Anyone got experience of the 981 GT4

[Phillv6]

So I’m very happy with my 400 I’ve had for 2 years, however I keep wondering how would a GT4 compare  🤷‍♀️, as a Lotus owner it’s all about the drive for me hence why I’m in the 400. Would have to spend a fair bit to get into a car that’ll be 3 years older although it doesn’t bother me actually. 
 

Has anyone among us owned one ? or knows a friend who has maybe ? All comments gratefully received either good or bad.

Just to reiterate in more than happy with the Evora but curious about how good a GT4 would be, I only run one car so a daily but not intention of doing track days.

Cheers,

Phill

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Phillv6
Spelling

[jep]

A chum of mine went from Evora 410 to Cayman, though not GT4.

He is not a Cayman fan. No sense of occasion and dull driving experience compared to Lotus.

Justin 

[Bravo73]

@bosshog should be able to help. When he gets back. 

[Bruss]

GT4 is better on track, dull on the road for me.

 

 

[philcool]

Drove around in a 718 GT4 4.0L very nice indeed nice short throw box very precise and excellent build quality 420 bhp very impressed .Everybody on here seems to knock porsche I've been lucky enough to drive quite a few 

All the caymans the 4 cyl ones not great to be honest and wasn't impressed with the 911 bit heavey even the 911T with no back seats and beautiful carbon front seats see below , seemed heavy and loads of road noise .

Boxster ok the 3.8L spider was good but stupid roof looks cool with the flying canvas buttresses but absolutely rubbish to put up in real life 

Would I have one yes have I got one no love my S2 Exige 240bhp plenty and fun more visceral and in some way seems more special but that's just my view 

Oh and the 981 is quite easey to service except coolant change is a propper mess about 

[EGTE]

Go and test-drive one; it's the only way to know. My money's on you keeping the 400.

[bosshog]

I've had many Elises (still have a S1), Evora S and an Evora 410. I now have a 981 GT4. My thoughts:

Steering feel is not quite as good as the 4xx but still very good (much better than the 714 GT4 IMO)

Sound is mega and not in your face as much as the 4xx (only just though)

Turn in is probably a bit sharper on the 4xx

The GT4 COG is lower and really turns around you in the corners.

Performance is about the same. its a good torquey engine, and really flies above 4800K

The auto blip (if you turn it on) is brilliant (thought I would hate it) but when you are 'on it' it helps loads and sounds mega.

The car is fun at legal speeds, and moves around a fair bit in a good way - it will wag its tail if you want it to.

The interior finish/controls/stereo/etc and build in general is way ahead and the whole car just feels increadably well put together and just feels like you can be abused.

People will say the gearing is longer than the 4xx but in reality its not as it will rev all the way to a peaky 7,800 and hence more speed on the road. I personally don't really notice it except occasionaly pulling out of junctions.

The manual gearbox is pure joy to use and probably on the the best ever list.

Brakes are perfect and very strong when needed

The suspension is firmer than a 400 from memory I think, but excellent - it handle mid corner bumps brilliantly. Its switchable as well depending on your mood.

The 918 carbon buckets hold you very very well and really bring drama to the cabin, however you need to try first as they are not for everyone

I would only get the clubsport with roll cage if you are planning to track lots as it will introduce more cabin noise.

Minimal sound deadening, so fair bit of road noise on some surfaces. Its more pratical in terms of storage, as you have 2 boots and the fronk is very deep and takes a lot of bagage.

I love it, and just got my deposit back for the Emira. I can't see me changing it for anything sub 100K. I just got back from a 2K miles trip around the Alps (with another and some Evoras) and it just cements my opinion personally.

You need to go for an extended drive if you can, as its takes a little distance and time to get under its skin. It has great depth.

Theres probably other stuff I'm missed.

[phenoyz]

On 08/07/2023 at 13:12, Bruss said:

GT4 is better on track, dull on the road for me.

 

 

Al lot of youtube reviews said what you said.They say Cayman is more "PRECISE"...

I am only talking about suspension, engine is a different topic

So what can be done to correct this? 

1) Upgrade to Ohlins TTX coilovers?

2) Replace the Front/Rear Whishbones with aftermarket to get more camber etc? (blackwatchracing.com)

3) 

Edited July 12, 2023 by phenoyz

[Niffty951]

I should pre-state I have a positive Porsche bias. A car has to be noticably better to get me out of one.

I went in with high expectations to the 981 GT4, expected to be in love, which is always a mistake. I came away very numb. I think the factory exhaust sounds phoney and digital, the gears are so long that if you hang onto 2nd out of a roundabout you're soon seeing 1 too many digits and not really feeling the joy and the cabin feels like there is a lot around you in all directions. You sit far from the glass which stops the car 'shrinking' like an older 911 or early Cayman does.

 

On the plus side, the performance is well judged, the seats are excellent, the car is significantly more practical for a long trip than the Evora (luggage space with the front boot and long parcel area is superb) and the creature comforts of the interior do not leave you wanting.

Handling, both cars are excellent, the approach is different. The evora moving in a more 2d way.

 

Be aware general servicing and parts are more in a Porsche. I have the feeling main dealers are like london taxis, the bill meter starts at £1000 and then you add whatever job you asked to be done.

Summary: As per above. Better suited on track, less engaging on the road

[Gadzooks]

There is a GT4 in same club as my 410 Sport and have been on several track days at same time.  In terms of outright lap times there isn’t much in it. I would say GT4 is slightly quicker.  I have only been on track as a passenger in the GT4 but it is impressive.  Can’t comment on brake and steering feel but can say that suspension is very firm which means less roll on track but it also transmitted a lot of lumps and bumps into the cabin.  The engine/exhaust note wasn’t as rousing as the 410.  I wasn’t left lusting after one but I would be happy to own one.

[phenoyz]

Which has a superior overall CHASSIS design?

 

Evora or Cayman GT4

[bosshog]

Think you’d need to ask an engineer and also be a lot more specific about what you mean by ‘superior design’. Weight? Packaging? Stiffness? Etc

As you know it doesn’t matter though, it’s about how you feel about the/a car 

[au-yt]

On 09/07/2023 at 00:32, Phillv6 said:

So I’m very happy with my 400 I’ve had for 2 years, however I keep wondering how would a GT4 compare  🤷‍♀️, as a Lotus owner it’s all about the drive for me hence why I’m in the 400. Would have to spend a fair bit to get into a car that’ll be 3 years older although it doesn’t bother me actually. 
 

Has anyone among us owned one ? or knows a friend who has maybe ? All comments gratefully received either good or bad.

Just to reiterate in more than happy with the Evora but curious about how good a GT4 would be, I only run one car so a daily but not intention of doing track days.

Cheers,

Phill

 

Just Love the colour Combo

[Phillv6]

Thank you 👌 it was the reason I bought this particular car, lots of folk comment on the colour 😜

[Phillv6]

Thanks for your input guys I’ve now had a test drive in a GT4, and here’s where I’m at.

The performance between the two is very close really close actually with the Evora producing more torque at lower revs with being forced induction but it’s not a night and day difference. For myself the noise of a car is very important and here it’s an easy win for the Evora which I was surprised at, the exhaust button makes a much bigger difference at low revs and even at high revs where I thought the GT4 would be the best by quite a margin it really wasn’t.

The steering was pretty good in the GT4 considering it’s EPAS was less busy overall, but didn’t talk to you like the Lotus so no surprise there then. Onto the gearbox yes the Cayman was better but not by as much as I was expecting.

Onto the handling the Cayman was very good for a track focused car not at all to hard on the road, it felt really planted and has a slightly stiffer set up than the Lotus which as we all know is magical.

Another win for the Cayman is the seating the car I drove had the optional 918 buckets and they are superb hold you in brilliantly and are super comfortable.

Build quality of the Cayman is better for sure and felt really solid, personally I find the Evora is pretty good in this respect but not brilliant I suppose in a car of this price when new, the Evora is fine in my opinion in this aspect but in an direct comparison could do a little better.

Onto the looks well I’m not going to be biased here but OMG there really is no contest here it’s got to be the Lotus easily and of course they are so much rarer.

As my car is my only one it’s a daily and you could daily the Cayman as well, however the front splitter on the Porsche is pretty low and caution would be the order of the day regarding this. The Porsche doesn’t have a reversing camera or sensors this would make parking a real pain in day to day use despite the large rear spoiler providing a reference point.

So overall as a road car the Evora for me is the better car, for track work then no doubt the GT4 would be a better choice. The GT4 would’ve had to have been a significantly better drive in order for me to swap, but in fact the Lotus is the better drive for myself, the Lotus 400 is a fair bit cheaper to buy and no doubt run.

So it’s an easy conclusion in my opinion the Lotus is the better car for UK roads, more fun, more noise, better value, better looks. 
 

Overall I was pleasantly surprised at just how good the 400 is against such a highly regarded opponent.

Hope you all find my review usefull and count ourselves so fortunate that we are driving such a wonderfull British sports car.

Cheers,

Phill (delighted owner of an Evora 400)

[C8RKH]

Great write up @Phillv6 and it seems to be impartial which is commendable.

I've no doubt the GT4 is a wonderful car, and I know that @blindside has really enjoyed his alongside his Evoras.

[Cdm2018]

Just saying 

would you not include the Emira as a comparison these days ? Its interior is now moved on from Evora ? 

[blindside]

 

6 hours ago, C8RKH said:

Great write up @Phillv6 and it seems to be impartial which is commendable.

I've no doubt the GT4 is a wonderful car, and I know that @blindside has really enjoyed his alongside his Evoras.

Agree about the noise from the Supercharged V6 & Janspeed exhaust being something special. The steering in the Evora 400/410/430 also has more driver input ‘feel’ than the GT4. Apart from that the (718) GT4 was preferable for me as a practical all round performance car. Also definitely better as an occasional track car. 
I kept the GT4 for a couple of years and it provided a great entry point into the whole Porsche GT car scene which is utterly addictive. That said I wouldn’t part with my 430 despite all its foibles. 

[bosshog]

I’d just add that really the Sport 410 is more of a direct comparison to the GT4 IMO. The other 4xx should really be compared to the cayman/boxster GTS 4 litre. 

[Phillv6]

@bosshog yeah I can appreciate what you are saying but I was comparing my 2018 400 with the 981 GT4 as that was my situation, even though the 981 is 3 years older than my 400 there would still be around a £20k cost to swap. I like the rawness of an analogue car which is why I considered the 981 I can’t see the 718 gts providing that really.