[TRZ06]

Ok, so I picked up my new GT4 this weekend and drove it home from LA to the Bay Area.

Have about 700 miles on it now and have started to play with it some.

I got a track alignment on it yesterday (very similar settings as I had in the 1LE).

Here are my initial impressions in random order...

1.) The mid engine platform is AMAZING. Wow, the way this thing rotates is sublime.

2.) I have done a couple full throttle accelerations (not using launch control) and a couple full throttle pulls. It pulls quite a bit harder than the 1LE, especially in the last 2K RPM's. I definitely think Porsche sandbags their quoted numbers and the drivetrain loss has to be small. It feels much faster than its figures lead you to believe.

3.) there is plenty of low down TQ and I do not find that an issue at all compared to the 1LE in city driving.

4.) It is quite firm and when it comes to suspension feel, it has its pros and cons compared to the MRC. Here is what I notice most...

4a.) The 1LE feels sloppy at low speeds, but as the speed builds to comes into its own and 120 MPH feels the same as 60 MPH. Where as the GT4 feel firm and solid even at low speeds and things get a little busier as the speeds build. 120MPH does NOT feel like 60 MPH in this car, the chassis is a bit busier than the 1LE.

4b.) the rebound damping happens faster and a bit more controlled in the GT4. The 1LE softens things a bit more and recovers from being upset just a few clicks slower. It is a trade-off in both directions.

4c.) Kinda mentioned above but, The 1LE feels more stable and less busy when you get into the 120ish range. Some probably comes down to suspension tuning, while the rest comes from the 1LE having a wider track. The 1LE is the high sweeper car and the GT4 is the master of the tight, lower speed technical sections.

5.) the sounds the GT4 makes are 100 times better than the 1LE. Between the induction noises and the exhaust, it is just a much more refined and pleasurable sound that comes from the GT4. The 1LE (partly do to CA crappy 91 octane gas and GM's conservative timing parameters) the 1LE sounds like crap sometimes in the upper RPM range.

6.) Better gas mileage in the GT4. Makes sense as we are dealing with 6 cylinders, instead of 8.

7.) Steering feel: It is a lighter feel than the 1LE, but feels better and more direct to me.

I will have more later as I add more miles and drive it more.

Here is a pic of my G meter after my alignment yesterday, while playing around last night on my local on/off ramps. 1.3 is an amazing feeling and the 1LE never saw more than 1.2