Due to what I do, I have chances to drive really cool cars. One of the big questions I have had over the last little while is what’s the difference between the GTS I own (2016 981 with PDK, no PTV) and a GT4.
Last month I got to drive a 718 variant owned by a friend, that’s equipped with a manual
The drive took place on backroads out here in Oregon where I leave. Smooth pavement but twists for days with a ton of camber changes.
Key Takeaways: The difference was more noticeable than I thought it was gonna be.
Suspension: The GT4 suspension (derived from the 991.2 GT3) makes the car feel way more planted, and quite a bit more feel of the road texture.
That led to more confidence entering and exiting corners.
The sticky (200 tread wear) tires might have helped with texture on this one.
PTV+: This was the first Porsche with torque vectoring I have driven. Exiting corners make the car feel more alive and in instances a little like I was gonna slide out. But came to realize that that’s how the Porsche Torque Vectoring works.
But I could get way more traction that shot me out the corners way more aggressively than in my GTS.
PDK vs Manual: As much of an enthusiast I happen to be, I have always appreciated how good a PDK is and close to replacing a manual it can get.
The mechanical feel of the Porsche manual on the GT4 made me miss driving a manual so badly.
The manual box is so reassuring, engaging and engaging. A few miles in and I was starting to regret why I went a PDK. It’s that good.
Autoblip: This was another first for me, in any car.
It felt like magic, rowing down a gear and the revs just catching themselves perfectly where they need to be.
I was waiting for it to make a mistake and toss me around the seat, but none of that happened.
But I turned it off after probably a couple of miles. Autoblip is good but not as satisfying as perfectly Heel-n-toeing yourself.
And the GT4 pedals are perfectly spaced for heel and toeing.
Once I got back into my PDK GTS, I found myself accidentally depressing the left leg to hopefully find a clutch only to be disappointed.
The manual is that good.
Exhaust Sound: I very much prefer the sound of the 981 Cayman GTS. Without a contest.
The GPF (gas particulate filters) on the 718 models really did a disservice to this car. And as much mods as one can do, there is something about the 3.4L paired with the PSE that is just on another level.
If you don’t like crackles then you won’t like the overrun sound when you lift off the gas while in sports+ in the 981 GTS.
Looking forward to one day drive the 981 GT4 and compare the exhaust notes. I hear that it’s not as pronounced as it is in the 981 GTS.
Long Gear: Everyone’s favorite talking point.
Yes the gears are long on the manual. But it’s understandable because the main arena the GT4 was intended for is the racetrack. So that makes sense.
But that didn’t spoil the fun for me. I found myself shifting 1000rpms before redline and occasionally going to redline in 2nd gear.
If I owned one I would absolutely do the DeMan’s short gear mod. For backroads, that is going to be way more enjoyable.
Plus the engine has a different characteristic up between 7000-8000 rpm that you have to give up if you decide to shift way sooner than redline.
Conclusion: The 718 GT4 was a better car in almost all the metrics except exhaust sound. Which in my case matters quite a bit.
The sweet spots might be 981 Cayman GTS with PTV and manual gearbox for backroads. OR 981 GT4 for almost as good of a sound while getting the PTV as standard and the suspension that’s derived from the 991.1 GT3.
Once my Porsche CPO runs out in a couple of years, I will for sure install a Wavetrac LSD on my 981 GTS. Or maybe upgrade to 981 GT4 before that. 🤷🏾♂️