The 996 Porsche 911 GT3 Isn't As Expensive As You Might Think
For some time now I’ve just worked under the assumption that any Porsche wearing a (real) GT badge is going to be a catastrophically expensive used buy. We are - of course - living in a time when you’ll pay at least £70,000 more for a second-hand 991 GT3 RS than it cost new, but thankfully not everything GT-shaped in the classifieds will set you back the same amount as a small house in the midlands. Case in point? The 996 GT3.
Prompted by the arrival of the 991.2 GT3 and its new manual gearbox option, we thought we’d have a poke around the classifieds for the car’s predecessor, and were pleasantly surprised with the state of the prices. Specifically, we’re looking at the updated ‘996.2’ cars - and these are the ones you want. Power from the 3.6-litre flat-six was bumped from 355 to 376bhp, beefier six-piston brakes were added at the front, and the springs and dampers stiffened up.
Easily told apart from the pre-update cars thanks to a flatter rear spoiler, the 996.2s were sold from 2004 onwards. There are actually more of them in the UK too, which is probably why we’ve found a fair few for sale but not a single 996.1.
Prices start at about £60,000, which - while still out of reach for most of us - seems a good deal (a 996 GT3 RS will set you back at least £200k), especially since the values should only go up from now. This 2004 example has done 40,500 miles, and is up for £63,000. It has the added bonus of being the Clubsport model, adding a half cage, bucket seats and a fire extinguisher, just in case you make a huge cock-up on your next track day. Bro.
If you’re a Porsche purist, this is just about as good as it gets. The 996 was the last GT3 to go without ‘PASM’ active suspension and traction control, and being built long before the days of PDK, this car has a six-speed manual - the car’s only gearbox option. Row through the ‘box quick enough, and you’ll see 0-60mph happen in 4.5 seconds, while hearing lots of lovely flat-six noises happening behind you. Bliss.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This makes me rethink about my choice to go to college…
Or to school even
wicked
Need.
The Porsche 911 range, the world’s most confusing range:
911 Carrera
Carrera S
Carrera GTS
Carrera 4
Carrera 4 S
Carrera 4 GTS
Targa
Targa S
Targa GTS
Targa 4
Targa 4 S
Targa 4 GTS
Turbo
Turbo S
GT2
GT3
GT3-RS…….
…….930, 964, 993, 996, 997, 991, 991.2…….
You forgot GT2 RS
Not really BMW is much more confusing
Let me explain it to you;
911 Carrera: stripper Porsche
Carrera S: The one you want(ed, after GTS came out) to daily
Carrera GTS: The daily
Carrera cabriolet: for golden spooned wife who have no interest in driving at all
Carrera S cabriolet; upped up wife version or not so manly version for driver
Carrera GTS cabriolet: Oxymoron
Carrera 4: Stripper Porsche for people who have snow
Carrera 4S: The one you want(ed) to drive all year round
Carrera 4S cabrio: Snow and Sun - WTF
GTS 4: when you don’t live in Cali
GTS 4 cab: When you don’t want to think you don’t live in Cali
Targa 4: Sensible option chosen FOR the wife
Targa GTS 4; option list frenzy
Black editions: Pointless/Meaningless
GT3: Weekend car with a wing so it looks cooler to your friends at the Country Club
GT3 RS: When your friends at the country club are not impressed with the previous wing
911 R: Stripper model with go fast stripes
That’s the 911 range for you. Hope its demystified
There’s only targa 4 now! Also dont be a hater its as simple as it gets!! You either want carrera targa or turbo. The rest is just whats spec you want it in. You also happened to forget the cabriolet’s
£60k for something that’s going to be slower, less reliable and less usable than a hot hatch? No thanks!
You have a good point, but I think you’re missing the actual point slightly.
A new FK2 and the all new FK8 Type R, a Golf R, Focus RS etc will all be more reliable and probably go faster down a bumpy back road, but I don’t think they’ll ever have the drama, or that “special” feeling you’d get in one of these, and that’s why so many would rather get something like this.
Why downvotes, hot hatches are amazing
I’m having huge dollops of want.
Would get this rather than a new one
Why?
It has a handbrake
What are you still on about with your stupid handbrake? It’s been like 2 posts where you spam that! I’m done hahaha! :)
Hmm.. how about a flat-six swap rather than V6 for Phil? 😂
That is not a bad idea if he could find a wrecked first gen Boxster S (although not powerful). The swap I would ultimately like to see is a Mazda Mazdaspeed 6 V6.
subaru flat 6 could be a cheaper option lol
The 996 gt2 is still a lot of car for the money. I think it looks better too
$$$