Experience of going from 996 GT3.2 to GT4
Discussion
Hello All
As much as I love my 996 Mk2 GT3 I have a strange desire to swap over to a Cayman GT4. I'm not sure if it's the appeal of something new and it's just a phase which will pass, but I've been tempted for some time. Would like to hear from anyone who thought of making the switch but came to their senses and decided to stay with the GT3. Likewise, would love to hear from anyone who actually went through with it and made the change.
I'm sure MrD will have an opinion on the matter, but our opinions differ greatly on the merits of the GT3 as a road car that i'm not sure we like the same things in a car. I use mine on the road 100% because I have a track car for racing already and I have no issues with it on the road. I actually enjoy the rewards of driving it well on the road, obviously conditions permitting.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
As much as I love my 996 Mk2 GT3 I have a strange desire to swap over to a Cayman GT4. I'm not sure if it's the appeal of something new and it's just a phase which will pass, but I've been tempted for some time. Would like to hear from anyone who thought of making the switch but came to their senses and decided to stay with the GT3. Likewise, would love to hear from anyone who actually went through with it and made the change.
I'm sure MrD will have an opinion on the matter, but our opinions differ greatly on the merits of the GT3 as a road car that i'm not sure we like the same things in a car. I use mine on the road 100% because I have a track car for racing already and I have no issues with it on the road. I actually enjoy the rewards of driving it well on the road, obviously conditions permitting.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
I think depends on intended use.
In summary:
As a road car GT4 is more refined / comfortable / modern / etc
As a road / track car I find the 996.2 GT3 purer and more analogue.
Now the crystal ball piece. In my humble view I see 996 GT3s maintaining value and potentially rising with the GT4s somewhat going the other way (but will never tank either). Sorry to bring in values.
The sad bit is that 996s have already got to a level where there are seen less on circuits and probably that trend will continue
In summary:
As a road car GT4 is more refined / comfortable / modern / etc
As a road / track car I find the 996.2 GT3 purer and more analogue.
Now the crystal ball piece. In my humble view I see 996 GT3s maintaining value and potentially rising with the GT4s somewhat going the other way (but will never tank either). Sorry to bring in values.
The sad bit is that 996s have already got to a level where there are seen less on circuits and probably that trend will continue
Tough one really as the GT4 is very GT over any other Cayman and does drive a bit 911.
You have a load more torque at 4.5k revs in the GT4 but quite a lazy top end where the GT3 sings to red line.
I find both fustrating on the road, but as you use your GT3 on the road then the GT4 is even better for road use only.
I find the GT4 too fast a road car to get the max fun, as an example vs my Spyder you need to be doing about 25mph faster in all areas to get the same fun, so think about the net speeds driving a GT4 on the road ,but again I am sure you know that piloting a GT3 for road use.
Would it be worth the £20k to change prob not if you are happy with the road manners and speeds in the GT3.
You have a better engine and better steering feel, if you want road manners fit some nice shocks to the 996 and the short final drive.
You have a load more torque at 4.5k revs in the GT4 but quite a lazy top end where the GT3 sings to red line.
I find both fustrating on the road, but as you use your GT3 on the road then the GT4 is even better for road use only.
I find the GT4 too fast a road car to get the max fun, as an example vs my Spyder you need to be doing about 25mph faster in all areas to get the same fun, so think about the net speeds driving a GT4 on the road ,but again I am sure you know that piloting a GT3 for road use.
Would it be worth the £20k to change prob not if you are happy with the road manners and speeds in the GT3.
You have a better engine and better steering feel, if you want road manners fit some nice shocks to the 996 and the short final drive.
Edited by Porsche911R on Wednesday 6th July 23:00
Thank you for your thoughts. I think one of the appeals of a change to a GT4 is the fact that I consider it more practical. I find myself waiting for the sunny days and avoiding to use the GT3 in wet conditions or throughout the winter. This is very frustrating as these cars should be used and enjoyed.
I mostly put my lack of use down to the lack of underseal/underbody protection and I don't want to damage/abuse the GT3 by misuse. I think that I would choose to use the GT4 more often in a wider range of conditions. It may seem odd that I would use a more expensive car more often, but then I've never made the most logical person!
I mostly put my lack of use down to the lack of underseal/underbody protection and I don't want to damage/abuse the GT3 by misuse. I think that I would choose to use the GT4 more often in a wider range of conditions. It may seem odd that I would use a more expensive car more often, but then I've never made the most logical person!
Never had a GT3 but got a GT4 last month ...it certainly is a car you can drive everyday still doing meticulous break in though... I am not in agreement with the GT4 losing its value though...I think the flippers will flip them quickly and on to the next thing...the drivers will keep them for quite some time and they will become harder to come by for sale and thus increase their value...they could have sold this car for 50K more and it would have still sold out😃
Porsche911R said:
Tough one really as the GT4 is very GT over any other Cayman and does drive a bit 911.
You have a load more torque at 4.5k revs in the GT4 but quite a lazy top end where the GT3 sings to red line.
I find both fustrating on the road, but as you use your GT3 on the road then the GT4 is even better for road use only.
I find the GT4 too fast a road car to get the max fun, as an example vs my Spyder you need to be doing about 25mph faster in all areas to get the same fun, so think about the net speeds driving a GT4 on the road ,but again I am sure you know that piloting a GT3 for road use.
Would it be worth the £20k to change prob not if you are happy with the road manners and speeds in the GT3.
You have a better engine and better steering feel, if you want road manners fit some nice shocks to the 996 and the short final drive.
How does the old 987 Spyder fair against the newer GT4 and Spyder in terms of over all experience?You have a load more torque at 4.5k revs in the GT4 but quite a lazy top end where the GT3 sings to red line.
