Is this the best value Porsche available ?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 авг 2020
- A video looking at the 996 GT3. We discuss the legendary Mezger engine, look at the GT3 cup racing version and compare MK1 and MK2 variants. A road test to see how they drive and to try and understand why these are something of a hidden gem.
And that is why I picked up a 6GT3 a few months ago, it's so special, will shoot up in value once people get over the headlights!
I had passed over your videos thinking your channel name indicates some kind of “influencer”. Wow I was wrong - the best 996 gt3 content I found on RUclips. Bravo and look forward to more.
Thanks for the kind words. The day the fashion world looks to us for influence is a sad day indeed !! :-)
I bought my 996.2 GT3 four years ago and one of the reasons I did was that I thought the car was under valued. I love my car and have covered 11,000 miles in her over the four years including a euro trip to southern Germany. Every time I drive it, it feels so special. And once you get into the upper end of the rev range the noise and push she has is addictive. Cracking car and a great video Henry.
Thanks for the kind words and glad to see you are getting out there in your GT3. Making memories is what it's all about.
I never watch 25 min videos all the way through but I did with this one. Lots of good info making me want one of these. Great content.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
I have owned 16 Porsches of which 5 were air cooled 911's from a Carrera 3.0 to a highly tuned 964. I loved them all, but always wanted them to be more raw and I guess scary. This is where I discovered the 996 GT3, I also had a dislike for the 996 when it was new, but after just one dirve in the 996 GT3 I was smitten. The 996 GT3 is like a 964 RS but turned up to 11.
I am on my second 996 GT3 and they are phenomenal. They are infinitely tunable and can be made to fit your driving style. It is an absolute weapon on the twisties. Other cars might be faster, but this is pure fun.
Can't really argue with that !
There's certainly a lot more to cars than finding one with the most powerful engine.....
Another great video Henry, many thanks.
Your enthusiasm is infectious.
It helps when the subject matter is what it is. I might struggle with 17th century Baroque art....
Love your videos, very informative, nice relaxed presentation.
Thank you !
Really enjoying these videos, great hearing someone so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Porsche marque. I have a 991.2 GT3,after having boxsters, 996 c4s, 997 GTS, 991.1 GTS and absolutely love it, GT3 are very special cars.
There are worse cars to be driving than a 991 GT3 :-)
Thanks for the supportive comments.
Excellent review on the 996 Gt3, my understanding between MK1 and MK2, really enjoyed it...Thx.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to comment.
Such an interesting video again - love these thanks Henry
Thanks for the kind words !
Very informative video. I’ve had a 964RS, a 996 GT3 CS Gen 1 and now a Gen 2 996 Gt3. I have to say the latter is the best of the 3 IMO. Superb chassis with a brilliant engine that always puts a smile on my face. I believe these cars will eventually be aligned with the 964RS price wise, which I hope doesn’t stop the cars being driven.
I don't disagree with your thoughts on values. The 996 GT3 is a great car, as is the 964 RS to be fair. The 996 feels more modern and a bit sharper.
Great video, really enjoyed the history and detail differences.
Thanks for the kind words
Thank you very much for a great video and loads of sophisticated information, like the single water-cooled heads on the GT1 vs the 959 "head bank" cooling. Also the MK1 @ Weissach vs MK2 @ Zuffenhausen was new to me. Thumbs up!
I am lucky to own a 12/2000 GT3 MK1.2 - only 518 of those were built with quite some technical updates after the official first batch of 1350 units had been sold out so quickly.
Although the MK2 is reported to be the technically better car especially the engine (iwell, it should, being the face lift version) I especially love the more integrated design of the MK1. Front skirt and rear wing give it a more flowing look than the rather edgy, stingy MK2. Especially in reality, same color lined up next to each other.
Really enjoyable and also appreciated your walk around of the gt3 race car. Would love to see a review of 996 gt3rs if you ever get one in.
Will definitely keep that in mind as and when we next get one in. As close as you can get to a cup car whilst still being road legal.
Great video. Had my 996.2 gt3 nearly 2 years. What a car, love the mechanical sound of the engine on idle in contrast to how it screams up in the revs. Do prefer the look of the gen 1 though!
I have a huge soft spot for them !!
Another great video, as a 996.1 Carrera owner this one is my favourite as I have aspirations for a GT3, just hope I can get there before their values shoot out of reach forever.
The 996 is great value for money and offers an entry point into Porsche ownership for many.
Great video and now the 996 GT3 is top of my wish list ! Owned one or two 911s in the past but never a GT3
The GT3 in it's various guises is definitely a car worth seeking out and adding to the list.
Nice video and camera work thanks 👍
Thanks, we are learning slowly.
Great video! Hope you guys will do some videos on the 997 generation cars at some point too!
We will definitely be looking at the 997 in future videos.
Beautiful Cars in great condition, don't see them or in this condition anymore. R.I.P Hans Metzger
We try to source the best of what's out there. We end up rejecting far more than we buy in. Hans was a seminal figure within Porsche's history and the marque is stronger for his being.
I just bought a Mk I GT3 six months ago for $80k CAD (about 46.2k GBP) in Biarritz White, it’s awesome, special, cool, and whatever accolade you want to give it-you’re right they’re good value (putting it mildly), and although I didn’t buy it as a money making object, it feels good to know that my taste in cars aligns with good fiscal automotive policy! Thanks for a great video! 👍🏻‼️
I think you should always buy the stuff you like and want rather than something you don't like because it's an "investment". That said if it turns out what you fancy proves fiscally wise well then who's complaining :-)
Great video - definitely subscribed!
Thanks for the kind words. We've got some interesting stuff planned including a series which will be ongoing covering the refurbishment of my 964 RS.
OK I'm sold - these sound like amazing cars. Just need to find the money now ;)
:-) It's only money....
Awesome and thanks for your review experience great job well done. I'm looking for my Porsche 996 911 just like your red one God bless you I'm a new viewer Harry.
Glad you found it useful. Kind regards
Excellent insight into the earlier GT3’s Would be great to see the later generations of 997 and 991 versions in the future? Many thanks Henry great video.
We will definitely be looking at later incarnations of the GT3 at some stage in the future.
Just what the doctor ordered guy's 👍👌, love your passion Definitely what I was looking for thanks.
Glad you enjoyed. As you can imagine I got no pleasure from making the video ;-)
@@911virgin8 😂😂 oh the pain of it
Great video with good content
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
$250k - $300k in Australia now, prices have reallly jumped in recent years.
I have a 996 GT3cup
A wonderful analog race car! 3 pedals and the last H pattern Porsche race car.
Funninly enough I was out in a 996 GT3 the other day and it made me want to hop in the 996 cup car and go racing again !
nice video!just about to get my frist porsche and im a 996 fans,i read all the comments below and i find out turbo vs NA is totally different!but i really need a push on 996 turbo or 996 gt3(turbo is auto and around 65000 us dollar,gt3 manual but 84k!)thanks for all your help!
They are indeed totally different cars to drive. I guess the answer is try both and see which best suits your needs. If you were in the UK we could have you over for a chat but sadly you are based in America. 911virgin.com/
Nice to see the Mk1 GT3 again...that's my old car.
I always feel strange if I see one of my old cars. Many years ago someone brought round my first ever 3.2 Carrera which wasn't in particularly good shape. I bid him a fortune with a view to restoring it. Foolishly (thankfully for me) he refused.
My 996 went through these guys also.
Great video - new subscriber 👍😎
Thanks for that !
Would kill to see his take on 996s in general.
The short answer is they are a cost effective way of getting into Porsche ownership and provide a modern Porsche driving experience. At some point we will do a video on the normal road going 996 cars so make sure you subscribe to get alerts.
As an current owner of a manual 996 C4S with a few mods on it (exhaust, suspension and short-shift), which I absolutely love, I was pondering which atmospheric 911 should be my next one.
My two favorite options were the 996 GT3 mk2 and the 997 GT3 mk2 (my absolute favorite is the 991 GT3 Touring is money wasn’t an obstacle) but after talking with a few owners of both cars (including RS iterations) I don’t think the price difference is justified. Everyone seems to agree on the 996 being a more analog, enjoyable and approachable car, specially for someone that is not a pilot or has some type of motorsport background/training. After seeing your dissertation I’m even more sold on it. Thank you for such an explicatory and thorough video.
Best Regards from Spain.
It's always really hard to compare such different cars as different people want different things. The 996 GT3 is definitely more analogue but to some people that makes the later cars more every day usable. As a weekend toy the 996 has a definite appeal and you can't ignore price, particularly the delta between what you pay and what you sell the car for. On later variants you could lose a sizable chunk if the market decides to soften premiums charged.
@NarrowPath A great car but not sure if it's financially undervalued in the same way I think the 996 GT3 is.
