355 v gt3

From me simple.

No comparison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ferrari will always be the car to own. It is a true exotic head turner and the performance is equal to the GT3 in my opinion considering the age of the 355 to the 996.

Of course if you want a true comaprison then you have to look at other Ferrari's such as 599.

But the 355 is a beautiful car and I would never go over to Porsche.

 

I had a 355 sp and was going to trade it for a 996 GT3 but didn't in the end - although I did sell the 355.

Some thoughts from my experiences follow - I have driven both and been on track with them too... The 355 is more beautiful and it is a Ferrari. It will turn more heads, it will sound glorious and it will move you emotionally in a way that a GT3 never could. A GT3 is a phenomenal, reliable, very rapid car that will blow away a 355 and a 360 with ease. It will stay with a 430 with effort, even though it has none of the electro wizzardery of the F-Car. To me, the contrast between the cars was clear - if you want a car for limited mileage on road, and looks/passion/emotion are key factors in your decision, then keep the 355, or upgrade to a 360. If you want a reliable rocket ship that can take lots of mileage and be reasonably cost effective to run, go for a GT3 - just don't expect lots of complements on how it looks.

Good luck!

ps - one final observation - in stock trim, the GT3 sounds great on the inside, and not great on the outside - with a 355, the opposite is true
pps - I had my 355 for 5 years - and loved every moment with it even though the bills were big...!

 

Too bad we can't have both! I'm serious jonesing to add a GT3 to my garage though my financial advisor (and wife) may kill me if I do!

 

The gt3 is a rare marvel of engineering. It looks good and drives even better. As subirg mentioned above it will beat a 355/360 ...... the only reason IMO to have a 996 gt3 is its low production numbers which keep resale high. That being said ....... I have had p-cars my whole driving life and all those years have yet to compare to my current experience of the nero F355.....

 

Don't really know much about Porsches guys. So will need an explanation as to how a 996 GT3 with from what i have read, with 360-380BHP. How can this "very rapid car" with the same power as a 355 and less than a 360, blow away a 355 let alone a 360 with "ease"? A car with a lot lesser power i could understand. And the 355s and 360s are great handling cars to boot. So what exactly are we talking about guys, what makes the car way faster than a 360? Are we talking tork figures?
. And i assume this is the car we are talking about???? http://www.topspeed.com/cars/porsche/2000-2004-porsche-911-gt3-996-ar1257.html & http://www.carsplusplus.com/specs2005/porsche_996_gt3.php

 

a friend and i exchanged rides one afternoon. i prefer my 355, he his gt3. in the same vein of "a picture paints a 1000 words" go drive both and you'll have your answer.

a 996 gt3 is not much faster than a 355 even considering hp figures are overestimated for 355 and underestimated for gt3. 996 gt3 will not be a collectable IMO. the 997 gt3 is much better in almost all areas...and a lot of owners track their gt3s which is a problem for buyers in the 2ndary market.
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And that picture tells the story.

There is no comparison at all.

Forget the stats of hp etc. Look at sheer driving pleasure and joy

 

For a trade to 997GT3, I'm borderline.. For a 996 ? Hell no... Powerwise, your 355 should be as equal as the gt3. Trackwise, GT3 may have some lead... Looks wise, no 996 will ever come close to a F355. I came from a fully modded 996 TT and sold it to get a 355.. Never miss that car..

 

One more factor to swerve away from the GT3 is that, the looks is not that special.. Majority of the 996 C2 and C4 out there put the aerokit to make it look like the GT3. I hate that..

 

I always like the GT3 - it seems like a great no-nonsense track friendly car. I can see myself buying it to accompany a Ferrari but not replace a Ferrari.

 

Holy smokes, that is a bunch of opinions from people that don’t own a GT3.

Coming from someone who does:

When I bought my GT3 (from my Ferrari dealer that he took on trade for a Maserati’) it was sitting right next to a 355 that I adored. The GT3 was more money, but yet it called out to me. So like a good car guy I drove them both. I bought the GT3 (and still have it parked next to my other Ferrari).

