Happy to share:
The gears are annoyingly long on the manual car. Especially second.
The engine noise just isn't there. It's restrained and doesn't have that semi inducing flat 6 howl. A consequence of regulations, but still a valid point nonetheless.
Sometimes, the extreme refinement disconnects you from the experience. It's wonderfully quick, but that isn't the whole experience for many. The steering is a big gripe of mine in this aspect. My 987R had significantly better steering feel due to being hydraulic.
In summary: it parallels the lines between good and great, but ultimately falls short of being a truly great car.
If it had hydraulic steering and that real flat 6 howl with slightly shorter gears, it'd be one of the best Porsches ever made.
I completely agree as found the same having had a 718 GT4 for a couple of weeks:
In short the 718 GT4 is a great only car, does everything so well, but the older 987R or 987Spyder simply trumps it particular on steering feel been in another league and also been a much smaller footprint on the road. Along with smaller wheels and lower redline means the gearing is somewhat more sensible with 2nd been circa 74mph in the 987 generation VS around 80mph (PDK) / 85mph (manual) on the 718 generation.
718 sounds good but sounds somewhat odd (maybe fake or piped in) whereas the 987 is a full on real flat 6 howl.
In the end I preferred the 987R its a better more fun road car, if I was doing a lot of track days per year then yes 718 GT4 all the way.
Though in the end whether you own a 718 GT4 or 987R it is splitting hairs as both cars are exceptional.
A 718 GT4 with hydraulic steering, shorter gearing and slightly smaller footprint would be perfection, GT4 RS solves the gearing issue and of course fantastic motor, am yet to try one but those who have either complain about the ride quality and noise or love it.
My mate had a new 718 Spyder RS on order which I was looking forward to trying, but he had a go in my 600 LT and has since cancelled his Porsche order and is buying a used 600 LT instead, dope should have not let him try it.

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