baege

Might be moving into a situation where I can have 2 cars and one of them as a purely weekend car.

What would you move into from a GTS 4.0 and why between the 718 GT4, 981 GT4 and 991.1 GTS manual?

my thoughts so far:

718 GT4 is newer tighter warrantied, sounds great INSIDE, the 4.0 is a step above the 3.8, but overall the 718 lacks the emotion of the 981 GT4
981 GT4 is raw, sounds amazing as is, but is older and will feel less tight and crisp, rides a bit rougher
991.1 GTS sounds amazing, looks better (to me) but the 7 speed is not as good as the 6 speed, it's bigger and you can feel it, and again the 3.8 is no 4.0

interested to hear other people's thoughts

GT325

I have owned a 991.1 GTS and I currently own a 718 spyder. You got the part about the manual transmissions correct IMO. The 7 speed in the 991.1 was ok while the 6speed in the 718 is excellent. However, IMO you got the part about the engines backwards. The 3.8 power plant in the GTS (which came standard with the power pack/x51) in the US is an absolute gem. In most ways I actually prefer it to the 4.0 in the 718 spyder. I absolutely adored my 991.1 GTS the only thing I did not love about it was the 7 speed which was akward and somewhat balky from day one with especially poor 1-2 shifter performance and some occasional strange surge/porpoising in 2nd gear at low speeds on inclines both of which were well discussed topics back in the day.
FWIW- I would still have the 991.1 GTS in the garage if Porsche didn't release the touring. I'm not a wing guy hence spyder on not gt4 comparison.

baege

appreciate the perspectives, are you able to elaborate on why you preferred the 3.8 over the 4.0?

Adrift

Popular wisdom on here is 3.8 runs out of breath up top, so I am curious, too (not having driven a 3.8).

Montaver

Never owned a 911 GTS, but I had a 981 GT4 and did about 14k miles and 25 track days so know it pretty well. Only done about 200 miles in my 718 GT4 (although I have driven other 718 GT4's on track numerous times) but the differences are very apparent immediately.

Steering - 981 has a more granularity to it, but the weighting is more 'rubber band' feeling. 718 feels more smoothed out.
Suspension - 718 feels a bit more refined, both the damping is excellent.
Chassis - The 718 chassis feels stiffer, overall has an incredible feeling of solidity
Engine - This is no contest for me, the 718 4.0 is leagues better than the 3.8 which is the weakest part of the 981. It doesn't sound anywhere near as good from outside stock (I have a Kline exhaust on order), but the power delivery is stronger and more linear. The 981 power delivery was flat at the top which made it unsatisfying to really rev out as it was basically dead by 7k. On the inside I know people say they sound similar, but the 981 is more raucous and mechanical. Clutch is heavier and more feel some on the 981, the 718 clutch feels harder to shift smoothly to me.

I was actually going to do a full review comparison thread at some point as I know its a move a lot consider. Overall the 718 is like they have draped a layer of silk over the inputs, it feels less demanding. Tech is much better on the 718. If you already have a 4.0 GTS I would throw a few mods at it rather than go back to a 981.

Dr.Bill

I'd keep the GTS4.0. Hard to improve on that.
If you must get something else, the 718 GT4 is the only answer.

Xxyion

I don't nearly have as much experience as other people here as ive only driven a 981 GT4 once and only for about 10 minutes and a 981 GTS for about 20 minutes.

I currently own a 718 GT4.

That being said, my GT4 feels more solid than both 981s. The 981 GT4 is quite capable i'm sure. The main comparison i can make is to my old S2000. The GTS felt like my S2000 (it was also a boxster) that was just more solidly built. The 981 GT4 felt like my S2000 but with more power and more stiff. The 718 GT4 feels like my S2000 went super saiyan with a power level of over 9000.

When it comes to exhaust note i found the 981 GTS to sound the best. The 981 was meh for me. Wasn't great, wasn't bad. I largely prefer the 718 exhaust note.

akhbhaat

I've owned all three of these (well, almost; my 991.1 was an S, not a GTS).

Potentially unpopular opinion: I'd keep the GTS 4.0, especially if you're never at the track. I thought both GT4s were phenomenal on track (I averaged 8+ days/season), but I didn't really enjoy driving them that much on the street; limits are too high and below 60 mph or so they're just too composed and buttoned up. There's zero challenge or excitement once you acclimate to the theatrics; where I live, getting them out to either the track or roads where the car could run properly was a serious time commitment so I never just wanted to jump in for an ad hoc drive (your situation may be different).

If you're really enamored with the GT thing and are going to focus on road driving, also consider a 996 or 997 GT3 (I currently have a 997.1 GT3).

Borrowed a friend's X73 981 GTS last week and the added touch of roll and pitch made the car much more engaging to me at legal speeds. I only wish it had the GT4 steering rack and shifter. Assuming the GTS 4.0 is essentially a better 981 GTS (so I've been told; haven't driven one), seems perfect to me.

The 991 wasn't my cup of tea at all.

colnagoG60

Not sure what you mean by "less tight", with the 981 vs. the 718, but my 47k mile 981 GT4's chassis/body panels feel as tight as the 3k mile 718 GT4 I drove. Stock suspension on the 981 is a different issue, as the 718 felt more composed. However I was able to get my 981 where I wanted with custom PASM settings. At that point, I'd call it a draw. Personally, I prefer the extra weight of the 981's clutch vs. the 718, but that's a personal preference.

All that said, given my double digit trips to the dealer for "issues", I'd go with the warranty, if repair costs are an issue.

akhbhaat

^^^ I also preferred the heavier clutch in the 981. That was my biggest gripe with the 718 (aside from the crappy stock exhaust note, but that's fixed easily enough).

cooler2442

I owned both a 718 Spyder and 981 GT4 at the same time for 6+ months. Buy the 981 GT4, its the more "special" feeling car if you're into weekend drives and 718 GT4 isn't worth the 25k+ premium. I sold the 718 Spyder but kept the 981 GT4.

baege

in my experience cars feel less tight and looser with age and mileage, just not as tight as when newer

Xxyion

I know exactly what you mean. Its hard to describe in words and "tight" doesn't quite describe it.

I wonder if it's less due to a car loosening up and more that as time goes by, new cars are just getting built more and more solid. No idea.

colnagoG60

But are you referring to "coach/body panels", "chassis flex", or "suspension"? Aside from suspension, which I thought was unnecessarily abrasive at 30k miles, but that is a different, intermittent issue, I wound up buying stiffer springs, as the car feels sloppy at times, but now on stock PASM controller at 47k miles. Had I the ability to adjust PASM settings again, I'm sure I could get the car to feel "tight" again.

Otherwise, I stand by previous statement regarding my "aged" 981 vs. new 718.

I have a 2013 Jetta GLI, w/73k miles, that I put coilovers on a few years ago. I'd swear I feel the frame twisting at times, even turning at moderate speeds. First time I've felt like I need strut tower braces. Not sure if its age related, or the stiffer springs...but I get the "loosening" over time. Just depends on where it is.

pitt911

I owned a 981 spyder , and drove 981 GT4 multiple times
owned 718 spyder and GT4
and owned a 991.1 CS
My pick will be 718 GT4
the 4.0 liter is a great engine minus the sound but that can be fixed
the only advantage of the 981 vs 718 is the engine sound stock