996 GT3 and 997 GT3 market?

[mbintx]

Wondering what the consensus is on these cars. Which is the better buy? Are prices on the increase for both (past the value bottom)? I'm seeing a pretty wide price spread on the cars I'v seen online recently. Assuming a semi-low mile driver (not a low miles garage queen).

Lastly, for those lucky enough to have owned both, can you compare/contrast the two?

[misterwaterfall]

I just went through this process and ended up with a low mile 7.2. There's basically next to no spread between the 996 and the 7.1.
Market I saw was 70-80 for a clean 996, 80-85 for clean 7.1 and 100ish for a 7.2. Add some money for lwbs and obviously lower mile cars fetch a premium across the board. Prices seemed to have peaked about 18 months ago but have been steady for the last year or so. 996s are maybe increasing slightly only because the clean examples don't come up very often.

I haven't owned both but have driven both. For me the bump up to the 3.8 is a big improvement down low and feels stronger. Other than that they're all awesome cars and you can't go wrong.

[mooty]

they will hold current price
maybe slight dip
go drive 6 vs 7, they have nothing in common
u will be drawn to one or another.

then you can narrow down what YOU really want.

[G450X]

I thought that the availability of a “real” manual in the 991 chassis might impact used 996/997 GT3 values, but I don’t think that is the case - at least so far.

I feel the 996/997 platform is different enough from the 991, mainly the more classic proportions, hydraulic steering, and of course the Mezger engine, that the 991 has not really impacted “old GT3” values.

The somewhat limited production of older GT3’s should insure stable resale values in the future. 997.2’s GT3’s were produced in a tough economic climate and did not sell particularly well. 997.2’s were also the most developed of the chassis series (no SR to boot).

I hope values stay somewhat reasonable - I want a 997.2 as my bucket list car to keep my old SC company...

[mbintx]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

[kompressed]

I picked up my 996.2 GT3 last year with 19K miles and have been extremely happy with it. It has that mechanical feel that is very similar to aircooled cars. I would never want to sell mine.

[ScottArizona]

I LOVE this topic!!!! I concur with the sentiments on here. I owned a 996.2 gt3, went to 997.1, sold the 997.1 gt3 for a manual gallardo, and then sorely missed having a gt3 so I bought back my old 996. Here is my unbiased comparo between the 996 and 997.1:

997.1 is, in my humble opinion, one of the best looking cars of all time. Just wicked. HOWEVER, I like the drive and feel of the 996 better, and with a few mods (exhaust, lwfw, BMC filter, some weight reduction), etc..., I promise the 996 will be quicker than a stock 997.1. That was literally the only disappointment when I traded in my 996 for the 997...the performance improvement was not really that big (although the increased low down torque was evident). I also liked the sound better from the 997 series gt3's, but I solved that problem by swapping an entire 997 exhaust system onto my 996 (complete with headers, cup bypass, and center exit exhaust). My car is very light (pccb's, lwfw, 12lb battery, buckets, gutted trunk, no side mufflers, light ccw wheels), and I'm telling you, it just rips. So much fun to drive. Now, I have a lot of seat time in 997.2's, and I feel they do justify the premium over the 3.6L cars, but even then the delta is not that big if you are willing to do some mods to the 996. You can get "moderate mileage" 996's in the 60's, and the mezger engines are so reliable I wouldn't think twice about a well maintained 50k mile car at all! I have owned gt3's for 6 years and I haven't had a single mechanical issue other than a blown engine lid fan fuse on my 997 and a burst in-tank fuel line on my 996 (known issue). Other than that, they have been dead nuts reliable.