Prospective 981 GT4 Owners Discussion Forum.
Discussion
neilsss said:
Picked up my GT4 this morning and had a fun day getting to know it. Had forgotten what a ball ache it is running in a fast, free revving car but first impressions very positive; steering is very good and falls mid way between my Boxster and 997 GT3. This combines with a surprisingly good ride to make it feel like it will be great as a daily driver. Gearing is long but no more so than any of the Porsches I have had so I don't really get what all the fuss is about; the gear change is the best I have ever used and as I like using it I don't see the hardship in having to change down when you feel the need. Handling felt very good except for a slight issue with understeer in a couple of fast corners so I suspect I will be messing with the anti roll bar settings after I have given everything a few more drives to bed in.
It is interesting that the launch/journo and PEC cars came with the Michelins. Not by accident either. The black customer car that was pictured also came on the Dunlops
Neil, I hope the Dunlops work well. You can always choose to shred them after the beast is run in. It's definitely not a fly in the ointment
Neil, I hope the Dunlops work well. You can always choose to shred them after the beast is run in. It's definitely not a fly in the ointment
Good review here on the tyre options tested on a GT3
http://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3/867970-991-gt3-...
http://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3/867970-991-gt3-...
neilsss said:
Picked up my GT4 this morning and had a fun day getting to know it. Had forgotten what a ball ache it is running in a fast, free revving car but first impressions very positive; steering is very good and falls mid way between my Boxster and 997 GT3. This combines with a surprisingly good ride to make it feel like it will be great as a daily driver. Gearing is long but no more so than any of the Porsches I have had so I don't really get what all the fuss is about; the gear change is the best I have ever used and as I like using it I don't see the hardship in having to change down when you feel the need. Handling felt very good except for a slight issue with understeer in a couple of fast corners so I suspect I will be messing with the anti roll bar settings after I have given everything a few more drives to bed in.
turbofreeFLAT6 said:
Can you make any more detailed comparisons with your 997 GT3. I have been trying to decide whether to keep my GT4 or sell it and get a 997 GT3/RS but have only old memories to go by of my 996.1 GT3 that I sold 9 years ago. My overall impression of the GT4, without having used all the revs yet, is that it is pretty similar when working hard but when the chassis is not loaded up the steering is fairly mute and numb and when the motor is just cruising it has much less character. Am I right or are my memories of the GT3's feedback and character even at low speeds exaggerated?
Am also interested in this but the journos havnt all conspired to make out its a great car and its actually not. My thoughts are that once in the gt4 ill largely forget about the gt3. Spoke to someone today who was at PEC said the gt4 sounded the best out there even against some other RS metal and looked epic. Im sure we're all going to love the GT4
Scooty100 said:
Am also interested in this but the journos havnt all conspired to make out its a great car and its actually not. My thoughts are that once in the gt4 ill largely forget about the gt3. Spoke to someone today who was at PEC said the gt4 sounded the best out there even against some other RS metal and looked epic.
Im sure we're all going to love the GT4
There's no doubt it sounds and looks epic (especially in yellow!). Initially I was unimpressed by the sport exhaust setting but have discovered you need to have the windows down. Then it gives a gruff Turbo-like burble and some nice pops on the overrun.Im sure we're all going to love the GT4
turbofreeFLAT6 said:
There's no doubt it sounds and looks epic (especially in yellow!). Initially I was unimpressed by the sport exhaust setting but have discovered you need to have the windows down. Then it gives a gruff Turbo-like burble and some nice pops on the overrun.
So you've done your day then at PEC? whats your thoughts on the car?Scooty100 said:
So you've done your day then at PEC? whats your thoughts on the car?
