12 GT4's for sale on PistonHeads and growing

[bcr5784]

daro911 said:

Spyder & GT4 have the same 3.8L non GT engine

Porsche revealed the latest Spyder model in April 2015 at the New York Auto Show. The styling of the car is similar to the previous generation Spyder, continuing the twin hump rear deck and manually operated canvas top. It also shares some styling with the Cayman GT4, using the same front and rear fascia. The engine is also shared with the Cayman GT4, a 3.8l flat-6, making this the largest capacity and most powerful engine used in a Boxster with 287 kilowatts (385 bhp). It is also the lightest current Porsche, weighing 1,315 kilograms (2,899 lb). This was achieved through the use of aluminum doors and rear lid, the manually operated roof and unique light weight 20 inch wheels

The Spyder is lighter primarily because it has less kit and a smaller fuel tank as standard as well as buckets. Spec it up (as almost everyone will) at no cost and it will weigh about the same as a CGTS to a similar spec. The only real saving is the roof (11kg) - other Boxsters have aluminium doors, boot and bonnet. Other bits like the engine (6kg heavier) even things up, weight wise. It's the usual con trick that Porsche pull to make their "light" cars appear a lot lighter than they really are.

[Twinfan]

theRossatron said:

What's a GT engine?

Something breathed on/developed by the GT department perhaps?

[SimonOcean]

T25UFO said:

The Sport Techno wheels are 275/30 at the rear - the standard wheel is 295/30. Porsche offer a package with Sport Techno wheels and Michelin Pilot Alpin tyres priced at £4,620 which is not bad considering original GT4 wheels will be circa £4,300 without the tyres. If you just want to fit winter tyres to your existing wheels then Pirelli 240 Sottozero Serie II is probably the best option. They come in 295/30 so will fit the original GT4 wheels.

I have no experience of using these tyres, but both Michelin and Pirelli are Porsche recommended.

It is kind of you to reply. In fact I already had this information from the Techequipment brochure / website. I was really looking for feedback from people that had one of the wheel / tyre options.

I agree that the Sport Techno wheels and tyre bundle looks pretty decent value. I imagine that the narrower width of the tyres would also be an advantage in snow.

Anyways, thanks.

[av185]

theRossatron said:

What's a GT engine?

Drive a GT4....then a GT3 and notice the difference.

[Twinfan]

av185 said:

Drive a GT4....then a GT3 and notice the difference.

Exactly. Night and day.

[ChrisW.]

Porsche911R said:

no clunks either, cage was a daft option in the GT4 imo, you can still fit harness in a GT4 sans cage, the GT3 with no cage is much harder to fit a harness solution as no bulkhead.

Also not TUV approved so the GT4 min cage is all weight and show. hence not an option in the USA.

1. It's a very useful option if you value five point belts
2. I believe that it isn't easy to fit harnesses without the cage, and if you could it would be aftermarket
3. The cage was approved only with the race seats
4. I don't suffer many clunks
5. This option was one of the things I really missed in my Cayman R
6. PCCB's are very long wearing but do need looking after
7. The cost of a vastly superior set of ST solid long fibre carbon discs which will make your brake pads last twice as long and can be skimmed up to five times if damaged, is £10k. As fitted to the new Aston matin Valkyrie ....
8. Some track days will be asking for a fire extinguisher for serious track use ...

??

I love this forum

Edited by ChrisW. on Friday 29th September 20:10

[RSVP911]

ChrisW. said:

Porsche911R said:

no clunks either, cage was a daft option in the GT4 imo, you can still fit harness in a GT4 sans cage, the GT3 with no cage is much harder to fit a harness solution as no bulkhead.

Also not TUV approved so the GT4 min cage is all weight and show. hence not an option in the USA.

1. It's a very useful option if you value five point belts
2. I believe that it isn't easy to fit harnesses without the cage, and if you could it would be aftermarket
3. The cage was approved only with the race seats
4. I don't suffer many clunks
5. This option was one of the things I really missed in my Cayman R
6. PCCB's are very long wearing but do need looking after
7. The cost of a vastly superior set of ST solid long fibre carbon discs which will make your brake pads last twice as long and can be skimmed up to five times if damaged, is £10k. As fitted to the new Aston matin Valkyrie ....
8. Some track days will be asking for a fire extinguisher for serious track use ...

??

I love this forum

Edited by ChrisW. on Friday 29th September 20:10

Cage also looks quite nice - does this count ?

[FocusRS3]

woollyjoe said:

Touché.

I would have agreed, but Spyders seem to cost more than GT4's - much higher overs.

Re other comments...

Spyder detuned GT4 engine.
No GT3 suspension and custom rear.
Steering noticeably different - not sure why.
PTV on spyder.
Standard brakes Vs GT3

I guess my point is the two are noticeably different if you notice these subtleties in a car in the first place. Not criticising those that don't notice - just saying I can tell the difference on the road.

PEC yellow GT4 definitely not on original PCCBs.

Ceramics not worth the risk financially I feel but cage nice to have especially if buying used and it makes little difference to the price

[HokumPokum]

you guys understand that the 991.1 RS has 500hp, is a heavier car than the GT4 and YET run the same PCCB (when equipped) and so does the 918 spyder........ although I don't know how regenerate characteristics play into the wear.

so with regards to track usage, unless you either can't drive and rely on intervention of PSM into corners at every turn on track or are really on it every corner, a smooth driver should not wear out the PCCBs unduly and they can sustain a high wear rate for the casual track day punter....

Honestly, the car is tremendously over-braked which is why I rate it so highly and would always have it on a gt4.
And it you aren't aware, everything wears , just how you use them. Cooling down is important to minimise the high temps which causes the disc to wear. Half a lap is more than sufficient in most cases anyway.

lastly, on harnesses, they are the things that keep you in place and not buckets. Also they help with structural rigidity because of the extra welded plates to bolt on the roll cage not found in a non-clubsport equipped car.

The only thing I yearn for in a GT4 is the PDK-S gearbox. power is great. but I rather have reliability.......
detuned engine plus reinforced chassis plus great brakes in a lightish car........ what the f more do you want at this price range.

[av185]

woollyjoe said:

I would have agreed, but Spyders seem to cost more than GT4's - much higher overs

Spyder detuned GT4 engine.

Steering noticeably different - not sure why.

Standard brakes

Nearly three times as many GT4s as Spyders in the UK.

Spyder engine 375 bhp v 380 bhp GT4. Spyder is lighter though at 1315kg. Torque same both cars at 310 lb ft.

Steering is the same but feels different due to different suspension, non cup Spyder tyres, different wheels dims.

Spyder brakes are same as Carrera S.

Other points are the gearbox has the same feel but the clutch is very slightly lighter in the Spyder.

[GT4P]

Get a little fed up with this Spyder v Gt4 all the time both are same but different. Both great cars in their own right.You want the best cayster coupe you choose a gt4 you want the best convertible you choose a Spyder simples! although me personally I would choose the 987 spyder version over the 981 but that's just my opinion but would happy to own either!

[Porsche911R]

I sort of agree but Don't get the 981 Spyder, it does not weigh what AV185 says as people spec back in all the st.
The GT4 weight is inc the st ;-) and as the new cars are ment to be lighter, it weighs more than the older car by quite a bit.

The only thing lighter is the roof and that's offset by the 3.8 engine ! so it's no better than a Boxster S weight wise give or take a big poo.

Marketing is good though ;-)

The GT4 is the package as it has the GT3 adjustable sus and massive btakes, the 981 spyder is just a standard Boxster with standard electric's the hype is bullst :-)

I like the 981 Spyder but I would have to spend £15k on it to get it to drive any good !
The GT4 only needs one small part and you have a fully adjustable set up car with991 RS electrics, it's night and day to drive, and the steering is night and day better also. GT4 is even less crashy with the helper springs.

The PTV is flawed in the 981 and the roof is also a flawed design. so I would take a 981 GTS Boxster any day for £20k less, you cannot say that about a Cayman GTS as the GT4 has So much more.

I am not sure what people are driving, but I am reading a lot of bullst and all you get back is the GT4 is poor as it's not a GT engine lol. and there are 3 times as many, US GT4 owners don't care about resale or numbers made we want to drive them and be able to use them on track.

I have to not post on the Spyder thread as I get told off, so I keep my comments off it, but don't bring the bullst to a GT4 thread. esp "av185" investment crap

Edited by Porsche911R on Saturday 30th September 15:25

[Twinfan]

Porsche911R said:

I am reading a lot of bullst and all you get back is the GT4 is poor as it's not a GT engine

I don't think anyone's said the GT4 is a bad car, as it's clearly not. My own view is that it's great on track, handles and brakes incredibly well but the engine isn't up to the standard of the rest of the package - it's the weak link. For that reason, and the fact that 595 made it to the UK, I'm surprised it commands the over list pricing it does. I'm well aware I'm in the minority thinking this

As has been said though, there's nothing to match it for the price for serious track use. On the road, where the great brakes and handling can't be used to their full potential, I can see why people would favour the Spyder for the open top thrills it provides.

It's all horses for courses, and I don't see why people get so het up about someone else's preferred choice or opinion

[DiscoColin]

Porsche911R said:

The thing with trackdays , they are full of noobs and the amount of red flags is 10 fold these days, so you cannot always cool down your car, last track day I went on we had 6 red flags ! So that's stopping 6 times with disc at >700oc !!! nothing you can do about it.

Nothing?

