718 GT4 Options
Discussion
I’m currently stepping up my search for a 718 GT4. I have had a search but is there a guide anywhere to the bewildering range of options?
Coming from a mainly Lotus background the most complex decision I’ve normally had to make has been to have carpets or not!
Car will be predominantly road with 4-5 TDs a year, I know which mechanical options I want and having already tried both, carbon buckets are an absolute must. Leather dash is a big step up over the plastic but outside of that when it comes to lights / climate / nav / interior trim etc and the three letter acronyms start to kick in with full fury, I start to get confused and almost lose interest as it’s not going to impact how it drives. Any recommended ‘must haves’ in these areas?
Coming from a mainly Lotus background the most complex decision I’ve normally had to make has been to have carpets or not!
Car will be predominantly road with 4-5 TDs a year, I know which mechanical options I want and having already tried both, carbon buckets are an absolute must. Leather dash is a big step up over the plastic but outside of that when it comes to lights / climate / nav / interior trim etc and the three letter acronyms start to kick in with full fury, I start to get confused and almost lose interest as it’s not going to impact how it drives. Any recommended ‘must haves’ in these areas?
Hi,
Are there any particular options you aren’t sure about?
Everyone’s “must haves” are going to be different. So o suppose it comes down to what is important to you.
For example, the standard lights are absolutely fine, but a lot of people prefer how the LED lights look on the car.
For me, my only real must haves are buckets and dual climate. Standard climate can’t be set to a given temp and it holds it there. It’s actually not climate at all. It’s just manual aircon.
I do like Bose as well, but not essential. And for me cruise control is a must, but that can actually be retro-fitted at the dealer.
Extended leather is also much much nicer, so I’d always go for that too.
But as you say, none of them effect how the car feels and drives, beyond the buckets.
Happy to answer any questions you have
Are there any particular options you aren’t sure about?
Everyone’s “must haves” are going to be different. So o suppose it comes down to what is important to you.
For example, the standard lights are absolutely fine, but a lot of people prefer how the LED lights look on the car.
For me, my only real must haves are buckets and dual climate. Standard climate can’t be set to a given temp and it holds it there. It’s actually not climate at all. It’s just manual aircon.
I do like Bose as well, but not essential. And for me cruise control is a must, but that can actually be retro-fitted at the dealer.
Extended leather is also much much nicer, so I’d always go for that too.
But as you say, none of them effect how the car feels and drives, beyond the buckets.
Happy to answer any questions you have
I can do without cruise given it's not adaptive, but most will come with it. You'll probably neevr be in a position to use it on our congested roads.
Climate control is a must have for me over the base AC. I want to set a temperature and let the car do everything for me.
Plastic dash will affect resale.
To say Bose actually improves the poor stereo is debatable. I only listen to the radio, when I can hear it over the induction and mechanical noise, so I'm not best to comment.
I'd pay the extra for PCCB if only to prevent brake dust and eliminate the GT steel brake squeal the pads create
Climate control is a must have for me over the base AC. I want to set a temperature and let the car do everything for me.
Plastic dash will affect resale.
To say Bose actually improves the poor stereo is debatable. I only listen to the radio, when I can hear it over the induction and mechanical noise, so I'm not best to comment.
I'd pay the extra for PCCB if only to prevent brake dust and eliminate the GT steel brake squeal the pads create
My PCCB’s still squeal when they are hot. But the lack of brake dust is definitely nice. The wheels do still get quite dusty and dirty, but it washes off with just soap and water as opposed to needing wheel cleaner.
And I use cruise all the time. So many average speed zones now. Definitely useful for me. But I suppose it depends where you live.
And I use cruise all the time. So many average speed zones now. Definitely useful for me. But I suppose it depends where you live.
I have steels and they squeaked when new-ish but after heavy use on track they're now silent. A good detailer or valeter can coat your wheels with "stuff" that will keep the brake dust at bay. A random guy at Oulton Park recently was asking me how I managed to have so little brake dust after a day on circuit, so the right coating will work and the dust doesn't stick as much and/or blows off.
