys are talking about are not available here in the states. No Lotus fun, no street legal racers like the Radical, no radical BMW's. I occasionally read Evo to get my info on those cars. I think I might drive the radical to work on nice days!

thrown_hammer · 06-24-2003, 08:59 AM

I think Jack is talking about street legal new unmodified cars available in the USA. I would have to say the new Viper is probably close.

Eric Mckenna · 06-24-2003, 09:10 AM

i CAN'T WAIT TO SEE TIFF GET A HOLD OF THE GT3. THAT GUY CAN DRIVE!!!

JTO · 06-24-2003, 10:31 AM

Hey Jack,

The bit I have read about the new M3 CSL is that it was designed to go head to head with the GT3. What I have read though suggests that the M3 CSL is heavier and lower powered than the GT3. This indicates that the GT3 would run away from the BMW with equal drivers. My understanding is that the CSL will be US-bound.

If I had money, the GT3 would be the car for me. What a machine!

Troy

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by thrown_hammer
I would have to say the new Viper is probably close.

The Viper's got the HP advantage over the GT3, but on any sort of technical track (with lots of turns), my bet is that the GT3 would prevail. I think a Corvette may be pretty close to a GT3, but again, I think the GT3 would prevail on a technical track.

On a side note, has anyone seen at Le Mans and at Watkins Glen (which was just on Speed this last weekend) that the GT3 runs away from the Ferrari on the straights? I thought the Ferrari had the HP advantage. Can anyone give any insight?