The 355 is a fine machine without a doubt but it does not offer the punch and the exact-ness that a true racing Porsche does. This GT3 is not for everyone just for that reason. If any of the above contributor's think that a GT3 is at all like any Carrera they have ever been in then they are making a mistake. The GT3 is a serious car that demands commitment from the driver (the 996 version even more so than the late 997 version). Treat yourself to an extended test of one and see if you are cut from the kind of metal required.

And as for power. While the 996GT3 is rated at 380 HP that number has been proven to be conservative. For example: My particular GT3 has run a standing ¼ mile clocking in the high 11 second range. No basic 355 will come close to that. On a road course it is the same result. At a bit more than half throttle the GT3 dances around a 355. Need proof? Here is my GT3 doing just that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iDEx7Yyu3s

Again, I am a non-biased car guy that owns and enjoys all the special cars available. And I can say with certainty that the GT3 is a special car that has positives that outweigh the 355. Unless of course you just want to lean up against it at the local café. Then get the 355.

 

You might be right in certain assumptions but the 355 is not the car that Ferrari promotes to compete against the GT3. There are others that will do that quite easily.

At the end of the day for me the Porsche like all others except Boxster has the same carrera shape and sometimes I can't even tell what year model one is.

Ferrari has always brought out different styles and they all have that unique beauty and definately the appeal.

Yesterday I had to put tyres on my car. At the same time there was a brand new Cayman getting a wheel allignment.

Needless to say there were quite a few people around one car but not the other. Don't need to say which one. It should be obvious.

Needless to say the Porsche GT3 is a good car but to me Ferrari will always be the car that everyone wants a piece of.

I will leave

 

Okay that’s cool. Remember though... I own Ferrari & Porsche; I am not in this for one side or the other – I like them both, and doing a service for the original post. Additionally Aussie, I am not 100% sure you get the question asked. Re-read the original post. Not once did he mention looks or appeal, or what car would be looked at more, yet you mention it repeatedly. I really don’t think that is this guy’s bag. I know it’s not tops on my list.

The only time I want people grouped around my car is when they are congratulating me in the winners circle. For that - in this comparison - it would require a GT3.

 

Now were talking.

Okay Cole, here is the scoop.

The 996GT3 is absolutely bananas to own & drive. You can’t imagine the direct connection this car gives you to the road. I own and have owned cars with excessive power my whole life but this little 3.6 still boggles the mind how it accelerates and pushes this chassis to anti-social behavior levels. You drive this car around hoping people won’t figure it out - so there won’t be any way that it will be outlawed and pulled from your hands. It’s just that good. The sound is there, the fit & finish are second to none, quality built, unapproachable lineage and history and a sheer fun to drive factor that is off of the chart. When you whip up the gears towards the 8200 RPM redline and feel the secondary push in your back at 7000 you will literally speak out loud to yourself asking why you did not get in on this sooner. No joke.

Keep in mind that this car is basic and raw (even more so than your CS). But it would make a perfect complement to the garage (a past pal of mine had that exact garage and swore by it).

Lastly, I see in your profile that you desire the 997GT3 RS. A fine car and a great continuation to the GT3 theme. However, giving a nod to the 996 version the 996GT3 is the last of the uncontrolled brutal take no prisoners models. No traction control, no electronic suspension, just pure 24 Hours of Daytona race crafted equipment. So much so that there was/is a rumor that Porsche had considered a possible retrofit of some sort of stability management for these cars just to keep their future liability in check. THAT is how serious this car is. I think it just might be fun enough for you.

