Why The 996.2 911 GT3 Might Be The Most Important GT Car Porsche Ever Made

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@usmanfarooq96]

Jay needs to stop doing videos on cars i want to buy

[@xupmapeal]

@@usmanfarooq96 agreed!👍

[@Mr-pn2eh]

Not my problem

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

You should stop commenting and buy the car. 😉

[@roelfkromhout]

Eh, can’t afford em anyway. But these videos aren’t helping 😂

[@garychilds1130]

I see a lot of them are for sale

[@johnlin8454]

I still have my 996.2 GT3 today and had it since new in 2004. Love every minute of driving it. Plan to keep it until I eventually pass it on to my sons…

[@markg9563]

@@johnlin8454 likewise! Collected mine from the factory in July 2004. I had Parr in Crawley tweak the suspension and I love the handling. I bought a 997.2. GT3. Loved the engine but never felt at “one with it” like the 996.2. I think the steering and how you can lean on the outside rear tyre when cornering make it such a great drive.

[@JeffreyDobbie]

If your kids change their mind let me know😊

[@junit7590]

And to me the 996 GT3 front is the best looking of the watercooled

[@C4S911]

Can we please get this man up to 500K subscribers at least! He’s doing god’s work but giving us motor heads the most precise and fun car review videos on YT 🤩

[@lebojay]

You’re preaching to the choir, bro. 😎

[@jenniferlololololololololo]

exactly!

[@DavidMegaw]

Agreed

[@Inazuma68]

4 years ago I bought one and still love every moment driving it. What a marvel it is 👌

[@RomainLussier]

Your advice on the dad-son thing made me want to phone up my dad to do something like that. The priceless memories really got to me. Always appreciate your reviews and perspective, thanks for your work!

[@kevincoombs7348]

Still waiting for my daughters to contact me...

[@Kyuzeth]

I swear, James, every passing day makes me yearn for a 90s/00s classic of my own. I've been falling ever more deeply in love with this more retro machinery.

[@I999-g2s]

Get yourself a 2000's TVR, you can't beat them for sheer driving pleasure and wow factor. Buy the right car and the niggles will have been resolved and the only impact of the 'reliability reputation' will be the asking price.

[@EvoraGT430]

@@I999-g2s Or a Lotus.

[@I999-g2s]

@@EvoraGT430 yes agree with that!

[@Nord_Mann]

I owned one of Porsches prototypes to the 996.2GT3. It was produced 11/02 and as you said, it was based on a C4 chassis. It was high mileage and its wheel arches were sandblasted to primer from all the high speed driving at the NBR. It also had a button in the interior for switchable exhaust, alongside Nomex bucket seats and 3 cut off switches spread out over the car. 2 on the inside and 1 on the outside. It also had lots of bits later found on the 996GT3RS, like the rear suspension with wider track. It also had a tune and did 408WHP, a Techart race exhaust thx to a previous owner and cup gearing slashing top speed (only 275 on the Autobahn) but increasing acceleration. It was an animal to drive with its geo done for tracks. Probably the worst road car I’ve owned, and best track car. It mangled up F488s and Huracans at a Ferrari meet I went to on a tight racetrack where they couldn’t exploit their top speed. The only car that could barely hang, was an F12, and that was until it decided to head on into the wheel barriers. I just saw a cloud of smoke in my rear view mirror. Ferrari owners came over to ask WTF I was REALLY driving. Well it’s a 14 yr old beetle I said (2016), with proper brakes and suspension. I also got to drive a 24hour old F488 with its grinning owner. And when he asked me at the end how it was (I held back and drove it maybe 60% of the GT3), I said, let’s go out in the old Porsche first, and then I’ll answer the question. When we got into the pits after 3 laps and power sliding in third gear round the right hand parabolic, the Ferrari owner stumbled out of my GT3, green to his face, stuttering incomprehensibly something about “only half the horsepower”.. I don’t think he owns a Ferrari today….😂

[@the-boring-car-guy]

15:15 bang on Jay. This is what sets you apart from the rest of car KZbin. You can just tell that underneath it all, once the cameras are off, you're not a wanker. You just can't say that for the rest.

