718 gt4 and spyder

Porsche did a great job, esp on the spyder. could've easily just over boosted the awful sounding gts 4 cyl but went with new Naturally Aspirated! 6 cyl off the 992. and the spyder gets the full gt4 package with same 415 hp and suspension. only 6 sp stick for now but maybe pdk in future. Porsche is saying its up in weight from old ones but that's bc of new regulations on how weights are determined. only 30 kg real world increase but well worth any increase to get rid of that terrible 4 cyl. and its under $100k. much rather have spyder than a used 355, 360, or even 430 spider.

https://www.motor1.com/news/355199/porsche-cayman-boxster-gt4-spyder/

 

The Boxster finally gets a 911 motor. Yay !

 

shocked at how little internet interest there is in this pair. even the Porsche sites are quiet about it. I think its a great car. probably better driver than gt3 with the balance of mid engine. and spyder is way better looking than the 3 times $$ speedster.

 

As a 981 GT4 owner, I'm a bit disappointed in the 718 GT4. Same torque (artificially limited due to transmission, no doubt, but as someone who doesn't mod his cars due to autocross class rules and warranty concerns it's still the same), very similar but slightly worse styling (subjective of course), 30hp more which is nice but not great, an unproven motor, a particulate filter which I fear will not sound near as good as the 981 (which is one of it's greatest attributes), slightly better aero...maybe, but the major downsides of cylinder deactivation and start/stop. I guess while I'm disappointed, I'm also pleased as I feel no desire to upgrade. I hope they make an RS version and will seriously consider one as long as it DOESN'T have cylinder deactivation or start/stop.

 

cannot avoid the cylinder deact as its needed for regulations. ive had it in several cars and can just ignore it. might not sound as good as last gt4 but it will be close and the extra power and rpm will easily make up for that. bigger up grade is to the spyder that gets the full power and suspension of gt4 this time. its a great alternative to those who cant have a speedster. overall, fact that Porsche went to the trouble of making a new na motor is amazing. and with a stick shift too! kudos to Porsche.

 

This isn't a new motor for the GT4 as the 991.2 GT3 also has a 4.0 6 cylinder. Only the recent 982s have had 4 cylinders. The 992 hasn't been proven to have a naturally aspirated option yet either.

 

pretty new anyway. uses same block but im sure it took quite bit of work to get it naturally aspirated. 992 will stay turbo for sure

 

The spyder looks like a great package. I have have a request for an allocation in. My dealer told me to configure a car and send them the code hoping they can use that to get an allocation. Will see if they come through.

 

The Gt4 needed a proper Gt3 derived motor and shorter gearing, that would have been compelling. This car gained weight and complexity, and is once again held back to let the 911/992.2 shine.
Might as well get a 911T.

 

youre being too hard on it. cannot expect gt3 motor in cayman (unless done aftermarket). would kill their biz model. 415 hp at 8k rpm is like a 997 gt3 anyway. no way do i take a 911t over gt4 and i dont think you really would either

 

The 997 Gt3 was a metzger engine which was a completly different animal and the real thing in so many ways, regardless of power.. The 991 and 992 Gt3 motors are based of the casing of the regular motor but very different inside, full of some very lightweight componants, so even if not metzger its once again a very differnt animal. I think a 450hp Gt3 motor and shorter gearing would make the Gt4 truly compelling and far more so than a turbo derived motor with heavier rotational mass stop start and cylinder deacativation, but maybe not, no one has driven the new Gt4 yet so its just speculation.

i get the whole business model thing, and porche are the masters at it and heirachy. By the same token its time to let the cayman breathe, it is a different machine and concept to a 911.. Would I take a 911t over a Gt4, probably, theyre both street cars. A Gt4 clubsport as a pure track machine, thats another story again, but then for 200k track only I probably wouldnt do a heavy porche, says the guy who already spent more than a loaded Gt4 getting a lowly toyota powered lotus to where I want it for track, so its emotion as well as logic, each car having different pieces of each. What a lotus has going for it is light weight being really reactive and raw in a way the well balanced but heavy cayman cant be, even if the Gt4 still has a better motor. A Gt3 motor in cayman, thats to me hard to beat and tiltys the objective and emotional balance into gotta have it.

Not saying the Gt4 is not a cool car or even a great car, because it is a great car, just not compelling as in I gotta have it, because wow..

 

i feel the spyder boxster is a wow car. a have to have it street machine. gt4 is take it or leave it to me as track/street combo. i just love the looks of spyder and i love open top car. would seriously replace elise with one if it had pdk. im tired of stick shift after 40 yrs of it

 

I am in full agreement with you, the spider is a wow car and the Gt4 take it or leave it. I also suspect that by year 2 if not before a pdk will be offered.

Like others I love a stick on the street for its engagement, on track paddles are superior in every way, from speed to the ability to keep both hands on the wheel and concentrate/corner so much better.

 

i love involvement of stick too but traffic where i live has gotten insane. my soon to be 60 yo leg cant take clutch in bumper to bumper anymore. lol

 

What I can say is that I'm not going to be selling my 981 Spyder anytime soon.

 

i like the last spyder too but new one is a nice step up with all the gt4 performance including hp and suspension.

 

I guess I am in the minority, I happen to not mind the 718's 4cyl engine, I have a base (gearshift) and a S PDK, and with a downpipe, exhaust, tune and a few other things added in the base gearshift car is more than you can possibly use on the street. It does not sound like any of my 911's (or any of my other cars), but it is not supposed to. The 718's were not exactly flying off the shelf (since more people listen to reviewers than their own experiences), and putting a 6cyl back into play is just going to make it harder to move the other models. I'd rather have a 718 GT4 than a 360 or a 430.

 

I can say this: the 718s are surprisingly fast on track and in AutoX.

 

Just drove. 4cyl Baxter s on track. The first word that comes to mind is effortless the second is balance. What a well balanced platform, add to that the electronics which took the edge off so much so that it would 4 wheel drift. This in a car that’s used for comuting comfortably and went on Track just fine including the brakes.

Yeah it felt heavy, yeah it was soft, yeah it was a little bland and overboostwd, but that applies to nearly every road car. I could feel the competence of the platform and everything was easy esp the steering .

I would hope the gt4 would be more visceral,
But regardless it’s clear this platform can achieve much.

All the more reason why I would buy a gt4 with revy gt3 motor and short gearing. You know something that feels alive and a bit more raw But for all its competence that’s not the gt4 being made.

Yeah as a road car the spider seems like it will excellent and I’m sure it can track just fine. Spiderman when they make that car with the pdk you won’t go wrong, there will also be some moments when you might miss the lotus, even though the porche will be quicker.

 

So I have a 6sp gated manual 360 Spider (2003).

Is the new 718 Spider worth trading for? I'm really torn.

 

will take $$ in addition to 360 to get into spyder which makes it even harder decision.

 

Understood.

 

I also wonder if you can get a test drive before you decide to sell a special 360 to get it. don't think p dealers have gt cars for testing out

 

No they don't and the allocs are going fast.
I have a line on one because I'm a past loyal customer of a sales manager

 

good luck w decision. let us know what you decide