on the road a remapped gti will pretty much keep up with a 996 standard or 4s except in direct straight line drag - anything twisty and the gti will stick to the 996 like glue and a remapped ed30 in the dry will have any 996 except the gt3/tt sweating. 1st hand experience of them all.
Give your head a shake!
A BT GTI is often quicker in a straight line but not even close on the twisties - 280 BHP properly sorted and set up S3s and R32s can't even see which way a C4S went if the 911 owner knows how to drive - and that's from experience of owning them!
Ask the R32 owner that was trying to keep up with me on the way home from GTI International this year (he's a mate, and can drive...in a 280BHP R32)
997s straight is v quick and will eat all but the remapped ed30 which will keep up - but get a remapped gti/ed30 infront on twisties the 911 will find the gti hard to pass until a reasonable straight.
Nonesense, in my view.
GTI may well be as quick or quicker in a straight line drag race...but out of corners where you can use the traction of the 911...a FWD hatch just isn't playing the same game...even the Haldex versions struggle.
A remapped Ed30 may well 'keep up' until you hit the brakes...Ed30 wags it's tail under braking and squirms, 911 leaves braking 2-3 seconds later, brakes true, gets on the power and is gone before the Ed30 stops wheelspinning.
Seriously, they aren't even playing the same game...but, anyone can drive a GTI like that...whereas it takes years to get to the same point in the 911.
My old 8L S3 used to make 280BHP/330+lb-ft and had a chassis and brakes to match...and when I first sold it to a mate, he's keep up with the C4S...a year later he couldn't see which way I went...leading him to chop the S3 in for a 993 C4.
911 c4s will waste a standard set up gti/remap on the track - but can be countered to a pretty level playing field by putting aftermarket suspension tricks on the gti. seen plenty of 911 drivers scratching their heads at track days wondering why they cant get passed a golf. always funny
Maybe so...
The trouble is, as you make a GTI better on the track, you make it worse on the road...the 911 is great everywhere...
im the same do keep considering merits of what looks like spending 30k on a golf - as much as i love them - v near used 997s money - 996 c4s a steal at 25k ish. One thing with 911s whatever anyone says out of warranty they are v expensive to run esp when things break. thats the bonus of the golf - near real world porsche performance without the running costs. 2 years of ownership mines been the most hassle free reliable car ive owned and puts a smile on my face whenever i drive it.
People will tell you all sorts about how tuned GTIs/S3s/R32s will stick with a 911.
All very good I say...but go and buy one, learn it...then come back after 2-3 years and tell me the same.
It doesn't happen.
I'm not saying you can't tune a GTI/S3/R32 to do it...but then try tuning the 911 and all bets are off again.
Different cars...different drives.
One thing is for certain...you can tune a GTI/S3/R32 all you like...but it will NEVER involve or reward like a 911.
You pays your money and makes your choice.
With regard to running a 996...you need a warranty.
Budget on around £3000 per year to have it taxed, insured, serviced and warrantied (warranty = £1350 from Porsche) and then don't worry about it breaking - which it will - just drive it / get it fixed.
My 996 was cheaper to run over 3 1/3 years than my S3 before it...tyre and brake wear was less, no bush wear, and I drove both hard.
People will tell you that you can use a 996 daily as an everyday car...yes, you can. But you'd better have deep pockets.
They ain't cheap to run properly.
As for near real world Porsche performance. When?
My C4S did sub 5 second 0-60s, and 175+ genuine MPH on any long road you looked at...from the minute I collected it to the minute I sold it.
I don't know of too many real world Golfs that do that.