Buckets, climate, extended leather and your gearbox of choice will suit most people and as stated above cruise control can be added if the car you're looking at doesn't have it as it's very useful on the motorway or in average speed zones. I really appreciate the harnesses on track so the Clubsport pack would be worth considering too. Most other things are just presonal preference really - cosmetic details, colour changes etc.
What I would say is buy the highest spec car you can find and/or afford. No-one ever got annoyed from having too many extras!
Buckets, climate, extended leather and your gearbox of choice will suit most people and as stated above cruise control can be added if the car you're looking at doesn't have it as it's very useful on the motorway or in average speed zones. I really appreciate the harnesses on track so the Clubsport pack would be worth considering too. Most other things are just presonal preference really - cosmetic details, colour changes etc.
What I would say is buy the highest spec car you can find and/or afford. No-one ever got annoyed from having too many extras!
When speccing mine, I went for the extended leather/race-tex/stitch, LED PDLS+ and cruise as immediate ticks without compromise. PDK and Buckets were next after driving cars with and without. The rest was then colour and personal choices & friffary I.e cruise, coloured belts, 12 o’clock marker etc which IMO not essential but do add to how special they make the car feel to you.
As you’re buying used you’ll find the majority of cars will be heavy spec or light spec, and not much in between. There’s also a third spec which is a heavy spec and PCCB/CS pack etc on top, these are few and far between (especially in pdk flavour)
My advice, firstly get your gearbox and seat choice decided as that will then direct you into your price categories of spec level (the differences are quite large!) and then you can work from there.
For colours, head over to Rennlist where there are colour threads with hundreds of pictures to mull over which will help.
Do use this thread to get advice along your buying journey, the GT4 community is a great one with very friendly contributors with varying opinions.
Whatever you choose though you’ll have a riot these are amazing cars.
As you’re buying used you’ll find the majority of cars will be heavy spec or light spec, and not much in between. There’s also a third spec which is a heavy spec and PCCB/CS pack etc on top, these are few and far between (especially in pdk flavour)
My advice, firstly get your gearbox and seat choice decided as that will then direct you into your price categories of spec level (the differences are quite large!) and then you can work from there.
For colours, head over to Rennlist where there are colour threads with hundreds of pictures to mull over which will help.
Do use this thread to get advice along your buying journey, the GT4 community is a great one with very friendly contributors with varying opinions.
Whatever you choose though you’ll have a riot these are amazing cars.
Your best bet is to look at as many different cars as you can then decide what you like. There are quite a few cars around at OPCs 15 or so at the last count.
Looks like you have already decided on the climate option excellent buckets and extended leather which makes all the difference to the interior quality despite what many claim. You basically have 3 stitching choices depending on the colour of car you decide on. Carbon is nice I like it but quite a few do not. Coloured trim and dials is not very popular for obvious reasons.
PDK and or CS worth thinking about both have pluses and minuses worth looking at the weight disadvantage of both these.
Sport chrono and coloured steering top marker coordinating with coloured belts are good options to have. Most GT4 buyers want alcantara steering wheel I've had one with leather (no top marker) which was a no cost option these tend to wear better but are less popular.
£38 smoker package option worth having gives easy charging from a smart charger.
Both steel brakes and ceramics squeak on all GT Porsches imo ceramics are an expensive waste relative to cars cost on a c£90k (new)GT4 and you won't get the cost back on resale unlike a similar aged GT3. Consider much higher pccb maintenance/replacement through damage costs too which will be a deterrent as the car ages. Obviously in contrast there are some advantages to ceramics mainly less unsprung weight much discussed mainly by our resident PH driving gods
across theforums.
Wheels basically 1 design but 4 choices silver aurum sat platinum or black. Black calipers bizarrly an ott option cost steel brakes have red ceramics yellow.
Bose largely a waste of time on a Porsche GT imo and the GT4 is no exception imo some like cameras leds and cruise but I didn't spec these on mine no regrets although do regret not speccing the c £250 folding mirrors and possibly rain sensor/ anti dazzle.
As others have said these are great value cars an excellent overall package with a superb and impressively economical engine almost 85% of a 991.2 GT3 for most scenarios without the cost (both capital and running costs including cheaper warranty) and the icing on the cake is there won't be another GT4 for a good number of years and this will be an EV.
