It is harsh on very bumpy roads. It works, but you feel every sharp bump, nothing sophisticated about it. On smooth or lightly bumpy roads, it’s great, but on a bumpy road, it feels like what it is, a track car on the street. More than one reviewer has commented on this.

I love the suspension. I just laugh when people try to call it compliant or everyday smooth.

 

I'm not too far from Monterey, maybe we could meet up sometime, I would gladly bring a 6-pack in exchange for a ride. I haven't decided yet when I want to do the PEC in LA.

Getting a test drive one of the many on the lots around here has so far been unsuccessful. They just don't want you taking them out.

 

I started looking at differences between the videos, and I instantly noticed he had the same understeer lift off throttle correction back on the gas in corner 4 in both cars. I'm guessing the sway bars are likely setup the same, or it's just the car understeers that much it surprised him both times that he couldn't put the power down that early without losing too much front grip to make the corner.

What i also noticed is it looks like the 981 has a fair bit of camber in it, but the 982 looks like there is no camber added into the front when he pulls back into the pits, so good chance different alignments are not the same, and the 982 got the short end of the stick running neutral camber upfront.

I also noticed his lowest speed in corner 11 was 3mph slower in the 981, but his top speed at the finish was also 3mph slower in the 981, making me think the difference between the 981 and 982 lap times has very little to do with power.

 

Correction here - the ZL1/1LE is hard as long as you are on the stock GY3R tires which are essentially hockey pucks with super stiff sidewalls. Switch to streetable tires like the PS4S tires and it is as docile and smooth as some of the best cars from the past like the 997 GT3 with respect to ride quality. I have driven the ZL1/1LE on both sets of tires and the experience is day and night.

I am sure the GT4 will be more compliant if we switch to the PS4S tires.

 

No it really isn’t, I owned one and ran both sets of tires you mentioned plus A/S 3s in cold months. It was a bit better on 4Ss, but docile and smooth it wasn’t except for on only the best roads. It didn’t bother me so
much, but my family never wanted to ride with me in it and neither did my friends no matter what tire was on it. Too the point my ten year old daughter would get car sick in it, this was over the summer on 4Ss. She hasn’t gotten car sick in any other vehicle FWIW.

She loves going for rides again now in the GTS. This was a big reason I went for the GTS over the GT4. I doubt the GT4 is as bad as the ZLE was, but I only do a couple events a year and this will more of a DD fun car.

 

I took a 600 mile road trip to the NC mountains with a friend in his 718 GT4. I never gave the ride a thought, other than being glad we weren’t in my ZLE.

 

Interesting feedback. Perhaps it has to do with the roads around me which are quite smooth. My point of reference are cars like the E46 M3 and E90 M3. My experience in the ZL1/1LE was not worse than those cars (with the right set of tires).

Either ways - Porsche are the kings of damping. I have no doubt the GT4 is quite the all rounder regardless of what MT says.

 

Yah MN roads can be pretty bad. Frost heaves plus numerous potholes from plowing don’t help, especially in spring. By May things get sorted though and they aren’t too bad.

Agreed though on the GT4, I’ve never driven one, but I get that impression as well from reviews/comparisons etc.

 

think these times are the most representative of the true difference in these cars. Randy Pobst is as good as it gets, so while weather could be a factor, all the other differences are out the door. Both cars even had PCCB brakes and LWBS.

 

Thanks to you and all the AR types who are contributing their experience in this thread.

 

I like Randy, he always tries to highlight a positive aspect of a car. I have a C7 Corvette as well and he really likes that C7 ZR1. He is a little more critical of the Zo6 due to that sudden snap loose characteristic of the non-magnetic ride variant. My point is that I came to appreciate his analysis of cars because he is fair and accurate and makes sure to get the non-marketing points out in the open.
The thing I liked the best about his GT4 analysis was that he said (I think 3 times), "wow, thats a race car". Randy loves race cars.
Good video

 

I wonder how much slower the spyder would be on track and whether it would be also perceived as rough riding on the street

 

I would think on a short track where aero is not a factor they would be extremely close, on the street from a ride perspective likewise.

 

go checkout the video of the Spyder and the GT4 at the 'Ring ... which has some very fast sections...

 

Awwwww come on Larry, no link!? How am I supposed to see what you want me to?

All I am saying is the cars should be relatively close to a point where aero comes into play, I am perfectly happy that there are two versions of this car, the track toy and the back road canyon carver... Choices!