786

Agreed. When I saw the new one getting the previous GTS was a no brainer. Plus, new car is ~500lbs heavier with the same power as my GTS.

CAlexio

Weirdly coincidental that this thread popped up. I rent an M4 GTS for trackdays. I do arrive and drive as I don't have room in SF to keep a track car, and certainly no space to work on it.

This is a properly setup M4 GTS (stock one is a non-starter for track work.. terrible in so many ways). It's got wAP Racing calipers and rotors and light wheels, plus fully custom set up Bilstein suspension. I've driven this same car at Sonoma and Laguna a few times, and vs. Porsche's I was used to, I was having a really hard time finding enjoyment in it. Despite the perfect setup it felt heavy in front compared to a 911 and just sort of heavy overall. But my worst assessment was that it wouldn't rotate in turns.



Well.. silly me had the traction control still on... I thought that in the MDM setting it was off, but the BMW TC is so terribly restrictive that even with the steering wheel slightly turned it would just kill power.

Finally figured out how to turn it ALL off and it's quite a revelation. First I gained a full 10 seconds from a pitiful 2:10 at Sonoma to a respectable 2:01 (this is the full FIA length course, not the normal abbreviated course)... but now i could get the front planted and achieve a progressively rotated car in turns. Really had fun with it, the rear is quite loose, a "pointy" setup which allows for true throttle steering. Engine power for a turbo is nice and linear without drop-off at the top of the revs.

Thanks to great coaching and data analysis with the Race Navigator hardware offer by AR Motorsports my track host for the day, I kept improving throughout the day, and ended up moving into A-group where some really hardcore metal was playing... Senna's, GT2RS, full track cars etc...

In summary... beautiful car, terrible as stock, still not a GT3 even when fully prepped. BUT... when setup right it can be competitive and rewarding as a track machine... undrivable at this point On the road. I do question if at the list price it ever made sense to purchase though... ??


And this is my best Valteri Bottas impression

Wudee

Looks lot of fun and some nice cars. Was surprised to see a Opel Kadett coupe parked next to the M4. How did that ever end up in LA..?

CAlexio

We were in Sonoma, north of SF. One the race groups was the retro sporting group, with all sorts of funky older cars. The organizer Ace Robey is especially fond of older rally cars and he just imported this beauty from Portugal.

786

Lol at the PAM

Rear is really loose, I love it. Very entertaining car to drive, even at legal speeds. Lots of mini slides to manage etc, it’s just plain fun.

Mine is exclusively street driven and the stock KW 3-ways have exceptional damping, this car has really pleasantly surprised me. I bought it sight unseen having never even driven a regular M4. Super happy with it.

At list price definitely didn’t make sense but here a few years later I think it represents huge value. After driving it a bit I think it’s criminally underrated. It did post a Ring time faster than the CGT after all. So ya, new price was a joke but my car was low $80s for an immaculate 1-owner no stories car with 3k miles. To me this is incredible value. It even smells new. Highly recommended, snap these up while you can.

CAlexio

Why this over a CS for $55k now? Considering how much you have to upgrade for track use anyway.

Similar argument for GT4RS of course.. I'm carefully weighing options of whether it makes sense to spend a likely $130k for a factory car which still will require some kind of upgrade to make truly track prepped... vs taking a used GT4 for $80k and spend $20-30k MAX to make it a perfect track car which frankly you aren't so worried about messing up... I'm excited about GT4RS but.. ???

786

CS is $55k? Last I checked still in the $70s.

GTS is quite a bit different and much more special. I have no interest in mainstream models anyway. Don’t care about track use.

TRAKCAR

On same page, or a Corvette, maybe even a used AMG GTR?
Its also easier to beat them to death and not care / worry much..

CAlexio

Amg GTR is very enticing.. any car with variable nannies like that seems like a perfect learning tool for the track. Have you tried it?

just for fun, this is my best lap, 2:01 on the full FIA course at Sonoma

Jimmy-D

Does anyone know if the GT4RS is going to be PDK only?

Drifting

very likely that the GT4RS will be PDK only.

CAlexio

Yea and somehow I'm ok with it... I've gone from enjoying sports cars on the road, to really having no use for anything fast on public roads and now loving the track so much. Looking forward to the efficiency this pdk will offer in its proper setting.

786

Personally, I prefer karting rather than tracking my sports car. Too much upkeep.