jasonturbo

Today I remembered my earlier pricing predictions for the 718 GT4...

Posted 1-Apr-2019, I was pretty close on that assumed base price of $118,700. From the 981 @$96,500 to the 718 @ $113,800 (Which is really 115,050 after "destination" charge)... pretty big price increase for what the car has to offer IMO.

groundhog

What were you expecting it to offer?

Checkout the reviews - they are very good. Looks exceptional to me. 👍😀

With Porsche GT cars all the small changes add up to a lot. They are not defined by the spec sheet but by what they actually achieve and deliver.

Wait for the independent track tests - it'll be 2s a minute quicker than the 981GT4 (in OEM configuration).

blackholescion

Awesome. Hopefully that is carried over. I know the regulations are different in Europe. There was a lot of discussion when I bought my M2 on how the European model had the start/stop override to on on vehicle start but the US model is push it once and it stays off.

IPSA

On the same tire the delta will be measured in tenths.

BioBanker

IF you can get a new car at msrp versus the used car price in Canada, that’s a no brainer decision. I’d do the same - it just makes better financial sense. But that’s a big if.

groundhog

Really and you base this on what?

There is no massive step up here - we are talking about moving to MPSC2 N1 - these have been around for ages in 911 sizes for about 2 years.

I base my observations on the fact I have run many sets of these tires both round track and in tarmac events - often logged. Specifically N0 and N1. I can describe the friction circles in mind numbing and excruciating detail.

The improvements have been clearly outlined by Porsche and in reviews. These types of improvement have been made to others vehicles in the GT line up and 2s per minute is very much on par.

😀

IPSA

Porsche , including AP, say that 3 seconds of the 10-12 second Ring delta is drivetrain. I believe AP gives the tires some credit in the HC walk around at Good wood. That is give or take 25 % of the delta. There seems to be a general consensus of those who are regulars on the Ring that the recent changes have improved times . I have seen 3-6 second thrown around. Lets use 3 to be conservative. That leaves 4 to 6 seconds of the delta to suspension , tires, downforce etc. Lets use 5 seconds. 5 Seconds over a 7 plus minute lap suggests the delta would be measured in tenths per minute.


Further, the Ring is a high speed track so the weight penalty of the new car is less of an issue. ( Yes I have driven that fabulous toll road. ). Although I haven't driven a GT4 on the Ring I do own one and track it regulary and would bet there is no place on the Ring where you would be in second gear except maybe for the last series of turns before the start finish line. The point is the car on the Ring is always at 60 plus mph and the weight penalty is mitigated to some degree because of that . On US tracks , many of which are far tighter and slower, the weight issue will be a bigger issue and the improved downforce will be of far less consequence on tighter courses. For example, my home tracks are Hometead Florida and Sebring. I don't see much advantage at Homestead as there are only 2 turns on the road course where aero may matter, 1 and 10.

Sebring is a different story being in essence a series of straights connected by a few mid speed corners and series of high speed sweepers where the delta should be larger if the aero and suspension changes are material.

I wish we could get a better look at what they did to the rear suspension as that may be the most material change if they solved the hi speed issue with the 981 rear suspension. Some early articles hint a possible substantial change to the rear suspension .

Maybe someone will get OEM versions of each, put RE71 r's on both and let them rip. That would tell us a lot.

I still have high hopes for the RS... and a slot for one...


Cheers




Stay tuned.

groundhog

Perhaps they will make a GT4 RS with PDK and 440 NM with 450HP peak - I hope they do because it will be brilliant😀

jmartpr

Maybe...but you can bet that it will cost the same (or more) than a GT3 and still deliver less performance.

With the huge price increase of the 718 GT4 there's not much pricing room for an GT4 RS...but I do hope I'm wrong on this one.

ExMB

With a PDK & LWBs std you will be at ~$10k premium. So for the rest of carbon hood, fenders, better aero, minor hp bump you expect a $35k premium. All told you are looking at a $45k premium if it comes. Lets not forget the stealer ADMs on top of that..

GoKart Mozart

That is a pretty good breakdown theory on the gains of the various improvements. My guess is tires are 50% of it, but I know you were trying to give the benefit of the doubt, and even then it doesn't amount to much on the average track. Take one of my home tracks, Laguna Seca, no real high speed turns where the aero would help a lot. So while I love to think more aero would make me faster, I seriously doubt I would feel one bit of that extra 25% "downforce".

In a nutshell. There would have been a number of things that could have motivated me to trade up from a 981 to a 718 GT4:

• Lower gearing
• Better rear suspension that fixes the rear stability under high speed braking
• Rear wheel Steering like the GT3
• Significant styling improvents
• 20% or more hp
• Wider front tires

Disclaimer. I am not suggesting the 981 GT4 needs all those things, but some, or all of those, would have justified the price increase. So for me, the minor tweaks they made are not worth the extra money. To be honest I am glad, since I've only had the 981 for 8 months and there is no way I can justify trading it in already.

911tac

On the Ring with a 981 GT4 one will usually in Second gear at T13, Nordkehre, Adenauer Forst, Wehrseifen and Karussell. Some also use Second at Kallenhard.
In my opinion the gearing of the 981 GT4 is not that bad for the ring.

Mech33

Its been pretty thoroughly discussed in some of the technical threads on gearing that the 981 GT4’s gearing is pretty optimal for its engine power curve, with the exception of the 1st to 2nd gap.

flatt6

I had a deposit down on the new GT4, but it looks like I may pull the trigger on a low mileage 981 GT4. I don't think I am going to notice a difference in driving experience between the two platforms for what I'll use it for (weekend enjoyment) and I think the original may be more desirable long term given its personality.

Time will tell however. There will be plenty of opportunities to switch in the future or to the next iteration - whatever that will be.

wizee

My dealer guaranteed me an allocation for a Spyder at MSRP today! I placed a deposit with them last year. $121k CAD ($93k USD), $124k CAD after the dealer fees ($95k USD). Hooray for Canada - probably the cheapest country to buy German cars in the whole world!

Nicely optioned too:

• GT silver
• Red top
• Spyder classic interior (red and black)
• Model designation delete
• 2 way sport seats plus
• Seat heating
• LED lights
• Light design package
• Auto climate control
• Auto dimming mirrors and auto wipers
• Bose
• Apple CarPlay (should remain useful longer and work better than Porsche Nav)