Impressions of the GT, from a base model (Legende) owner
Discussion
Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive a ’23 GT whilst my ‘22 ‘facelift’ base model (10k miles) was in for a rattle service.
I have the 6-way seats and given that the chassis and suspension is said to be identical, the only difference I was expecting was the additional power. However, the GT felt a lot more refined when it came to lower speed gear changes and steering feel. No expert, but I will try to explain myself.
I have always found my car a bit jerky in Sports auto when coming down from gears 3 to 1 - whether applying brakes or coasting to a stop. The gear changes are what I can only describe as 'grabby', particularly 3 to 2. It feels like it changes down a bit too early for the engine speed and causes a little lurch that unsettles the car. I had put it down to a sportier gearbox map (as it doesn't happen in Normal). Similarly when pulling away from stop, even with the lightest feathering of the throttle there is a half second delay then a lurch. For me it makes Sports mode quite unpleasant to use in start-stop traffic as it’s all a bit clunky and hard to do smoothly. The GT on the other hand was much better in both situations, with the feeling that it held the gear longer before selecting down (I’m not sure if it actually did, I noted about 1200rpm on both cars from 3 to 2). I tried my best to replicate the grabby gear change but I couldn’t. The car was happy being left in Sports/Track for all speeds and situations – which was nice, because fast flowing sections into traffic and out again is so common on our roads. Could it purely be down to the gearbox map? Or might the GT have different engine mounts, which better control the movement?
Onto steering feel, the GT had a much more solid and noticeably heavier turn in all modes. It had the same area of vagueness in the middle that is often reported - but outside of that I find my base model steering lighter in comparison. I preferred the GT.
Wheel/tyre wise – mine has Serac with PS4, 29/30psi, GT was Grand Prix with PS4 and checked at 30/31psi. I do have the Life110 Sports Rd Geo and expect the GT was factory as it was basically brand new. Could either of those have much of a bearing?
The extra power was nice as expected - with more pull from mid to top of the rev range, but I didn't think it left the 252bhp wanting overall.
I plan to test another base model like for like and try to ascertain if it’s simply a case of the higher car in the range naturally being better - or if mine might have a problem and can be brought up to that level.
Over thinking it? Probably. But as a car for enthusiasts, this kind of stuff matters to us more than most.
Don’t get me wrong I still love mine, but the comparison was enlightening.
Any similar experiences?
I have the 6-way seats and given that the chassis and suspension is said to be identical, the only difference I was expecting was the additional power. However, the GT felt a lot more refined when it came to lower speed gear changes and steering feel. No expert, but I will try to explain myself.
I have always found my car a bit jerky in Sports auto when coming down from gears 3 to 1 - whether applying brakes or coasting to a stop. The gear changes are what I can only describe as 'grabby', particularly 3 to 2. It feels like it changes down a bit too early for the engine speed and causes a little lurch that unsettles the car. I had put it down to a sportier gearbox map (as it doesn't happen in Normal). Similarly when pulling away from stop, even with the lightest feathering of the throttle there is a half second delay then a lurch. For me it makes Sports mode quite unpleasant to use in start-stop traffic as it’s all a bit clunky and hard to do smoothly. The GT on the other hand was much better in both situations, with the feeling that it held the gear longer before selecting down (I’m not sure if it actually did, I noted about 1200rpm on both cars from 3 to 2). I tried my best to replicate the grabby gear change but I couldn’t. The car was happy being left in Sports/Track for all speeds and situations – which was nice, because fast flowing sections into traffic and out again is so common on our roads. Could it purely be down to the gearbox map? Or might the GT have different engine mounts, which better control the movement?
Onto steering feel, the GT had a much more solid and noticeably heavier turn in all modes. It had the same area of vagueness in the middle that is often reported - but outside of that I find my base model steering lighter in comparison. I preferred the GT.
Wheel/tyre wise – mine has Serac with PS4, 29/30psi, GT was Grand Prix with PS4 and checked at 30/31psi. I do have the Life110 Sports Rd Geo and expect the GT was factory as it was basically brand new. Could either of those have much of a bearing?
