Cayman GT4: Where are we up to now?

[Motorhead]

Stating the obvious perhaps but I think that we can all accept that the next GT4 will include a PDK option.

As for an entry price point I'd have thought that the low £70k's would be about right - despite the fact that Porsche could easily inflate the price considerably - since they know that most owners will tick the appropriate (and expensive) "sport" option boxes.

Jeff

 

[oliver]

PDK is the way for absolute speed and precision.........I say that with a heavy heart.

And the 6 spd manual is the way for absolute enjoyment and driver engagement.......I say that with a relieved heart.

 

[MrDemon]

sadley having a manual in a modern car is not the answer to driver engagement any more

EPS has taken that away, and this was the biggest thing about the 720S reviews every one loved the steering, how short jurno memories are lol

The car seems to lack passion, but it has some steering feel lol

now we have to deal with PTV, RWS etc etc modern cars have lost the involvement it seems, and hence why my little Cayman R tickles the bits other cars cannot reach.

I do also have to move the R on and the GT4 though to be able to afford the new GT3, but you cannot turn down a car like the GT3 these days if you get offered one.

It should be the best GT3 ever made, I hope I love it more than any other car I have had. IF not well, one can always sell it in 12 months and not loose any money of course.

 

[Motorhead]

Pleased to hear that you've secured a GT3 D but will be sorry to lose your inputs on this part of the forum.

In general I have to agree with most of your comments on modern cars - I still reckon that EPS has come a long way in a short time and is improving very rapidly - but it's just the way the industry operates.

However, if we think vehicle engineering is heading downhill in many respects due to electronic jiggerey-pokery we're likely to be very disappointed with what's just over the hill where the driver has no involvement at all..! Time to make the most of what we have now I reckon.

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

all new cars have fake over run and drift mode also, it's like the Chav era for super cars :-( as you say these cars are lapping fast for noobies lol

I have spent a lot of time honing my driving, it's a shame a noobie can now lap as fast as me in a PTV, Automatic electric diff thing !!!

I have been in these very fast cars with noobs it's very scary lol

My GT3 is not confirmed 100% , I have been told I can have a 2018 car if they get enough, but until that form is signed it's a waiting game.

I am sure OPC's will know 2018 allocation by Sept maybe, so I need to enjoy my GT4 and R while I have those, hence giving the GT4 a new look for the summer.

I am a Cayman man through and though , so will not leave this section, who knows if they do make a GT4 RS 4.0l in manual then I might be back esp if I can gain a slot.

I must be on the system as I got a PEC invite to drive the cars again and the DP asked what colour I wanted which has to be a good thing

I am still tweeking the GT4 over summer, have some AWE wind foils to fit this weekend so I can open the window without my head exploding

the 981.991 etc has MASSIVE issue with a open window, I am hoping this will be cured with my new parts.

people do stick on parts, but the AWE replaces the oem part so looks loads better if not a tad expensive at £102 delivered.

 

[Motorhead]

Pleased to hear that you plan to stick around on here D and hope that the GT3 acquision goes ahead smoothly - it all sounds promising at the moment.

Although I'm not an habitual "open window" driver, that AWE wind diffuser looks interesting - let us know what you think of it. I presume that it's only a problem on the 981-series cars because there's no offering for the 987.

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

I think the mirror placement helps on the 987.2 cars, had my window open 2 or 3 times in the R today.

I cannot bare the window open even 2 " in the GT4

 

[Motorhead]

Back on topic, it looks as though Porsche is out testing the 982 GT4 at the 'Ring:

[link=http://www.autoblog.com/2017/05/08/next-porsche-cayman-gt4-spy-photos-nurburgring/#slide-5021724]http://www.autoblog.com/2...urgring/#slide-5021724[/link]

There's speculation as to what the wheel arch extensions are for.

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

the thing is that's a 981 gt4 ! not a 718 shape.

I doubt they will keep the old shape for a gen 2.

So who knows what they are testing here, they put engines in older cars to hide what they are testing.

It could well be RS testing.

The thing with the cheaper end of the GT line is the car tax is £2k showroom tax, sort of puts me off unless the cars fetch big overs.

 

[Twinfan]

Early drivetrain testing IMHO.

 

[Motorhead]

Agreed on both counts chaps.

The important thing is that if they're still using the old 981 body it would tend to favour them running with a n/asp flat-6 rather than an f-4 turbo otherwise they'd be using a 718 body.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

718 is just a facelift though, so slapping 718 panels on in the future won't be too difficult. No need to show your new styling hand too early []

 

[Motorhead]

Not quite David.

The 718 BIW engine compartment differs slightly from that of the 981-series, so some modification probably would be necessary to shoehorn the f-6 into the space. Easier to use the the older vehicle if they're planning still to use the n/asp engine. But until somebody get a soundbite from a test run we're still in the dark.

Unsurprisingly, from the rear it looks as though they're running a development exhaust system and there appear to be a couple of non-standard brackets visible at the sides of the rear diffuser, the purpose of which isn't obvious.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

The front assembly is identical to a 981, so front and side panels (and probably doors) will be a straight swap. Rear assembly is different between 981 (flat six), GT4 (flat six with modified suspension) and 718 (flat four turbo) so they will need to be tweaked I agree but it's probably not a major job. It's not a new chassis or redesign in any way apart from the engine bay.

I reckon the test car is a 981 GT4 shell/body with the test engine and new suspension updates.

 

[Motorhead]

Don't get me wrong David, I agree entirely with what you say. I'm just making the point that if Porsche plans to use the f-4 turbo in the next GT4 it would be more appropriate to use the 718 chassis rather than that of the superceded 981.

It's still early days. AP and his team have been busy concentrating on getting the 991.2 GT3 (and GT2?) out and this is just an early GT4 development hack which is being used to check-out powertrain and suspension updates, as you say.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

But the 718 chassis is the same as the 981 chassis, that's my point! The front two thirds of the cars are identical between 981/GT4/718, only the engine bays differ. Given what AP has said about NA engines in GT cars, and these spy shots, I can't see the next GT4 having a 4-pot.

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, that's right; the engine bays are the only significant difference between the two series (my post #2376).

All I'm saying is that the choice of the 981 body over the 718 tends to confirm that the next generation of GT4 will use an f-6 n/asp engine (of undefined form!) rather than the f-4 turbo.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

I think I'm violently agreeing with you, sorry! []

 

[DuncGT4]

That's an old pic thats been dragged back up, as there was quite a few at the time.

 

[Twinfan]

I don't think it is - different wheels, rear spoiler, exhaust and reg number to the 2014/2015 test mules.