996 v 992 GT3: first v latest Porsche GT3s… how different are they?

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VIDEO CHAPTERS:
- 02:00 - 992 GT3 winged v Touring compare
- 04:20 - 992 v 991 GT3 compare
- 07:30 - 996.1 v 992 compare
It's your ultimate road test of the 992 GT3 as I embark on a two-day trip around the North York Moors with my friends Neil and Ali, equipped with the first and latest Porsche 911 GT3s.
Separated by 23 years, how different are the 996 and 992 GT3? Are there any similarities to be found betweem them? And which is best for the road? Find out with this comprehensive video review by 9WERKS TV.
Thanks to Ali Cusick (alisdaircusick.com) for filming assistance, and to Neil Plumpton for loaning his stunning Guards red 996.1.
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[@GTSCarLife]

Lee, your channel is criminally undersubscribed. There is literally NOBODY else putting out the type of content you do, especially your extremely well done interviews with significant and influential Porsche people from the past and present. Keep doing the great work!

[@9WERKSTV]

Comments like this are exactly why I keep doing what I do. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to say nice things!

[@askiff1415]

Couldn’t agree more 👍

[@WTL98]

I could not agree more with this comment. Just subscribed. Great work!

[@grantatkinson1202]

While there's no denying the technical advancement and brilliance of the 992..... that 3/4 rear view comparison shot at 15:28 (freeze-frame) is why I love the 996 model, be it 996.1 or 996.2, narrow body or wide. Truly gorgeous, free flowing lines. I cannot exit my '99, and walk away without turning around to check it out and drool. Exquisite.... thank you Pinky Lai.

[@PaulLukeBonenfant]

I could be biased, but the 996 will always be the best GT3 :)

[@dh64646]

The 996 gt3 feels special within 50 yards - few cars feel like this 🤗

[@nickg2027]

996 for sure, I like the GMT aswell!!

[@9WERKSTV]

Cheers Nick!

[@geoffclarke3796]

Great video. I loved my 996.1 GT3 Club Sport which I had for 12 years. It had a few minor modifications including a Manthey K400 kit which boosted power to close to 400bhp, raising the redline to 8200rpm and sounded fantastic. Would love to try the 992 GT3. Kudos to Porsche for sticking with a high revving naturally aspirated engine when competitors have switched to turbos and for giving the option of a manual gearbox,

[@9WERKSTV]

Completely agreed regarding your sentiments on Porsche sticking to tradition. Your Manthey upgrades sound awesome, that would have been some machine!

[@bruceloheac8581]

Bought one 996.1cs while working in Europe and found another one in a rarer color just before leaving, so I bought it too and imported them in Canada. I didn’t have the pleasure to drive them yet unfortunately but I can’t wait next year!

[@liesmakejesuscry]

996 gt3 for me.

[@johnnysmith863]

A 996.1 GT3 in Zanzibar Red with the Recaro buckets is my dream car. I appreciate the technological advancements of the 992 and I'm sure it's absolutely fantastic to drive, but for me it's just too big and quite ugly. I hate that tall rear end and the nostrils... not for me. And for how many nanoseconds can you realistically expect to use full RPM in a 992 GT3 on a weekend drive? With the 996 you can rev it out away from each junction and out of each bend. Yes please.

[@Inazuma68]

I‘m driving a 996.2 GT3 CS and love every moment in that car. I don‘t care if modern cars are faster but the feeling is glorious 👌

[@PaulLukeBonenfant]

I got the chance to ride in a 992 GT3, and while it was absolutely insane, I still prefer the size/classic feel of my 996!

[@TobyD]

Another great video Lee, nice to see Neil’s lovely 996 out for a run. I’d take that for sure 😊

[@9WERKSTV]

Cheers Toby. Neil's GT3 is an exquisite example, it feels brand new still.

[@nw3622]

Absolutely love the raw feeling of 996gt3 coupled with diminutive size and absence of electronic driver aids. Unfortunately not had an opportunity to try a 992.

[@kburke1965]

I own both cars. My feeling is the sharper feeling front end of the 992 is mostly an illusion caused by faster, lighter steering. For Motorsport use I much prefer the longer travel and heavier weight of the 996. It's much easier to be accurate. The 992 is veering towards Aston Martin or AMG territory with their "test drive optimized" setups.

[@sherparoyale]

I have a 996tt cab which I love (and daily) and plan to keep for a long time. I was thinking of adding a 992 gts cab manual for the rwd/driving feel. What would you suggest? Other options?

[@sanderhawkins533]

Another great video Lee. 👍👍

[@johnnavarro3188]

996 all day every day!! 🍳🦆

[@9WERKSTV]

I'm with you, John!

[@owenoconnor2700]

Many thanks for the great pictures/sounds and a balanced considered comparison. Every GT3 feels special

[@9WERKSTV]

Thanks Owen, I appreciate that. Always a difficult line to tread with GT cars but every one of them really is special.

[@aggie3344]

996 gt3 all day long

[@joshuahorner2639]

Really wonderful comparison and I appreciate the Porsche history lesson. My daily commute is a 2004 Boxster S which I think helped save Porsche from the bankruptcy you mentioned. Looking forward to your next post.

[@joshuahorner2639]

Would you consider doing a spotlight on the 2011 997.2 Turbo S? I would be interested.

[@9WERKSTV]

Thanks Joshua! Highly appreciated. Yes I will do something on the 997 Turbo S soon, with any luck.

[@joshuahorner2639]

@@9WERKSTV It just so happens that I purchased one from the Portland Oregon Porsche dealership when the original owner got bored with his after breaking it in from new with 1000 miles on the odometer and he purchased a 2011 GT2 RS instead. It is/was my dream car.

[@stevenrance5320]

Very good film. The 996 requires requires a good understanding of weight transfer management and high skill levels to unlock all of its performance. Once mastered it is one of the most rewarding sports cars ever made. It is understandable that Porsche have tried to make the GT3 more accessible by attempting to engineer the inherent understeer out of the chassis but I think that is to the new car’s detriment

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

Good stuff! Any chance of reviewing the Cayman GT4 RS?

[@marshallsonmotorsltd2101]

996. All day, everyday

[@QFXmusic]

Thanks for another top video Lee :-) Great perspective on both cars and amazing to see them both side by side.

[@9WERKSTV]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed. Was fun to put together.

[@jameshewitt8828]

Thank you for the great content and mentioning the podcast, just subscribed to it

[@diecheckuppointag9057]

Great content, well, well done!

[@9WERKSTV]

Much appreciated!

[@mikebarnard2689]

I’m lucky enough to have the RHD Biarritz White 996 GT3 Mk1 Clubsport. What a car, totally analog , zero driver aids other than ABS. Light nimble and narrow, still fast enough to scare you and in real world roads small enough to enjoy almost to the full. Just a quick word about the turn in being slow compared to 992.. simply set front alignment to neutral ( zero) instead of toe in ….problem solved. You can even go a bit toe out if you can cope with the twichiness. The chassis and suspension can be tweaked and set up as per Roland Kussmaul’s preferred settings makes this genesis GT3 as sharp as a razor.

[@bruceloheac8581]

Just got the cs also, thanks for the tip, I will check this out when aligning the car after the tire changes.

[@corychecketts]

I’ll never understand the dislike toward the 996 styling. It’s absolutely gorgeous. My biggest critique against the 996 is the size of the windows. The rear quarter window looks out of proportion compared to the rear end of the car.

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

Would kill to have a 996 GT3 - pure drivers car you can have fun in, without ending up in jail.

[@brightenupcc]

Refresh the 996 GT3 suspension and the turn in would likely improve markedly. 20 year old (heck, even 10 year old) bushings and shocks won't be indicative of handling when new

[@997turboabs2]

Subbed! For anyone trying to work their way up to a GT Porsche vids like this are brilliantly detailed! (it also makes deciding what GT to buy more difficult 😂)! Look forward to more!

[@paulpressland]

Nice one chaps

[@mikejuzenas93]

Very nice review - and I agree with the sensations and smaller feel of the 996 GT3. It would also be interesting to see what you think of the 997.1 GT3 in comparison, which is much closer to the 996 vs 992. I own a 997.1 GT3, and have driven a 991.2 GT3 on the track and the street, and your comments line up with what I would say - I think the "jump" in the GT3 line was from the 997 to 991. The 996 and 997 GT3 are more similar and share that small tight cabin, hydraulic steering and road feel - although the 996 is the most "raw". Great video!