I think the 996 GT3 and obviously gt3rs will continue increasing in value , the headlights are unique in porshes and will add to a collector's desire and the first rs model, first non air cooled 911, second last of the true analogue 911s, 997 aswell is highly desirable and I do like it more, but feel 996 may just pip it in terms of financial gains, but yes these cars should be enjoyed buy why not buy something you love, enjoy it for the next 10 years and then get more for it if you decide to sell
I think you should buy everything in life because you want it, not because you think other people say you should want it or it's an "investment". As you rightly say if something also happens to go up a few quid who's complaining.
Great video. The prices here in the US are around $100000. Still out of price range.
Not sure how many ended up in the US.
When I was shopping for my first 911 there was two choices within budget. 996 gt3 or 997 S. Always hated the headlights and was slightly nervous about the handling on 996 gt3. Went with a 997 S and regretted it later. 997 S was a great car and perfect daily. Unfortunately, coming from a M3 I wanted and expected a more raw driving experience. That mistake cost me thousands since I bought a 997 gt3 a year later. Still love that car. Added a 993 C4s a couple years later and I am one happy camper. Prices have gone up about 20-30k on the 996 gt3 and I still want one. Can never have enough 911's.
Different people want different things from their Porsche and a GT3 won't be for everyone but for a certain group there is no substitute. As for how many Porsches is reasonable, a bit like bikes - N +1 where N is the current number of cars you own.
Thank you. I am willing to buy one for 2 years now. First I have to sell my roadster. In my eyes, the MK 1 is just the better looking car and I would use it for the twisty roads in Switzerland.
I agree, the prices are fair. Only possible chance for me to own a GT3. Cheers from 🇨🇭
Glad you enjoyed the video. You have some stunning scenery in which to enjoy your car although I understand that you have to behave yourself. If you get caught speeding in Switzerland the penalty can be quite harsh!
Thanks for a really interesting video. Just got to buy a 911 now, scratch the itch etc.
Everyone needs a 911 at some point in their life
Brilliant cars. Had a Speed Yellow 996.1 GT3 Club Sport for 12 years and the best car I've owned by far. Dynod at just under 400bhp having had a Manthey K400 upgrade from JZ Machtech in Herts which consists of a Exhaust (sounded fantastic), remap and Cup Air Filter. Also had Mk2 brakes and the suspension set up by well respected Porsche Specialist Parr Garage in Crawley. Just great cars and as Harry said very much undervalued.
You just have to be careful changing exhausts if you ever want to do trackdays. The noise police measure 1m from the exhaust which on a Porsche means they also pick up engine noise as well and the limits can be rather strict.
@@911virgin8 Yes I could just about get on 'noisy' trackdays but as for regular trackdays, forget it. This was 10 years ago and I imagine the noise police have got worse since. Don't know how anyone with any 991GT3 variant gets on a trackday as they seem noisy with the stock exhaust.
Great video. Sounds like a 996 turbo might be a better ‘modern classic’ daily driver
The 996 Turbo is a great car, had one for 13 years. Will be featuring it at some point in the future.
I love my car, and the sound!!!!
Can't argue with that ! Keep having fun.
Great vid covering all the valid points. Hence why the 996s have such a cult following - though they do need to be experienced before they can be fully appreciated.
One very minor point though Henry, you cannot present a 996 mk2 without the front lip splitter. For a very small visual component, it just makes the whole front end look weak. Burrrrrr! :)
I think we fitted a new chin spoiler to this one (you can see it in the early static shots) and it was taken off prior to the road work to preserve it's condition. Never got put back on for the summary piece !
ginger cat cameo! Am i imagining the front lip missing the in end clip? Awesome video Henry!! I love the 996, agree with you on its not achieved it true value.
Possibly a trick of the camera otherwise someone pinched it in between filming sessions :-)
Where else do you get walk on bit parts from the furry creatures!
@@911virgin8 I love watching the videos and the real world approach you have. we need more of this content. how about one on the carrera 996 in general?
As usual a nice Video, very informative, Henry! Always a pleasure to watch all detailed explanations. Thanks and cheers from Houston. Keep going.
@@nickg2027 Definitely a good idea as it is the entry into 911 ownership for so many people.
@@nelran2009 Thanks for that. Maybe I'll make a video out in the US when all this craziness is over !!
Re value, I rely on my air cooled specialist who advises that the 996 generation are just not as well built as their predecessors. Components are more likely to fail as the cars age and their integrity is compromised by a built down to a price philosophy. As a for instance, my '94 993 is still running the original exhaust, no rust and feels just so well put together. Yes, I probably over maintain it but it provides such a feeling of no compromise solidity. I do get the odd yen for a gen 2 GT3 though!
