My 992 C2S has gone but at last my GT4 has arrived!

[Motorhead]

Nice spec Martin,

Good call on the Smoking Pack [the dust-collecting hole in the centre console would annoy me]. Surprised you didn't tick the Climate Control option, which I think is standard on the 992 and often forgotten when spec'ing the 718-series cars? The trouble with options though is where to stop.!!

I'm sure you'll enjoy the different [better?] balance of the mid-engine car compared with the 992 and the more 'mechanical' feel of a GT-series car. What with PDK in the Porsche and DSG in the Golf I hope you haven't forgotten how to use your left leg when driving. []

If Porsche hold to an early October build hopefully you'll get delivery later that month or early November, so not too long and something to which you can look forward as the nights close in.

Keep us posted on progress.

Jeff

 

[Martin_Davis]

Well it is with mixed emotions that my local Porsche dealer has taken my 992 C2S back and I have now locked down and committed to my order of a GT4 with an early October build slot.

The 992 was an incredibly fast and capable car but always seemed to me to be more of a luxury car than an out and out sports car, it was perfect for long road trips and daily use. However I felt that it lacked that theatre and excitement that you should get when you climb into a Porsche.

I have read lots of conflicting comments and reviews about the sound and gear ratios on the GT4, although not many other negative comments about the car, so I hope that it will be the car for me. Either way, I’m sure that the normally aspirated Cayman will sound better than the C2S and just to be back in a manual car will be far more engaging and entertaining than the press and go 992 PDK or my Golf R daily driver with DSG, we will have to see.

In the end, I eventually specced the car as follows:

Miami Blue
Black leather interior with extensive items in alcantara and decorative stitching in contrasting colour: yellow
6-speed manual transmission
Chrono Package and preparation for lap trigger (I believe that this is free on the GTS & Spyder which is a bit annoying)
20-inch 718 Cayman GT4 wheels in satin platinum
Tyre sealing compound and electric air compressor (This was free in the 911)
Light design package
ParkAssist (rear) with reversing camera
Cruise control
Club Sport Package
Steering wheel rim with top centre marking in Yellow
Full bucket seats
Smoking package (Im not a smoker, I just like the hole in the centre console covered up, plus you get an extra socket)
Seat belts racing yellow
Decorative stitching in contrasting colour
Carbon interior package

So now it’s the long countdown to October/ November...At least I will be able to get the car run in before the track days and events start up again in 2021.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to meeting some of you and joining in with some Cayman Register events in due course.

Martin

 

[Twinfan]

Gear ratios aren't an issue, the car has a great engine and it pulls through them just fine in my experience.

I agree with Jeff on the climate control option, and given your interior choice I'd consider black brake calipers if it was me. The choices are yours though, of course []

 

[Martin_Davis]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for your comments, like you say with Porsche you can go on and on ticking the options list. If I intended to keep the car longer, I would have ticked some more boxes as suggested.

I have tried to spec the car to suit me but also wanted to keep an eye on possible future value and my dealer talked me out of the climate control, Bose and the ceramic brakes as he didn’t feel that these would give me any more in terms of future value for the car in a years time.

It is the more involved driving experience that excites me most about the GT4 over the 992, you are right about the left foot though, whenever I drive my daughters manual Audi Q2, I often forget to depress the clutch when stopping and end up stalling it, much to her amusement.

Fingers crossed on the delivery dates and thank you for all of the information and knowledge that you share on the forum, I have found this invaluable (now that I better understand the search option).

Cheers,

Martin

 

[Martin_Davis]

Hi Twinfan,

Like Jeff you certainly seem to know your GT4’s so your comments regarding the gear ratios are both welcome and reassuring as have been your many other posts on the forum, which are very much appreciated.

My dealer talked me out of the climate control for the reasons that I mentioned above, I’ll let you know if that was a mistake in due course...

The brake callipers were the biggest dilemma for me when speccing the car, as I really thought that the yellow ceramic callipers suited the car that I have specced best, but ultimately I decided to let my head rule my heart on this occasion and to be fair, I have always been impressed with steel / iron brakes on my other Porsche’s.