No PEC day offered in France unfortunately. Done 1600 km on the road now (the manual says to be gentle with the revs for 3000 km). I started with a self imposed limit of 3500 and have been increasing by 500 every 500 km so am up to 5000 now. I'd thought with so much torque down low on the graph it might feel too linear but it really ramps up and over 4500 starts morphing from growl to howl in proper GT3 fashion.turbofreeFLAT6 said:
No PEC day offered in France unfortunately. Done 1600 km on the road now (the manual says to be gentle with the revs for 3000 km). I started with a self imposed limit of 3500 and have been increasing by 500 every 500 km so am up to 5000 now. I'd thought with so much torque down low on the graph it might feel too linear but it really ramps up and over 4500 starts morphing from growl to howl in proper GT3 fashion.
Lovely tks for postHad my PEC day yesterday, late home last night (live in Somerset) so thought I would save a post for today. First off the PEC day for those that haven’t done it, brilliant.
Stayed over the night before for a 'few beers' so glad I had the afternoon session to allow the am to recover. We arrived early and had a chill before lunch. I took 2 mates one who had 20 mins of my driving time and another who got taken round for some fast laps.
I spent most of my time on the kick plate and then handling circuit. Took me 4 spins to master the kick plate (over keen throttle use :-) and then onto handling circuit with me driving and then a drifting session with the instructor. My instructor was Brian, nice guy, very good teaching style, very relaxed and we had a good laugh right from the off. He told me to drive like I was late for work staying in left lane at all times for the first few laps and observed. Only real issue was scanning horizon ahead and more linear throttle application but with a bit of a chat was on the right road and pushing on. Ready for next time to really push on from the word go...
With that in mind I have put my name down onto the provisional list for the full day next April when I have my car. That includes an hour on the main track (worth considering as get booked up really early).
Onto the car...
I was in the yellow car, no air con so be warned!
Interior: As a pre-prod the car is a hotch potch of interior bits but a few things struck me. The grey stitching makes the interior a bit dull. It’s quite bland in there. I am glad I opted for some colour stitching. Not the biggest fan of the interior personally, it’s nice but not amazing.
The driving position is a bit strange, probably due to my height (5ft 6) but the wheel rim in the right position obscured the top of the rev counter. I am sure I could get it sorted with a bit more playing and adjusting the seat up and down.
Stalks let the interior down most, felt cheap for some reason, as did the climate display. Rest is well made and everything is where you need it.Clubsport looks great, the cage whilst and expensive option, adds something.
LWB: Pretty much perfect, I did a 1.5 hour stint and no discomfort at all. For us smaller chaps the shoulders are a bit high, as is the neck support, but still some of the best seats I have ever sat in. I like my seats upright when driving. For the person who asked if booster seats will fit - YES :-)
LWB hard to get in and out of, had to slide seat back each time as I had it quite far forward.
By comparison the standard and sports seats in some of the other cars, I hated. Not just the look but also the feel, like you are sat on them rather than in them and don’t suit a GT car IMHO. Agreement between me and my mates me 5 6, one 6 1, one 6 5 were that LWB were the best seats we sat in all day (we sat in all 4 options).
Exterior: Front is very low as already commented on. Even the PEC car has splitter scrapes from floor to lower volume button on an IPhone 5, about 7 or 8 cm.
Don’t like a few of the styling bits as much as I thought I would, the rear diffuser could be allot better. The front bumper is lovely. Anyone with a yellow car and the headlight upgrade don’t forget the colour coded washers, looked silly in black. Not much else to say, all down to personal preference, as is the next bit.....
Colours: They actually had a mix of cars colour wise, the GT4 in yellow but had 911s, boxsters and caymans in Viper Green, Lava Orange, Mexico blue, Voodoo, Flat white, Carrera White, Guards, Sapphire, DBM, Black, Agate, Carmine.
The 14 plate 911 is Mexico confirmed that’s the colour for me. Viper I like in pics, in the flesh a big no! Yellow looks nice when dark, when it brightens up wasn’t so keen. We had a mix of dark clouds and sun so able to get a real feel for the colours in different lights. Pics don’t do some justice. Red whilst not my fav colour always looked good. Sapphire also great in sun, bland when darker.
