My 718 CGTS 4.0 PDK

[JohnCRS]

From what I recall with mine, there is no adjustment on the diagonal bar. Therefore as long as you do not load up the suspension whilst they are changed, there should be no issues and the new ones will match up perfectly with the bolt holes. No reason alignment should be affected. If you do add any other protection, make sure that the area for the washers and bolt holes are left clean as any layer of paint of other material can cause the bolts to loosen after a while.

 

[Boomer_Zoomer]

I've just had the 4 year major service completed. This took 2 days at OPC Aberdeen which was a pain, but thankfully no surprises reported. The car was given a clean bill of health.

Because the previous owner was a very low mileage gentle use driver, the car only covered 258 miles during the 12 months before I took the car over, I made a special request for a Particulate Filter soot and oil ash check to be done.

This test was carried out by the Gold technician with the following results.
GPF Bank 1 soot load 0.4%
GPF Bank 2 soot load 0.4%
GPF Bank 1 oil ash 10.6%
GPF Bank 2 oil. ash 12.2%
The Gold technician said Aberdeen OPC have had no problems with 718 soot or oil ash sensor triggers, and he could not recall any replacement GPF units being fitted due to EML warnings. Our subsequent discussion on the topic centred on driving style, fuelling, recommended engine oils, and over filling oil top ups as being the primary causes for triggering EML warnings. Driving style in my case is with a keen driver's purpose, and the GPF's get a good blow through on every drive. I also use Shell V-Power or other super premium E5 fuel brands exclusively.

My replacement rear sub-frame braces and assorted nuts and bolts were also collected at the service. I shall treat the new braces with a quality rust preventative clear resin in my garage at home. The fitting of the replacement components is already booked in at Aberdeen OPC at the end of May.

In response to your comment John, no mention has been made of a rear wheel geometry re-set after replacing the sub frame brace bars. I shall confirm whether this is necessary at the time of fitting. Personally, I'm doubtful this brace bars replacement would affect the rear wheel alignment, but I'll probably have this checked at my local geo alignment centre GT Tyres, Forres just to make sure.

Brian.

 

[jimmy p]

I understand this is a thread about a Cayman 4.0 pdk but for anyone reading this it sounds like the pdk box is the only one to have. I agree it is excellent, probably best auto in the business. I have however just picked up a new Boxster GTS 4.0 manual. It is also a great gearbox, yes I get the long gearing however it's a fast car, you are always going to be going very quick if you keep your foot down.
All I'm saying is if you really want a manual and enjoy using your left leg and properly changing gear don't write off the manual box, it is also one of the best manual 6 speeds in the business.
As you were......

 

[dbjames]

Hi Brian - what did Aberdeen charge for the 4 years service please- I know there's often considerable variation?
On another note, I'm planning to venture up to the highlands - any tips on great roads for the 4.0 would be greatly received!

 

[Boomer_Zoomer]

The cost of my 4 year service at Aberdeen OPC including all consumables was £1690.
I have now treated the replacement chassis braces with two coats of Jenolite Rust Shield. This excellent product was a fast drying, clear resin costing only £14. The chassis braces and other assorted nuts and bolts are being replaced at OPC Aberdeen next week.

Regarding good roads to access the highlands, I would recommend avoiding the A9 and taking the A90 north branching off at Perth for the A93 to Blairgowrie. Thereafter to Braemar and Ballater, then the A939 to Tomintoul and Grantown on Spey. Continue on the A939 to Dava and Nairn, before heading west to Inverness, the gateway to the north highlands.

Excellent driving roads north west of Inverness include the A832 to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the A835 to Ullapool and Wester Ross. The Sheildaig loop on the A896 via Glen Torridon to Kishorn is an excellent drive with wonderful scenery. Best to avoid Skye in the summer months, it is clogged with camper vans and motorhomes.

Brian

 

[dbjames]

To be honest I was expecting mine to look much worse. Was a nice shock to see it so mint. Sell it

On another note Brian, I have sold my GT4 RS, the 4RS is so under developed the car just could not cope in oem form with 500HP on that platform and suspension, very hard choice to sell what I thought was going to be my dream car and was a lot of money :-( it's now for sale £30k under list if any one wants a really nice GT4RS. But it needed at least £20k spending on it, just to make it work and then a warranty fight if you mod it, and for a bit more £££ you get the real deal.

So last week I swapped it for this, and so far after 5 days it's blowing my mind, it's amazing how much better a car is when Porsche make the time to get it right.
I'll keep the 718 GTS for a bit longer, but the new toy is just amazing. What a proper bit of kit this is to drive. I thought my 991.2 GT3 was good, but this thing is on another level.
I did not want wings, must be getting old, and I always said a GT car has to have a wing.! I have gone for buckets and PDK, this one has the RS shifters already fitted. It's PTS Nato Olive with every carbon option and orange stitching every where.
But the way it drives and turns in is just out of this world. I feel so lucky I am able to own and pilot such a machine. I think I might just daily it just because I want to be in it as much as possible. The 4RS I just did NOT want to drive it which was very disheartening and it's just been in storage for months.
View attachment 3764

Can you elaborate on what you felt was lacking with the chassis please

 

[Boomer_Zoomer]

Yesterday I had the replacement chassis braces and assorted nuts and bolts fitted at OPC Aberdeen. They did an excellent job, only taking a maximum of two hours during which I was invited through to the ramp by Tyler the technician to inspect the completed work. I have retained the corroded chassis braces which I shall clean up, rust protect, and sell on at a future date. A photo of the finished rear underside is attached below. This is how a 4 year old GTS 4.0 should look with diligent care and maintenance.

Rather than return home via the busy A96 route, I instead took the scenic route via the A939 Lecht snow road. Unfortunately the A939 was closed at Bridge of Brown which necessitated a detour via the B9008, B9009 route to Dufftown. This proved a joy to drive. The absence of traffic on this undulating winding road provided the opportunity to enjoy the GTS 4.0's prodigious performance in the intermediate gears. This car is the best Cayman of the six variants I have owned. Back in 2015 when ready to change from my sublime Cayman R manual, I was refused the opportunity to order a 981 GT4 by the OPC in the central belt of Scotland from whom I had purchased three Caymans previously.
This did not go down well with me at the time, resulting in my next purchase elsewhere.

Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, I now have no regrets missing out on the 981 GT4. The subsequent two 718 2.5T Caymans were an experience I would not have missed. The 718 GTS 2.5T PDK with ceramic brakes was a formidable track weapon out pacing many supposedly faster cars. The evidence for that was apparent at the PCGB track day at Knockhill in August 2019 when I posted a late session PB lap time of 58.76, pipping best time of the Manthey modified 981 GT4 of experienced wheel-smith Chris Whittle, albeit on Michelin Super Sport rubber, comparable to my PS4S tyres.

I would suggest that the 718 GTS 4.0 PDK is probably the best all-round touring car of the current Cayman range. The atmosphere 4.0 flat six revs to 7800 and sounds absolutely glorious. It goes without saying that I didn't buy this car with fuel economy in mind. Nevertheless, I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the cross-country fuel consumption of 28mpg. This compares to the thirsty 24-26mpg returned by the 2.5T PDK flat-fours on identical routes. This current car could be a keeper.

Brian.

 

[Boomer_Zoomer]

The PCGB region I belong to is R2 Scotland North. This covers a huge geographical area encompassing the extensive land mass north of Perth including the western and northern islands. Although it is a massive geographical area it is sparsely populated and has some of the best driving roads in Europe. It has been apparent for some considerable time that for we Highlanders, PCGB events mainly concentrated in the Aberdeen and Dundee shires are not conveniently placed for our active participation. There are no motorways and preciously few dual carriageways between Inverness, Aberdeen, and Dundee. It may not be widely known to those living south of the border, but Aberdeen is 110 miles distant from Inverness via the notoriously congested and RTC prone A96 route. On a good day this journey can take a laborious 2 hours 45 minutes each way.

So, it was with eager anticipation for us in the Inverness locality, that the joint R2 organisers from Aberdeen convened a meeting last month at an Inverness hotel to explore the possibility of forming a sub-group of Highland Porsche owners under the affiliation of the R2 PCGB organisers in Aberdeen. This has been enthusiastically embraced by the Inverness contingency and we have now established the R2 Highland Porsche Group - HPG, run by two joint local volunteer organisers. We have already had our first inaugural meeting as HPG, and last weekend we had our first official drive day as a formal sub-group. I'm delighted to report this was a resounding success.

Seven cars and ten people enjoyed a glorious drive north from Inverness via the B9176 to the Struie viewpoint, then the A836 Bonar Bridge, joining the A9 to Dornoch beach for a snack lunch in glorious warm sunshine. With the benefit of prodigious local knowledge we know the best roads, and optimum timings to make the most of the stunning scenery good driving roads that are so abundant in this part of rural Scotland. Our final stop for coffee at the Kincraig Hotel on the A9 near Alness provided a fitting conclusion to our first day out as group. Since the initial success of this drive day, word has gotten around locally amongst other Porsche owners who have now joined PCGB for the first time ever. That can only be a Good Thing for the club as a whole.

The HPG have now established a regular date and venue for monthly meetings with an exciting programme of events currently being formulated. With the much lamented absence of a PCGB track day at Knockhill this year, the HPG is exploring the possibility of holding a Porsche exclusive track day on the national championship kart track at Golspie possibly next year. This track is currently utilised twice a year as rounds of the Scottish Sprint Championship for MSA affiliated motor clubs.

I am delighted to be part of this new PCGB R2 group. The combined knowledge of the people enlisted so far is considerably greater than the sum of the individual parts. This can only be good.

Brian.