OV9

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/ ... -favourite

Is latest the greatest when you exclude the RS?

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.

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!

On the basis of having never driven any of them, 997.2

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......

duncs500 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:07 am On the basis of having never driven any of them, 997.2

Did youl not drive YKs 996.2 GT3 ? I thought you did on one of our trips, but my memory is pretty shit!

Marv wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:07 am

duncs500 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:07 am On the basis of having never driven any of them, 997.2

Did youl not drive YKs 996.2 GT3 ? I thought you did on one of our trips, but my memory is pretty shit!

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.

V8Granite wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:56 am Double row chain, 3.4 narrow body. I think the wider body only came with the 996.2 ?

The 996.2 didn't have a wide body. Not even the 997 GT3s did though there were some obvious arch extensions on the last ones (just the 4.0s from memory).

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!

V8Granite wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:18 am 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!

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.

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!

V8Granite wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:35 am 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!

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

No regrets

Dave!

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.

Mito Man wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:04 am 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.

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.

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......

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.

Coupled with rear seats makes it really usable as well as fun

duncs500 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:20 am

Marv wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:07 am

duncs500 wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 7:07 am On the basis of having never driven any of them, 997.2

Did youl not drive YKs 996.2 GT3 ? I thought you did on one of our trips, but my memory is pretty shit!

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.

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?

Marv wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 12:49 pm did I mention that I’ve driven a 911 R?

Now now, don't upset Jobbo!... or me for that matter, I remain extremely envious.

The next GT3-based special ought to be called the UVW based on the R and S/T's pattern.

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.