6000 Miles In a Cayman 4.0 GTS

[reddiesel]

Around three months ago I took the plunge and bought a new 718 GTS 4.0 Cayman from Porsche Wolverhampton . This is my second Porsche after a 911 991 GTS which was then replaced by two Aston Martin Vantages . I really enjoyed both of the Vantages but in the end felt they just lacked that bit of connectivity and response which on reflection is perhaps the difference between a Sports Car and a GT .
I skirted around the McLaren Brand and doubted if they could fulfil my needs as a daily driver though inevitably the Salesmen assured me that they could . I then drove a couple of the current 911 range and felt they had put on a little weight though to be fair by this time I already knew the future was going to be a Porsche . The Cayman rightly or wrongly always struck me as bit of a strange one . a bit like a stepping stone to a 911 and I wasn't convinced . However the Astons long gone and being car less I had to make a decision and so I began avidly reading various car reviews . It seemed everywhere I looked the 718 GTS 4.0 had nothing but positive reviews and so based on these reviews and a 30 minute test drive I took the plunge .
I have to tell anyone in a similar position that it is a wonderful machine . If I was levelling any criticism then it would be the lack of in cabin storage and wheels that seem to pick up gravel rash pretty readily . I had the whole car covered in Xpel PPF immediately after buying and I think that was a wise move especially considering the state of the British road network .
I have now ran her up to 6000 miles and normally I would be looking to exit but I find that I am enjoying myself so much that I shall hold onto her a bit longer perhaps indefinitely .
I was fortunate to buy a good spec everything being there apart from the Burmester , I have the Bose and in Arctic Grey I think the car looks the part . Dealership wise I found Porsche Wolverhampton very good but Porsche Silverstone pretty dire .I appreciate that's my personal experience and other views are out there but the important thing was it didn't detract from the Product and for that I am thankful .
I stick this Post up this morning simply because the 4.0 GTS is a really enjoyable car and one which I have really been delighted by . As I said earlier , its purchase was almost entirely based on the positive reviews from the Motoring Press and I haven't been disappointed .

[Stunters]

Another Cayman GTS 4.0 fan here. Done 6000 miles in mine too and still really pleased and impressed with the car.
I think it's very practical for a two-seater and I love how it goes and how it looks.

Any excuse to post a picture!

[M11rph]

Another with 6000 miles on a GTS. Really enjoying mine and don't see myself moving it on, prefer it over the 992.

I'd agree on the interior storage, the door bins could be a couple of cm wider and would then be much more useful, somewhere in the centre console for a phone would be nice too, I find myself leaving mine behind with it being hidden away in the arm rest cubby.

Only real grumble is the Bose, pretty poor sound imo. I'll eventually get around to doing the front dash speaker upgrade to see if that tames the upper mids.

Gratuitous pic too...

[Voodoo Blue]

On a similar theme, I’ve had my Boxster 25 (a 4.0 GTS in drag) for just over 2 years and have done 16k miles in it from new. Having driven at least half those miles on road trips all over Europe and the UK I’d say it’s the best sports car I’ve ever owned and have every intention of keeping and using it until I can’t drive any more. Mine has collected a few stone chips and marks as well but I’ve accepted that it the price of enjoyment and I’m looking forwards to 2 more European road trips in it this year.

Edited by Voodoo Blue on Sunday 4th February 12:36

[scrounger73]

Same... GTS4.0, just coming up to 2 years old and has 12700 miles on the clock. The car just gets better. Exhaust note changed at 10k and is more fruity, don't ask me why or say I'm imagining things but it has.

Agree with the amount of road rash the alloys get between the spokes and I'm glad I never went for black otherwise it would have pushed my OCD nuclear but I'll get them refurbished later down the line.

I'd like to think she's a keeper.

[M11rph]

I'd echo the sentiment about the exhaust note improving. Absolutely no idea why either!

I've put a few scribblings down about mine and its little adventures so far in a thread HERE if anyone is interested.

[c3m]

reddiesel said:

This is my second Porsche after a 911 991 GTS which was then replaced by two Aston Martin Vantages.

