Source, Autoblog

I kinda wish the wing wasn't just a rehash of the 996 mk.II wing, and think it's a step backward from the 997 mk.I wing. Other than that I kinda feel underwhelmed, it's probably the lack of actual details, and I'm sure once I read a road test my opinion will change.

Also, I wonder if means this GT3 gets a system for lifting the nose to go over potholes. I don't know a lot about aerodynamics, but I am pretty sure that any change at the front needs to be balanced at the back, so being able to adjust the front spoiler automatically without being able to adjust the rear seems kinda pointless. Although I guess the opposite happens every time the bog standard 997 raises it's rear spoiler.

Weird rims but it should be good. As for the aerodynamics comment, changing the balance of front/rear downforce is very useful...plus, GT3s have always had adjustable rear wings. Having an adjustable front just increases the possibilities.

The photos are a bit underwhelming, and this car has a LOT to live up to. The outgoing GT3 was considered the greatest 911 of all time by many.

Very nice, I love the wheel design, and the adjustable front spoiler. I'd paint my mesh in the bumper black though.

was the 996 mk.II spoiler adjustable? I thought that the fact that was fixed was much lamented.

Just a question, does a home mechanic have what he needs to remove center lock wheels? I know in the near future the chance of a GT3 customer removing his own wheels is kinda slim (although I'm sure a track day enthusiast may do it), but when these cars become affordable are we going to have to take them to a dealer to be able to remove the wheels?

Just realized it but those wheels seem to be a modern interpretation of the classic Fuchs wheels.

I it. Those Porsche engineers are pretty amazing.



Yes, though it doesn't have anything to do with the adjustable front spoiler. It's the suspension that can adjust for potholes.




It looks much more black on the Porsche website, the Autoblog pictures just stink.

Most Porsche guys I know preferred the 996 to the 997, actually.

Like every other new Porsche model, I'd need a magnifying glass and back-to-back photos to tell the difference. Meh.

the engine is a 3.8L up from 3.6L not a 4.0L.

why doesn't this car have the DI and PDK?

the magnetorheologic engine mount dampers are fucking pimp though, A+ to Porsche on that idea. I bet that's expensive to fix when you launch the fuck out of it and pop one, though.

^I would assume it doesn't have DI cuz it's an evolution of the split case GT1 engine found in the Turbo and GT2 and previous GT3s. I don't know that for sure though.

And I would assume it doesn't have PDK cuz automated manuals are for pussies.

EDIT: I just read the website info, I couldn't find anything on the adjustable front splitter...did anyone else see something?

I remember CAR had the 997 GT3 on the cover, with the heading "Greatest 911 Ever." That was followed by a pretty convincing article, and I know several Porsche-heads that think the 997 is better than the 996. Either way, both cars were absolutely brilliant, and the 998 has a lot to live up to. Also, I'm not warming up to the aero kit...I'm sure it's functional, but it lacks the simplicity of the 996 and the clean lines of the 997.

Agreed completely.

Always have a soft spot for GT3's and the GT3 RS, N/A RWD power FTW.

^ and it screams like nobody's business!

active aero ftw

Mainstream auto mags and Porsche-specific mags differed on that point. The Porsche-specific people generally felt the 996 had the sweeter chassis and that the 997's factory suspension settings were lacking.

^did excellence ever do a 996 vs 997 GT3 comparo?

If so, do you know which issue it was?

Yes, but I dunno the issue #. I'd have to go back and look through my bookcase (which is at home in San Jose).

^I think I found it...it wasn't really a direct shootout, more of a "from what we remember about the 996 we had in the office" for the road part. Although for the track part of the article they did have a 996 GT3 (albeit a lightened one) for comparison.

Pete Stout, who wrote the main article, thought that the 997 was a brilliant car and he ultimately chose it over the 996 for it's modern amenities, although he did say that he liked the purity of the 996 over that of the 997, since the 996 held to the RS ethos more...relying on light weight for speed rather than technological gadgetry.

Johannes van Overbeek contributed to a sidebar where he compared the two cars on a track, his overall impression was that the 996 was good, but the 997 was great. He also said that the 997 was more rewarding to drive.

The issue was # 154. There was another GT3 article, but it wasn't so much a direct comparison. I couldn't find any other obvious articles in Excellence, although I didn't check every issue, I just looked at the back issue index in the back of my most recent magazine.

My other Porsche magazine (GT Porsche) didn't do a 997 v 996 GT3 issue...as far as I can tell.

Interestingly one thing the UK magazine did mention was that they were disappointed with the mk. II 996 GT3 when they compared it to the mk. I 996. One of their praises for the 997 GT3 was that it regained the special feeling they liked so much about the 996 mk. I.

So I win?