Steve Theodore

This thread reminds me of a fun story back in early 2013 when I was the happy owner of a lightly modified 996TT (had owned it for 4 years) and my good friend just got a modified 996 GT3. One Saturday morning after attending cars and coffee he threw me the keys and we each drove each others Porsches to my house (~25 miles) on a variety of back roads.

I certainly enjoyed driving his GT3, could feel that the steering was way sharper but the car didn't THRILL me the way I expected it to. When we got back, I gave him back his keys and told him that I enjoyed the drive but was happy with what I had. This was clearly the wrong answer for him and he asked what my shift points were, so I told him I didn't want to rev a buddy's engine too high and I was shifting just under 6k rpm. He flat-out demanded that I go for a ride with him and he gave me a proper 8000+ RPM experience, which was obviously very different.

The next week he threw me the keys again and said I was expected to shift at 8000 RPM this time around. Needless to say, on that very day and on that very drive, I discovered religion.

When I got home I threw him the keys and told him something like "Thanks a lot you *****. Now I have to spend a LOT of money". My 996TT was up for consignment/sale the very next week, and I bought my 997.2 GT3 RS within just a couple of months. It was nothing short of the best car buying decision I've made in my entire life!

JpCrp

@Steve Theodore
I had a similar experience, i was looking to buy a 996 turbo back in summer 2020. Traveled about 7 hours to look at several cars over a weekend. Decided to contact the owner of a 997.1 gt3, was upfront and said his car was a bit out of my price range, but I was in town so if he had some time I'd like to have a look, but no worries if he was busy. He told me to come by and we spent about an hour talking about the car, after which he took me for a drive to a quiet area and handed me the keys. After we were done he asked me what i thought, I simply said "I've made a huge mistake".

Unfortunately, in the few days it took for me to get things in order to make sure i could make the purchase the car had sold. I spent the next 3 years watching prices go bonkers, but finally bit the bullet last fall and bought a 997.1 GT3. Loving it.

D-Uber Cars

Steve, recalling when you where in this transition. You posted a couple of questions to help you confirm the purchase of your now current 7.2 3RS. Perfect leap of faith.

Robocop305

Great stories guys. For me, the 997 GT3 is the perfect medium between performance and price. It’s hard to beat the current value of a 997 GT3. I have driven a 997 GT3 RS back to back with my 997 GT3 and the difference is hardly noticeable. They both share the same drivetrain and have the same HP. Also, my 997 GT3 has the single mass flywheel and the RS pulley. I love this car and it will go with me to the grave.

ChrisF

I got a twofer on my first 997 GT3 test drive.

I had been looking half heartedly at 997.2's when a nice one came up here on RL back in 2010. Before I knew it, someone jumped on it and bought it. I recognized the buyer was in the same city I was living in at the time so I PM'd him and asked for a ride when he got the car. Never even been in a GT3 to that point. When the car arrived, he reached out and said let's go for a drive. I knew in the first 5 mins the car was special. 15 mins later, we pulled over and he threw me the keys. A complete stranger I met on a Porsche board threw me the keys to his new 6 figure car. Slipped in the seat, twisted the key and that drive forever changed my life. I have been addicted to GT cars and particularly 997 GT cars ever since. The second part of the equation was that the owner and I became close friends and have shared driving experiences ever since. I owe you one @SSTHO . You've ruined me

changster123

No wonder I never had a thing for my 997.2 GT3 a decade ago. If I knew about these mods back then I probably would have kept the car.

MKIVdan

whats the cost of the RS gearing and 3.89 R/P? I already have the 4.0 clutch and LWFW.

Your set up sounds like exactly what my car is missing.

Medicopter

Similar story here. My 3.8 RS was the first car I purchased without any seat-time in it. All it took was one cold start on the showroom floor. A few months later I placed an order for a 2011 GT3 RS.

jreifler

I had only driven my GT4 when I started hunting my 7.2 GT3. I'd been passenger seat on track in 996 / 7 / 991 GT cars, and always impressed, but that's a far cry from real driver's seat time.

My first drive in the 7.2 GT3 was the day I test drove it, and it only took about 5 minutes to realize I was driving it home that day. I never once thought "I need RS" while owning / driving that car.

