I own and drive a GT and an S4.
This is a question of personal driving habits and personal taste.
I tend to drive the GT but its not a car to drive on the city, for example.
It feels powerfull very strong and firm but harder to drive than the S4.
The S4 feels softer and very relaxing to drive even in dense traffic.

You will be very happy with any of the two.

Wellcome aboard!

 

S4 vs GT

I have been using a '90 S4 as my daily driver for the last 3 years. I have just recently purchased a '91 GT (my new daily driver). Some of the differences that I describe are related to model year changes but most are S4 vs GT. As a note, I had to move the Sumitomo rubber and Mille Miglia wheels from my S4 to the GT due to flat spots on GT rubber from previous owners frequent storage of the GT. This eliminates difference in wheels / rubber in my subjective comparison. Both cars are stock setups on original springs/shocks. I purchased the S4 with 50k miles on the clock and it now has 78k miles. The GT currently has 65k miles.

S4 Summary - I spent considerable effort early in the ownership experience to get the tranny set up the way I wanted. Tranmission cable adjustments provide 1st gear starts at about 1/3 throtte. Installation of parallel kickdown switch did not provide me with 1st gear starts, but did provide me with superb highway cruising transmission response. I consider the set up to be near perfect in a grand touring situation. With the parallel kickdown switch engaged at common highway speeds (50-80 mph), the autobox downshifts 1 gear immediately in response to your foot. A full 2 gear kickdown (from 4th to 2nd) is also available by flooring it (up to about 75mph) and holds the upshift 'til a bit over 80 mph. In this scenario, the car jumps forward as if everyone was standing still. Here, the S4 feels more responsive than the GT. The one compromise that I had to make is that the 3 - 4 upshift is overly firm (due to the cable adjustments)

Other comments:
- great car
- easier to drive in stop and go than GT
- sluggish 2nd gear starts without deliberate throttle input to get 1st gear start
- superb highway tranny response with parallel kickdown switch engaged for 1 or 2 gear downshifts on demand - near perfect I would say
- slushbox isn't a slushbox. Once set up right, it snaps off shifts (up or down) perfectly (save the 2nd gear starts)
- best on center steering
- no cupholder required

GT Summary - From a dead stop, it is noticeably quicker than the S4. I was expecting the shift linkage to be a bit akward and heavy. I was expecting the clutch to be heavy. I find neither to be true. The shifter is very precise in my opinion (my PPI required the shifter cup to be replaced so mine is like new right now - maybe this will change over time). I do not consider the shift throw distance to be too long. I find the clutch to be very linear and although not light, I would not call it heavy. Stop and go traffic is not a problem for me. The 'no cup holder' was not an issue for me with the auto, but is an issue in the GT. Cellphone management is also more of a problem even though I use a headphone set up. I have not learned how to do full hard starts yet, but I have only tried twice. I generated quite a bit of 1st gear wheel hop under full throttle acceleration both times. This is a driver issue and I need to experiment a bit more.

In highway cruising situations, I would need to do a 5 - 3 downshift to get a response similar to the S4 in terms of jump. Even then, I don't think it is quite as fast as the S4 in that 50 - 80 MPH range until the S4 takes 3rd gear and it's acceleration rate drops off a bit. After that, I suspect that the GT would outrun the S4. The S4 is just right in that 2nd gear sweetspot at the highway speeds that us commuters use in S. Florida.

- great car
- feels lighter and quicker than S4 due to 5 speed
- feels lighter than S4 from a handling perspective (I believe a lot of this has to do with the increased power steering boost on the '91 vs '90 model year) - gives me the perception of better turn in capability or is it real?
- the S4 is a fast car - the GT is fast but also quick off the line
- engine is more peaky. Over 4000 rpm this thing just screams.
- follows highway groves very slightly - something that my S4 doesn't do - any ideas as to why?
- quieter at cruising speed (probably due to '91 model year having improved sound deadening material in rear wheel wells and additional door seals
- GT is supposed to have a firmer suspension, but I cannot feal a difference in day to day driving (aside from perceived turn in response stated above
-cup holder required

Both cars are superb!

 

I am now just kind of holding to see some more "photo documentation" on the S4 I am considering.

I am guessing that I will be pleased with the performance in either case. The lower rear gears of the '89 S4 should close the performance gap. Sounds like the GT engine is racier. That is tempting. The better maint records of the GT also makes it tempting. While the GT isn't my ideal color combo it is unique and actually pretty cool. The S4 is my ideal color combo and has the rare and desirable sport seats. I keep telling myself that when the S4 needs a clutch, still original at 75k, the $4k price gap is narrowed by nearly half. Throw in a couple other improvements on the GT and it gets pretty darn near equal.

I'm gonna have to go home and sell hard

Thanks again for the input <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

 

Brent,

Looking more closely at your post, you are comparing a 5spd S4 to a GT. My autobox S4 vs GT comments may not be helpful for you.


Good luck any way! Maybe my observations will benefit someone else. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

 

Hey Brent,

couple more points...if Doug is including the Club Sports in the deal you can easily turn around and get 1K plus for them...(not saying you can't get more..but extra cash for sure)...

Also, if you buy the S4...there will always be the justification of having bought a S4 vs. the GT and the inevitable comparison to the GT....like..my 89S4 is better than the GT on the low end...or I do have the sport seats (that the GT didn't have)...always in the back of your mind...nagging....wondering.....what if.....

If you desire a GT then....just do it.....(especially since you have the option of getting one now ) no need second guess...the GT is the rare of the rare and this opportunity may not present itself again....remember only 50 or so 89GTs...ever.......

Good Luck.

Tom
midlman@seanet.com
89GT
87S4 AT

[quote]Originally posted by Brent 86 951:
<strong>I am now just kind of holding to see some more "photo documentation" on the S4 I am considering.

I am guessing that I will be pleased with the performance in either case. The lower rear gears of the '89 S4 should close the performance gap. Sounds like the GT engine is racier. That is tempting. The better maint records of the GT also makes it tempting. While the GT isn't my ideal color combo it is unique and actually pretty cool. The S4 is my ideal color combo and has the rare and desirable sport seats. I keep telling myself that when the S4 needs a clutch, still original at 75k, the $4k price gap is narrowed by nearly half. Throw in a couple other improvements on the GT and it gets pretty darn near equal.

I'm gonna have to go home and sell hard

Thanks again for the input <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

 

Get the GT

 

Concerning the GT being a rare model, this is true, however, the 928 is rare enough in it’s own right, any model or year, when you compare it to say other Porsche models within the same production time frame or other cars made for that matter so personally for me, that would not make a difference regardless if 1, 50 or 2000 of them were made. At the point when I finally decided to purchase a shark, my finally decision was based upon year, color, exterior/interior color and mechanical condition and options that best suited my needs.

My first choice as fellow Rennlisters may remember was a white 95 GTS in Hawaii; one of roughly 105 made, however, the 88 S4 black/tan w/37 k miles and price tag finally won over the 95 GTS exclusivity. Although I lost boosting rights of owning a limited production model, I gained a very enjoyable car that looks great, runs great and cost a lot less even after the additional money spent to make it mechanically sound.

My best advice, don’t trust anyone’s word concerning condition, be present during the PPI and choose the car that pleases you and suites your needs the best.

Enjoy, I’m sure you’ll have fun either way.

Tim Delarm
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />