Dear 458 & 997.2 GT3 RS owners

Never had a 911 or a GT3, but have had several Porsches including a '12 Boxster Spyder and 06 Cayman S. Very doubtful a manual GT3 could give me the same emotions as a 458 with a good sounding exhaust on it. My $0.02, FWIW. Even with increased cost of everything, I have no regrets.

 

Here is another thread on a similar question, non RS version: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/992-gt3-to-458-italia.672388/#post-148973592

Someone described the two cars as one is an introvert and one is an extrovert. They are different cars with different purposes in a sense. Both would be nice to have in the garage. I own the 458 Italia, test drove a GT3 and found the 458 just screamed supercar to me and the GT3 screamed trackable 911 to me. Driving the 458 or any Ferrari is really an event. On the flip side, even though the 458 is one of the more reliable Ferrari's, someone once said that when you buy a Ferrari, be prepared to actually own 2 Ferrari's. If you can't, then you probably can't afford it and that seems to be a concern for you. It's a legitimate concern if buying either car, but more of a concern with a Ferrari in my opinion. Both are great cars, just different.

 

I had them both. 458 is definitely more of an event very special car overall. Gt3 has the manual and most importantly the best steering out there ( hydraulic steering for 997.2 gen ). Both are exciting cars , 458 to me is overall better car (looks , sound, rev happy , v8 torque and overall power delivery ) broader spectrum of use and ability. Honestly don’t think you will go wrong with either cars and both are best of old school analog to digital cusp cars. If there is another car I can add to my garage it’s definitely the 997 gen Gt3/rs. For the track preferred the 991 gt3 gen Pdk over the older cars. Much better front end aero and overall dynamics. So yeah gt3 is a one trick pony.

 

Maybe it’s worthwhile imagining the moment when you actually have to “pull out your wallet” and pay for one or the other. On two separate occasions I’ve included the 3RS on a two-vehicle short list, and both times I chose the other car… first a 570S, and more recently a 488. Which tells you something about 3RS appreciation, BTW.

When it came time to choose, I had a hard time convincing myself that the 3RS looked “special enough” (given the ubiquity of 911s) to justify the expense. I’m not proud of it, as I characterize myself as a driver that truly appreciates the unique performance characteristics of a sportscar, not someone obsessed with appearance… but when it came time to commit, I couldn’t choose the 3RS. If I suddenly had deeper pockets I’d start shopping for one tomorrow; it’s unquestionably a special car.

All the above applies only to a street car… if you’re planning to spend regular time at the track, the 3RS seems the best (and less expensive) choice.

 

Looks wise they are so far apart, the Porsche would have to be so much better in everything else.

I can't stare at the front end of a 911 and not think of a bug, sorry Porsche fan boys.

 

I went through this same decision. I have a 991.1 non GT 911 as a daily driver and love it. I had a short list of a 458, 991.2 GT3, GT4, and finally a Porsche Spyder.

After several test drives it was clear to me the 991.2 GT3 and 458 were at the top of the list and worth the extra money. It was a close call but the 458 won out and here I am on Ferrari chat.

It came down to how I enjoy my cars. I do track days but really only on sport bikes (Panigale). My cars are more enjoyable to me on the road. Trips to the mountains, deals gap, wolf pen, Cherohala sky way, etc are really where I get the most enjoyment from the car. For this the 458 just is a better tool. It’s so much more of a GT car than a GT3. The 458 feels special even at 75%. Hell, it feels special on the drive to the mountains. The 911 is more harsh and more enjoyable at 100% on a track. But for roadtrips like I enjoy, it’s just not as good.

When I get older and hang my leathers up I’m going to try to get more into track days at Barbers and Road Atlanta in sports cars. I’ll give into a GT3 at that time. It’s a better track car in every way IMO. The planted feel, quicker lap times, more robust, better dealer and aftermarket support all point to a GT3 as the track day winner.

This is just one man’s take. It’s all really YMMV kinda topic.

 

Appropriately timed video from forum member, RichReviews:

 

I've owned both the F430 manual and currently the 458. The 458 is by far the more capable of the two, it was a real jump in everything measurable. One way to split the two (GT3RS vs. 458), would be a 430 Scuderia or Speciale. However, the Speciale is so expensive compared to the two cars you are looking at, I assume it is off the table otherwise you'd be deciding between it and the GT2RS. Track wise, I believe the Scuderia is a better match with the GT3RS. Both are track monsters. The Scuderia is the one that will hold or appreciate its value over the years because it is a special edition car. You can always buy one or the other and if you still have an itch for the other, they both are very desirable cars and will hold their value enough to trade in a year or two. You can own both eventually!

I would not worry about the 458's reliability as long as you get a good PPI. Next, personally, I think that you should really consider where you will be doing the majority of your driving. If you are going to be routinely encountering traffic when you drive, the Porsche is the one you want in my opinion. I don't know the cost of routine maintenance (changing fluids etc.) for a GT3, but on the 458, its about $1200 at my local shops. I can see the Porsche costing much less because there are more places that work on Porsches than Ferraris.