[@Phil99six]

Another brilliant video. Thank you 🙏

[@zeamethyst-M4Z]

Amazing video, Lee. The only error in this otherwise amazing video was your quick take on the 992 Touring. The suspension is identical to the winged variant, no changes in setup, spring rate, stiffness, etc. It's identical to the winged car in that regard

[@9WERKSTV]

Thanks for the feedback! I'd love to see some independent figures on spring rates and stiffness etc. Porsche has fed a few porkies before ("can't fit a GT 911 engine in a Cayman" being the latest, prior to the GT4 RS coming out) and having driven them both, I *feel* the 992 Touring is slightly softer. I do not have any hard, independent data to back that up mind, but would love to see for myself.

[@mosca3289]

@@9WERKSTV it’s crazy that Porsche don’t provide that info.

[@zeamethyst-M4Z]

@@9WERKSTV “So what's going on, then? Well, I asked the guys at Porsche HQ whether all the settings are the same on the Touring. Yes, they said, exactly the same. The difference is this one isn't on Cup 2s, it's on Pirelli P Zero Corsas. And they have a softer side wall and a wider operating window than the Michelins. Which would indeed account for the improved ride, more consistent grip and the lack of tramlining. The difference is night and day. I did about 400 miles in this Touring and didn't have a fight with the steering wheel once. Even over pretty demonic B-roads - the type that I know would have had me hanging onto a GT3 on Cup 2s.” -PistonHeads

[@pauln0371]

The roads over the North Yorkshire Moors are absolutely glorious. A proper drivers heaven. Especially the ones around Grosmont and Goathland from the A169 at Fylingdales. The scenery is something else as well..👍👍👍

[@ghowells5433]

Really enjoyed that Lee, thanks.

[@9WERKSTV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnmorrison27]

Brilliant content as usual 👍👍

[@alanwayte432]

Fortunate to own 997.2 GT3 honestly could not get on with tramline pull and harsh ride of 992GT3, Gordon Murray I believe said it was not a road car ... my 997 is firm but seems in comparison easy to drive..but maybe I am wrong

[@homefink2235]

Best Porsche Contest. Thanks for another great vid. Great Views, great information and feeling delivery about the GT3. Love both eras of Porsches.

[@rpm-qv7rw]

Another great video Lee! Thanks so much for the comparison cos i have been wondering how much of a gulf is there between the original and the latest.

[@9WERKSTV]

Thank you sincerely, I'm glad you enjoyed.

[@Kyle900t]

Top notch again Lee!

[@9WERKSTV]

Thanks Kyle!

[@Askgeez]

I’ve seen Neil’s GT3 in the metal a few times … it must be the nicest one around . 👌🏻

[@9WERKSTV]

It is a stunning example of the genre.

[@morphyon]

Since you‘ve driven all of them. Is the 996 GT3 nearer to the Carrera MFI or nearer to the 992? I mean not by pure numbers, more like as an experience. How would they compare? As the respective road racers of their era.

[@9WERKSTV]

This is a great question. I'd say the 996 feels more like an air-cooled car than a modern water-cooled. It feels properly rear-engined, there's very little by way of driver aids, it's not as clinical as newer stuff. And I think therein lies its charm: it feels classic but not to the point of being agricultural. It's useable without being a chore to drive.

[@morphyon]

Thanks for your impression :). It just dawned on me…. by age the 996 sits pretty exactly in the middle of these three. The G-Model Carrera felt much older, compared to the other way round, but no, exactly in the middle. But I think your picture adds up. As a concept, the 996 should be nearer to the present, but it isn‘t. 996 is or was a quantum leap on a shoestring. Developed with dwindling funds, it had to be a success, otherwise Porsche would have gone bust. Enough things stayed the same (general layout of the car) while only all the necessary bits changed for the unavoidable, or the better (water cooling, cost cutting in production, bigger, stiffer chassis). Makes you think, had they had more budget, would they have screwed up with some sort of 928 v2? But all the better things happened. Came 996 Carrera, came Turbo, came GT3, came GT2…. Btw you really need to catch Andy Preuninger in his secret lair / chocolate factory - I mean the GT garage in Weissach. :)

[@mosca3289]

Super content 👍🏻

[@markhendry1]

Superb Lee, I know you have spoken highly of the RPM CSR EVO, there will be no comparison engine wise but what are the driving characteristics of say the 996 GT3 and your car running a decent suspension setup?

[@owenoconnor2700]

Porsche have taken to creating 25 year anniversary editions of the water cooled cars: boxster and more recently the Carrera/classic club coupe. Looking forward to seeing a GT3 given this treatment. But what would you want to see in the specs?