Note: They have a compound over the bridge so if you don’t see the colour or options you want don’t be afraid to ask to be taken there to mooch about.
The drive: The handling is sublime, really balanced. Steering nicely weighted, don’t really get all the striating feel fuss.
Gearing is a bit long, but then so is the GT3. It is what it is and actually for the PEC track 2nd gear is great as you can stay between that and 3rd. We tried a few laps in 3rd juts to see and torque is great.
We nudged into three figure speeds a few times but never out of 3rd. I never felt it getting unsettled. At the end I asked Brian to take me around and we did a TC on and off and some drifting. Epic balance, we had one instance where he pushed a bit too much but that was being let down by ABS and no drama.
The PEC car has ceramics. He strongly suggested I get them, after 30 hard laps not a single bit of fade but a strong smell :-) I did consider them but I have a budget limit so its either CS and CTS or ceramics. For me its CS and CTS over the ceramics. Anyone who has them, great choice, they are more than any car could need.
Note we both commented for fast use 6 points a must. When driving hard you have to brace your leg otherwise. Anyone who is considering a bit of track use I would get them. You won’t do the car justice on the road that’s for sure! If you do get it on the limits on a regular basis best of luck with keeping that license!
Gear change is excellent, very precise. I have heard that some people got reverse rather than first at the lights? Hmmmm, not sure how they are doing that need to really make a conscious effort to push across to reverse.
Clutch as others have said it’s heavy and takes a bit of getting used to. That was the first manual I had driven for 7 months so took a while getting used to the clutch again anyway.
Sounds nice as you would expect from the videos online. If anything could be a bit louder in sport for my taste.
Everyone who has got one coming def wont be disappointed. One of the best cars I have ever driven. Gonna be a long wait.
In a word EPIC. As they say pictures speak a thousand words I had a big grin all day!
Stayed over the night before for a 'few beers' so glad I had the afternoon session to allow the am to recover. We arrived early and had a chill before lunch. I took 2 mates one who had 20 mins of my driving time and another who got taken round for some fast laps.
I spent most of my time on the kick plate and then handling circuit. Took me 4 spins to master the kick plate (over keen throttle use :-) and then onto handling circuit with me driving and then a drifting session with the instructor. My instructor was Brian, nice guy, very good teaching style, very relaxed and we had a good laugh right from the off. He told me to drive like I was late for work staying in left lane at all times for the first few laps and observed. Only real issue was scanning horizon ahead and more linear throttle application but with a bit of a chat was on the right road and pushing on. Ready for next time to really push on from the word go...
With that in mind I have put my name down onto the provisional list for the full day next April when I have my car. That includes an hour on the main track (worth considering as get booked up really early).
Onto the car...
I was in the yellow car, no air con so be warned!
Interior: As a pre-prod the car is a hotch potch of interior bits but a few things struck me. The grey stitching makes the interior a bit dull. It’s quite bland in there. I am glad I opted for some colour stitching. Not the biggest fan of the interior personally, it’s nice but not amazing.
The driving position is a bit strange, probably due to my height (5ft 6) but the wheel rim in the right position obscured the top of the rev counter. I am sure I could get it sorted with a bit more playing and adjusting the seat up and down.
Stalks let the interior down most, felt cheap for some reason, as did the climate display. Rest is well made and everything is where you need it.Clubsport looks great, the cage whilst and expensive option, adds something.
LWB: Pretty much perfect, I did a 1.5 hour stint and no discomfort at all. For us smaller chaps the shoulders are a bit high, as is the neck support, but still some of the best seats I have ever sat in. I like my seats upright when driving. For the person who asked if booster seats will fit - YES :-)
LWB hard to get in and out of, had to slide seat back each time as I had it quite far forward.
