981 Boxster s to 981 GT4
Discussion
Hi All
I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
Edited by cseven on Tuesday 27th June 13:34
cseven said:
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
No they're not too long but the 981 GT4's engine has a midrange dip and it's not massively keen on being revved out.Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Yes the ground clearance is an issue and you will have issues with multi storey car parks, steep drives and ramps etc.
I think the 981 GT4 isn't great as a road only car, the 718 series is much better with its more beefy engine.
All IMHO, YMMV etc etc.
cseven said:
Hi All
I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
Do you want (or need) to impress your mates? Then buy it.I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
Edited by cseven on Tuesday 27th June 13:34
Are you happy with your BS (you like the PDK and understand a GT4 won't reach a destination sooner than your current jalopy)... then save yourself some £10ks and enjoy optional top-down motoring.
Drive one and then decide. I did and bought one. I could describe the GT4 as quite 'agricultural' with the noise it makes but the sound of it above 3k 
Gears are long, so you'll hold lower gears longer and you'll then enjoy the noise but what a slick change box it is and actually will take 6th at a little over 30mph.
The front lip will catch on some gradients, coming down a multistorey the worse, so you have to be aware but the plastic trim part is I believe c£130 and sounds as if it has been designed as a consumable.
Gears are long, so you'll hold lower gears longer and you'll then enjoy the noise but what a slick change box it is and actually will take 6th at a little over 30mph.
The front lip will catch on some gradients, coming down a multistorey the worse, so you have to be aware but the plastic trim part is I believe c£130 and sounds as if it has been designed as a consumable.
Twinfan said:
No they're not too long but the 981 GT4's engine has a midrange dip and it's not massively keen on being revved out.
Yes the ground clearance is an issue and you will have issues with multi storey car parks, steep drives and ramps etc.
I think the 981 GT4 isn't great as a road only car, the 718 series is much better with its more beefy engine.
All IMHO, YMMV etc etc.
As a former 981 GT4 owner, I agree with this. The 981 GT4 is a special thing, but you have to be happy to accept its limitations. Yes the ground clearance is an issue and you will have issues with multi storey car parks, steep drives and ramps etc.
I think the 981 GT4 isn't great as a road only car, the 718 series is much better with its more beefy engine.
All IMHO, YMMV etc etc.
I blew hot and cold with mine and would have struggled with it as an only car. I used it all year round, but a Boxster/Cayman S or GTS is a much better all-rounder for road use in my opinion and still really nice to drive (spec-dependent a little bit).
Good luck with your decision. I previously had a 987.1 Cayman S for 10 years, kept the GT4 for 4 and a half years, and am now two and a half years in with my current 718 GTS 4.0. The 987 was the sweetest to drive, the GT4 was the biggest event, but the GTS for me is more of what I want.
cseven said:
Hi All
I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
I went from a 981 CS PDK to a 981 GT4. No disappointment felt at all. I don’t do track days and it’s not a daily so only high days, weekends and road trips. It’ll never see the inside of a multi story car park. In 15mths the front has scraped once so the reduced ground clearance has not really been an issue. I have a 981 Boxster S which has been fantastic fun and used purely for long weekend Europe trips and Wales etc. I don't do any trackdays anymore so just focussed on road trips and have had my head turned by a 981 GT4.
I have a test drive in a few days however just wondered if anyone has made this move and if the Gt4 was a no brainer or if the double investment required is firmly in marginal gains territory?
I have PDK so moving to manual....are the gears really too long?
Will the reduced ground clearance by a pain
Gt4 purely for the road?
Asking because I'm lazy and it's a 150m round trip and hastle of changing
Edited by cseven on Tuesday 27th June 13:34
I held out for one with 918 seats, carbon interior pack and Chrono.. the seats make the car more of an event. The suspension is firmer than that of an S model but still comfortable considering the car it is.
Of course I would say go for it, others will say don’t bother… get a decent lengthy test drive in one the decision either way will be much easier.
Your best bet would be to drive a 981 GT4 and a 718 GTS then decide which car works best for you. Clearly the 718 will be a newer car less risky purchase with possibly lower mileage less and cheaper maintenance and possible warranty benefits over the twice the age 981 GT4. More care will be required in sourcing a good GT4 be warned there are many sub standard thrashed and abused multi owned cars many times painted around with a hidden story to them so due diligence is required.
Performance wise with a similar output they are actually not that far apart for road use at least and whilst the 4.0 detuned 718 GT4 engine in the GTS is a far better newer and more economical unit compared to the old detuned Carrera S unit in the 981 GT4 the GT4 is more focused in terms of dynamics and chassis set up but also being less usable in terms of OEM Cup tyres and front overhang prone to scraping both of which could be restrictive depending on your intended use of the car.