[@johnmil7909]

Hand my 996.2 for 8 years now and covered 20,000 miles in it. Loved every one of them. Great narrow bodied cars that fit the width of our UK roads perfectly, feels special every time you drive it, and do you know, I think the looks of the 996 have improved as time has passed. Everyone should own one.

[@VK6AB-]

Bang on, the 996.2 GT3 is a really good car and it feels small compared to modern GT products. In some respects its direct descendants are the the 981 Cayman GT4/ 981 Cayman GTS - very similar size, weight power and torque. All three being fantastic drivers cars.

[@houseyUK]

I had an identical car back in the 2000’s and did 20k miles in 14 months. EPIC cars and a proper handful.

[@henryatkinson1479]

This video and your last 996 GT3 video make me miss my 996 dearly... cable throttle, LSD, and a 6-speed manual are hard to find in just about any car these days.

[@joehowman7030]

Have had two of these including one in speed yellow. I still think they are the best GT3s and that's having driven pretty much all of them!

[@thirushannadar5607]

Excellent, absolutely love the comment about memories being priceless ! Couldn't agree more.

[@sbuskov]

I bought a 996.2 Gt3 Clubsport in 2019 and still absolutely love it 😍

[@brianiswrong]

Well played sir on the shirt choice.

[@geoffclarke3796]

Brilliant cars. I had a mildly modified 996.1 GT3 for 12 years and was by far the best car I've owned. I agree with Jay that Gen 1 is the better looking car but out the box the Gen 2 is probably the better car. Mine felt a touch under powered but this was remedied with a Manthey K400 upgrade. Not a popular opinion but I prefer the 996 GT3/GT3Rs to the 997.

[@andyirwin70]

She's in good hands now Geoff 😊

[@geoffclarke3796]

Andy, that's great to hear. Hope she continues to provide you with a lot of smiles.

[@campervanman5340]

It all seems so pure.

[@jimsteinway695]

I had the 996.2 GT3 completely modified by Manthey racing. The thing was a beast. It also had the metzger motor. Some parts of the motor still had 993 parts numbers

[@DavidTYork]

The one car that I truly regret selling. I went on to 'bigger and better' 911s, but this was the one.

[@jamesanderson2727]

It looks like you absolutely loved making this video Jay . Great content team.👍🏻

[@IanGunney]

I remember a trip in a gen 1 996 gt3 on the isle of man back in 2000. That car blew my mind. Both gen 1 and 2 996s still look fantastic. Great video Jay. Cheers

[@DavidJones-cf6ph]

Got one of these, had it from new and love it to bits…. Kept mine absolutely std no fancy exhaust or suspension mods just as it came out of the showroom. We’ve returned from a four day 800 mile trip in atrocious weather conditions but the car performed without any problems, a great analogue sports car, that shares a garage with a 550 Maranello… two icons I feel very lucky.

[@jamessheehy4895]

Prefer the 1st gen wing and headlights tbh

[@DjNikGnashers]

This is genuinely in my top 5 cars of all time James, I absolutely love them. Cheapest I can find is a Mk1 for £70k ouch.

[@clinttube]

The 996 Gen 1 and Gen 2 GT3s used a Carrera 4 chassis, but the C4S was the wide-body chassis. GT3 RS always used the wide-body. The C4 was stiffer than the C2 but still narrow-body until 991. Buttt, although first traditionally wide-body C4S-based chassis GT3 was 991, that was because C4 and C4S became the same width. RS was still always wider. So really the 992 GT3 was the first official "wide-body" relative to the 911 range. The thing is the 997 was over 3" wider anyway than the 996, so everything is a wide-body GT3 relative to the 996.1 and .2... I have to stop because I've hit my quota of typing wide-body for the year. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but there's a lot of nuance involved w/ C4 vs. C4S vs. wide-EST bodies available.

[@STERNWAERTS]

i LOVE the 996.2's front end and lights, so sexy, clean and unique. i was born in 93 so grew up with these...

[@chandrakumar7105]

Excellent review Jay!

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

Yes, the 911 GT cars are definitely special and do command a premium price. For us "poor folk" a 987 Cayman is an excellent choice and will keep up on a twisty stretch of narrow asphalt. Can't haul the kids to school but will haul groceries and a nice passenger quite well at half the price.

