Porsche Cayman GT4
Discussion
After much deliberation I've decided to add another weekend warrior / track day weapon to the stable - a Porsche Cayman GT4.
The Lotus 311 is truly epic but a car without a roof is somewhat limited in this country, although it hasn't been too much of a problem this summer. Indeed, I've been able to cover just over 2,000 miles in it since collection in April, and tick off track days at Goodwood and Castle Combe in it to boot. The Nurburgring is also planned at the end of August but, again, it will be weather dependent.
The McLaren 12C just isn't cut out for regular track day action in my opinion (I won't go into detail why I think this on this message board but, in a nutshell, I had a bad experience when a coolant pipe failed at high speed at the Ring - the seeds of doubt have been sown, in this mind at least).
So, after considering all my options and reading all the write-ups, I've taken the plunge and re-joined the Stuttgart fold (I've previously had the pleasure of running a Cayman R, 997 GT3RS and 997 GT2), but recently I've wanted to try some performance car offerings from these shores..
I collect the GT4 from Porsche Silverstone on Friday.
Spec:
- Engine: 3,800cc Flat 6
- Power: 380bhp
- Torque: 310lb ft
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Weight: 1,340kg
- 0-62mph 4.4sec
- Top speed 183mph
- Exterior: Agate Grey Metallic
- Interior 1: Carbon and Alcantara + Full Bucket Seats
- Interior 2: Nav, Sport Chrono Pack inc. Porsche Track App, and Sound Package Plus
- Registration date: 12/02/2016
- Mileage: c. 480 miles
The Lotus 311 is truly epic but a car without a roof is somewhat limited in this country, although it hasn't been too much of a problem this summer. Indeed, I've been able to cover just over 2,000 miles in it since collection in April, and tick off track days at Goodwood and Castle Combe in it to boot. The Nurburgring is also planned at the end of August but, again, it will be weather dependent.
The McLaren 12C just isn't cut out for regular track day action in my opinion (I won't go into detail why I think this on this message board but, in a nutshell, I had a bad experience when a coolant pipe failed at high speed at the Ring - the seeds of doubt have been sown, in this mind at least).
So, after considering all my options and reading all the write-ups, I've taken the plunge and re-joined the Stuttgart fold (I've previously had the pleasure of running a Cayman R, 997 GT3RS and 997 GT2), but recently I've wanted to try some performance car offerings from these shores..
I collect the GT4 from Porsche Silverstone on Friday.
Spec:
- Engine: 3,800cc Flat 6
- Power: 380bhp
- Torque: 310lb ft
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Weight: 1,340kg
- 0-62mph 4.4sec
- Top speed 183mph
- Exterior: Agate Grey Metallic
- Interior 1: Carbon and Alcantara + Full Bucket Seats
- Interior 2: Nav, Sport Chrono Pack inc. Porsche Track App, and Sound Package Plus
- Registration date: 12/02/2016
- Mileage: c. 480 miles
I will report back on the Cayman GT4 as soon as I can after collection from Porsche Silverstone on Friday.
I'm looking to sell the McLaren MP4-12C - it's biblically quick but just not my cup of tea.
The Lotus 3-Eleven on the other hand is a keeper. It's just bloody epic! This is it at the Castle Combe race circuit
I'm looking to sell the McLaren MP4-12C - it's biblically quick but just not my cup of tea.
The Lotus 3-Eleven on the other hand is a keeper. It's just bloody epic! This is it at the Castle Combe race circuit
dom9 said:
Great colour, Ben - Still regret not following through with my order!
Around for this one? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Hi Dom, Sun 6 August? I can make it! Lotus or Porsche depending on weather. Ben Around for this one? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Chunkychucky said:
That is awesome, love those seats 
I chatted to you briefly in the paddock at the 'Ring, was worried when I heard you'd suffered a problem on track - glad there was no lasting damage! Enjoy the GT4, i'm very envious 
Thanks. All was well with the McLaren 12C in the end once I'd got it back to McLaren Ascot. All fixed under warranty (eventually). The GT4, however, is in a league apart as far as I'm concerned. I chatted to you briefly in the paddock at the 'Ring, was worried when I heard you'd suffered a problem on track - glad there was no lasting damage! Enjoy the GT4, i'm very envious The GT4 is utterly, utterly brilliant. I've been lucky enough to have owned some precious metal in my time (Aston Martin Vantage V12S, Audi R8 V10 Spyder, BMW 1M, BMW Z3 M Coupe, McLaren MP4-12C, Porsche 997 GT3RS and 997 GT2) but I can safely say, in the short time I've owned it, this Cayman is the best car I've ever owned!
Pro's: handling, steering, engine, sound, brakes, bucket seats, ergonomics, size, interior, user-friendliness, practicality, quality, and integrity.
Con's: long gearing (it's true), heavy clutch in traffic (man up, Ben!) and I've had to pay top dollar for it (but I still think it's worth it).
It's off to have a full detail and paint protection film fitted next week before Destination Nurburgring at the end of August. I can't wait.
Pro's: handling, steering, engine, sound, brakes, bucket seats, ergonomics, size, interior, user-friendliness, practicality, quality, and integrity.
Con's: long gearing (it's true), heavy clutch in traffic (man up, Ben!) and I've had to pay top dollar for it (but I still think it's worth it).
It's off to have a full detail and paint protection film fitted next week before Destination Nurburgring at the end of August. I can't wait.
marky911 said:
Stunning car!
These are literally at the top of my want list if I came in to a bit of money.
My mate had a one in white and I had the pleasure of doing his PEC day with him, in their black one. Awesome cars!
I love the auto blip on downshifts in sport mode. Yes I should learn to heal and toe like all the driving gods on here, but I thought it was cool.
