mopar bob

So true but I don't like the feel of the soft side walls of the Hankooks. I'm hoping that Bridgestone brings out more sizes in the RE71r to fully replace the RE11. That are the only 2 tire in 19 for a 911. So I'll save my dimes and hope and see what comes out.

cretinx

Welp, Kumho isn't helping us much.

205/50R15 KU ECSTA V720
225/50R16 KU ECSTA V720
215/45R17 KU ECSTA V720
225/45R17 KU ECSTA V720
245/40R17 KU ECSTA V720
245/40R18 KU ECSTA V720

knfeparty

At this rate I'm gonna buy a miata

Joe Ricard

Yep, I have Mini Cooper S that I am going to smash cones with. 996 is to drive and enjoy.

cretinx

I think a Boxster may be a dark horse if anyone can ever set one up.

I have a regional championship in a CS Boxster - **** was crazy fast on R comps.

Never got to run my BSP 986S competitively but the ****ing thing moved faster than I could process.

knfeparty

But Horsepower

sjfehr

I don't think it's possible to get a Boxster/Cayman to handle well enough on street prep to offset a 300hp disadvantage in SS. Not much better in AS, and even in the least bad case, 986S is down by 100hp in BS. HP doesn't matter as much in autocross as on the track, but it still matters! These are fast cars and driver skill can overcome much, but they're not even close to fast enough to be nationally competitive as presently classed.

Earlydays

I suspect the GT4 will be very competitive in SS

mopar bob

I'm heavier that a Boxster with close to the same power since I'm a non S 997.1. I'm so going to get mt butt kicked.

cretinx

the only answer is ASP.

sjfehr

GT3/GT4 are going to be great examples of what the performance potential of a new Super Street Touring class could be. I would expect GT4 to crush all over Boxsters/Caymans, but a slightly better weight distribution than the GT3 isn't going to be able to compensate for the other disadvantages compared to C7, GT3 & Elise. I predict it will be less buried and thus competitive regionally, but still uncompetitive nationally.

PedalFaster

What are the GT4's disadvantages relative to the 996 GT3 (keeping in mind that it's the 996 GT3 that's won SS / SSR for a few years running, despite competent drivers showing up in 997.1s)?

sjfehr

996 GT3 is an inch narrower and has about 10% more power. But the 996 GT3 isn't really perceived the car-to-have, either- it's the driver that's winning, not the car. The better question would be how the 981 GT4 compares to 997 GT3, GTR, Elise and C7Z. It won't be buried as deeply as Boxster S/Cayman S are now, but I can't see it being nationally competitive unless placed in the hands of a driver skilled enough to overcome such performance handicaps.

PedalFaster

The GT4 is actually listed at 385 hp and 309 lb. ft., giving it 5 hp and a whopping 25 lb. ft. more than the 996 GT3. To be fair, it's also listed as being 1.8" wider than the 996 GT3, not 1".

Also, there's obviously not much correlation between Nurburgring times and autocross performance, but Porsche's stated Nurburgring time for the GT4 is a full sixteen seconds faster than the 996 GT3's.

So, just to be clear, you're essentially saying that the GT4 will be an also-ran because it's 1.8" wider than the car that won the last three consecutive Super Street-R / nee Super Stock national championships *and* the inaugural Super Street national championship. If so, well, you're entitled to your opinion, but I think you're underestimating the car.

sjfehr

Sorry, my memory failed my on 996 GT3's engine; I was thinking it was 415hp, but that's the 997.1. You're right, the numbers are really damned close. Will be interesting!