So this will be controversial.

Hi, i'm stationed in germany and frequent nurburgring. There's always a bunch of GT3's there, with mostly good drivers at the helm. Last year i ran into a 991 GT3 RS on the autobahn (on my way back from the ring) and we had a little fun run. To my big surprise i was right on him to about 290km/h. The vid was posted somewhere on here, and i'm sure you've seen it on some other car sites via fb or youtube. So that was a super pleasant surprise because i always felt that c7 was a bit underpowered compared to other sport cars (and i was yet again proven wrong when i ran F-type R).

So, nurburgring. I go there as much as time allows (its about 2 hours away from me), and only do tourist days (track days are too much $$ for me). I have over 100 laps on it, just as a reference. I was always pretty much on par with 997 gt3's (when i used to chase them in my c6z06), but this past year a lot more 991's started showing up (and i'm in my c7 now). Last season i ran into one of them on the track, and i had no issues staying with him (though he wasn't a very experienced driver, which can't be said about all of them). This past weekend i was there again, and was chasing down this C6Z06, as i was being chased by 991 gt3. Had no issues catching the C6z06, but the 991 gt3 never came close to passing me (we left the pit at the same time). ... about half way on that lap i had to pull over cause my passenger started throwing up, but thats a different story. As i finished the lap and was sitting in the que, i saw another gt3 right next to me and got a good look at their tires, can't remember exactly, but either 325 or 345 in the back (MSC).

So, the few encounters of the gt3: one driver was not very advanced (yet still a pretty good driver IMHO), second driver seemed very good, and on the straights we are on par with gt3. I'm running stock tires (z51), with only carbotech pads, all else is stock. I think if i had MSC, or another type of semi slick, i wouldn't have an issue with an advanced driver in a GT3. So i feel like c7z51 (and i don't have Mag ride) could very well be comparable to a 991 GT3, though two are on totally different planets as far as the prices are concerned. The only advantage of a gt3 that i see, and this is a big one, is that it can prob run lap after lap, after lap. After two back to back laps on the ring, my vette needs to cool down (engine oil, tranny, tires, brakes), where as i've seen gt3's go at it all day long. Perhaps a GS would be better compared to a gt3, with all that additional aero, bigger grippier tires, and additional cooling (did they do a bigger cooler for the tranny?). I myself would prob love to get into GS, but i don't want to sacrifice my top speed due to all the aero, i'm already kind of slow up top.

So, in my view, its' pretty cool that c7 can stand with gt3, and even cooler that a gs would prob beat it, at a fraction of a price.

P.S. Never driven a GT3, but been inside one on a lap of the ring (997). Very capable car, and veeeery easy to drive compared to a corvette.

 

Good post. Sounds like you're an experienced driver and I'd love to run the Ring some day.

My first track day in my stock Z51 A8, I got SMOKED by a 991 GT3. I mean no way in heck was I remotely close to running his lap times.

Now, when I had my Gen IV Viper, on R comps, I could keep up or pass 991 GT3's, it was driver dependent. On courses with short straights between corners, the 991 GT3 was clearly faster than my Viper was, and even on long straights where I'd expect to catch them, nope, not a chance. I have a hunch they are very under rated HP wise because my Viper was a 600 HP car and I just could not pull the 991 GT3 on tracks with 150 mph straights.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 991 GT3 will eat a stock Z51 as well it should. Now through R comps, a bigger brake kit, maybe a cam and headers, more cooling, and you'll have a race. The 991 GT3 will still be stock, and while its about 160k, it also doesn't depreciate a heck of a lot either! They are awesome cars!

 

I'm reminded of driving with our co-managing director in our German company who was responsible for sales and marketing. We had to get him the fastest Mercedes with all identifying engine size badges removed as part of his compensation. When we drove at 250 km/h at night he would accept a Ferrari passing him as lights blinked behind us.

However he would be very upset when a boy racer with a hopped up small sedan whizzed by with a functional big wing, wide tires etc. Yep they have hot rodders in Germany just like the US. In their case they build for Bonneville speed not stop light drags!

I had an ’88 Vette at the time and took him for a 0 to 60 blast when he visited. He had never experienced acceleration like that only top speed which of course I had no place to show him!

Made me nervous to drive with him as he told me about the driving school he attended but he was often braking in an apex! They all way overdrove their lights!