Lastly for me, one comparison you could make is the Porsche is the "wife" choice (loyal, reliable, trust worthy etc.) and the Ferrari is a supermodel (beautiful, fantastic in bed, exciting to take out but temperamental and demanding). I've chosen to have both, a rock sold reliable "wife" to daily drive during the week and an exciting "supermodel" I take out and get a dopamine rush from on the weekends. Every time I take out the 458, I feel special. Ferrari is the only car I have owned that made me feel that way. Its a dopamine rush every time I drive it. There is no "mundane or routine" driving experience in a Ferrari. It never wears off. If the Porsche does the same for you, go for the Porsche!

 

I own both. I would never want to sell either of them. They are amazing in their own right. The 458 speaks to you with emotion, the RS with precision. The 458 is easier to drive than the 997. Both are equally as fun to drive fast but the 997 makes you work harder. I've been a Porsche owner for almost 20 years and the 997.2 RS is the pinnacle of the 911 series. Nothing before or after comes close. So if I really HAD to sell one of the two it would be the 458. But only because they are a lot more plentiful and I can easily buy another. The GT3RS is a unicorn.
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Your 458 is beautiful! Just looking at those two cars next to each other, I know which one I'd keep.

 

A ferrari is a ferrari and a porsche is a porsche.

There's no doubt the gt3 would walk around the 458 on the track but if you're talking about how it makes you feel, I think you already know the answer.

Unless you're living at the nurburgring, there are lots of dedicated track cars that will walk away from a GT3 and/or deliver a much more satisfying task experience for less money as well (though if you absolutely HAVE to drive TO the track and drive home I suppose the GT3 would top this list but this is honestly such a corner case it's not worth seriously considering)

 

Have driven both, the RS was a thrilling drive and I would love to own one someday.

And if that wasn’t enough, the future value will heavily favor the rare RS.

 

A 997 RS? Not really...

 

oh didnt realize we were talking about a 997

but like a 991 and 992 for sure

the RS is built for the track, its gonna be more at home there than a GTB (maybe not a speciale)

 

The 458 is significantly faster than my 997 GT3RS. Night and day difference and the 997 is no slouch!

I would not bet that the 992 GT cars would be faster than a 458 around a track either. I've driven a PDK 992 GT3 and it certainly didn't feel nearly as fast as my 458. Don't compare Nurburgring times, the 458 came with Pilot Sport tires when new and was tested in 2010 with those while the new Porsches are on Cup 2Rs. They are similar in weight, but the 458 has a much longer wheelbase, is wider, and has a lot more hp and tq (570 & 400) vs the 992 GT3 (500 & 347). Nearly 15 years older, the 458 can hold its own against Stuttgart's finest.

 

Ah I did forget about tire tech differences throughout the post decade

I would still imagine the gt3 or anything a bit more tank focused would just feel"nicer"at the track in the same way that an M3/4 will always feel more sorted in the corners than the C63

Ultimately most people will not feel tenths of a second or 0.05g in the corner, but they will feel willingness to change direction, how quickly the car settles in a corner, etc.

 

Not exactly your comparison but I've owned a 997.1 GT3 and now a 458. To better answer your question, it would be good to know why you want to purchase either car and what usage it's for.

For pure driving experience, the GT3 is better. It makes you work for it, not just because it's manual, but the steering is better, the brake feel is better and the motor makes you work to get speed as it does not rev as fast as the 458. Sound wise the 458 has the more exotic sound, but the metzger engine has a better intake note and mechanical noises are better to trained ears. If i was to go up a twisty mountain road or track, the GT3 is it. The 458 you can just putt around town and feel like a super hero. Every drive is an event in the 458. Whereas a normal drive to the grocery store in the GT3 is more of a chore than a positive experience.

If going 1 to 7 tenths. 458. 8-10 tenths GT3.

Ask yourself what you want the car for, that will help best determine your answer.

 

This is like arguing which high end audio system sounds better than the other. There is no such thing as "trained ears" when it comes to something like this. It's purely subjective, but no street Porsche in my opinion even approaches the glorious sound of any naturally aspirated Ferrari, of any year or any model, let alone the 458.

 

Yea that's what I was trying to get at too

I have a 4th gen MX5 that I've put more $$ into mods than the value of the car itself and it's MUCH more fun than the 458 when the mission is to expend maximum effort (not least of all because in Hong Kong using 100% of the 458 would nearly certainly kill me)... If just putting around though the thing is a bit of a pain to drive.

 

Someone once said its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. My 1979 MK1 VW Scirocco, which I owned between 1984 and 1986, was the most fun I've ever had in a car.

 

I have a good bit of track time and can tell you that with the same driver skill level the 992 GT3 is much faster around a track than a 458. I own and love my 458 but even a 991.1 or .2 will be faster than my 458 around a racetrack.

The 458 is a MUCH better street car though. Not just the engine but the suspension, steering, comfort, beautiful interior, etc.

 

I always have the same response to all these sorts of questions...

Which one do you truly "want"? When you shell out the cash, which car is on the other side of that deal? When you look in your garage which car do you want to see sitting there? When you park it and look back, which one is there? When you're ripping around the road or track, which car's steering wheel do you want in your hands?

You can get opinions from others and read about how the Ferrari is more "emotional" and the 911 is more "clinical" but at the end of the day buying a car like this is about 1% logic and 99% emotion. Which car do YOU want?