981 GT4 Review: Here’s What You Need To Know If You’re Buying One.

The 981 GT4 isn’t cheap but represents one of the best values for the money in the Porsche world...I can say that with 100% certainty after living in the air cooled 911 world for the past few years.

There’s something a little wrong with a world where a 981 GT4 selling at +/- $100,000 seems like a bargain…but when you compare it to what you get in the air cooled 911 world buying a GT4 seems like a no brainer.

In this video, I’ll tell you

- exactly what to look for when buying a 981 GT4
- what’s great about lightweight carbon fiber bucket seats
- what’s not great about lightweight carbon fiber bucket seats
- the recall item on the 981 GT4 that you’ll want to make 100% sure has been done
- tricks for getting in and out of the carbon fiber bucket seats
- info on the handling characteristics
- info on the way the car makes power

0:00 Start
0:56 981 GT4 exterior
1:29 Manufacturing facts
1:42 Why the 981 GT4 is a good investment
2:16 981 GT4 3.8 liter engine info
2:46: Specs of my example
4:01 981 GT4 ownership experience vs air cooled Porsche ownership experience
5:08 Why I Bought this 981 GT4 instead of another air cooled 911
6:49 My personal 981 GT4 purchase experience
7:45 What to look for when buying a 981 GT4
9:17 My first road trip in the car
10:13 PPF on the entire car
10:27 981 GT4 Interior view
10:44 Porsche Lightweight Carbon Fiber Bucket mods
11:43 981 GT4 driving review
12:18 Tricks for getting in and out of lightweight carbon bucket seats
13:35 LWB comfort
15:15 981 GT4 engine sounds
16:18 GT4 vs GT3
17:20 Memory foam cushion impressions
18:46 Can you have fun in the 981 GT4 on the street?
20:13 981 GT4 Interior fit and finish
21:10 GT4 clutch feel
21:50 GT4 shifter feel
22:25 Rev match
23:04 GT4 sport exhaust sound
24:04 GT4 Handling

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Lightweight Carbon Fiber Bucket Resources mentioned in the video:

LWB Seat center cushions:
P1 Designs
Contact: Kim DelVecchio

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LWB Seat Bolster Protectors
EdGuard USA

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LWB Seat Recliner Spacers:
Designs By Jakob

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Porsche of Englewood
Jean Beltran
201-450-6314

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Recommended Car Shipper
Christian
954-907-7527

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Items I Use To Make These Videos Happen:

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Porsche 911's I currently own or have owned:
- 1969 Porsche 911T Hot Rod in Ossi Blue (sold) - 1976 Porsche 911S in Ice Green Metallic
- 1977 Porsche 924 Martini Edition Safari Car
- 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera in guards red (SOLD) - 1992 Porsche 911 964 in Amazon Green metallic (SOLD)
- 1995 Porsche 911 993 Coupe in polar silver
- 1995 Porsche 911 993 in Grand Prix White
- 2007 Porsche 911 997.1 Turbo in guards red (SOLD)
- 2009 Porsche 911 997.2 C4S PDK (SOLD)
- 2014 Porsche Cayman S
- 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
- 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder
- 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S

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Please subscribe to my channel.
IG: @RennthusiastTV

[docfink]

As much as I'd love to have a GT3 with that 9000rpm redline, l'll never let go of my 2016, Euro-delivered, GT4. It was a dream to pick up with my son in Germany seven years ago, and it's a joy to drive now. I know I'd regret parting with it, so it won't be trade-bait on another car in the future. I drove a 2018 GT3 because I had become obsessed with getting one, and while I'll always prefer the shape of the 911 having had two of them prior to the GT4, the experience with the GT3, while incredible, wasn't as mind-blowingly different as I thought it would be. It made me feel even better about the GT4, which is the best-looking Cayman produced IMHO. Again, I'm not saying my 981 GT4 is the equivalent of a modern (or any, for that matter) GT3. It is however, it's own legend and a modern classic. Incredibly fun to drive and adequately quick with a killer exhaust, it's a keeper even if a GT3 joins the garage one day. Enjoy yours!

[ernesternest]

Living with a modern Porsche is just so much easier than the older cars, it’s as simple as that. Both are great experiences when driving. I do think if you are a more project guy and like the journey of maintenance and mods the air cooled provide that at a pretty steep cost. I love my 981 cayman base, it’s the best for spirited street driving and going to Home Depot or any other daily errands.

[danfreeney]

Great video and you’ll love the GT4. One tip. Change the side markers to clear. Will transform the look.

[jeanbeltran-ewoi]

Thank you Will for your business. I’m happy to see your enjoying your GT4. I appreciate the shout out! Love the video!

[massey]

If I could afford 2 Porsches they would be a 70's orange 911 and a Cayman GT4. Congrats and enjoy the heck out of it. Stunning car.

[randyc]

Have a twin to your Sapphire Blue GT4. My wife & I drove it to Rennsport Reunion VI from Portland, Or (and I was 68 at the time) w/ buckets. We both thought that they were vary comfortable & supported us well. The GT4 is a blast to drive. Definitely made us feel younger. It was a very memorable drive. The sound is incredible & plenty of room for road trip luggage.