Super video Henry
Obviously an air cooled specialist has a vested interest. What helps us be more open minded is that we sell everything from air cooled to later water cooled. As of today we span 1976 to 2019. I'm not going to knock the air cooled stuff because it's great, but so is the water cooled stuff. I've just acquired a 991 - a slightly off the wall model within the 991 line up which will no doubt feature in a video at some point in the future, and I love it. The benefit of the 996 is it's cheap, particularly in normal guise so for someone on a sub £20k budget it makes Porsche 911 ownership possible.
I thought my 996 turbo was an absolute bargain of the century.....but perhaps we have a contender here! Love the power on the turbo when it comes on song but a bit sledgehammer like. Still, at under 30K for a really tidy example it’s amazing value still!!!
The Turbo and the GT3 play to a slightly different audience, one isn't right or wrong, just different. The 996 Turbo is a supremely capable car and of course shares that Mezger engine design. A true supercar that can be used in anger and won't break the bank. Like the GT3 I suspect values will creep upwards at some point.
Great video Henry. Two things I would add; The gearbox and change are sublime. The running costs are reasonable given the performance.
Thanks for that. Very valid points. Re: running costs one of the great things about all Porsches are the number of great specialists out there particularly in the UK and the availability of parts.
Henry, thank you for the very informative video. I own an 87 3.2 and enjoy the car a lot due to its size and how fun it is to drive even at low speeds. How would one compare this to the 996 gt3 to the extent that you can compare the two? Thank you.
They are very different cars in that the G series cars are essentially technology from 1963, the GT3 is a much more modern car. That said the GT3 still retains an analogue feel, you don't have to do 100 mph plus for it to work as is the case in something like the 991 Turbo S we reviewed recently. Ultimately the GT3 is a sharper knife than a 3.2 Carrera.
@@911virgin8 thank you
Great informative show Henry. My feeling is that the shape of the headlights are putting purists off. Hope I’m wrong.
The front end of the 996 has long been a source of debate. The general consensus seems to be people are warming to them again as they get older.
@@911virgin8 Agreed. Finally the tide is turning and people are appreciating the headlights. I even think the 996 mk1 fried egg headlights are prettier / more retro than the later 996.2 style.
996 Values across the range are on the up, watch the market its 100% rising.
Fantastic video Henry. I’ve been considering purchasing one for a while. Should really pull my finger out.
It also transpires your business is based just up the road from my old boss (Dodge vipers will give it away).
Dodge vipers do indeed point to a certain individual in these parts :-)
Ewwrrrrrrrrrr I sayyyy, good chap. Cracking good video!
Thanks for the support Ryan
Awesome
Thanks !
The mk1 is also built on the C4 body.
I think you are right !
Great video Henry. I will disagree with you on one thing though. I really hope the values of these don't go up and stay where they are. That way we can continue using these cars as they were meant to be-on track! I've had mine for 2 years now and have optimised it for track and track the heck out of it when I can. I think if it was 300k(like my 993RS CS) I probably would think twice about using it. However as is, I drive it like I stole it! Its a car that gets under your skin for sure....
A very valid point and one that is definitely true. There comes a point where cars get tucked away never to see the light of day although I did used to race against a Ferrari F40 so there are people out there who ignore the rules and just crack on regardless. The reality is that increasing values combined with man maths can actually increase use with running costs funded by rising values. Just a thought....
Mezger
996 GT3 Mk2 using C4S wide body??? I thought they used narrow body for all 996gen GT3's
C4 bodyshell, not C4S bodyshell.
7mn56 Nurburgring 99'
GR8
i love my 04 C4S. more reliable than my new BMW
Very different cars. The BM isn't a bad car but not a Porsche !
I really think its just due to the looks, and the whole IMS scare from the regular 996. Especially the fried egg looking ones. I kind of like it and hate it at the same time, if the car is a clean example like yours, I think they look great, when the headlights are calcified and the cars paint work has seen better days - then the car is very ugly.
Isn't that the case with all neglected cars? Very few of them benefit from "patina". As the cars get older more and more people are warming to the look.
And the crucial question?? The cat’s name is???
Tiger !
i have a 996 turbo X50....can't imagine better bang for the buck
Your turbo and the GT3 are quite different cars. The turbo will seem a faster point and squirt car, the GT3 will give you more chassis feedback and subtlety of throttle response. As always I'm not saying one is better or worse, they are just different. I ran a 996 turbo as part of the fleet for 13 years !
I am never gonna sell my 996 GT3.
Until something else comes along to temp you..... :-)
Not anymore. 997.1 Turbo is now.
