Porsche Cayman GT4 RS v McLaren 650S Spider: Shootout!
Discussion
Great vid, he can’t half drive that chap. He could have made a profession out of it if he wanted.
The GT4 is a superb bit of kit, but, who can just walk I and buy one at that price - a select few. The price they’re actually sell at would place it online with machinery that’ll cost three times as much, and arguably be miles quicker around that same lap.
I’d still love the Porsche though. Proper Cayman that they should have made years ago. If they fitted that engine to the GT4, they’d not be able to make them quick enough for demand.
The GT4 is a superb bit of kit, but, who can just walk I and buy one at that price - a select few. The price they’re actually sell at would place it online with machinery that’ll cost three times as much, and arguably be miles quicker around that same lap.
I’d still love the Porsche though. Proper Cayman that they should have made years ago. If they fitted that engine to the GT4, they’d not be able to make them quick enough for demand.
Evolved said:
If they fitted that engine to the GT4, they’d not be able to make them quick enough for demand.
Isnt that like anything with the RS monica though, they could easily make them, they just dont want to, thats how they keep the demand and if they had done that it would have been better than the more expensive 911rs of the time, they have created the niche and exploit it, hats off to them for that.^ so the McLaren was £240k brand new and £120k used, whereas the Porsche is £120k brand new and £240k used?
Thanks for the post, I enjoyed watching it.
What's frustrating is that they got so many things lined up for a proper comparison and fell down on the tyres. They have a proper empty circuit, they have a proper pro driver who will be quick and consistent, they repeated the test in wet and dry conditions. All good, but with one car being on regular tyres and one on road-going slicks, that makes a big offset in tyre performance between them, in the McLaren's favour in the wet, and for the Porsche in the dry.
But still a good watch.
Actually the thing that most stood out to me from the vid was that 5th Gear found a huge difference between the original 12C and the 650S to drive on the limit. I'd missed that, had thought the 650 was mostly just a minor improvement but Jason is saying it's night and day better.
Yes they should have made sure both cars were on same tyres especially for the dry lap...would be interested to see how a 600LT would measure up as thats prob a closer car in ethos (more track focused) to the Porsche. The 650s is crazy value for money at £100kish, great looking thing and goes like stink.
samoht said:
^ so the McLaren was £240k brand new and £120k used, whereas the Porsche is £120k brand new and £240k used?
Thanks for the post, I enjoyed watching it.
What's frustrating is that they got so many things lined up for a proper comparison and fell down on the tyres. They have a proper empty circuit, they have a proper pro driver who will be quick and consistent, they repeated the test in wet and dry conditions. All good, but with one car being on regular tyres and one on road-going slicks, that makes a big offset in tyre performance between them, in the McLaren's favour in the wet, and for the Porsche in the dry.
But still a good watch.
Actually the thing that most stood out to me from the vid was that 5th Gear found a huge difference between the original 12C and the 650S to drive on the limit. I'd missed that, had thought the 650 was mostly just a minor improvement but Jason is saying it's night and day better.
I found it biased especially with the different tyres which makes a huge difference putting 650 on back foot. Also, 5th Gear were unfair on the 12C as the car they tested at the time was different to the cars that customers later received by all accounts. Then again they are Ferrari fan boys same as TG despite the 12C being 2.9 secs quicker that the 458, quicker than the 'Enzo' and even quicker that the Veyron ss.Thanks for the post, I enjoyed watching it.
What's frustrating is that they got so many things lined up for a proper comparison and fell down on the tyres. They have a proper empty circuit, they have a proper pro driver who will be quick and consistent, they repeated the test in wet and dry conditions. All good, but with one car being on regular tyres and one on road-going slicks, that makes a big offset in tyre performance between them, in the McLaren's favour in the wet, and for the Porsche in the dry.
But still a good watch.
Actually the thing that most stood out to me from the vid was that 5th Gear found a huge difference between the original 12C and the 650S to drive on the limit. I'd missed that, had thought the 650 was mostly just a minor improvement but Jason is saying it's night and day better.
BobM said:
Wonder what the 650S would have done in the dry on Cup2s?
Certainly more than the 0.7 sec gap….BTW, I’m on track quite often and I’ve found adding front spacers is a very simple fix that significantly improves my 650’s “weakness” - front end grip. That, and left-foot trail braking late into the apex while coming on power early cuts seconds off a lap.
macdeb said:
5th Gear were unfair on the 12C as the car they tested at the time was different to the cars that customers later received by all accounts.