The extra power was nice as expected - with more pull from mid to top of the rev range, but I didn't think it left the 252bhp wanting overall.
I plan to test another base model like for like and try to ascertain if it’s simply a case of the higher car in the range naturally being better - or if mine might have a problem and can be brought up to that level.
Over thinking it? Probably. But as a car for enthusiasts, this kind of stuff matters to us more than most.
Don’t get me wrong I still love mine, but the comparison was enlightening.
Any similar experiences?
Interesting comparison. I have the LGT and when I drove a GT last summer I didn't really notice any noticeable difference to be honest, also not in the extra HP and Nm. I certainly don't experience any gearbox grabbing or a lull etc as you describe it with the LGT - everything is very smooth in both Normal and Sport modes. I would have your Legende checked out. Note: it sounds like your car may have had a previous re-map, is that possible? Might be an idea to test drive a similar aged Legende or Pure to see if you experience the same.
Interesting - I have recently tried a '23 GT on a couple of occasions as my '21 Pure has been in for a rear end knock noise.
Comfort seat observations I couldn't ignore: they go much lower (good) but rob lots of space behind them which I have become used to using (bad). This example's are awash with squeaks (v irritating). But being lower didn’t compromise visibility in the way I expected, which is very useful to realise.
Most oddly, it is significantly louder than mine (on ~700 miles vs my 30k, unintuitively). Not a blaring noise, just a bit spicier/more eventful. The rhythm and volume of the pops and bangs is quite different too. Can only surmise that this is connected to the 300PS cal - which does indeed provide more reward towards the redline (yet feels same elsewhere). Didn't notice anything about the shift behaviour. I wonder if it's smoothest when the clutches are brand new.
Steering was different yes, but mine is on winters/Legende rims vs PS4s/GP so not the same comparison. You might be noticing the difference between rim widths (GPs are half an inch wider than Seracs) - it does change the performance of a given tyre.
My conclusions:
- I might finally lower my buckets
- I'd quite like a remap in future
- Also want a bit more noise
- Carplay works fine but I could probably continue living without it (particularly now the car has been taken off daily duties)
Nick
Comfort seat observations I couldn't ignore: they go much lower (good) but rob lots of space behind them which I have become used to using (bad). This example's are awash with squeaks (v irritating). But being lower didn’t compromise visibility in the way I expected, which is very useful to realise.
Most oddly, it is significantly louder than mine (on ~700 miles vs my 30k, unintuitively). Not a blaring noise, just a bit spicier/more eventful. The rhythm and volume of the pops and bangs is quite different too. Can only surmise that this is connected to the 300PS cal - which does indeed provide more reward towards the redline (yet feels same elsewhere). Didn't notice anything about the shift behaviour. I wonder if it's smoothest when the clutches are brand new.
Steering was different yes, but mine is on winters/Legende rims vs PS4s/GP so not the same comparison. You might be noticing the difference between rim widths (GPs are half an inch wider than Seracs) - it does change the performance of a given tyre.
My conclusions:
- I might finally lower my buckets
- I'd quite like a remap in future
- Also want a bit more noise
- Carplay works fine but I could probably continue living without it (particularly now the car has been taken off daily duties)
Nick
Michael-tcxzm said:
I think it just depends on the wheels that have been optioned on a GT. I have a brand new GT on Seracs and it's on the teeny tiny tyres.
I'm on the look out for some wider Alpine wheels to go up a width.
Despite the half inch width difference, I'm advised the 215/40 and 245/40 Pilots will fit the Serac (and presumably also the Legende's) wheels perfectly fine. I'm on the look out for some wider Alpine wheels to go up a width.
Michael-tcxzm said:
I think it just depends on the wheels that have been optioned on a GT. I have a brand new GT on Seracs and it's on the teeny tiny tyres.
I'm on the look out for some wider Alpine wheels to go up a width.
My GT has the wider Fuchs wheels, but still got the narrow 205 & 235 tyres, it seems like only the S (or R) get the wider tyres.I'm on the look out for some wider Alpine wheels to go up a width.
Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff