DCT R8 vs Manual GT3

[baege]

So the carswitchitis is kicking in again and the car that seems to be calling my name is a GT3 manual

I really enjoy my R8 rwd but GT3!

my application is being my only car in urban environment (so no great roads right around me), no tracking

from what I have gleaned from scouring the internet and bugging people at car meets:

R8 over GT3 in the following areas for MY APPLICATION (sticking to the `objective` ones

ride quality
clearance
low end torque and accessibility of the engine (the Gt3 engine needs to be revved out to really enjoy it, going from 6000 to 9000 rpm is the REALLY special part, the V10 is relatively speaking torquier throughout the rev range and doesnt need to be revved out to get the thrills, going from 4000 to 7000 rpm brings the thrills


GT3 over R8

can get a manual again!
handling (more playful, direct and engaging, R8 rwd feels and is bigger and heavier, steering is not as good)
sounds better stock
visibility

the cost difference is huge, in the CDN market, cost would be about $180K to make the switch to a CPO 23 or 24 GT3 manual

plus insurance is more, I have audi care so servicing costs would be about 2k more a year (rounded out) on the GT3

I would not get back the 20k in tax it would cost me to make the move from R8 to GT3, but otherwise depreciation is probably a wash between them.

so if I were to keep the GT3 3 years or so, it would likely cost me about 10K more a year than the R8

but life is short and honesly cant think of what else I would rather spend that 10K a year on


what say you folks? juice worth the squeeze?

[ash_schwin]

As much as I love the GT3, you drive a V10 R8. Way more exotic looking with combination of being unique and rare. My vote is to keep the R8.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by baege

only car in urban environment (so no great roads right around me), no tracking

A 911 GTS will probably be a much better fit for these needs. A base 911 will too, but I get the desire to have something more special. The non-GT3 911s starting from the 991.2 (2015+) are all turbocharged, so you'll get that nice meaty torque down low. A GTS and below will be more comfortable day-to-day while losing only a bit in sharpness (that you'd probably not notice unless you back-to-back with a GT3 on good roads or on track). The only caveat is manual transmission availability for the 992.2 (992.1 and below have manual in most trim levels), might need to look at the T for that if considering new.

I'll also add that to the vast majority of people a base 911 is indistinguishable from a GTS or even a GT3 (expect the big wing on the non-Touring), so any considerations of "standing out in the crowd" that some people seem to have with their fun cars is completely moot with a 911.

[Phillies8008]

If you're never (or very rarely) going to be able to drive some fun roads, and since you said you drive in an urban area, I think I'd stick with the R8 since it's an automatic. As much as I love 6MT – and I really, really do – it can get a little old in stop-and-go traffic. Quality of life is probably going to be better with an automatic. I also don't know that I could stomach the $200k swing between the two.

Also, I kind of think a GT3 without great, twisty roads, as well as no plans to track it, is kind of overkill. At that point you have a GT3 more to say you have a GT3 that anything, in my opinion. What that's worth is up to you.

[BlkGS]

Both cars are going to be a total waste in your environment. You're not going to get anything out of them really.

As the others said, both cars are just owning one to say you own one without taking them to the track or having great mountain.roads.

If anything, get a 911 Turbo or GTS..

[baege]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

A 911 GTS will probably be a much better fit for these needs. A base 911 will too, but I get the desire to have something more special. The non-GT3 911s starting from the 991.2 (2015+) are all turbocharged, so you'll get that nice meaty torque down low. A GTS and below will be more comfortable day-to-day while losing only a bit in sharpness (that you'd probably not notice unless you back-to-back with a GT3 on good roads or on track). The only caveat is manual transmission availability for the 992.2 (992.1 and below have manual in most trim levels), might need to look at the T for that if considering new.

I'll also add that to the vast majority of people a base 911 is indistinguishable from a GTS or even a GT3 (expect the big wing on the non-Touring), so any considerations of "standing out in the crowd" that some people seem to have with their fun cars is completely moot with a 911.

