Finally test drove the 718 Cayman
 

Today I finally test drove the 718 Cayman and as a current 981 owner, I have to say, not bad, actually pretty impressed.

One thing what 2 years ago pushed me away from the 718 was the sound. At that time I was a proud 981 owner and was looking to get into the new 718. I had a very short test drive with the 718 boxster and broke up the test drive after 3 minutes because of the sound. This time I went in much more open minded and listened more carefully and longer - and it was really good. When the car is cold it has a ticking sound, which is typical porsche and even when it is warmed up, the sound has something unique what is Porsche worthy. I used to say, they took the soul of the car away, I think about it differently now. Of course it is not the same car anymore but it is still a great car. The ride was, fast, great, fun and very responsive. The steering wheel feels much better and overall quality seem to have improved. Although few quality flaws are still there. E.g. the belt housing of the brand new car makes still the same noises as my 5 years old 981.

I still love my 981. Initially I was thinking to replace it with the 718 but now I think I am going to keep my 981 boxster and lease a 718 cayman as daily driver. Are there any other member who still have both? What are your experience having both in the same time?

Cool to hear, john. I never had a 981, or any Porsche for that matter. But I have driven plenty. I don't think my 718 is better, or worse. . .just different and cool in it's own way. good to hear a 981 owner feeling the same way! good luck buddy!

Great to see when someone can admit (mostly to themselves) when they were close-minded. Sadly, many folks never get past this. They're worse off for it.

I think it would be fun as hell having both... but I have to admit, that seems like a ton of functional overlap. Maybe consider trading in the 981 for the 718 (to take advantage of the tax credit if applicable) and finding a nice 997? Maybe that's not the most practical solution as you'd be essentially adding two more "transactions" if you will (selling/trading your 981 and buying a 997)- but would severely reduce the overlap of having two very similar cars.

I don't have a 981 but I have kept my 987.1 Boxster S even after I purchased a 718 Cayman GTS. I found the two cars sufficiently different that I was happy to keep both. Obviously both cars sound very different but I realized that sound was down on the list for me regarding what I wanted from these cars.

( Interestingly, for some reason, I never felt the urge to upgrade from the 987( which I've had since 2006) to the 981)

My best guess in order of preferences is something like:

1.) Top down driving..I love having a convertible...most fun in any car, IMO
2.) Manual transmission...gives me something to do while I watch out for trees crossing the road.
3.)Aesthetics...I need the car to be "pretty"..I always loved the 987.1 for the curvy "feminine" lines it has...more reminiscent of the 550 than the newer more angular 981/2. Also love the full leather interior/stitching in Porsches.
4.) G forces or driving feel including the steering/cornering dynamics.
5.) maybe sound...
6.) I'm sure some other stuff

My Boxster is 6MT, my 718 Cayman is PDK. ( Boxster is Dk Olive Metallic, Cayman is racing yellow) The fact they sound different is probably better for me since I feel less guilt keeping them both. I also like one being a turbo so to widen the difference, If they were more similar I might need to make a choice to get rid of one. It would be a painful decision.

The Boxster is my sunny weather, back road carver. The Cayman is my HPDE, cloudy day, medium distance road trip driver

Excellent and useful synopsis of 987 vs 718, Semitone. Thanks!

Unfortunately the sound is like that of a Subaru. Even if the subtle ticking noise is that of a Porsche, I think that a majority of people will not be listening for the ticking sound on an open road. However, this cannot take away from the overall performance capability of the car. In the end of the day the sound is such an important part of the overall driving experience that I’ve lost any interest of even wanting to go for a test drive.

Haha..nice first post...ignore the OP's question and make a lame comment.

thanks!

I actually have two 718s (hence my screen name.) Both are 2018 models which we bought new. The idea seemed a bit odd to me at first; I was afraid that I'd basically buy the same car and have no variety whatsoever. But the two cars -- our Boxster and our Cayman S -- are completely different animals with completely different personalities. They're almost the polar opposite of each other, and the result is that I'm certainly not bored driving either car.

We bought the Boxster first, as a custom order. "She" definitely has a more feminine personality. She's got some nice luxury touches we wanted, but none of the go-fast options, since one test drive proved to me that the base model was more than fast. She's a lovely Night Blue, 6MT, base Boxster with a wonderful Luxor Beige/ Black two-tone leather interior, Bose stereo, heated Sport Seats Plus (which I love -- they're vastly better IMO than the regular Sport Seats), heated multifunction steering wheel, Lane Change Assist, Power Steering Plus, Light Design Package, pedals in brushed aluminum, colored center wheel Porsche crests, and a few other small options. The leather interior and Night Blue exterior are a perfect combo. We use her purely as a weekend fun car, and we pamper her shamelessly; she sits under a cover, in our garage, on a trickle charger, and has a full Modesta BC-04 coating plus ClearGuard Nano PPF on the entire front, plus side runners and rear wheel arches. But, we do drive her every weekend; she's clocked 5,000 miles in her first year. She's the perfect California weekend car. She handles beautifully, her interior exudes comfort and class, and you can't look at her without smiling.

The reactions I get are interesting. On the road, or at gas stations or parking lots, people will smile and wave. I had one scary-looking dude, weighing probably 350 lb, covered in Oakland Raiders gear and a few gang tats, get out of his lowered Dodge Charger at a gas station, amble over with a fierce look on his face, and then break out into a cherubic grin. "Dude! Gorgeous Porsche, man!"

Then there's our brand-new Cayman S, which we've had for just a month. It's a totally different car. It's got all the go-fast options: the S trim, Sport Chrono, PDK, PASM, etc. Plus 20" Carrera S wheels. The interior is more austere; basic black, with the partial leather package. There's no heated multifunction steering wheel, no Lane Change Assist or Light Design package. The regular Sport Seats are nowhere near as comfortable as the Sport Seats Plus in the Boxster. There's no Bose; it's the base stereo. But when you step on the gas or turn the PASM into Sport mode, my God, the car is fast. I've been breaking it in gently, but I did one near-max acceleration run and there's no question that the extra power in the S makes a significant difference.

The reactions I get on the road are totally different. No one smiles and waves. They stare, or they screech up behind you and then floor it to pass you (usually in a beat-up Honda Civic Si with an "Integra Type R" sticker on it). At gas stations I just get ignored, or get slightly hostile looks. No one wanders over and asks what kind of car it is.

My point being, the two cars are really quite different. We use them for different purposes. So I think it's possible to have two 718s without having them feel redundant. But I would recommend spec'ing them as differently as you can. Our Boxster and Cayman S are about as different as it's possible for two 718s to be, so maybe that's the key...

Whatever your decision...enjoy!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6ae2ed43ba.jpghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...a774c8daa7.jpg

You may want to consider the 987 or 981 Cayman.

Most people who say the 718 sounds like a Suburu or VW are just parroting the early reviewers. Porsche has tweaked the exhaust sound and its okay, it isn't the flat six but it sounds okay. In my experience I have found that most of the complainers haven't driven a 718 at all. Sound may be an important part of the sports car experience but it is subjective. You can certainly consider older iterations of the Cayman or Boxster but I wouldn't eliminate a 718 without actually driving one.

+1

I’ve had several subies, and my 718 BGTS sounds very little like them. Doesn’t sound like my 981BS with Borla, but by no means is it boring or lacking in personality. Just a different soundtrack. Like the difference between Jazz and Fusion.

So then you're basing your synopsis off what, YouTube reviews? What profoundly helpful insight, I'm sure the OP is super grateful for your contribution.

Agreed. Not off to a very good start.

I’ve just come back from a 2-day extended test drive of a Cayman T.

The plus points were: near-perfect handling, amazing ride considering it’s lowered on 20” rims, supportive seats, good cruising on the motorway, nice balance between power/torque and revs all the way, PCM just works and they have nailed the steering. My wife was amazed how good it was after the first mile of driving it.

Minus points: Sorry, that engine. Yes, it delivers the goods and I tried to come at it with an open mind but having done 300+ miles on all sorts of roads there is very little to enjoy in the engine note. It’s coarse, loud when extended and gives you the impression that it’s going to lose a con-rod above 5,000rpm. At least a Subaru flat-four has some character in a throbby, burbly sort of way. The Porsche version positively discourages you from winding it out, even though the technical results are good, because of that unpleasant blare. My Mrs started wincing every time I gave it the beans when I was driving; it doesn’t even sound nice on the overrun. I’ve got a diesel BMW as an everyday hack and that sounds much better. Really.

All that said, the overall package is so good it’s still tempting... if we hadn’t fired up a 981 Boxster S when we got back to the dealership...

Happy wife, happy life! Buy the 981 and move on. I am surprised a dealer allowed you a 300 mile test drive on a T. Fence sitters rarely buy cars.

We will very likely get the 981. Pity, as there is so much right with the 718 and we like new car smell ;)

It’s a shame that Audi (part of the same company) can put a 5-potter in the TT that makes it sound like you’re doing an 80’s Group-B rally stage on full attack... :(

This, this right here.

I had a 718 Cayman S "extended test drive" of sorts about a year ago, when I had my 981 BGTS in for service. They couldn't finish my car that day so they let me keep it over the weekend. I really, really loved the 718, far more than I expected, to the point where I was almost sad when it was time to pick up my car and was almost starting to consider if I made the wrong call on choosing a 981.

All the way up until I sat in my car and turned the ignition. All doubt was completely erased by the time I turned out of the dealership parking lot.

