997 Gt3 Rs
10-03-2008, 10:23 AM
#1
997 Gt3 Rs
I was lucky enough to be given the chance to drive one of these around a track in France over the weekend and thought I would give my over-view of them. I'm fortunate in that I get to drive all sorts of spunky cars, but given how I have spent six years tweaking my Escort to perfection, I always seem to end up feeling short-changed or let down in some aspect of other cars when making a direct comparison.
I was therefore somewhat nervous that this would be one of those times, as this car is my ultimate dream aspirational vehicle - fuck rubbish Ferraris (Gareth
) or the so-called hyper-cars, all I have ever wanted since it came out is the 997 GT3 RS, the ultimate Porsche driving machine. So getting in a left hand drive version (never having driven a left-hooker on track before, at a track I had never driven before), I was nervous at both the depth of the end of the pool I was throwing myself into, along with the fear that I was going to be disappointed.
The first few laps had me getting used to the driving position, having to change gear with the "wrong hand" and figuring out where the track went, so I was passed by all of the locals in anything that was moderately quick. But the most disappointing thing was that the car didn't feel anything special at these speeds, and I was starting to get deeply worried that I was going to be disappointed all over again. Now don't get me wrong, you could feel it was extremely well sorted and it did everything you wanted, but it just didn't live up to all those rave reviews I had read in all the magazines that had tested the car. FUCK, FUCK and double-FUCK
!
I came in and did the best I could to hide the disappointment from all those around me. Then Mike (Escosracer - whose car it is) went out and came back in and offered me another go, as he noticed that I didn't have the sport button activated. With this switchedon, I went out again and there was a significant improvement in the speed of the throttle and the communication from the steering, but still not what I was hoping for. Oh well, at least I was getting some track time in a car that I could only dream of owning until the price of second hand ones reaches the value of the old MkI GT3s!
As I started to learn the track I began to push the car a bit harder and suddenly it came alive
. I briefly tried it on the stiffer suspension setting, but this seemed to make it understeer a bit more (the track was quite tight and twisty with 4th gear only being used once on the straight - everywhere else was 2nd & 3rd), so I switch back to the normal suspension setting and concentrated on driving. The steering started to talk to me me - first in a whisper and then as I gained confidence it started to talk like only a group of girls can - next the chassis begain shouting at me and the grin on my face could be seen from outer-space! 
I soon realised that I had only been driving the car at 6/10ths and as soon as you upped it to 8/10ths it transformed onto another epherial level that you just don't get with "ordinary" cars. The depth of character that the chassis was showing gave me the confidence to drive it like I drive my own car - and fuck me if it didn't respond like my car - if it ran a little wide a brief lift got the rear edging out and the nose tucking in - provoke it and it would go sideways a few inches (before the traction control would get all sulky on you 
). The brakes (the normal metal disc versions) despite an increase in travel when they got hot, were out of this world - and the best I have experienced in a road car (I would imagine that Castrol SRF would cure the peddle travel) .
With each session I had out in the car, I got faster and faster and the car got better and better. By the end of the day, I was just absolutely blown away with the car and I realised that if I owned one, I would never get bored with it. The traction control was a little bit intrusive, but as it was someone elses £100k car, I left it on. However, I just KNOW that it wouldn't bite you UNLESS you were really ham-fisted with it. It always told you you exactly what it was doing and by the end of the day it felt like we were symbiotically linked (which is why I almost cried when I had to give the keys back - we had became one ).
So if anyone wants to start the ball rolling to enable me to buy one, just hand over £35k for my car.
I can't thank Mike enough for showing me the trust to drive his pride and joy like he did, without a murmour of disproval (although by the end of the day I think he MUST have been getting nervous - yet he hid it pretty well
). I even offered to marry him and then divorce him and take the Porsche as settlement . I was humbled by your generosity through-out the weekend 
.
I've lived the dream and didn't want they day to end. Not only that, but the weekend was spent with some top petrol heads who made us all feel like part of some extended family . So Michael, please when you next see all the guys, thank them all from me 
. Also the weekend was made all the better with spending quality time with two scallies and a gangster, which I am looking forward to repeating ASAP .