 

don't do it unless you intend on tracking the car to it's fullest, for around town or road trips the spider seems like a more fun car. It wasn't a GT3, but my 996 C2 was crazy fast, very precise, and incredibly easy to drive fast for a novice like me. My 355 isn't as effortless to mash on, it feels like i'm a lot closer to losing control and crashing, however, the adrenaline factor in a 355 is much more easily attained. I don't race, I'm just your average car enthusiast, but to me a 355 would be more fun as a road car. Why not buy a 996 TT and track that?

 

Surely this answer to this begs the question of what are you going to do with this car? If you want track days then it is the GT3 as that was what it was built for. If thats not what you are after than what are you looking for? You are not comparing like with like here.

 

No problem. I am not against the GT3 but do like the Ferrari brand.

He wants to trade the 355 in on a GT3 and I think the 355 is more fun in my opinion regardless of looks etc.

At the very least I would rather than 599 or 575 Maranello in the winners circle.

I think you have the advantage as you have both therefore you can enjoy them both for their attributes.

 

11 second 1/4 mile from a 380bhp car! very impressive. Would love to see a video of that
In the above video i saw a lesser driver in the 355 let you by. It would be great to see a good driver in each car.
There is a great driver that i have read about in the UK that drives a 348 that is also all over CSs on track days. Can he say that he is all over the average CS? Well yes he can if they are driven by lesser drivers.
But thanks for your view

 

I do hate it when we start arm-chair racing for pink slips here. Unless you are racing, who really cares which one is a hair faster? It's the experience that matters. I do not own a 996GT3, but I have owned and loved a 355. The cars are so different. The Ferrari is all soul and the Porsche is a business machine. But the GT3 is closer to the CS in terms of purpose. If you want a reliable CS-substitute for daily driving and track use, then it's going to be hard to beat the GT3. If you want a completely different car for top-down driving on a beautiful day, I have trouble thinking of a car that is better than a 355, at any price. We can start up an argument about 355 vs 360 or 430, but for sound and feel on the open road, the 355 is very hard to beat.

Are you sure your not having a "grass is greener" moment here?

 

Yes, these magazines thought that too.

Road Test Information
Acceleration / Speed
Handling
Braking

Model
Specification
Source
0-60 mph
0-100 mph
60-100 mph
¼ Mile
Max mph
Skidpad
Slalom
60-0 (ft)
70-0 (ft)
80-0 (ft)

GT3
US, 3160 lbs, 3.6L
380 bhp, 285 lb-ft
Road & Track Jan-2004
4.2
9.5
5.3
12.4 sec
@ 113.8 mph
190
0.92g
R&T
68.7 mph
119 ft
n/a
207 ft

GT3
ROW, 3050 lbs, 3.6L
375 bhp, 284 lb-ft
Car and Driver June-2003
4.0
8.8
4.8
12.3 sec
@ 118 mph
190
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

GT3
US, 3043 lbs, 3.6L
380 bhp, 284 lb-ft
Motor Trend
April 2004
3.9
9.1
5.2
12.1 sec
@ 116.0 mph
n/a
0.95g
MT
71.6 mph
113 ft
n/a
n/a

 

No you dont hate it, you love it when these threads start. As we all do So you to can contribute your little bit so the thread extends. Its all good
I dont know much about the GT3, but now i know they are a mighty machine. Both cars are mighty machines and we all learn something from threads like this one Although the above figures show that the GT3 is running mid 12s as opposed to 11s

 

Okay-okay, I said my particular GT3 ran a high 11. The Motor Trend car was a tick slower (like .11 of a second) but give me a break this is a no brainer. I added Euro GT3 seats (near 100 lbs saved) and I ran with a sport cup DOT soft compound tire. Like magic I picked up time. With my video log you would think you could gather that I have experience with these things. But let’s not get off task...

Cripes, dont we all like cars here? I cant imagine not liking a certain car because you didnt have a poster of it on your bedroom wall. This is not an argument people, its another cool car, whats not to like?

The original poster can’t loose. Enjoy all of the cars you can within the time allowed. Try this flavor (you will like it) then try another once you’re ready. Be happy we are in the position to do so.