S2K vs GT4
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 39
From: Cedar Park, TX
S2K vs GT4
Picked up my GT4 and after a week of driving (keep in mind under 5k rpms with the break-in period), I had a few thoughts.
The GT4 drives like a dream. The chassis is extremely rigid yet the suspension is so compliant that the car is still fun on bumpy back roads. Ohlins on my S2K are very compliant as well, but the car still looses some traction on bumps so the GT4 is definitely better there. The GT4 feels way more stable around corners. Turned off all the nannies on the back roads and the car felt planted everywhere. At the same pace in the S2K, I'm making a lot more little corrections to keep the car going straight. The wider track and Cup2's really make the car feel more stable.
Steering feedback is sharp and feels good. No slop and goes right where you want it to. Interestingly enough, going from my E92 M3 to the S2K exaggerated how bad electric steering is, but going from the GT4 to the S2K wasn't a huge difference. But also worth noting my S2K was stock when transitioning from the M3 and now I'm running 255 width tires in the front. I'm guessing that really improved the steering feedback in the S2K.
The S2000 is known to have one of the best manual transmissions ever made. I've heard the same thing about the GT4. So which is better? It's very hard for me to say. The GT4 shifter feels perfectly engineered. The resistance between neutral and the gears feels perfect. There's no mistake what gear you are about to go into. But the throws are slightly long...when compared to the S2K. The shifter in the S2K is still the shortest I've ever used in any car (short shifter kit or not). But it doesn't have that resistance between gears like the GT4. They both feel amazing in different ways.
The Porsche accelerator pedal has always felt so electronic to me. The initial pressure feels like an on/off switch. If I was blind-folded and had to press the accelerator pedal on the S2K and GT4 and guess if they are drive by wire or cable activated, I'd say the GT4 is definitely drive by wire and the S2K has to be a throttle cable. Only my S2K is also drive by wire. When I get out of the GT4 and into the S2K I'll start over revving the throttle every time I get into gear or change them. It just feels far more sensitive. But the GT4 revs so much easier. Throttle blip to rev match is pin point accurate. It's so good that the thought of the auto blip feature is a complete joke. I have yet to try that button and probably never will. Heel/toe took a few days to get used to. It's like my M3 in that you really have to be hard on the brakes so that the edge of your foot can reach the gas pedal. But I've adjusted my foot position and now can easily rev match with moderate braking. The AP2 S2K flywheel is a bit heavier so it's not quite as responsive as I'd like, but the pedal is top mounted so you can really blip it hard even when lightly feathering the brakes. Both feel good to me. Just a difference of feeling old school and modern.
After driving the GT4 for 5 days, I just started to fall more and more in love with this car. Everything feels so perfect. It started to feel so good that after a drive this morning I had to grab the keys to my S2K and go for a quick drive because I was so worried that the GT4 experience was ruining my "relationship" with my S2K. Surprisingly and happy to say that it wasn't the case. My S2K is still such a joy to drive. It feels lighter, much easier to place, and livelier to drive at a normal pace. Keep in mind I'm comparing a car modded for the track vs a stock car "designed" for the track. And yes the GT4 will destroy the S2K in every performance measure, every time. But when it comes down to what really matters...the driving experience, my S2K is still right up there with the best and that makes me really happy. I'm very lucky to have 2 fantastic cars to choose from that provide different, yet engaging driving experiences.
Can't wait to be able to compare both cars on the track.
The GT4 drives like a dream. The chassis is extremely rigid yet the suspension is so compliant that the car is still fun on bumpy back roads. Ohlins on my S2K are very compliant as well, but the car still looses some traction on bumps so the GT4 is definitely better there. The GT4 feels way more stable around corners. Turned off all the nannies on the back roads and the car felt planted everywhere. At the same pace in the S2K, I'm making a lot more little corrections to keep the car going straight. The wider track and Cup2's really make the car feel more stable.
Steering feedback is sharp and feels good. No slop and goes right where you want it to. Interestingly enough, going from my E92 M3 to the S2K exaggerated how bad electric steering is, but going from the GT4 to the S2K wasn't a huge difference. But also worth noting my S2K was stock when transitioning from the M3 and now I'm running 255 width tires in the front. I'm guessing that really improved the steering feedback in the S2K.
The S2000 is known to have one of the best manual transmissions ever made. I've heard the same thing about the GT4. So which is better? It's very hard for me to say. The GT4 shifter feels perfectly engineered. The resistance between neutral and the gears feels perfect. There's no mistake what gear you are about to go into. But the throws are slightly long...when compared to the S2K. The shifter in the S2K is still the shortest I've ever used in any car (short shifter kit or not). But it doesn't have that resistance between gears like the GT4. They both feel amazing in different ways.
The Porsche accelerator pedal has always felt so electronic to me. The initial pressure feels like an on/off switch. If I was blind-folded and had to press the accelerator pedal on the S2K and GT4 and guess if they are drive by wire or cable activated, I'd say the GT4 is definitely drive by wire and the S2K has to be a throttle cable. Only my S2K is also drive by wire. When I get out of the GT4 and into the S2K I'll start over revving the throttle every time I get into gear or change them. It just feels far more sensitive. But the GT4 revs so much easier. Throttle blip to rev match is pin point accurate. It's so good that the thought of the auto blip feature is a complete joke. I have yet to try that button and probably never will. Heel/toe took a few days to get used to. It's like my M3 in that you really have to be hard on the brakes so that the edge of your foot can reach the gas pedal. But I've adjusted my foot position and now can easily rev match with moderate braking. The AP2 S2K flywheel is a bit heavier so it's not quite as responsive as I'd like, but the pedal is top mounted so you can really blip it hard even when lightly feathering the brakes. Both feel good to me. Just a difference of feeling old school and modern.
After driving the GT4 for 5 days, I just started to fall more and more in love with this car. Everything feels so perfect. It started to feel so good that after a drive this morning I had to grab the keys to my S2K and go for a quick drive because I was so worried that the GT4 experience was ruining my "relationship" with my S2K. Surprisingly and happy to say that it wasn't the case. My S2K is still such a joy to drive. It feels lighter, much easier to place, and livelier to drive at a normal pace. Keep in mind I'm comparing a car modded for the track vs a stock car "designed" for the track. And yes the GT4 will destroy the S2K in every performance measure, every time. But when it comes down to what really matters...the driving experience, my S2K is still right up there with the best and that makes me really happy. I'm very lucky to have 2 fantastic cars to choose from that provide different, yet engaging driving experiences.
Can't wait to be able to compare both cars on the track.
Sexy s2000 too!! I'd like someone to do a shoot with a yellow, red, white, and blue S2000, NSX, and GT4 together. I bet that would be bliss. 
