GT4 to RS the journey ;)

[MannyLon]

At the request of TDT, thought I’d make a write up of my GT4 experience.

Brought my first GT4 in 2020, and was a 2021 model.


First thing I noticed was the lack of sound, so started to look at exhaust options. The Cargraphic valve controller seemed like a cost effective first step, so decided to get Parr to fit one for me. Think it was the first one they installed.

[MannyLon]

The valve controller helped bring a bit more noise but wasn’t enough for a sound junky

I decided to look for performance and sound so looked into manifolds. A specialist recommended kline 200-300cell headers so I decided to go for that. They said performance would improve 10-15bhp.

[MannyLon]

Next up was adding BCF exhaust


This gave a sound improvement matted with the headers and valve controller.

[MannyLon]

Suspension setup didn’t feel right, too much understeer and jittery feel. At the time the only option was Manthey. A uk specialist fitted the “stage 1” kit.

[MannyLon]

Next up was a test of the manifolds and rear box.
Unfortunately we did not see any noticeable gains with this configuration.

[TDT]

MannyLon said:

Suspension setup didn’t feel right, too much understeer and jittery feel. At the time the only option was Manthey. A uk specialist fitted the “stage 1” kit.

Hopefully you took this stuff of the GT4 if you traded it in a part of the 4RS deal.
Kit can be reused on the 4RS.

[MannyLon]

TDT said:

Hopefully you took this stuff of the GT4 if you traded it in a part of the 4RS deal.
Kit can be reused on the 4RS.

I’ll check as dealer is taking exhaust off. Ta.

[TDT]

For the camber plates…I believe the OEM 4RS plates are centred just like the OEM GT4 plate, so whilst the 4RS comes with more shim from the factory, the offset camber plate from the kit will give you wider range again, whilst maintaining correct caster.
OEM 4RS toe links are different length than the OEM GT4 toe links, but standard 4RS adjustment is still done with the limited range of the eccentric bolt… so having the adjustable length toe link from the kit is still valid.

This is if you want a more aggressive setup for managing tyre wear on track.
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to touch anything at all if you don’t want to - in that case you can always resell this kit and make a little bit of money back and give a saving to someone else.

[MannyLon]

TDT said:

For the camber plates…I believe the OEM 4RS plates are centred just like the OEM GT4 plate, so whilst the 4RS comes with more shim from the factory, the offset camber plate from the kit will give you wider range again, whilst maintaining correct caster.
OEM 4RS toe links are different length than the OEM GT4 toe links, but standard 4RS adjustment is still done with the limited range of the eccentric bolt… so having the adjustable length toe link from the kit is still valid.

This is if you want a more aggressive setup for managing tyre wear on track.
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to touch anything at all if you don’t want to - in that case you can always resell this kit and make a little bit of money back and give a saving to someone else.

Thanks. I’ll check with the dealer.

[ChrisW.]

TDT said:

For the camber plates…I believe the OEM 4RS plates are centred just like the OEM GT4 plate, so whilst the 4RS comes with more shim from the factory, the offset camber plate from the kit will give you wider range again, whilst maintaining correct caster.
OEM 4RS toe links are different length than the OEM GT4 toe links, but standard 4RS adjustment is still done with the limited range of the eccentric bolt… so having the adjustable length toe link from the kit is still valid.

This is if you want a more aggressive setup for managing tyre wear on track.
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to touch anything at all if you don’t want to - in that case you can always resell this kit and make a little bit of money back and give a saving to someone else.

So the GT4RS still doesn't have the adjustment out of the box, of the standard GT3 ???

[jackwood]

ChrisW. said:

TDT said:

For the camber plates…I believe the OEM 4RS plates are centred just like the OEM GT4 plate, so whilst the 4RS comes with more shim from the factory, the offset camber plate from the kit will give you wider range again, whilst maintaining correct caster.
OEM 4RS toe links are different length than the OEM GT4 toe links, but standard 4RS adjustment is still done with the limited range of the eccentric bolt… so having the adjustable length toe link from the kit is still valid.

This is if you want a more aggressive setup for managing tyre wear on track.
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to touch anything at all if you don’t want to - in that case you can always resell this kit and make a little bit of money back and give a saving to someone else.

So the GT4RS still doesn't have the adjustment out of the box, of the standard GT3 ???

Always wondered why the (recent generation/s) GT3 rear toe isn’t adjustable electronically.

[TDT]

ChrisW. said:

So the GT4RS still doesn't have the adjustment out of the box, of the standard GT3 ???

Nope.

All solid mounts/rose jointed, so things that we have done like clubsport LCA inners and caster pucks don’t need to be done, as car comes with, but 4RS still some of the same limitations in terms of wide range adjustability.

Edited by TDT on Thursday 4th January 23:00

[TDT]

jackwood said:

Always wondered why the (recent generation/s) GT3 rear toe isn’t adjustable electronically.

I believe it is?….. The RWS actuators are in place of a traditional Toe arm? That is what they’ve done with the S/T anyway. Removed the actuator and put a traditional rose jointed arm back in.

When adjusting rear toe on 991 and later GT3 i think you have to have the car powered on in order for the ecu to recalibrate the RWS, based upon the new static toe setting.

[Youforreal.]

Crazy how complex it’s got now!

