Give me your 2 cents on this move ... GT3 to F12

There are several of us here who've chosen F12 over 812....

 

I guess it depends on your usage.

We use our “toy cars” for European trips, where usually the first leg is ~11 hours. So we need a car that is comfortable over long distance and then can provide the needed drama when we get (say) to the Alps and the vacation proper starts. And it needs to carry the luggage.

Used to have 991.2 TTS that could easily do the distance, but then sounded like an angry vacuum cleaner (at best) even with full Kline inconel exhaust. Absurdly competent even in snow, but felt like it can drive itself without you.

GT3 had the drama, but wasn’t good (for me) for the long trip.

Lambo didn’t have anything to fit the bill even luggage size wise.

So it was either an F12 or 812 and I liked the F12 styling more.

 

I actually traded a gt3 for an f12, and my take away is I will definitely have a gt3 again at some point(probably 992 touring), but the f12 is the car I regret selling the most out of 10 or so I’ve had in the last 4-5 years.(sold it after a bout a year of ownership).

gt3 I feel like you have to be at 6k rpm to have fun which felt obnoxious on the street in certain situations, but the f12 sounded mean down at 4k and had some torque down there too.

i really don’t think anyone would regret this move unless they were a German engineer. I love Porsches too don’t get me wrong.

Kind of contradictory to my initial point about high RPMs, out of every car I’ve had I was consistently on the throttle and drove the f12 faster than anything else on my average drives. In the gt3 you need to be up in the band to have fun. In the f12 you want to be up in that band so badly to hear pure automotive magic. It’s addicting. I don’t like driving obnoxiously everywhere, but it was honestly hard not to in the f12 between the speed, the chassis feel, and mostly the sound.

I missed the manual gearbox of the gt3 but the crack of the downshifts in the f12s made up for that. Had a capristo exhaust which wasn’t too loud at all but sounded great.

The gearbox was also a little less instant than the 812 and just overall more raw, which I prefer.

812 kinda feels like if Porsche made a front engine v12 to me. It’s too perfect ha.

 

I have the 18 way seats in the GT3.
some would say it is harsh esp in town driving conditions.
the GT3 is a track car made for the road. so it will be compromised is certain aspects.
for me, the stiff suspension is easily forgiven when it is being driven for what it was meant for.
the GT3 is simply a superb drivers car.

 

I feel the same way about my GT3 as well. I prefer a taut suspension as the ride does not bother me at all. Having said that it's a tough choice on which car to keep. I know finances could be an issue, but I would try and have both if at all possible, they are that good in their own right!!

 

i just finished test driving a 2015 Targa 4s with top down and i have to say i was disappointed with the sound... or more specifically lack of sound. i specifically chose the naturally aspirated Targa engine as the turbos in all later gen engines would be worse, and i had the top down. it was all just underwhelming. i did get it up to 6-7k rpms.

very smooth ride, great driving car, linear acceleration, handles great, a perfect doctor's or dentists car. reliable, unassuming, dependable, pillar of the community.

obviously i didn't buy it.

 

Recently rented last-gen GT3 to drive around and see how it compares against 812 SF.

GT3 reminds me of my BMW M4, but on steroids. Perfect track-oriented car that does not pretend to be your daily drive. It’s a personal call, but driving GT3 over the weekend convinced me to keep 812 for even longer. I missed the thrill of V12 and everything that comes with it. GT3 was overall just „too awesome”. From perfect and sharp steering, to smooth gear changes and handling you’d expect from a track focused track. Typical German engineering. The feel of buttons and every switch was what you’d expect from a Porsche. However, when I got back to 812, I realized what the true value proposition of that car really is.


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Amen. Every Porsche I've had has been perfect... But they don't make me feel like the 13 year old kid with an F50 poster on his when I get in them.

 

We absolutely love our 911 turbo S with aftermarket exhaust. I realize it’s a lot softer than GT3 but just comparing models.
We’ve had her for about five years and 40k miles. My wife drives it 75% of the time and I the rest.
We also have an 812 for three years now.
She’s never driven it as she is intimidated.
It’s at a whole other level. The power and sound are unmatched by anything.
I’ll always have a 911, just saying 812 or F12..it’s an unmatched experience. Do whatever it takes to keep both.
Or let the GT3 go for now and pick up another later.


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Cannot stand the wing on the GT3 -- shouts look at me. I know the downforce benefits, but....

 

I like the look of GT3 winged vs wingless touring GT3, that being said the downforce isn't as much as you might think, at top speed a 991.2 GT3 has 155kg, vs F430 at 280kg. 992 is 385kg.

The rear engine placement usually means they can't have as aggressive diffuser on bottom

 

Perhaps get an FF or Lusso so you can keep the Porsche. Same v12 experience and it’s not like the f12 is a canyon carver to begin with due to its weight.
Had a Lusso and f12 TDF and did enjoy the big 12 drama. Probably get one again.
Owned a new GT3 Manthey which was easily the best handling and braking car I’ve driven. Sold and GT3 RS incoming. But the v12 still beckons.

 

I sorta have both: manual 991.2 GT3 and F12. Quite frankly- they are too different to compare. Or to put it differently, they have completely different strengths and weaknesses. They compliment each other but do not replace each other.

 

I love the 812GTS…GT3 ..M3 6spd.
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Agree with Jeffrey above … have both too! Just drove my F12 50 miles on the 4 lane highway on sport / bumpy, complete comfort, then switch to race mode and hit the twisty last 10 miles to the lake …. No car I have owned can do both so perfectly. Not great at either (although damn good at both) but the sound of the v12, the beauty of the car and the experience of it all just makes up for it .

 

Had both 812 and manual GT3 for a long time. Felt the same. Sold the GT3 for the 296. Now I want a GT3 again but I don't want to sell anything for it. Plus we barely have any track days around here so it mostly stayed parked. Only 10K Km in 2 years, I did double that in the 812.

 

I have a 296 GTS on order. What do you think of the 296 vs your other cars? And- Is it worth the money?