I wouldn't mind the longer 2nd gear, so many times I come out of a corner only to have to shift 3 seconds later, the 997 gt3 has longer gears and the wait the extra 6 seconds before the next shift out of 2nd will be better for me.

 

I think the fact they are using a lightweight, dual-mass flywheel, with a SAC pressure plate (Self adjusting clutch), which BMW has used on their manuals for a long time, shows they know people will be tracking these cars, and this allows for additional protection to the tranny, along with the auto-blip.

Perfect example is the E46 M3....tons of ham-fisted drivers banging those cars around a track for years, on the stock SAC clutch, and dual mass, and it holds up routinely into the 75-100K range. It's not as good or engaging as a single mass, but simply holds up better, especially for those who aren't as kind on downshifts.

 

I clean forgot about that comment so, yeah, you're right. I guess even popular reviewers have to practice politics occasionally. Too bad.

 

Well when and if Porsche decides to build this mid engined gt3 car that beats the current gt3 get ready to pay over 200k for it. I expect it will be around the 250k range. The only thing they will let beat the gt3 will cost a lot more than the current gt3 you can bet on that. If you want to spend 150k+ on a weekend/ track car get the gt3. If that's too much like it is for me get the gt4 and still have a hell of a good time

 

Chris might have asked privately about the gear ratios. We don't know. But at least he was honest about the finished product. I don't think it matters at this point why Porsche did not change the ratios...either for cost, economy, or to slow the car down.

This was on my mind yesterday though as I was spinning at 5k rpm / 2nd gear at 40mph in my other car. Not yet at peak torque either.

 

Actually Pete. Lets make that 3 for Guards. The thing needs a decent motorsports diff IMO not some dodgy off the shelf M220 single plate option but something with 2/4 plates a side and decent ramp angles for the track. Im sure Guard can have that sorted in a jiffy.

Im still in but very keen to hear what Jethro and others at EVO say. I wont be using this car on the track. The 991 GT3 only weakness I see from my wide and varied useage of the vehicle is that you have to be pushing along pretty on public roads to get the best from the drive line and chassis. Otherwise its ace for track and even touring. My GT4 would be taking up this slack along with Targa (where a lower value vehicle is preferable due to the much larger risks of damage than at the track). So far sounds like its pretty much what most of us expected and no one can argue the package for the price. Changing the gearsets and diff for say 8-9k including labour would be make it an even better car for the track enthusiast...

 

Yeah...that's my assessment...but maybe it's been discussed,who knows... Either way,Chris Harris had mentioned the gear ratios during his drive,so again he stayed on point with his review.
I think at the end of the day,the gear ratios will be fine for most drivers...certainly for me...I don't pretend to be some Senna...my only gripe is that they've held back the car,that's all...

 

This post made me think about how the GT4 and GT4 Cup car may have more similarities than the relationship between the current 991 GT3 and GT3 Cup car, if it has the same 9A1 heartbeat instead of a Mezger like the 991.

If the GT4 Cup comes to exist, one could argue the GT4 is somewhat more connected with Motorsport than the GT3. Albeit in a lesser series, but a race lineage could be drawn.

Personally, I don't value this connection as much as others.

 

Porsche has a number of constraints they need to work withing, but they are also facing a number of new pressures re track oriented cars that are forcing them to change. On one hand technology is pushing lap times down- hybrid, 4wd, 4ws, active aero, automatic, drivers aids, etc. All of these push the "lead" GT cars to be more complex and heavier in order to keep up with the GT-Rs, McLarens and Corvettes of the world.

You also have a second GT car that's more focused on "feel". This addresses the significant faction of drivers that are less interested (not uninterested) in lap time and more interested in driving experience.

In the past the "lead" position was taken by the GT2- it laid down Porsche's ring markers, while the "feel" focused GT car was the GT3/ RS. But the GT2 didn't sell all that well, while the GT3 did.

It seems like they've used this cycle to move the GT3/ RS up half a notch into what is possibly a lead position, while they are attempting to address the "feel" market with a smaller, cheaper, slower entry level platform. This has been well received and will sell in part because of its different price point. However it's a half step down from previous GT3s in terms of performance and experience in many ways (engine, etc).

Over time technology is going to push the "lead" GT car further away from the "fell" car, both in terms of performance and experience. You can't have hybrid without major driver's assistance and it doesn't make much sense without 4wd, but both of these will be required at some point if Porsche plans to keep up at the track. As that happens the opportunity presents to make two cars at closer price and performance points (ie GT3 and Turbo), ie not detune the "feel" car quite as much because they don't compete as directly for the same market.

My hope: Porsche either A) makes a "feel" version of the GT3- manual transmission, possibly ducktail, light, simple, raw. Or B) they make an even hotter version of the Cayman, with GT3 like power and chassis adjustability. As the 991.2 GT3 moves up I could see either of these slotting into a ~115-130k position below the current GT3 in terms of performance but above it in challenge, with roughly current GT3 like power to weight, and not cannibalizing GT3 sales too badly because they are different customers.

I would eventually like to see the ever growing 911 platform and a smaller Cayman platform exist side by side in terms of price in more places (as the GT4/ base Carrera do now), one freed to focus on the comfortable GT role and the other to focus on the small, handy track/ sports car role. One thing the GT guys can't fully fix is size, and roads are not getting any bigger.

 

I was very interested in buying the GT4. I called my dealer and told him I good for a slot. He said cool and asked how much a deposit I'd like to put down. I told him that I'll call him back because I got an email I had to respond to immediately.

I called him back, and my mind had changed. I knew Porsche would not give us what we want. I'm German. I grew up there. I know how Porsche operates. This car is neutered and that's my problem. It's also a bigger problem for Porsche race wise. If they put a Mezger in the GT4 cup, it'll be catastrophic. They know that and knew the fire that would result when they delivered the 991 Cup and RSR cars with Mezgers.

I think the 9A1 is ready to be raced. But at the "lesser" levels as you stated. You can bet it didn't cut the mustard at the higher levels, they would have loved to put it in the Cup and RSR cars. Marketing dreamland.

 

I think we all should thank AP for even getting the GT4 in this form through the system.

 

Indeed it is. This is a great review. His article gave the impression he was not too pleased with the engine or the gear ratios, and that the car is not all that special, and none of this negative stuff appears in this video. He really fell in love with this car and had very little Negative to say about it. Mark

 

Was thinking this exact thing… There has to be a tacit agreement that with the priority access that he gets, he's going to be playing the enthusiastic part, and not digging at AP during what is essentially a marketing bit.

All I can say is that the break-in for this car will be very easy… Nothing like what the GT3 guys had to endure to keeping the car below four or 5000 RPM… On the road there will be no need to go above 4000 RPM in the gt4 ever. I'll just drive around in 2nd gear on the highway to hear the engine sing a little... In the city I'll just put it in first gear in the morning and leave it there all day.

I'll sell gears 4 through 6 on eBay *** coffee table ornaments, my way to lighten the car.

 

+1

All this fix this fix that needs to stop. The car is great, you can't just satisfy all. I have trust in the people developing this car and very grateful for the price point they placed it at. It made me rethink my plan to stretch the budget to get into a 991 GT3.

I modded my 2011 E92 M3 heavily over a few years and eventually went back to almost full stock. In my department OEM beats aftermarket. With Porsche GT cars it is double that. unless I get way too serious about tracking it, I will not change a thing, granted I get one!

But keep the discussion going, interesting to learn.

 

Again, taking the "glass-half-full" perspective, the GT4 is very close to a perfect car in my opinion. For people like me that have a tendency to disregard warranties (for better or worse), I'm confident that the aftermarket will take it there