m4ever:
Beautiful, red ,riviera and signal green are (imho) the best colors for the 997 GT3.
My kids call signal green "vomit green".
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4
Congratulations, a fantastic choice. Probably my favourite 911 (and it does look great in its launch colour, red). Been lusting after one of these in Riviera Blue for a while, but the prices here are still crazy - at least €170,000. That stiff clutch will feel much better on the track.
Gauss:P.S. I must admit that I was hugely surprised at how hard I had to push the clutch
What's a clutch..?
Congratulations! BTW - this month's evo reflects upon cars such as the 997 GT3 which may never be seen again (EU regs etc) and specifically mentions - with a certain amount of petrolhead satisfaction - the weight of the clutch as if it's for real men.
I must admit, I still miss mine. But enough, in case we get RC started on the subject again!
Porsche Carrera GTS (2012); Porsche Cayenne Diesel (2012)
Budster:
Gauss:P.S. I must admit that I was hugely surprised at how hard I had to push the clutch
What's a clutch..?
Congratulations! BTW - this month's evo reflects upon cars such as the 997 GT3 which may never be seen again (EU regs etc) and specifically mentions - with a certain amount of petrolhead satisfaction - the weight of the clutch as if it's for real men.
I must admit, I still miss mine. But enough, in case we get RC started on the subject again!
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4
Thank you all for your comments, guys. Appreciate them very much.
@Porker, Still a bit early for me and I don't have the time either this weekend. I will start the season with this : http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/driving-safety-centre/safety-fun-car/safety-fun-2days.html Maybe someone here on RT would like to participate. Haven't decided on the dates yet.
Jan 14, 2013 6:55:38 PM
Holly XXXXX !!!
What a great thread !! We are happy for you Gauss !!! WHAT A BEAST !!!! IT JUST LOOKS PERFECT !!!!!
Just returned home from Stuttgart and all I have in my mind are Carrera GT's, 959, and RS's !!!!!
Many congrats Gauss, now we need a full report from you including a great photoshoot of that BEAST !!!!!
Congratulations on a special car! I sympathize re. the clutch; 2 years ago my wife and I tested this model, just to see if by chance it was (just barely) liveable as a daily driver for warmer half of the year. The answer was, no... I stalled it twice getting out of the city to stretch its legs, and my wife erred the other way, leaving a couple of black marks on the road after slightly aggressive starts. But once out of the city, my wife was driving on an open stretch with no chance of other traffic, and floored it in 3rd gear - the combination of sound and acceleration made us both burst into giggles at the same time! We still talk about that....
2011 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
congrats!
I have had my 997.2 GT3 for a few months now... and it beats all the cars I have driven/owned for shear driving experience hands down!!
re the clutch, that was my concern initially as well. and I stalled it several times in heavy traffic when it was new, made me look like a fool!
but now its second nature to me.... I tested my friend's R8 recently and I nearly pushed his clutch thru the floor
mine is mainly for city driving and my main problem is speed humps and carpark ramps as mine doesnt have the lift option and it scraps a lot!! lucky the front lip is cheap!
BMW 1 M + C63.
derder:
but now its second nature to me.... I tested my friend's R8 recently and I nearly pushed his clutch thru the floor
LOL, I can picture that
I'm currently trying to figure out which brake discs and pads I should buy. Down below is a photo of my front disc/rotor. You can see small cracks around the holes, probably better if I replaced them right away. I was thinking about buying a set of OEM CUP discs for the front axle and OEM standards for the rear axle (the CUP discs don't have handbrake). Still undecided on the pads. Apparently the standard pads are hard on the discs. I also want to fit new tires: either Pirelli PZero Trofeo or Michelin Pilot Sport CUP.
What have you guys fitted?
Jan 15, 2013 1:38:13 PM
Alex18_996CC:
Holly XXXXX !!!
What a great thread !! We are happy for you Gauss !!! WHAT A BEAST !!!! IT JUST LOOKS PERFECT !!!!!
Just returned home from Stuttgart and all I have in my mind are Carrera GT's, 959, and RS's !!!!!
Many congrats Gauss, now we need a full report from you including a great photoshoot of that BEAST !!!!!
Thanks Alex
Full report with photos will follow. We have currently snow in Luxembourg
The cracks around the holes are quite normal for Porsche drilled discs. As long as they don't move from one hole to the other, the disc should be OK. Check with your local Porsche dealer if the discs need replacement.
Due to the central wheel locking system and past issues, make sure that you maintain your car at an official dealer who has the right information (and tools) to do the job.
As to the usage of brake pads, it depends what you want: Track performance (and loud squeaking) or less noise and worse track performance. I would take the Michelin Sport Cup, not the Pirelli.
Have fun!
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), BMW X3 35d (2012), Mini Cooper S Countryman All4
Thanks for your input RC, appreciate it. Yes, maintaining and servicing the car at an official Porsche dealer is very important to me, for the exact reasons you have stated! As you well know, the GT3 mk2 is very delicate with the centerlock design. As far as I know there have been 2 recall campaigns for this model, right? AB01 and AC05.
This time I agree with RC - make sure they apply 600 NM and not the 540 it was previously written on the nut - and that it is only done at a OEM that can do this properly .... - as to the tires I spoke with a Porsche mechanic that prepares a lot of track-cars for customers and he said the Michelin Cup's much better and the wall-stiffness is "better suited" with the Porsche factory suspension/damper set up !
I've heard many good things about GT3's equipped with alcon discs and bells. FIts the OEM calipers and should be much more durable.
Replacing them, you can just buy the disc without the alu-bell.
Budster:
Out of interest, an engineering question: why is the clutch so heavy? Could it not be designed, through leverage, to be more pliable, without adding undue weight?
As far as I know, you are correct - there is no reason that the GT3 clutch linkage could not have had stronger assist springs and require less than a 60 kg push. IMO it was a conscious decision by the GT3 design teams, perhaps to better match up with the fairly stiff 6-speed box (which maybe could not have been made "easier"), but I recall reading that the design team wanted to make a statement about the GT3/RS models being "men's cars" and to resist the tendency to make new cars always easier to drive. But I expect every owner soon stops noticing the clutch - we humans get used to lots of stuff. And, it will be moot with the 991 GT3 and PDK....
2011 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
I'm currently trying to figure out which brake discs and pads I should buy. Down below is a photo of my front disc/rotor. You can see small cracks around the holes, probably better if I replaced them right away. I was thinking about buying a set of OEM CUP discs for the front axle and OEM standards for the rear axle (the CUP discs don't have handbrake). Still undecided on the pads. Apparently the standard pads are hard on the discs. I also want to fit new tires: either Pirelli PZero Trofeo or Michelin Pilot Sport CUP.
What have you guys fitted?
This is exactly my setup - OEM CUP Discs at the front axle, OEM standards at the rear axle. The CUP discs have large holes for better cooling which in turn should reduce the number of cracks that are developed. An as RC already stated, small cracks are quite normal and no problem as long as they do not approach another hole or the border of the disk. In either case, they must be exchange immediately. I would recommend having them checked by a trained and experienced pro.
As for the break pads, same as the discs, standard ones on the rear axle, CUP long distance pads at the front.
Matt C
2009 997 GT3 Mk2 / 1988 911 3.2 Conv.
The car is registered now and awaiting better weather. I haven't had the time yet to drive more and test it more rigorously, I haven't even revved past 5k to be honest It's got new tires fitted : Michelin Pilort Sport CUP N1. The brakes are still fine according to my local Porsche center.
Here's a quick shot I took the day it passed the MOT test :
997 GT3 3.8
Gauss:
The car is registered now and awaiting better weather. I haven't had the time yet to drive more and test it more rigorously, I haven't even revved past 5k to be honest It's got new tires fitted : Michelin Pilort Sport CUP N1. The brakes are still fine according to my local Porsche center.
Here's a quick shot I took the day it passed the MOT test :
I like your car a lot
"Form follows function"