mathfuzzy

Hi All,

I’m a long-time Rennlist member and new GT4 owner. Since I started posting here I figured I’d better introduce myself.

I just picked up my GT4, a CPO from a local Bay Area dealer at the end of October. It’s Agate Grey with PCCB’s, LWB’s, Nav and Sport Chrono as the major options. I’ve attached pictures that are mediocre, but since it’s a party foul to post an intro without pictures, there they are. I’ll add better as I have them.

By way of background, this is my 8th Porsche since 1992 and first non-911. I also have a 991.1 GTS PCA 60th Anniversary Club Coupe that is well loved. The previous 911’s were:

#1 - a 1970 911S coupe - light ivory
#2 - a 1997 993 Targa - metallic black
#3 - a 1997 993 Targa - GP white
#4 - a 2002 996 C4S coupe - arctic silver
#5 - a 2009 997.2 Targa 4S - black
#6 - a 1997 993 C2 coupe - guards red

For the most part, I’ve been a one-at-a-time Porsche owner, except I had #1 and #2 at the same time before selling #1 six months after buying #2. And #6 and the Club Coupe were together for around a year until the beginning of this year. Since the GT4 replaced my daily driver BMW, and I don’t plan to part with the Club Coupe for, um...., ever, I’m hoping that this pair stays together for a very long time.

If you’re interested in reading my much longer car / Porsche bio, feel free to click the link in my signature. It needs some updating, but explains the whole story up through buying and taking delivery of my Club Coupe in late 2015.

I’m very glad to be here and psyched to own the GT4. It doesn’t feel redundant with my 991 and I’m looking forward to getting to know it much better on the street, in the mountains and on the track.

needmoregarage

Congrats and enjoy for many miles in the best of health!!

It looks spectacular, and no - I’m not at all biased!!!

shaytun

Congrats. Looks great! We will need more pictures.

Buteo

Congrats on the car. I'm a big fan of agate.


Great combo you have there! The 991.1 GTS and GT4 are a great match.

NoGaBiker

As a former Ducktail 991 GTS owner, I commend you! Unlike you, I have tried owning two at once and it never worked -- I'd neglect the older one and find myself driving it out of guilt but wishing I was in the newer one. Of course, it works perfectly well for a lot of guys so good luck!

For me, 991 GTS was a pleasant 2-year diversion but in the end the car wasn't raw enough for my taste. Loved the sounds and the acceleration was fabulous (wish we had that exact motor in the GT4!) but as soon as I realized I wasn't actually passionate about the GTS, I did the trade (in June '17) and immediately realized this was a long-term keeper for me.

I hope you end up loving them both and keeping them forever! Good to see you on this side of the aisle, where (at least so far) we don't have to squabble about NA vs. Turbo in two out of three threads!

Alan C.

Congratulations!

HelpMeHelpU

That's a great addition--you're going to love it! Drive it in good health.

ajw45

Congrats, awesome combo!

mathfuzzy

Thanks all. Yeah, heading out tomorrow for an early drive to Alice’s for breakfast. I’ll get some pictures then. The GT4 is a fantastic car and I’m fortunate to have it together with the special 991 GTS.

NoGaBiker, it was great to see you here. I understand your experience. My wife and I have had a boatload of great experiences and over 9k mostly fun miles in our GTS, so it’s become more than just a car. The 3.8 with power kit in the GTS is a sweet engine and I’ve been on a learning curve with the version in the GT4. Sometimes it seems perfectly familiar and other times it doesn’t behave as I’m expecting. Still the 3.8 in the GT4 is quite good and the whole package works really well together.

Can’t wait to drive it in the morning!

user1029

yeah because the engine is now in the right position

BryanCO

Enjoyed the car and bike stories. Here’s to hopping you find enjoyment with the GT4.

mathfuzzy

^ Thanks Bryan. So far so great. My wife and I took an early morning drive this morning on some great and familiar roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains, to the ocean, and ended up at Alice’s for breakfast. After my second “real” drive in the car, it seems the car is much more willing and able to quickly change directions. It also seems that there is way more steering feedback relative to my 991 GTS.

Also good news that the my wife found the LWB’s confortable and no complaints about them being a pita to get in and out of. That was a relief.

I’ll do a search, but what’s with the flat spot at around 4K rpm? Is it me / my car or is that common? It’s definitely not there in the 3.8 in my GTS.

I replaced the amber side markers with clear LED’s. Also ordered a set of the aftermarket Pepita inserts for the LWB’s. Are there any mods that are very common that I should consider?

G-forceGT4

Two sexy babes in the garage. Simply awesome!
Enjoy the GT4, it's a much different feeling ride than the 991 (which is great too, & special)

stout

Glad you are digging the car, John.

Very perceptive on your part. The engine in my GT4 felt a bit soft from 3500-5500 rpm to me, something I didn't notice in the GT4s at the European press launch in Portugal. I wrote about the same sensation here on RL. Felt like the ECU pulling the ignition timing back, but that was just a guess. So I tried some high test fuel from Sonoma, which seemed like it helped but it was one of those "am I really feeling that, or am I feeling that because I want to be feeling that?" I spoke with Sonnen and Porsche of Fremont, and had my car reflashed at the latter. It did seem to get better, but then went back to its old self. Then a friend with a GT4 here in Marin did the same thing, with the same results. He said his car felt sharper right after the flash, then went back to being a bit soft in the midrange within a week. I think that points to the engine management being reset and then (re)learning that it doesn't like CA 91. My theory, and it's only that: Porsche didn't get enough miles in with the 3.8 in the 981 chassis in CA to get the ECU maps right with our crappy fuel. I've only seen two photos of a 981 3.8 prototype in CA, both being of the same 981 Spyder and both taken at the same intersection in Santa Barbara—when we usually see scores of spy shots whenever Porsche is testing a new car in CA. Again, it's just a guess.

So I don't think anything is "wrong" with your GT4, and I guess a silver lining is that 5500 rpm is always a bigger rush than expected here in CA.



pete

NoGaBiker

Interesting, Pete.

I'm sure you've driven your GT4 in other states, or other GT4s in other states with real gas (93). Did you notice the problem being cured? I don't really feel anything like that, but I've only ever had 93 in mine.