Now with ~500 miles on my .1RS, I'm starting to distill all the nuances and differentiating elements between it and my .2 The performance envelope in the .2 is certainly larger. The increased torque is noticeable, and the .1 lacks the mid-range punch that car delivers. But I honestly don't miss it, and I'm still struggling to uncover the "sketchy" 7.1 handling I read so much about relative to the .2. There's nothing sketchy about the handling on this .1, and candidly it feels more sure-footed and balanced than my 7.2 did on street. I had the 7.2 set pretty aggressively, with RSS hardware in the rear, and I dare say that the OE RS .1 setup is somehow better. Maybe on track I'll see some of the shortcomings of the .1 chassis, but it hasn't happened yet.

I don't have .2RS experience to compare to my .1RS or .2, but as most say, the "regular" car is 90% of the experience, and probably more with LWFW, tune, and re-gear. Even so - and while I probably would've denied it this time last year - RS is RS . . .

@MKIVdan I just spoke to Bill Rader about costs - Roughly $5-6k depending on whether you want 6th adjusted as well. That # doesn't include a diff.

The Greek

If I am not mistaken, gear ratios are the same between the 3.8 and the 3.8 RS. Back in the DE days, the proper way to maximize gearing was to move 5th gear to 6th, and replace 3-5. But imo that's overkill. Only the RP is different. RS is 3.89. If you are planning on doing the RS ring and pinion, I would suggest upgrading the rear diff. I had a cup car diff and was quite happy with it. No more tail wiggle under braking. Or do Guards

And not to complicate it even more, but if you have the 4.0 clutch/lwfw, maybe plan on a dampener to avoid the loosening of cam sprockets. Or just yours and retighten. There is an harmonic issue when you go with the clutch flywheel package. I was skeptical in the beginning but have heard more than enough stories of loose cam bolts than I would get the dampener just in case. Or lock tight the **** out of the existing ones

MKIVdan

@jreifler @The Greek Thanks for the info, so I could just run my stock 3.8 gearing and go with the 3.89 R/P and luckily for me I have an upgraded guards diff already

jreifler

I'm not sure it's accurate that 7.2 and 7.2RS are the same.

I think 997.1 GT3, GT3 RS and 997.2 GT3 have all the same gear ratios and the long 3.44:1 R&P gear.

3.8RS and 4.0RS got the 3.88:1 shorter R&P (8:31), and a longer 6th gear.

Double check that info tho.

RAudi Driver

This is what I'm getting. From FCP

Getrag G97.90 (997.1 GT3 & GT3RS, & 997.2 GT3)

The GT3 transmission is identical to the GT2 but with shorter ratios to take advantage of the screaming, naturally aspirated engine. It uses the same oil cooling system, LSD, and case.

• Oil capacity: 2.9L API classification GL5 75/90 Delvac
• Clutch System: Hydraulically-assisted push-style pressure plate, 240mm unsprung clutch disc, dual-mass flywheel
• Gear Ratios:
  • 1st Gear: 3.82
  • 2nd Gear: 2.26
  • 3rd Gear: 1.64
  • 4th Gear: 1.29
  • 5th Gear: 0.94
  • 6th Gear: 0.92
  • Final Drive: 3.44

Getrag G97.92 (997.2 GT3RS & GT3RS 4.0)

The last of the 997 GT3RS models use the G97.92. It is identical to the gearbox used in the other GT3s but with a taller sixth gear and a shorter ring and pinion. The shorter R&P improves the acceleration but removes overall speed from the gearing. Porsche installed the taller sixth gear to get around that, restoring that top-end speed figure.

• Oil capacity: 2.9L API classification GL5 75/90 Delvac
• Clutch System: Hydraulically-assisted push-style pressure plate, 240mm unsprung clutch disc, dual-mass flywheel
• Gear Ratios:
  • 1st Gear: 3.82
  • 2nd Gear: 2.26
  • 3rd Gear: 1.64
  • 4th Gear: 1.29
  • 5th Gear: 0.94
  • 6th Gear: 0.88
  • Final Drive: 3.88

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/the-definit...-transmissions

MKIVdan

I wonder if it would be beneficial to just do the R/P. I don't think im super interested in regarding the trans and doing all that work.

jreifler

I know a lot of folks here have done just R&P. I think @HarmonyJim and maybe @christallon have both done this on their Pumpkins.