I was therefore somewhat nervous that this would be one of those times, as this car is my ultimate dream aspirational vehicle - fuck rubbish Ferraris (Gareth
) or the so-called hyper-cars, all I have ever wanted since it came out is the 997 GT3 RS, the ultimate Porsche driving machine. So getting in a left hand drive version (never having driven a left-hooker on track before, at a track I had never driven before), I was nervous at both the depth of the end of the pool I was throwing myself into, along with the fear that I was going to be disappointed.The first few laps had me getting used to the driving position, having to change gear with the "wrong hand" and figuring out where the track went, so I was passed by all of the locals in anything that was moderately quick. But the most disappointing thing was that the car didn't feel anything special at these speeds, and I was starting to get deeply worried that I was going to be disappointed all over again. Now don't get me wrong, you could feel it was extremely well sorted and it did everything you wanted, but it just didn't live up to all those rave reviews I had read in all the magazines that had tested the car. FUCK, FUCK and double-FUCK
!I came in and did the best I could to hide the disappointment from all those around me. Then Mike (Escosracer - whose car it is) went out and came back in and offered me another go, as he noticed that I didn't have the sport button activated. With this switchedon, I went out again and there was a significant improvement in the speed of the throttle and the communication from the steering, but still not what I was hoping for
. Oh well, at least I was getting some track time in a car that I could only dream of owning until the price of second hand ones reaches the value of the old MkI GT3s! As I started to learn the track I began to push the car a bit harder and suddenly it came alive
. I briefly tried it on the stiffer suspension setting, but this seemed to make it understeer a bit more (the track was quite tight and twisty with 4th gear only being used once on the straight - everywhere else was 2nd & 3rd), so I switch back to the normal suspension setting and concentrated on driving. The steering started to talk to me me - first in a whisper and then as I gained confidence it started to talk like only a group of girls can - next the chassis begain shouting at me and the grin on my face could be seen from outer-space! I soon realised that I had only been driving the car at 6/10ths and as soon as you upped it to 8/10ths it transformed onto another epherial level that you just don't get with "ordinary" cars. The depth of character that the chassis was showing gave me the confidence to drive it like I drive my own car - and fuck me if it didn't respond like my car - if it ran a little wide a brief lift got the rear edging out and the nose tucking in - provoke it and it would go sideways a few inches (before the traction control would get all sulky on you ). The brakes (the normal metal disc versions) despite an increase in travel when they got hot, were out of this world - and the best I have experienced in a road car (I would imagine that Castrol SRF would cure the peddle travel) .With each session I had out in the car, I got faster and faster and the car got better and better. By the end of the day, I was just absolutely blown away with the car and I realised that if I owned one, I would never get bored with it. The traction control was a little bit intrusive, but as it was someone elses £100k car, I left it on. However, I just KNOW that it wouldn't bite you UNLESS you were really ham-fisted with it. It always told you you exactly what it was doing and by the end of the day it felt like we were symbiotically linked (which is why I almost cried when I had to give the keys back - we had became one
).So if anyone wants to start the ball rolling to enable me to buy one, just hand over £35k for my car
.I can't thank Mike enough for showing me the trust to drive his pride and joy like he did, without a murmour of disproval (although by the end of the day I think he MUST have been getting nervous - yet he hid it pretty well
). I even offered to marry him and then divorce him and take the Porsche as settlement . I was humbled by your generosity through-out the weekend .I've lived the dream and didn't want they day to end. Not only that, but the weekend was spent with some top petrol heads who made us all feel like part of some extended family
. So Michael, please when you next see all the guys, thank them all from me . Also the weekend was made all the better with spending quality time with two scallies and a gangster, which I am looking forward to repeating ASAP .
10-03-2008, 10:34 AM
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by the end of the day it felt like we were symbiotically linked (which is why I almost cried when I had to give the keys back - we had became one ).
).
Well done Mike for being a top fella!
