What’s the 718 GT4 like as a road car?
Discussion
I’ve a Cayman 981S and a serious hankering for a GT4, but the use case will be just road trips with the occasional (1 or 2) track days per year. Really like my 981S, but looking for a bit more of everything and like the looks of the GT4.
So what’s it like to live with as a ‘special’ road car, days out etc. Is the noise and front lip a pain in the backside or manageable (no multi storey car parks will be visited), is the suspension compliant for our terrible roads etc? I will be sticking with PDK and comfort seats.
I’ve driven one a year or so ago at the PEC, but you can’t get test drives on cars at Porsche centres now unless it’s on a car you intend to buy.
Any advice? TIA.
So what’s it like to live with as a ‘special’ road car, days out etc. Is the noise and front lip a pain in the backside or manageable (no multi storey car parks will be visited), is the suspension compliant for our terrible roads etc? I will be sticking with PDK and comfort seats.
I’ve driven one a year or so ago at the PEC, but you can’t get test drives on cars at Porsche centres now unless it’s on a car you intend to buy.
Any advice? TIA.
Steve H said:
I’m not sure I would go with comfort seats in a GT4, the buckets are pretty good and suit the car better.
But for the use you are considering wouldn’t a 4.0 GTS be a good fit?
I have tried the buckets and find the lack of lumbar support and ease of getting in/out not suitable for my old(er) back :-) But for the use you are considering wouldn’t a 4.0 GTS be a good fit?
The GTS probably would be more suitable, but I just love the looks of the GT4!
CantDecide said:
I have tried the buckets and find the lack of lumbar support and ease of getting in/out not suitable for my old(er) back :-)
The GTS probably would be more suitable, but I just love the looks of the GT4!
Yes you can use it as you describe, I've had 2 a 981 and a 718 and used both in a similar manner to as you describe. Mine were weekend cars and also used on euro driving holidays, a couple of track days per year, yes the front lip is a problem and it will get scraped but they are fairly cheap and need to be looked upon as consumables. They are great driving cars, make sure it is set up correctly for how you want it, let Center Gravity or similar have it for 1/2 day and then just enjoy it you won't be disappointed . The GTS probably would be more suitable, but I just love the looks of the GT4!
In my opinion the 718 is a better car but by small margins however for noise it has to be the 981. You need to drive them yourself if an OPC won't let you try a specialist or call out to owners on here or PCGB I'm sure someone will show you how good they are.
Good luck.
I had a 981GTS some years ago and I loved that car, but ended up needing a 2nd car as a run around due to work commitments. Every time I jumped in the 981 it was an experience, but most of my journeys were nothing really special.
Roll forward a number of years and summer this year I bought a 718GT4, it just feels completely different (or my memory isn't what it was), instantly it feels alive and nimble, the handling, noise are all on steroids compared to my 981. It really is a special car, but I don't do many miles, I don't commute in it, could you? Well I think so, if you can live with it. Mine has buckets and I have no back problems, but everyone is different, but for me the buckets just add to the experience.
It's great on most roads in reality, fast A roads are probably it's forte, B roads are 50/50 when you're pressing on, I am lucky in that I live between North Wales and the Peak District either are about an hour away, so a good mix of roads. It seems better in Wales compared to the back roads I travel in the Peaks as an example.
Roll forward a number of years and summer this year I bought a 718GT4, it just feels completely different (or my memory isn't what it was), instantly it feels alive and nimble, the handling, noise are all on steroids compared to my 981. It really is a special car, but I don't do many miles, I don't commute in it, could you? Well I think so, if you can live with it. Mine has buckets and I have no back problems, but everyone is different, but for me the buckets just add to the experience.
It's great on most roads in reality, fast A roads are probably it's forte, B roads are 50/50 when you're pressing on, I am lucky in that I live between North Wales and the Peak District either are about an hour away, so a good mix of roads. It seems better in Wales compared to the back roads I travel in the Peaks as an example.
It was ECOTY car of the year 2019 ??
As always it depends upon what you want as a road car ... but it has huge boot capacity compared to most, it's fast enough for most uses (especially on the road), it's comparatively inexpensive to insure and repair and if you want to have a set of winter / wet wheels it's easy to change them with the five "lug" wheels ... where centre locks are a real PITA.