[GTRene]

nice write up, btw those guys seem to also do some nice things with Porsche.

say a 981 GT4 some plug and play items and 450hp or +53 WHP so it seems they callit the GT450 package?

https://www.fabspeed.com/porsche-cayman-gt4-fabspe...

they also do a street set up that has less hp

https://www.fabspeed.com/porsche-981-cayman-gt4-fa...

they also do the 718 GT4 and RS but I guess more to come.

https://www.fabspeed.com/fabspeed-718-gt4-gts-spyd...


btw, then there is that company that can give the 3.8 or 4.0 cayman engine an more, 560hp NA by enlarge them to 4.5L

https://demanmotorsport.com/4-5l-cayman/

[ChrisW.]

Well I've made my mind up.

As many will know I have massively over-serviced whilst regularly tracking and modifying my 981 GT4 which was one of the very first cars with the advantage of the splined third gear. I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have deliberately kept all the original components that have been exchanged ... but after eight+ years I felt that it was time for a change.

I had always thought that the logical next step was a GT4RS ... the car that Porsche would never sell me, once secondhand prices dropped down towards list prices. Before Christmas this had happened and dealers were very keen to close a cash sale before the end of the year and I came whisker close to buying a red GT4RS at Porsche Edinburgh who were very straight with me, but ...

1. Even at list price the car was £25k over the new car that I would have specified for myself
2. I do have some hearing loss and I worried about exacerbating this in a GT4RS
3. The GT4RS still has limitations with the rear suspension when compared to a GT3 ... and it also has limited down force, ... I want more in the next experience of my track car ownership
4. Build numbers / residuals ... are they still going to build 7000 of them ?

So I went hunting with the negotiating advantage of the December deadline ... 992 GT3 (?) ... I didn't like the less traditional interior ... and there are so many around / residuals ... manual would be nice but maybe not on an even faster track car ... 992 GT3RS (?) not an option for so many reasons ... so no to the 992.

Next up was the 991.2 GT3 RS ... very few around without Weissach which I didn't want, but I managed to find a one owner 2018 non-Weissach car with one owner, full OPC service history, 7500 miles and front tyres dated week 40 / 18. Even better it carried the approved warranty which extended this to June 2026 and all the other advantages of an approved car ... new tyres / service / mot etc.
It was an SOR car and the original owner and the OPC were amazing in helping me to make it happen with a committed deposit on the 30th December and completion mid January once my source investments had been liquidated ... hopefully earlier.

This should keep me happy and out of trouble for another eight years when hopefully I won't be in line for an upgrade to an off-road wheelchair ??

Question ... what to do with my modified GT4 ? Surely not to return it to standard ?

Edited by ChrisW. on Friday 5th January 15:28

[Percy.]

ChrisW. said:

Well I've made my mind up.

As many will know I have massively over-serviced whilst regularly tracking and modifying my 981 GT4 which was one of the very first cars with the advantage of the splined third gear. I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have deliberately kept all the original components that have been exchanged ... but after eight+ years I felt that it was time for a change.

I had always thought that the logical next step was a GT4RS ... the car that Porsche would never sell me, once secondhand prices dropped down towards list prices. Before Christmas this had happened and dealers were very keen to close a cash sale before the end of the year and I came whisker close to buying a red GT4RS at Porsche Edinburgh who were very straight with me, but ...

1. Even at list price the car was £25k over the new car that I would have specified for myself
2. I do have some hearing loss and I worried about exacerbating this in a GT4RS
3. The GT4RS still has limitations with the rear suspension when compared to a GT3 ... and it also has limited down force, ... I want more in the next experience of my track car ownership
4. Build numbers / residuals ... are they still going to build 7000 of them ?

So I went hunting with the negotiating advantage of the December deadline ... 992 GT3 (?) ... I didn't like the less traditional interior ... and there are so many around / residuals ... manual would be nice but maybe not on an even faster track car ... 992 GT3RS (?) not an option for so many reasons ... so no to the 992.

Next up was the 991.2 GT3 RS ... very few around without Weissach which I didn't want, but I managed to find a one owner 2018 non-Weissach car with one owner, full OPC service history, 7500 miles and front tyres dated week 40 / 18. Even better it carried the approved warranty which extended this to June 2026 and all the other advantages of an approved car ... new tyres / service / mot etc.
It was an SOR car and the original owner and the OPC were amazing in helping me to make it happen with a committed deposit on the 30th December and completion mid January once my source investments had been liquidated ... hopefully earlier.

This should keep me happy and out of trouble for another eight years when hopefully I won't be in line for an upgrade to an off-road wheelchair ??

Question ... what to do with my modified GT4 ? Surely not to return it to standard ?

Look forward to seeing it

I see so many people modifying GT4s, but I very rarely ever see modified GT4s for sale, bar some at RPM.

Are people just selling them via GT4 specific groups/forums before they hit Autotrader?

[ChrisW.]

It's great to see another modification story

Edited by ChrisW. on Friday 5th January 15:32

[isaldiri]

Hm... well done on having the self control and discipline to do that Chris.... think i'd slit my wrists and burn the cars if I did a similar exercise on costs tbh so I prefer to just continue to pretend it isn't all that much.......

[TDT]

Wow, congrats Chris... look forward to seeing it - hopefully at RS day, If not later in the year.

991.2 3RS is definitely the PROPER change from where you have been, and hopefully you can gel with it in a way that you didn't with the 991.2 GT3.
3RS...No holds barred!

Edited by TDT on Friday 5th January 11:40