10-03-2008, 10:44 AM
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Good write up. Always enjoy them (porkies skyline review springs to mind) Sounds like a top wknd you had
One of my favourite cars the gt3 rs although yet to drive one :-(
One of my favourite cars the gt3 rs although yet to drive one :-(
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10-03-2008, 11:31 AM
#14
No, Mike paid extra to have a car pulled off the production line and painted white. I have only ever seen one other white one at the 'Ring, where when I pointed it out to Michael (after he insisted you couldn't get a white one ), the following day he phoned Porsche to find out what the score was, paid the premium and changed the colour from the orange one he had originally ordered .
You should have seen the look on the French guy's face when he turned up in a green one - I don't think he could believe his eyes, as it is not publicised that they will do this for you (they are officially only available in green, black or orange), so he had the common "peasant" version .
One of the lads will post pictures up later, as I was too busy nursing an erection every time I got in the car to bother taking pictures.
), the following day he phoned Porsche to find out what the score was, paid the premium and changed the colour from the orange one he had originally ordered .You should have seen the look on the French guy's face when he turned up in a green one - I don't think he could believe his eyes, as it is not publicised that they will do this for you (they are officially only available in green, black or orange), so he had the common "peasant" version
.One of the lads will post pictures up later, as I was too busy nursing an erection every time I got in the car to bother taking pictures
.
10-03-2008, 11:35 AM
#17
Advanced PassionFord User
No, Mike paid extra to have a car pulled off the production line and painted white. I have only ever seen one other white one at the 'Ring, where when I pointed it out to Michael (after he insisted you couldn't get a white one ), the following day he phoned Porsche to find out what the score was, paid the premium and changed the colour from the orange one he had originally ordered .
You should have seen the look on the French guy's face when he turned up in a green one - I don't think he could believe his eyes, as it is not publicised that they will do this for you (they are officially only available in green, black or orange), so he had the common "peasant" version .
One of the lads will post pictures up later, as I was too busy nursing an erection every time I got in the car to bother taking pictures.
), the following day he phoned Porsche to find out what the score was, paid the premium and changed the colour from the orange one he had originally ordered .You should have seen the look on the French guy's face when he turned up in a green one - I don't think he could believe his eyes, as it is not publicised that they will do this for you (they are officially only available in green, black or orange), so he had the common "peasant" version
.One of the lads will post pictures up later, as I was too busy nursing an erection every time I got in the car to bother taking pictures
.Just out of interest, have you drove the turbo model, how does that compare?
10-03-2008, 11:37 AM
#18
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You should of been there handsome, we missed you!
Was a MEGA weekend with MEGA people!
The GT3 is stupidly awesome, couldnt get Mike out of it all day! Cheers for the passenger laps, was awesome, you can sure pedal mate! I look foward to my passenger lap in Germany in the proper car!
Thankyou to Michael aswell for letting us come over for the weekend, lets hope we can do it again soon.
Was a MEGA weekend with MEGA people!
The GT3 is stupidly awesome, couldnt get Mike out of it all day! Cheers for the passenger laps, was awesome, you can sure pedal mate! I look foward to my passenger lap in Germany in the proper car!
Thankyou to Michael aswell for letting us come over for the weekend, lets hope we can do it again soon.
10-03-2008, 11:40 AM
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There was a white one for sale sitting on the forecourt of the dealership when i was in Germany in December so may not have needed to specially pull it off the production line.
10-03-2008, 11:43 AM
#20
.I haven't driven the 997 GT3 RS on the road, so it may be that it's bias is too track orientated to enjoy as a road car, where Lee's car is too road biased to enjoy as a track car (in my humble opinion).
Getting out of Lee's car and feeling the tyres, the fronts were really hot and the rears barely warm (after a cool-down lap). The GT3 had the tyres equal temperature. In fact I dropped 5psi out of the rears at the beginning of the day, as these were getting a bit hot and making the car a bit "squirrelly", but the fronts remained at 30psi all day
, which goes to show how well it has been set up .
10-03-2008, 11:48 AM
#23
Mike....... you can properly pedal mate 
Big big thanks to you mate helping to make the weekend what it was,Jay hasn`t shut up all morning,i`ve had 4 calls off him already...
