GT4 - 982 - Questions and advice

[ThisInJapanese]

So the shuffling on the driveway continues. I'm now looking GT4s (982 variant). I've been in my friends and I've test driven one, so now I'm trying to work out what's important in terms of options (I know this is personal though...) and have a couple of other questions.

Are smokers pack as an option that common? I would hate to think a car has been smoked in, but the dealer supplying the one I've driven said that it was a common option due to it adding an additional power point in the cabin.

Was the Clubsport package, just the roll cage or where there other changes to the car?

I assume re-trimming an Alcantara wheel is no different to re-trimming a leather wheel? This one has a yellow line at 12 o'clock and it looks worn out and tired.

One thing I've noticed, is that a lot of the manual cars have had lots of owners, most of the ones in the Porsche network at 4+ owners. Is there a reason for this? Are they typically ordered to get into the GT order club? (This is exactly what happened to my mate!)

Also, anything else in general that's worth looking out for?

[GT4P]

Smokers pack was optioned by many on 981/718 as a way of getting the extra 12v socket.
GT cars tend to have many owners due to flippers and those who want their sports cars to drive like saloons.
Options apart from the ceramic brakes don t alter the driving experience but even then there is for and against.
Most importantly you need to know what seats suit you best as the 918 style buckets not every one gets on with.
Manual or PDK is personal but for me the manual is the one to go for and most likely more sort after in the future.
Finally take your time looking for the right car and don t be afraid to go private if it s the right car and has warranty and avoid garage queens as they will be the most problematic if keeping long term.
Depending on how you use the car ie not doing track days then the 4.0 GTS maybe a better fit and 95% of a gt4 only difference negligible hp , suspension (the sports suspension on GTS is not bad in comparison)and some spoilers.Still some new cars out there with deals to be had coming up to end of year( double digit % discounts should be obtainable)
I would also add avoid tracked cars as not all are treated with mechanical sympathy.

[BAMoFo]

As well as a roll cage the Clubsport option includes a fire extinguisher and a harness on the driver’s side. The chassis is slightly different to incorporate the mounting points for the roll cage. I have owned a Clubsport and non Clubsport (both with bucket seats) and barely noticed the roll cage during normal road use.

[ThisInJapanese]

BAMoFo said:

As well as a roll cage the Clubsport option includes a fire extinguisher and a harness on the driver s side. The chassis is slightly different to incorporate the mounting points for the roll cage. I have owned a Clubsport and non Clubsport (both with bucket seats) and barely noticed the roll cage during normal road use.

Thanks. The one I've driven had a roll cage but no fire extinguisher or harnesses. Was that an configuration that could be optioned?

[ThisInJapanese]

GT4P said:

Smokers pack was optioned by many on 981/718 as a way of getting the extra 12v socket.
GT cars tend to have many owners due to flippers and those who want their sports cars to drive like saloons.
Options apart from the ceramic brakes don t alter the driving experience but even then there is for and against.
Most importantly you need to know what seats suit you best as the 918 style buckets not every one gets on with.
Manual or PDK is personal but for me the manual is the one to go for and most likely more sort after in the future.
Finally take your time looking for the right car and don t be afraid to go private if it s the right car and has warranty and avoid garage queens as they will be the most problematic if keeping long term.
Depending on how you use the car ie not doing track days then the 4.0 GTS maybe a better fit and 95% of a gt4 only difference negligible hp , suspension (the sports suspension on GTS is not bad in comparison)and some spoilers.Still some new cars out there with deals to be had coming up to end of year( double digit % discounts should be obtainable)
I would also add avoid tracked cars as not all are treated with mechanical sympathy.

Thanks, very useful.

Manual is the only non-negotiable option for me. The one I've driven was manual and it's very nice. It also had the buckets which were very nice, much nicer than the standard ones on my Alpine (I optioned the comfort seats in that).

I've mulled over the GTS as an option, but I won't want the Cayman as I'd go towards the Boxster as it'll add something different. I will hopefully track the car a couple of times a year.

[BAMoFo]

ThisInJapanese said:

BAMoFo said:

As well as a roll cage the Clubsport option includes a fire extinguisher and a harness on the driver s side. The chassis is slightly different to incorporate the mounting points for the roll cage. I have owned a Clubsport and non Clubsport (both with bucket seats) and barely noticed the roll cage during normal road use.

Thanks. The one I've driven had a roll cage but no fire extinguisher or harnesses. Was that a configuration that could be optioned?

I think that the harness and fire extinguisher are fitted by the supplying OPC. I have heard of cars where they have not been fitted, but they should still have been supplied with the car because they are included in the Clubsport option. For example, Lewis Hamilton sold his GT4RS last year and neither of these items were fitted, but were supplied as part of the sale https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2022-porsche-7... Note that only the driver’s side harness lis supplied as standard with the Clubsport package; passenger side harness was available as another optional extra.

[CDR]

BAMoFo said:

I think that the harness and fire extinguisher are fitted by the supplying OPC. I have heard of cars where they have not been fitted, but they should still have been supplied with the car because they are included in the Clubsport option. For example, Lewis Hamilton sold his GT4RS last year and neither of these items were fitted, but were supplied as part of the sale https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2022-porsche-7... Note that only the driver s side harness lis supplied as standard with the Clubsport package; passenger side harness was available as another optional extra.

The harness(s) and the fire extinguisher are delivered with the car in a box, and can be installed free of charge at the time of delivery. If the harnesses are subsequently installed by an OPC, it is an expensive job, because the seats need to come out.

[ThisInJapanese]

BAMoFo said:

ThisInJapanese said:

BAMoFo said:

As well as a roll cage the Clubsport option includes a fire extinguisher and a harness on the driver s side. The chassis is slightly different to incorporate the mounting points for the roll cage. I have owned a Clubsport and non Clubsport (both with bucket seats) and barely noticed the roll cage during normal road use.

Thanks. The one I've driven had a roll cage but no fire extinguisher or harnesses. Was that a configuration that could be optioned?

I think that the harness and fire extinguisher are fitted by the supplying OPC. I have heard of cars where they have not been fitted, but they should still have been supplied with the car because they are included in the Clubsport option. For example, Lewis Hamilton sold his GT4RS last year and neither of these items were fitted, but were supplied as part of the sale https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2022-porsche-7... Note that only the driver s side harness lis supplied as standard with the Clubsport package; passenger side harness was available as another optional extra.

That's interesting. I didn't have the greatest feeling about the car I drove. It's missing an MOT and this is another little oddity.

[CraigInnes]

Good one here right now (non Clubsport):

https://theautolounge.co.uk/stock/porsche-718-caym...

[BlackTails]

BAMoFo said:

barely noticed the roll cage during normal road use.

A counterpoint: I occasionally noticed the roll cage in mine because it would sometimes flex with a fairly loud “donk” noise. The first time I heard it I thought something expensive had failed! Then I realised the car was no different, did some googling, and discovered the flexing roll cage noise.

Harness(es) and the bracket and the extinguisher can all be sourced for a clubsport that doesn’t have them, but they aren’t cheap, and as has already been said the seats have to come out to fit the harnesses as the anchor points are welded to the chassis.

And the harnesses are not recommended for road driving unless you never ever have to lean forward at a junction to get a sight line.