M11rph said:

Another with 6000 miles on a GTS. Really enjoying mine and don't see myself moving it on, prefer it over the 992.

reddiesel, M11rph: I'd love to hear how the GTS 4.0 compares to the 911s that you owned. Specifically, handling, acceleration, braking, road manners, feel, noise (inside the cabin and outside), etc.

I've just joined the GTS 4.0 club back in December, love the car, yet I keep looking at 911s and wondering whether I made the right choice.

[Ken986]

Nov 2020 car bought with 4k miles last May .

Now 10k miles and taken to Germany and Switzerland for a holiday .
Fantastic car . I would have considered a 996 GT3 or 981 GT4 but this is ideal for me .

[nudgerwilliams]

2 months and 1k miles into ownership of a PDK Boxster GTS for me. So far so good. Previous Porsche was a manual 981 GT4, and I had a brief and poorly-judged fling with an Alpine A110 in between.

Only thing that has been a bit of a disappointment so far is traction from standstill on damp/wet roads is pretty poor, particularly turning left/right out of junctions. My car has P Zeroes on it; wandering if it is a "feature" of them and PS4s would be better?

[Charlie_1]

2.5 years / 6.2k miles in a BGTS 4.0 complaints pretty much none , not a lot of interior stowage space and the BOSE probably isnt worth the money but it will do , everything else is super , normally at this point I would be thinking what's next but currently I'm not

[Ken986]

nudgerwilliams said:

2 months and 1k miles into ownership of a PDK Boxster GTS for me. So far so good. Previous Porsche was a manual 981 GT4, and I had a brief and poorly-judged fling with an Alpine A110 in between.

Only thing that has been a bit of a disappointment so far is traction from standstill on damp/wet roads is pretty poor, particularly turning left/right out of junctions. My car has P Zeroes on it; wandering if it is a "feature" of them and PS4s would be better?

No issues for me with Michelin PS4S tyres

[reddiesel]

c3m said:

reddiesel, M11rph: I'd love to hear how the GTS 4.0 compares to the 911s that you owned. Specifically, handling, acceleration, braking, road manners, feel, noise (inside the cabin and outside), etc.

I've just joined the GTS 4.0 club back in December, love the car, yet I keep looking at 911s and wondering whether I made the right choice.

The 911 991 GTS I owned was one of the last N/A 3.8 litre versions and was in Carmine with the black Centrelock wheels . It was well specced with a full terracotta ? Leather Interior . I had come from an F Type SVR which in comparison to the Porsche I had found to be a flying machine let down only by the driving position which in comparison to the Porsche was a bit high and this in turn didn't inspire the same confidence when it came to high speed bends .
The GTS whilst lacking the outright pace of the SVR was I found a much more engaging and rewarding drive but for some reason became a bit breathless north of 150mph . I posted this on a Porsche Forum and was met with the inevitable " this isn't the case with mine " comments but meeting another Owner local to me who had similar opinions ( he had been humiliated by an Audi) strengthened my resolve to get rid . I am well aware some will no doubt consider me a Plonker for that pithy explanation but at 60 years of age I am anxious to keep my motoring experiences ever-changing for as long as I can and this is what happened to me with the 911 GTS . I had absolutely no mechanical problems with the car and the P Zeros for once I found perfectly adequate . My main issues were an inability to keep the paint gravel rash free over the rear arches and on the rear wheels .
I find the Cayman 4.0 GTS in comparison to my old 991 GTS to be much more alive as well as more connected to the driver . I also find it much more quicker . The one comparison that I really ponder on is the one between the F Type SVR and the current Vantage . Apart from the obvious status in the eyes of many in owning an Aston , performance wise I find it really hard to split them . I doubt the Aston is worth the premium over the SVR .

[reddiesel]

scrounger73 said:

Same... GTS4.0, just coming up to 2 years old and has 12700 miles on the clock. The car just gets better. Exhaust note changed at 10k and is more fruity, don't ask me why or say I'm imagining things but it has.

Agree with the amount of road rash the alloys get between the spokes and I'm glad I never went for black otherwise it would have pushed my OCD nuclear but I'll get them refurbished later down the line.

I'd like to think she's a keeper.

Your Car looks wonderful Scrounger in that Colour and its been great that People are actually driving these Cars and enjoying doing so . I struggle with the usual Porsche Future Value Threads that tend to populate Porsche Forums , we all work hard , get them driven and enjoyed .

