981 GT4 Future Icon
Discussion
GT4P said:
av185 said:
Not always.
Ref 991.1 v 991.2 GT3 as just one example of many.
The 991.1 wasn’t the first GT3 Ref 991.1 v 991.2 GT3 as just one example of many.
Having owned both... whilst the gen 1 was a good package the gen 2 was far better and not just because of its way superior effectively 'Cup car' engine which went on to grace the 992 GT3 and 4RS/SRS.
Goater2 said:
I bought a 981 gt4 about a month ago and absolutely love it. Completely raw and not like anything else you can buy today imo. My previous Porsche was a 992 gts which I also loved but completely different proposition - more refined, faster and obviously tech. My current practical car is a gr Yaris which I also love to bits. I’ve borrowed my girlfriend’s Audi this weekend to take fishing and I’m absolutely blown away by how dull it is. I suppose I’m spoiled but scared me how I couldn’t go back to a “normal” car.
The 981 gt4 is an event to drive and I think it will be seen fondly as time goes by
I couldn't agree more.The 981 gt4 is an event to drive and I think it will be seen fondly as time goes by
I've had my 981 GT4 almost 6 years now, and my love of it has only ever grown. In that time I've run a few cars alongside it. A Toyota GT86, then a base 718 Cayman 2.0, and most recently a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. The GT4 has been used as a daily commute apart from December - March, and I've typically done one or two track days a year in it. I was expecting to keep the 981 GT4 for 15-20 years rather than 6, but that has changed recently.
All 3 of the cars I've run alongside are objectively better in almost every way. The 4.0 GTS is without doubt faster, and has a lot more low end torque. Amusingly the GT4 is a tiny bit better on fuel, has bigger brakes, and so I'm not sure the 4.0 GTS will turn out to be as good for a full track day because of that. Toyota GT86 and 718 Cayman base model were both just superb road cars in their own ways, and very difficult to fault for fulfilling their intended purpose.
But objectivity put to one side, the 981 GT4 has been my favourite of any of them to drive. In fact just to own in general - I just love everything about it. I even enjoy washing it, I think mainly because it's a better looking car than any of the others. Not that the others aren't good, the 981 GT4 somehow has more animal magnetism, character, and seldom fails to put a grin on my face. "Event to drive" is one way of putting it. For me, making sure it's properly shod and ready for a track day is like preparing for an epic adventure. It never fails to wear out the "smiling muscles" getting to the track, getting round the track, and getting home again. Hopping in it to get to work, or back home again, as @Goater2 says, somehow feels like an event.
I have a massive quandary on my hands now, in the shape of a new GT4 RS currently being built. I only really have garage space for 2 cars, so I am trying to be sensible, keep the GTS 4.0, and sell the 981 GT4. And I fear it's going to break my heart, because deep down, I very much doubt I'll ever get as much pleasure from owning a specific car again.
2 thoughts that come from all this:
1. My gut feel is that the 981 GT4 might become a collectable choice in future. I've driven a 718 GT4 in manual with similar Club Sport bits to mine. They are more refined, and definitely faster. But the way a car tugs at the heart strings probably has a lot to do with future desirability.
2. This GT4 RS had better be good! For all the superior power, grip and technology, the 981 GT4 is going to be a very tough act to follow.
Liam
The pricing needs to stabilise - seems all over the place
There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
I think the 981 GT4 appeal is slowly coming back. Some evidence yesterday- parked in the Porsche car park at Goodwood FOS I had my Racing Yellow GT4 there and I was very surprised how many people were looking at it- asking me questions about it when I was there. This is in context of a) being the only 981 GT4 there and b) being surrounded by much more expensive Porsche machinery.
What I find really enjoyable about the GT4 is you can really "push" the car without doing crazy speeds- great feeling of satisfaction doing country lanes briskly- and the size of it means it just wraps around you.
I too have a dilemma in that it is likely going to be traded in against a 4RS Spyder I have coming in October... sad times.
What I find really enjoyable about the GT4 is you can really "push" the car without doing crazy speeds- great feeling of satisfaction doing country lanes briskly- and the size of it means it just wraps around you.
I too have a dilemma in that it is likely going to be traded in against a 4RS Spyder I have coming in October... sad times.