By comparison the standard and sports seats in some of the other cars, I hated. Not just the look but also the feel, like you are sat on them rather than in them and don’t suit a GT car IMHO. Agreement between me and my mates me 5 6, one 6 1, one 6 5 were that LWB were the best seats we sat in all day (we sat in all 4 options).
Exterior: Front is very low as already commented on. Even the PEC car has splitter scrapes from floor to lower volume button on an IPhone 5, about 7 or 8 cm.
Don’t like a few of the styling bits as much as I thought I would, the rear diffuser could be allot better. The front bumper is lovely. Anyone with a yellow car and the headlight upgrade don’t forget the colour coded washers, looked silly in black. Not much else to say, all down to personal preference, as is the next bit.....
Colours: They actually had a mix of cars colour wise, the GT4 in yellow but had 911s, boxsters and caymans in Viper Green, Lava Orange, Mexico blue, Voodoo, Flat white, Carrera White, Guards, Sapphire, DBM, Black, Agate, Carmine.
The 14 plate 911 is Mexico confirmed that’s the colour for me. Viper I like in pics, in the flesh a big no! Yellow looks nice when dark, when it brightens up wasn’t so keen. We had a mix of dark clouds and sun so able to get a real feel for the colours in different lights. Pics don’t do some justice. Red whilst not my fav colour always looked good. Sapphire also great in sun, bland when darker.
Note: They have a compound over the bridge so if you don’t see the colour or options you want don’t be afraid to ask to be taken there to mooch about.
The drive: The handling is sublime, really balanced. Steering nicely weighted, don’t really get all the striating feel fuss.
Gearing is a bit long, but then so is the GT3. It is what it is and actually for the PEC track 2nd gear is great as you can stay between that and 3rd. We tried a few laps in 3rd juts to see and torque is great.
We nudged into three figure speeds a few times but never out of 3rd. I never felt it getting unsettled. At the end I asked Brian to take me around and we did a TC on and off and some drifting. Epic balance, we had one instance where he pushed a bit too much but that was being let down by ABS and no drama.
The PEC car has ceramics. He strongly suggested I get them, after 30 hard laps not a single bit of fade but a strong smell :-) I did consider them but I have a budget limit so its either CS and CTS or ceramics. For me its CS and CTS over the ceramics. Anyone who has them, great choice, they are more than any car could need.
Note we both commented for fast use 6 points a must. When driving hard you have to brace your leg otherwise. Anyone who is considering a bit of track use I would get them. You won’t do the car justice on the road that’s for sure! If you do get it on the limits on a regular basis best of luck with keeping that license!
Gear change is excellent, very precise. I have heard that some people got reverse rather than first at the lights? Hmmmm, not sure how they are doing that need to really make a conscious effort to push across to reverse.
Clutch as others have said it’s heavy and takes a bit of getting used to. That was the first manual I had driven for 7 months so took a while getting used to the clutch again anyway.
Sounds nice as you would expect from the videos online. If anything could be a bit louder in sport for my taste.
Everyone who has got one coming def wont be disappointed. One of the best cars I have ever driven. Gonna be a long wait.
In a word EPIC. As they say pictures speak a thousand words I had a big grin all day!
Edited by P155flaps on Tuesday 28th July 12:07
I am there tomorrow :-)
how long are you in the car ? 2 hours or much less ?
did you use auto blip ?
I like the upsell on brakes lol, 380mm 6 pots are going to be fine and in CS spec one would want steels for track.
Sales is always there !!! gearing sounds long if you cannot get out of 3rd, steering well I'll wait and see vs my cars.
how long are you in the car ? 2 hours or much less ?
did you use auto blip ?
I like the upsell on brakes lol, 380mm 6 pots are going to be fine and in CS spec one would want steels for track.
Sales is always there !!! gearing sounds long if you cannot get out of 3rd, steering well I'll wait and see vs my cars.
Edited by PorscheGT4 on Tuesday 28th July 11:33
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