I am a turbo hater though
tried a 992.1 S manual when I had my GTS 4.0 and preferred my GTS 4.0 mainly due to the NA engine

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I'll also add that to the vast majority of people a base 911 is indistinguishable from a GTS or even a GT3 (expect the big wing on the non-Touring), so any considerations of "standing out in the crowd" that some people seem to have with their fun cars is completely moot with a 911.

I would STRONGLY disagree, and the main point would be, you WILL stand out if you get a GT3 in an unusual color.
Yes ,if you have dark grey GT3 it will look 90% like any other Porsche.
But,here is a picture that could help you to stand out in any crowd.
My vote goes for GT3 over R8, because i drove an R8 V10 in Dubai for a day, and after driving Huracan and Ferrari F8 the day before, R8 didnt impress me at all.yes, it is quick, looks pretty cool, but the sound and emotion isnt on the level i expected.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

I would STRONGLY disagree, and the main point would be, you WILL stand out if you get a GT3 in an unusual color.
Yes ,if you have dark grey GT3 it will look 90% like any other Porsche.
But,here is a picture that could help you to stand out in any crowd.

That's why I said except for the wing on the non-Touring. Delete the wing in your picture and it's just a blue 911. And if you consider a bright color to be something special, I have a Civic exactly the same shade of blue in my neighborhood and it pops just the same in the sea of monochromatic economy cars. You can get a Skittles colored base 911 (even if you need to dip into paint-to-sample, you'd still be well ahead of getting a GT3 in money and hassle (i.e. allocation)). The only point I'll concede is that it's probably easier to find a used GT3 in a more interesting color than a more pedestrian 911.

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

That's why I said except for the wing on the non-Touring. Delete the wing in your picture and it's just a blue 911. And if you consider a bright color to be something special, I have a Civic exactly the same shade of blue in my neighborhood and it pops just the same in the sea of monochromatic economy cars. You can get a Skittles colored base 911 (even if you need to dip into paint-to-sample, you'd still be well ahead of getting a GT3 in money and hassle (i.e. allocation)). The only point I'll concede is that it's probably easier to find a used GT3 in a more interesting color than a more pedestrian 911.

agree to disagree, your point that you can have that same color on a honda civic is something a 12y old kid would say...That would be like me saying, Yes, why would you pay Gintani exhaust 20k $, when my neighbour has straightpiped Golf 2 that is just as loud
And even if you take the wing off that GT3, it is NOT the same as a regular porsche, details pop out like wheels, sound, splitters and so on...
As it happens,my brother has a GT4 Porsche, in similar blue color, and pretty much EVERY single person in the city, from 3y to 90y old, stares at the car,not only because of the color but also because of overall presence, exhaust note and so on...

[Alfisti]

You always want newer cars for some god forsaken reason, even though they are immeasurably worse for you use case and preferences. The answer to your needs is a 991.1 GTS but you like your tech or some such rubbish.

Honestly the 992 GT3 leaves me numb other than the engine. Borderline emotionless ... and the R8 has always been the same to me.

[jesm]

Post pics of the R8....and possible GT3

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

I would STRONGLY disagree, and the main point would be, you WILL stand out if you get a GT3 in an unusual color.
Yes ,if you have dark grey GT3 it will look 90% like any other Porsche.
But,here is a picture that could help you to stand out in any crowd.
My vote goes for GT3 over R8, because i drove an R8 V10 in Dubai for a day, and after driving Huracan and Ferrari F8 the day before, R8 didnt impress me at all.yes, it is quick, looks pretty cool, but the sound and emotion isnt on the level i expected.

Yeah, but comparing an R8 to a Ferrari and a Lambo is a little disingenuous, isn't it? I mean, it'd be a pretty huge disappointment if a hypercar wasn't more exciting to drive than an R8, wouldn't it? But that's not really the choice being discussed.

