Porsche 718 Cayman S - vs 981 sound and base Cayman

The new turbo 4 cylinder 718 Cayman - Boxster. My thoughts and I compare the sound of the 981 with flat 6 cylinder. Also take a quick look at the base 718 Cayman with manual transmission.

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[billy]

How unfortunate, the American's with Disabilities Act doesn't protect blind people from getting tricked into buying yellow cars.

[keviiinisnt]

So many Caymans, this is literally my dream video.

[MultiLuc]

The flat 6 sound is raspy and lovely. Would go F6 for the sound alone.

[iantownsend]

Yes 718 doesn’t sound as nice as the 6s but it wouldn’t stop me buying one

[karinafletcher]

Damn I love Nick, I get fed up when people say my 2010 Cayman S is a poor mans 911, I could afford a 911 even a GT3 but the Cayman felt more of a drivers car in the corners to me and I liked the idea of it being a 2 seater with a ok sized boot and parcel shelf.

[ronammar]

Best review of the 718 so far! Appreciate the negatives and the reality check on the diff between S and base.

[franksanford]

I had a Cayman 987 S for 2 years, a Cayman 981 S for 2 years and I currently have a 981 GTS.  I have been loaned a 718S Cayman and a 718S Boxster, both for a day, and taken them into the mountains.  The 718 chassis is excellent.  The 718 steering moves back towards the 987, which was like driving by "thought transference", and better than the 981 (and the 718).  The 4 cylinder engine has loads of torque but it has no soul at all.  My wife's comment was "it's like driving along in a lawn mower".  That's about right.  And on most roads, even twisty roads, you never get to use the revs before you have to take your foot off the throttle because of that torque coming in so low down.  It is like driving with an on-off switch.  So "fun" in a 718 is a few seconds every now and then, instead of continuously with the 6 cylinder 981.  I could have had a 718 but I went for one of the last 6 cylinder 981's available instead.  My 981 GTS has the sports chassis lowered 2 cm and yes it can be hard day to day.  So was the 987.  My 981 S had PASM and was easier to live with day to day.  But the sports chassis also has some advantages - it is much more stable at speed and at reasonable speeds the car settles down wonderfully anyway (as did the 987). It is also at least 10% better on fuel (which Porsche told e would be the case.). The 981 steers better with the sports chassis as well.  The 718 is great car in so many ways, but what a shame about the engine.  I agree with Nick the 718 styling is better than the 981, but if you are only about looks and not driving feel then Porsche is not for you anyway.

Why doesn't the Cayman sell?  Well I am lucky enough to have a 991 911 S as well.  On all roads the 911 is an absolute joy.  As smooth as silk, and such pleasure with so much driver feedback.  But once I get into the mountains (and I am also lucky enough to live near some serious mountains) the 911 is brilliant and the extra power is very nice (400 vs 340) but you do not really need it.  It is the immediacy of the lighter mid-engine Cayman that astounds.  I could drive it all day in the mountains.  On an ordinary road the Cayman does not come alive, so on standard test drives it is outshone by the smoother longer wheelbased higher powered 911.  Yes Porsche do also make the 911 deliberately better, so for example for no reason the sports exhaust on the 991 911 sounds better than the sports exhaust on the 981 Cayman.  If you do not get a Cayman on some seriously twisty roads you will never find out what the Cayman is all about.  This is why despite the lower power it holds its own against more pwerful 911's on circuits; it takes curves, corners and hairpin bends so well. Which the 718 also does extremely well, but overall I found the 718 suspension too soft, too giving, in any mode.  It does not quite have that typical Porsche "planted" feel of stabiity.  The 718's steering and brakes are better than the 981's.

PS: I never wanted a Porsche.  I took the 987S Cayman for a test drive for a laugh, simply because I had never driven a Porsche.  As we left the dealership my wife said "you've got to go back and buy that car - I have never seen you so happy driving a car."  The badge could have been a Ssangyong or a Dacia or anything, so long it felt like that to drive.  It put all the fun back into driving.  So if you have never driven a Porsche, see if you can wangle a drive somehow, somewhere.  Then you will know it not just badge engineering.  Even the Panamera is pretty good in the mountains.  Even so I have had some quality problems with Porsche.  Not as bad as Nick, but the dealer response was disappointing. I never wanted a third Cayman either.  But when I took my 981S in for its first service, the Porsche dealer's mechanic crashed it on the test drive ....   That's another story.

[Basih]

Few years later, Porsche noticed the flat 4 is not selling as well as it should so they are now looking to putting a de-tuned GT4 flat six into a new model range above GTS and below GT4.

[jeremymitchell]

Great episode Nick - I have owned a 718 Boxster for 15 months now and just love it . Really looking forward to your next video as your 911 option video was really informative. Keep up the good work !

[danielallocca]

Well done, Nick. One of the most interesting videos yet. It's great to see both new models and the last model compared.

[MattMaranMotoring]

Some would say i'm a fan of WRXs but even I prefer the old flat 6 sound. This sound would be great in the new STI but doesn't fit the Porsche look to me. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time. Call me crazy but honestly I'd rather see an NA 6 cylinder motor with a mild hybrid setup over a turbo setup. Great overview of the 718 and good to hear the S isn't absolutely necessary!

[DM-yemm]

you produce amazing videos. thanks for all the time and effort you put into them. 5 stars.

[skyrunner]

i used to have 987.2 S for 5 years and the engine sound was absolutely fantastic. it was like listening to a symphony, every time you hit over 4k rpm.

[JoeJacksonGT]

Loving my 981 Cayman S! I drove the flat 4, but it didn't do anything for me in terms of driving enjoyment. It's fast, very fast, but I've owned fast cars before, I wanted something I got chills from while just starting it up each morning! :D

[eric]

Nick, thank you for all your videos! This one in particular is outstanding as it directly applies to my situation (getting a base vs S model). Much appreciated.

[johncortes]

Nothing better than driving my 981 Cayman S each day to and from work. Every time I hit the pedal down the highway it leaves me with a smile. I feel like a kid each time. That's what makes these cars amazing. A big part of that is the sound, which is irreplaceable. So sad that Porsche moved away from the Flat-6. I'll keep mine as long as I can.

[camabron]

Good video Nick, it's nice to hear people talk about the base models! It's hard to find.

[stephenoverstreet]

Excellent review Nick and thanks for the comparisons. I am looking forward to the options video.

[docfink]

Thanks for the probably the best sound comparison between the two generations of the Caymans I've heard.  FWIW, I'll take the old engine over the new one any day of the week and twice on Sundays, no matter how much more torque-rich the new turbo-4 is.  I'm not in agreement with you regarding the new "improved" styling upgrades, especially the interior ones, but it's a good looking car regardless, even if that rear isn't as sweet as the 911's.  The GT4 is the best looking mid-engined Porsche ever made, though.  Its road presence is far beyond the other Caymans, much as the GT3 looks like a different animal on the road when next to its lesser 911 brethren.

[melvinbrok]

My dream car is a base 718 Cayman with a manual transmission in Miami Blue. Great video Nick!