981 GT4 Approach Angle Help (Somerset) - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Where are you based?

scratch pervert said: Where are you based? Frome, Somerset.

Very close to finalising on a 981 GT4, but am very wary of the approach angle which is a bananas 6 degrees. I have a steep approach to my driveway and its out of range for a test drive, huge question I know but are there any owners in the vicinity that would be willing to test it out (obviously not the point of scraping!) but just to see how close it is. My 4C was fine at 8 degrees, but it was very close to being an issue. Ofcourse it could well be absolutely fine with loads of clearance but I can't take that risk on something with no recourse. I’m in Frome, Somerset. Thanks for any advice, Chris Edited by Chrisatronic on Saturday 18th December 11:43

I’m too far away to help physically. But, having scraped my way down endless multi storey car park ramps in my GT3s, I understand your concerns. BUT. I now have a 981 GT4 and whilst it’s vulnerable, the only bits that get damaged and that’s a strong term!, are a bit of easily replaced plastic. I became used to horrid scraping noises and simply replaced the plastic bit whenever it became too tacky. The GT4 is far too much fun to put off a purchase for a £100 spare part! Roger

Rogere said: I’m too far away to help physically. But, having scraped my way down endless multi storey car park ramps in my GT3s, I understand your concerns. BUT. I now have a 981 GT4 and whilst it’s vulnerable, the only bits that get damaged and that’s a strong term!, are a bit of easily replaced plastic. I became used to horrid scraping noises and simply replaced the plastic bit whenever it became too tacky. The GT4 is far too much fun to put off a purchase for a £100 spare part! Roger Yes that’s broadly the response the dealer and specialists gave me, ‘it’s a consumable sir’. Lol. Anyway good news is they’ve agreed to do a ‘test park’ next week so assuming all is well I am joining the GT4 brigade

Yep, my driveway does a great job of destroying front splitters, as said above just treat the splitter as a consumable and don’t ever think to colour code etc..

Odd my 4C used to scrape that piece of plastic trim under the front lip but over the same area my 981 GT4 doesn't.

This thread may help. 6 degrees is the max it can handle. https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4-spyder/938271-gt4-... https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulleti...

Chrisatronic said: Rogere said: I’m too far away to help physically. But, having scraped my way down endless multi storey car park ramps in my GT3s, I understand your concerns. BUT. I now have a 981 GT4 and whilst it’s vulnerable, the only bits that get damaged and that’s a strong term!, are a bit of easily replaced plastic. I became used to horrid scraping noises and simply replaced the plastic bit whenever it became too tacky. The GT4 is far too much fun to put off a purchase for a £100 spare part! Roger Yes that’s broadly the response the dealer and specialists gave me, ‘it’s a consumable sir’. Lol. Anyway good news is they’ve agreed to do a ‘test park’ next week so assuming all is well I am joining the GT4 brigade Congrats! What's the spec?

scratch pervert said: Congrats! What's the spec? Carmine Red, fixed buckets, all the leather and carbon interior bits even the all important fuse box :wink:. Originally wanted one with Clubsport but thought on it and realised can’t use harnesses on the road & on track I’d need to buy HANS anyway. Car was GT04 YOB before so might know it.

Hi I have just found this thread as I am in a similar predicament! I am close to going for a 981 GT4 but am holding back as my 981 Spyder scrapes down my driveway and I understand this is more of an issue with the GT4. Does anyone know whether there is a big difference between the two and also whether I need to take the step up to a GT3 with front axel lift to avoid the issue? Any info / thoughts v welcome!

Mak77 said: Hi I have just found this thread as I am in a similar predicament! I am close to going for a 981 GT4 but am holding back as my 981 Spyder scrapes down my driveway and I understand this is more of an issue with the GT4. Does anyone know whether there is a big difference between the two and also whether I need to take the step up to a GT3 with front axel lift to avoid the issue? Any info / thoughts v welcome! I believe the GT4 is indeed worse than Spyder by 1 or 2 degrees. I’ve gone for the car anyway as I just love it and can deal with replacing the splitter once in a while, it seems to be designed that way as a sacrificial part. Basically any other car has better clearance, even McLarens without lift are better!

Thanks for the info! I tried both the 981 and 718 GT4s at silverstone and loved the 981, I may just follow your approach and accept that it’s a disposable no matter how bad the scraping sounds!

Chrisatronic said: I believe the GT4 is indeed worse than Spyder by 1 or 2 degrees. I’ve gone for the car anyway as I just love it and can deal with replacing the splitter once in a while, it seems to be designed that way as a sacrificial part. Basically any other car has better clearance, even McLarens without lift are better! My first one going onto the low loader to have the fuel lines changed in the 2020 recall and that was before the front was lowered 11mm at Centre Gravity as part of the suspension setup. I never had any issue other than knowing where to stop when parking front on to curb stones.

This is the completely innocuous looking junction before getting to my driveway, scrapes every time. You can see even on test videos on normal roads how bad the angle is on the splitter.

Mine scrapes on one side on the way down from my (rather steep) drive out onto the road, but not on the way back up. 3 years or so back I was thinking "Oh heck, what should I do about this?", and started looking for a spare GT4 front splitter for a reasonable price. (Seem to remember they are about £300 list). Anyhow, after 3 years of pretty much daily scraping when there's no chance of salt on the roads, I guess I may have worn 1-2 mm or so off the right front, maybe more. It's not noticeable, and it encourages me that while the 981GT4 is a practical "supercar junior" daily drive, I probably don't have too much interest in anything more exotic. For anyone doubting Club Sport parts for a daily, I had the harnesses removed from mine at purchase in 2018. Refitted them this September for a track day, and will not remove them again, as shoulder and lap straps can be tucked neatly out of the way, and I can live with the crotch straps and buckle sitting on the seat somewhere between my knees. The crotch straps might be a PITA to adjust, but are also the easiest ones to remove and refit. Shoulder straps by far the most awkward to remove or refit, and I wished I'd not asked for them to be removed when I was putting them back in. Liam

This is really helpful thanks all. Out of interest does anyone know if the 718 GT4 approach angle is any different to the 981, better or worse?

From my research, 981 GT4 is 6 degrees, Spyder is 8 degrees. 718 I can't find angles for but it's about 1" higher, but also the splitter comes out further so it might not work out any better. Really they should come with lift.

Im unsure of the angles for the 718 GT4 but i haven't notice scraping the car yet. Froome isn't far from me.