Accel Junky

What follows will be a continuously updated thread highlighting the adventures my GT4 and I will have and any thoughts, tips, data, observations, misc photos, videos, praises, and maybe even some minor bitching. Please feel free to ask me anything.

Quick links:
Introduction, First Impressions, Getting Started Tips
Corner Scale Weighing
Wheel and Tire Weights
Underneath the GT4
Brakes, Pads, Suspension, Lug Bolt Torque
Exhaust Sounds - PSE Open/Closed - Exterior/Interior Views
Clear LED Side Marker Installation Tutorial + Before/After
Suntek / Xpel Clear Bra Combination Install In Progress Photos
Finished Suntek /Xpel Photos
Break-in Oil Change and Full Acceleration Impressions
Porsche Sends New Customer Cayman Welcome Kit
Listed my GT4 for sale to re-order another. (Original wait list allocation now available.)

-------Introduction, First Impressions-------



Purchase Timeline:
3/10/2015 - Went on local wait lists
6/7/2015 - Chance led me to a no-LWB, non-refundable deposit allocation out-of-state
7/3/2015 - GT4 entered production
8/11/2015 - GT4 reached US port
8/12/2015 - Received "rebels, race on" gift from PCNA (steering wheel + book)
8/19/2015 - GT4 reached dealer
8/21/2015 - I flew out-of-state to retrieve my Sapphire Blue GT4 from the dealership
12/21/2015 - SOLD GT4 and ordered new GT4 w/ LWBs and a few minor cosmetic tweaks

My GT4 home safe and sound:










First impressions:
I now have just over 700 miles after driving the GT4 home from Arlington to Acworth. At this point, I have done many hours on the highway and some stop-and-go, but really nothing that would highlight the handling. I've also kept RPMs below ~4500. So I will comment again once I have had a chance to flog the car a bit. Keep in mind my perspective is for mixed use. I plan to enjoy this car on the street and track but not necessarily as a primary daily driver.


Things I like so far:
+ Car looks truly special
+ Exhaust note sounds amazing
+ Exhaust volume is just right
+ Mid-range torque is sufficient for street driving
+ Ride quality is very sporty and somewhat tolerable for the street
+ Alcantara/Full Leather/Stitching/Carbon Fiber makes the interior feel truly special
+ Stance (must see in person to appreciate the rear 295 Cup 2s)
+ Fairly good visibility over the shoulders
+ Precision-feeling shifter
+ The clutch effort is perfect for my tastes just a tad over medium effort
+ Clutch engagement point is perfect my tastes (not too far out)
+ The instrument cluster is sized perfectly and looks fantastic
+ Standard seat backs are much tighter than I anticipated and hold me better than my F80 M3 seats which are spectacular already
+ Gas mileage is commendable (not that it matters much as a secondary car) for a car of this performance level (24-25mpg observed highway averaging 71mph)
+ Wheel fitment is perfect (flush) in the rear
+ No buzzing or creaking sounds in the interior. Rock solid.
+ Can actually tell a difference in ride quality PASM Sport/Standard
+ PSE button off makes a noticeable difference in cruising volume
+ Sport mode rev-matching works flawlessly just like in my F80 M3, sounds amazing with the overrun
+ Shift **** ergonomics are great
+ Base stereo has surprisingly decent bass
+ Cross-bar (?) behind the seats looks like a great place for a camera mount


Things I don't like so far (I am definitely nitpicking with some things here...):
- Hate the electronic parking brake. Prefer a real hand brake. Or at least an intelligent button that does the opposite of what the current state is regardless of whether I pull or push.
- Steering wheel thickness is too thin (prefer a thicker wheel like in my M3)
- Steering wheel decorative materials look and feel cheap compared to the rest of the interior
- Rear visibility isn't great (but it is tolerable)
- Basic stereo clarity is nothing to write home about
- Key fob feels cheap (I'm afraid I'll break it when cranking the car)
- The upper seat bolsters are too small for my shoulders/lats. I sit with my upper back ON the seats rather than in them. I'm not huge at 5'10" 195lbs but athletically built.
- Don't care for the cupholders, probably won't use them... but it is a clever minimalist setup
- Seat cushion outside bolster already showing a crease from ingress/egress no matter how careful
- Seat back main bolsters showing creases from ingress/egress on both seats


Things that are just useful observations:
= Be prepared to speak up when carrying on conversations at cruising speed
= Tire pressures are bit different than I expected and the dealer set them to be even all around
= Computer shows initial service at ~12000 miles. I hope everyone changes their oil a few times before then...
= Oil level check at 700 miles shows possible slight usage (engine off for 10+min after 20min drive). UPDATE: The manual indicates 3 squares above min is the correct level for "track use".













-------Getting started guide:-------
Some of my initial nitpicks were easily resolved with the below settings changes.








