GT4RS - Availability, what’s the latest?
Discussion
finmac said:
Going for the “panda” look then @Liam 
. WP will work well with white - great contrast with the bare cf.
. WP will work well with white - great contrast with the bare cf. 
Yep, that's pretty much it. Will be my 5th white Cayman, and I'm pretty sure many I know haven't noticed I've ever changed the 718 2.0 I got new in 2017. A few might think the 981 GT4 has had a body kit and a loud exhaust fitted. But I'll like it! finmac said:
Took this out yesterday for a decent run and it’s annual MOT/service. First time driven since October, what a machine. If I’m honest, having driven it again now after such a long layoff and having never even test driven the 4RS, I just hope it cuts the mustard, it’s got some proper competition!
Chalk and cheese. You'll never have to worry because they just aren't comparable aside from 4 wheels, 2 seats, and engine just behind you. I've never test driven a 4RS either, but have driven plenty of GT4 variants. You'll need to learn a different version of being connected to the road after an Exige, and I'll be surprised if the chassis ever feels quite as instantly responsive as a Lotus. In an ideal world, you probably need both. They are both supremely good at being themselves!Thanks for all the helpful comments on spec everyone. @jackwood, I was actually thinking it might be possible to get the side intakes in carbon as replacement parts. Can't wrap the induction intake scoops on a non-WP car, because they aren't fitted to start with. Not sure how unreasonable the price might be for the cooling intake scoops in carbon. While my love for the carbon bonnet and rear wing is slightly limited, I REALLY love the carbon cover on the top of the induction system with the Weissach pack.
With absolute respect for those that would go for the cheapest spec, slightly different for me, in that I tend not to change cars very often, so I'll be thinking of the longer haul of ownership, and I'm really not too bothered about resale value. I've had my 981 GT4 for almost 6 years, and was intending to keep it far longer than that, so found a low mileage used one that I liked, but was confident wouldn't get too silly for maintenance costs. That car needs to go to make garage space for the GT4 RS, but I think the aims will be similar. Something I really like throughout, not skimping on making it something I love, but not building in potentially onerous repairs or maintenance. I'll post the provisional spec soon, with huge gratitude for thoughts of others on the matter so far.
Finally, not quite off topic, and will be far too long, but some thoughts on getting an allocation.
I first walked into the only Porsche Centre I have ever dealt with almost 8 years ago, shortly after my Dad died. He loved Porsches, had only ever owned one (964 C4), but got a serious kick out of 2 of my sisters having 911s. One had an air-cooled SC back in the early 90s, the other a 996 Cabriolet from the mid 20-teens. Not long after he died, I got to thinking how struck I'd been by the original Cayman when it first came out. I'm originally a motorsport engineer by trade, so always found Porsches quirky, but easy to love. Somehow having left the profession made ownership of a Porsche more desirable. (They are quirky, there can be ridicule!
) While I'm not a fleet buyer for a major business that is supplied by the group that owns the OPC in question, I've always enjoyed being a customer of theirs, and I hope their employees have enjoyed my custom. I've bought 4 cars from them over the intervening years; 3 new Cayman orders, and one used 981 GT4. There have been occasional issues, but I've never felt anything that we'd need to fall out about. Occasionally people have suggested I might want to try shopping at other OPCs that are pretty much as local. For me, that doesn't really work. I know the foibles of the people I have built relationships with, I see the challenges they face as part of a dealership group, and I end up uncertain that it would be any different anywhere else in the medium term, let alone the long term.
Shortly after my first visit to understand what was involved in ordering a new 718 Cayman back in 2016, I called the lovely sales person I had met to ask how one went about ordering a 911R. Back then I would have struggled a bit to find the money, but I could have found it. The whole deal around limited run allocations was carefully explained to me, and made some sort of sense. Over the intervening years, while buying the few relatively ordinary Porsches I've had, I was told "no chance" for the 718 GT4 at launch (which was fair, I'd just bought a used 981 GT4 from them that they really didn't need back in a hurry). There wasn't to much else that really interested me, but I bought a replacement for the 718 2.0 I had chopped in against the 981 GT4, and then replaced that last year with a 718 C GTS 4.0.
I also try quite hard to do some of the social scene. That's somehow not natural for me, but for a few years I've attended my OPC's annual track day in the 981 GT4, as well as doing one or 2 additional track days a year when I have time. I really enjoy it, and love meeting like-minded Porsche enthusiasts, but I'm not really drawn to the "cars and coffee" style events, or a long weekend in a country house car park.
So... Rather than a completely out of the blue allocation to a civilian, I'd first asked the question of a GT4 RS in November 2021 when collecting my second 718 Cayman 2.0. The answer was a polite "sorry, too many in the queue", and I really didn't know how I'd afford it at the time, so was slightly relieved. However the itch didn't go away, so I thought some persistence might help. The 2.0 Cayman had a few small warranty issues, and I'd got around to the idea that a GTS 4.0 might be a good thing to own, but I decided to sow the seed in all my contacts with the OPC that I'd really, really like to own a new GT4 RS.
It seems the right person, in the right place, that put a word in the right ear, at the right time, was the lovely bloke that collected my GT4 for its 8 year service and MOT in March. Clearly I've known him for years, and owe him a hug, and maybe even a drink. He also sold me on the idea of a Cayman GTS 4.0 a couple of years ago, and I think might be slightly damning of me letting the old GT4 go, because we both have a soft spot for rattly old "skunk works" specials.
TLDR is that if you want to get an allocation for a sought-after new Porsche, the best time to start is at least 8 years ago. If it helps, the first 8 years is a really enjoyable experience. I'll let you know if it goes downhill, but I have no reason to suspect it might.