And the 7 or 8 full noise quick laps i had with you have left me grinning insanely,and i can`t wait for the next visit...
Will try and find some random pics shortly....
Big big thanks to you mate helping to make the weekend what it was,Jay hasn`t shut up all morning,i`ve had 4 calls off him already...
And the 7 or 8 full noise quick laps i had with you have left me grinning insanely,and i can`t wait for the next visit...
Will try and find some random pics shortly....
10-03-2008, 11:59 AM
#24
Rob,
Can you please email the pictures as well, so I have the full size ones.
I must confess it felt like we had all known each other for years and years how well we all got on . For that reason alone you HAVE to love Cossies for bringing us all together .
I forgot to add (due to the excitement of the GT3), that I was also lucky enough to be taken around the circuit by Mike in an old Grp A Escort Cosworth, photos of which will also be added Im sure !
Can you please email the pictures as well, so I have the full size ones
.I must confess it felt like we had all known each other for years and years how well we all got on
. For that reason alone you HAVE to love Cossies for bringing us all together .I forgot to add (due to the excitement of the GT3
), that I was also lucky enough to be taken around the circuit by Mike in an old Grp A Escort Cosworth, photos of which will also be added Im sure !
Last edited by Mike Rainbird; 10-03-2008 at 12:05 PM.
10-03-2008, 12:09 PM
#27
NO, some cunt at Bedford never offered .
However, I know how accomplished they are, having done many a passenger lap around the Ring with Gareth, so would not feel short-changed if I had to have one of these instead of a GT3 RS (which I can't afford ).
.However, I know how accomplished they are, having done many a passenger lap around the Ring with Gareth, so would not feel short-changed if I had to have one of these instead of a GT3 RS (which I can't afford
).
10-03-2008, 12:15 PM
#29
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Was Gareth using Cups? I've yet to go in one to see what the difference is and my tyres don't need replacing yet.
Is the GT3 RS on cups too???
Is the GT3 RS on cups too???
10-03-2008, 12:20 PM
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Mike that is one car i would also love to own but like you i to carnt stretch to one as yet or would like to pay 100k for a car but when they come down some in a few years then just maybe
10-03-2008, 01:44 PM
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thank you mike for all your comments. it was a pleasure for me to have all of you for the weekend and get to spend so much quality time
after i had seen ur face when u got out of the gt3 i simply had to let you drive it most of the day....u looked like a schoolboy that has had his first crush...pmsl
i hope this is the beginning of a english/swiss uinion for trackdays and good times....all of you are welcome any day, any time @ my house and i hope we can repeat it very very soon !!
M
after i had seen ur face when u got out of the gt3 i simply had to let you drive it most of the day....u looked like a schoolboy that has had his first crush...pmsl
i hope this is the beginning of a english/swiss uinion for trackdays and good times....all of you are welcome any day, any time @ my house and i hope we can repeat it very very soon !!
M
10-03-2008, 01:51 PM
#33
thank you mike for all your comments. it was a pleasure for me to have all of you for the weekend and get to spend so much quality time
after i had seen ur face when u got out of the gt3 i simply had to let you drive it most of the day....u looked like a schoolboy that has had his first crush...pmsl
i hope this is the beginning of a english/swiss uinion for trackdays and good times....all of you are welcome any day, any time @ my house and i hope we can repeat it very very soon !!
M
after i had seen ur face when u got out of the gt3 i simply had to let you drive it most of the day....u looked like a schoolboy that has had his first crush...pmsl
i hope this is the beginning of a english/swiss uinion for trackdays and good times....all of you are welcome any day, any time @ my house and i hope we can repeat it very very soon !!
M
Pictures, pictures, pictures!!!!!
I want to bring my car next time, as the track (despite it's short length), was actually nicely technical and challenging. I want to nail that high speed bend before the exit off the track - I just couldn't get that right and wimped out every time at taking it in 4th
.
10-03-2008, 02:20 PM
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As I am no porsche expert I take this is a gt3 in grey and an RS in white??? Could have it wrong though
Thing had a price tag on it and everything so you could go get one easy enough Mike
Thing had a price tag on it and everything so you could go get one easy enough Mike