The only thing this actually proves is that whichever car you choose, just avoid driving the other one.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I must be an outlier. Admittedly I've only driven a 981-generation S model once (took it on a very spirited test drive.) Yes, the engine melody above 4,000 rpm was quite inspiring. But the car just felt significantly slower than my 718, especially at lower RPMs (unsurprisingly.) I couldn't quite fathom the idea of driving around town with the revs way up just to keep a feeling of power and speed.

Don't get me wrong; the 981 sounded great. But only when I really stepped on it, which you get to do -- what -- 5% of the time you're actually driving the car on most trips?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e2f2c7a22d.gif


They're both great cars. Some prefer one over the other, but that doesn't make them wrong vs. right. This discussion about sound vs. torque, 6-cyl vs. 4-cyl, NA vs. turbo, etc. is soooooooo tired. Can we have a pact where we all agree to like the car we bought and appreciate whatever choice others made?

I'll go further. Back in early 2012, when I test drove a 2012 Audi S5 (with V8) and a 2012 Cayman back-to-back, I came away impressed with the Audi S5. I bought the Audi, and a big reason was the Audi V8 sounded great at ALL speeds. What I missed during my Cayman test drive was all-out acceleration in the higher RPM band. So I did miss the big plus (of that wail) that the 2012 Cayman had to offer.

The straight 5 is a gem of an engine. It’s the only thing about my TT RS that I miss. Too bad it can’t be laid flat and stuffed into a 718.

We came very close to buying an S5 or RS3 last month, instead of the 718 Cayman S we ended up getting (in addition to our base 718 Boxster). They are great cars. But I wasn't a fan of the RS3 interior, and the S5 just felt too large on both our test drives. Still, they are very impressive cars...

I still have my Audi B7 RS4 that I have had since 2008. People rave about the 6MT and roar of the V8. Me, personally, I'm not so impressed. It's alright but I don't go gaga over the sound and I certainly enjoy my 718 GTS as much, if not more, than my RS4. It certainly doesn't have the driving dynamics of the 718 and the interior is a bit bland. I think the only reason I keep it is that every time I go out somebody approaches me and starts raving about the car... non owners, no doubt. LOL. ( by the way I really liked the RS3 interior)

On the other hand, I pretty much also get a compliment every time I take out my Cayman, mostly because it is racing yellow.

In the end, I've never found a car that hits all my buttons 100%. Mostly they are all 90% but a different 90%. ( and I currently have 5 cars, three of them are Porsches)

I love that Racing Yellow. However I got outvoted by the wifey. I would have spec'd everything else in black (model designation, etc) and just called the car 'Bumblebee' 👍

Keeping the wife happy is always a good thing. I wanted purple, the wife wanted orange. We settled on yellow because we could both agree that free is better.

Next time I think I am going for purple. I'll order when the wife is out of town and claim that I asked but didn't hear a response. When she complains she wasn't even home when I asked I'll just give her my usual dumb, confused look. Works like a charm.

Picking up my racing yellow bgts tomorrow. First yellow car ever. Having always wanted yellow but for whatever reason it never happened. Not a lot of yellow sports cars. Yellow vettes maybe Camara and mustang. Mclaren u can get yellow and Ferrari. Yellow seems like a very rare car color.

I thought about this when I was considering 718 vs 981. Honestly, I think that the 718 with PSE actually sounds BETTER at cruising speeds, putting around town. Yeah, I said it.

But I think it's worth mentioning, I was coming from an M4. If you think the 718 has pretty good torque, you'd love the M4- I made the connection almost immediately that it feels like a German muscle car (that is also excellent on a road course). I did love that, but actually wanted something new. The "drive a slow car fast" thing ended up winning out for me. And since pulling the trigger on the 981, I find excuses to wind it out more. The powerband is almost like a sport bike; it REALLY comes in hard once you get it above 4-5k rpm. There's just something about that experience that can't be duplicated by the 718, which I will agree with others who say the 4 cylinder feels "rough" when you wind it out, which to me at least actively discouraged me from wanting to. I'm sure I'd get used to it over time though, and as many have mentioned, both cars have their own distinct advantages.

Great gif, but if you came into this thread thinking you wouldn't get what you got... I don't really know what to tell you. We all come to this forum for different reasons, and apparently many of us like saying the same things over and over again.

Yeah that Audi V8 is amazing. Sound and low-end torque. I've always wanted an RS4...

I'm actually jealous. I think an RS4 and a Cayman would be a fantastic garage. I would actually prefer an RS4 over my Macan S, but there's no way I could convince the wife that made any sense at all. That doesn't rule out me just outright buying one down the line though. So yeah I would definitely be one of those guys who would rave about your car.