The other usability aspect is that the clutch in the GT4 is heavier than the 718 series cars some including myself prefer this weightier clutch but some do not and unfortunately imo Porsche have moved on to lighter clutches even on the later 991.2 GT3s onwards.
The gearbox action on the GT4 is one of Porsches finest imo although some find the tallish gearing coupled to the engines torque hole an issue but less so on the 718.
If and when you do find a suitable car then a pre purchase rev range report is essential which should be provided free on an OPC car if not most OPCs charge £100 for the privilege.
Performance wise with a similar output they are actually not that far apart for road use at least and whilst the 4.0 detuned 718 GT4 engine in the GTS is a far better newer and more economical unit compared to the old detuned Carrera S unit in the 981 GT4 the GT4 is more focused in terms of dynamics and chassis set up but also being less usable in terms of OEM Cup tyres and front overhang prone to scraping both of which could be restrictive depending on your intended use of the car.
The other usability aspect is that the clutch in the GT4 is heavier than the 718 series cars some including myself prefer this weightier clutch but some do not and unfortunately imo Porsche have moved on to lighter clutches even on the later 991.2 GT3s onwards.
The gearbox action on the GT4 is one of Porsches finest imo although some find the tallish gearing coupled to the engines torque hole an issue but less so on the 718.
If and when you do find a suitable car then a pre purchase rev range report is essential which should be provided free on an OPC car if not most OPCs charge £100 for the privilege.
Not exactly the same experience, but I went from a really nice spec 981 PDK BS to a 981 Spyder. Both great cars, and I loved the Spyder, but as an everyday all round car I think that the 'S' was probably the better machine. Less of an event that's for sure, but it does so many things so well. A bit more power might be a good thing, so the previous suggestions of a 718 (perhaps the 4.0?) seem like a really good idea to investigate. In fact, I'd rather like a 4.0 Boxster GTS come to think about it!
Have you tried the clutch on the 981 GT4 found the clutch pedal heavy ditto 981 Boxster Spyder if your used to PDK you might wanna check that out.
The 718 GT4 / Spyder the clutch pedal is lighter also comes in PDK
Not as usable as an everyday car unlike your car.
Good luck with your decision.
The 718 GT4 / Spyder the clutch pedal is lighter also comes in PDK
Not as usable as an everyday car unlike your car.
Good luck with your decision.
I think you just need to go and have a decent test drive and you’ll know if it’s for you.
I went from a 991.2 (after many Lotus’s) to the 981 GT4 and for me it’s one of the all time great cars. Steering feel, sound, suspension, fun factor at legal speeds,gear change it’s all up there with the best. It’s a brilliant package.
There gearing never gives me a second thought myself. I tried the latest gen but for me it’s a step backwards (steering feel not as good, not as raw, sound, etc )
I went from a 991.2 (after many Lotus’s) to the 981 GT4 and for me it’s one of the all time great cars. Steering feel, sound, suspension, fun factor at legal speeds,gear change it’s all up there with the best. It’s a brilliant package.
There gearing never gives me a second thought myself. I tried the latest gen but for me it’s a step backwards (steering feel not as good, not as raw, sound, etc )
I went from an S2000 to a 981 Spyder.
Clutch weight is fine! Do people really have such weak left legs these days??
I asked RPM for their pinion gear thingy to 'fix' the long gearing, they wouldn't take my money insisting I drive for a year or so. I'm 6 months in and the gearing has yet to become an issue. Mine is a weekend and occasional commuter car.
The roof is a faff, but I love it, for the looks.
Whilst the Spyder isn't a full fat 'GT' product it has fixed dampers and is more road biased, I've driven a GT4 and feel in hindsight the Spyder makes better use of the 3.8 (noise)
As others have said though for more regular use a GTS might be better, 981 or 718 flavour, although the 718s generally seem to need additional funds to fix the exhaust legislation.
The first question would appear to be, did/do you value open top motoring... or are you fixed on having a coupe for a change...
Clutch weight is fine! Do people really have such weak left legs these days??
I asked RPM for their pinion gear thingy to 'fix' the long gearing, they wouldn't take my money insisting I drive for a year or so. I'm 6 months in and the gearing has yet to become an issue. Mine is a weekend and occasional commuter car.
The roof is a faff, but I love it, for the looks.
