Newbie GT4 Vs. 981 Spyder

[Porsche911R]

daro911 said:

Am I reading this correctly the GT4 auto blips in sport mode as well as sport + mode and if so why would Porsche have bothered altering the programe for our Spyders!


Thanks for the clarification - strange it only has the one mode or does it mean it's in the equivalent Spyder Sport mode from the get go confused

GT4 does not have any driver modes it uses the GT3 RS system, they use the sport button for auto blip, that's it, If you don't want auto blip you don't press sport.

simples, throttle and every thing else remains the same.

GT4 has superior electronics GT style (so you don't have to suffer PTV bks) and has no Sports plus or PSM off buttons.

GT4 has the GT3 RS system over the Spyders basic Boxster system and you get TC and ESC off extra buttons.

That's why doing the GT4 vs Spyder thing is pointless, you buy the right tool for what you want the car for, ones a drivers GT car one's a Boxster GTS with a 3.8 engine :-)

So they have NOT "altered the programe for the Spyders!" vs the GT4 system, Spyder = basic Boxster system , GT4 = GT3 RS system.

[daro911]

Porsche911R said:

daro911 said:

Am I reading this correctly the GT4 auto blips in sport mode as well as sport + mode and if so why would Porsche have bothered altering the programe for our Spyders!


Thanks for the clarification - strange it only has the one mode or does it mean it's in the equivalent Spyder Sport mode from the get go confused

GT4 has superior electronics GT style (so you don't have to suffer PTV bks) and has no Sports plus or PSM off buttons.

GT4 has the GT3 RS system over the Spyders basic Boxster system and you get TC and ESC off extra buttons.

That's why doing the GT4 vs Spyder thing is pointless, you buy the right tool for what you want the car for, ones a drivers GT car one's a Boxster GTS with a 3.8 engine :-)

That must be why the 3.8L GTS version with the option of true wind in the hair sports car motoring came with the carbon buckets FOC and the GT saloon car version has the DFS armchairs as standard kit

Thanks for your usual informed input much appreciated

[Akajak]

Mr D really loves sticking the knife in the 981 Spyder.

[av185]

Akajak said:

Mr D really loves sticking the knife in the 981 Spyder.

Yes, it really is quite hilarious.

And yet by contrast his 987 Spyder is, of course, some how one of the best cars out there.

[RSVP911]

av185 said:

Akajak said:

Mr D really loves sticking the knife in the 981 Spyder.

Yes, it really is quite hilarious.

And yet by contrast his 987 Spyder is, of course, some how one of the best cars out there.

Basically :

GT4 with adjustment : amazing
Old Spyder : amazing
New Spyder : not amazing

Fair enough - everyone likes different things , which is absolutely fine.

However ........

After a good couple of weeks in the GT4 - If I HAD to let one of them go it would definitely be the GT4 .....

NOT the 981 Spyder . (& this isn't simply down to the versatility of the roof)

Edited by RSVP911 on Monday 21st August 13:49

[Porsche911R]

RSVP911 said:

Basically :

GT4 with adjustment : amazing
Old Spyder : amazing
New Spyder : not amazing

Fair enough - everyone likes different things , which is absolutely fine.

However ........

After a good couple of weeks in the GT4 - If I HAD to let one of them go it would definitely be the GT4 .....

NOT the 981 Spyder . (& this isn't simply down to the versatility of the roof)

Do you not read my posts lol I also felt like you with my GT4, it did not feel great to me either, not a keeper at all at the start.
hence why I posted that link with a honest review rather than my bullst posts.

I stated the 981 Spyder will suit more people more of the time if you just want that sort of car :-) I said it on page one !

I also stated
"All great cars all have issues, and all owners like what they like, no bad cars. "


And people said a good honest write up !!! even you said "Thanks D - very considered reply - all good stuff."


GT4 is NOT amazing, I have listed 5 big things wrong with it, and as I have posted a few can be fixed to make it far more GT like rather than feel a bit limp and understeer every where.