Good call buying now there are currently a few cars around but what will tend to happen as with all Porsche GTs over time including the 981 GT4/Spyder is these will gradually dwindle from the used car supply once production imminently stops and savvy owners keep their cars which will support residuals especially as there really is nothing else available at the money and new car costs are rising considerably across the board.
Looks like you have already decided on the climate option excellent buckets and extended leather which makes all the difference to the interior quality despite what many claim. You basically have 3 stitching choices depending on the colour of car you decide on. Carbon is nice I like it but quite a few do not. Coloured trim and dials is not very popular for obvious reasons.
PDK and or CS worth thinking about both have pluses and minuses worth looking at the weight disadvantage of both these.
Sport chrono and coloured steering top marker coordinating with coloured belts are good options to have. Most GT4 buyers want alcantara steering wheel I've had one with leather (no top marker) which was a no cost option these tend to wear better but are less popular.
£38 smoker package option worth having gives easy charging from a smart charger.
Both steel brakes and ceramics squeak on all GT Porsches imo ceramics are an expensive waste relative to cars cost on a c£90k (new)GT4 and you won't get the cost back on resale unlike a similar aged GT3. Consider much higher pccb maintenance/replacement through damage costs too which will be a deterrent as the car ages. Obviously in contrast there are some advantages to ceramics mainly less unsprung weight much discussed mainly by our resident PH driving gods
across theforums.Wheels basically 1 design but 4 choices silver aurum sat platinum or black. Black calipers bizarrly an ott option cost steel brakes have red ceramics yellow.
Bose largely a waste of time on a Porsche GT imo and the GT4 is no exception imo some like cameras leds and cruise but I didn't spec these on mine no regrets although do regret not speccing the c £250 folding mirrors and possibly rain sensor/ anti dazzle.
As others have said these are great value cars an excellent overall package with a superb and impressively economical engine almost 85% of a 991.2 GT3 for most scenarios without the cost (both capital and running costs including cheaper warranty) and the icing on the cake is there won't be another GT4 for a good number of years and this will be an EV.
Good call buying now there are currently a few cars around but what will tend to happen as with all Porsche GTs over time including the 981 GT4/Spyder is these will gradually dwindle from the used car supply once production imminently stops and savvy owners keep their cars which will support residuals especially as there really is nothing else available at the money and new car costs are rising considerably across the board.
av185 said:
Your best bet is to look at as many different cars as you can then decide what you like. There are quite a few cars around at OPCs 15 or so at the last count.
Looks like you have already decided on the climate option excellent buckets and extended leather which makes all the difference to the interior quality despite what many claim. You basically have 3 stitching choices depending on the colour of car you decide on. Carbon is nice I like it but quite a few do not. Coloured trim and dials is not very popular for obvious reasons.
PDK and or CS worth thinking about both have pluses and minuses worth looking at the weight disadvantage of both these.
Sport chrono and coloured steering top marker coordinating with coloured belts are good options to have. Most GT4 buyers want alcantara steering wheel I've had one with leather (no top marker) which was a no cost option these tend to wear better but are less popular.
£38 smoker package option worth having gives easy charging from a smart charger.
Both steel brakes and ceramics squeak on all GT Porsches imo ceramics are an expensive waste relative to cars cost on a c£90k (new)GT4 and you won't get the cost back on resale unlike a similar aged GT3. Consider much higher pccb maintenance/replacement through damage costs too which will be a deterrent as the car ages. Obviously in contrast there are some advantages to ceramics mainly less unsprung weight much discussed mainly by our resident PH driving gods across theforums.
Wheels basically 1 design but 4 choices silver aurum sat platinum or black. Black calipers bizarrly an ott option cost steel brakes have red ceramics yellow.
Bose largely a waste of time on a Porsche GT imo and the GT4 is no exception imo some like cameras leds and cruise but I didn't spec these on mine no regrets although do regret not speccing the c £250 folding mirrors and possibly rain sensor/ anti dazzle.
As others have said these are great value cars an excellent overall package with a superb and impressively economical engine almost 85% of a 991.2 GT3 for most scenarios without the cost (both capital and running costs including cheaper warranty) and the icing on the cake is there won't be another GT4 for a good number of years and this will be an EV.
