The new 718 Gt4/Spyder are here!
Discussion
Twinfan said:
I've driven both the 718 GT4 and the 981 GT4 and the engine and chassis are improved in the new car - fact.
GT4 Chassis is the SAME - FactGT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
What we do read and hear and many have experienced however, is that these FACTS have not made it the 718 GT4 subjectively better overall that the 981 GT4. As an experience for the senses, for driving.... sound, feel it is noted that the old car delivers more... the 718 has been polished and become more mainstream. The underlying sentiment is that its a great car, because it was based on an already great car and formula.. but its underwhelming because its hasn't moved the game on.
e.g Evo said.. they could have brought the 2016 GT4 back for ECOTY this year and it would have won again, just like the 718 GT4 did... and the field was considerably weaker this year than it was back in 2016 when the 981 GT4 beat the likes of 991.1 GT3 RS, 675LT and F12.
For the 718 Spyder the chassis and suspension package is a major step over the 981 Spyder - but this has changed the character of the car. Some will like it some will prefer the road bias... like 911R to GT3 Touring.. the bias is different.
Edited by TDT on Thursday 13th February 10:16
I was just replying to 911R TDT, but I'm giving up trying to have a discussion with him about anything.
I agree with you, there are pros and cons to both the 981 and 718 GT4s. As I said earlier in this thread, I prefer the 718 but others may not
The new engine has completed the car for me, I really couldn't like the 3.8 in the 981 GT4 but I found it worked well in the Spyder.
I agree with you, there are pros and cons to both the 981 and 718 GT4s. As I said earlier in this thread, I prefer the 718 but others may not
The new engine has completed the car for me, I really couldn't like the 3.8 in the 981 GT4 but I found it worked well in the Spyder.Edited by Twinfan on Thursday 13th February 10:18
Porsche911R said:
most people like an honest review of a car over owners bulls
t I find.
That's exactly what I have tried to give having been able to "actually" tdrive the new & old back to back and concluded when asked for my spec & deposit only yesterday I gladly passed on the option as at the end of the day only one Spyder gave me the thrills I want in my sunny weekend cruisert I find.Fortunately we all want different things from our motoring experiences otherwise this place for starters would be very much quieter
I recently had a 75 minute motorway, A & B roads and even some Saturday traffic test drive in a 718 Spyder
Porsche have moved the game on as in slightly softer ride in standard mode but brittle in sport mode on our crappy roads
Steering imo lighter but that was about it I preferred the weight in my version
Clutch considerably lighter which was nice when we hit some traffic but no advantage when not in traffic jams
Gear change felt no shorter shifting to me probably journalist waffle
Torque felt greater despite hardly making much of a dent in official figures I have seen so could this be down to GT cars throttle settings always in equivalent to sport mode on 981 version!
With stop start "on" (my daily driver that is my chosen mode) and a trailing throttle the engine switches from 6 to 3 cylinders which can be easily "felt & heard" it was annoying but fortunately can be switched off by killing the stop / start function so no fuel or CO2 saving in real world driving if you do that
Sound track roof off below 5k rpm PSE on or off barely any difference then if you can get up the rev range to red line without losing your licence its a muted bass sounding howl unlike the 981 which start singing from 1k rpm to screaming once past 4500 rpm personally I can't get enough of that old skool now illegal decibel levels of music and the theatre on the auto blip downshifts pops & crackles have been totally eradicated on the 718eek which I know pleases as many as it will disappoint
My Porsche Centre confirmed warranty would be null & voided plus not extendable if I was to replace the sound killing factory end box
In summary as a road user average driver and not a fully paid up journalist or track day hero laugh Yes Porsche have moved the game on in certain areas whilst managing to kill off a shed load of character that the 3.8 has in bucket fulls imo
Factor in the small improvements and massive price hike even before the flippers premiums and that makes the 981 versions imo excellent value for money today and the majority are still way below average mileage for age
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so won;t go there on which is the better looker
Yesterday was my final chance to order but "No PTS or CXX Exclusive options" which I have on my current Spyder so I decided to pass on my option and happily stick with my 1/1 example cool
Edited by daro911 on Thursday 13th February 10:21
Edited by daro911 on Thursday 13th February 10:30
theRossatron said:
The 718 GT4 chassis borrows from the 991.2 GT3 so it can't be the same?
I don't know if the 991.2 GT3 front end is the same as the 991.1, if so then the hardware is the same on a 981 vs a 718. I don't know if the shocks are different for example, there doesn't seem to be a PET file available for the 718 GT4/Spyder yet.However, the PASM programming is part of the chassis therefore they're different in that regard and that's where the "improvements" will have come from.
theRossatron said:
TDT said:
GT4 Chassis is the SAME - Fact
GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
The 718 GT4 chassis borrows from the 991.2 GT3 so it can't be the same?GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
GT3 is rear engine 911 with multi-link rear.
Cayman is mid engine with macpherson struts all around.
GT4 uses the GT3 front end and and bespoke GT4 rear end still based on struts.
Hardware is the same 981 to 718. Possibly slight change in spring rate, but more plausibly adjustment in PASM mapping as Twinfan says.
Please research before stating!
Edited by TDT on Thursday 13th February 11:41
TDT said:
theRossatron said:
TDT said:
GT4 Chassis is the SAME - Fact
GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
The 718 GT4 chassis borrows from the 991.2 GT3 so it can't be the same?GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
GT3 is rear engine 911 with multi-link rear.
Cayman is mid engine with macpherson struts all around.
GT4 uses the GT3 front end and and bespoke GT4 rear end still based on struts.
Hardware is the same 981 to 718. Possibly slight change in spring rate, but more plausibly adjustment in PASM mapping as Twinfan says.
Please research before stating!
Edited by TDT on Thursday 13th February 11:41
daro911 said:
Twinfan said:
I think you've made the right choice - if you want a sunny day open top cruiser my money would also go on a 981 Spyder
I agree Twinfan 
I'm debating on a road car again, after a year out with Radical only, 981 GT4/Spyder make the list!
Just to digress to tyres for a moment….
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2?
Given that GT4/Spyder are arriving fitted with either Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2, I was wondering if there was much between them now that Dunlop have launched the second iteration of the tyre?
What are people’s experiences/preferences?
What would you like your GT4/Spyder to arrive on?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2?
Given that GT4/Spyder are arriving fitted with either Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2, I was wondering if there was much between them now that Dunlop have launched the second iteration of the tyre?
What are people’s experiences/preferences?
What would you like your GT4/Spyder to arrive on?
JayK12 said:
TDT said:
theRossatron said:
TDT said:
GT4 Chassis is the SAME - Fact
GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
The 718 GT4 chassis borrows from the 991.2 GT3 so it can't be the same?GT4 Aero is up, for no extra drag @ 190mph, lol - Fact
GT4 Engine is more technologically advanced - Fact
GT3 is rear engine 911 with multi-link rear.
Cayman is mid engine with macpherson struts all around.
GT4 uses the GT3 front end and and bespoke GT4 rear end still based on struts.
Hardware is the same 981 to 718. Possibly slight change in spring rate, but more plausibly adjustment in PASM mapping as Twinfan says.
Please research before stating!
Twinfan said:
I'd like it to arrive on Cup2s, but the Dunlops are pretty good too it seems so I won't be disappointed if I end up with Dunlops.
You might be better off with MP4S for road use, much better all rounders, will provide 75/80% dry weather performance of Cup2/Sport Maxx and much better wet and more tread depth, so more miles per setEdited by TDT on Thursday 13th February 14:42
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