987.2 Spyder again not amazing, it'just a 987.2 Boxster really, I have spent £8k on mine to hone the car to be a lightweight platform with good feed back, last of the hydraulic era and it was a good platform to make a drivers car with fully adjustable sus and be more Lotus like. It's chalk and cheese vs a 981 of any model, feels more like a big Exige, is a great drive.

The thing is the 987.2 and 997.2 cars make great driver cars projects atm.

981 Spyder again it's not a GT4, why do people want it to be a GT4 ? I just told every one about the Electronics and tech , and did not fanny about with bks. This seems to have upset owners again, but it is what it is a cross over between a 981 GTS and the 718, and as both of those cars are loved I can see the appeal of a 981 Spyder for a do it all soft top car. I guess it's more 718 with a 3.8 rather than a 981 GTS.

Can we stop all the over hype and all the bullst arse licking, it's doing my head in ;-) we get too much of that on the GT3 threads :-O

enjoy your cars , people buy what they like, but the owners reviews pain me and are VERY bias to protect the investment it seems like.

I have always been honest about my cars and post a real reviewand the neg issues or down sides.

Atm it feels like Spyder owners want their car to be a GT4 and it will just never feel like one ! or as I stated would take a big investment.
GT4 owners want their cars to feel like a Spyder because they are scared to change any settings !!

:-( I cannot help thinking a lot of people seem to be in the wrong cars ! maybe this overs market is making people buy stuff they don't really want or suits them ! but as it's a free car with a pay out one can see why people end up in the wrong car and talk them up !

Edited by Porsche911R on Monday 21st August 14:50

[av185]

Porsche911R said:

981 Spyder again it's not a GT4, why do people want it to be a GT4 ?

Edited by Porsche911R on Monday 21st August 14:50

But we don't!

Why do you think several PHers on here own both, including Rich who, as you know has just bought his GT4 despite, like me, preferring the Spyder.

The two cars are chalk and cheese....as said many times before. And as already mentioned, the only virtually identical thing is the cars performance, and to a degree their characteristics, for ROAD DRIVING. NOT track, road.

Two great modern but totally different Porsches. And all the better for their contrasts.

[GT4P]

My two pence worth I preferred the 987 spyder to the 987cr which like the 981gts you might as well buy a CaymanS which does tend to upset some ,yet I prefer the Gt4 to the 981 Spyder.This is based on not anything other than I at the time I wanted a coupe! I would have still bought a 3.8 Cayman version of the 981 spyder(ie no GT badge and X73 suspension)

[RSVP911]

This is all getting way too heated for my liking .

D, I agree with loads of what you said and my preference for the Spyder isn't because I don't like the GT4 - I do, very much , it's a very good car (but frustratingly, with a very annoying internal soundtrack) and if my priority was a track car then I would choose GT4. All I'm saying is, for my end use, as a road car, I prefer the Spyder :

In the real world it's plenty quick enough.

The chassis gives a lovely balance of poise and fun.

It sounds brilliant all the time.

You can take the roof off - it sounds even better.

The GT4's transmission whine just keeps reminding me that the engine was a compromise - it's hard to explain - In the Spyder the engine just feels more honest - it's not trying to pretend it's something it's not .

Actually god knows - I just think I prefer the Spyder - doesn't mean the GT4's not good - it's great - I also think the GT4 is a beautiful car : happy and lucky to have both.

Off for a nice cuppa

[TDT]

RSVP911 said:

The GT4's transmission whine just keeps reminding me that the engine was a compromise - it's hard to explain - In the Spyder the engine just feels more honest - it's not trying to pretend it's something it's not .