Turned the help texts off so they don't pop-over when running through the menus.





Interior lights remained on after shutting the doors for far too long (thought I hadn't shut something). Adjusted them to 30 seconds to match default headlight setting.







The doors locking automatically when rolling and the associated obnoxious red light on the center of the dash had to go...




I changed the fob to unlock both doors on the first press.







The car is loud enough at cruising volume that you cannot hear the turn signal or when it is left on. Fortunately the volume of the turn signal is controllable. Update: Still not loud enough...just have to watch and make sure you turn it off.




That's it for my initial post. I will add to this thread as my experience with the GT4 progresses.

konaforever

Nice write up so far! Congrats!

user1029

Great first post, I'll be checking back on the regular

My diary so far is:

2/2015 - deposit placed, waitlisted
4/2015 - color changed to white
5/2015 - color changed to red
6/2015 - color changed to white
7/2015 - color changed to black
8/2015 - SA pissed off at me for the color changes, still waiting

anselmw

Love the update and feedback. Can you tell me what height your garage is? It seems much higher than a standard garage. Envious as I will need to add a lift for my gt4 and only have 10 ft to work with.

Accel Junky

I believe mine is 10ft as well. Look into a MaxJax. They can be used in lower height garages. I'm hoping to get a 4 post and a high lift garage door kit with sidejack motor for extra clearance. I might be able to stack two really low cars...

anselmw

Looking for 4 post lift as I need to park 4 cars now, hoping I can get gt4 and m coupe in the same spot. Looks like it will be tight but it should fit. I think I will need a side jack motor garage door opener as well.

RealityGT

Great write up.

sccchiii

Your dealer should have set up car with you and gone through all your preferences before you left store, even if you weren't sure what you wanted on one particular setting a experienced sales rep could have provided you recommendations for intial set up?

Dyim

That service interval on your pic is the 4 year service. Scroll thru the screen for the other two. The third one is regular oil change.

Also I am surprised the oil level is not at full.

Congrats on the car. Interior pics?

Accel Junky

Brought this over from my delivery thread:

Compared the M3...hmm. I would say that the ride quality is somewhat similar comparing the normal setting in the GT4 to the M3 (mine has non-adjustable suspension and it is rougher than you would expect for a BMW) with a slight edge in comfort going to the M3.

The M3 has much better visibility. The M3 seats are a little more comfortable in that they accommodate my shoulders/back whereas the GT4 standard seats are tight around the top bolsters and force my back/shoulders to sit on them rather than in them. The M3 cruising sound volume is much more tame even with the M3's exhaust valves locked open (exhaust valve mod). Much less tire noise. The gas mileage is very similar between the two cars. I usually average about 22mpg with mixed driving in the M3 maybe as high as mid 20's. Brake dust seems a little more manageable on the GT4 but then again the M3 has gloss black wheels. The M3 gear lever is one of the best I've had in an M car but I would say it is more "comfortable" for frequent shifting than the GT4s rifle-bolt style shifter. Ingress and egress is noticeably easier in the M3. As for base sound systems, I think the GT4s may be a little better than the M3.

Overall, I would definitely prefer a road trip in the M3 over the GT4. They are both awesome cars though.

number 9

Nice work Accel! You did good getting that beauty in your garage in such a short time. My process is going more like this-

8/2014 deposit accepted.
3 /15 allocation granted.
3/15 - 6/30 changed color and specs easily 5 x's+.
6/30 - 7/15 scared I'd **** of SA and lose car so specs unchanged during this period.
7/16 vehicle locked. Sleeping better now.
10/30 in dealer inventory. My last update had this as 10/23 so I lost 7 days in the last few weeks

Accel Junky

To be fair, the dealer was very good to me. I felt like they treated me as if I was their best customer. I surely wasn't dressed like their best customer, nor am I anywhere near the age of their best customer.

The sales rep I was working with left, so I was assigned a new rep when I came to pick up the car and he had only been on the job 3 weeks. He helped me set up my bluetooth and went through all the manuals with me. I had to stop him short from any further delivery assistance as I really needed to get on the road to get back home (my wife is about 3 weeks from her due date). I usually reject any assistance in car setup (outside of bluetooth) anyways because I'm hard headed and usually in a hurry to get out of there

Accel Junky

I have a feeling you will get the car sooner. Overall my car was delivered almost 1 month ahead of the original due date!

Accel Junky

Ah, thank you. I will try scrolling through.

Interior pics coming soon. I need to clean the interior. The 700 mile road trip was not kind to the interior

fishing

Make sure you read your Owners Manual and Driving on the Race Circuit booklet. The picture shows the recommended oil level for tracking. The top square is overfill. My oil level is at the same level as pictured and I am keeping it there.