I find both fustrating on the road, but as you use your GT3 on the road then the GT4 is even better for road use only.
I find the GT4 too fast a road car to get the max fun, as an example vs my Spyder you need to be doing about 25mph faster in all areas to get the same fun, so think about the net speeds driving a GT4 on the road ,but again I am sure you know that piloting a GT3 for road use.
Would it be worth the £20k to change prob not if you are happy with the road manners and speeds in the GT3.
You have a better engine and better steering feel, if you want road manners fit some nice shocks to the 996 and the short final drive.
Edited by Porsche911R on Wednesday 6th July 23:00
IMI A said:
How does the old 987 Spyder fair against the newer GT4 and Spyder in terms of over all experience?
the SPyder feels a better drivers car, due to steering feel, lighter weight and just how it feels over all at slower speeds.imo the 987.2 Spyder is a bargain buy if you want to be at one with a car.
The GT4 is modern, it has eps which while ok and better than any other 981 or 991 in the wet it lacks the feel , but in the dry it's ok and you don't notice it.
But then in the dry you have to be on it and that means driving quite fast !! too fast !!
I think Porsche copped out on the GT4 with the engine, the missing extra sus adjustment and the stupid gearing yet again !
It's crying out for the x51 engine, adjustable rear toe links and a shorter ratio box !!! I have fitted monoball rear adjustable toe links and had a geo which has transformed it, but that engine and gearing is not a thing of joy.
The GT4 is still a mega car though, just stating how to make it better.
Put it this way the GT4 will be sold on at some point the 987.2 Spyder I am trying to keep, that says a lot at the end of the day.
best day to day road car still is the Cayman R and while that has many weak points for £8k you can make a storming car at a much lower starting price point, hence me buying another R, it's a great car and just fast enough to make easy over takes but not be >30mph over the limit every where !
other route is a 997.2 GTS and do a number on that, but it's £25k over the R and to that point maybe not worth the extra ! plus the R steering has the 997 car licked imo.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 7th July 09:23
Some good points. I still subscribe that the GT4 is the best car in the current GT range but a very long way removed from the organic nature of the Cayman R which is closer in terms of feel to the 996GT3 but in reality that just serves to highlight how far torque vectored, electronically assisted cars are from what I believe the pinnacle analogue GT3 is in terms of engagement and feel. A driver will probably never be bored with the driving experience of the 996. Fast forward a few years and the allure of the GT3 will possibly be even greater.
All subjective, but in my opinion, The GT4 really is a very good car when judged by its digital competitors but its appeal will diminish over time with the advent ad newer, faster models. I really enjoyed driving the GT4 but I would never sell a 996GT3 to buy one.
All subjective, but in my opinion, The GT4 really is a very good car when judged by its digital competitors but its appeal will diminish over time with the advent ad newer, faster models. I really enjoyed driving the GT4 but I would never sell a 996GT3 to buy one.
I think it depends what you're using the car for. The older models certainly have more feel about them but you can also say they feel "older". When not driving at 100%, the newer cars are more comfortable.
Track day addict or thrashing the car a lot? Older car is probably where it's at.
Lots of road use, not big on "old stuff"? The newer car is more up your street.
it's a bit like the world of luxury watches - people tend to be in either the vintage camp or the modern camp, with pros and cons to each approach.
Track day addict or thrashing the car a lot? Older car is probably where it's at.
Lots of road use, not big on "old stuff"? The newer car is more up your street.
it's a bit like the world of luxury watches - people tend to be in either the vintage camp or the modern camp, with pros and cons to each approach.
Very interesting points. I drove a Cayman GTS and hated the brake torque vectoring constantly changing the line even once I had set the car up for the corner. I had hoped that on the GT4 they might have failed this back but not being able to try one due to their limited supply I thought I would ask for opinions.
My other thought has been to trade both the GT3 and our 987 Boxster S for a Spyder for the other half and I to share, but im not sure I wouldn't really regret that decision later.
At the moment it's looking like I save myself the money and speak to Matt at Fearnsport about getting the GT3 protected underneath. I had wanted to keep the car original but I guess if done properly this wouldn't be too much of a negative.
Thanks all!
My other thought has been to trade both the GT3 and our 987 Boxster S for a Spyder for the other half and I to share, but im not sure I wouldn't really regret that decision later.
At the moment it's looking like I save myself the money and speak to Matt at Fearnsport about getting the GT3 protected underneath. I had wanted to keep the car original but I guess if done properly this wouldn't be too much of a negative.
Thanks all!
I think the upkeep on the older cars is a pain in the arse as well, where you buy a GT4 and just drive it.
A 996 could see you put £5k PA into one, A GT4 should be free from any upkeep bar pads and the odd oil change.
you get the age old, top mounts, spring sag, AC condensors, LCA bushes, Diff, Shocks, disks, calipers rebuild, hubs, rads, exhaust, the list is endless on a 15 year old car there is not a day with out a post about some one asking about one of these.
throwing money at a car does wear thin when it's a big bill very 2 months.
A 996 could see you put £5k PA into one, A GT4 should be free from any upkeep bar pads and the odd oil change.
you get the age old, top mounts, spring sag, AC condensors, LCA bushes, Diff, Shocks, disks, calipers rebuild, hubs, rads, exhaust, the list is endless on a 15 year old car there is not a day with out a post about some one asking about one of these.
throwing money at a car does wear thin when it's a big bill very 2 months.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 7th July 10:27
Smi1er said:
Very interesting points. I drove a Cayman GTS and hated the brake torque vectoring constantly changing the line even once I had set the car up for the corner. I had hoped that on the GT4 they might have failed this back but not being able to try one due to their limited supply I thought I would ask for opinions.
the 981 range is a dire drivers car imo, I would love to like the 981 non GT cars but I really dislike them to drive.Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff