Having a base 2015 Cayman, I have to say I still get that same weird smile on my face everytime I throw shifts and it purr/growls. What a sound, and what a car on the curves. Perfect weight displacement makes it fit like a glove. What a fantastic machine
Awesome review Guido! I'm so excited that Porsche gave you a day to review this even though it's so booked up! It sounds amazing, looks amazing and seems like one of the best driver's cars there is. Really well done video!
subaruwrxfan l would call this best real driver s car by Porsche makes today .And the manual is the best way to go in ANY PORSCHE !! But if it were up to me either standard boxer or cayman with a manual would suit me just fine :)
+TheGetawayer to be fair Guido, that is very technical and quite complicated, so don´t blame yourself for not knowing that! Especially with the wing...cheers André
Being an independent journalist like you are is pretty awesome. You get to drive cars that most dream about without the negatives of owning it that is maintenance, insurance, and so on. I'm sure its not easy to get an audience and make bit of money on this but still worth the effort.
+vvysoc I was pretty much the first german with the idea to review cars in english. You have to have a passion for it and convincing car-makers to let you drive something like this ( even when you already have a name ) can be hard work. But I love filming and its great when people discuss and enjoy the videos. Thank you for your comment !
Thanks for the review, Guido ;-). Great and honest comments as always. I have a GT4 myself and I must say that I do not feel that the gear ratios are far too long. Maybe a bit, but not really noticeable to me and as I feared after hearing several times this criticism. My last car was a 997.2 GT3 RS 3.8 with short gear ratios and I frequently drive trackdays. All in all, I am very impressed by the GT4. Only big noticeable drawback vs. my old GT3 RS is the less downforce and consequently the lack of stability of the car in high speed turns or bumpy sections like Fuchsröhre on the Nordschleife. Waiting for your 991 GT3 RS review now (I will get one in December)!
GohardGT3 Very awesome, thanks for watching and the great comment ! I don't think the ratios are a big problem, but especially coming out of the Audi TTS I tested before, where 3rd only goes to 130 and the car feels really punchy coming out of corners, I noticed it and thought I had to mention it. I love going down from 4th to 3rd and 2nd on a back road, but at under 100 kph in 4th the GT4 doesn't really pull, right ? So you stay in 2nd and 3rd. Would love to see a picture of your GT4 if you can send me one to my facebook page :) Saw 2 GT3 RSs in Zuffenhausen, one ready for delivery the other one must have been a press car or testcar from Weissach. I already asked Porsche for a test, hopefully will get a postive answer next week :) Regards - Guido
TheGetawayer Thanks for your comment, Guido :-). I understand your point and it is certainly right. Overall the gear ratios could certainly be shorter and the car would be even more fun than it is (can it be at all?!?), but I do not feel that this is so striking. Actually, more I notice this point about long gear ratios the most is on the Nordschleife where there are many turns where you feel you are "between two gears", i.e. in 2nd the engine is on too high revs and you immediately need to switch to 3rd on the turn exit, and in 3rd gear you miss punch on the turn exit. Could it be the trick from Porsche to make sure that the GT4 doesn't achieve lap times too close to the 991 GT3 ;-)?
Probably one of those Porsche's in 5-10 years that is a $200,000+ car if you can find one. Only about 2500 made and probably 200-250 have been totaled on a track - or will be. That alone makes the car increasingly valuable. It is one of the only cars I have EVER seen that in its SECOND YEAR, it costs more than its 1st year.
I saw one at the dealer last week when I picked up my 2015 Cayman S. Loving the driving dynamics of the Cayman S I cannot imagine how fantastic the GT4 is. Great review.
I finally bought one of these a 2016 which has 23,000 km on the odometer. I traded my 09 Boxster S for it. It's a wonderful car. Now that the winter is around the corner I'll be parking it in a few days until the spring.
I really enjoyed your review. Very nice job explaining the pros and cons. It seems like a perfect car for the track with the spoiler and the tall gearing. I hope they listen to your suggestion and make another manual Cayman with a powerful engine that has shorter gearing so you get to shift more. I'm glad to hear the suspension doesn't beat you up too much and it handles so well.
+maxpowers3732 Thanks, happy to hear that ! You know, the set up is pretty firm, but I guess nobody expects a cosy ride in a car like this. The gearing really annoyed me to be honest. Our camera-car was the new Audi TTS manual I had as a tester and in that car 3rd gear goes to 130 km'h ( 180km'h in the GT4 like I said ). That made the less powerful TTS feel really punchy out of corners . Stil glad to see Porsche making a purist's car like the GT4. It's a great car :)
Very interesting reviews and comments. Agree with you regarding the gear ratios... Also interesting to hear to say you prefer the 991 GTS. I've just had 2 weeks around Europe putting 4,000 km on my 981 Cayman S. My friend and I had a great time and some great adventures.
Great work Guido, in spite of the short period with the car. I can see the long gears taking some of the fun factor away of revving through the gears without being at reckless speeds. That's why many love the Honda S2000. Best gear box; Lots of fun through the gears without crazy speeds. Interesting thoughts that you would take the 911 GTS over the GT4. I can see why. Question for you: would you prefer a Cayman GTS over the GT4? No wing!
sungod1976 Thanks ! No I think in the GTS Cayman the problem would still be there unless the car had PDK, which I personally wouldn't buy myself. But it's really nit-picking. All these cars are great and are huge huge fun to drive :)
Another outstanding review, Guido. Well done. I admit I'm biased to Porsche's delightful PDK 'boxes, but it's nice to see them still develop their manual gearboxes. Cheers
Great review Guido , glad you focused on the long gearing, it's the only thing that puts me off (if it was still available!) As you mentioned driving on normal roads, I imagine it has a real impact on the experience. Please don't drive faster as people may have encouraged. I love your reviews because you drive in a spirited manner. For me how enjoyable a car is at that pace is far more important than drifting or driving like Walter Rohrl!
***** Thanks Shoey ! The car is still huge fun and I loved driving it. I just love manual so much, I could get over it, but people want my honest opinion, because there are many who buy their cars based on my recommendations. I read many forums and I know what people care about. So I have to explain the differences and come up with a decent verdict that makes sense. That's not so easy in the context of a car that is designed to be a track tool, while I only drive on normal roads. But I'm very glad you enjoyed the video and like the way I do these in general. And btw: Nobody can drive like Walter...Nobody ;)
Fab review given your limited duration with the car. I find it sad that cars like these are only produced on a limited run. Just makes owning one for normal people like me a pipe dream.
1m7y Thanks, I appreciate the postive feedback ! They try the last 991 engines, before the 991.2 get's a new 3 liter turbo engine. So that's why the GT4 is limited. At least that's what I think :)
The reason the gearing is longer in the GT4 in comparison to the 991's lineup is due to the 7spd manual vs the 6spd in the GT4. Hopefully tuners can remedy this by offering shorter gear ratios!
2B055 That's not 100% correct since the 7th gear in the Carreras is not a full drive gear and only used for better fuel economy, while the top speed is still reached in 6th. The 991 GT3 is the only car with the 7th gear being a full drive gear to reach the top speed
Good to see the short shifter fitted as standard . This is the best Porsche made, I would not need a GT3, this would be the choice for me and I think you would get use to the heavy clutch, and this is not the sort of car I would want to drive through a major city; London, Berlin or Paris. Good review, as usual.
I agree what you say about the wing. I take one of these out tomorrow. If I like it I will be trading in my bulletproof Boxster S for it along with a load, load, load of cash.
I agree with you. The gear ratios really take away the enjoyment out of the 981 for me. It makes little sense to have such a high revving car with a redline of 7800, but such long gearing at the same time.
Hi Guido. Brilliant review again, my friend.Sounds great. If the sports exhaust works the same as in my PDK 981 Cayman S then it won't be at the same volume and 'spit' when it's turned on unless you're in the sport mode... Can you not disable the rev match in sport so that you can rev match yourself? The spit and grown from the engine and exhaust in the S is the best thing about the cars in my opinion. When I have my S in normal mode and sports exhaust on it isn't as loud as when the sport mode is on and sports exhaust is on. I used to have Rev-match and manual gearbox on a previous 370z and LOVED it! I bet this car is incredible.
Smashed the "like-button" instantly. Great video and fantastic sound. Hope you get the chance to drive the GT3RS, especially on the 6th of July . . . :-) All the best Guido.
vstol Hahaha, thanks so much ! How do you know I'm turning 30 ? :( I guess it will take time should I even get a GT3 RS, but I'm waiting for an answer next week and hope this videos does a few more views until then ;)
nice review, i agree on the gearing ratio issue there might something from porsche motorsport catalog to change final drive ratio that would help a lot
Great review. I can see how the long gearing would take away from Daily Driving fun... hard to be in the powerband often when it requires you to wind out the gears that puts you at those speeds. I'd still love one of these!
Windy Run Thanks ! They are even rarer press cars, but since my 991 GT3 review has done almost 700.000 views I think I might have a chance to get one...Fingers crossed haha ;)
GT4 is brilliant, it may be that longer gears were placed in GT4 intentionally to keep it from getting to close to GT3RS numbers. With shorter gears GT4 would be even even quicker getting it to close with GT3RS, just my opinion. Either way have to commend Porsche on great job can't wait to see what Cayman GT4 has in store for us in future.
+David Cruz GT3RS numbers? The new Carrera S will do a 7:30 around the Ring, while the GT4 took 7:42. Huge difference. It would need a LOT more than gear ratios to come closer to even the base GT3, heck, it has a lot to catch up to even the Carrera S.I love the car, but the longer ratios seems to have watered down its performance potential.
The gear ratios are fine. You can stay in 3rd throughout the canyons downshifting when you need it. If you want to shift a lot on public roads try a miata-mx5.
Nice review Guido, been waiting for that one ! I saw two Cayman GT4 on a classified website here (in France), I thought I'd wait 'till it depreciates but I dont think it will though ..
Alexandre Lebeau I would have to agree with him, though. The 981's would be much quicker if the gears were a bit closer, but that would be a cost to MPG, which btw, is quite impressive(20/30) given these cars are sports cars. In my 981, 1st gear can go past 35 mph, and then 2nd past 85 mph before hitting red line. So he really isn't knit picking, it's a fair assessment.
Fantastic review Guido as usual ...2 things...if only i had the money & they were still available at sensible prices. Awesome car though....Id by this over a 911 GT3 to be honest if i had the available funds.
+Iain L Thanks, happy you enjoyed the video ! It would be a tough choice between the two ( a 997 GT3 would always be my winner ). I'd personally have the 991 GT3 over a GT4. I much prefer the exterior and the engine is more exciting. Or just have a Carrrera GTS :) That really is my favourite car of the Porsche range currerntly :)
Sharkwerks make a 3,4,5th gear kit now. I suspect a final pinion/bevel gear kit with a larger ratio will eventually be manufactured since the new 718gt4 has the same gearbox.
Very nice review! This is an awesome car and I would buy it over anything else if it wasn't $120K here in Canada. I will likely settle for a lesser Cayman or slightly used 911, but would have loved to have one of these.
Lovely video...... And a lovely car..... So awesome to see a car with a third pedal........ Its makes Driving: A Hobby.... And ur reviews are practical...... Typical German..... Huge thumbs up for that
You and Chris Harris concluded the same thing regarding the gear ratios. Nice review as usual! Any chance you can review an M235i RWD 6 manual with LSD?
They will never shorten the gears in the Cayman because then it will outperform the 911. I had a 987 with a TPC turbo charger and 460whp, yet a stock 911 would still out accelerate me. shame, what a great platform and other than the gearing what a great car the GT4 has become.
Hi Guido. Thanks for another excellent review. And your rev-matching skills are superb! :) I was wondering if the GT4 is sold-out everywhere, or just in Europe.
Jeff Puha Thanks Jeff ! I think the comment applies to all countries actually. I can't even tell you how many will be sold / built in total, but Porsche is no longer taking orders as far as I know
TheGetawayer You're quite welcome Guido. Thanks for the information. Gee. I guess that means I'll have to go for the manual 911 GTS instead. What a shame! HaHaHaHa.
+goons123flofy Thanks. glad you enjoyed the video ! Hard for me to say really, guess it depends on the brand, but some makers won't even ask you to be careful or break in the engine. I guess a regular oil change and making sure the engine is warmed up properly before revving it out, is very important
Hi Guido. As a bit of a Porsche fanatic, It would be great to hear your thoughts on the 718 Boxster. I was just on Porsche website using their "build your own" option. There does not appear to be a sports exhaust option!! Do you think my 2015 flat six Cayman S with sports exhaust will hold its value even better now? By the way their new Graphite Blue Metallic looks absolutely awesome.
Great review and video Guido! Good stuff as always! I still wish it would come with the PDK. I know I'm in the minority on that but still... I would have kept my pre-order but once it was clear the GT4 is a manual only car, I switched to a Cayman GTS. But that wing, man, I'd love to have that wing ;)
great video - your german accent is so strong in english but distinctive, def will remember. ,ike the angle you came at it from. gearing is def ridiculous, they just bolted the standard one on, also strange and suspicious they did not add a pdk. looking forward to the boxster sypder review
Great to see the smile in your face. What color would you get your gt4 in? Do you think the rhodium silver pays homage to the original Porsches which were naked aluminum?
goons123flofy Mmmh, I don't know actually. I personally like agate grey alot on Porsche cars, like the Cayman S and Turbo S I drove for my channel. And carmine red like the Carrera GTS...Guess we have to wait to see pictures of some owner's cars :)
+TheGetawayer This orange looks awesome as well ... suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=217968431&isSearchRequest=true&export=NO_EXPORT&scopeId=C&minFirstRegistrationDate=2014-01-01&makeModelVariant1.makeId=20100&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gt3&pageNumber=2&action=eyeCatcher#
Ok so did you drive a manual TTRS…if so what did you think? Also my original question was would you pick a 2016 boxster spyder over a Cayman GT4 as a daily driver car for the months between May to November or vice versa? by the way your English is great and kudos to you for having such great description terms…you can tell you put in a lot of effort in what you do and you are very passionate about cars in general…not just German ones :-)
Three Pedal Rebel I actually did drive the TT RS for a review that you can check out here on my channel. I also just filmed the new TTS with a manual. Can't wait to see the new TT RS ! Not sure if the Spyder and GT4 make great daily drivers, because the suspension is pretty firm. I mean some people won't have a problem with that, but it's something worth to consider when you really want to daily them. I think a normal Cayman or Boxster GTS would be better. Can't really comment on the Spyder though since I haven't driven one. I have review of a Cayman S and Boxster S, in case you didn't watch those. Glad you enjoy the videos and your user name really rocks :D
Gern. sie sind einfach geil deine Reviews :) Das mit der Übersetzung hab ich schon bei einem 0-240km/h Video gesehen. Ich hoffe, dass das bei meinem Spyder nicht soo drastisch sein wird, aber mal sehen...Der Sound ist einfach nur zum Niederknien ;)
Luca B. Also man kann wirklich damit leben, keine Sorge :) Ich habe es eben speziell gemerkt nach dem Umstieg vom Audi TTS den wir auch dabei hatten, wo der 3te Gang nur bis 130 geht und der Abzug aus engen Kurven heraus wirklich beachtlich ist. Klar ganz anderes Auto mit Turbo, Allrad, schwerer, aber liebe es einfach wenn man etwas mehr schalten kann / muss. Auf der Landstraße macht das richtig Spaß, auf der Rennstrecke ist man sicher froh wenn man weniger schalten muss und gewinnt damit Zeit. Vlt schickst Du mir ja mal ein Bild von Deinem Spyder, ich hab in Zuffenhausen einen gesehen. Schönes Auto :) Vorallem geparkt neben einem lila GT3 RS :) - Gruss Guido
TheGetawayer Ja klar. Da mach ich mir jetzt nich ultra Sorgen, aber natürlich hat man das dann im Hinterkopf ;D Aber danke für deine Infos, diesbezüglich. :))
Great review, that's the one I've been waiting for. Tall gears would be a disappointment for me too, feels boring and slow. I bet they did it to have 0-100 under 4.5s on paper or something stupid like that.
I test drove the Cayman GTS and the sound in the cabin was simply intoxicating. I discovered that it has something called a sound symposer to channel engine sounds into the cabin. Can you let me know how the GT4 sounds compared to the GTS, and if the GT4 also comes with the sound symposer? Which car in your opinion sounds better?
Doug Maverick I can't find anything about the sound generator in the press kit I've been given, but personally I'm actually a huge fan of the 3.4 sound with a PSE...The GT4 is louder and the pops and crackles it makes are great. Hard to say realy which sounds better, I couldn't say
Yes but when you're already doing 100+ in third gear, there isn't much to downshift into lol. People like the consecutive quick downshifting with rev matching.
Awesome review. I am jealous you got to drive one already! Mine will be build in October, Paint-to-Sample. Hope to do Euro-Delivery (in November, lol, so I hope the winter will be snowless) and get the light-weight bucket seats (currently cannot be ordered). I find the gearing to be great for the track since it gives a good balance between power and losing time shifting, but even in my PDK Boxster S, on twisty roads I often wish for shorter gearing. One thing I will look forward to is how I have to change my driving style on the track. With the PDK I can brake much later since it shifts down so fast. I am sure I will have to brake earlier now to not botch up my shifts :). One question I have though: Can you feel the difference in power between the 991 S or GTS and the GT4? Or does the lighter weight more than compensate?
Mike981S You're getting one of these and you didn't even tell me ?! :) I can only say congrats, I wasn't expecting to see you in one of these to be honest, but I can't wait to hear and read your impressions Mike !
Guido, I am fortunate enough to be on the allocation list in Canada for the GT4 and I have read every single review and watched every video available for both the GT4 and whatever is around on the boxster spyder. I am torn as to which one to get. I am a diehard manual driver ( heel toe for all :-) ) I never will drive another paddle shift vehicle again…I have more fun in my first generation 2002 Lemans TT then my recent X6 5.0 that I have traded in the X6 for a manual JCW mini countryman all4 to use as a winter car. It appears to me the gt4 is a race car for the road with the GT3 specs and the Spyder is a road car for the track. We do not have an autobahn here and I would be lucky to get one track day every 2 yrs due to insurance issues. If you were me which would you pick as a daily driver for the summer months. I value your opinion and love your videos. I would consider waiting for the TTRS but I have been told it is only coming to North AMerica in the twin clutch version…shameful.
Three Pedal Rebel That's awesome ! Can't wait to hear your impressions on the GT4. Have to say I really enjoyed the TT RS and also the new TTS alot as road cars. GT4 is obviously much more hard-core than those two so yeah, would love to hear what you think of it when it arrives :)
Since you've got plenty of experience driving Porsches I'll ask you. I've always been a big fan of Porsches since I was about 10, and it's always been my goal to buy one. Well an engineering major starting college in the fall, and I plan to buy a 987 boxster s with a manual of course. Would you recommend it?
Christopher Cook Hi Christopher, yes I think they are great value for money to buy now and pretty reliable as all Porsches. I would spend a little extra money maybe and get a Porsche approved used car with a good warranty, but apart from that, I think they are a good buy and really fun to drive :)
I don't know. But I wonder, why do companies don't make enough models and make them limited edition cars? For example the laferrari, gt4 and veneno roadster.
Porsche right now has a huge demand for the GT3RS and due to lack of production they are being sold by stealerships for 100k over msrp. I agree, if there is demand, make more. They are a FOR PROFIT company
I understand that higher revs is where the engine makes decent power, but would it really be a big hassle if you just stayed in lower gears? For example, accelerating 1st and 2nd up to 100 km/h. (7500 rpm in 1st in a GT4 should be about 70 km/h)
slip88 I think it really has advantages for use on track, where shifting costs time, but to give you another example: 3rd gear in the Audi TTS I just tested goes to 130. 2nd in the GT4 to 120 or more I think. So low down in the rev-range the TTS feels really punchy and almost faster than the GT4 on public roads. Top Speed was an indicated 267, which I think is enough even for cars used on tracks. My view really applies for street driving which is less important to the customerbase though :)
TheGetawayer I see where you're coming from. Since public road driving is 90% of the time, done at low revs, "low-down" punchiness seems desirable for the street, as you mentioned in the case of the TTS. But then again, if you want punchiness in a GT4 on public roads, just chop it down from 6th to 2nd, or even 1st! That's the price you pay with an engine that makes peak torque/power at high revs. You cant cruise and have instant power on tap at those low cruising revs. The TTS as you mentioned makes peak torque from 1800 rpm, that's cruising RPM. If you have a engine which makes worthwhile power at higher rpm, tall gearing makes sense for two reasons. A lower gear (higher torque in lower gears) can cover most speed limited public road speeds, and a higher gear will make high speed unrestricted autobahn cruising relatively fuel efficient. Now. Imagine if Porsche work some magic, and fit the GT4 RS with the 9000 rpm GT3 engine, 1st might take you to 100 km/h! With the same ratios, 1st gear being 1st gear (highest ratio), gives you enough torque at low speeds (~30 km/h) to be "punchy", but will still be able to run to the speed limit of 100.
slip88 Jap, I can say that the Cayman S with PDK feels better because that car has seven gears. Of course you can drop it down to 2nd or even first, but it would feel more natural to me or suit my driving style better if third and second were abit shorter. But hey, it's not really a fault and I love everything else about the GT4. Hopefully that came across in the video :) Cheers and thanks for the great comments !
Rob Byers Thanks ! Sadly Porsche limits the number of cars I can get per year. Might try to finally film a Panamera later this year if they're open for it :)
VQSeries Sadly no...They are super rare here in germany aka TT / Z4 / SLK / Boxster country...I'm not sure if I would fit actually being 6'4...People here in germany don't think very high of Hondas or japanese cars. I wish they had kept on making cars like the NSX and S2000. Nobody wants that weird looking Civic hatch here either, but I think I should try to review more japanese cars :)
Thanks for the reply! Yes, I agree it's a shame Honda stopped making such legendary driver's cars - NSX, S2000, etc. - If you ever visit America again, try and test an S2000 out.... Would LOVE to get your thoughts on it's driving traits compared to your favored German cars :)
So you went from Frankfurt to Stuttgart , pick up and film this press car, return it back to Porsche then go home for editing hahahaha 24 hours of no sleep, yes?? ;b Thank you, Getawayer, and thanks to Porsche as well ;0
To be honest I'd rather get a Cayman than a 911 nowadays. The Cayman follows the sports car lineage better than the new 911. Lighter, more balanced weight ratio, manual gearbox regardless of trim level. And it's a lot cheaper.
Ja die gear-ratios waren ja leider schon beim GTS kritisiert worden, zumindest in der manuellen Version. Komisch das man sich die Kritik nicht zu herzen genommen hat beim GT4. Bleibt die Frage wie aufwändig eine Anpassung der Übersetzungen wäre.....
000GunterGabriel000 Ist wirklich schwer zu sagen. Manche sagen ja auch der GT4 sei auch nur Resterampe für das was Porsche an 991 Motoren vorm Facelift überproduziert und mit den GTS Getrieben könnte es in Anbetracht der kommenden Umstellungen beim Cayman ( wen er dann noch so heißen wird ) genauso sein...Sind natürlich sehr böse Worte :) Ich kann Dir ehrlich sagen, dass ich vom Abzug nicht besonders beeindruckt war und ich es nervig fand den Motor gefühlt so lange drehen zu müssen, bis er mal die Nennleistung hatte. Meistens kam da schon vorher die nächste Kurve. Aber auf der Rennstrecke hat das lange Getriebe wahrscheinlich einige Vorteile. Grüsse
When you talked about the gear ratios and mentioned that the gears are unsusally long, it might just depend in the number of gears. I mean, the 991 has a PDK and one or two more gears, making the lower gears shorter and the higher gears a bit longer. If you compared the highers gears to eachother, i think the manual would be shorter. This is just a thought, nothing that I know, so dont take my word for granted. Btw doesnt long gears give a more satisfactional downshifts?
xBuzz996 The 7th gear on the PDK isn't a full drive gear, only used for better fuel economy, while top speed is still reached in 6th. That's in all PDK cars, only the GT3 reaches top speed in 7th and doesn't have an economy gear
TheGetawayer yes, exactly, only the GT3 reaches top speed in 7th gear, hence your example of the shorter gear ratio in the GT3. Doesn't it mean that 6 speed transmission should have longer gears? Though when I think about it, this Cayman might not just have the power of a GT3. Like I said, only thoughts and wonders here, nothing that I know of and I love that you take time and answer the comments, not many do that!
xBuzz996 The GT3 engine is indeed very different and more powerful. I can give you another comparison: We brought the new Audi TTS with 310hp along that day and in that car 3rd gear goes to 130, in the GT4 to 180. End result: The TTS feels much punchier out of turns, despite having less horsepower and torque. On the Autobahn the Cayman couldn't escape from the TTS. The long gears in the Cayman GT4 are only good for race-tracks ( less shifting, better times ), and for a high top speed. But on public roads shorter gears would work much better imo
TheGetawayer yeah, but the thing is, it's still a GT4, a more track friendly car. Though one thing that came up in my mind was that porsches engines usually rev really really high, maybe the gear ratios are almost the same as in the TTS and GT4, the only difference is where the redline takes its place. What I mean is that the gear ratios are mechanically the same though in real life it may feel different as you said. And yes, I agree, going 180 kph in third gear is a very long gear and could kill the fun out of it when driving in canyons and twisty roads. This car is literally made for autobahn.
I just put my order in for the Spyder....Missed out on GT4. But open roof is not that bad either. 9 month wait now. I guess the fee RHD models for te rest of the world come last in the production run? Than and the boat down under.
+Princess Peach Puuh, I have no information on that but I doubt the rhd cars will be built last. I actually think the Spyder makes a better road car and that sound with the top down should be epic. Hope you'll send me a picture to my facebook when she arrives !
TheGetawayer Will do.... videos as well! Going to get the classic spyder package so it will be a modern take on the 1950's James Dean style. You gotta do what you gotta do... coming from Audi that are drop dead gorgeous - the Porsche starts on the back foot!
Porsche 992 review: ua-cam.com/video/dXGm90nPZAw/v-deo.html
Having a base 2015 Cayman, I have to say I still get that same weird smile on my face everytime I throw shifts and it purr/growls. What a sound, and what a car on the curves. Perfect weight displacement makes it fit like a glove. What a fantastic machine
Oh my god the sound.. and it's proper MANUAL !
Awesome review Guido! I'm so excited that Porsche gave you a day to review this even though it's so booked up! It sounds amazing, looks amazing and seems like one of the best driver's cars there is. Really well done video!
subaruwrxfan Thanks Matt ! I had a great time. You'd love that car
subaruwrxfan l would call this best real driver s car by Porsche makes today .And the manual is the best way to go in ANY PORSCHE !! But if it were up to me either standard boxer or cayman with a manual would suit me just fine :)
TheGetawayer BTW the long 3rd gear is probably made for the track ,more usable there .Same for the wing on the back.
richard carr Thanks, I would have never guessed that
+TheGetawayer to be fair Guido, that is very technical and quite complicated, so don´t blame yourself for not knowing that! Especially with the wing...cheers André
Being an independent journalist like you are is pretty awesome. You get to drive cars that most dream about without the negatives of owning it that is maintenance, insurance, and so on. I'm sure its not easy to get an audience and make bit of money on this but still worth the effort.
+vvysoc I was pretty much the first german with the idea to review cars in english. You have to have a passion for it and convincing car-makers to let you drive something like this ( even when you already have a name ) can be hard work. But I love filming and its great when people discuss and enjoy the videos. Thank you for your comment !
Subscribed, watched about 2 minutes and I think the German accent also reassures us that he knows his German cars well. :D
It still makes sense for you to review the car since it won’t always be sold out! I’m watching this video in December 2017!
Of course you should review this car! People want to see it. It doesn't matter if its sold out. Let people dream. ;) Beautiful car!!!
Thanks for the review, Guido ;-). Great and honest comments as always. I have a GT4 myself and I must say that I do not feel that the gear ratios are far too long. Maybe a bit, but not really noticeable to me and as I feared after hearing several times this criticism. My last car was a 997.2 GT3 RS 3.8 with short gear ratios and I frequently drive trackdays. All in all, I am very impressed by the GT4. Only big noticeable drawback vs. my old GT3 RS is the less downforce and consequently the lack of stability of the car in high speed turns or bumpy sections like Fuchsröhre on the Nordschleife. Waiting for your 991 GT3 RS review now (I will get one in December)!
GohardGT3 Very awesome, thanks for watching and the great comment ! I don't think the ratios are a big problem, but especially coming out of the Audi TTS I tested before, where 3rd only goes to 130 and the car feels really punchy coming out of corners, I noticed it and thought I had to mention it. I love going down from 4th to 3rd and 2nd on a back road, but at under 100 kph in 4th the GT4 doesn't really pull, right ? So you stay in 2nd and 3rd. Would love to see a picture of your GT4 if you can send me one to my facebook page :) Saw 2 GT3 RSs in Zuffenhausen, one ready for delivery the other one must have been a press car or testcar from Weissach. I already asked Porsche for a test, hopefully will get a postive answer next week :) Regards - Guido
TheGetawayer Thanks for your comment, Guido :-). I understand your point and it is certainly right. Overall the gear ratios could certainly be shorter and the car would be even more fun than it is (can it be at all?!?), but I do not feel that this is so striking. Actually, more I notice this point about long gear ratios the most is on the Nordschleife where there are many turns where you feel you are "between two gears", i.e. in 2nd the engine is on too high revs and you immediately need to switch to 3rd on the turn exit, and in 3rd gear you miss punch on the turn exit. Could it be the trick from Porsche to make sure that the GT4 doesn't achieve lap times too close to the 991 GT3 ;-)?