Good call buying now there are currently a few cars around but what will tend to happen as with all Porsche GTs over time including the 981 GT4/Spyder is these will gradually dwindle from the used car supply once production imminently stops and savvy owners keep their cars which will support residuals especially as there really is nothing else available at the money and new car costs are rising considerably across the board.
Really good advice .Looks like you have already decided on the climate option excellent buckets and extended leather which makes all the difference to the interior quality despite what many claim. You basically have 3 stitching choices depending on the colour of car you decide on. Carbon is nice I like it but quite a few do not. Coloured trim and dials is not very popular for obvious reasons.
PDK and or CS worth thinking about both have pluses and minuses worth looking at the weight disadvantage of both these.
Sport chrono and coloured steering top marker coordinating with coloured belts are good options to have. Most GT4 buyers want alcantara steering wheel I've had one with leather (no top marker) which was a no cost option these tend to wear better but are less popular.
£38 smoker package option worth having gives easy charging from a smart charger.
Both steel brakes and ceramics squeak on all GT Porsches imo ceramics are an expensive waste relative to cars cost on a c£90k (new)GT4 and you won't get the cost back on resale unlike a similar aged GT3. Consider much higher pccb maintenance/replacement through damage costs too which will be a deterrent as the car ages. Obviously in contrast there are some advantages to ceramics mainly less unsprung weight much discussed mainly by our resident PH driving gods
across theforums.Wheels basically 1 design but 4 choices silver aurum sat platinum or black. Black calipers bizarrly an ott option cost steel brakes have red ceramics yellow.
Bose largely a waste of time on a Porsche GT imo and the GT4 is no exception imo some like cameras leds and cruise but I didn't spec these on mine no regrets although do regret not speccing the c £250 folding mirrors and possibly rain sensor/ anti dazzle.
As others have said these are great value cars an excellent overall package with a superb and impressively economical engine almost 85% of a 991.2 GT3 for most scenarios without the cost (both capital and running costs including cheaper warranty) and the icing on the cake is there won't be another GT4 for a good number of years and this will be an EV.
Good call buying now there are currently a few cars around but what will tend to happen as with all Porsche GTs over time including the 981 GT4/Spyder is these will gradually dwindle from the used car supply once production imminently stops and savvy owners keep their cars which will support residuals especially as there really is nothing else available at the money and new car costs are rising considerably across the board.
Harder to get your perfect spec when you are buying secondhand.
I think the bucket seats look great but they are too uncomfortable for me to spend any time in (and a stint in a passenger seat of a GT3 around Snetterton last week only reinforced that). They are mounted too upright for me and are even worse with a lid on as they push the head forward - very similar to the mounting of the Lotus carbon fibre seats in a sport 410 evora and unlike how they are mounted in an exige. Delighted with my 18 ways which also suit my use and the rest of the spec is decent comfort level and so includes the extended leather, cruise and some other bits and bobs including Bose. No ceramics. I'd love to have white clocks and sport chrono but mine are the standard black - I ruled out any cars with red clocks when I was looking back in February along with buckets.
gashead1105 said:
I think the bucket seats look great but they are too uncomfortable for me to spend any time in (and a stint in a passenger seat of a GT3 around Snetterton last week only reinforced that). They are mounted too upright for me and are even worse with a lid on as they push the head forward - very similar to the mounting of the Lotus carbon fibre seats in a sport 410 evora and unlike how they are mounted in an exige. Delighted with my 18 ways which also suit my use and the rest of the spec is decent comfort level and so includes the extended leather, cruise and some other bits and bobs including Bose. No ceramics. I'd love to have white clocks and sport chrono but mine are the standard black - I ruled out any cars with red clocks when I was looking back in February along with buckets.
The bucket seat issue can easily be fixed with seat risers which raise the front of the seat, thus giving a more reclined seating position. I fitted them to my 981 GT4 but have since taken them out and reverted to factory fit. I also find the bucket seats very comfortable and IMHO a GT car should have them, again my own opinion 
.Mine is Club Sport spec as I wanted that sense of occasion when using the car and it has more or less all options on it (options that were available in 2016) apart from ceramics which I didn't want anyway.
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