[Redducati]

My 2016 981 GT4 is a keeper, absolutely love it

[jonwarshawsky]

Love the seats. With regard to new water-cooled versus old air-cooled, no doubt you got stung by big repairs on the 964 and the 1976 (green). New cars are just easier. I always see 5-10 late generation 911s and 718s when I drive across town in my 964, and they are great cars. I think you have to sort your priorities and go for whatever experience works for you, because ultimately no one really needs a sports car. For me, a 2.4L 911S would be the best weekend fun car, and the 964 is the “comfort” end of that lineage. In either case, they are more maintenance than the newer cars, but they are quite a bit better than their contemporaries — Ferrari 348, for example. I could definitely see a 981/991-generation in our garage and as more of a daily driver, but not as a replacement for a classic 911. If you keep a 993 and have the newer cars, you’ll probably be happy with the fleet. My own sense is that if you have an air-cooled 911 that’s sorted and really dialed in, it’s something you can’t easily replace.

[staceybsnyder]

Congratulations Will on the new water cooled car(s). As a fellow air cooled and watercooled Porschephile, I agree with everything you've stated. In fact, I remember back early on when you said something along the lines of the water cooled cars just didn't have that appeal you were looking for. I knew you'd come around. If you're fortunate enough to have both, it's amazing. Enjoy the cars and keep the awesome videos coming. Cheers!

[donatoforte]

Thank you for your informative video. I pick up my 2023 GT4 Friday and cannot wait to live with it, My test drive was absolutely amazing along a little twisty Austin road, I was sold after getting my 66 year old *** in those carbon seats and driving this wonderful machine. It's an amazing car.

[mikenorthern]

I’m an air cooled guy at heart. Something about the raw feel and sound of the air cooled motor clicks. I know you know what I mean. In the last few years I haven’t had interest in the post 2012 911 water cooled models as they have gotten too big in size for me. However, the recent GT4 and the RS model version has received so much hype lately coupled with its smaller size and performance really makes it desirable and they are cool looking. Thanks for the video and enjoy!!

[qikqbn]

Great to see you put aside the air-cooled pride and really be honest about how the water-cooled side also offers an incredible experience, and in many ways, is the better car in many ways.

[Craina-gkuz]

Beautiful car, these are wonderful machines. To answer your question about 17 minutes in re: poor man's gt3, the 996 gt3 is the poor man's gt3. Absolutely love mine. You need to try one of those.

[TobyD]

Hey Will - I’ve been following your channel & story since the BMW days. Think you are doing the right thing mixing air & water cars. I’ve car two air cooled and two water cooled and it’s the perfect mix. Agree the air cooled are a labor of love (and money) and are not the sort of cars to trade in-and-out. Fascinating to hear how you go with these - and thanks for your honesty, we always know you say what you think irrespective of what people might say. Although I will miss your mid-year and 911T, great cars. Keep it up 👍

[cabincreek]

New subscriber. Your video is very well done. I have an identical spec GT4, except in Carrara white, that I also bought with a CPO from Englewood about a year before you did. I can agree with nearly everything you point out. I drove the car home from the dealership (7 hours) and the carbon buckets were awesome. I wouldn't buy the car without them.
Another week or two and the weather will dictate me having to put it away for the winter. 😢 I am looking forward to your other videos on your GT4.

[nebeachbum]

I have followed your footsteps! Sold my 992 4GTS and have gone through other direction….. 981 Gt4 in Sapphire blue (buckets + PCCB)

[madfemurfast]

There is no question that a modern car has to be better than a 1980 automobile. There are 40 years of mechanical evolution and improvement. But I do not think they have to be compared. I think, andi know here some people will disagree, that air cooled cars are for collecting whereas a water cooled is a daily driver. Just me. My Cayman (not GT4) is a fantastic car and has to be more reliable than any 1980s car. But I would not mind a 993... Careful, you do not want the same problem that the 997 Turbo that drives too fast.

[Kmh]

I think it's hard to find CPO 981 GT4s because people over-rev them too much and they can't be certified if the report has too many. Congrats on the GT4, great find!

[razorworks]

Great review of what can only be succinctly described as a brilliant car. I’ve had mine for over 5 years, and its never skipped a beat. Back in 2016 when these launched I was unable to obtain an order allocation for one due high demand, but a year or so later I fortunately found one for sale that had been barely driven, sourced from a local collector in the same exact spec I was initiallly after. I’m just as thrilled with it as the day I bought it. As this car is a permanent member of my garage, I’m currently considering taking it to a nearby specialist to have the ratios for gears 2-5 shortened, along with upgrades to the flywheel and limited-slip differential. But even in stock form, it’s a gem of a car.

[vincentschneuwly]

Talking about new and non limited production cars as investment, some are going to be surprised within a few years... now talking about value I totally agree the GT4 is among the best from the whole industry today, if you are looking for enjoyment rides and you can afford it don't look anywhere else. Myself I had to go for a 911 since I needed the back seats for my 3 years old but the GT4 was on the top of my list because of the sound and the fun on B-roads