2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 vs 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 - Head to Head Review!

The 981 GT4 has been one of my favorite ~$100K sports cars for as long as I can remember. But with 991.1 GT3 prices now in the $120-150k range, might it be worth the extra money?

[algt]

I had the 981 gt4. Then got a 991.2 gt3. Made me miss the gt4 so got a 718 gt4. 981 gt4 was still the most fun out of all of them.

[CarYenta-]

The G6 has even better modifications to it than the 911 R engine, which wasn't given a warranty. You never hear of people worrying about 911 R engines! If you're really still worried, shift at 8500 like the RS and R redline.

[PSCooooooool]

from an owner of BOTH and not biased (though biased of owning porsche cars :). the GT4 718 has everything (bolt ons, shorter not gear but gear n pinion) and a bolt on manual GT3 911.2. if you own a 4x4 as a daily and one of these cars....get the GT3 as a weekend, and track car. if you want a more usuable day - day get the GT4 as it will cover more than %90 of the flavor and joy of the GT3. didn't like the rear-engine i loved the mid-engine feel more and you can notice it when driven and owned both of them

[kmh]

fun fact: the GT3 has a slightly shorter wheelbase than the GT4. That + the rear end weight distribution probably made it more lively and move around a lot more.

[DaGrybo]

You’re really good at making these reviews even compared to the most famous journalists, no joke. I think that we all feel the same about the good old GT3, and I’m a Cayman owner. Interesting about the playfulness of the 911ns chassis, I have an internal fear against how large is the back of this car, if it snaps it kills sort of anxiety, but I’m yet to drive one and probably buy one. Interesting to know why the price difference is there between .1 and .2. So the price of the dream is 180. Next is spending a lifetime in one and getting buried in it at the end.

[ChuckYuuu]

Clinical is definitely the feel of Porsches of this generation. After driving the 991.1 GT3 and 458 back to back, it felt like the GT3 was driving itself, while the 458 was a much more raw and emotional experience. If you value precision, you can't go wrong with Porsche. There's a reason why almost every auto engineer I know owns or plans on owning one

[D.vanlente]

G6 engine is the way to go 💪 awesome car, i also had the gt4 but the gt3 is another level.

[mariogutierrez]

I just subscribed. I apprecite the precision in your language and comments sir. I also appreciate that most words that come out of your mouth are meaningful and they come out naturally. Excellent youtuber. Thanks .

[jimiverson]

IIRC Andy Preuninger claimed that the GT4s stated horsepower was underrated. In an article he was quoted as saying the car had 385 HP at the top of a 10, 000 foot mountain.

I think that with either of these cars, switching to a shorter final drive ratio would be beneficial with a manual transmission (the PDK has more gears, so it is a different proposition). Porsche probably uses the gearing they do for EPA mileage tests.

[IIVVX]

Having owned a 981 GT4 and now a 991.2 GT3 (manual/buckets) I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion that a GT3 is worth the delta over a GT4. I personally thought the GT4 was so polished and clinical as you put it that it was just boring on the street. On the track I’m sure it’s a great car but it didn’t excite me on the street at all. The GT3, otoh, is the best car I’ve ever owned by a mile. The only thing that compares is my old M4 GTS that I felt was criminally underrated. That would be a great comparison actually, M4 GTS vs 991.X GT3.

I will say the 991.1 engine issues really put me off, I’d never consider one. Those will tank as warranties expire.

[zvan]

On ride quality... I have the AD09's on my 718 GT4. They are a stiff sidewall track tire and excel on high speed sweepers. The Michelins, especially the 4S, has a MUCH softer sidewall. That definitely plays a roll.

The final answer though on both cars is MCS dampers. PASM is a pretty old technology now and really behind the current times of advanced suspension.

I have MCS 2-way remotes on my 718 GT4 PDK and they are awesome. Those paired with the AD09 tires and the car is super confident, super direct and capable, AND most importantly... COMPOSED at ALL TIMES!!

[lapchoine]

Nicely spec'd out GT3. Only missing factor is the PCCB which I must have for all my sport cars. If you have the G6 engine, this GT3 would be a keeper!!! Great review!!!

[blueshark]

Awesome video, Zygrene. Great driving, and I loved seeing the owner grinning as you drove the car. Fun to watch you tearing it up through that canyon road. And the sound of that engine when you did the pull was just intoxicating. Glad you kept your NSX, though. :D :D

[DanMattsson]

Loved this video. Sold my 981 GT4 yesterday and is picking up my 991.1 GT3 tomorrow. 😆 It's a 98% track car for me so daily driving will not be an issue but I miss the PDK from some of my previous cars. The 9k red line is addicitve...
Also, appreciated the comments mentioning the DSC controller. Got one of those that I used on my GT4 before fitting Bilstein Clubsport coikovers, should probably fit it to the GT3.

[mrscary.]

Great video!! Can you find out a couple things for me? What are the carbon shifter he got and also what did he do to get his wing end caps in black? The wing is usually just the paint color. Thanks in advance!!!

[dho]

Enjoyed the video / review! 👍🏼

I’ve owned a 981 GT4 and loved it. Great car for B roads in the UK. Handling is sublime and the mid engine gives great balance. I never bothered about the tall gearing but it did lack overall power. I then moved onto a 991.1 GT3, considerably quicker and took time to adjust to the rear engine layout as it handles quite different. The GT3 is defo a step on from the GT4, but I found the suspension and steering not as good as the GT4. Suspension was a bit harsh and didn’t absorb bumps as well and the steering lacked some feel and communication.

I then moved onto a 991.2 GT3 and it’s better in all areas V the 991.1 GT3, all the improvements are small if you hone in on one area - steering, engine, suspension, sound etc - but when you look at the total package together, it’s quite a step on versus the .1.

I think all three are great cars, but the GT3 is big brother for a reason and Porsche are great at evolving their cars! 🔥

[kyolml]

991.1 GT3 engine is always the one I love the most for the sound. I always thought the .2 GT3 is better car overall and the engine is smoother and with the last 1k rpm has that VTEC amplifying effect, it doesn't have the .1 3.8 liter metallic howl at between 8-9k rpm, which for me I conisdered special and more raw sounding experience. The 991.2 GT3 RS sounds slightly different than the .2 GT3 with a little more back fire under engine braking but close to it. 992 with the ITB is even more smooth than the 991.2 which doesn't' have the throttle intake suction noise, and like a sportbike than the 991.2. GT4RS sounds a little too loud for my taste. If just for the sound, i will take the 991.1 GT3

[jarrodhaas]

Great review, as always! One thing I would have liked to hear about is mid vs rear engine. Historically a big talking point, but does it even matter any more? My experience driving the 991.2 and 992 carrera cars is that it doesn’t—if you have the cash, go 911 over the cayman, as the driving experience is simply superior. Love to hear another viewpoint on this tho! Keep up the good work 👍

[VKAB-]

Checkout the 991.1 GT3 engine history. The 991.2 GT3 engine is in a different league to the one found in the 991.1 GT3. Also read the fine print on the extended warranty.

[web]

So if you want reliable 9k rpm experience there is no way to avoid the true answer - S2k ap1 😂