[@miamigt4922]

987s are great cars. 981s are now getting to interesting prices too. While I love my GT4RS and consider it one of the all time great GTs to come out of Weissach, I daily drive a sapphire blue 981S and is one of the best cars I've ever owned.

[@Z-u-m-a]

Lovely car. The size and styling look almost subtle now, especially with the smaller wheels, but its still so purposeful so all the cooler for it. Even those headlights have grown on me.

[@christophercatto7184]

Agreed, the steering in the 996.2 and 997.1 (and .2) is one of the best. I think there are some non-assisted cars like 1995 Suzuki Swift GTI and perhaps 1960s Lotus Elan that have more feel (thanks to think-ish tyres). Most manufacturers now have become obsessed with 'Ring times and power claims, but those don't actually make the most fun cars. You can probably have more fun in a slightly modified Smart Coupe Brabus than in some new Audi or BMW with drums as tyres.

[@DontPanicDear]

In my opinion, it was the 996GT3 RS that paved the way. People really got those and took them to tracks and realised what AP was all about! He then felt more confident in taking things further.

[@flat6croc]

Think that's a bit revisionist. The 996RS is absolutely bloody brilliant, but hardly anyone gave a crap about it at the time. They were not an easy sell and didn't go for overs etc.

[@DontPanicDear]

@@flat6croc That means speculators and status enthusiastic didn’t value them yet 😮 They were selling to people who knew what they were for who were not scared to use them heavily. No worrying about values.

[@createanddestroy]

You are treating us with al of the super versions of my base 1998 Carrera 2 Coupe. Thank you!

[@PeteAnda]

Im not a fan of Porsche, I did have a 996s and 944. However I still watched this, you are great and make even these interesting. Amazing it has feel and steering texture, I did not expect that. Great you care about that, for me it’s everything.

[@phil4405]

This is literally my all time dream car.

[@LiquidPinky]

Memories are priceless indeed. :)

[@ozeskiman]

Great car.. and reasonably priced today.

[@Backitoff]

They are feedback overload, but in a good way. The induction noise when revving high is truly sensational. If i'm honest I find the suspension a bit too harsh for the b roads we use. However, they are a truly fantastic car without doubt. Sadly going to sell mine soon 😞

[@markwalton8644]

Thanks James for another Brilliant review. I drove the Father in Laws GT3.2 a number of years ago and wasn't over enthused as you were but this may have not completely the cars fault. The Fact i was comparing it to a VX220 Turbo probably didn't help and the fact it was on very worn Pirellis! Good things first of course was the Engine. The way it revved to 8k with it's distinct Flat Six with a beautiful gear change and the way it flowed down a road was lovely. The bad, well it snapped on me on a Wet Greasy Roundabout with not much Provocation ( Tyres) and to be fair there was enough communication to tell me this, arm twirling i managed to avert Disaster! Having calmed myself I continued down some lovely twisting roads, the first thing i noticed was the gearing, it didn't match the road. Second gear was to high and you couldn't get in the Power Band in Third unless you were doing Silly Speeds! This made it feel slower to punt down a quick Road. Also Understeer was available quite readily (again I think this was a Tyre issue) and i didn't really want to poke the Rear Tyres to hard! Also i found the Exhaust to Quiet! All this considered i was comparing it to a Heavily Modified VX220T which was a Pure Track Car on the Road. Maybe one day I'll get the chance to Revisit the GT3, with Better Tyres.

[@MrRaitzi]

VX220 turbo is a gem much like GT3. There is no similar cult pushing prices high however.

[@EvoraGT430]

Maybe drive one with good tyres and good geo?

[@markwalton8644]

@@EvoraGT430 Unfortunately he's sold it. He did put some Michelin Sports and Geo'd but I never had a Chance to drive it. I was also Spoilt by the Modified VX220T, which was exceptionally light, fast and well Setup with Sublime Steering and Suspension. I'm still yet to find a Car to beat it!

[@r.j.vanwestrenen4957]

The carbon interior parts are a bit ... but it gets you nicely past the touch paint problems

[@robreeves9825]

If you liked the 996.2 GT3 then you'll love the RS. The RS takes things up another notch again. Crazy good car to drive.

[@timhearn7622]

Great video James! Where exactly is your "rollercoaster road" please?????

[@easydes]

I have a 997.1 gt3 cs. I find that when first got mine it rattled, squeaked and was hard to get in gear. With use it freed up and worked perfectly. These cars need to be driven regularly, they don’t like to be sat still often.

[@aggie3344]

My favourite of all the gt3’s

[@alansorbie4038]

How the GT3 has changed over the years. Back in 2004 the GT3 was a bit of an outside choice and cost about the same as my fully optioned 2004 Carerra 2!

[@miamigt4922]

James, love the reviews from cars of this era. I know you’ve always gravitated towards Ferraris instead of the more clinical Porsches but having owned 2 Ferraris and 9 Porsches over the years I’ve come to some conclusions. 1) I have a medical need to take my cars to the race track for track days. The feeling you get with your steed after doing battle together bonds you with the car in a manner that street driving will never, ever duplicate. 2) Head to head you’ll always get a faster, more reliable, more recent Porsche than a comparably priced Ferrari. A $50,000 Porsche is a better “car” than a $50,000 Ferrari, $100,000, $200,000, etc. 3) Ferrari is for mojo, Porsche is for gojo. While I love charismatic cars, when you’re barreling into turn 17 at Sebring at 145mph the last thing you care about is how much charisma your car has. What you want are stonkingly strong brakes that don’t overheat or seeing a check engine light after one session. If you can afford these cars, you’re probably a busy guy or gal. Time is precious and getting to a track requires coordination with kids, family, hotels, road trips. When your day is cut short because of “slow down cyl 5-8” it’s frustrating and also embarrassing. You see just how reliable a car is when it’s pushed to the limits, you may experience great reliability in a Ferrari when pottering around town or the occasional punch on public roads but there’s nothing like going to redline on every shift for 4 hours a day and slamming on the brakes repeatedly a few hundred times to really show you how reliable a car is. Like a beautiful, voluptuous high maintenance woman, Ferraris can be exasperating. The clear-eyed, responsible, pretty girl with C cups that never lets you down is the one you actually marry. After contemplating an F12, 458 Italia, 599, Scuderia, I went with a Cayman GT4RS and am now looking for a carbureted Ferrari 308 GTB to add to the garage. I realize now that I don’t like vintage Porsches but love modern ones because they’re better at being Porsches. But I love vintage Ferraris and not modern ones because the older ones are better at being Ferraris.

[@drunkenmonkey1887]

I have a feeling that the body/chassis confusion could be sharing info overlap with the C4S/Turbo body usage on the 993.

[@996Revival]

These cars hate sitting. I know mine do. Great video😊 Yes, they made em in yellow 😅

[@vukasinvlajic152]

James, 996.1 and 996.2 GT3s are narrow body cars. It's based off the C4 chassis, the narrow one, not the C4S. I believe the first widebody GT3s are 997.1s.

[@IndaloMan]

I went through my menoporsche in my early 40s back in the 00s. Bought a 996 Cab4 in March and sold it back to the dealer 4 months later for the same price (after an £1100 service). He sold me an M6 which I kept for 9 months and lost £20k on. #goodolddays

[@EvoraGT430]

MenoPorsche 🙂

[@seinsmeld13]

Thanks Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🥶

[@ShedLifeUK]

Pretty sure I picked up the cheapest 996.2 GT3 in the UK back in March by a LONG way judging by the prices I've seen them at over the last 6 months. I feel like the jammiest person going. I was never a big Porsche fan (Old school Ferrari fan) but did appreciate "proper" Porsches (Turbo/GT2/3 etc) but I thought I'd go check this 996.2 GT3 out and the rest is history. Proper drivers car and does everything so well. The steering feel sold me on it instantly.

[@paulobrien9868]

The mk1 is C4 chassis also your where correct !

[@acalthu]

I love the Porsche shirt!

[@sidewayssam]

well co-ordinated shirt matey, and the gt3 is indeed a car and a half. get one bought. MCG

[@geraint8989]

Love the 996. Turbo for me, please.

