Thinking of a GT4 - parking sensors?
Discussion
I'm currently considering jumping in to GT4 ownership.
I currently have a very low miles 981 Cayman S and it's loaded with options, including front / rear parking sensors, which I find incredibly useful. This option in particular seems to be very rare on the GT4, (seen a couple with rear sensors), and I'm just wondering if owners miss having it? If I do decide to purchase, the car won't be a true daily although it's not going to be a garage queen either so such an option might be more useful based on the greater frequency of use. Alternatively, can these be a retrofit?
The only other thing holding me back slightly is for circa £45k+ above what I'll get for the S, am I going to get as much enjoyment, (the odd track day aside), out of the GT4 on UK roads as I do out of my S and in a lesser specc'd car at that, at least in terms of comfort and convenience? Took the S out the weekend before last after its winter lay up and couldn't stop smiling as I'd forgotten how immediate, sharp and involving the whole experience is. So I need the GT4 to blow me away in those terms, if not in outright performance.
Any advice welcome!
I currently have a very low miles 981 Cayman S and it's loaded with options, including front / rear parking sensors, which I find incredibly useful. This option in particular seems to be very rare on the GT4, (seen a couple with rear sensors), and I'm just wondering if owners miss having it? If I do decide to purchase, the car won't be a true daily although it's not going to be a garage queen either so such an option might be more useful based on the greater frequency of use. Alternatively, can these be a retrofit?
The only other thing holding me back slightly is for circa £45k+ above what I'll get for the S, am I going to get as much enjoyment, (the odd track day aside), out of the GT4 on UK roads as I do out of my S and in a lesser specc'd car at that, at least in terms of comfort and convenience? Took the S out the weekend before last after its winter lay up and couldn't stop smiling as I'd forgotten how immediate, sharp and involving the whole experience is. So I need the GT4 to blow me away in those terms, if not in outright performance.
Any advice welcome!
I don't think parking sensors were an option on the GT4. I think a reversing camera was on the 991.2 GT3 but no sensors. Retrofit is going to be tricky and would kill any chance of a Porsche extended warranty now and in the future. Not to mention resale on that basis.
Only you can decide if the extra £45k of the GT4 is worth it to you, but getting a test drive might be difficult. I chose to take a GT4 out for half a day at the PEC to really try one out back to back with my GTS. Here's the thread I put up shortly afterwards:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Only you can decide if the extra £45k of the GT4 is worth it to you, but getting a test drive might be difficult. I chose to take a GT4 out for half a day at the PEC to really try one out back to back with my GTS. Here's the thread I put up shortly afterwards:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Twinfan said:
I don't think parking sensors were an option on the GT4. I think a reversing camera was on the 991.2 GT3 but no sensors. Retrofit is going to be tricky and would kill any chance of a Porsche extended warranty now and in the future. Not to mention resale on that basis.
Only you can decide if the extra £45k of the GT4 is worth it to you, but getting a test drive might be difficult. I chose to take a GT4 out for half a day at the PEC to really try one out back to back with my GTS. Here's the thread I put up shortly afterwards:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Great read that (thank you) and without having even test driven a GT4 yet, some of your comments are, rightly or wrongly, echoing my own pre-conceptions. Only you can decide if the extra £45k of the GT4 is worth it to you, but getting a test drive might be difficult. I chose to take a GT4 out for half a day at the PEC to really try one out back to back with my GTS. Here's the thread I put up shortly afterwards:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
The S isn't a GTS granted but a little bit less power and looks aside, it ain't far off, so your post is still very valid. And I just can't get past the options I currently have either which tick so many boxes. I also have a Caterham R500D and modified Clio Cup for track work, (which I can rag to the limit without concern), so it's the GT4's on-the road presence and manners that would have to really impress me and above and beyond what I have currently. I fear UK roads would make the experience frustrating more often than not and we are not all blessed with the open roads that the reviewers are lucky enough to use.
Difficult choice. I have the means and am a firm believer in 'you only live once' and all that and if I didn't have a Cayman already I wouldn't be hesitating. But maybe there's enough of a nagging doubt to keep the wallet closed and just enjoy what I have for now at least.
If by "on road presence" you mean "people looking at my car" then the GT4 is going to be noticed more than a 981 S for sure. That isn't an attraction for me, I was looking purely at the abilities of the two cars. "Road manners" I found to be broadly similar at road speeds, it's only when you turn the wick up that the GT4 came into its own. As I put in my post, you can't do that on the road though so the increased ability is wasted unless you track it.
It's also worth noting that fuel economy on the GT4 can be pretty bad, certainly worse than your S.
It sounds like you need to get a test drive to make your mind up, and the PEC car is still there as far as I know.
It's also worth noting that fuel economy on the GT4 can be pretty bad, certainly worse than your S.
It sounds like you need to get a test drive to make your mind up, and the PEC car is still there as far as I know.
JustCallMeMac said:
Great read that (thank you) and without having even test driven a GT4 yet, some of your comments are, rightly or wrongly, echoing my own pre-conceptions.
The S isn't a GTS granted but a little bit less power and looks aside, it ain't far off, so your post is still very valid. And I just can't get past the options I currently have either which tick so many boxes. I also have a Caterham R500D and modified Clio Cup for track work, (which I can rag to the limit without concern), so it's the GT4's on-the road presence and manners that would have to really impress me and above and beyond what I have currently. I fear UK roads would make the experience frustrating more often than not and we are not all blessed with the open roads that the reviewers are lucky enough to use.
Difficult choice. I have the means and am a firm believer in 'you only live once' and all that and if I didn't have a Cayman already I wouldn't be hesitating. But maybe there's enough of a nagging doubt to keep the wallet closed and just enjoy what I have for now at least.
You should try a GT4 on normal road surfaces. Around the roads near the PEC Silverstone, particularly Dadford Road to Stowe, the ride was jiggley and the car rarely settled. Great on track but The S isn't a GTS granted but a little bit less power and looks aside, it ain't far off, so your post is still very valid. And I just can't get past the options I currently have either which tick so many boxes. I also have a Caterham R500D and modified Clio Cup for track work, (which I can rag to the limit without concern), so it's the GT4's on-the road presence and manners that would have to really impress me and above and beyond what I have currently. I fear UK roads would make the experience frustrating more often than not and we are not all blessed with the open roads that the reviewers are lucky enough to use.
Difficult choice. I have the means and am a firm believer in 'you only live once' and all that and if I didn't have a Cayman already I wouldn't be hesitating. But maybe there's enough of a nagging doubt to keep the wallet closed and just enjoy what I have for now at least.
lacks compliance on UK road surfaces. IMHO
As said above no parking sensor option on a GT4....which I think is a shame as I think they would be really useful when manouvering in tight spaces (rear vision is tricky with a GT4).
For me the GT4 is the perfect tool for touring to and from track days. Gets me there and back in comfort, loads of storage space, lovely to drive and very capable/enjoyable on track. If I only wanted a fun road toy to enjoy at sensible speeds I would have kept my Cayman R. It had rear parking sensors too!!
For me the GT4 is the perfect tool for touring to and from track days. Gets me there and back in comfort, loads of storage space, lovely to drive and very capable/enjoyable on track. If I only wanted a fun road toy to enjoy at sensible speeds I would have kept my Cayman R. It had rear parking sensors too!!
gtsralph said:
You should try a GT4 on normal road surfaces. Around the roads near the PEC Silverstone, particularly Dadford Road to Stowe, the ride was jiggley and the car rarely settled. Great on track but
lacks compliance on UK road surfaces. IMHO
Don't know when you went down that road but it's been resurfaced in parts recently, so not the test it once was. Trun right at Stowe and through Water Stratford and you'll get a better idea. lacks compliance on UK road surfaces. IMHO
PaulAlex said:
Just watch the 2015 Evo Car of The Year film on YouTube and get it done 
I have done many times. It's addictive. If only I had roads like that around here! Decision made and I'm sticking with what I have. She took me an age to find and with so many options I'd also be giving up a lot. Gonna let my head rule my heart on this one for once but to console myself I'm going to freshen her up a bit starting with a wrap as I'm losing the will to live trying to maintain Basalt Black every day. Maybe I'll make her my project.
RBT0 said:
Great thread.
Can I throw a curved ball?
Got a 981CGTS, x73 pdk and buckets.
Not decided between 718 GT4 pdk (lets say 420 bhp..) and .2 GT3 pdk.
Thoughts?
I feel the 718 may not be a huge step forward.....but it may reveal to be a great .2 GT3 contender as lighter and only 80bhp less?
For the cost to change… my money would be gong into the .2 GT3. Much more car, much more of a difference. Can I throw a curved ball?
Got a 981CGTS, x73 pdk and buckets.
Not decided between 718 GT4 pdk (lets say 420 bhp..) and .2 GT3 pdk.
Thoughts?
I feel the 718 may not be a huge step forward.....but it may reveal to be a great .2 GT3 contender as lighter and only 80bhp less?
gtsralph said:
You should try a GT4 on normal road surfaces. Around the roads near the PEC Silverstone, particularly Dadford Road to Stowe, the ride was jiggley and the car rarely settled. Great on track but
lacks compliance on UK road surfaces. IMHO
Interesting and I have to say I'm a bit surprised by that. I think the 9X1 cars are pretty well damped in general. They do feel firm especially at low speeds but I can't say I ever thought the gt4 lacked compliance and the gen1 RS even more so.lacks compliance on UK road surfaces. IMHO
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