Interesting, I've heard that McLaren 'evolved' the 12C quite rapidly early on, so the cars that were initially road tested may have less in common with a later 12C than one of those later cars would with a 650S.12pack said:
Certainly more than the 0.7 sec gap….
BTW, I’m on track quite often and I’ve found adding front spacers is a very simple fix that significantly improves my 650’s “weakness” - front end grip. That, and left-foot trail braking late into the apex while coming on power early cuts seconds off a lap.
Spacers certainly improved the 570s too.BTW, I’m on track quite often and I’ve found adding front spacers is a very simple fix that significantly improves my 650’s “weakness” - front end grip. That, and left-foot trail braking late into the apex while coming on power early cuts seconds off a lap.
Enjoyed it, but a completely flawed test.
It wasn’t a test of the cars, but the tyres.
McLaren should have been on Trofeos to be (almost) on par for tyres with the Porsche, and it would have easily beaten it then in the dry.
Unfair to the Porsche in the wet & unfair to the McLaren in the dry. No question the McLaren was the far quicker car, based on the dry laps and tyre differences.
It wasn’t a test of the cars, but the tyres.
McLaren should have been on Trofeos to be (almost) on par for tyres with the Porsche, and it would have easily beaten it then in the dry.
Unfair to the Porsche in the wet & unfair to the McLaren in the dry. No question the McLaren was the far quicker car, based on the dry laps and tyre differences.
Hi there this is my 650s they used. I’d put new PS4S on the car before. Pork UK would only supply the GT4RS on cup tyres which was a bit daft in the wet. Was therefore asked to do a second day filming when it was dry.
Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
V8Andrew said:
Hi there this is my 650s they used. I’d put new PS4S on the car before. Pork UK would only supply the GT4RS on cup tyres which was a bit daft in the wet. Was therefore asked to do a second day filming when it was dry.
Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
On same tyres in the dry the 650S would be faster, which considering your car is a spider so slightly heavier than coupe equivalent I think just shows how good Mclarens truly are that it is beating one of the very best Porsche can offer on track which is where the Porsche is in its element.Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
In all fairness I would of preferred them to put the GT4 RS up against a 600 LT or 675 LT considering both can be had for what GT4 RS get flipped for and I suspect both would of wiped the floor with the Cayman then.
If anything this just goes to show how over hyped Porsche are and how amazing value Mclarens are.
I've owned both, sold my Porsches to keep my 600 LT, far superior car to my GT3 !
V8Andrew said:
Hi there this is my 650s they used. I’d put new PS4S on the car before. Pork UK would only supply the GT4RS on cup tyres which was a bit daft in the wet. Was therefore asked to do a second day filming when it was dry.
Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
Fair play for lending your car to them, Plato can really pedal...I've had passenger laps with pro drivers in various cars over the years and it is truly eye opening for a mere mortal! The 650s is a stonking bit of kit when you consider a GT4 RS is 2.5x the price in the used mkt...just doesn't make sense...I'm happy about this tho as it makes McLarens in general quite affordable!Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
Gibbo205 said:
V8Andrew said:
Hi there this is my 650s they used. I’d put new PS4S on the car before. Pork UK would only supply the GT4RS on cup tyres which was a bit daft in the wet. Was therefore asked to do a second day filming when it was dry.
Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
On same tyres in the dry the 650S would be faster, which considering your car is a spider so slightly heavier than coupe equivalent I think just shows how good Mclarens truly are that it is beating one of the very best Porsche can offer on track which is where the Porsche is in its element.Had a great time as a passenger next to Plato. His driving of the 650s in the torrential rain in sport mode was seriously impressive.
Who knows what the 650s would have done on track tyres. It would have been quicker in the dry for sure!
In all fairness I would of preferred them to put the GT4 RS up against a 600 LT or 675 LT considering both can be had for what GT4 RS get flipped for and I suspect both would of wiped the floor with the Cayman then.
If anything this just goes to show how over hyped Porsche are and how amazing value Mclarens are.
I've owned both, sold my Porsches to keep my 600 LT, far superior car to my GT3 !
Reality is that a well optioned GT4RS is £130-140k list and the two on autotrader at the moment are both £230k+
Probably the direct comparison with the 650s is a similar generation 911 Turbo S.
I agree this highlights that McLarens are generally undervalued used buys compared to Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari. Huracan spider is about £140k minimum, 488 spider is £170k minimum but you can’t spend more than £110k on a same year 650s spider… As long as people keep perpetuating the myth that they are less reliable than other brands I guess the prices will remain the same which is good for people like me
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