Base Porsche 718 Cayman 2.0L Driven - Is This The One To Buy?

In today's video, having recently driven the Cayman GTS 4.0, I now take out the entry level car to see just how different it is - and whether this is actually better.

#Porsche #Cayman #718

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[TricksyTricksyBovises]

For anyone out there who isn't a car reviewer for a living and sits in a different car every week - I have a 718 Cayman with a manual gearbox. My first car was a Renault Clio. My next cars were Renault Clios. I reached a new level of earning after what feels like a never ending abyss of working, and I knew I could treat myself. I decided to test drive a few different cars - A35, m2, Giulia Quadrifoglio and then a Cayman - I drive on a lot of B-roads to and from work and my goal was to pick the one that would make me love that drive. I have never regretted choosing the Cayman. It is not the best car in the world. I do not refute the criticisms of reviewers. The manual is great - but the gearing is far too long. I could quite happily leave it in 3rd for a whole journey and it would take me from 20 round a slow corner to one hundr-... to 50 on the straight ahead of me. It's not the fastest car in the world. But it feels fast enough to me. My passengers say it feels fast to them. I know that every time I get in that car I am seconds away from getting points on my license. I did get points on my license. But I love it. If you do not need one of the other cars I have mentioned for practicality reasons, and you are looking for B-road fun in this bracket. Don't let the reviews sway you too much. They're not wrong in a lot of their criticisms but... for this money, and to experience a mid-engined car of this kind of quality - go for it. Live a little. You're not a car reviewer. If you can't afford the S or the GTS - this is still going to feel like a rocket. It'll feel special. Most of your friends will think it's special. Except your boss who probably drives some kind of battleship executive saloon with sport badging in comfort and automatic. He will say things like "haha how many litres is that got? its a 4-cylinder HAHA". And then some dude who drives a golf but watches every car review will tell you how you should have got the S or a Golf R.

This isn't a criticism of your review, I appreciate it of course and enjoy watching them. I just know I almost didn't choose the Cayman because of reviews, and I hope if someone out there is watching this with the intention to buy, they see this and give it some more thought.
Enjoy whatever you pick. Pick what YOU want.
And if I needed the practicality, I probably would have picked the Alfa. The infotainment sucks but - I think you need to experience that car now. The universe is giving you that option - take it. A Ferrari engine. You get to be that guy in the pub who mentions he has a car with a Ferrari engine. Everyone will make fun of you for it. But who cares? You have a Ferrari engine in your car.

[capuchinseven]

You left it out of sport mode, it’s literally night and day difference, you openly and clearly leave it out of sport mode and then complain it's laggy and doesn't pull. My 718 base is faster than my 981 GTS, there’s a reason they gave the 718 the 981 S brakes.

[steveallin]

As an owner of one of these, I can tell you that they are a fantastic car. Fast enough and agile enough for anyone - not many of us take these things onto a track.

[resnonverba]

I have no doubt Dan is regretting his decision to let you test his car. Poor chap.

[MAXREVS]

The best Cayman is the one you can afford, they’re all great.
What other car model on the market today offers such a great range of driving pleasure? If you found the GTS 4.0 stiff I’d love to see you review the GT4 as a road car.
It’s nice to hear contrasting opinions against the mainstream media, and at the end of the day we’re all entitled to our opinions so keep these Cayman videos coming!

[gileswardle]

Recently taken delivery of a 718 Cayman T manual. Not getting turbo lag above 2000rpm. This is an astonishingly capable car. Same weight and torque as the first gen 996 GT3 and the torque is available from a shade over 2000rpm. Handling is sublime. Engine performance unequivocally better than previous 981 base Cayman 6 cylinder. I’ve raced Caterhams and owned 997s in the past and I’m one very happy bunny with my 718. Check out Janko Lindt’s video on the 718 for an alternative viewpoint. If you’re insistent that Porsche should have 6 bangers, then I would politely suggest you look up Fuhrman flat 4.

[pabasamdee]

Lol, you didn't accelerate with the sport button on. That's all it takes to transform the car. Watch Nick Murray. He actually knows what he's talking about.

[subaruboy]

I feel so sorry for Dan. This guy took his brand new pride of joy, to which he spent his hard earned cash to just talk shit about it for 13 minutes.

Don’t worry Dan, you built that car just to your specification and nobody else so I can’t fault you for that. I surely admire that.

Don’t listen to this Jay.

[final_mile_music]

There IS no turbo lag. But there IS a boost threshold where the turbo kicks in. This is a non issue in a manual car. I’m NEVER outside the zone. So the response is fantastic. Don’t let these reviewers put you off the 2 liter. If you’re in one, particularly a manual and preferably with sports Chrono, PASM and PTV, you’ll be amazed. The drive is sublime and incredible fun. For me, it’s the pick of the range. Tourquey, responsive and an engine you can actually exploit of the road.

[-DC-]

300bhp sub 5 seconds to 60 170 mph, hard to take you seriously when you are crying about it being slow when it clearly is nothing of the sort.

[hughrosen]

As others have said, the fact that the car was not being driven in sport mode makes a huge difference. Far more responsive and spirited in sport mode, at least that has been my experience with a base 6spd 718.

[kra]

...you drove the car for 99% of your review with sport mode off??? No wonder. Totally different car in Sport mode. I only take sport mode off if I'm in traffic. What you did is like reviewing a Tesla in valet mode.

[final_mile_music]

With a Porsche, the base model is always a great choice. That’s where they start. The engineering is all in the base model. Then they add the variants.

[MP-Fin]

Hello. I watch a lot of car channels on youtube. Past few weeks I have seen your videos pop up in recommendations, and I have watched a few. After this video I will subscribe, I like your presentation! Hello from Finland! :)

[cloudstclass]

It’s such a great ride. You could have never driven a Porsche in your life and in less than a minute it just feels like you’ve been driving that car for your entire life. There’s nothing like a Porsche, and dollar for dollar, to me anyway, it’s the best Porsche you can buy.

[markoslater]

A lot of your facts are wrong, that car does not have a leather interior! Full leather interior has leather on dash and door tops. Also to criticise the car based on driving one without Sport Chrono shows you don't really understand whats on offer. In Sport+ mode which the car you tested does not have when you come off throttle momentarily it actually cuts fuel not air which keeps flowing and keeps the turbo spooled hence when you get back on it Zero Lag!!

[edombre]

Mat from carwow has recently done a drag race base cayman 2.0L pdk vs cayman GTS manual vs Mustang mach 1 manual - well the mustang came last in everything, and the base cayman was quicker than the GTS on takeoff but the GTS eventually overtook it at higher speeds. Their bottom line was how impressed they were with the base model cayman. I was seriously thinking of buying a mustang, just for that V8 engine, but after watching that video, I have been looking at base caymans!!

[TheLEMRR]

I appreciate the review without sugar-coating your thoughts, Jay. I think the 718 is a killer platform, and by today's standards, relatively affordable. Good to know what to expect from the base powertrain should you be looking for more of a daily/commuter type Cayman vs, a fire-breathing week-ender. Cheers!

[ericquinn]

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate how aesthetically pleasing a steering wheel with a round center is. The steering wheel is the part of the car we’re faced with more than any other part, and so few manufacturers bother to design good looking ones. Thank you, Porsche designers, and designers at Acura, Audi & Mercedes who, at least sometimes, have bothered to give us attractive steering wheels. It’s the little things that make the difference.

[alastairdelaney]

You can spec the GTS 4.0 without the lowered suspension setup. This is free - so just personal preference. I would imagine that would make the GTS ride like this car, but have the good sound of the 6 cyl. Best of both worlds?