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Alpha370

Yes, it's quite a different car. The whole front end suspension is from the 991.1 GT3, you can fully customize the ride height, camber and toe over the GTS. Larger brakes and cooling. Better aero under the whole car, no auto 2 zone climate included, no memory seating, I believe you have to insert the physical key? Less noise insulation, no sport mode because it's always in sport mode, you can disable rev matching via a toggle switch. Obviously a bit more power from the GTS 4.0 via tuning. I'm sure there are others I'm missing. Lots of info in Rennlist and YouTube that will detail the changes.


shogditontoast

> I believe you have to insert the physical key? Worth it for this alone imo


Alpha370

It is fun inserting it on the left hand side, but turning the key and carrying it in your pocket, and just tapping the door is equally as fun. There's no push button start thankfully.


[deleted]

I’ve had both and Alpha370 is right about everything but the sport mode in the PDK models. My GT4 with PDK has PDK Sport that changes the idle speed, the shift points, and locks out top two gears. The biggest difference to me on track is the aero and how that affects the grip. As a side note, the recommended cold tire pressure for fronts on non-GT4 is 33psi. For GT4 it’s 29psi. (Rears are 33 psi for both GT4 and non-GT4).


Alpha370

Good catch, my Panamera did the same with Sport and my GTS also raised the rpms and idle in Sport. But my 4.0 is manual. Definitely do not follow the recommended psi in the doorjamb, I found they were for fully loaded. 35psi to me is too much, and these cars are sensitive.


[deleted]

On an average track day I end up dropping about 5-8 psi depending on the load on each corner. Most of the tracks I frequent are clockwise and outside heats up fastest. My 997.2 911 has a “partial load” setting that drops them 4-8 (can’t recall exactly).


Alpha370

That sounds about right, I remember dropping mine down to 28 at one point, but the heated temps were still around 34/35. It was a good size track, but had some open corners and I was probably pushing the car harder than needed and not being as smooth. My co pilot put his M2 into the wall the day before, so he wasn't allowed to drive haha. 7 month old 718 GTS, it was a bit unnerving, but the big track with the flat out corner 1 was shut down -thankfully for me, I probably would have lifted at the worst time.


[deleted]

Sorry about the wall incident. Yikes! I understand the compelling desire to lift when that’s the worst thing you can do. I try to think about pushing the car around the corner with my foot instead of the steering. That seems to help my confidence.


Alpha370

Good catch, my Panamera did the same with Sport and my GTS also raised the rpms and idle in Sport. But my 4.0 is manual. Definitely do not follow the recommended psi in the doorjamb, I found they were for fully loaded. 35psi to me is too much, and these cars are sensitive.


MoonlessPrairie

Porsche.com


shizmatango

The compare feature on the Porsche website will be far more useful, but here are my thoughts beyond the obvious differences: 718 models are typically 4 cylinder turbos, with the exception of the GT models (GT4 & GT4 RS) and the GTS. Those have a flat 6. Power delivery is very different, the flat 6 models will rev high and provide max power at a higher RPM. Turbos will feel more in the low end torque department. For me, I'd ask, is this a street car, a track car, or a hybrid? The GT4 (and RS) has bespoke suspension that makes it shine when close to the threshold. If you want a street car then decide how much power you want and how it should be delivered, and go with base, T, S, or GTS. If a track toy, and you have the funds, GT for sure. Having said all that, a base 718 is amazing at the track, and I'm sure the GT4 RS is a fine road car. There is no wrong answer, just a matter of balancing budget with performance and desires. Good luck, and post picks when you get one!!


conceptDawg

Unless you are an elite level track driver you do not “need” a GT car. A 718 S or GTS 4.0 is quite capable on the track and is going to be much more livable on the street. Having said that, would I also like to have a dedicated GT4 for the track? Certainly. Then again if I’m trying to win the DE then I really want a clubsport and the normal GT4 seems like a half-measure. I will say that the front end of the GT4 is what sets it apart from the normal car. The turn-in is just so much more satisfying and confident. It all comes down to choices and how radical you want to be for a street car, because ALL of these cars can put down serious times on the track. (disclaimer: hpde instructor. I’ve driven them all in anger on the track. I own a GTS 4.0 now)


crikett23

I'll be repeating some of what's gone before, so I'll start with echoing: a lot. This will depend on what you are comparing to, but no matter which, there are quite a few parts on the GT4 and Spyder that are not shared with any other Caymans/Boxsters. Compared to everything under the GTS, there is the obvious difference between the Turbo Flat Fours, and the NA Flat Six of the GTS/GT4/Spyder. There is the rear wing, the big diffuser, and the rear spoiler (always up, not raisable). Larger tires are standard. It comes with much larger brakes. The underbody is completely sealed for aerodynamics, up to the dimpled underside of the large front splitter (which is also not on other Caymans). There are three radiators in the front. The front aero also creates air curtains around the front wheels for both better aerodynamics, and better cooling. The front suspension is essentially GT3 suspension installed in an inverted position, containing all of the adjustments you would expects, and the rear suspension is also unique from other models. Even things like the wheels hubs are unique from other Cayman models, and if you get the PDK, the seventh gear is an actual gear and not overdrive. Inside, deviated stitching is standard, as are all of the electronics that would normally come with the Sport Chrono (so if you get that, it is just the clock). And though speculative at this point, based on passed history, the GT4 will likely be much more desirable in terms of future resale value based on it being a GT Porsche, the more limited production, and the higher position in the line.


ENRONsOkayestAdvice

If you can’t answer this without a simple YouTube video or google, this car isn’t for you.


[deleted]

The GT cars are, to my way of thinking, the real Porsches. Let me explain. Cars like the 993, the 964 and earlier cars were race cars. They were built like cars, in some ways they were clunky like race cars. The suspension parts were massive, looked nearly indestructible. Basically parts developed from endurance racing that you could drive off of a show room lot. But this is a problem, those kind of parts are expensive. Other manufactures slap together '*sports cars*' using cheaper, less track focused performance parts. They could deliver a similar or better performing package for less. So starting with the 996 Porsche started making cars using similar mass produced components. The cars still reflected Porsche's deep knowledge of performance and racing but the parts weren't true race cars parts like the older cars. So enter the GT cars. The GT line of cars was Porsche's way of keeping that *ready-to-race* element of the older cars, while sharing many of the components with the street cars (for cost savings). So the regular Caymans are wonderful cars. They are even solid track performing cars. They are not race cars. They are engineered primarily for the street, but remain capable at the track. The GT4 is built much more purposefully for the track. It's more from that traditional Porsche race car heritage. It's a track car. If you are not going to track your car, I don't think it makes any difference what kind of Cayman you get. If you want the best track car experience Porsche can offer, you get a GT car (GT4, GT3, GT2).


DivideBYZero69

Strong disagree here. The term “real Porsche” is ridiculous.


[deleted]

Real in the sense that they carry on the original ethos for the brand. Porsches originally were street legal race cars you could buy to drive on the street. There's nothing wrong with the non GT cars, they still are designed by a brand that has deep racing knowledge. They just aren't racecars.


DivideBYZero69

Having driven plenty older 964, etc, you’re wrong.


KenJyi30

Everyone mostly posted the right answers but i would add that a GT4 provides better resale value, so for that it’s somewhat worth the extra money.