It'd kind of be like trying to choose between a Cessna and a Piper and having someone say the Cessna sucks because a LearJet is faster and more comfortable. I mean, duh, yeah, but hardly a useful comparison.

[freakystyly]

My local dealer has a 992 GT3 R rennsport and it's calling your naaaaame. They also have a 992 Dakar. Crazy pricing even for a Porsche.

[baege]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

You always want newer cars for some god forsaken reason, even though they are immeasurably worse for you use case and preferences. The answer to your needs is a 991.1 GTS but you like your tech or some such rubbish.

Honestly the 992 GT3 leaves me numb other than the engine. Borderline emotionless ... and the R8 has always been the same to me.

I need a newer car because as its my only car I need dependability and reliability and like the certainty that comes with a warrantied car

[NickyC]

GT3s to me are just perfect cars. I’m a mod nerd and I can’t think of a single thing I’d change on those cars from a stock form. They are just perfect in my eyes.

GT3

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by baege

I need a newer car because as its my only car I need dependability and reliability and like the certainty that comes with a warrantied car

Audi and Porsche are not two names that come to.mind for reliability lol.

I'm with the others here, you're realistically buying a badge here, not a car that you're actually going to get to enjoy other than just talking about it. When was the last time you got to wind it all the way out? When was the last time you got to take a corner at speed?

I get that you want a "fancy" car, but you'd be way happier with something that's slower than you can beat the crap out of and not be going very fast so you can actually DRIVE it in town and not just be putting around in an expensive car.

Get an LC500. At least then you can be comfortable too.

[dgoldenz]

997 or 991.1 GTS are far better for daily use. GT3 is great but you’re going to get annoyed driving it everywhere all the time, especially with a manual and not being able to wind it out. On short trips the engine won’t even be warm by the time you get there.

If you save yourself $30-70k on the car you’ve got plenty of money for repairs and maintenance too.

[vt100]

Sell your R8 and get one from 2015 with manual!

[baege]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Audi and Porsche are not two names that come to.mind for reliability lol.

I'm with the others here, you're realistically buying a badge here, not a car that you're actually going to get to enjoy other than just talking about it. When was the last time you got to wind it all the way out? When was the last time you got to take a corner at speed?

I get that you want a "fancy" car, but you'd be way happier with something that's slower than you can beat the crap out of and not be going very fast so you can actually DRIVE it in town and not just be putting around in an expensive car.

Get an LC500. At least then you can be comfortable too.

the R8 is pretty accessible actually, it has torque and revs with ferocity even at lower rpms

I do wonder about the GT3 in terms of being able to enjoy it around town

I tried the LC500, sounds great, great ride, but when I got back in my GTS 4.0 I was like nah I like this better

after driving my first gen 2 R8, I got back in my GTS 4.0 and I was like I am making this move, that V10 is just epic

[RM7]

GT3s deserve DCTs IMO. GTS, S or 911 T for manual IMO.

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Yeah, but comparing an R8 to a Ferrari and a Lambo is a little disingenuous, isn't it? I mean, it'd be a pretty huge disappointment if a hypercar wasn't more exciting to drive than an R8, wouldn't it? But that's not really the choice being discussed.

It'd kind of be like trying to choose between a Cessna and a Piper and having someone say the Cessna sucks because a LearJet is faster and more comfortable. I mean, duh, yeah, but hardly a useful comparison.

It wasnt the original comparisson, BUT you are way off, Huracan is NOT a hypercar, its a supercar as much as R8 is. When new, the Huracan was ~25-30% more expensive, so its not apples and oranges...

[eliphil]

I rented an R8 in Dallas seven years ago for the weekend. It’s a fun car but not close to a911 with a stick. I was at my detailer today and he had a 25 911s w a stick custom ice grey color w 500 miles on it on for 185k. To me Porsche has really gone to far with their price scale but you do get what you pay for.