I know I am a little late to the party and there have been a few threads on this topic but I recently had a chance to drive the 4.0 and I thought I would create a thread to put down some of my thoughts on differences specifically on the street.

Short version? It drives like a real car.

Longer version:

The 3.8 RS is awesome, I use it as my daily driver and its a lot of fun in that role, at least for me. The thing I like most is that you have to wring out the performance in first gear (from stop lights for example) by revving the car to at least 2-3000 rpm. You feel like driving a race car on your way to work and it sounds awesome. The same is true for third gear passing on the freeway. All around, I felt that 3.8 is (more than) sufficient for my purposes on the street (I haven't taken it to track yet, still using M5 for track duty because of the PCCB concerns).

The 4.0 on the other hand was able to drive off the line with just a 1000 or so rpm - notice I didn't say launch, I said drive off the line. Sure you can launch harder but the clutch was so much lighter and smooth than the RS that I felt like I was driving a real car. The real car analogy is important because the power delivery and clutch felt like a regular car (sure the clutch was harder than a stick passat but lot softer than the 3.8). Anyway I just thought I'd post my thoughts here. I think what car to get or keep boils down to two things:

1. Do you lust after the 4.0 and
2. Do you have the extra cash lying about and you don't need it.

If you answer yes to those questions, 4.0 is for you.

 

i'd get myself a 4.0 if i could afford it.... driving a 997.1 RS right now with the 3.6 engine and a regular GT3 with the 3.8 already feels so much peppier. cant imagine what the 4.0 must feel like.

btw, dont worry about PCCBs on track. they last a lot longer than what most people think. if you bought your car with PCCBs, just drive them until you need a rotor replacement than replace with iron rotors. i got my car used with about 20k miles with quite a bit of track time on it. i've been driving it on track with stock PCCBs. rotors seem to still have tons of life in them. should last me a few more seasons on the track. when its time to go, i will look for iron replacements.

 

I've driven both on track. and just bought a 4.0

Worth it in terms of performance? Depends on how much a couple of seconds is worth to you.

I dont have money laying around, but the lust won this one.
Any GT3 is a fantastic street and track car, the 4.0 is just the best one.

 

I hear there a more differences between a GT3 RS and 4.0 vs 997.2 GT3 and GT3 RS and that most of these crucial differences are in the suspension/suspension geometry and what not.

TopSpeed dyno'd both back to back and got 420 and 450whp respectively. Both underrated.

Thanks for the review

 

Not sure, but I think only dampers and springs are different. Perhaps some bushings?

 

You wouldn't happen to live in AZ would you? Just wondering, because your story sounds an awfully lot like a gent who registered his GT3RS for the PCA autox a couple of weeks ago and showed up in an M5 instead

 

That would be me. Guilty as charged

 

Interesting question. I have never lust after a 4.0 as I cannot justify the price difference. I'm sure it performs better than my 3.8, which I don't have to skill to extract most of its performance. Logic tells me that I should improve my skill first, then the car.

BTW, OP you have reversed your car usage. RS for track, M5 for street.

 

Sure, sure. I reckon you are probably right. But there are several things that push me in this direction:

On the track:

1. My M5 has 620+HP and so much fun in all gears
2. Trail braking is still growing on me, not only do I get nervous when the car starts to turn in but its also not as much fun compared to the heavy M5 tail sliding out.
3. I generally suck at driving at the track, I am learning and improving (very slowly) but for now, I don't think I am getting shortchanged by driving a heavy pig.

On the street:

1. My RS is a blast to launch from the lights
2. I love to take corners as fast as I can - I am already at 38MPH for 90 degree turns!
3. I don't have to actually go to work because of what I do, but I love getting up in the morning and drive to work (tiny commute < 7 miles but tons of fun).

 

I agree. Any GT3 is a special car. 3.6/3.8 NonRS and RS is great. Amazing machine. 4.0 is show off.. lol jk. I envy you Trackcar..

 

GT3.1 with the GMG or Sharkwerks 3.9/4.0 conversion seems to be the perfect option. However, I am a few years of DE from needing to do that! Maybe I'll start with the RS clutch upgrade and see how that goes.

 

Had a 997.1 GT3, then a 3.8 RS, now a 4.0 RS. Don't track but go for "spirited" weekend drives. Not quite sure I feel the same as OP about clutch feel but I can tell you the that the difference in every aspect from a 3.8 to 4.0 is much bigger than the 3.6 to 3.8 jump. The 4.0 has incredible pull that is so much more felt in every gear. I out ran a turbo S from various rolling starts at different speeds. That TurboS owner now owns a black 4.0 RS. The engine is f...ing incredible! It is so alive and powerful. I don't really care about lap times, but it is quite a bit more exciting every time my right foot goes down. I always wished my previous GT3's had a bit more power. I don't feel that way anymore. I'm not sure of the exact suspension differences but It feels much more planted with much more precise turn in. It feels like the car just sets itself up much better into turns and is more confidence inspiring. I work hard for my $$ and wondered if i was making the right choice to upgrade, but in the 11 months I have had the 4.0 I never regretted it once. It's pretty damned perfect.

 

About the clutch, do you mean it is just as hard as the 3.8? The pressure and engagement plus overall smoothness (or lack thereof in case of 3.8)?

 

Personally, I feel clutch engagement and pressure on 4.0 is very similar to 3.8. But overall car drives more smoothly.

 

Hmm. Should I be concerned for my 3.8 for being much harder than the 4.0 or is a softer clutch an indication of a problem in the 4.0?