RE: Porsche Cayman GT4: PH Carpool
Discussion
andrewparker said:
Bright Halo said:
Are there any companies that offer a shorter ratio gearbox conversion?
Yep, Sharkwerks do it –https://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/cayman-gt4/20468/sha...
They don't change 1st and 2nd gear though, the Cayman's I've driven really suffer in the lower gears on UK roads. You simply end up going too fast when extending the motor.
Nice write up.
Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
Great cars and I see Lamboy has featured before in Carpool with his/her Balboni Gallardo. Oddly though all their old posts have disappeared and only the quoted copies are showing?! Bit strange. Either way, lovely GT4 and his Performante looks pretty perfect in my eyes too. Some great choices over the years.
Shaoxter said:
Nice write up.
Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
ime, on a general td most expensive cars are driven slowly, often by owners giving themselves and their car a stretch for the first time. fastest cars are nearly always 20 yrs old and nominally worth £500 (although often have '000s in upgrades).Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
td insurance still has a hefty excess.
Shaoxter said:
Nice write up.
Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
hmmm... I'll let you know next time on track with mine and you can come along as a passenger and realign your views. I don't think anyone has ever commented that mine wasn't being driven quickly! Most recently I was putting 3-4 seconds per lap into a GT3 that definitely wasn't hanging about at Anglesey. At the 'ring earlier this year I was giving Shmee's AMG GTR some real issues on one of his videos where with over 190hp and 280Nm more he was barely able to overtake on the straight, and when he did, he simply got in the way in the subsequent corners. Where the GT4 absolutely excels is 100% in the corners. With a geo that dials out the understeer, you can throw the thing in like a go kart and put nearly everything else on track to shame. It's just a pity that even with the tune it still feels strangled on the straights when the big turbo'ed supercars can fly past.Problem I have with the GT4 is that every one I've come across at a track day/session hasn't been driven very quickly. For something that's allegedly better balanced and a has better power/weight ratio than my 7 years older, boggo Carrera with engine in the wrong place, I'd generally expect them to be much quicker in the corners. They all seem very sedate when out on track.
CABC said:
schaeffs said:
SidewaysSi said:
I liked my GT4 - supremely capable but lacked that fun factor. The gearing was a big issue (though depends on where and how you drive). And for me it didn't have the character/rawness that I desperately wanted it to have. Yes if I chucked a shed load of money at it, I could have no doubt turned it into a fun machine but I wasn't willing to do that so got rid in the end.
Depends what you are used to (I am a Caterham/Elise man) and your expectations but if you want a raw, fun road car then the GT4 is not that. Given the choice of all 3 for a Sunday blast, not once did I pick the keys for the Cayman. If however you want something for Euro trips and want a great all rounder then it fits that role very well. Provided you don't have too many steep hills to climb!
I disagree on excitement - having come from the aforementioned Scud and owned a 340R for 8 years, the GT4 can be just as exciting.Depends what you are used to (I am a Caterham/Elise man) and your expectations but if you want a raw, fun road car then the GT4 is not that. Given the choice of all 3 for a Sunday blast, not once did I pick the keys for the Cayman. If however you want something for Euro trips and want a great all rounder then it fits that role very well. Provided you don't have too many steep hills to climb!
And whilst it doesn't give you the visceral thrill of winding a V8 out to 9k or threading a 340R down a windy road with the wind rush and rawness all of that entails, the way the car handles, the immediacy of the engine response at any speed and the excellence of the overall car itself in all departments combine to give an amazing "one car" package that has a breadth of skill that continues to give excitement every time its driven and at any speed. Its truly one of the greats out there and for the UK roads lacks nothing.
sadly, i've only had 2 pax rides (Cadwell and S'stone Nat) from proud owners.
my thoughts on both occasions were that it wasn't particularly fun, despite carving through everything else on track with ease.
I could see it going well at the Ring, and for that matter to & from the Ring. Great car, but one i'd place in the engaging touring garage slot rather than the sunday morning blast slot. It certainly has a place in a 3 car garage.
OP, lovely colour scheme btw.
All boils down to how easily you are excited. I certainly found it lacking on UK roads but I do have (too) high expectations from my fun cars. That's what living with Caterhams and hugely modded Lotuses do to you unfortunately.
The chap with the Scud may have found it great but I didn't. I will get another Porsche relatively soon but it will probably be a tweaked 911 of some sort - aircooled or old GT3.
andrewparker said:
Bright Halo said:
Are there any companies that offer a shorter ratio gearbox conversion?
Yep, Sharkwerks do it –https://www.evo.co.uk/porsche/cayman-gt4/20468/sha...
Venisonpie said:
"However, after nearly three years of ownership, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps the GT4 could do with a little more power. It can't really catapult down the straights like a 911 GT3, but then I suppose that rather has to be the point."
"That is the beauty of the GT4; being relatively modestly powered at 385hp, you can make use of most of that power on your favourite roads so that you return from your Sunday morning blast with a deeper sense of satisfaction."
"Yes, the gearing is too long in the GT4: in second the redline doesn't arrive until after the motorway speed limit! So you can't generally chase the revs as frequently as might want to, but so be it."