OPC Glasgow have a Guards red one in that I'd love to own. Nevermind..
Enjoy the car you lucky chap. Agate grey looks great on it.
You're absolutely right: you feel you're cheating a bit using the auto blip downshift mode but it's bloody good when you're really "on it"! I think it will come into its own at the Nurburgring. These are literally at the top of my want list if I came in to a bit of money.
My mate had a one in white and I had the pleasure of doing his PEC day with him, in their black one. Awesome cars!
I love the auto blip on downshifts in sport mode. Yes I should learn to heal and toe like all the driving gods on here, but I thought it was cool.
OPC Glasgow have a Guards red one in that I'd love to own. Nevermind..
Enjoy the car you lucky chap. Agate grey looks great on it.
My new GT4 is off to Race by Design next week to be detailed and have a full body paint protection film (PPF) applied before I take it for its first long road trip (its done less than 500 miles in total), which will take in the Nurburgring.
The car originally came with a complete set of decals: nose, roof and back, lower door and rear winglets (see below). Porsche Silverstone decided to remove all the decals except the lower door ones prior to selling me the car. However, I've since decided I quite like them being, as I am, a bit of a tart! I know it's probably OTT but I've asked Silverstone to send me a new set of decals, which they've done, and RbD will happily apply them when they're working their magic on the car.
I understand the decals won't be for everyone on this forum but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. Anyway, if/when I get fed up with them, I can always have them removed again.
The car originally came with a complete set of decals: nose, roof and back, lower door and rear winglets (see below). Porsche Silverstone decided to remove all the decals except the lower door ones prior to selling me the car. However, I've since decided I quite like them being, as I am, a bit of a tart! I know it's probably OTT but I've asked Silverstone to send me a new set of decals, which they've done, and RbD will happily apply them when they're working their magic on the car.
I understand the decals won't be for everyone on this forum but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. Anyway, if/when I get fed up with them, I can always have them removed again.
hermes said:
I also chopped in my 12C for a GT4 (oh, and an Elise 220 Cup!), as the 12C felt like a bit of a ticking time bomb on the bills front.
You might want to consider these if you're protective about such things:
https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r...
Here's mine, btw. It's also completely wrapped, by Topaz.
Lovely car Hermes. Do you regret selling your 12C for the GT4, or was it the right decision? You might want to consider these if you're protective about such things:
https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r...
Here's mine, btw. It's also completely wrapped, by Topaz.
Shiv_P said:
OP you really rate this above your 997 RS you had?
Yes, I rate it over the 997 GT3RS Gen.I I had, but only just (see pic of RS below - it was winter when I took ownership of it back in 2007 but I took it to Le Mans anyway).Everything moves on and, for me, the GT4 just hits the sweet spot between rawness and everyday practicality (although I won't use it everyday). The RS was more "special" for sure and it was, until recently my favourite ever (GT2 included), but the GT4 covers almost every base so brilliantly well.
Of course, if I only had one of them for a weekend I would take the RS, but for a year? I'd take the GT4.
sleepera6 said:
You're certainly not boring. I love reading both you and Luke's writeups on here and on Instagram even though Luke doesn't seem to frequently post here. Has he still got the 911 GT3?
Both with exquisite taste in cars, please do carry on writing these, it brightens up my day
Thank you, that's very kind of you to say. Luke has recently become a father for the first time, which has taken a heavy toll on his commitment to PH! I believe he's now looking to sell the 997 GT3. A Ferrari F12 might be on the cards as a replacement but not for a little while yet. But watch this space..! Both with exquisite taste in cars, please do carry on writing these, it brightens up my day
Took the GT4 to Race by Design in East Grinstead on Saturday to have the car wrapped in protective transparent PPF (expel) and the bonnet, roof, boot and rear wing decals applied - see how it will look below. Now, I know many of you will think it OTT but I think the look is quite racey which is appropriate given it will spend most of its life going to and from race tracks. The decals can be removed in any event. I collect it on 26th August and then take it straight to the Nurburgring for a two-day club event. Should be fun and hopefully more successful than my last trip there in the McLaren 12C!
Point taken chaps but I have never owned a car with a manual 'box that could auto-blip. I've prided myself over the years on committing to a good 'heel-and-toe', although I've always found this hugely dependent on the pedal spacing; in some cars it was easy (like the BMW 1 series M Coupe I had) but others (like the GT4) I'm struggling with, so I'm glad it has this (apparently unexceptional) feature!
No, for me at least, I think its most impressive selling point (and one which perhaps justifies its inflated pre-owned price) is its blistering fast road and track day pace. I'd imagine quick but not professional drivers (like many on PH) will be able to extract more speed out of the GT4 than most supercars, which can be intimidating to drive at 10/10ths. In the GT4 (also the Cayman R I used to own) pushing on to the limits of the car fills you with joy rather than excitement mixed with multiple moments of terror!
Anyway, I'll find out for sure when I take the GT4 to the Nurburgring at the end of the month...
No, for me at least, I think its most impressive selling point (and one which perhaps justifies its inflated pre-owned price) is its blistering fast road and track day pace. I'd imagine quick but not professional drivers (like many on PH) will be able to extract more speed out of the GT4 than most supercars, which can be intimidating to drive at 10/10ths. In the GT4 (also the Cayman R I used to own) pushing on to the limits of the car fills you with joy rather than excitement mixed with multiple moments of terror!
Anyway, I'll find out for sure when I take the GT4 to the Nurburgring at the end of the month...
dom9 said:
Looks fantastic, Ben!
You around this Sunday for a show and tell at the Fairmile?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
No can do I'm afraid Dom - I'm back to work in Brussels on Sunday You around this Sunday for a show and tell at the Fairmile?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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