These are not made the same way the 993 or earlier Aircooled cars were built, plus the feeling you get in a 993 can’t be felt in any watercooled cars. This is what people are buying into if talking about why values of 996 are lower than equivalent Aircooled cars. Still the 996 are lovely cars but no Aircooled.
Water cooled is far superior to aircooled tech. I had a '77 3.0 930 earlier and now own a 996.2 GT3 Clubsport. The 996.2 is light years ahead of the 930 in any way and the Porsche DNA is certainly present in the GT3 🙂
sbuskov agree, subjectively speaking the the newer car is always new and yeah superior, it’s new, everyone knows this and is a given nothing complex about that. Objectively the Aircooled is better build the whole car part us German marde not the watercooled with parts made in Easter Europe . Aircooled is like a Leica camera or patek Philip watch . Same cannot be said of the watercooled, I’ve had both used both (993 & 997) extensively, so speaking from a well informed perspective. 😊
I'm not sure I see Porsche in terms of air cooled good, water cooled bad. Who is best, your son or your daughter? You love them both equally but for different character traits. Similarly I don't see where a component is manufactured as having any bearing on it's quality or suitability for purpose. My iPhones have been pretty decent bits of kit and I'm pretty sure they weren't built in California.
Technology and car design moves forwards and Porsche have to keep up. There possibly comes a point where the car outpaces it's driver's ability or the environment where it's used but that's a topic for another video....
911virgin Valid points, but their is a reason why people prefer Aircooled (sell water cooled in cases for older cars as well) and prefer to pay over the odds, their is also a reason why people prefer to sell the old (Aircooled) cars and buy newer expensive water cooled cars(new does not equal better, just newer/ technology). So a affordable more (mass produced) GT3 for a true enthusiast is a good thing, anything different (price wise) will bring back ridiculous prices that’s plagued the Porsche GT(3)/RS cars. At no point was their a mention of one is better than the other, but from a Subjective and Objective perspective their are definitive preferences and pros and cons. For sure I preferred the build quality of my Aircooled car(hewn from granite feel) to my watercooled(Quality but delicate feel) based on my experience. Purchase of a good cars in both areas highlight this clearly (quality feel) unless one is in denial. These are my observations not a case of older handles/drives better than new.
NC B my Aircooled as not faltered in years I’ve owned the car and I drive her extremely hard( driven around Europe in high temps real hard), also same with my 997. But one is at least 25 years old and the water a good 15 years younger. Yet I was able to drive both just as hard. Get a good old one or a nice new one. You will be fine
GT3 is an amazing machine but of course the Mezger engine in it bears no relationship what so ever to the M96 installed in the mainstream cars. Porsche sold a poorly designed/engineered product by trading on its racing pedigree yet the standard 996 & GT3 are as different as chalk & cheese.
The GT3 is indeed a different beast and as such comes with a very different price tag all be it one that I still think is under valued. To say standard 996 cars are poorly designed and engineered is a little harsh. For one thing they offer an entry point into 911 ownership unavailable elsewhere and those other supposedly better engineered cars will still need money spent on them.
The truth is that the best value Porsche is the 986 boxster s.
Well.......
In terms of how cheaply can you plonk your bum in a modern Porsche then the 986 Boxster S is surely a contender. However... There's always a however in life isn't there?
In terms of what something might be worth in 5, 10 even 20 years time then I'd say the 996 is arguably a better bang for your buck: Nice 986 Boxter S, probably £10k. In a few years it might go up to £20k if you're lucky. A £60k 996 GT3 could possibly be a £250k car in the future. It might not be, it might only go up to £100k or £150k but that's a lot more than it's selling for today. So in that sense I'd argue the 996 GT3 is better value.
The caveat to all this of course is that I don't have a crystal ball and might be wrong. We'll see.
@@911virgin8 people who buy cars as “investments” are not good investors. Cars are made to be driven. Smiles per mile.
@@HellaRandomVideos Buy a car because you want the car. But what if it happens to go up in value....
I've never bought a personal car as an investment, indeed I've sold thousands of cars that have gone on to climb in value. Most of my personal cars go down in value but just occasionally.....
Loved my mk2, did 20,000 miles in 14 months in it back in 2007 and 2008
996.1 GT3 was made on C4 chassis, 996.2 GT3 was made on C4S/Turbo chassis
Not true, the C4S and Turbo are wide bodies.
The best value Porsche is mine, a 981 Spyder!
I love 996 gt3 one of my fav cars, just a shame only mid life crysis snob ppl buys them cause of their price....
I'm sure owners will be delighted to know they are "mid life crysis snob ppl"
I would be tempted to say certified Porsche Geeks and Nerds of which I am one !!