Originally Posted by supercup

For all saying what you will pay, all you are doing is helping Porsche set pricing. They look at these forums and if you all say you will pay $130k - $135k for the 4RS - then they will oblige you!

Originally Posted by Gibbens

I'm curious, purely speculative...why not the 991.1 3.8 motor with a lower red line?

Originally Posted by Phokaioglaukos

The future for track and race cars is midengine. Even for Porsche. It may not be this round, but the Cayman will ultimately dominate.

Originally Posted by stout

Who says it has to be called a "GT4 RS"?

We can step back and see how a confluence of conditions fit together, then maybe we can see how Porsche might choose to go forward. There's also history, which can be (but may not be) useful.

Fwiw, I'd map it out this way:
993 GT road car and race cars (GT2 only, unless GT1 counts)
996-1 GT road car and race cars (new chassis, new model, old engine)
996-2 GT road cars and race cars (RS added)
997-1 GT road cars and race cars ("electronic era" begins)
997-2 GT road cars and race cars (displacement bump x2, GT2 RS debuts)
991-1 GT road cars and race cars (PDK switch, save the R; no GT2)
981-1 GT road car and race cars (back to MT, smash hit)
991-2 GT road cars and race cars (back to MT, possibly as an option; GT2 returns)
982 GT road car(s) and race cars (MT and PDK? plain GT4 only?)
992-1 GT road cars and race cars (turbo across the GT line needed?)
994-1 (?)
984-1 (?)

The 981-1 GT4 reminds me of the 996-1 GT3 in that it's a true beginning, and because it's something of a holdout (996 GT3 = GT1 flat six, 981 GT4 = NA vs turbocharged model lineup). Of course, there are differences, too.

Consider the pricing trend, too, with 996-2 GT3 at $99k and steadily growing to surpass $130k with the 991 GT3 and much more than that for the RS and R. Porsche had no problem selling any of them—and watched speculators descend. Add in the separation difficulties created by 991-2 turbo and 982 turbo torque, and it only gets more interesting. The girls and boys at Weissach are no dummies; maybe they'll do a "GT4R" with PDK only next time, then offer a vanilla GT4 with MT only next time—much like Mercedes does a great looking E-Class then an ugly one, then a great one, then an ugly one.

Model separation for 991-2 and 982 has to be considered, as does Porsche Motorsport's model offerings and customer racing needs/goals. With the GT4 category set to shake things up, the 981-1 GT4 came along at a good time for more than those who got the street car. Porsche has its bases covered...but what about that lucrative GT3 Cup series?

As for 981-1 GT4 resale values, who cares? I doubt the bottom will drop out, and that's all that really matters to me. Anything else that happens is gravy, as the car offers stunning value for money. And so I'd rather add miles than polish. YMMV!

Originally Posted by Phokaioglaukos

The future for track and race cars is midengine. Even for Porsche. It may not be this round, but the Cayman will ultimately dominate.

Originally Posted by GrantG

The whole purpose of the GT3 3.8L motor is to rev to 9k. That is the reason for the finger-follower cams (which is also the source of much of the unreliability) and Titanium conrods. And that is the reason this motor makes more power than the Carrrera 3.8L.

Revving this motor to 8k would provide no benefit over the old 3.8L X51 motor which was more reliable and far less expensive to make. Would be foolish for Porsche to provide a finicky GT motor when they have the X51 for half the cost.

Both motors are now out of production, so no easier to revive one over the other...

Also if you only rev the next GT4 to 8k rpm, then you'll be stuck with the same gearing (unless you opt for PDK-S).

Originally Posted by orthojoe

I'll take a GT3 engine that revs to 8000 over x51 any day

Originally Posted by orthojoe

Have you compared a 3.8L X51 to a 991GT3? Even if you only rev to 8000 rpm there is a drastic difference in the engines. I'll take a GT3 engine that revs to 8000 over x51 any day