Compare to Porsche GT3

[CKarras]

If you have, or have considered having, a Porsche GT3 I am eager to hear of your views comparing these cars, ignoring the price difference as much as you can!

[Halo]

The thing is, how can one ignore the price difference? What I mean is, when you're shopping for cars >100K range, another 30K for a second car (the S) would not be a serious issue. So, one could get both.

And by shopping for cars in the >100K range, I don't just mean eeking out a 48 month, 5,000 miles/year lease payment or some shit like that. I mean, living in conditions where owning the car is not an 'issue'. (for example, extra garage space for other daily drivers so GT3 never ends up in a bad part of town, maintenance costs not an issue, etc).

[CKarras]

Halo,

You're right, of course. The cost difference is not insignificant. That said, I'm looking for a car that I won't need to drive, but that I'll want to drive--rather the equivalent of one of my motorcycles: a car for Sunday morning twisties, the occaisional commute to the office, a road trip from time to time and about 4-6 track days each summer. A S2000 could be all of that, but it doesn't have as much garage appeal as a GT3 (the desire it engenders to sit in the garage and just stare at it). The S2000 also doesn't have as much torque, but it is more nimble.

So, any reactions or points of comparison?

(BTW, I have a deposit down on a Lotus Elise, but my projected delivery date is still 12-18 months away and I am disinclined to just wait. I'll either pass on the Elise, sell the other car or keep both--depending on the circumstances at the time of actual delivery.)

[Halo]

OK now I can help you. I came to the S2000 after owning a couple of sport bikes. My last one was a R1. It was time to move away from bikes and one of my riding buddies turned me on the the S as the closest thing to a motorcycle. I totally agreed with his impression after 1 drive and bought it.

It's still not quite as 'raw' as a street bike (power roof, leather seats etc), but it's about as close as you can get. Possibly the elise will be even more so.

I've driven a regular 996 911 but not the GT3. The 996 is an amazing car, fast enough, but it does not have a sport bike feel. It is refined, no sharp edges. I'd feel nervous about tracking a GT3, but then my pockets aren't deep enough to afford replacing one if I trashed it.

[cbanks]

Originally Posted by CKarras

If you have, or have considered having, a Porsche GT3 I am eager to hear of your views comparing these cars, ignoring the price difference as much as you can!

Odd question since the cars aren't, IMHO, targeted at the same drivers. 380HP vs. 240HP? The extra price of the Porsche is going to get you an interior that the S2000 can't compete with. The Porsche is a serious performance car that'll smoke a S2000.

I'm not a big fan of Porsches so, if I could afford $100k for a car, it wouldn't be a 911. But let's reverse things. If I weren't allowed to sell it to make a quick buck, would a trade my S2000 for a 911? Nope.

The character of the S2000, IMHO, is the classic British roadsters without the warts. I always wanted to own a TR6 but they are too small, too unreliable, too slow.

If you were really interested in a ragtop roadster like a S2000 I find it odd your other choice is a GT3. Why not one of the Cabriolet models? For the same price or less you get the thrill of the wind through your hair with only a small penalty in performance. Even the lowest-end 911 ragtop will outrun the S2000.

Hey, the real answer for you is to test drive each and make up your own mind.

[CKarras]

Originally Posted by Halo

OK now I can help you. I came to the S2000 after owning a couple of sport bikes. My last one was a R1. It was time to move away from bikes and one of my riding buddies turned me on the the S as the closest thing to a motorcycle. I totally agreed with his impression after 1 drive and bought it.

It's still not quite as 'raw' as a street bike (power roof, leather seats etc), but it's about as close as you can get. Possibly the elise will be even more so.

I've driven a regular 996 911 but not the GT3. The 996 is an amazing car, fast enough, but it does not have a sport bike feel. It is refined, no sharp edges. I'd feel nervous about tracking a GT3, but then my pockets aren't deep enough to afford replacing one if I trashed it.

I'm coming from a Ducati 900SS and an Aprilia RS250--both sweet bikes and very different. I really liked the S2000 a dealer loaned me for an hour or so. It was the Mark I version with the 9K redline. Later this month I expect to get some track time in a GT3, which is reported to be a more "raw" version of the 996. When I tell Porsche people that I'm coming from track days on bikes, they all say "GT3." We'll see.

[CKarras]

Originally Posted by cbanks

Odd question since the cars aren't, IMHO, targeted at the same drivers. 380HP vs. 240HP? The extra price of the Porsche is going to get you an interior that the S2000 can't compete with. The Porsche is a serious performance car that'll smoke a S2000.

I'm not a big fan of Porsches so, if I could afford $100k for a car, it wouldn't be a 911. But let's reverse things. If I weren't allowed to sell it to make a quick buck, would a trade my S2000 for a 911? Nope.

The character of the S2000, IMHO, is the classic British roadsters without the warts. I always wanted to own a TR6 but they are too small, too unreliable, too slow.

If you were really interested in a ragtop roadster like a S2000 I find it odd your other choice is a GT3. Why not one of the Cabriolet models? For the same price or less you get the thrill of the wind through your hair with only a small penalty in performance. Even the lowest-end 911 ragtop will outrun the S2000.

Hey, the real answer for you is to test drive each and make up your own mind.

It seems to me that the price "targets" the cars at different audiences, and while that is real enough, for my purposes I'm pretending price is not the key. If you mean smoke in a straight line, who cares? I'm looking for a fun car for the twisties, and the lighter weight of the S2000 may well balance the power of the GT3.

I'm not comitted to a ragtop--it's nice with the S2000 or Elise to have a solid top option, but it's the performance I'm looking for. Test drive is the key, you are right, and I had a good one in the S2000, but it's more of a challenge to get a GT3 (few used ones as it starte in MY04). I hope for later this month.

[ben14142001]

There is no real comparison between the cars. My family owns one and I have driven it around and on the track. There are a few key things you are missing. First of all, the GT3 has minimum horsepower of 381. Porsche likes to underrate power in their cars. Most that have been dynoed are somewhere right around 400. You also happen to be ignoring the torque issue. A GT3 has 284 ft-ft's compared to the S2000's 153. The GT3 has about 200 more pounds than the S2000, but the GT3 is known to be one of the best handling cars in the world. It performed 1.03 G's on a 300 ft skidpad, that is second to only one car, the Ferrari Enzo. So, no, the lighter weight of the S2000 will not balance out the power of the GT3. Personally, I don't think there is a comparison at all. You are trying to compare a supercar to a sports car. There is a good reason they compare the GT3 to Ferrari Challenges and Ford Gts and Murcielago's, cause it can compete with them. There is also that $70,000 difference in price. I have never driven an S2000, but I've driven many other cars, many faster cars than it. My car, a 1970 Porsche 914-6 doesn't even compare to the GT3 after 50 miles per hour. It's not even close to stock, it has 280 hp and 235 torque with only 2,000 pounds of weight. Although when raced on short tracks, like Gingerman, the times are fairly close, because my car tends to make up time in the curves, but only slightly, the GT3 is the faster car all around. On longer tracks like Road America, the GT3 blows my car away in the straights and my car can't catch up, even in the curves. If you consider the specs of my car, to that of the GT3 and the S2000, it is somewhere in the middle of the two, closer to the GT3. If my car can't compete, then I don't think there is a prayer for the S2000. We also own a 02 911, which has no chance at all compared to the GT3. They seem worlds apart when you drive them. Hope that will clear some things up.

[CKarras]

Thanks. My thinking has progressed. I saw some GT3s, rode in them on the street and rode in one on the track last week. The day after the track experience I ordered one of the last GT3s. Its estimated completion date is November 1st. Delivery might be by the end of November.

There are still a few GT3s to be had!

Chris

[ben14142001]

That's awesome. I can assure you that you will be completely satisfied. It's one hell of a car. Enjoy.

[Luckyace]

Let compare GT3 to McLaren and don't compare the price I know GT3 is 110 and Mc. is 2 mill, the price a little off but........

yeah u fucK, how about that to compare.

[Halo]

Easy there chief! Low six figures for a car is not exactly out of the question for some of us. So, while it may piss you off, this does not mean that you have to yell obscenities.