Self specced GT4 PDK vs 991.1 GT3

[blz06]

Price wise they are quite close, maybe .1 GT3 is a tad less to buy and a bit more to run. Want to hear what you guys think or what would you choose? Currently drive a 981 GTS.

To be used for weekend drives/summer trips and occasional track days.

Thanks

[MDL111]

I would take the 991 I think. While it has engine issues I am not sure the GT4 / Spyder don’t also have some given I was at a track day last week where a spyder engine let go
Any 911 GT3 is quite a special car and the 991 sounds great imo

[blz06]

MDL111 said:

I would take the 991 I think. While it has engine issues I am not sure the GT4 / Spyder don’t also have some given I was at a track day last week where a spyder engine let go
Any 911 GT3 is quite a special car and the 991 sounds great imo

Yeah, the sounds are definitely far apart. Agree that gen 1 GT3 will have its place along the road, not sure how special a GT4 will be going forward but we never know.

[anonymous-user]

blz06 said:

Price wise they are quite close, maybe .1 GT3 is a tad less to buy and a bit more to run. Want to hear what you guys think or what would you choose? Currently drive a 981 GTS.

To be used for weekend drives/summer trips and occasional track days.

Thanks

Engine, gearing, sound, rear vs mid engine layout.

9K RPM, better gearing, better sound, personal preference.

If you decide on the GT3, check warranty, some of the last cars had the engine put in directly at factory versus out at dealer and this will impact the warranty which I think was 10 years on the engine replaced cars. I can't remember if it was 10 from recall date or topped up to 10 based on when the car was delivered. But the 992 platform is a relatively new powerplant, particularly the 9A2 iteration in the GT4 so not sure what long term will be like.

I feel that Porsche made a dog's dinner of the 718 series or is that the 718 Cayman GT4 or is the 982. The fraudulent links to the original 718 and that 4-pot were the beginning but in fairness, dynamically and pace wise, no issue, but if you buy a Porsche, you want a flat six IMHO. For me, the sound is important. OPF makes everything sound strangled and the sound is very thin.

The 981 GT4 felt like a skunkworks project that got let out the gate. There was a sense that they'd taken a risk. 718 feels more cynical, greater numbers, PDK, manual. I think from a residuals perspective, you'll do better in the GT3 if you have a good spec.

718 will feel more modern - not a great deal on from the 981 in design but with PCM4 and Car Play + LED lights, a few more luxury options if that's your thing.

Tough choice. Easier on the 991.2 GT3 where it's obvious for me.

[blz06]

Mutema said:

Engine, gearing, sound, rear vs mid engine layout.

9K RPM, better gearing, better sound, personal preference.

If you decide on the GT3, check warranty, some of the last cars had the engine put in directly at factory versus out at dealer and this will impact the warranty which I think was 10 years on the engine replaced cars. I can't remember if it was 10 from recall date or topped up to 10 based on when the car was delivered. But the 992 platform is a relatively new powerplant, particularly the 9A2 iteration in the GT4 so not sure what long term will be like.

I feel that Porsche made a dog's dinner of the 718 series or is that the 718 Cayman GT4 or is the 982. The fraudulent links to the original 718 and that 4-pot were the beginning but in fairness, dynamically and pace wise, no issue, but if you buy a Porsche, you want a flat six IMHO. For me, the sound is important. OPF makes everything sound strangled and the sound is very thin.

The 981 GT4 felt like a skunkworks project that got let out the gate. There was a sense that they'd taken a risk. 718 feels more cynical, greater numbers, PDK, manual. I think from a residuals perspective, you'll do better in the GT3 if you have a good spec.

718 will feel more modern - not a great deal on from the 981 in design but with PCM4 and Car Play + LED lights, a few more luxury options if that's your thing.

Tough choice. Easier on the 991.2 GT3 where it's obvious for me.

haha .2 GT3 would be a no-brainer but the jump in price tag...

Thanks a lot for the detailed breakdown

[MDL111]

I heard a 981 GT4 on track yesterday but was not sure if it was a club sport (it was in the road car group m, so should have been a normal one) - it did sound amazing and about as loud (and better) than the Performante that followed it

[Mankers]

Sounds like you need a test drive.

My vote for 991 GT3, epic car and an event to drive. That engine, wow!

991.1 GT3 has 10 yr engine warranty from date of the cars manufacture (plenty info on Rennlist etc). Usual Porsche warranty can be extended beyond 10 yrs (to 15yrs).

[blz06]

Mankers said:

Sounds like you need a test drive.

My vote for 991 GT3, epic car and an event to drive. That engine, wow!

991.1 GT3 has 10 yr engine warranty from date of the cars manufacture (plenty info on Rennlist etc). Usual Porsche warranty can be extended beyond 10 yrs (to 15yrs).

Not sure how to go about and ask for a test drive on 718 GT4. My OPC doesn't have a demo. My PDK GT4 spec is already with them and freezing period starts in a week..

I have driven the GT3, btb with some other random cars - it was addictive and easily the best motor on that day. Hence the hesitation now....

[blz06]

MDL111 said:

I heard a 981 GT4 on track yesterday but was not sure if it was a club sport (it was in the road car group m, so should have been a normal one) - it did sound amazing and about as loud (and better) than the Performante that followed it

No doubt about that. 981s are in general great sounding, my GTS screems sensationally not to mention GT4.

Never saw or heard a 718 GT4 in flesh, but enough said on web

[MannyLon]

blz06 said:

No doubt about that. 981s are in general great sounding, my GTS screems sensationally not to mention GT4.

Never saw or heard a 718 GT4 in flesh, but enough said on web

718s do get louder as the filters wear in. Most people go for after market exhausts.

[Dr S]

blz06 said:

Mankers said:

Sounds like you need a test drive.

My vote for 991 GT3, epic car and an event to drive. That engine, wow!

991.1 GT3 has 10 yr engine warranty from date of the cars manufacture (plenty info on Rennlist etc). Usual Porsche warranty can be extended beyond 10 yrs (to 15yrs).

Not sure how to go about and ask for a test drive on 718 GT4. My OPC doesn't have a demo. My PDK GT4 spec is already with them and freezing period starts in a week..

I have driven the GT3, btb with some other random cars - it was addictive and easily the best motor on that day. Hence the hesitation now....

The GT3 is a fantastic car - amazing value for money. As much as I like the GT4 - and it's truly brilliant, the GT3 is a very different experience. Personally, i'd go GT3 (for the 1.1 with appropriate warranty) any day of the week if I could stretch to it

[blz06]

Quite clear most hearts here are with GT3

So what sort of things we should look out for when sourcing a .1 GT3?

[MannyLon]

Have people driven both cars in order to comment?

[AndyC_123]

I'm glad you've made this topic - saw a GT4 yesterday on the road and thought it looked smart. Have casually been looking for a GT3 beforehand.

Got to admit though, all these numbers confuse me...

So 991 is the current Carrera with .1 being first gen and .2 being current?

And the GT4... the 718 is previous model and 981 current?

[MannyLon]

AndyC_123 said:

I'm glad you've made this topic - saw a GT4 yesterday on the road and thought it looked smart. Have casually been looking for a GT3 beforehand.

Got to admit though, all these numbers confuse me...

So 991 is the current Carrera with .1 being first gen and .2 being current?

And the GT4... the 718 is previous model and 981 current?

718 or 982 is the current GT4.

[blz06]

MannyLon said:

Have people driven both cars in order to comment?

Maybe not many. More likely ppl have driven the 991.1 GT3 since it's been around for quite a while. I haven't even see a 718 GT4 in flesh before placing an order. Supposedly you shouldn't expect to go through the process of test drive - spec the car on a big screen?

With these cars you do it when you are told you can

[Xyphox]

MannyLon said:

Have people driven both cars in order to comment?

I own a 991.1 GT3 now and previously owned a GT4. I did near 10k miles in the GT4 and have done about 3k thus far in the GT3.

Without going into the intricacies of each car too much, the GT3 is a full-fat car compared to the diet GT4. You may think that they drive similar but that couldn't be less true - the GT3 is hardcore in comparison with its characteristic clunks and rattles, 9k redline and full-GT screamer engine.

Absolutely no contest for me - go for the GT3. They seem like great value at the moment as stated.

[Twinfan]

You haven't driven the 718 GT4 though, the OP will need someone who's driven one to make a like-for-like comparison. The engine and chassis tweaks make a difference, although I suspect the GT3's engine and 911-ness would be preferably if you're going for a PDK car.

[TDT]

For the same money, 991.1 GT3 is ALOT of car, performance and experience..... I’d say probably still more than a PDK 718 GT4... but GT4 will be much easier to extract that performance from more of the time.

Question is if you prefer mid-engine v rear engine.
Then it’s the ages of the cars and warranty etc.
Also 718 is just a newer car.
8k vs full fat 9k...but bear in mind all the performance is delivered by about 8300 anyway.

I think I’d probably just about edged to go PDK 718 GT4, put some KW Clubsports 3-way and maybe rear silencer( this wouldn’t not a priority really for me). Just because Cayman platform is a traditional sport car layout, and no centre-Locks car is newer.
But only just.

Edited by TDT on Wednesday 16th September 13:25

[robj4]

Xyphox said:

MannyLon said:

Have people driven both cars in order to comment?

I own a 991.1 GT3 now and previously owned a GT4. I did near 10k miles in the GT4 and have done about 3k thus far in the GT3.

Without going into the intricacies of each car too much, the GT3 is a full-fat car compared to the diet GT4. You may think that they drive similar but that couldn't be less true - the GT3 is hardcore in comparison with its characteristic clunks and rattles, 9k redline and full-GT screamer engine.

Absolutely no contest for me - go for the GT3. They seem like great value at the moment as stated.

I had a 981 GTS (twice) that I specced from new and tried two 981 GT4's (how stupid is that), then settled on a 991.2 GT3. So not exactly as per the OP choices and how each of us enjoy or dislike certain cars is very much individual of course. However I found the GT4 too harsh and the clutch too stiff for me to enjoy it on the road. The additional noise from the engine directly behind you and the short top gear meant that my wife and I didn't really use it for road trips.

The clutch on the 718 GT4 that I tried is just like a shopping car so that wouldn't be an issue now and it only was on the 981 because I have a bike injury with a stiff weak left ankle.

My .2 GT3 has PDK and with the engine further back we can use it for road trips, even though it has the same low top gear, just a small difference but for us it makes a big change in how we use it.

I tracked the CGTS once at Spa and it was great fun but didn't leave me wanting to do it again. Never tracked the GT4's as I knew I wouldn't be able to change gear so frequently without being left in pain. I've tracked the GT3 twice with more to come and it's completely addictive, the car is just epic on a track and huge fun. So much so that a friend who races F3 tried my car at Donnington and went straight out and bought one.

In summary and a very, very personal opinion; Unless you intend to track the GT3 I'd consider sticking with the 981 GTS. I've never driven anything that was such a sweet spot for road use, it does it all and let's you really enjoy it without going 200 leptons as Dr911R might say. (Although he'd also point out I am a w@**+r for having a PDK) Then you can cruise along the motorway when you have to and have a conversation in it!

Apparently the .1 GT3 is slightly more comfy on the road though, some extra sound deadening that was removed on the .2 to compensate for some weight addition to the body?

Good luck!