Is it wrong to look at these?

[DazBlackCSL]

very good post I remember thorney telling me to buy a CSL a few years ago, as I was looking at GT3's at the time to replace my M3, so glad I listened and went the CSL route, and this just backs that up

[need4speed]

Excellent post, very informative; thanks for sharing.

[jibm]

yes very good post, i know i get the calling to the darkside every now and then! finely quenched for now thank you

i was chatting to a friend of a friend the other day who did the CSL to 996GT3 RS jump, he recon's it cost him 4 grand a track day

[Great Pretender]

Originally Posted by sailorbaz

Excellent post Simon.

I've been thinking about the GT3 route for a while, but always cast my mind back to the day my Mate took me out in a 996 (or was it a 997?) C4S. I remember the top end howl it gave, and the way it would go round corners but I also remember the various wanker signs we got, and we weren't even out in it that long. I mean, 5 miles maybe. The looks we were getting from both envious and jealous people was amazing and have never had the likes in 5 years of CSL ownership.

Still loved it though, cracking car.

Ah the howl...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39783697@N05/4445764624/
(please excuse dodgy camerawerk. Vid was taken to capture the sound rather than anything else.)

The noise that thing made at 8200rpm still gives me goosebumps, but equally I could (and frequently do!) listen to recordings of the CSL at full bifter all day. Both sound glorious in their own way.

I can relate to the wanker thing though. Some of the driving I witnessed as people would duck and weave in a desperate attempt to try and get ahead of me in motorway traffic, or the sheer disgust from 'fellow' motorists if I dared make an overtake, was horrific. Generally, most gave the car a favourable reception, but the aggro I got from some for no apparent reason did irk a little. I remember parking the car at Sainsburys once and as I got out, I was approached by an angrly looking little man who shouted something at me from afar, but then when he got closer, he'd apparently forgotten what he wanted to say and instead just called me a c**t! It was easily a car that would one day inevitably get keyed if left unattended for long enough. Curiously though, in something like silver, or grey, they look distinctly average IMO.

The C4S is a brilliant car and probably a far better road car than the GT3. My old man had one in Lapis blue and it was a stunning looking thing. Very quick too, given the modest 316bhp. I still quite fancy the idea of one but the CSL is a better car in every respect, so stick with it I say.

[Great Pretender]

Originally Posted by DazBlackCSL

very good post I remember thorney telling me to buy a CSL a few years ago, as I was looking at GT3's at the time to replace my M3, so glad I listened and went the CSL route, and this just backs that up

Well I've not tracked mine enough to say for sure, but judging by some of the posts on here, the CSL seems to hold up to track (ab)use far better, despite concerns over the SMG's fragility.

After I sold it, I discovered that the Porker had led a hard life (mostly on track) and even at 28k miles it was showing signs of wear, that you wouldn't expect given it's remit.

[Great Pretender]

Originally Posted by jibm

yes very good post, i know i get the calling to the darkside every now and then! finely quenched for now thank you

i was chatting to a friend of a friend the other day who did the CSL to 996GT3 RS jump, he recon's it cost him 4 grand a track day

I can well believe it.

Tyre's and brakes could last as little as one session if used hard enough; shocks and clutch as little as one track season.

For instance, my car was on its fourth clutch by 24k miles...

[glendog74]

I think bang per buck the CSL is top value and day-to-day running costs are even reasonable considering it's performance potential.

Even if you track a CSL, it is still not prohibitively expensive and rarely needs more than brake pads/discs and tyres occasionally, as well as fuel of course.

Whilst 996 GT3s and even some cheaper 997 GT3s are now within my financial reach, i think the running costs would prove horrendous if i were to do with it what i do currently with my CSL.

I still plan to have one one day - maybe in 5 years from now but it would be kept off the road a fair bit and used only for fun. Then again, the CSL might be a full-on track car by then so i would have no need for a Porka!

[Great Pretender]

Originally Posted by glendog74

I think bang per buck the CSL is top value and day-to-day running costs are even reasonable considering it's performance potential.

Even if you track a CSL, it is still not prohibitively expensive and rarely needs more than brake pads/discs and tyres occasionally, as well as fuel of course.

Whilst 996 GT3s and even some cheaper 997 GT3s are now within my financial reach, i think the running costs would prove horrendous if i were to do with it what i do currently with my CSL.

I still plan to have one one day - maybe in 5 years from now but it would be kept off the road a fair bit and used only for fun. Then again, the CSL might be a full-on track car by then so i would have no need for a Porka!

I think you're right.

You can of course upgrade the suspension and fit proper discs that aren't made from chocolate, but GT3's appetite for clutches and diff plates is still shocking.

Ultimately the Porker will be that bit better on track, but unless the associated running costs can be considered as pocket change, then it's not worth it IMO.

My only regret is not buying the CSL first. Then I wouldn't have suffered the epic wallet raping that the Porker gave me.

[monkeycsl]

4 years on and still loving my csl only tempted by a viper green gt3 rs but sod the expense so csl forever for me

[Pip1968]

Yes very interesting read and thank you. I am no expert but will only comment that you obviously had a bad experience with Porsche GB and reading in between the lines a lot of it was due to warranty issues. Depreciation in all fairness will be experienced by anyone wealthy enough to be able to afford a new car. What was the GT3 new, £85,000 and they are now at around £40-45,000 but then the CSL has also suffered a ~50% hit on price. you mention brakes which again are one of the 'weaknesses' of the CSL so most have upgraded to improve their track performance. That only really leaves the differential and clutch. I hope that you were just unlucky with these but will start saving anyway.

Of course I may have misunderstood your post but am sure you will be quick to correct me.

Either way I am giving it a go and will post on here my findings in a year or so.

They are a more expensive car and as I am taking my first plunge into Porsche I am not really qualified to comment too much. Moreover from what I understand GT3s are equally rare. I would have to Google it for sure but think that similarly small numbers were produced.

Pip