[@andygtv]

Good video, interesting

[@florianl4255]

"the 991.2 Touring was softer than the standard GT3" with no Touring package? Can you verify that? To my knowing the springs and dampers are the exact same?

[@piromantm]

Is there anything to confirm that the damping in Touring is slightly softer? Porsche has claimed that they are mechanically the same

[@zeamethyst-M4Z]

The Touring is not softer, that's the only error in this otherwise amazing video. The 992 Touring is identical to the 992 winged, just with the wing removed, front bumper fully painted, and some different textured leather on the interior. It's suspension is not changed at all.

[@piromantm]

@@zeamethyst-M4Z I was hoping that Porsche has made some changes lately since many people are complaining about stiffness of qingless model

[@zeamethyst-M4Z]

@@piromantm there’s always the GTS for those that want softer or more compliant suspension

[@piromantm]

@@zeamethyst-M4Z GTS is after all a different car, mainly due to the engine. I think that many people would like a regular GT3 as it is and softer damping in Touring package, as most of us don't have perfect roads around. We want thrills from direct steering and NA engine without bouncing around the road ;)

[@zeamethyst-M4Z]

@@piromantm I understand the GTS is different, but if you want similar speeds (at least acceleration-wise) with a more compliant suspension, that's your best bet. I like the visceral nature of the GT3 that's why I ordered a Touring

[@motorsandmeats88]

So worried that it’ll be unobtainably expensive in a couple years when the 996.1 gt3 can be imported to the states. No car is more desirable to me than this!

[@9WERKSTV]

As I said in the vid, I do think this will result in an uptick in 996.1 GT3 values, hopefully not too much though!

[@thewarriorpainter9159]

I think the 996 is the better drivers car personally, it’s the right size, the newer cars while faster and objectively better are just too big.

[@000GunterGabriel000]

996.1 or 997.1 GT3 - that's the question imo.

[@9WERKSTV]

Material for another video!

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

7.1

[@slowcar828]

You have really good content, but need to get a good mic or edit the sound ASAP

[@TheLambo123254]

nice

[@JimBob_1975]

From this and Harry's Garage video it seems this new car isn't ideal for the roads. Surely struggling to keep the car going in a straight line isn't ideal for UK roads. Too much castor?

[@garyhaddock7264]

I’ll take both please!

[@9WERKSTV]

Me too Gary! Hope you're good!

[@SF_Native]

Sorry, I may bethe minority here, but i'd take the 996 GT3 over the 992 GT3 any day of the week. Hit like if you agree.

[@aln74]

997

[@SF_Native]

@@aln74 this is going to sound like some internet bullshittery, but I actually have a 997 RS. lol will keep it forever.

[@aln74]

@@SF_Native probably the nicest car they have done for sure only beaten by the 4.0 👏🏻

[@SF_Native]

@@aln74 agreed. Greatest car I’ve ever owned and I’ve had a bunch. Nothing compares.

[@hmk911]

997.2 is peak GT3 in my eyes, and the RS peak 911.

[@stevemilne9306]

I just can't get on with the rear of the 992. It's very fussy and over designed for my eyes. Just too much going on.

[@9WERKSTV]

Completely agree here, Steve. GT3 gets away with it a little more in my opinion as there's lots going on with the car anyway but I have to say the 992's rear is a weak point of 911 design.

[@vlee1247]

I think it looks absolutely stunning compared to previous GT3 models. Everyone has different tastes I guess.

[@franzhuber7361]

You are wrong 991.2 Touring wasn’t softer than the wing version. It was exactly the same setup. Ask PORSCHE

[@johnrb9397]

Both cars pointless on public roads with today's speed limits. Therfore go for what you like.

[@Foxtrot1967]

Will soon be worthless from gasoline ban around the corner

[@francoisbalavoine1316]

That 996 looks so old and ugly compared to the 992, specially in the interior...

[@AB-fr2ei]

Not really They look different but both look good

[@gen1c8rs88]

997.2 > 996.1 in looks and handling characteristics.

[@AB-fr2ei]

@@gen1c8rs88 i agree but my favorite remain the 991.2 It would be probably one of the best car ever made if it was in manual

[@MD-qp8gj]

100% disagree. Have you driven a 996 GT3?

[@Phil99six]

Ouch 🤕

[@svenlazic]

Sorry but you managed to make a boring video about 911 gt3s