Those who know what they are doing will in such circumstances drive off the track, out of the circuit and a mile and back down the road (briefly slowing to a crawl in the paddock to take off their helmet usually). Depending upon the circuit and the contents of your tank, a red flag is often a cue to go out to top up your fuel. It is only a problem if you are on slicks or have covered or removed the number plates (or your car is otherwise not road legal and was trailered there), though in some cases circuits have car park or paddock areas that have enough space to drive around for a few minutes to get the worst of the peak heat out of the system.

If you come in with your brakes on fire and immediately park up and go for a coffee then any subsequent consequences to the car are still your fault I am afraid.

[Beedub]

enjoying this thread, i love the gt4, awesome thing straight out the box... i did have an extended test drive, and the only area i really felt the car was let down was the engine...... It makes a lovely noise but just didn't live up to the rest of the car, 380hp in a modern GT vehicle just isn't enough , i understand WHY they went this route but it definitely was the weak link imo. Still loved the car however and as said above its a wonderful all round package.

[Fokker]

GT engines are immense things so the gt4 unit simply cannot live up to 'immense'. But, it's a very good engine in reality. I love the torque which is more useable than top end on the road anyway. Hopefully next time it'll be a bit less restricted but I don't feel short changed, certainly not at 64k plus option.

[av185]

Porsche911R said:

but Don't get the 981 Spyder, it does not weigh what AV185 says as people spec back in all the st.
The GT4 weight is inc the st ;-)

The GT4 is the package as it has the GT3 adjustable sus and massive brakes,

I like the 981 Spyder but I would have to spend £15k on it to get it to drive any good !

I have to not post on the Spyder thread as I get told off

Edited by Porsche911R on Saturday 30th September 15:25

Were you not banned from the Spyder thread?

Yes, yes, we get you own a GT4 and love talking them up just like your super duper 987 Spyder and Cayman R....

But I, like a few other PHrs on here own both the GT4 and Spyder and not unlike them have a more balanced view as an owner in the real world as opposed to you having merely driven a Spyder for a few laps at PEC and formed a 'virtual' but deeply flawed opinion!

Anyway, re the weight, I should check your Porsche manuals. So the weights quoted by Porche are Spyder no extras whatsoever and GT4 fully loaded with every conceivable extra possible including 25kg cage then....

[bcr5784]

av185 said:

Anyway, re the weight, I should check your Porsche manuals. So the weights quoted by Porche are Spyder no extras whatsoever and GT4 fully loaded with every conceivable extra possible including 25kg cage then....

I'm sure both cars are quoted in standard trim - ie without aircon or sound systems and with small fuel tanks - all designed to make the headline weight figure low - and no cost options to reinstate. In the case of the Spyder (but not the GT4) it comes as standard with LWB which lower the figure. But as has been said reinstate aircon, sound system and tank and the Spyder will weigh about the same as a standard Boxster with the same kit, and the GT4 a fair bit more than a Cayman similarly equipped (because of the bigger brakes, wheels and tyres, and heavier engine).

It's silly to get excited about the supposedly lack of weight of either car - because its a con. They aren't the only ones misleading punters - Alfa, with the 4C are probably even worse, and Lotus not much better.

Edited by bcr5784 on Saturday 30th September 21:35

[RSVP911]

Got to love yesterday's posts - lying in bed with a stinking hang over smiling as I read them

As someone said earlier both great cars. As someone lucky enough to own both FWIW my views are this :

1. The weight argument on the road is irrelevant either way - I imagine on track it's hardly noticeable and most (not all) of us could make more of a difference by shedding a stone.

2. 981 Spyder IMHO is a better road car - performance on the road when driven with spirit is identical* - if you can notice the difference then you simply should not be driving either in public in the real world as you're going to kill someone. Add to this the Spyders versatility, and engine note that is loads better then you have a package that's simply more fun and to me that's what road driving should be about. (The only thing I don't like about the GT4 is the cabin noise - it simply isn't good on any measure, which is such a shame as it's a beautiful looking and handling car - it annoys me that they got this so wrong - rant over; apologies)

(*they do feel different - the Spyder is more playful and less planted - but overall performance is very similar in the real world and both have excellent steering feel for EPS cars - GT4 feels heavier but both give excellent feedback)

3. GT4 - better on the track, but still great fun on the road. Engine isn't a GT engine, but then they are far cheaper than cars with a modern GT engine.

So in summary , as someone said earlier, it comes down to soft top vs. coupe mixed with track vs. road.

I like them both very much, but if I could only keep one it would be the Spyder every day of the the week - but that's because it does more of what I personally like - if I was more track biased it would be the other way round.

(PS David - not sure why you think the roof is flawed - it's a doddle to use and judging by the Porsche video I saw showing how to do the roof on the older Spyder it's a work of genius)

Happy driving all

Edited by RSVP911 on Sunday 1st October 10:24

[Fokker]

The Spyder is definitely a bit more liveable with on a daily basis but the GT4 is more of an event which is what i want from a Sunday morning blast up to the Brecon Beacons which is where i am now, in a lay-by having a coffee while me ears readjust from the onslaught!