Whilst the Spyder isn't a full fat 'GT' product it has fixed dampers and is more road biased, I've driven a GT4 and feel in hindsight the Spyder makes better use of the 3.8 (noise)
As others have said though for more regular use a GTS might be better, 981 or 718 flavour, although the 718s generally seem to need additional funds to fix the exhaust legislation.
The first question would appear to be, did/do you value open top motoring... or are you fixed on having a coupe for a change...
I went from a high spec 981CGTS to a 981 GT4 and didn't enjoy it. For me the increase in harshness, noise (on a motorway the GT4 is really quite punishing) heavy clutch, high consumption all just meant unless you were really pushing it, or on track, it was a pain. But then that's as it I should have expected, it's a track focused car.
Plenty of people do not have these issues so it highlights how personal it is, the only way to find out it is to try one.
For the last 18 months I've had a 991.1 GT3, it's slightly less noisy and much more of an event than the GT4, plus easier to drive on track for a talentless old t
t with the PDK, worth considering?
Or maybe a 4.0 718 GTS would also be worth trying. There's a few new ones at list or slightly less around I think.
Plenty of people do not have these issues so it highlights how personal it is, the only way to find out it is to try one.
For the last 18 months I've had a 991.1 GT3, it's slightly less noisy and much more of an event than the GT4, plus easier to drive on track for a talentless old t
t with the PDK, worth considering?Or maybe a 4.0 718 GTS would also be worth trying. There's a few new ones at list or slightly less around I think.
I've been using a 981 GT4 as a "not winter months" daily with occasional track days for about 4 1/2 years now - having chopped in a 718 Cayman 2.0.
Sounds a bit agricultural, CS 1/2 cage amplifies all the rattles. I bought a set of road tyres for it (P Zero) as it wasn't always that nice in the wet/cold on track day tyres. I had the suspension set up for fast road/occasional track earlier in the year, so it definitely scrapes the splitter on the way out of my drive now. I won't be experimenting with multi-story car parks any time soon, but it clears all the speed bumps I come across locally, and there are many. Pretty heavy on fuel - I struggle to get more than 27 mpg on a mixed A-road, motorway and town commute. It isn't that bad on a motorway run, but never expect to better low 30s in mpg.
That's pretty much all of the downside for me. Love the manual gearbox; ratios are tall, but work fine for me on the road and track. Puts a grin on my face every morning that I get in it, and at the end of the day at work. I soon got used to the slightly weighty clutch, and the engine is actually a joy in traffic, plenty of low speed grunt, but easy to drive smoothly. I love the occasional pops and bangs from the exhaust, and it sounds glorious throughout the rev range. It did use a bit of oil when I first got it. I took it back through a bit of a running in procedure over 1000 miles, and always warm the engine up carefully, and it settled down to absolutely minimal consumption.
They're a bit of a "skunk works special" by their very nature, and certainly won't suit everyone. However I adore mine, thinking of keeping it for a long time to come.
Liam
Sounds a bit agricultural, CS 1/2 cage amplifies all the rattles. I bought a set of road tyres for it (P Zero) as it wasn't always that nice in the wet/cold on track day tyres. I had the suspension set up for fast road/occasional track earlier in the year, so it definitely scrapes the splitter on the way out of my drive now. I won't be experimenting with multi-story car parks any time soon, but it clears all the speed bumps I come across locally, and there are many. Pretty heavy on fuel - I struggle to get more than 27 mpg on a mixed A-road, motorway and town commute. It isn't that bad on a motorway run, but never expect to better low 30s in mpg.
That's pretty much all of the downside for me. Love the manual gearbox; ratios are tall, but work fine for me on the road and track. Puts a grin on my face every morning that I get in it, and at the end of the day at work. I soon got used to the slightly weighty clutch, and the engine is actually a joy in traffic, plenty of low speed grunt, but easy to drive smoothly. I love the occasional pops and bangs from the exhaust, and it sounds glorious throughout the rev range. It did use a bit of oil when I first got it. I took it back through a bit of a running in procedure over 1000 miles, and always warm the engine up carefully, and it settled down to absolutely minimal consumption.
They're a bit of a "skunk works special" by their very nature, and certainly won't suit everyone. However I adore mine, thinking of keeping it for a long time to come.
Liam
Edited by LiamH66 on Wednesday 28th June 23:43
Penfolds said:
I've run my 981 GT4 as a daily for the last two years and put 65,000 miles on it, totally usable but I might have just become used to it! It's a little low and catches occasionally but it's only the bottom of the plastic splitter. Go for it, the sound it makes is addicting!
Wow 65k impressed, been any issues along the way?Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff