Prospective 981 GT4 Owners Discussion Forum.
Discussion
Scooty100 said:
I think at low 40's vs a gt4 at 90k plus its a great car
This is very true, it's all relative. I should have been a bit clearer above that I was talking about list price for the Exige V6 Cup and GT4 which are very similar whereby the former is not a contender for me at that moneyScooty100 said:
the V6 engine is a thing of joy. The whine from the supercharged S2 could at times become tiresome not so with the V6 plus the running costs Lotus VS Porsche are different league especially with track work.
Ooooff! The V6 did nothing for me unfortunately! It just sounded like a whooshy jet engine to my ears! Porsche flat 6 all the way for me instead of that!Scooty100 said:
Hope your car sold ok in the end.....
Yep, all good thanks, and I picked up the 620R the day after!seawise said:
Mario149 said:
Yep, all good thanks, and I picked up the 620R the day after!
thankfully it was dry last weekend ! how do you find it ?
In performance terms it's in a completely different league to anything I've ever driven or passengered in. A GT3, any GT3, wouldn't see where it went - the only thing that gets close is an R500D on ZZRs but that felt like it was starting to run out of puff above 115mph a bit at Bedford, I hit that (on a closed private road clearly) in the 620R accidentally for a few secs (was too busy processing the increasing speed of the scenery to look at the speedo!) and it was still pulling hard.You can tickle it along below 5K rpm (rev limit is about 8) and you'll dispatch 99% of cars on the road. The power feels very linear due to the supercharging, so relatively speaking it's easy to manage but it still builds to a mental crescendo. And it sounds reeeeally angry! It's not melodious like a F6/V8/V10/V12, but it's an honest, "we're-squeezing-a-ridiculous-amount-of-bhp-out-of-this-engine" type noise that gives you a massive tingle as it and the engine vibrations through the chassis and carbon seat go through you. Sequential 'box is great fun: it needs a good shove to change and perpetually sounds like it's going to lunch itself (although it's not particularly noisy in itself, especially compared to the R500's optional quaife unit where you can't hear yourself thing above 20mph and genuinely need hearing protection), but it makes the drive feel very special and flat shifting up the box with the ignition interrupt is a hoot. And since the ratios are so close, you get to use it a lot, yay
Steering feel is obviously ace, although quite heavy, I think due to the mega camber the front wheels run. What's also really nice is that it's fun to drive even at low speeds. It's already got me wanting to build a much lower power road spec Caterham when I get the chance.Anyway, essentially it feels like what it is: a 310 bhp go kart with a resulting 558bhp/tonne
I parked it up on Sat when I got it home and swapped over to the GT3 which suddenly felt like a clumsy barge with no feedback and overly assisted steering (brakes still felt good though which was nice), although after 20 mins or so you re-adjust. But you miss the 620R sensations. In fact I want to go and drive it now just writing about it.Mario149 said:
builds to a mental crescendo. And it sounds reeeeally angry! It's not melodious like a F6/V8/V10/V12, but it's an honest, "we're-squeezing-a-ridiculous-amount-of-bhp-out-of-this-engine" type noise that gives you a massive tingle as it and the engine vibrations through the chassis and carbon seat go through you. Sequential 'box is great fun: it needs a good shove to change and perpetually sounds like it's going to lunch itself (although it's not particularly noisy in itself, especially compared to the R500's optional quaife unit where you can't hear yourself thing above 20mph and genuinely need hearing protection), but it makes the drive feel very special and flat shifting up the box with the ignition interrupt is a hoot. And since the ratios are so close, you get to use it a lot, yay Steering feel is obviously ace, although quite heavy, I think due to the mega camber the front wheels run. What's also really nice is that it's fun to drive even at low speeds.
yeap, that's what I felt as well when I briefly sampled one on the road - the overriding impression was, ''and this is legal, really?'' Steering feel is obviously ace, although quite heavy, I think due to the mega camber the front wheels run. What's also really nice is that it's fun to drive even at low speeds. completely alien, mad as a very mad thing, but ab-so-bloody-lutely brilliant - super jealous, just don't bin it or get caught !
enjoy
seawise said:
Mario149 said:
builds to a mental crescendo. And it sounds reeeeally angry! It's not melodious like a F6/V8/V10/V12, but it's an honest, "we're-squeezing-a-ridiculous-amount-of-bhp-out-of-this-engine" type noise that gives you a massive tingle as it and the engine vibrations through the chassis and carbon seat go through you. Sequential 'box is great fun: it needs a good shove to change and perpetually sounds like it's going to lunch itself (although it's not particularly noisy in itself, especially compared to the R500's optional quaife unit where you can't hear yourself thing above 20mph and genuinely need hearing protection), but it makes the drive feel very special and flat shifting up the box with the ignition interrupt is a hoot. And since the ratios are so close, you get to use it a lot, yay Steering feel is obviously ace, although quite heavy, I think due to the mega camber the front wheels run. What's also really nice is that it's fun to drive even at low speeds.
yeap, that's what I felt as well when I briefly sampled one on the road - the overriding impression was, ''and this is legal, really?'' Steering feel is obviously ace, although quite heavy, I think due to the mega camber the front wheels run. What's also really nice is that it's fun to drive even at low speeds. completely alien, mad as a very mad thing, but ab-so-bloody-lutely brilliant - super jealous, just don't bin it or get caught !
enjoy
stewy49 said:
Yes, thinking about changing my R400 for either an R500 0r 620R - just to use as a weekend road car alongside the GT4 when it arrives in November. Is the difference between an R500 and 620R really significant on the road rather than a track would you say.
I've not driven an R500 on the road properly, but my impressions during the short test drive were that basically you've got to work the engine harder whereas the 620 has more torque at all revs, especially lower down. My mate who came for a spin on Sat has an R500 and he agreed.All that said, an R500 is so quick anyway there's no logical reason to buy a 620R if you're not fussed about gearbox choice too much either way. I got a 620 purely because I was being child and wanted the most ridiculous one, and the fact that 3 of my mates have an R500D, a heavily modded R400 and an R500K - so after thinking about it and that it would be good to keep the variety I thought I'd get something different which basically only left the R500 Evo (the one which CC South has) or a 620R.
mdianuk said:
So, anyone else still waiting on PorscheGT4's review of the GT4 having been to Silverstone earlier in the week? 
You keeping it, or flipping it? 
Why are you waiting on a biased review? It will go along the lines of, it reminds me of my old GT3 with the harshness of the suspension and the silly long gearing along with being a more grown up brother of my amazing R, more of an R+. However, i feel that Porsche missed a trick by not doing x/y/z and therefore, if i had to choose one when i opened my garage, i would take my Spyder out of them all. You keeping it, or flipping it? Even if P did alternate gearboxes and i could order it with the one so desired, i will still spin it on after ive 'enjoyed' the summer with it and the car is still 'fresh' in everyones mind.
miskalachi said:
Had my PEC in the yellow car today.
Did it understeer? - yes
Were the gears long? - yes
Did these 'issues' ruin the driving experience - absolutely not!!
It's an absolute magnificent piece of kit and I for one can't wait until mine arrives
understeer always ruins my driving experience, as does long gearing, so not sure why any on on track can think it's a good thing to always have and enjoy it !Did it understeer? - yes
Were the gears long? - yes
Did these 'issues' ruin the driving experience - absolutely not!!
It's an absolute magnificent piece of kit and I for one can't wait until mine arrives
I was board of lapping after 4 laps, no gears to change and it understeered , how can that NOT ruin the driving experience ?
yes it's a great bit of kit, but not at PEC and not how that pre production car is set up.
PorscheGT4 said:
understeer always ruins my driving experience, as does long gearing, so not sure why any on on track can think it's a good thing to always have and enjoy it !
I was board of lapping after 4 laps, no gears to change and it understeered , how can that NOT ruin the driving experience ?
yes it's a great bit of kit, but not at PEC and not how that pre production car is set up.
Each to their own. I personally had a great experience in the car, my instructor did say the black car had the front ARB set to hard and that made a big difference to the cars chassis characteristics. However, the black car was unavailable so I was in the yellow. I did experience understeer but it did NOT leave me thinking "my day has been ruined" I was board of lapping after 4 laps, no gears to change and it understeered , how can that NOT ruin the driving experience ?
yes it's a great bit of kit, but not at PEC and not how that pre production car is set up.
Perhaps when my car arrives, things will get even better
miskalachi said:
Each to their own. I personally had a great experience in the car, my instructor did say the black car had the front ARB set to hard and that made a big difference to the cars chassis characteristics. However, the black car was unavailable so I was in the yellow. I did experience understeer but it did NOT leave me thinking "my day has been ruined"
I don't think the big difference would be what anyone would want... unless it was in fact the rear bar that was set to hard?miskalachi said:
Each to their own. I personally had a great experience in the car, my instructor did say the black car had the front ARB set to hard and that made a big difference to the cars chassis characteristics. However, the black car was unavailable so I was in the yellow. I did experience understeer but it did NOT leave me thinking "my day has been ruined"
Perhaps when my car arrives, things will get even better
when I drove the black car at the PEC last Monday week, the senior instructor Ian told me that the ARB settings were as it left the factory, ie medium front and rear. yes, the car is set up to understeer on turn in, but I found that you could easily drive around this by turning in on the brakes and being playful with the throttle (especially on the low grip surfaces where I was able to get some sizable drift angles without the car feeling as snappy as I might have expected given it's mid-engine layout). with the ARB adjusted to stiff rear and soft front then as other owners (and journo's) have stated you can dial out some of that initial understeer and make the car more lively at the rear. Perhaps when my car arrives, things will get even better
Given a choice I'd rather deal with oversteer than understeer in extremis, but frankly I can fully understand why the factory sets the car up initially for safety sake.
the gearing I except is not to everyone's taste, but after half a day in the PEC car I am extremely excited about the imminent arrival of my car, I think it will prove a lot of fun.
Mario149 said:
I've not driven an R500 on the road properly, but my impressions during the short test drive were that basically you've got to work the engine harder whereas the 620 has more torque at all revs, especially lower down. My mate who came for a spin on Sat has an R500 and he agreed.
All that said, an R500 is so quick anyway there's no logical reason to buy a 620R if you're not fussed about gearbox choice too much either way. I got a 620 purely because I was being child and wanted the most ridiculous one, and the fact that 3 of my mates have an R500D, a heavily modded R400 and an R500K - so after thinking about it and that it would be good to keep the variety I thought I'd get something different which basically only left the R500 Evo (the one which CC South has) or a 620R.
I'd have the 620R over the GT4 all day, but again depends where you drive predominately. Proper hoot through tight twisty roads, would suit me perfectly. Tempted.All that said, an R500 is so quick anyway there's no logical reason to buy a 620R if you're not fussed about gearbox choice too much either way. I got a 620 purely because I was being child and wanted the most ridiculous one, and the fact that 3 of my mates have an R500D, a heavily modded R400 and an R500K - so after thinking about it and that it would be good to keep the variety I thought I'd get something different which basically only left the R500 Evo (the one which CC South has) or a 620R.
miskalachi said:
Each to their own. I personally had a great experience in the car, my instructor did say the black car had the front ARB set to hard and that made a big difference to the cars chassis characteristics. However, the black car was unavailable so I was in the yellow. I did experience understeer but it did NOT leave me thinking "my day has been ruined"
Perhaps when my car arrives, things will get even better
I guess if you don't know what they do , it's not an issue :-pPerhaps when my car arrives, things will get even better
Edited by PorscheGT4 on Thursday 8th October 09:17
seawise said:
when I drove the black car at the PEC last Monday week, the senior instructor Ian told me that the ARB settings were as it left the factory, ie medium front and rear. yes, the car is set up to understeer on turn in, but I found that you could easily drive around this by turning in on the brakes and being playful with the throttle (especially on the low grip surfaces where I was able to get some sizable drift angles without the car feeling as snappy as I might have expected given it's mid-engine layout). with the ARB adjusted to stiff rear and soft front then as other owners (and journo's) have stated you can dial out some of that initial understeer and make the car more lively at the rear.
Given a choice I'd rather deal with oversteer than understeer in extremis, but frankly I can fully understand why the factory sets the car up initially for safety sake.
the gearing I except is not to everyone's taste, but after half a day in the PEC car I am extremely excited about the imminent arrival of my car, I think it will prove a lot of fun.
I found the low grip surface tricky to begin with, putting too much throttle down at times, but I got there in the end and had some great fun on that part of the track. I'm glad your excited as I am about the arrival of your car, happy driving!Given a choice I'd rather deal with oversteer than understeer in extremis, but frankly I can fully understand why the factory sets the car up initially for safety sake.
the gearing I except is not to everyone's taste, but after half a day in the PEC car I am extremely excited about the imminent arrival of my car, I think it will prove a lot of fun.
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