[@JamesGlenCarSales1982]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see how the 997.1 fairs against such a rave review of its older stablemate :)

[@AdamWardach]

I have one few years. I am not 911 fan at all. Speed Yellow. Bilstein, Gt3RS single mass flywheel, rear A arms, geometry from RS. exhaust Fabspeed, some computer RS like modes. 405-420PS. Similar performance as my daily F-Pace SVR on highway (some 9s 100-200) Is it good? Yes. Amazing. Still it is not as playful, easy to have fun with as Mitsu evos or Subaru STI from that era but way quicker. Is far from easy on the limit comparing to modern cars (even previous m2 manual). Hard to drift/play. 991,992 are so easy to drive. Watch out for that. Going very fast makes your shirt wet. Fast 230+ highway requires some balls too. Front gets very light. Wet, snowy it is still widowmaker. It gives you feeling of control, than is tipping point and cliff after it. Short wheelbase do not help. I tried to track it and is rewarding but better buy m2 or some cayman, even carrera2 992 is easier&faster. Stage 1 Yaris GR will kill you. 996 turbo modified is also easier as track car for not hardcore trully profesional driver? (I mean professional not wannabe) Additional con for me: very long gear ration (can be fixed changing rations from RS spare parts)

[@flat6croc]

Purely for driving enjoyment, I'd personally put the 996.2 GT3 top among all the GT3 models I've driven properly, which includes all versions up to and including the 991.2. It's just so bloody involving and plenty quick enough (the 996.2 feels way quicker than the .1). I think for overall ownership enjoyment, I'd probably still lean 997.2 and then de-wing it. But all that said, there really isn't a bad GT3, with the possible exception of the 991.1, which is a fab car, but maybe not a fab GT3.

[@VK6AB-]

There really isn't a bad GT3 just different flavours my preference is 991.2 GT3 followed by 997.2 GT3 and then 996.2 GT3 - not a fan of the 992 GT3/RS, great car(s) but not for me.

[@noobymcnoobs]

I haven’t driven the GT3 versions just the Carreras but I agree with you the 996 is my favourite to drive of the ones o have driven the 991 was my least favourite and the 997 was in between

[@bhencho5256]

Whats your gut feeling on the steering feel?

[@michaelh6603]

Nice video. I'd prefer a 997.2 GT3 clubsport though

[@phillsmith9255]

GT3's have never been offered from factory with rear seats, the 992.2 GT3 Touring is the first GT3 to be offered with rear seats as an option.

[@davidmwood560]

Hi James, I have always hated Porsches, I still hate Porsches. I will always hate Porsches. The video,as always, is excellent. I'll stick with 4 doors, absolute luxury, and insanely rapid. Hence, my "daily" is a race tuned Lexus GS 300 SE-L, Prepared by Lexus.

[@mvtoh81]

I believe it’s the 997.2 generation that got the wider Carrera 4 body.

[@jongmans38]

You have got to get one, I if I won the lottery!

[@charliegrech5598]

James great car, must be amazing to steer. I personally prefer the .2 as well, however I’m splitting hairs here. I believe the Mezger unit is still the pinnacle of the GT cars. Well done video, as always.

[@MD-qp8gj]

Saw the new 2024 S/T and thought, they’re trying to replicate the 996 GT3 experience with deviated stitching rich guy stuff!

[@addj7093]

Ah yes the “older” flat 6 sound 👌🏻

[@jamesbrett6518]

How are those alloys "inspired by Fuchs"?

[@lucasfirmin7680]

Jay how does this compare to the Ferrari 599 HGTE that you interviewed? I do realize they are two different approaches to a sports car as others have mentioned. I have an 05 GT3 and am considering swapping for a Ferrari 599.

[@tedford75]

Hi jay why not ask TGE his GT is in for repair but once done he might lend it to you, seems a nice fella

[@WhiteMouse77]

You see this and say WoW! You drive it and scream "!BiG WoW"!

[@ethan63477]

My absolute dream porsche. Might settle for an aerokit C2 as these are getting out of reach

[@SepelkiviOlavi]

A 996.2 GT3? With that shirt on? Yes, please

[@christaylor4946]

Credit to that car’s owner(s) it looks minted 👌

[@robf5374]

Does Jay buy from Greggs? Think I will buy more shares if so 👍

[@ukwan]

996.1 GT3 used a SLIM body C4 shell! Absolutely 100% it did you can tell by the frunk design.

[@michaeledwardlenzi]

I think the GT3 996.2 was the first not built on the Weissach production line.

[@sbuskov]

The 996.1 wasn't built at the Weissach plant 🤷 I wrote Porsche and asked them. It's a myth they replied.

[@colorsigma101]

The most affordable GT3 on the French market currently, I guess prices won’t stay low ..

[@rogerreed905]

Have you done a 959 ???

[@stubailey9433]

Always liked the "Taco" wing. Didn't it make a return on the 997? Sorry, 997.1

[@19poundpound94]

Please, someone, give James the 996 and the 997 GT3RS for a review.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY 🙏🙏

[@hmk911]

996‘s are just not my cup of tea, even any of the GT‘s do not do the trick for me. I‘m an 993 and 997 addict. Curious what Jay will say about a 997.2 RS. For me the best drivers car ever. And best soundtrack, too.

[@imi4449]

The .2 a better GT3 but the .1 GT3 is a homologation special to allow Porsche to comply with GT3 racing regs. Its far more special IMO and as special as an RS in my view.

[@EvoraGT430]

Probably a unique view-point.

[@hectoromargarciacruz1703]

Yes 👌🏻

[@nakoma5]

All these 911 reviews are like watching the same one over again, and I hasten to add it's not James's fault. It's just a 911 thing, they just all appear more similar than different.

[@WhiteMouse77]

😏Jay if you wanna drive Carrera GT V10 why don't you ask Dough de Muro and have trip to the US? 🤔

[@septanos]

i prefer the look and the styling of the 996.1 GT3

[@mikebarnard2689]

I’m keeping my 996.1 Clubsport.. remapped to 384 bhp and has the mk2 brakes, looks , drives and stops well.

[@greathey1234]

The turbo and gt3s of 996s don't suffer from the infamous ims bearing disaster

[@robf5374]

No 996 does if you replace the IMS, it doesn't cost much in the grand scheme.

[@EvoraGT430]

@@robf5374 But then it suffers from D-chunking, bore-score and crankshaft main-bearing failure.....

[@robf5374]

@@EvoraGT430 do your research, don't rely on the scare stories. A few simple service items go a long way. When I bought my 996.2 I struggled to find a low mileage car. Why? Because most have done big miles.

[@Trochanus]

The GOAT is a 996.1 MY2001 with CS, you got the .2 engine with the .1 single mass flywheel and .1 looks. But these cars especially in red or yellow are stupidly rare. If I got the money and I would find one, it would be shut up and take my money!!!!!

[@Justin-jr7xq]

Nice old school porker, and great take on life Sir with your memories comment😊

[@Richjtj]

Mega car but they're very strong money especially given maintenance and Porsche tax. What other car from a similar generation can do what this does at a fraction of the cost. Simple, E46 M3

[@manuocio]

Evo was the bible for real petrolheads. The best testers. No doubt gt3 are fantastic for drive.

[@dwn2634]

I'm going to rename this channel 'JayEmm On My Pension Fund Spend Options'.

[@RzogL]

If only it had pre-facelift headlights!

[@EvoraGT430]

Awful.

[@RzogL]

@@EvoraGT430 Now, now. De gustibus non est disputandum. Nobody complained about the Harm Lagaay clusters on Grant Larson's 1993 Boxster concept. They did suit the original 986 and 996 lines well. I will concede they look better in later, de-ambered guise. But to my eyes the 996.2 / turbo clusters just look droopy and horrible, especially combined with the ugly 996 turbo/4S front bumper. Not a big fan of the 986.2 front bumper and side intakes either. I note that Porsche have only managed to finally get an all-in-one cluster solution in the traditional 911 headlight shape on the new 992.2 GT3. That only took 30 years...

[@resnonverba137]

0:24 You show a 996.2, not a 996.1.

[@Inazuma68]

The 1st pic is a .1 but the 2nd a .2

[@resnonverba137]

@@Inazuma68 Indeed. Hence the timestamp.

[@garyhockaday8022]

Smiles and miles ….

[@Reznor_Meeks]

My personal favourite Porsche of all time, not the fastest, not the lightest, not the most powerful, not the prettiest, not the rarest, nope! The original GT3 is just right.