Finding a 981 GT4 - How and where?

[JamesBall]

Having recently sold the 1990 964 I owned for 10 years, I am on hunt for a 981 GT4. I've done a fair bit of research and driven a friend's (slightly modified) car but I would very much welcome any advice on:

- Must have options
(I will use the car for weekend fun and trips, and further afield track days when 2+ hrs in my Elise is not such an appealing prospect. It will probably do a max of 5 or 6 track days a year). I am currently thinking: Clubsport, 918 seats and ideally steel brakes (for piece of mind given track miles). Other options are nice-to-have, I think. I am also thinking that a higher-mileage car would be better than a garage queen because I'll put probaby 3k+ miles a year on it and that would have a pretty big impact on a car with, say, under 10k miles on it today

- How and where to find one
I have put a wanted advert on the PCGB forum classifieds and a couple of posts on Facebook groups. I've also notified RPM Technik (my local indie) and Ashgoods that I am in the market. And I am keeping an eye on eBay, PH and autotrader

Have I missed anything?

 

[Twinfan]

Keep an eye on JZM too, maybe Collecting Cars as well?

 

[BrianJ]

6 x 981 GT4 on Porsche Used Approved https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/search at present. Cars on here usually appear on Autotrader but not always. Similarly check out PCGB Buy a Porsche https://www.porscheclubgb.com/car-sales/buy-a-porsche

 

[JamesBall]

Thanks Twinfan and BrianJ. JZM already on my daily watch list althogh I haven't spoken to them - I will do so, thanks. And a good point about Collecting Cars - I will set up a notification,

I've been looking periodically at the Porsche Used Approved. None of their cars is a clubsport or has 918 seats unfortunatately, but thanks very much for the suggestions and links.

 

[Motorhead]

I think you’ve got most of the buying options covered James.

I wouldn’t judge the Clubsport option essential even for your occasional track day usage, and if you feel the need for a full harness other options will be available. Options like some decent lights (PDLS), dipping mirrors, auto wipers, climate control, cruise control, reversing sensors and the leather interior are very nice to have but can hardly be categorised as essentials … your choice.

Good luck with your search!

Jeff

 

[AndrewCS]

Check that the `third gear issue` has been resolved or did not apply ... issue was / is with a welded rather than a splined shaft - the weld is a failure point. Further details are within the forum, I believe that it affected early 2016 cars ?

Check that the the (underneath) front aero parts are still in place (can be removed for track use and not replaced)

Check settings of F / R antiroll bars, standard road settings are the centre positions

 

[AndrewCS]

If required, check that Non Clubsport models have these harness fixings

 

[Motorhead]

James,

An RSS Harness Bar is available for the GT4 for an aftermarket harness … there’s an installation video available online if you want to have a look. It’s a bolt-in device using existing locations and as far as I can see doesn’t utilise the upper harness fixings mentioned by Andrew.

Jeff

 

[AndyOhara]

Clubsport specced 981 GT4s are quite hard to find and are usually snapped up quite quickly when they do surface. I did recently have a moment of madness and thought about selling mine but I'm now keeping it.

There's always an argument for the comfort vs clubsport spec, but personally (and this is only my opinion) when I was looking at 981 GT4s I wanted all or nothing and waited until a clubsport spec car came up, took me 9 months of waiting and then one appeared at an OPC that was exactly what I wanted and I also wanted that sense of occasion whenever you get in a clubsport spec GT4. I drove a couple of comfort spec cars and in my opinion if you want comfort spec buy a GTS as that's better suited to everyday driving, I may get shot down in flames for saying that but to be honest I don't care. The 918 carbon buckets are believe it or not very comfortable and the cage does not intrude at all, yes you do get the odd rattle but it's no way near as bad and as some say, maybe I'm just lucky with the cage in mine. I've done two 450 mile journeys in mine with no issues at all. I also use Michelin PS4S tyres for the road and keep the Cup 2's in the garage for whenever needed.

Edited to add: Parking sensors were not an option on a 981 GT4.

 

[MrDemon]

when I had my 981 GT4 I did not want a CS car, 1: it's was expensive, 2: I did not want to wear and have the hassle of a hans device. which you really need to do if wearing a harness. I did about 6 track days in my 981 with buckets and a normal belt, it's not an issue and saved hell of a lot of weight.

harness plus helmet and no hans = broken neck.