The TheGetawayer ... reviews,,, always the very best! Thank you.
Probably one of those Porsche's in 5-10 years that is a $200,000+ car if you can find one. Only about 2500 made and probably 200-250 have been totaled on a track - or will be. That alone makes the car increasingly valuable. It is one of the only cars I have EVER seen that in its SECOND YEAR, it costs more than its 1st year.
I saw one at the dealer last week when I picked up my 2015 Cayman S. Loving the driving dynamics of the Cayman S I cannot imagine how fantastic the GT4 is. Great review.
+Ed P981CaymanS Thanks ! Well, don't worry. As a road car the S or GTS is abit more pleasent I think. I did a full review on the S btw
I finally bought one of these a 2016 which has 23,000 km on the odometer. I traded my 09 Boxster S for it. It's a wonderful car. Now that the winter is around the corner I'll be parking it in a few days until the spring.
I really enjoyed your review. Very nice job explaining the pros and cons. It seems like a perfect car for the track with the spoiler and the tall gearing. I hope they listen to your suggestion and make another manual Cayman with a powerful engine that has shorter gearing so you get to shift more. I'm glad to hear the suspension doesn't beat you up too much and it handles so well.
+maxpowers3732 Thanks, happy to hear that ! You know, the set up is pretty firm, but I guess nobody expects a cosy ride in a car like this. The gearing really annoyed me to be honest. Our camera-car was the new Audi TTS manual I had as a tester and in that car 3rd gear goes to 130 km'h ( 180km'h in the GT4 like I said ). That made the less powerful TTS feel really punchy out of corners . Stil glad to see Porsche making a purist's car like the GT4. It's a great car :)
Very interesting reviews and comments. Agree with you regarding the gear ratios... Also interesting to hear to say you prefer the 991 GTS. I've just had 2 weeks around Europe putting 4,000 km on my 981 Cayman S. My friend and I had a great time and some great adventures.
Love listening to a German review German cars. Keep up the good work.
Great work Guido, in spite of the short period with the car. I can see the long gears taking some of the fun factor away of revving through the gears without being at reckless speeds. That's why many love the Honda S2000. Best gear box; Lots of fun through the gears without crazy speeds. Interesting thoughts that you would take the 911 GTS over the GT4. I can see why. Question for you: would you prefer a Cayman GTS over the GT4? No wing!
sungod1976 Thanks ! No I think in the GTS Cayman the problem would still be there unless the car had PDK, which I personally wouldn't buy myself. But it's really nit-picking. All these cars are great and are huge huge fun to drive :)
Nice enjoyable review. Thanks for your thoughts on the long gears, it's good feedback.
Another outstanding review, Guido. Well done. I admit I'm biased to Porsche's delightful PDK 'boxes, but it's nice to see them still develop their manual gearboxes. Cheers
jjrdias Thanks ! I guess many people would love this car with a PDK. Maybe they can offer both options in the future so all driver's are happy :)
Great review Guido , glad you focused on the long gearing, it's the only thing that puts me off (if it was still available!) As you mentioned driving on normal roads, I imagine it has a real impact on the experience. Please don't drive faster as people may have encouraged. I love your reviews because you drive in a spirited manner. For me how enjoyable a car is at that pace is far more important than drifting or driving like Walter Rohrl!
***** Thanks Shoey ! The car is still huge fun and I loved driving it. I just love manual so much, I could get over it, but people want my honest opinion, because there are many who buy their cars based on my recommendations. I read many forums and I know what people care about. So I have to explain the differences and come up with a decent verdict that makes sense. That's not so easy in the context of a car that is designed to be a track tool, while I only drive on normal roads. But I'm very glad you enjoyed the video and like the way I do these in general. And btw: Nobody can drive like Walter...Nobody ;)
Fab review given your limited duration with the car.
I find it sad that cars like these are only produced on a limited run. Just makes owning one for normal people like me a pipe dream.
1m7y Thanks, I appreciate the postive feedback ! They try the last 991 engines, before the 991.2 get's a new 3 liter turbo engine. So that's why the GT4 is limited. At least that's what I think :)
The reason the gearing is longer in the GT4 in comparison to the 991's lineup is due to the 7spd manual vs the 6spd in the GT4. Hopefully tuners can remedy this by offering shorter gear ratios!
2B055 That's not 100% correct since the 7th gear in the Carreras is not a full drive gear and only used for better fuel economy, while the top speed is still reached in 6th. The 991 GT3 is the only car with the 7th gear being a full drive gear to reach the top speed
Good to see the short shifter fitted as standard .
This is the best Porsche made, I would not need a GT3, this would be the choice for me and I think you would get use to the heavy clutch, and this is not the sort of car I would want to drive through a major city; London, Berlin or Paris.
Good review, as usual.
If I could only have one car this would be it. Instead I have an S3, GTI and S3. Keep up the great work Guido.
You make great videos, so much cinematics going on.
LittleCD Thanks ! Glad you enjoyed the video !
I agree what you say about the wing. I take one of these out tomorrow. If I like it I will be trading in my bulletproof Boxster S for it along with a load, load, load of cash.
I agree with you. The gear ratios really take away the enjoyment out of the 981 for me. It makes little sense to have such a high revving car with a redline of 7800, but such long gearing at the same time.
Hi Guido. Brilliant review again, my friend.Sounds great. If the sports exhaust works the same as in my PDK 981 Cayman S then it won't be at the same volume and 'spit' when it's turned on unless you're in the sport mode... Can you not disable the rev match in sport so that you can rev match yourself? The spit and grown from the engine and exhaust in the S is the best thing about the cars in my opinion. When I have my S in normal mode and sports exhaust on it isn't as loud as when the sport mode is on and sports exhaust is on. I used to have Rev-match and manual gearbox on a previous 370z and LOVED it! I bet this car is incredible.
Smashed the "like-button" instantly. Great video and fantastic sound.
Hope you get the chance to drive the GT3RS, especially on the 6th of July . . . :-)
All the best Guido.
vstol Hahaha, thanks so much ! How do you know I'm turning 30 ? :( I guess it will take time should I even get a GT3 RS, but I'm waiting for an answer next week and hope this videos does a few more views until then ;)
nice review, i agree on the gearing ratio issue
there might something from porsche motorsport catalog to change final drive ratio that would help a lot
Great review.
I can see how the long gearing would take away from Daily Driving fun... hard to be in the powerband often when it requires you to wind out the gears that puts you at those speeds. I'd still love one of these!
This kind of red is very charming to me.
What an awesome video!! The GT4 is such a beautiful car.
kalel Wilson Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video !
Best intelligent tests ! very detailed
Good luck with getting the RS. Look forward to your review of that when you do get to test it :)
Windy Run Thanks ! They are even rarer press cars, but since my 991 GT3 review has done almost 700.000 views I think I might have a chance to get one...Fingers crossed haha ;)
Another great video....wish Porsche would do something like this with the Boxster...the quick selling out of the Cayman shows a pent-up demand.
Michael Esarey Thanks ! Check out the new Boxster Spyder :)
I'm in that conundrum where I can't figure out if I want a 981 Boxster or 997.2 911 for a daily driver. Such a tough decision!
TheGetawayer May I ask what your personal car is?
DahleJohannes A BMW 1series hatchback
Very Nice review! Great work! Just an amazing car sounding like a roaring beast rly! :)
Because its sold out, doesn't mean you can't buy it. Many Dealers buy the limited edition cars just to resell it for more.
Ha!. The best Line I heard in the beginning of the vid, was the Getawayer saying " I don't have to review this car its sold out" .
NICE CAR REAALLY SERIOUS SPORT CAR
GT4 is brilliant, it may be that longer gears were placed in GT4 intentionally to keep it from getting to close to GT3RS numbers. With shorter gears GT4 would be even even quicker getting it to close with GT3RS, just my opinion. Either way have to commend Porsche on great job can't wait to see what Cayman GT4 has in store for us in future.
+David Cruz GT3RS numbers? The new Carrera S will do a 7:30 around the Ring, while the GT4 took 7:42. Huge difference. It would need a LOT more than gear ratios to come closer to even the base GT3, heck, it has a lot to catch up to even the Carrera S.I love the car, but the longer ratios seems to have watered down its performance potential.
I love your review. very detailed and full of information thank you
+Lloyd Cordero Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching !
The gear ratios are fine. You can stay in 3rd throughout the canyons downshifting when you need it. If you want to shift a lot on public roads try a miata-mx5.
Nice review Guido, been waiting for that one !
I saw two Cayman GT4 on a classified website here (in France), I thought I'd wait 'till it depreciates but I dont think it will though ..
Alexandre Lebeau I would have to agree with him, though. The 981's would be much quicker if the gears were a bit closer, but that would be a cost to MPG, which btw, is quite impressive(20/30) given these cars are sports cars. In my 981, 1st gear can go past 35 mph, and then 2nd past 85 mph before hitting red line. So he really isn't knit picking, it's a fair assessment.
Alexandre Lebeau Thank you !
elms350z That's crazy how long gears are nowadays even on sportscars ! 85mph in 2nd, that's crazy ..
Fantastic review Guido as usual ...2 things...if only i had the money & they were still available at sensible prices. Awesome car though....Id by this over a 911 GT3 to be honest if i had the available funds.
+Iain L Thanks, happy you enjoyed the video ! It would be a tough choice between the two ( a 997 GT3 would always be my winner ). I'd personally have the 991 GT3 over a GT4. I much prefer the exterior and the engine is more exciting. Or just have a Carrrera GTS :) That really is my favourite car of the Porsche range currerntly :)
Sharkwerks make a 3,4,5th gear kit now. I suspect a final pinion/bevel gear kit with a larger ratio will eventually be manufactured since the new 718gt4 has the same gearbox.
Very nice review! This is an awesome car and I would buy it over anything else if it wasn't $120K here in Canada. I will likely settle for a lesser Cayman or slightly used 911, but would have loved to have one of these.
The front of this car looks just like that of the 991 GT3 which is awesome
I would probably say that the front looks a lot better than a GT3. But the back is questionable.
Yeah I like the back better on the GT3 but I get how they can't change the cosmetics too much and take away from its Cayman identity
its more beautiful in yellow :)
Lovely video...... And a lovely car..... So awesome to see a car with a third pedal........ Its makes Driving: A Hobby.... And ur reviews are practical...... Typical German..... Huge thumbs up for that
Ramnath Iyer Thanks ! Glad you enjoyed the video
best review of GT4 on UA-cam
minibus1351 Thank you
Another great video! Thanks again.
Paul Hill You're very welcome, thanks for watching !
You and Chris Harris concluded the same thing regarding the gear ratios. Nice review as usual! Any chance you can review an M235i RWD 6 manual with LSD?
skrads Thank you ! I should finally get some support from BMW soon, but I don't know what kind of car they can give me
They will never shorten the gears in the Cayman because then it will outperform the 911. I had a 987 with a TPC turbo charger and 460whp, yet a stock 911 would still out accelerate me. shame, what a great platform and other than the gearing what a great car the GT4 has become.
Great review! Your feedback on third gear means Malibu will be hearing more of 2nd gear in the canyons.
Diesel Review Haha, thanks ! Glad you like the video !
Hi Guido. Thanks for another excellent review. And your rev-matching skills are superb! :) I was wondering if the GT4 is sold-out everywhere, or just in Europe.
Jeff Puha Thanks Jeff ! I think the comment applies to all countries actually. I can't even tell you how many will be sold / built in total, but Porsche is no longer taking orders as far as I know
TheGetawayer You're quite welcome Guido. Thanks for the information. Gee. I guess that means I'll have to go for the manual 911 GTS instead. What a shame! HaHaHaHa.
Jeff Puha
You can pay a ton of extra cash for a GT4 if one comes on sell, but trust me the GTS is very lovely too...Carrera or Cayman btw :)
Another great video Guido, by the way have you heard anything about a possible 991 gt2 and gt2 rs? That would be really exciting.
A Jovial UA-cam commenter Thanks ! No, I don't have any news on that
What kind of engine break in procedures do you follow in Germany? Nice driving and great cinematography. Loved the sound recording.
+goons123flofy Thanks. glad you enjoyed the video ! Hard for me to say really, guess it depends on the brand, but some makers won't even ask you to be careful or break in the engine. I guess a regular oil change and making sure the engine is warmed up properly before revving it out, is very important
Specifically for the gt4, there is no engine break in.
TurgBurglar
Hi Guido. As a bit of a Porsche fanatic, It would be great to hear your thoughts on the 718 Boxster. I was just on Porsche website using their "build your own" option. There does not appear to be a sports exhaust option!!
Do you think my 2015 flat six Cayman S with sports exhaust will hold its value even better now?
By the way their new Graphite Blue Metallic looks absolutely awesome.
Great review and video Guido! Good stuff as always!
I still wish it would come with the PDK. I know I'm in the minority on that but still... I would have kept my pre-order but once it was clear the GT4 is a manual only car, I switched to a Cayman GTS. But that wing, man, I'd love to have that wing ;)
slaWterCH Totally understand your reason. And I bet you will enjoy the GTS :)
subscribed after one video. great review!
Collin W Thank you ! There's more here on the channel ;)
Amazing review Guido, But God I'm so jealous, can't hide it.
Rocknium1 Thanks :)
Very good review. Congrats
Dário Barreiro Thanks, glad you enjoyed it !
great video - your german accent is so strong in english but distinctive, def will remember. ,ike the angle you came at it from. gearing is def ridiculous, they just bolted the standard one on, also strange and suspicious they did not add a pdk. looking forward to the boxster sypder review
d2770op Thank you
Thanks for another GREAT review.
What do you think of the differences between 997.2 GTS and 991 GTS?
Big step up? Or step sideways?
Another spot on review!
Reef Man Thanks Reef !
Great to see the smile in your face. What color would you get your gt4 in? Do you think the rhodium silver pays homage to the original Porsches which were naked aluminum?
goons123flofy Mmmh, I don't know actually. I personally like agate grey alot on Porsche cars, like the Cayman S and Turbo S I drove for my channel. And carmine red like the Carrera GTS...Guess we have to wait to see pictures of some owner's cars :)
+TheGetawayer
This orange looks awesome as well ...
suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=217968431&isSearchRequest=true&export=NO_EXPORT&scopeId=C&minFirstRegistrationDate=2014-01-01&makeModelVariant1.makeId=20100&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gt3&pageNumber=2&action=eyeCatcher#
Hey Guido! Another great review! Keep it up :)
World Traveler东北 I will :) Thanks buddy !
dream car for me ! and remain a dream since it's sold out and I didn't win the PCA raffle lol
Ok so did you drive a manual TTRS…if so what did you think? Also my original question was would you pick a 2016 boxster spyder over a Cayman GT4 as a daily driver car for the months between May to November or vice versa? by the way your English is great and kudos to you for having such great description terms…you can tell you put in a lot of effort in what you do and you are very passionate about cars in general…not just German ones :-)
Three Pedal Rebel I actually did drive the TT RS for a review that you can check out here on my channel. I also just filmed the new TTS with a manual. Can't wait to see the new TT RS ! Not sure if the Spyder and GT4 make great daily drivers, because the suspension is pretty firm. I mean some people won't have a problem with that, but it's something worth to consider when you really want to daily them. I think a normal Cayman or Boxster GTS would be better. Can't really comment on the Spyder though since I haven't driven one. I have review of a Cayman S and Boxster S, in case you didn't watch those. Glad you enjoy the videos and your user name really rocks :D
amazing awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
316 likes and just 1 dislike. Thats how good u do reviews.
kagolko Thank you ! I care more about the comments, but I'm glad people appreciate my work :)
Thanks for reply man!
Guido is it possible for you to get 918 Spyder on test from Porsche? Seems you have nice communication with them!
Ma Art Puuuh, I doubt it...I'm more interested in the GT3 RS myself :)
Endlich darfst du auch einen fahren *.* Darauf habe ich gewartet. Danke, danke, danke...
Luca B. Sehr gerne :) Danke fürs Anschauen !
Gern. sie sind einfach geil deine Reviews :) Das mit der Übersetzung hab ich schon bei einem 0-240km/h Video gesehen. Ich hoffe, dass das bei meinem Spyder nicht soo drastisch sein wird, aber mal sehen...Der Sound ist einfach nur zum Niederknien ;)
Luca B. Also man kann wirklich damit leben, keine Sorge :) Ich habe es eben speziell gemerkt nach dem Umstieg vom Audi TTS den wir auch dabei hatten, wo der 3te Gang nur bis 130 geht und der Abzug aus engen Kurven heraus wirklich beachtlich ist. Klar ganz anderes Auto mit Turbo, Allrad, schwerer, aber liebe es einfach wenn man etwas mehr schalten kann / muss. Auf der Landstraße macht das richtig Spaß, auf der Rennstrecke ist man sicher froh wenn man weniger schalten muss und gewinnt damit Zeit. Vlt schickst Du mir ja mal ein Bild von Deinem Spyder, ich hab in Zuffenhausen einen gesehen. Schönes Auto :) Vorallem geparkt neben einem lila GT3 RS :) - Gruss Guido
TheGetawayer Ja klar. Da mach ich mir jetzt nich ultra Sorgen, aber natürlich hat man das dann im Hinterkopf ;D Aber danke für deine Infos, diesbezüglich. :))
Another great review my friend.
astronmr20 Thank you very much !
My god! Why does this engine have to sound so epic?
hakuroo1 NA heaven ;)
Dare i say it??? Its sound, in this video, reminds me of the old Metzger engine. Nothing sounds better than the metzger though.
Windy Run The exhaust note is great, louder than any 3.8 Carrera engine with sports exhaust I've driven :)
Great review, that's the one I've been waiting for. Tall gears would be a disappointment for me too, feels boring and slow. I bet they did it to have 0-100 under 4.5s on paper or something stupid like that.
serg472 Thanks ! Well second goes to about 125, I believe, so they could have made it shorter and the 0-100 would be even better :)
I test drove the Cayman GTS and the sound in the cabin was simply intoxicating.
I discovered that it has something called a sound symposer to channel engine sounds into the cabin.
Can you let me know how the GT4 sounds compared to the GTS, and if the GT4 also comes with the sound symposer?
Which car in your opinion sounds better?
Doug Maverick I can't find anything about the sound generator in the press kit I've been given, but personally I'm actually a huge fan of the 3.4 sound with a PSE...The GT4 is louder and the pops and crackles it makes are great. Hard to say realy which sounds better, I couldn't say
Isn't "rev-matching" just for downshifting when slowing down?
Yes but when you're already doing 100+ in third gear, there isn't much to downshift into lol. People like the consecutive quick downshifting with rev matching.
My dad got one last week :P
It's so fun!
+Revenge woh Congrats !
Outstanding car, how you fix the g-box.... buy a 986 instead, swap a 3.8 or something with the saved money :D
Awesome review. I am jealous you got to drive one already! Mine will be build in October, Paint-to-Sample. Hope to do Euro-Delivery (in November, lol, so I hope the winter will be snowless) and get the light-weight bucket seats (currently cannot be ordered). I find the gearing to be great for the track since it gives a good balance between power and losing time shifting, but even in my PDK Boxster S, on twisty roads I often wish for shorter gearing.
One thing I will look forward to is how I have to change my driving style on the track. With the PDK I can brake much later since it shifts down so fast. I am sure I will have to brake earlier now to not botch up my shifts :).
One question I have though: Can you feel the difference in power between the 991 S or GTS and the GT4? Or does the lighter weight more than compensate?
Mike981S You're getting one of these and you didn't even tell me ?! :) I can only say congrats, I wasn't expecting to see you in one of these to be honest, but I can't wait to hear and read your impressions Mike !
TheGetawayer I may have mentioned it on my facebook or on planet-9 ;).
Guido,
I am fortunate enough to be on the allocation list in Canada for the GT4 and I have read every single review and watched every video available for both the GT4 and whatever is around on the boxster spyder. I am torn as to which one to get. I am a diehard manual driver ( heel toe for all :-) ) I never will drive another paddle shift vehicle again…I have more fun in my first generation 2002 Lemans TT then my recent X6 5.0 that I have traded in the X6 for a manual JCW mini countryman all4 to use as a winter car. It appears to me the gt4 is a race car for the road with the GT3 specs and the Spyder is a road car for the track. We do not have an autobahn here and I would be lucky to get one track day every 2 yrs due to insurance issues. If you were me which would you pick as a daily driver for the summer months. I value your opinion and love your videos. I would consider waiting for the TTRS but I have been told it is only coming to North AMerica in the twin clutch version…shameful.
Three Pedal Rebel That's awesome ! Can't wait to hear your impressions on the GT4. Have to say I really enjoyed the TT RS and also the new TTS alot as road cars. GT4 is obviously much more hard-core than those two so yeah, would love to hear what you think of it when it arrives :)
Since you've got plenty of experience driving Porsches I'll ask you. I've always been a big fan of Porsches since I was about 10, and it's always been my goal to buy one. Well an engineering major starting college in the fall, and I plan to buy a 987 boxster s with a manual of course. Would you recommend it?
Christopher Cook Hi Christopher, yes I think they are great value for money to buy now and pretty reliable as all Porsches. I would spend a little extra money maybe and get a Porsche approved used car with a good warranty, but apart from that, I think they are a good buy and really fun to drive :)
i wanna be a millionaire so freaking bad and buy all the cars i never had.
Hell yeah been waiting for this!
GT4 is awesome and I'd love to own one. I however, still love my 991 GT3 much more.
You can buy a second hand gt4 from a shiek in Dubai.
Id love to but how the heck would I get to the States
I don't know. But I wonder, why do companies don't make enough models and make them limited edition cars? For example the laferrari, gt4 and veneno roadster.
Porsche right now has a huge demand for the GT3RS and due to lack of production they are being sold by stealerships for 100k over msrp. I agree, if there is demand, make more. They are a FOR PROFIT company
I agree. If you can afford one, an Aston Martin vanquish will make a hell of a choice. And don't forget the aventador and the f12 berlinetta.
I understand that higher revs is where the engine makes decent power, but would it really be a big hassle if you just stayed in lower gears? For example, accelerating 1st and 2nd up to 100 km/h. (7500 rpm in 1st in a GT4 should be about 70 km/h)
slip88 I think it really has advantages for use on track, where shifting costs time, but to give you another example: 3rd gear in the Audi TTS I just tested goes to 130. 2nd in the GT4 to 120 or more I think. So low down in the rev-range the TTS feels really punchy and almost faster than the GT4 on public roads. Top Speed was an indicated 267, which I think is enough even for cars used on tracks. My view really applies for street driving which is less important to the customerbase though :)
TheGetawayer I see where you're coming from. Since public road driving is 90% of the time, done at low revs, "low-down" punchiness seems desirable for the street, as you mentioned in the case of the TTS.
But then again, if you want punchiness in a GT4 on public roads, just chop it down from 6th to 2nd, or even 1st!
That's the price you pay with an engine that makes peak torque/power at high revs. You cant cruise and have instant power on tap at those low cruising revs. The TTS as you mentioned makes peak torque from 1800 rpm, that's cruising RPM.
If you have a engine which makes worthwhile power at higher rpm, tall gearing makes sense for two reasons. A lower gear (higher torque in lower gears) can cover most speed limited public road speeds, and a higher gear will make high speed unrestricted autobahn cruising relatively fuel efficient.
Now. Imagine if Porsche work some magic, and fit the GT4 RS with the 9000 rpm GT3 engine, 1st might take you to 100 km/h! With the same ratios, 1st gear being 1st gear (highest ratio), gives you enough torque at low speeds (~30 km/h) to be "punchy", but will still be able to run to the speed limit of 100.
slip88
Jap, I can say that the Cayman S with PDK feels better because that car has seven gears. Of course you can drop it down to 2nd or even first, but it would feel more natural to me or suit my driving style better if third and second were abit shorter. But hey, it's not really a fault and I love everything else about the GT4. Hopefully that came across in the video :) Cheers and thanks for the great comments !
Will more of these be produced? I really need this cayman :x
Hey love the reviews but when will you be testing the panamera?
Rob Byers Thanks ! Sadly Porsche limits the number of cars I can get per year. Might try to finally film a Panamera later this year if they're open for it :)
Hi Guido, just curious... Have you ever driven a Honda S2000? I ask considering your awesome passion for "driver's cars" TheGetawayer
VQSeries Sadly no...They are super rare here in germany aka TT / Z4 / SLK / Boxster country...I'm not sure if I would fit actually being 6'4...People here in germany don't think very high of Hondas or japanese cars. I wish they had kept on making cars like the NSX and S2000. Nobody wants that weird looking Civic hatch here either, but I think I should try to review more japanese cars :)
Thanks for the reply! Yes, I agree it's a shame Honda stopped making such legendary driver's cars - NSX, S2000, etc. - If you ever visit America again, try and test an S2000 out.... Would LOVE to get your thoughts on it's driving traits compared to your favored German cars :)
So you went from Frankfurt to Stuttgart , pick up and film this press car, return it back to Porsche then go home for editing hahahaha 24 hours of no sleep, yes?? ;b
Thank you, Getawayer, and thanks to Porsche as well ;0
Vanilla Coca Cola Haha no...I filmed it on Monday ;)
To be honest I'd rather get a Cayman than a 911 nowadays. The Cayman follows the sports car lineage better than the new 911. Lighter, more balanced weight ratio, manual gearbox regardless of trim level. And it's a lot cheaper.
Ja die gear-ratios waren ja leider schon beim GTS kritisiert worden, zumindest in der manuellen Version. Komisch das man sich die Kritik nicht zu herzen genommen hat beim GT4.
Bleibt die Frage wie aufwändig eine Anpassung der Übersetzungen wäre.....
000GunterGabriel000 Ist wirklich schwer zu sagen. Manche sagen ja auch der GT4 sei auch nur Resterampe für das was Porsche an 991 Motoren vorm Facelift überproduziert und mit den GTS Getrieben könnte es in Anbetracht der kommenden Umstellungen beim Cayman ( wen er dann noch so heißen wird ) genauso sein...Sind natürlich sehr böse Worte :) Ich kann Dir ehrlich sagen, dass ich vom Abzug nicht besonders beeindruckt war und ich es nervig fand den Motor gefühlt so lange drehen zu müssen, bis er mal die Nennleistung hatte. Meistens kam da schon vorher die nächste Kurve. Aber auf der Rennstrecke hat das lange Getriebe wahrscheinlich einige Vorteile. Grüsse
When you talked about the gear ratios and mentioned that the gears are unsusally long, it might just depend in the number of gears. I mean, the 991 has a PDK and one or two more gears, making the lower gears shorter and the higher gears a bit longer. If you compared the highers gears to eachother, i think the manual would be shorter. This is just a thought, nothing that I know, so dont take my word for granted. Btw doesnt long gears give a more satisfactional downshifts?
xBuzz996 The 7th gear on the PDK isn't a full drive gear, only used for better fuel economy, while top speed is still reached in 6th. That's in all PDK cars, only the GT3 reaches top speed in 7th and doesn't have an economy gear
TheGetawayer yes, exactly, only the GT3 reaches top speed in 7th gear, hence your example of the shorter gear ratio in the GT3. Doesn't it mean that 6 speed transmission should have longer gears? Though when I think about it, this Cayman might not just have the power of a GT3. Like I said, only thoughts and wonders here, nothing that I know of and I love that you take time and answer the comments, not many do that!
xBuzz996 The GT3 engine is indeed very different and more powerful. I can give you another comparison: We brought the new Audi TTS with 310hp along that day and in that car 3rd gear goes to 130, in the GT4 to 180. End result: The TTS feels much punchier out of turns, despite having less horsepower and torque. On the Autobahn the Cayman couldn't escape from the TTS. The long gears in the Cayman GT4 are only good for race-tracks ( less shifting, better times ), and for a high top speed. But on public roads shorter gears would work much better imo
TheGetawayer yeah, but the thing is, it's still a GT4, a more track friendly car. Though one thing that came up in my mind was that porsches engines usually rev really really high, maybe the gear ratios are almost the same as in the TTS and GT4, the only difference is where the redline takes its place. What I mean is that the gear ratios are mechanically the same though in real life it may feel different as you said. And yes, I agree, going 180 kph in third gear is a very long gear and could kill the fun out of it when driving in canyons and twisty roads. This car is literally made for autobahn.
I just put my order in for the Spyder....Missed out on GT4. But open roof is not that bad either. 9 month wait now. I guess the fee RHD models for te rest of the world come last in the production run? Than and the boat down under.
+Princess Peach Puuh, I have no information on that but I doubt the rhd cars will be built last. I actually think the Spyder makes a better road car and that sound with the top down should be epic. Hope you'll send me a picture to my facebook when she arrives !
TheGetawayer Will do.... videos as well! Going to get the classic spyder package so it will be a modern take on the 1950's James Dean style. You gotta do what you gotta do... coming from Audi that are drop dead gorgeous - the Porsche starts on the back foot!
I dont think Porsche gave you the car for buyers review, but more like the waiting list review, so they know what they'll get in some time lol.
Timi Style Good point and way to see it, haha :)
So is there feedback in the wheel? Like do they get with Thrustmaster or Logitech and make FFB? lol