[M11rph]

c3m said:

reddiesel, M11rph: I'd love to hear how the GTS 4.0 compares to the 911s that you owned. Specifically, handling, acceleration, braking, road manners, feel, noise (inside the cabin and outside), etc.

I've just joined the GTS 4.0 club back in December, love the car, yet I keep looking at 911s and wondering whether I made the right choice.

Turbo S (driven but not owned) is an astonishing car, but for me, so fast as to be frustrating. Foot to the floor moments are rare.

My favourite 992 is the base model, although with the way they've limited options I'd like the T if I was speccing another from new with sPASM, rear steer, sports exhaust and PDK.

Carrera 2 is a great everyday drive, still very fast. Sounds better with the sports exhaust than the S and GTS for some reason (Turbo doing less work so less restrictive?) and financially it's broadly comparable to the 718 GTS.

Comparing those 2 (owned) then performance is similar but delivered differently. Turbocharged thrust vs Normally aspirated, very evident if you do a Launch. 718 holds the revs above 6000 and is still slipping the clutch as you go past 30 mph then hooks up and really gets going, the 992 gets the drivetrain engaged much earlier then uses the torque to provide the acceleration. Same times, very different experience.

Ride comfort is similar, 992 is slightly softer especially if on 19/20 standard wheel size. However, both do the Porsche trick of being engaging/sporty/taut yet compliant. Braking, there's nothing in it, excellent. All Porsche cars are able to brake to a standstill in half the time it takes to accelerate to 100 kph, and do it with plenty of feel.

From passengers who have modern Porsches and have never been in a 718 GTS they all comment on the engine sound when I take them for a spin compared to the current turbo engines. Tyre noise in cabin is fractionally less than 992 but may be the induction noise is masking it slightly? Tiny differences if any. Mid engine does feel different, and can definitely be snappier when the rear starts to move, but those limits are high and not likely to be experienced on the road. Engine at the back is noticeable, but for some that is part of the Porsche experience.

Broadly 718 feels like more of an event and is a little more connected/direct in all departments.
Tech and cabin is older gen, but I actually prefer that. In PDK the selector is a fundamental difference between the two. Modern small paddle selector is set and forget, whilst the old style "gearlever" selector for the way I use it is a clear win. There's a reason the GT3 still retains the older type set up, it's better.

Things that might sway me towards a 992 would be practical issues.
If I needed rear seats, as compromised as they are, there's a certain size of child that will fit. I'd quite like a sunroof ! Not available on 718. I'm a long legged 6'2" and am at the limit of a proper fit in 718, 992 the seats can go further back.

[GTRene]

M11rph said:

I'd echo the sentiment about the exhaust note improving. Absolutely no idea why either!

I've put a few scribblings down about mine and its little adventures so far in a thread HERE if anyone is interested.

could be some catalyst content coming out, breathes better afterwards?

or that the engine is now well broken in and you have used good gasoline all this time?

[T1berious]

15 months in....

Love this car. Not sure what will ever replace it but the 992,2 GTS will have to be awesome to get me out of 4.0 CGTS

[Youforreal.]

T1berious said:

15 months in....

Love this car. Not sure what will ever replace it but the 992,2 GTS will have to be awesome to get me out of 4.0 CGTS

Old school steering lock! Love it

[SkinnyPete]

Part of me would love a 4.0, but having owned a 981 S for not far off a decade, it’s not different enough to justify the change.

I will admire from a far though

[Rich.H]

3 years and 20k miles with mine and no plans at all to swap it for something else…

[reddiesel]

T1berious said:

15 months in....

Love this car. Not sure what will ever replace it but the 992,2 GTS will have to be awesome to get me out of 4.0 CGTS

Really enjoying the pictures and the fact that the cars are being enjoyed and driven as intended . As I said earlier , its the first car I ever bought largely after only reading Reviews and it hasn't disappointed . The GT4 was the elephant in the room , from memory an extra 20hp from the same engine ( please feel free to correct me if I have that wrong ) but when I looked many had been tracked and that worried me . I was also a bit self conscious about that rear wing and me being a (very young) 60 year old . I almost felt I was back in the old Escort Cosworth on my way to pick up a tasty bird .