981 Prices are dropping for the higher mile cars but there seems to be quite a few 'higher priced' cars coming up for sale.
The 718 cars seem to have hit 70k price point and aren't dropping.
There's a 981 CS car up for £60k that looks ideal but it's sat around since April, does anyone know the car?
The 718 cars seem to have hit 70k price point and aren't dropping.
There's a 981 CS car up for £60k that looks ideal but it's sat around since April, does anyone know the car?
R33FAL said:
What I find really enjoyable about the GT4 is you can really "push" the car without doing crazy speeds- great feeling of satisfaction doing country lanes briskly- and the size of it means it just wraps around you.
Really? How so in a GT4?If I "push" my base 981C 2.7 I'm doing crazy speeds.
I've thought for a while now, on today's roads, that driving satisfaction is at the inverse of power.
I drove a Smart courtesy car recently from an indy and although shockingly bad it became very satisfying to drive well, and fast.
When I say fast, I'm not sure it could break the speed limit. When I say well, I mean keeping it on the road!
I don't hanker after a faster car. No advantage.
DJMC said:
R33FAL said:
What I find really enjoyable about the GT4 is you can really "push" the car without doing crazy speeds- great feeling of satisfaction doing country lanes briskly- and the size of it means it just wraps around you.
Really? How so in a GT4?If I "push" my base 981C 2.7 I'm doing crazy speeds.
I've thought for a while now, on today's roads, that driving satisfaction is at the inverse of power.
I drove a Smart courtesy car recently from an indy and although shockingly bad it became very satisfying to drive well, and fast.
When I say fast, I'm not sure it could break the speed limit. When I say well, I mean keeping it on the road!
I don't hanker after a faster car. No advantage.
) KittyLitter said:
The pricing needs to stabilise - seems all over the place
There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
The £54k one lacks Club Sport and climate control, and is being sold by a commercial vehicle dealer. There is definitely some logic to it all. Club Sport with cage, carbon seats and harnesses adds a premium. Lack of leather/alcantara interior reduces the value. Ceramic brakes likely won't increase value on cars of this age, as they might increase future servicing costs considerably. Service history, or lack of, can also make a difference. And of course some of them will be sold with a transferrable Porsche warranty, which I doubt you get for £54k. The state of the tyres (£1400 for Cup 2 a few weeks ago) and brakes (£3600 for me last year for discs, pads and sensors) also need bearing in mind. There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
These are 8 year old cars, and rather than prices stabilising, the ones that have been cared for will carry a higher premium than the ones that were spec'ed well, but abused. I'll bet there are cars out there that never even ended up with the replacement gearboxes that were fitted FOC around 2019. A failure of one of those outside warranty could be an expensive proposition.
I think the gems are already highly sought after!
Liam
bosshog said:
What’s is this replacement gearbox you speak of?
GT4 gearbox recallhttps://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/gt4-ge...
KittyLitter said:
The pricing needs to stabilise - seems all over the place
There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
That car has literally no trimmings. No carbon, no ext leather, no ext Alcantara, no sport chrono, base colour, it doesn't even have climate control or cruise control! Not to mention no Porsche warranty which also means it'll need an inspection really. No PPF, no mention of OPC history. A car with OPC history/warranty and recent brakes is worth 3-5k more for identical spec.There is one with 20,000miles all the trimmings £54K ... and another, same spec and miles, at £66K... then another with just 500 miles at £69K.
Across the board, seems Ceramic Brakes don't make the price higher. It all feels very hit and hope the prices.
But yes I can see it being a future icon in perhaps 20 years when, like the 944T, most have been chavved up and driven to death out of warranty .. and the gems will be highly sought after.
It took me ages to find my car with actually all the trimmings and it was worth paying more for, why bother getting a 'cheap one' when a top spec with history and warranty is only 5-10 grand more.
Slippydiff said:
So drivers spec, not sit in a garage being polished, occasional drive out to Cars ‘n Coffee, hope it’ll increase in value/“investor” spec.
Counterpoint :
Why pay £5-10k more when the basic mechanical spec is identical and provides exactly the same driving experience ?
Go sit in one with no spec and one with all the full leather, chrome etc., it is a world apart in how special it feels trust me. Counterpoint :
Why pay £5-10k more when the basic mechanical spec is identical and provides exactly the same driving experience ?
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