For me, GT4 the transmission whine, and other brutal mechanical noises remind me of the measures took Porsche when turning a 981 into a GT product... a reminder of the stripping of sound deadening materials to add lightness. It sounds like a car for the track... primary purpose being going fast and being bomb-proof. And if you like that sort of thing like me. it adds a little to the sense of occasion... 'yeah because, race car!lol '

I'll admit - the engine sound is something I've gotten used to, then appreciate and now love. I came from a Cayman GTS - that thing was beautiful sounding, and so smooth.. almost synthesised...after nearly three years... it started to become a bit transparent and thin ... all the mechanical sounds had been carefully filtered... the pops, burble and bangs a bit conceited, but, all well and good for the road.

As for the 981 Spyder.. would be interested in hearing that first hand.. imagine it to be a bit of a blend of the two.

Edited by TDT on Monday 21st August 17:48

[daro911]

TDT said:

RSVP911 said:

As for the 981 Spyder.. would be interested in hearing that first hand.. imagine it to be a bit of a blend of the two.

Last week I spent 3 hours at PEC split 50% on track and balance on the roads in a 991 GTS 2 wheel drive PDK and whilst the power and delivery on track was awesome and super fast as 450 bhp should be on my hour travelling in the real world country lanes dual carriageways etc the horses could no longer be stretched the usable power made it no quicker than my Spyder but because the sound track from the PSE on was far too low volume and subdued compared to the scream of the n/a 3.8L I concluded for my dry weather weekend thrills the Spyder won hands down not to mention the £50k ++ price difference

Had the GTS been a Cabrio I might not have found the quiet PSE so disappointing although we did have the windows down and it was still like chalk & cheese to my ears

Also much preferred my folding buckets to the 14 way armchairs on the GTS

[av185]

Nice red stitching......smooth leather bits too!

Same inside spec as mine bar steering column leather.

Always found it strange that Porsche did matching stitching on the arm rest on the Spyder but not GT4 and matching stitching on the GT4 steering wheel and gear lever gaitor but not on the Spyder.

[RSVP911]

TDT said:

RSVP911 said:

The GT4's transmission whine just keeps reminding me that the engine was a compromise - it's hard to explain - In the Spyder the engine just feels more honest - it's not trying to pretend it's something it's not .

For me, GT4 the transmission whine, and other brutal mechanical noises remind me of the measures took Porsche when turning a 981 into a GT product... a reminder of the stripping of sound deadening materials to add lightness. It sounds like a car for the track... primary purpose being going fast and being bomb-proof. And if you like that sort of thing like me. it adds a little to the sense of occasion... 'yeah because, race car!lol '

I'll admit - the engine sound is something I've gotten used to, then appreciate and now love.

Edited by TDT on Monday 21st August 17:48

This is good - need to re frame it in my head - this may help - I have to admit it does really bother me - I'm quite angry about it as other than this I absolutely love the car - must try harder !!!

[Twinfan]

TDT said:

For me, GT4 the transmission whine, and other brutal mechanical noises remind me of the measures took Porsche when turning a 981 into a GT product... a reminder of the stripping of sound deadening materials to add lightness. It sounds like a car for the track... primary purpose being going fast and being bomb-proof. And if you like that sort of thing like me. it adds a little to the sense of occasion... 'yeah because, race car!lol '

I didn't have to do what sounds like convincing myself with the GT3RSs that I've driven, they just sounded and felt glorious full stop. The GT4 I thought just sounded and felt 'rough' and not in a good way, unlike the mechanical awesomeness of a proper GT engine. I think the strangled nature of it comes across too much for my liking.

Each to their own though, and I know I'm in a minority when it comes to the GT4. Interestingly in GT Porsche this month there's an article on the Sharkwerks GT4 project and the author had exactly the same thoughts as me about the standard car...

Edited by Twinfan on Monday 21st August 20:51

[RSVP911]

Twinfan said:

TDT said:

For me, GT4 the transmission whine, and other brutal mechanical noises remind me of the measures took Porsche when turning a 981 into a GT product... a reminder of the stripping of sound deadening materials to add lightness. It sounds like a car for the track... primary purpose being going fast and being bomb-proof. And if you like that sort of thing like me. it adds a little to the sense of occasion... 'yeah because, race car!lol '

I didn't have to do what sounds like convincing myself with the GT3RSs that I've driven, they just sounded and felt glorious full stop. The GT4 I thought just sounded and felt 'rough' and not in a good way, unlike the mechanical awesomeness of a proper GT engine. I think the strangled nature of it comes across too much for my liking.

Each to their own though, and I know I'm in a minority when it comes to the GT4. Interestingly in GT Porsche this month there's an article on the Sharkwerks GT4 project and the author had exactly the same thoughts as me about the standard car...

Edited by Twinfan on Monday 21st August 20:51

I was going to mention that the 997.2 / 991RS both sound awesome but I thought It was churlish, so I didn't.........oh st , I think I just did, bugger

[champ19ns]

Twinfan said:

I didn't have to do what sounds like convincing myself with the GT3RSs that I've driven, they just sounded and felt glorious full stop. The GT4 I thought just sounded and felt 'rough' and not in a good way, unlike the mechanical awesomeness of a proper GT engine. I think the strangled nature of it comes across too much for my liking.

Each to their own though, and I know I'm in a minority when it comes to the GT4. Interestingly in GT Porsche this month there's an article on the Sharkwerks GT4 project and the author had exactly the same thoughts as me about the standard car...

Edited by Twinfan on Monday 21st August 20:51

He's hardly going to say that the standard car was fine and that Sharkwerks made no improvement over standard now is he?

[Twinfan]

No, but he could have said it went from excellent to awesome. He specifically states about the standard GT4 that he "was left decidedly cold by the car's engine and drivetrain", as indeed I was.

[daro911]

av185 said:

Always found it strange that Porsche did matching stitching on the arm rest on the Spyder but not GT4 and matching stitching on the GT4 steering wheel and gear lever gaitor but not on the Spyder.

Could it be because the Spyder is made in Stuttgart alongside the 911's and the GT4's are made at one of the newer plants with differing skill sets in the sewing department

[Geoff39GL]

Twinfan said:

No, but he could have said it went from excellent to awesome. He specifically states about the standard GT4 that he "was left decidedly cold by the car's engine and drivetrain", as indeed I was.

If the next gen GT4 gets the 4 litre engine as has been suggested then hopefully all will be sorted
Assuming you are able to buy one !!

[TDT]

Twinfan said:

I didn't have to do what sounds like convincing myself with the GT3RSs that I've driven, they just sounded and felt glorious full stop. The GT4 I thought just sounded and felt 'rough' and not in a good way, unlike the mechanical awesomeness of a proper GT engine. I think the strangled nature of it comes across too much for my liking.

Each to their own though, and I know I'm in a minority when it comes to the GT4. Interestingly in GT Porsche this month there's an article on the Sharkwerks GT4 project and the author had exactly the same thoughts as me about the standard car...

Edited by Twinfan on Monday 21st August 20:51

Nothing to do with convincing myself - I was just explaining my personal experience. Other cars can sound better - did I wish the GT4 had its own truly bespoke exotic engine like a highly strung out 3.4 or 3.6 to make the same 385hp or so... of course - and I said so at the time - but then the car might never have existed, and it is fit for the intended purpose. What if we ended up dealing with 991.1 GT3 type issues on the GT4? - the rep of the car would have been killed in the cot. It was a v1 product to fill a gap in a particular fashion and test the market - and it did that - it terms of performance and price at list, and even still at current market prices. Good thing is that we have a choice.
Will be interesting to see what drivetrain is included in the next gen/version... lots of talk about a detuned GT3 4.0, how will that be priced considering a GTS with the 4-banger and 370hp-ish will be late 50k's to early £60k's, right? or will it come with a power-kit x51 3.8?
Owners will continue to enjoy driving until announcements are made.