Liam
Edited by LiamH66 on Sunday 5th May 00:19
jasonrobertson86 said:
Amazing, looking forward to hear how you get on with it. The alternative of course is to just pick one up for list on collecting cars rather than all the relationships nonsense 
I suspect that may well be the case going forward, if of course you are brave enough to potentially spend £130/£150K in an auction with zero comeback and don’t mind someone else’s spec.This weeks yellow one would have needed an even braver than usual auction buying brave pill, given it had a replacement engine and no roll cage
I have it on my list of must own engines the 4.0 at circa 500brake. Can be in a GT3 touring too, but that feels a bit wide for the UK now. My list includes a V12 Ferrari and a V12 Aston preferably manual.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Familymad said:
I have it on my list of must own engines the 4.0 at circa 500brake. Can be in a GT3 touring too, but that feels a bit wide for the UK now. My list includes a V12 Ferrari and a V12 Aston preferably manual.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
good man, like your style!Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Familymad said:
I have it on my list of must own engines the 4.0 at circa 500brake. Can be in a GT3 touring too, but that feels a bit wide for the UK now. My list includes a V12 Ferrari and a V12 Aston preferably manual.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
If you can settle for the 3.8 then a 991.1 GT3 can be had at around £90k from qb OPC with 2Y warranty included to quell any engine fears
Sidsw said:
Familymad said:
I have it on my list of must own engines the 4.0 at circa 500brake. Can be in a GT3 touring too, but that feels a bit wide for the UK now. My list includes a V12 Ferrari and a V12 Aston preferably manual.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
good man, like your style!Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Familymad said:
I have it on my list of must own engines the 4.0 at circa 500brake. Can be in a GT3 touring too, but that feels a bit wide for the UK now. My list includes a V12 Ferrari and a V12 Aston preferably manual.
Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
Agreed, for me 500bhp , or thereabouts ,is the sweet spot for British roads.Life is feeling too short to hit them all, from where I’m sitting, but will give it a good go.
I have had several F-cars , each getting progressively more powerful.
Currently have an 812 , and having had the 992 GT3 touring for six months the 812 is now up for sale.
The GT3 , for me is a better car than the 812 in every metric.
bobhitch said:
Agreed, for me 500bhp , or thereabouts ,is the sweet spot for British roads.
I have had several F-cars , each getting progressively more powerful.
Currently have an 812 , and having had the 992 GT3 touring for six months the 812 is now up for sale.
The GT3 , for me is a better car than the 812 in every metric.
Agreed. Tried a few “super” cars before buying the RS. It’s not all about power and straight line speed.I have had several F-cars , each getting progressively more powerful.
Currently have an 812 , and having had the 992 GT3 touring for six months the 812 is now up for sale.
The GT3 , for me is a better car than the 812 in every metric.
jasonrobertson86 said:
Amazing, looking forward to hear how you get on with it. The alternative of course is to just pick one up for list on collecting cars rather than all the relationships nonsense
Yeah, but some of us don't have many actual friends, so the nonsense has some merits! RS Guy said:
There's plenty of time yet for it to be mentioned!!
Please let us know if you're 'strong armed' into purchasing it
Can't even see them on the configurator nowadays. I'm starting to worry that I've been sold short by not being offered an allocation for a watch!Please let us know if you're 'strong armed' into purchasing it
So, for vicarious spec'ers, thanks for all the input. I have 2 in mind, and they are essentially the same thing with and without WP. For me, WP is winning, although I really like the non-WP leather and alcantara interior. If there's an option for the steering column cover in alcantara, I haven't spotted it yet. I'm wondering if the leather column works with all the alcantara of the WP interior. I make a point of loving the leather steering column in my GTS 4.0 every time I hop in the car. Reckon I'm down to less than £10 per love of it already. It will have been a bargain in a few years.
PRFZ8XF1
PRI8ZHR7
Only other consideration left is maybe blue wheels and interior highlights. But most likely just the classic panda-look that might confuse a few about whether I'm really on my 5th white Porsche, or it's just the same car being upcycled.
Liam
LiamH66 said:
Can't even see them on the configurator nowadays. I'm starting to worry that I've been sold short by not being offered an allocation for a watch
They're not on the config, I'm on 16 new orders with my OPC, and I still had to spend £10.036 so I could receive my 4RS.As I say please keep us/me updated
MannyLon said:
bobhitch said:
Agreed, for me 500bhp , or thereabouts ,is the sweet spot for British roads.
I have had several F-cars , each getting progressively more powerful.
Currently have an 812 , and having had the 992 GT3 touring for six months the 812 is now up for sale.
The GT3 , for me is a better car than the 812 in every metric.
Agreed. Tried a few “super” cars before buying the RS. It’s not all about power and straight line speed.I have had several F-cars , each getting progressively more powerful.
Currently have an 812 , and having had the 992 GT3 touring for six months the 812 is now up for sale.
The GT3 , for me is a better car than the 812 in every metric.
320-350bhp/tonne for me (like a GT3), needs to be less than 1500kg really imo
Good chassis
Good looks.
Done.
gt4rs.wp said:
Looks great - have you considered LED lights, std colour wheels & black callipers?
Thanks @gt4rs.wp, good suggestions. I think about LED lights occasionally, as I know a lot of people like the look as well as the performance. I have found the standard ones to be fine on all my 718s so far. Standard wheel colour will definitely be a consideration, with and without black callipers. I've had silver coloured wheels on a few now, really easy to keep nice and clean with ceramic coating. My current (white) 981 GT4 has satin black wheels with red callipers, and while harder to keep clean, it's a great look in real life.@RS Guy, I'll keep you posted. That is a lot of money for a watch you didn't want!
Liam
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