They chickened out…
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They chickened out…
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/ ... -favourite
Is latest the greatest when you exclude the RS?
Is latest the greatest when you exclude the RS?
Cheers,
Ian
Ian
Re: They chickened out…
If you’re talking Tourings then I might choose differently. But the 997.1 is the one which got me going when it launched and I still think it looks fabulous. It isn’t as OTT as the cars which followed, doesn’t have centre-locks, but still looks modern and has decent performance with over 400bhp.
Re: They chickened out…
Double row chain, 3.4 narrow body. I think the wider body only came with the 996.2 ?
Reliable, fast enough, as close to a no frippery 911 as the water cooled one’s ever were.
Dave!
Reliable, fast enough, as close to a no frippery 911 as the water cooled one’s ever were.
Dave!
Re: They chickened out…
On the basis of having never driven any of them, 997.2
Re: They chickened out…
Latest cars are super impressive, but for a road car I want manuel and smaller footprint - hence 997 hits the sweet spot.
I nearly voted 997.2, but the I like the visuals of the 997.1 more - the wheel design is slightly nicer and they are 5-stud rather than sillycentrelock, and you can have rear seats (997.2 didn't allow this from memory - floor thinner?).
But I'd always wish I had the slightly more muscular 3.8......
I nearly voted 997.2, but the I like the visuals of the 997.1 more - the wheel design is slightly nicer and they are 5-stud rather than sillycentrelock, and you can have rear seats (997.2 didn't allow this from memory - floor thinner?).
But I'd always wish I had the slightly more muscular 3.8......
Re: They chickened out…
Did youl not drive YKs 996.2 GT3 ? I thought you did on one of our trips, but my memory is pretty shit!
Oui, je suis un motard.
Re: They chickened out…
Nah, drove his C2, I didn't go on the GT3 trip. He did offer me a go in it once when we met at Bedford Autodrome (not on track, on a fuel trip) but I thought better of it especially since he'd not long had it.
Re: They chickened out…
The C4 S was a wide body, I think the others were the turbo and GT2 but I think they were all 996.2. I don’t think the 3.6 was ever in a 996.1 version.
Dave!
Dave!
Re: They chickened out…
What are you on about? This is only about GT3s but the 996 GT3 and Turbo were launched pre-facelift and had 3.6 engines. The non-Metzger 3.6 did indeed come in with the 996.2.
Wide bodies were only on the 4wd and Turbo versions of the 996 and 997. ETA: and the late GTS 2wd version of the 997.2.
[Further edit] Just checking I'd not missed something and found an interesting snippet. All GT3s in the 996 and 997 were based on C4 under-structure but with the narrower rear arches. This allowed the space used for the absent 4wd system being used instead for a 90l fuel tank up front, and apparently the transmission tunnel made them stiffer.
Re: They chickened out…
Considering I only mentioned a C2 3.4 I thought it was pretty clear I didn’t mean a GT3.
I’d rather a pure early 911 than the quicker sporty ones now, I should have been clearer.
Dave!
I’d rather a pure early 911 than the quicker sporty ones now, I should have been clearer.
Dave!
Re: They chickened out…
The whole thread is about which GT3 you prefer. And you've also mentioned the C4S, turbo, GT2. But hey, ignore the question why don't you

Re: They chickened out…
No regrets 
Dave!
Dave!
Re: They chickened out…
I can't vote as I don't have a non favourite GT3, but maybe the 997 on just looks
I haven't driven any GT3s but I feel like if I wanted something like that which I'd primarily drive on the road I'd prefer a Touring and if I wanted something more focused I'd want a RS. Which leaves the GT3 in a bit of a no mans land spot.

I haven't driven any GT3s but I feel like if I wanted something like that which I'd primarily drive on the road I'd prefer a Touring and if I wanted something more focused I'd want a RS. Which leaves the GT3 in a bit of a no mans land spot.
How about not having a sig at all?
Re: They chickened out…
GT3 awesome road cars and very capable on track.
GT3RS extremely capable on track, but therefore pretty heavily compromised on-road > hence I think if push came to shove I'd go elsewhere for my track fun. Like modified V6 Exige, Radical, or BAC Mono if I had GT3RS money to splash.
Re: They chickened out…
Same train of thought for me. The 997.1 also had option of active dampers and switchable traction and stability management which the 996.2 which would be my next choice never had.mik wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:42 am Latest cars are super impressive, but for a road car I want manuel and smaller footprint - hence 997 hits the sweet spot.
I nearly voted 997.2, but the I like the visuals of the 997.1 more - the wheel design is slightly nicer and they are 5-stud rather than sillycentrelock, and you can have rear seats (997.2 didn't allow this from memory - floor thinner?).
But I'd always wish I had the slightly more muscular 3.8......
Coupled with rear seats makes it really usable as well as fun
Re: They chickened out…
Ahh, shame you never managed to drive it. It was a bit TOO EXTREME for the road when I first drove it in the Galloway National Park, but the next time I drove it (local roads around Snetterton) he really had it sorted.
It’s my choice for the poll above, but did I mention that I’ve driven a 911 R?

Oui, je suis un motard.
Re: They chickened out…
The next GT3-based special ought to be called the UVW based on the R and S/T's pattern.
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Re: They chickened out…
I have a soft spot for the 996 version, but I think the 997 was a more cohesive looking all rounder. If I was buying one I'd have an as-new-as-possible Touring.
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.