Have fun but watch out for hot rodders with power adders!

 

Driver dependent for sure.
well driven C6Z06/07 are very fast. The C7 Z06's I've seen on stock cup2 tires are pretty even with my GT3 (Vette is obviously faster on straights, Porsche quicker in corners)
i have a 991 GT3 and it is very, very quick on track, and as you say can run lap after lap --last outing did a 42 minute double session (Solo and instructor group back to back) in 80* heat at Mosport--max water and oil temps were 201*

Tires go waaaayyy before engine/tranny/diff would.

345 rears are definitely not stock on a GT3...my Cup2's are 305/30R and 245/35F, so that was either a GT3RS or had some seriously wide R compound tires on wider rims????

haven't driven the C7 Z51 on track yet (drove my friends C7Z07 though), but I actually drove one at the dealer yesterday as i am thinking about trading my LPE 710 ZR1 in on the new grand sport and wanted to get a feel for the motor, 7 sp tranny, chassis, seats, etc..and it felt really good.

I agree that the GT3 is an easier car to drive ( especially compared to a 700 ft-lb ZR1 with no aero).

GT3 is really so good at everything. My favorite all around car!
(I have a 458 also)

 

You own my two favorite cars (991 GT3 and 458)!

Have you had a 997 GT3 and how'd it compare to the 991?

Sorry to hijack the thread but maybe the OP is curious too?

 

just street driving for the 997.2 GT3, never tracked it.
steering and handling seemed better on the 997 (hydraulic vs electric)
991 seems quicker and more stable (hp, wider tires and RW steering)
interior is better in 991
center locks on both are a bit of a PITA, but look cool
997 more analog as I'm sure you've read/ heard before
9A1 is really and excellent (k rpm engine mated to the PDK-S, but does not have the "charm" of the old Mezger and 6 speed tranny


both are excellent....totally easy to DD a 991 GT3

 

Thank you for the response! I've done some hot laps in a 996 GT3 with my instructor a few years ago, and even that car was impressive!

991 GT3 is my ultimate dream car. For now I will settle with my lowly Z51

 

Which costs more, a Porsche 991 GT3 or a Corvette Z51? Which costs more a Porsche 991 GT3 or a Corvette C7 ZO6? And what is the price difference? Now riding down the road I can't tell one Porsche from another one. They all look just about the same to me. How can I tell and make sure which is what? Just asking.

 

I don't know about on the road, I can tell them apart fairly quickly, but on the track the GT3 is the one running multiple sessions at 8-9/10ths with one/two different drivers all day long, and not so much as showing an ounce of sweat. That's why they cost what they do. Engineering and testing for its intended function which is to go ***** out for long periods of time reliably, and be able to drive home in relative comfort.

Now for the price point of the Z51 and even the Z06, they may not be perfect but they offer by far the best value proposition on the market. And they sound cool, lol. I was more than impressed with my stock Z51 on a pretty challenging track I only had driven on once in my life. Its a finely engineered car, but its no GT3!

 

I agree they're fine cars, but at $176 K you realize that you can buy a ZO6 & a Z51 Stingray and have $ 18 k left over! I'll never understand when I hear my Porsche friends compare they always choose apples to watermelons. It's not really a comparison. If price is considered compare a Z51 to a Boxster/Cayman and the ZO6 to a Porsche 911 Carrera. These would be closer and fairer comparisons in price (even though the Porsches still cost more and don't even get into simple maintenance) but most of all, if you're paying more what's it for? Performance value leans toward the Corvettes period. Oh, I forgot, the Porsche has a back seat (for briefcases) and nicer interior. Duh, that's why you pay more, right?

 

sorry, gonna bring this up again. How about with the new GS being out and posting comparable numbers to the Pcar?

How are engines on C7? I run my car pretty well here on the autobahn, and so far no complaints.

 

Gt3 is the track equal to the corvette grand sport w z07 package.

I'd suggest as great a sports car as the corvette z51 is...it's slightly less capable to the grand sport...

Logically speaking that would make the 991 gt3 rs the superior track car to your car..

At least using track data from the most recent car and driver lightning lap article.

Of course drivers skill level makes all the difference in the world.

Enjoy

 

My Z51 is the fastest car on the planet...among any car that I could remotely aspire to actually own.