Thoughts on the GT4 ?

Find a dealer that will give you an allocation for a GT4RS at MSRP and give them your deposit.

 

981 2016 GT4 is the way to go, best driving and sounding compared to new 718 gt4 and can be had for around $100k

 

The Cayman GT4 (and the newly announced GT4 RS) is a very appealing car to me. I've wanted a newer Porsche 911 GT car for some time now but I can't help but think the car is overkill for the streets (I don't track much), so I try to stay satisfied with a 911 Carrera to scratch the Porsche itch. The 911 GT cars are excellent while being pushed hard, however, it is difficult, if not impossible, to really push them on the street due to their ridiculously high performance limits. The problem is they lose some of their magic, IMHO, when they are not driven hard, leaving them compromised for street driving purposes.

I've never driven a Cayman GT4 but going by reviews, I think it is perhaps a better street car than a 911 GT car -- at least for my purposes. The GT4 is (compared to a 911 GT3/GT3 RS) lighter, smaller, and more nimble feeling at slower speeds. For a fun car, I prefer a go-cart type of driving experience over a grand touring experience and I think the GT4 will provide that experience in spades. Sure, it doesn't have the power of a 911 GT car but that power is mostly wasted on the street anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love the GT3/GT3 RS and overall, I prefer any 911 GT car over a GT4. However, I think that for spirited back road driving, the GT4 would leave me satisfied whereas a newer GT3/GT3 RS would typically leave me frustrated.

 

Buy the rare Cayman R before they go sky high. Only 563 in the USA and the 3.4 liter flat 6. No turbo. It will be the Dino 246 of the Porsche world. Some are already pushing $100,000.

 

Because they only sent 563 to America, Flat 6 , not the turbo four. The only Cayman with the R badge, lower weight, lower ride height, no door pulls inside just a strap to open the door. I've talked to owners that had a Cayman R and got the GT4, a few of them said they really will most likely go back to the Cayman R. The GT4 has too long gearing, top speed is not much, 0-60 is about the same as the Cayman R. So it is not about the horse power or straight line power, but the feel of the car, the connection that is now missing in most of the cars out there. I have the 458 and it's fun, but I miss my 550 really bad. Same thing, 550 much slower, lower horse power, but man it was a sweet driving car, the experience in it was always way more than you ever expected. So I like the 550 over the 458. But the running cost of the 550 was getting pretty steep.
The new Gt4 .... why...... I don't get it. They will make a ton of them, not that fast, and for the money not a super great deal pushing $150,000 plus when you spec it out.
It's the best Cayman out there for under $100,000 , but that may not last long. They sold new for $80,000 and still bring over $80,000 ten years later. What is the down side to that. I don't think the GT4's will hold their value. 0-60 in about 4.4 seconds with the sports plus button lit up and PDK . Not sure what HP has to do with anything. What is the HP on the Ferrari 246, 250, etc.

 

Comparing the Cayman R to a Cayman GT4, especially the new 718 GT4, is sort of an apples to oranges comparison IMHO. That's not to say that the R is a bad car but it is little more than a lightly modified Cayman compared to the more track focused GT4.

BTW, some of your facts are incorrect. First of all, both versions of the Cayman GT4 are naturally aspirated flat6s, not turbocharged four cylinder motors. Second, to say the GT4 is not fast is, well -- it's just plain wrong. The new 718 GT4 sports a 4.0L 414 HP engine which generates 309 lbs. ft. of torque and propels the car from 0-60 mph in a scant 3.7 sec. and, whistles past the 1/4 mile mark in a mere 11.9 sec. at a very respectable 120 mph. Best of all, the car weighs only 3149 lbs. and produces an awesome 1.10 Gs of lateral force on a 300-ft skidpad. Top speed is 188 mph, which is plenty fast enough for me (I'd never test that limit even on a large track), if you think that is "not much" then you are more of a daredevil than I am. You may also be surprised to know that the GT4 also has lightweight straps impersonating inside door handles.

I'm not sure what the corresponding performance numbers are for the Cayman R but, I do know they do not come close to matching the impressive numbers produced by the 718 GT4.

I will concede that the R is more rare and the GT4s are geared too high (that doesn't really matter to me, however, as the car is still plenty fast enough for my tastes). Also, I agree with you that HP is not the end all be all , but I think the GT4s are in a much sweeter spot, horsepower wise, than the Cayman Rs.

