frayed:
Can't believe I'm doing this but WTH.
Here's a recent post from a fella who dumped his TTS for the GT3. While the TTS is likely faster in most situations, at this performance level it's not about speed. It's about THE DRIVE. Check it out.
"Yeas, I traded the TTS in at 3,000 miles. I damaged the front splitter on the track one day ($1,800 list, so be careful) and it had Pagid racing pads, which they had to remove and revert to OEM. Needed new tires too. Even with those expenses deducted from the trade end, I didn't lose much on the TTS.
The 991 Turbo S is no track car. It is a car to have fun with on the track but not something to do some serious track racing in. I'm also not sure why the driver would use Pagid racing pads with the PCCB brake because to my knowledge, the PCCB brake pads (this is the 3rd PCCB generation) need to be specifically developed for the PCCB brake discs. Not aware of new Pagids for the new PCCB generation but I may be wrong. There is more ceramic compound in the 3rd gen PCCB brake discs.
What also makes me wonder a little bit: First 991 Turbo S appeared in the US a couple of weeks ago. How did he manage to do over 3000 miles in the car, especially if he was doing some serious tracking too? Another question is about the front splitter(?): The only way to damage is it to hit something. Maybe this guy should have gotten a driver ed training rather than a GT3. Just saying...
I loved the massive power of the TTS from very early on in the RPM range and of course, the Birmester could not be beat. Aesthetically, the extra wide body with the near horizontal flat fender look did not grow on me. Also, the rear of the car Sat way too high. The exhaust note sucked and I listened to all after market exhaust upgrades on Turbos (on the 997s) and while louder, none was pleasing. The main reason for trading it in was the track. Yes, fast as heck (very curious to see if the GT3 is as fast on our local track or not) but very heavy and didn't like getting tossed around much. The extra weight and the all wheel drive killed my from tires way too fast. I had to replace the outer front tire twice, in addition to a full set of tires after 5 or 6 track days.
It is Burmester, not Birmester but I suppose this was just a spelling mistake (which buyers of Burmester usually don't make but anyway...). "Didn't like to get tossed around much..." Is this guy serious? What the heck did he do with the car? Track racing is about a smooth and fastest line, not about compensating for rage.
While there appear to be no break-in period for the GT3, I didn't feel good tracking it today with 80 miles on it but am going this weekend. On the road, the GT3 is a hell of a machine. The PDK with no creep is different, in a great way. If you slowly feather the throttle from idle, it will sound and behave like you have the clutch halfway depressed for almost as long as you need to. If you need to move fast and hit the throttle accordingly, it will fully engage very quickly. Up to 3,500 RPM, the sound is Carrera like and gradually increases. I am only going to 7,000 for another 100 miles or so (200 already, been driving all day) and at this range, the car is starting to pull harder and gets louder. Way much better exhaust note than my 991 C4S with sport exhaust. The "fake" burble in the exhaust is not there which is a welcome finding. I drove with both suspension settings and in uneven roads, not comfortable. The soft setting feels like something in between soft and firm in the C4S, definitely something that I can live with.
The TTS was a great car but felt somewhat "synthetic". The 3 is refined raw (yes, am aware this is an oxymoron but this is the best descriptive I could think of). I m going for another ride and will check back later"
There is no synthetic feel about the TTS, the steering setup is even 10% more direct than on the GT3, surprise, surprise. I rather guess this guy couldn't handle the extra power and always had issues keeping it on the track. The N/A GT3 is much better in these regards, even if the 991 Turbo S PTM/AWS setup should make up for it.
I don't say the 991 Turbo S is the better track car than the GT3, it isn't, it is heavier and sooner or later, the extra weight takes a toll on brakes and tires. However, if you drive a clean line and aren't a jerk on the track, the tire and brake pads/discs wear can be kept under a lid. Unless of course some people WANT to drive like jerks, I know many who prefer a drift over a clean line to show off their "talent". In the end, these guys are usually faster than the majority of the bunch anyway (they have more experience, they take more risks, etc.), so they can afford doing these games without loosing face. For them this may be fun, for me, this would be pointless. It just costs a lot of money, it makes you slower and the risk is also higher. Unless of course money doesn't matter (for me, it does).
Bottom line is: We can discuss this all day long but whoever plans to spend more time on the track than on the road, should definitely get a GT3 and preferably with the normal brake (no PCCB).
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Turbo S, Porsche Boxster S (981), BMW X3 35d (2013)