Yep, tremendous cars, the bar keeps getting raised.... Would love the GT3 but extremely short on garage space ...not to mention the $$
I have never driven a GT3 so hard to know. The new models (even the RS) look to be a lot more livable day to day propositions too. Pricing and options are straight out of the BMW school of thinking. For $250-$300k you don't even get Xenon headlights! They even charge nearly $10k for "special" colours that are not even colours you choose yourself (range of 3 set colours). Very, very easy to have an option add on of $50k. No wonder Porsche is THE most profitable car company on the planet (profit per car produced).
yes ive noticed that Porsches are about the most ridiculous car as far as options and the cost of them when i went to look at the cayman S. but the Ferrari Dealer told me this week that there is a new Rosso colour available for the 599 that is a $45k option, so i guess $10k for a colour on a Porsche isnt too bad.
I think that colour is 4500 pounds sterling from memory, so a long way from $45k. The 599 pricing (Ferrari in general) is NUTS. I think the car in the EVO article had 45,000 POUNDS STERLING of options fitted.
Porsche (and others) have learnt from the masters of pricing. When I bought my E34, they wanted 10k extra for leather! I said to the guy, hey that's just the cost of the leather, I can buy a decent lounge suite for that! ....but thems the breaks.
I used to do lots of work on Porsches back in the 90's, mainly 911/930 Turbo, but also 928... always liked them, but haven't done much for 10 years or more now.. ....until last week, when I did some brakes etc on a 996 Turbo.... they've gotten so fat, and you're SOOOO detached from the road feel now.... great build quality, ease of maintenance etc etc, but just not "exotic" enough... Although I also drove a 996GT3 road/rally prepped car with cage and R spec tyres etc, which was much better, but still SOOOO far away from the feeling you get with Ferraris......
I am still looking around for a replacement for the CSL as a daily driver. I am copping heaps of flack over a 575 from the wife and her fan club so I am pondering alternatives. Porsches are so run of the mill now that they barely attract interest or comment- just the thing for a daily driver I 'spose. I can't remember getting a single comment on the 996 I drove to work for 18mths.
QP- They put the wrong gearbox in that IMHO, though they are about to put a proper auto in it. There is a new Coupe coming mid year- that might be interesting if it looks ok. F50- no thanks.
what...? a 575 has the wrong box..clunky F1 in a GT tourer...?WTF. THAT should have an auto or a stick... the QP is ideal for F1.... little bit of both worlds.. GREAT noise, lovely trim... not without faults, but still a good option... M5?... perhaps the CSL trade in would sting less?
The QP is a bloody LIMO and the target market is the people who buy Mercedes S class and BMW 7 series. Hence an auto is the appropriate gearbox and that's exactly what they are putting in it now they have realised it is costing market share not having one. The 575 is the classic GT car and it is the right gearbox option to offer in it's target market. Something like 90% of 575's were optioned with F1, surely they can't all be wrong?
well i look at the QP as a 4 door ferrari, very similar in lots of areas under the bonnet etc, trim is gorgeous, today the temp hit 39 and it was comfortable to drive (actually went to put the deppi on the DB9S and mother needed to confirm final trim). but as car that has presence, goes like stink, handles really well (for a big car) and the tranny.............well the tranny goes like this............its great, after the agricultural pack of the M3, this is a gem and for an Italain with faults (well the dealer in SA is the main fault) but maser aust take a lot of care when explaining things if something goes astray. Plus the real benefit is that all service and warranty is covered for 3 years............just in time for the new model...........taking nothing away from the 530i oops M5, this is a really special car
mid late feb i think. white ( of course ) club sport version . half roll cage , race seats , alcantara/ suede ( whatever it's called ???? ) gear shift and wheel . only options i think were the xenon headlights , upgraded sound system . should go like stink . i think there at least 5 in the local club all getting white
check out the first photo of the interior . the race seats are from the touring package . seats are leather and suede inserts . much sexier than the race seats in the club sport package , all cheap fabric . the story goes that if you buy the club sport , you must want to race the car on the track and leather race seats aren't needed . i much prefer them , and my mate will price getting his CS seats re upholstered to leather and suede http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=997+gt3&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
There are a heap of very expensive options listed on the Porsche Australia site. Did you go for the ceramic brakes? Funny how the Porker ones are $20k and the Ferrari ones are $45k on a 599; but less on a 430.
sticking to the TT for now . the GT3 would be too much coin , and too clean and nice and new a car to *****slap so soon . maybe an option in 2008/9 but too far away to say
carbon brakes on the GT3 , no . on the 430 they were 39k . you can spend 15k easy on carbon interior . looks great but no help on re-sale . GT3 would be easy to 300k fully loaded . that's a lot for a NA porker
What do you think of the RS? Looks totally horn; but no performance difference to speak of. Looks better with the wider body from the "4S" and that flouro orange colour.. Why no ceramic brakes if you are (presumably) going to track it at some point?
Fair enough; but I wager that the auto will outsell the paddle pop when it comes on line. Time will tell.
fell in love with the white GT3 before i saw the RS , doesn't do it for me really . steel porsche brakes will stop as good as carbons with the right pads and oil , except you carry more unladen weight . don't really want to track it , just a commuter
