BMW M4 GTS
#496
#497
Race Director
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
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
Last edited by CAlexio; 10-24-2020 at 02:01 AM.
#499
Race Director
Originally Posted by 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..?
#500
,
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.
I do question if at the list price it ever made sense to purchase though... ??
And this is my best Valteri Bottas impressionAttachment 1317652
I do question if at the list price it ever made sense to purchase though... ??
And this is my best Valteri Bottas impressionAttachment 1317652
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.
#501
Race Director
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.. ???
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.. ???
Last edited by CAlexio; 10-24-2020 at 09:39 PM.
The following users liked this post:
TRAKCAR (10-24-2020)
#502
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.. ???
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.. ???
GTS is quite a bit different and much more special. I have no interest in mainstream models anyway. Don’t care about track use.
#503
Rennlist Member
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.. ???
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.. ???
Its also easier to beat them to death and not care / worry much..
#504
Race Director
Originally Posted by 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..
Its also easier to beat them to death and not care / worry much..
just for fun, this is my best lap, 2:01 on the full FIA course at Sonoma
Last edited by CAlexio; 10-25-2020 at 03:05 AM.
#505
Race Director
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.. ???
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.. ???
The following users liked this post:
atc5 (10-25-2020)
#507
Race Director
Originally Posted by Drifting
very likely that the GT4RS will be PDK only.
The following 2 users liked this post by CAlexio:
AlexCeres (10-25-2020),
GT3_Driver (10-26-2020)