How is maintenance/reliability on the RS4? Assuming you have some miles on it. That's the one thing that's always scared me away from Audis- as I understand it, they're worse than BMW for out-of-warranty ownership. As wonderful as that engine is, I have to assume it's like the S65 and ridiculously overengineered, and outrageously expensive to replace if anything goes tragically wrong.

I've had the car since it was a few months old. I was the third owner and it had 4000 miles on it. I have put on another 31,000 miles. I don't get a lot of miles on most of my cars since much of the time I am driving the SUV and hauling crap or going to Home Depot. Four of my cars get lightly used but I still enjoy them.

Nothing about RS4 maintenance has been all that alarming to me yet. Routine maintenance I do myself since I have the time, equipment and space. Aside from a couple recall issues like airbag and shocks (IIRC, from years ago). Not many problems ( knock on wood). I've had a coil go bad and replaced the eight. Costs was uneventful. When I replaced my front rotors, the price on those was a bit eye watering. [from memory] OEM rotors were about $1200 just for the fronts, I found some Brembo direct replacements online for about $1000. I went to my local guy down the street( not a specialty shop) and he got me the Brembo replacements for $500 ( I though that was a steal. Should have ordered a lifetime supply!) Dodged that bullet. OEM (TRW) pads were nothing special regarding price but I put on EBC pads.

I don't baby the car and have even taken it to autoX but it is a bit big and heavy for that. I run it at high rpm's pretty frequently and haven't perceived any issue with carbon buildup. ( my usual Italian tuneup) Maybe some time in the next 5000 miles I might do a carbon cleaning but so far it seems fine.

I have aftermarket rims and snow tires for the car since it is primarily a winter car for me.

I do think Audi charged me about $470 for my first oil change back in 2008/09 and that was the last time I took it to a dealer for anything I had to pay out of pocket.

Yeah that's actually still pretty low miles. About par for the course for high end car maintenance- was wondering if there was anything catastrophic I should watch out for (e.g, IMS for 986/7s) but I'll do more due diligence later.

I did a quick glance on autotrader and most ones for sale were in the 90k+ range ($20-30k). There was one with 15k on it but they wanted nearly $55k for it. Similarly priced to an E46 M3, but I'd get all wheel drive and an extra set of doors... but to your point I don't think I'd spend much time with it on track. Still, worth looking into.

I had both an RS4 and an RS3 and now drive a 718 CGTS. Both Audi's sounded better to me than the GTS. Both Audi's were less fun than the GTS. Personally, I liked the RS3 interior and the electronics are far superior to the GTS. Porsche lags behind Audi in putting modern amenities in the car.

Thank you all for your helpful answers. I see that meanwhile my thread has taken very interesting directions, which is always great, opens other perspective. It is good to see, that I am not the only one who plays with thoughts owning more than one porsche. If I want to keep my 981 boxster, my biggest challenge would be to convince my wife to drive a cayman as a daily driver. I am not rich enough, otherwise I would have kept my other daily driver and bought/leased the Cayman on top. Selling my 981 boxster dosent make that much sense for now: I have invested way too much money in this car and with the crazy tax rules in california, I would loose also tax and license so this way I would loose almost 40% within less than a year. I could sell the car on the private market, but don't have the desire of all the hassles with private potential buyers, have never sold a car on the private market. On top of all that, I still loveeee my 981 boxster.

So after hearing all the encouraging stories here, I think it apparently makes sense to own a 718 cayman and 981 boxster in the same time and I definitely will try to go that route.

One last thing about the dead horse: I fully agree with @manifold danger we are coming to this forum to hear the same stuff over and over again and see and hear things form other perspectives. Even though I am clear now, please don't stop discussing 981 vs 718 and don't stop discussing about sound and all the great things........

I think that's a great idea. The 718 Cayman and 981 Boxster are different enough that you'll never be bored, and they're both fantastic cars. I came close to having the reverse (718 Boxster and 981 Cayman S), but ultimately just bought a 718 Cayman S to pair with the 718 Boxster. It's a good life we lead if it allows us to have one Porsche. But two Porsches? That's almost too much fun 😎

So true! When we were shopping 718s, we usually had the odyssey or wrangler to drive home after. However we were replacing a 2013 Audi TTS modified to stg 2. Loved that car. But I didn’t realize how much I loved the 718 more until I drove the TTS to the Porsche dealer. Drove 718 again then TTS home. Then I knew how much better in so many ways the 718 was. It wasn’t until then did I fully sell myself on the 718.

No regrets. But the AWD TTS acceleration in the wet was outstanding. Great car. Would consider a mk3 TTRS for winter car at some point.

I get older tuner cars doing this to me a lot too. But sometimes I'm not as mature as you. I have a base 718 with Sport Chrono, and sometimes if the road is open, I'm go into Sport Plus and hit the Response button. But I do get compliments on the road and in parking lots and gas stations as well. My car is white, so maybe we're a more approachable combination :)