If you want a similar car to seat two and you want the GT characteristics, what are your other choices ? Alpine ? Lotus ? GT3 ???
As a four seater the new Civic R has reviewed above its weight and I really like the look of it, but it's big "grown up" car with serious sporting capabilities, now at a price.
Others ? Ford Fiesta ST3 Performance ??? Super nimble but not a Porsche
The last of them are being sold off for less than the "overs" still on some Porsches ...
As always it depends upon what you want as a road car ... but it has huge boot capacity compared to most, it's fast enough for most uses (especially on the road), it's comparatively inexpensive to insure and repair and if you want to have a set of winter / wet wheels it's easy to change them with the five "lug" wheels ... where centre locks are a real PITA.
If you want a similar car to seat two and you want the GT characteristics, what are your other choices ? Alpine ? Lotus ? GT3 ???
As a four seater the new Civic R has reviewed above its weight and I really like the look of it, but it's big "grown up" car with serious sporting capabilities, now at a price.
Others ? Ford Fiesta ST3 Performance ??? Super nimble but not a Porsche
The last of them are being sold off for less than the "overs" still on some Porsches ...I would say it’s absolutely perfect for your use case.
I’ve had three now. A 981 and a manual and PDK 718.
The PDK car is by far my favourite. The PDK really suits the character of the car. So I think you’ve made a good choice there.
The buckets are nice, and all mine have had them, but the 18-ways are also a really good seat. And with the added bonus of generally being cheaper as a used car proposition. There is a definite premium on bucket cars.
The front splitter and the rear diffuser can scrape. But that is almost always underneath, so you can’t see it unless you have the car up on a ramp. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
They are great cars. On road and track. I have zero hesitation in recommending them.
I’ve had three now. A 981 and a manual and PDK 718.
The PDK car is by far my favourite. The PDK really suits the character of the car. So I think you’ve made a good choice there.
The buckets are nice, and all mine have had them, but the 18-ways are also a really good seat. And with the added bonus of generally being cheaper as a used car proposition. There is a definite premium on bucket cars.
The front splitter and the rear diffuser can scrape. But that is almost always underneath, so you can’t see it unless you have the car up on a ramp. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
They are great cars. On road and track. I have zero hesitation in recommending them.
I had a 718 GT4 for a year and sold it.
Part of me regrets the decision as they are incredibly capable cars. They are also very fast and very long geared (mine was manual). In the end the conclusion was that I preferred my Lotus Exige V6 for b-road fun. The Porsche was a nicer place on the way home from the track, though, no doubt about that.
Ultimately I now have the money to buy another and I've been very tempted, but I think I'm going ot buy something else - probably a 991.2 Carrera T, but maybe another Lotus. Or maybe I'll keep my Cayman R which has better steering and gearing for the road.
I'd also have lost 25 grand in the last 18 months on the GT4 so glad to have dodged that bullet.
Part of me regrets the decision as they are incredibly capable cars. They are also very fast and very long geared (mine was manual). In the end the conclusion was that I preferred my Lotus Exige V6 for b-road fun. The Porsche was a nicer place on the way home from the track, though, no doubt about that.
Ultimately I now have the money to buy another and I've been very tempted, but I think I'm going ot buy something else - probably a 991.2 Carrera T, but maybe another Lotus. Or maybe I'll keep my Cayman R which has better steering and gearing for the road.
I'd also have lost 25 grand in the last 18 months on the GT4 so glad to have dodged that bullet.
CantDecide said:
I have tried the buckets and find the lack of lumbar support and ease of getting in/out not suitable for my old(er) back :-)
The GTS probably would be more suitable, but I just love the looks of the GT4!
Yep that’s understandable, I have 18 ways in my 718S and would prefer them over a distance to the buckets. But then I would take the S (or GTS) over a GT4 over a distance as well…..The GTS probably would be more suitable, but I just love the looks of the GT4!
I love my 718 gt4. 18 way sofa's, manual, 15k miles. Scraped the splitter a few times but nothing serious, it gets driven most days though I will move it into the garage more next year once I get an EV. Going to get it on track a couple of times next year at least - see if I miss the buckets then but my back wouldn't thank me the rest of the time! Basically, it's mega.
Drove a pdk gts 4.0 before getting the gt4 - didn't give me the fizz the way the gt4 did (I'd also wanted one for years).
Drove a pdk gts 4.0 before getting the gt4 - didn't give me the fizz the way the gt4 did (I'd also wanted one for years).
I think your use case is perfect for the GT4. I use mine mostly on the road. I had intended to use it on track but haven't had the time. The front does scrape but you just get over it. I wish it did have a nose lift as mine is often on and off the ferry and in France where they love speed bumps nowadays. Most multistorey car parks are fine if you are very careful.
I did a 1000 mile trip to the Alps and it was superb in the mountain roads that can sometimes be quite narrow. Fast enough but not ridiculous so you can actually keep it pinned for a while. The chassis is superb and damping exceptional so it doesn't feel tiring on long drives. The tyre noise can be a bit tiresome if you stick with the Cup 2s but it's a sports car.
I don't live in England but have driven it there and thought it was superb down the A and B roads. Again not too big which for me personally is important having always driven small Lotus in the past.
I've got the bucket seats, they look amazing and are relatively comfortable but I would definitely go for the 18 way sports seats if you have any doubt. I've got a bad back and part of me knows that's what I should have opted for. I'll be going that way if I ever get a GT3 Touring allocation!
Drive one and keep us updated. Enjoy.
I did a 1000 mile trip to the Alps and it was superb in the mountain roads that can sometimes be quite narrow. Fast enough but not ridiculous so you can actually keep it pinned for a while. The chassis is superb and damping exceptional so it doesn't feel tiring on long drives. The tyre noise can be a bit tiresome if you stick with the Cup 2s but it's a sports car.
I don't live in England but have driven it there and thought it was superb down the A and B roads. Again not too big which for me personally is important having always driven small Lotus in the past.
I've got the bucket seats, they look amazing and are relatively comfortable but I would definitely go for the 18 way sports seats if you have any doubt. I've got a bad back and part of me knows that's what I should have opted for. I'll be going that way if I ever get a GT3 Touring allocation!
Drive one and keep us updated. Enjoy.
Long-time lurker here (we're talking 20+ years...)
I have a 718 GT4 Manual - Clubsport with the carbon buckets. It's my only car/my daily (occasionally use my gf's mk8 Fiesta if it's a very short trip).
The main thing that's totally transformed its 'livable-ness' is swapping the Cup 2s out for PS4S - significantly less road noise, noticeably better ride, and much more confidence inspiring in the cold/wet. I'd go as far as to say the PS4S are better in summer too, you just can't drive a GT4 hard enough on the road to keep proper heat in the Cup2s. Anyway - assuming you swap to some road-biased tyres you'll be set.
Regarding the rest of the package:
-Ride:
More than good enough (I default to the firmer damper setting as I find the car feels more tied down/planted) - I keep it in the softer setting when my gf is in the car, more out of 'just in case' than anything.
My daily car before the GT4 was a 370z Nismo (2018 facelift) and I'd say the ride in the GT4 is comparable but better/more sophisticated, so long as you're on the PS4S (the Nismo was on PS4S for the majority of my time with it, so it is apples to apples)
-Ride height/Scrapes
The car is low, but it copes fine with the average speed bump - it copes better with the dampers in their firmer setting as it doesn't settle so low after going over with the front wheels. Keep your speed down and you'll be fine.
Steep drives/inclines you do need to be careful and approach at an angle, but it's not awful
-Seats:
I wanted the carbon buckets as this is my first Porsche, and they haven't disappointed. A slight faff to get in/out of but live with the car for a fortnight and you'll have the muscle memory set (and you won't bruise your left kidney anymore).
I've done multiple long trips of 2-3 hours plus and I find them absolutely comfortable and supportive - no numb buttocks. My gf also hasn't complained, apart from the default low seating position which left her legs stretched out in front of her. Raising the seat to its highest position solved that for her.
Finding the perfect seating position is a little trial and error in a manual car as the clutch travel is long, but you'll get it right after a few trips
The 370z Nismo has a version of the Recaro Sportster CS which were great road seats - I find the 918 buckets equally supportive but are even more of an event when you open the door (but more of a pain to live with)
-Practicality:
The front boot is cavernous and can easily take 2 carry-on size bags laying flat with room to spare
The rear boot is a decent size too. Mine has the CS rollcage so I lose a bit of the over-the-engine luggage space. Without the rollcage I think you could get 2 more bags up there
I must've used the front boot hundreds of times since I got the car in May. I've used the rear boot less than 5.
It sounds like the car will be a weekend useable car for you - I can vouch it's up to the job.
-Fuel:
Averaged 32mpg+ on a long run with Cruise set to 77mph. This keeps the revs below 3k rpm in 6th gear in the manual which is important as that's the ceiling for the cylinder deactivation. In a PDK car it's roughly 500rpm lower at the same speed in 7th gear (so I guess 85mph-ish? @3k rpm)
Generally speaking in mixed driving I'm around 25mpg which is decent for the performance (my 370z averaged 21.7mpg over 33k miles). You'll easily get 250-300 miles to a tank even with mixed/spirited driving
Bit of a blog post that, but hope it helps.
I have a 718 GT4 Manual - Clubsport with the carbon buckets. It's my only car/my daily (occasionally use my gf's mk8 Fiesta if it's a very short trip).
The main thing that's totally transformed its 'livable-ness' is swapping the Cup 2s out for PS4S - significantly less road noise, noticeably better ride, and much more confidence inspiring in the cold/wet. I'd go as far as to say the PS4S are better in summer too, you just can't drive a GT4 hard enough on the road to keep proper heat in the Cup2s. Anyway - assuming you swap to some road-biased tyres you'll be set.
Regarding the rest of the package:
-Ride:
More than good enough (I default to the firmer damper setting as I find the car feels more tied down/planted) - I keep it in the softer setting when my gf is in the car, more out of 'just in case' than anything.
My daily car before the GT4 was a 370z Nismo (2018 facelift) and I'd say the ride in the GT4 is comparable but better/more sophisticated, so long as you're on the PS4S (the Nismo was on PS4S for the majority of my time with it, so it is apples to apples)
-Ride height/Scrapes
The car is low, but it copes fine with the average speed bump - it copes better with the dampers in their firmer setting as it doesn't settle so low after going over with the front wheels. Keep your speed down and you'll be fine.
Steep drives/inclines you do need to be careful and approach at an angle, but it's not awful
-Seats:
I wanted the carbon buckets as this is my first Porsche, and they haven't disappointed. A slight faff to get in/out of but live with the car for a fortnight and you'll have the muscle memory set (and you won't bruise your left kidney anymore).
I've done multiple long trips of 2-3 hours plus and I find them absolutely comfortable and supportive - no numb buttocks. My gf also hasn't complained, apart from the default low seating position which left her legs stretched out in front of her. Raising the seat to its highest position solved that for her.
Finding the perfect seating position is a little trial and error in a manual car as the clutch travel is long, but you'll get it right after a few trips
The 370z Nismo has a version of the Recaro Sportster CS which were great road seats - I find the 918 buckets equally supportive but are even more of an event when you open the door (but more of a pain to live with)
-Practicality:
The front boot is cavernous and can easily take 2 carry-on size bags laying flat with room to spare
The rear boot is a decent size too. Mine has the CS rollcage so I lose a bit of the over-the-engine luggage space. Without the rollcage I think you could get 2 more bags up there
I must've used the front boot hundreds of times since I got the car in May. I've used the rear boot less than 5.
It sounds like the car will be a weekend useable car for you - I can vouch it's up to the job.
-Fuel:
Averaged 32mpg+ on a long run with Cruise set to 77mph. This keeps the revs below 3k rpm in 6th gear in the manual which is important as that's the ceiling for the cylinder deactivation. In a PDK car it's roughly 500rpm lower at the same speed in 7th gear (so I guess 85mph-ish? @3k rpm)
Generally speaking in mixed driving I'm around 25mpg which is decent for the performance (my 370z averaged 21.7mpg over 33k miles). You'll easily get 250-300 miles to a tank even with mixed/spirited driving
Bit of a blog post that, but hope it helps.
Edited by HoneyBadgerUK on Monday 11th December 18:33
My 718 gt4 pdk was excellent, yes you had a bit of road noise but nothing really worth worrying about. My only advice is if your going use it regularly, bucket seats are hard work and difficult to get out of when cars park next to you and the front is low and was the only reason mine was sold. Tried a manual before ordering mine and found the pdk box transformed the car, manual just didn’t make the engine feel alive on the public road.
Highly recommend if you don’t have a difficult approach drive / garage.
Highly recommend if you don’t have a difficult approach drive / garage.
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