Cayman GT4: Where are we up to now?

[MrDemon]

I am not disagreeing that was the latest report in EVO , it came 2nd to each car in the class they choose !! I repeat a stupid review imo !

Again if you are after a track car or times the Radical killed the GT4 and is a far better track car, again it came 2nd place, the two cars are not even in the same class for track use !

Why do you think I am a know it all when I am just saying what the reviews said, NOT my words at all !!! ?

I like the car , I think it's a great car as I said, to quote myself "Does not make the car less great" !!! but post 1 thing negative and people jump on you like a ton of bricks, get over it, it's just a car !.

Some people respect my views as I am not bias and say it how it is, owning a car does not make me loyal to it 100%, but you get people doing the PEC day go all "WOW best car" ever a masterpiece and it's a bit cringe to read.

 

[spyderwhite]

Agree with MrD on this one as I read the EVO review and found the 458 comparison a bit naff as the 458 had odd tyres and 78k miles on the clock,much better if it had same tyres and less miles on the clock!

But it does show what a good all rounder the gt4 really is but then that's why i like Porsches over any other marque!

 

[Motorhead]

From a post two days ago from the founder of the P-9 website:

No I don't think we've seen the last of them [the GT4], the current GT4 is too much of a hot seller for Porsche to not want to build more at some point. I was simply pointing out that if someone is on a dealership's waiting list for a GT4 currently and they think that GT4 production will continue into next year and they will get a 718 GT4 they are mistaken. I just confirmed with the factory in Germany that the last GT4 of the current series will be built in August as they had some delays getting parts that pushed some cars out. After that production is being shut down and when production resumes on the 718 it will be in Zuffenhausen without the GT4, at least initially, like I said 2020 and beyond then maybe you'll see another GT4.

Personally, I don't think that we'll have to wait until 2020 before we see the Gen2 GT4. After all, a power increase (via a DME upgrade/larger throttle body?) is relatively straightforward and the PDK transmission has been engineered and checked-out for the race car, assuming these are a given for the next generation of car. If there's sufficient capacity at Zuffenhausen - where apparently all 718 Caymans and Boxsters are to be built - I can't see any reason why GT4 and production couldn't be introduced in 2017/2018.

I seem to recall that AP's original statement was that the GT4 isn't intended to be a limited production car and this, coupled with VAG's current finances, means that I'm sure the Group is anxious that Porsche make as much money as possible.

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

A little pic of the trio for those who don't visit the Spyder threads.

The GT4 looks 911 big vs the R and the door weights are crazy from car to car, Porsche can def build a RS GT4 and loose 50 kg's imo, the doors weigh loads !

I hope the 718 Cayman is not bigger again !! is it the same platform, ? I am not upto date with the new cars as they hold little interest atm

If I want a turbo fast daily I do think the MK3 TTRS will be a great car, I love the 5 pot in that car, the sound and the performance are really appealing.

I thought they had fixed the 718 Boxster steering, but it seems they have just put in the same as the 981 Spyder and used the 991 turbo steering :-(

Not being a soft top fan (although the 987.2 Spyder holds a place still for me as it feels old school and lightweight and takes the place of my old Lotus's) , I still think the R is the best car there to use on UK roads !

 

[Motorhead]

Looks a bit crowded on your drive D..! Nice collection.

Apparently, aluminium accounts for around 44% of the 981-series Cayman's bodyshell including the bonnet, rear hatch and doors. As always, aluminium doesn't always equate to lightness when high strength is also a requirement. Jaguar have used aluminium extensively in their cars for some time and you couldn't call any of them lightweight.

As far as I know the 718-series cars use basically the same platform as the 981-series cars which I believe was engineered from the start of production to take the flat-4 turbo engine. I think the engine sits in a subframe isolated from the body by four elastomeric mounts.

Last October I had a 981 PDK Cayman S for a day when my 987.2 CS was in for service and I have to say that it didn't inspire me to want to swap, so I can appreciate your affection for your CR.

Jeff

 

[SteveJC]

Below are a couple of images of a few of the bits from when I had my 2014 991 4S fitted with the power kit, as it was a retro fit I had all the parts back that were exchanged, including the heads etc, I think it was Ralphmusic I spoke to at last years PCGB event.

it's a shame that it is just sitting in my garage, but the 991 is, I suppose a little new to start playing with but then I heard people talking of induction and throttle bodies and just started to wonder if these parts may be suitable for another model of Porsche, like a GT4 ?

 

[MrDemon]

How much did the power kit cost ?

thought it was a crazy figure

 

[SteveJC]

It was a crazy figure, if I remember correctly it was 8200 inclusive of VAT, but a lot of parts and a lot of work, the OPC who did it wouldn't look for that job again.

As I previously said It's just a shame to see all the bits left doing nothing.

I enjoyed that car, sorry to see it go, when my GT4 was in the OPC lent me a 991 GTS, in essence, the same as my old one, power wise and a great car to drive.

When you look at all these other tuning costs, perhaps it's not that bad.

If it was offered for the GT4 at around that cost, I would certainly consider it, the beauty of it is your warranty is kept intact.

 

[Motorhead]

Perhaps it'll be offered on the GT4 the next time round Steve - more money in Porsche's coffers.!

Unfortunately it's unlikely that your ex-991 4S parts will be suitable for fitment to your GT4, although I think that the (larger?) throttle-body might be a possibility but probably you'd need a DME upgrade to get the full benefit. Maybe Ralph can confirm.

Other than that, it's probably best to offer the parts for sale online. At least then you'll recoup a part of your significant expenditure.

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

Steve,

Hello again.

I think only the throttle body could be used on a GT4, but you would also need a different plenum and an ECU tune.

Best bet for your parts would be an engine builder in a couple of years as OEM engines become more scarce.

Ralph

 

[MrDemon]

evo track day of the year GT4 style vid launched

[link=https://youtu.be/HIMlJxCtE5c][link]https://youtu.be/HIMlJxCtE5c[/link][/link]

 

[ian harvey]

Nice vid Mr D. Jethro clearly loves that car and I can see why. What did you think?

I'm at Blyton in mine next month - not a bad place to push hard and learn the limits. It will hopefully be the first time I get to experience a fully run-in car in dry conditions with good temperature, work those tyres.

 

[MrDemon]

I thought I need to learn how to drive better lol Jethro can really get the car to fly for sure, not sure if I have the balls to go at it like that.

 

[Steve Brookes]

I'm at Blyton in mine next month - not a bad place to push hard and learn the limits. It will hopefully be the first time I get to experience a fully run-in car in dry conditions with good temperature, work those tyres.

and good practice for our trip to Spa and Zandvoort in the summer! []

 

[BrianJ]

Couldn't get that link to work. I got [link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIMlJxCtE5c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIMlJxCtE5c[/link] Brilliant!

 

[ian harvey]

Indeed, Steve!!

 

[Motorhead]

The latest figures from the DVLA indicate that at 31/12/2015, 225 GT4s were registered for the first time.

So it looks as though we might be seeing around 400 cars before production ceases (in July for the August shut-down?).

Jeff

 

[ian harvey]

I'm past 3000m now and very happy with my GT4. I've got a couple of comments/questions, both related to tyres (Michelins in my case).

The track-day season is fast approaching and the true worth of these tyres will become apparent but even though I only use this car for fast fun i suspect that a set of less extreme tyres would be more fun, more of the time. Yesterday i chose to leave my 4 at home and went to Silverstone in the daily car due to slush, ice and a cold/wet forecast. No big deal but when I got home i went for a blast and even though the tyre pressure monitor indicated that the pressures went up by 4 bar there was still a lot of scrabbling around, the tyres don't so much slide but skip around when pushed. It's not particularly lairy but the car doesn't lock on to a line like you might expect. (still not understeering, though!).

The temperature was around 7 degrees which is no doubt significant but it's now 6 months since the temperature was consistantly above 11 degrees (the supposded tipping point of Cup 2s). A set of less extreme performance tyres would surely suit more people more of the time, especially away from the track.

All of which is a long-winded way of asking whether there is an approved tyre that could be considered without troubling the Porsche warranty? I think Chris W has bought a spare set but not sure about warranty.

Back to track-days, is there any consensus about what pressures to run on track, including a good starting point before acquiring heat/pressure?

As an aside, I frequently get an annoying squeak from behind my right shoulder, seems to be prompted by uneven roads and sounds like its the trim below the rear side window - any ideas, please? (no cage/clubsport).

Ian

 

[Motorhead]

Ian,

Good to hear that you're using the car even though weather conditions aren't ideal at the moment. I may be wrong but I think someone on here (Steve?) purchased some new wheels and tyres and was only able to get Pirelli N rated tyres for the GT4.

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

I do not think there is a warranty approved alternative N rated however for the first 3 years an equivalent tyre would be covered under block exemption rules. I know of one GT4 owner who used 981 20" Pirellis mounted on an old set of Spyder wheels to great effect in the rain. Most others use Michelin Pilot Supersport for an all round tyre, but they are not N rated - there are 4 types, 3 manufacturer homologated (Ferrari/Mercedes/BMW) and a none manufacturer-specific version which I use on road and track.

As for set-up, there are some good threads on rennlist such as

[link=http://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/896363-katmeho-s-gt4-track-day-oriented-journal.html]http://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/896363-katmeho-s-gt4-track-day-oriented-journal.html[/link] and

[link=http://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/926384-orthojoe-s-gt4-track-thread-and-ramblings.html]http://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/926384-orthojoe-s-gt4-track-thread-and-ramblings.html[/link]