 

https://flatsixes.com/porsche-culture/porsche-factoids/heres-why-the-987-cayman-r-is-the-best-porsche-of-the-decade/

 

Do you own a Cayman R?

 

I had both 981 gt4 and 718 Spyder (which is essentially the convertible gt4) I sold the Spyder after 7000 miles. I am sorely disappointed about how quiet the car is even with the top down. I had pdk which makes up the short gear ratio compared to the manual, which remains the same long ratio as the 981.

Depends...if you are okay with F8 sound, why not? All my Ferraris are NA V8 and V12 and I am driving Alfa 4c spider with the factory aprakovic exhaust upgrade, the 718 Spyder is indeed the tamest car. Fast, but it is no longer the same flat 6 as the 981. Be warned about it.

 

the best way i can put it; GT3 is a necessity, GT4 is a luxury. U will continue to miss & think abt the 3 after getting over the 4s honeymoon phase. Every friend of mine who went from 3 to 4 reverted

That being said, the sub 250k mkt is ridiculous, I'm waiting for a crash before buying anything. I think the 991.1 is the only one gen of GT3 to avoid (pdk only + engine issues)

 

I have a hard time finding anything I'd prefer over my 981 GT4.

 

I do. And, depending on what Mike wants to do with the car, it can be a solid choice. If it is to be primarily a road car then the R is a great choice. Light, agile, and quick. It is a happy, revvy-motored little car.

If he wants to track the car, the R will pale in comparison to the GT4 or GT3. Unless, of course, Mike runs a bunch of very tight, twisty tracks.

And if the car is to be tracked with some frequency, he will miss the GT3. Not that the GT4 is a bad track car. It isn't. I've really enjoyed the times I've taken one out. Yes, it is somewhat long-geared. And the motor doesn't do much above ~6500 RPMs. But it is one of those cars that does everything well. Is it as good as the GT3? No. But the GT4s I've driven were great fun: I thought it, and they did it. The GT4 really flatters its driver.

If what Mike wants is something a little more "old school" in the Porsche world: small and analog for mostly street driving, he could do far worse than the Cayman R.

 

I currently own a 991.2 GT3 Touring (so obviously a manual) which I dearly love - that said, I had the opportunity to drive a new GT4 while they were replacing my LF tire (nail - grr) and was VERY impressed - Granted, I did not have the opportunity to wring it out (and obviously it was not MY car) but I was very impressed with the balance, shifting, comfort/driver position, general "feel" and looks. If I did not have what I have and was in the market for a new Porsche with a manual I would buy a GT4 in a heartbeat - The older GT4s were great but the new one is another step up/forward IMO.

Cheers

 

biggest problem with the r is that its based on old body style which is awkward at best while new gt4 is very good looking

 

Looks are always a toss-up. Some folks like the 987, others the 981. I actually like both, and recognize that the 987's looks harken back to older Porsche cars of the '50s and '60s while the 981 is a thoroughly more modern (and bigger) evolution of the design.

 

If the original GT4 are still in the $100k range in this crazy market, it's a no brainer as there is nothing that offers the level of performance, engagement, brand and sound.
Maybe a higher miles gated 360 Modena but that's a different experience. I have only driven a GT4 once for around 30 miles and loved it. More than my 997 C4S or 991 C2S. I say go for it.

 

Good luck on that.

 

Try the GT4 RS with close to 500 up. I’m looking for one right now.

 

Sorry, that’s a typo. It’s hp, horsepower. God, I hate spell correct on this stupid I-phone.

 

Just put down a deposit on a 718 GT4, No GT4 RS available. Local dealers allocations are completely full, although Porsche will continue to build the car throughtout the life cycle of the car, apparently they are only plannning on building 1000 cars/year for the worldwide market. At my local dealers, they have deposits from everyone on the waiting list, norefundable unless a car is unavailable.

Wife's car and planning on a PDK, simply faster on the track although it may be less engaging. For those demanding manual, consider 981 GT4 and then have the engine modified by either BGB Racing or Deman Porsche and get 550+ hp. When I bought my 991.2 GT3, also had to decide between manual and PDK, manual was superb but the PDK was simply faster.

 

In a word the GT4 is delicious.

I also find the sound to be brilliant with a few minor mods.

OPF filter delete and valve controller to open flaps on demand.

This is my car driving through the hills…




May the Horse be with you

 

Thanks for sharing. How much are you willing to pay to get the Gt4RS? I am still debating. My dealer owner says no matter what previous purchase history is, ADM is a must... I am still debating how much it is acceptable.