These three sentences suggest it has plenty of power it's the gearing that is holding it back. Also from an engagement point of view how often can you extend the engine into the happy zone? Sounds an ace car and the few I've seen look awesome but the gearing sounds like it really is an issue.
Agree. I guess 385bhp is modest to some people! With the tall gearing id question whether you can make the most of it on the UKs roads. Possibly on the north York moors or something. Good write up though."That is the beauty of the GT4; being relatively modestly powered at 385hp, you can make use of most of that power on your favourite roads so that you return from your Sunday morning blast with a deeper sense of satisfaction."
"Yes, the gearing is too long in the GT4: in second the redline doesn't arrive until after the motorway speed limit! So you can't generally chase the revs as frequently as might want to, but so be it."
These three sentences suggest it has plenty of power it's the gearing that is holding it back. Also from an engagement point of view how often can you extend the engine into the happy zone? Sounds an ace car and the few I've seen look awesome but the gearing sounds like it really is an issue.
Edited by thiscocks on Thursday 15th November 11:28
kambites said:
Hmm. That article says they leave first and second as they are, which for road use surely rather defeats the point of the change?
Yes, surely just adjusting the final drive will do the trick? Go from the 3.89 to 4.62 offered by AutoQuest. What they suggest is exactly what I would do. $2,600 for the final drive apparently. https://www.autoquestcars.com/custom-10
cib24 said:
Yes, surely just adjusting the final drive will do the trick? Go from the 3.89 to 4.62 offered by AutoQuest. What they suggest is exactly what I would do. $2,600 for the final drive apparently.
That'd certainly be a big improvement but I think I'd go a little further even than that. Topping out at about 55-60mph in second generally feels about right for the road, with 3rd topping out at maybe 85. That lets you actually use third gear on single carriageway roads without going stupidly fast. It's good that people are actually offering differentials with a shorter final drive for moderately sensible amounts of money though.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 15th November 22:32
Really enjoyed that, great article.
The bloke who owns my local MOT station owns a red one of these, and he swears by it. He's had some tasty cars, but like the author has stated, it's the way this lets you use all the power effectively.
Cult classic that will, and is, going up in value.
The bloke who owns my local MOT station owns a red one of these, and he swears by it. He's had some tasty cars, but like the author has stated, it's the way this lets you use all the power effectively.
Cult classic that will, and is, going up in value.
Not fully agree with the article.
- the satnav is quite decent and likes to indicate driving roads rather than more direct roads. Just missing the speed limits
- it’s not a car, it’s a toy. Everything in it is more hardcore than a 991.2 GT3 (clutch, steering, stick), and you can be childish by turning on the noisy exhaust before firing it up. It also feels more focused sitting in there without the extra empty space behind you. It lacks creatures of comfort like the reverse camera or the front axle lift that the GT3 has. It’s unapologetic about its real world limitations.
- the gearing is just too long. How many cars have 2nd hand mods solely dedicated to gearing? It’s unnatural to be on an A-Road at 60mph and having to downshift to 2nd. If you stay in 3rd and go for the overtake, you’re like shoot shoot shoot as you’re not where you thought you’d be in the power band.
Otherwise, it’s a dynamic wonder, it looks purposeful and is an event to drive. I hope the 718 GT4 is not softened and still makes your legs ache if you get stuck in traffic.
- the satnav is quite decent and likes to indicate driving roads rather than more direct roads. Just missing the speed limits
- it’s not a car, it’s a toy. Everything in it is more hardcore than a 991.2 GT3 (clutch, steering, stick), and you can be childish by turning on the noisy exhaust before firing it up. It also feels more focused sitting in there without the extra empty space behind you. It lacks creatures of comfort like the reverse camera or the front axle lift that the GT3 has. It’s unapologetic about its real world limitations.
- the gearing is just too long. How many cars have 2nd hand mods solely dedicated to gearing? It’s unnatural to be on an A-Road at 60mph and having to downshift to 2nd. If you stay in 3rd and go for the overtake, you’re like shoot shoot shoot as you’re not where you thought you’d be in the power band.
Otherwise, it’s a dynamic wonder, it looks purposeful and is an event to drive. I hope the 718 GT4 is not softened and still makes your legs ache if you get stuck in traffic.
schaeffs said:
CABC said:
did either of you track the GT4?
sadly, i've only had 2 pax rides (Cadwell and S'stone Nat) from proud owners.
my thoughts on both occasions were that it wasn't particularly fun, despite carving through everything else on track with ease.
I could see it going well at the Ring, and for that matter to & from the Ring. Great car, but one i'd place in the engaging touring garage slot rather than the sunday morning blast slot. It certainly has a place in a 3 car garage.
OP, lovely colour scheme btw.
Only track time for me was at the Porsche Experience day using their GT4. It was brilliant on track, but I think its a better road / ownership prospect car.sadly, i've only had 2 pax rides (Cadwell and S'stone Nat) from proud owners.
my thoughts on both occasions were that it wasn't particularly fun, despite carving through everything else on track with ease.
I could see it going well at the Ring, and for that matter to & from the Ring. Great car, but one i'd place in the engaging touring garage slot rather than the sunday morning blast slot. It certainly has a place in a 3 car garage.
OP, lovely colour scheme btw.
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