I did consider going for the black painted option but at nearly £600, I thought that I could spend that money better by going to two or three track days... Also going back to my younger days, I have to confess that I still have a bit of a thing for red painted callipers!

Cheers,

Martin

 

[Twinfan]

I think your dealer is wrong about the climate, they don't always know everything! I would spec it, it would be a deal breaker for me on a used car.

I agree on the PCCBs, a waste of money IMHO.

 

[cymro]

Martin

I am sorry to hear you are parting with the 992. I understand your reasons and your usage of the car is different to mine.

I have placed an order for a 2021 build 992S Similar spec to my present model glass sunroof etc, by delivery time my present 992S will be almost 2 years old. The 992 model suits us as an everyday car and our only car, do not do track days.

The car is fast and comfortable and good for long journeys.

Whether a 992 GTS will appear early next year, I must ask myself do I need a GTS

 

[Martin_Davis]

I can see your point of view, the dealer told me that the car still has AC it’s just not the automatic climate control, which I mostly used to override in the 992 in any case as I couldn’t really get on with it. Right or wrong, I will now have to wait and see what it’s like when I get the car and live with my decision, as the spec has been locked down. Hopefully if all goes to plan, it will be going back to the same dealer in a year or so’s time.

I’ll certainly be happy to share my experience either good or bad with the forum for other people’s benefit In future.

I‘m pleased that you agreed on the PCCBs.

 

[Motorhead]

I think your dealer is wrong about the climate, they don't always know everything! I would spec it, it would be a deal breaker for me on a used car.

I agree on the PCCBs, a waste of money IMHO.

+1 on those points, the dealer advice on climate in particular. Very stingy of Porsche not to include it on a £90k-ish car [with options] and I seem to recall other Cayman/Boxster purchasers mentioning that the sales chappy talked them out of spec'ing it. I wonder how many of them actually drive that many Caymans very much let alone own one...more likely their daily is from the VAG stable and has climate control as standard..!

Jeff

Edit: Not a deal-breaker though Martin if you're only planning such a very short tenure and you didn't use it in your 992.

 

[Martin_Davis]

Hi Huw,

Thank you for your message, it was good to hear from you.

I am looking forward to experiencing a different type of Porsche but I’m sure that we will still be able to meet up at other club events. Who knows, at some point in the future and if everything goes to plan I might be back in a 992...

I hope that all goes well with your new car, I think that we have sold our cars at the right time as they will probably depreciate further in the next year as more cars enter the market. What colour are you going for this time? Are you not tempted by the Targa?

Yours,

Martin

 

[Martin_Davis]

Thanks Jeff & Twinfan,

I‘ll share the AC experience with everyone in due course.

In the meantime, I have just spoken to Locktons to cancel my insurance on my 992 and to get a provisional quote on the Cayman.

Do any of you know if these cars come with a tracker? As Locktons insist on one, with the 992 this came as an extra via Porsche Connect for circa £250 per annum.

What is more the premium with Locktons is coming out at circa £1,400, which is £200 more than the 992...

I am just over the wrong side of half a century with no claims or convictions and am keen to have Porsche Club GB track days included if possible, are there any other insurers that GT4 owners would recommend?

Many thanks,

Martin

 

[Motorhead]

Martin,

Best to check with your Dealer re the tracker but if you're looking for alternative quotes which include track days I can recommend specialist brokers ClassicLine and ManningUK. I've been happy with both and currently I'm with ClassicLine whose policy includes UK and European breakdown cover as well as approved track days [PCGB and other] for which you just need to notify them and they issue a cover note. The usual excesses apply and I don't think there's a limit on the number that you attend.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

The Porsche tracker is fitted as standard, and you have to pay extra to have it activated as per your 992.

As Jeff says, I think your SA is wrong about climate. I do wonder sometimes if they realise that the important bit about the "Dual Climate" option is the word "Climate" not "Dual". They should, I'm sure, but I'm not convinced they do.

Personally, I would want auto wipers, climate control and cruise control on an £85k+ car. You get these as standard on a basic Fiesta these days!

 

[Scrounger]

Deffo get the climate. After deliberating over it for a while I test drove a car without it and the constant changing of fan speed and temperature manually drove me bonkers so I optioned the climate (thanks Jeff).

Insurance wise I went with Admiral. Locktons wanted me to everything bar chain it down at night and they still came out at over £100 for a base Cayman! Admiral weren't insisting on a tracker either. As Twinfan has already said, the tracker is fitted as standard but they want around £200 a year to activate it (and you can do so at any time not immediately) but you can buy it in bundle years at a slightly reduced rate.

Dan

 

[AndrewCS]

Auto Wipers & Climate … have only had on one of three Cayman`s … don`t miss them

ManningUK for me

 

[cymro]

Hi Huw,

Thank you for your message, it was good to hear from you.

I am looking forward to experiencing a different type of Porsche but I’m sure that we will still be able to meet up at other club events. Who knows, at some point in the future and if everything goes to plan I might be back in a 992...

I hope that all goes well with your new car, I think that we have sold our cars at the right time as they will probably depreciate further in the next year as more cars enter the market. What colour are you going for this time? Are you not tempted by the Targa?

Yours,

Martin

Martin, it will be a return to Carrara white again with black glass sliding roof. If Brexit puts 10% on imported German cars, I might have a rethink.

 

[MrDemon]

Hi Twinfan,

Like Jeff you certainly seem to know your GT4’s so your comments regarding the gear ratios are both welcome and reassuring as have been your many other posts on the forum, which are very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Martin

the ratios are an issue, 86 mph in 2nd lol come on. Ofcourse current owners will say it's a none issue, that's one make forums for you.

kills the fun and while it pulls though them faster than the 981, you are at pretty daft speeds even getting to 8k in 3rd !!!

SO you will just leave the car in 3rd gear and never change gear, then what's the point buying a manual ?

Any way nice spec, I would go silver stitch and black calipers myself.

 

[Martin_Davis]

Hi Twinfan,

Like Jeff you certainly seem to know your GT4’s so your comments regarding the gear ratios are both welcome and reassuring as have been your many other posts on the forum, which are very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Martin

the ratios are an issue, 86 mph in 2nd lol come on. Ofcourse current owners will say it's a none issue, that's one make forums for you.

kills the fun and while it pulls though them faster than the 981, you are at pretty daft speeds even getting to 8k in 3rd !!!

SO you will just leave the car in 3rd gear and never change gear, then what's the point buying a manual ?

Any way nice spec, I would go silver stitch and black calipers myself.

Thank you for your contribution Mr Demon, I guess it would be boring if we all liked everything the same.

Now that my order has been confirmed, I will have to wait and see if my car and option choices were good or bad. Fingers crossed we’ll find out at the end of October/ the beginning of November.

I‘m still excited about the GT4 and believe that it will be perfect for my requirements compared with the 992.

I’ll happily share my experiences on here if people are interested.

 

[TimG]

Congratulations on ordering the GT4!

Interesting that the dealer talked you out of climate control as from my limited time with the car, with all that clear glass and a socking great 4ltr engine sat behind you, on a warm day I am glad of it.

On another note, I think there are two schools of thought regarding the smoking pack with the addition of the cover plate over what otherwise is a storage cubby hole. The first is that it should be covered to keep the clean lines as you have done with the 'smoking package', the second is not to spec the smoking package and keep the cubby hole (which is what I have) as I've read that with the smoking package it is very easy to inadvertently actuate the cover with the elbow/arm whilst driving.

 

[Twinfan]

the second is not to spec the smoking package and keep the cubby hole (which is what I have) as I've read that with the smoking package it is very easy to inadvertently actuate the cover with the elbow/arm whilst driving.

I think that's some sales talk from someone who didn't spec it [8D]

I've never accidentally opened it on either of my Caymans...