HDH

Hi all, (full disclosure, also posted to the 981 group).

Shopping for my first Porsche, for mixed use, i.e. a little daily, a lot of weekend, 6+ track days a year, I'm at intermediate level at DE events and love every second of it. Current and only car is an '09 328i, RWD, MT, sport suspension.
At the moment I'm between these:

2015 981 CGTS. 50k miles, 2 owners, Alcantara package (incl. shifter & steering wheel), X73 suspension, 2-way Sport Seats+, some side skirt curb rash, not terrible but I would want to get repaired, Car is 1,300 miles away so have only seen pics. Would get PPI. Price $60k
vs
2019 718 CS at local(ish) dealer, 8,000 miles, Sport Chrono, standard suspension (no PASM), GT multi-function steering wheel, remaining warranty+CPO = covered until 2026, Price $70k (asking). I sat in this one but didn't drive it, fit great and the GT steering wheel feels great. One concern is stock suspension which I know can be upgraded but at a price.

$70k is the upper reaches of my price range.

Both MT, 2-way heated Sport Seats Plus (all must-haves)

I've done a lot of reading but it's just words having no quality seat time in either one.

Appreciate all input.

Rich_Jenkins

I owned a '14 981S for 18 months. Great car. Problem was you had to keep the NA 3.8 on the boil to make significant progress. I am not a track guy. I am positive the car was wayyy more capable than I was. Out of the two above, the 718 is going to be a leap or two ahead on tech. Plus the T motor is going to feel better around town, more grunt at lower revs.

I would get the 718, hands down.

Bxstr

Cayman GTS, since I prefer the sound. Also, is more within your budget.

AviBen

I'd go for the 718, at 8k it's almost new, great warranty, negotiable price; find out why it's available. With an APR tune, the 718 will be a jackrabbit.

Buckett76

Interesting decision, I would probably lean more to the GTS. I've never driven the GTS but had a 718 BS and my buddy has a 981 Spyder so it's a bit similar in that regard. The 718 will be faster around town due to the turbo but the GTS will sound better. On the track the CS will be a bit quicker due to the turbo out of corners although similar at speed and handling will likely be on par either way you go. Depreciation (if that matters) will likely favor the GTS, I traded a 718 BS (2017) for around $50k 18 months ago, I doubt a 2019 will fetch much more if the market returns to normal in the next 12 months, the GTS and Spyder of the 981 have held very well. My main gripe with the S was the heat soak issue on the track, may not be an issue with the 2019's but you can search for the Suncoast Project car thread to learn more.

Coming from an '09 328 both will feel faster and more... sportscar. I would start negotiating on the GTS and get a PPI to see if that is a real option and what movement there is. It's a tough market right now for buyers but $70k for a used S isn't where I would put my money.

Good luck!

rasetsu

I strongly encourage you to test drive similar, even if not the same, models. The two deliver power so very differently. 981 GTS are very hard to come by so maybe test drive a S at least. Should be able to find a 718 of any trim to test drive but probably not in a manual. Coming from someone who chose a 718 S, if warranty is of no concern and you want to experience one of the best flat sixes made, it would be difficult for me to tell you not to go with the 981 GTS. But if you are interested in tuning and uncorking a ton more power, then the 718 would be the way to go. And if you expanded your search nationwide, I think you can find a 2018 718 S with similar mileage for mid/high 60's.

joejenie

GTS will sound better, but 718 will be faster on the track and on the streets and has better technology. I would buy the newer car.

Dr.Bill

There is a reason I've kept my 981 Boxster GTS and would never consider a 718 that wasn't the 4.0.
Although 50k miles is a bit high. Maybe keep looking?

ClassJ

I owned a 981 CS manual car and drove all of the 4 cyl 718 variants. They, in my opinion, ruined a wonderful car with the 4 cyl power plants.

I would seek out a 981 S or GTS and call it a day. Don’t settle for a car sight unseen with body damage.

ldamelio

Let's see...……...four years newer, faster, CPO and warrantied for next five years, no curb rash, 42000 less miles (1/3 of the useful life of the car). No brainer. 718. The flat 6 obsession must have a rational limit at some point. You would think that Pavarotti lives in those extra two cylinders and sings to you the way people fetishize the sound. He doesn't. He's dead, like the 981. They're there to (poorly) compensate for the power, torque and efficiency that turbochargers provide.

rooster17

Agree with point above and add that you get all of that for the low low price of 10K below the older car, asking.

Drive both and decide for yourself. I owned a 718 CS and loved it. I did sell the CS for a 718 Spyder. Yes, I do love the F6 and with an exhaust it sounds great, better than the T4 to my ear. Does that make the T4 a bad engine, nope. It’s awesome also. And I miss dearly driving my CS daily.

Good luck.

David Borden

I was in your exact same situation about a year ago and ultimately decided on a 2017 718 Cayman S PDK. I like torque and not having to rev out a car to have fun from stoplight too stoplight. The car has great thrust from low in the rev range which is a great deal of fun without having to make a bunch of noise. The 718 is a faster/quicker and most cars will have warranty left and I personally like the interior and updated body shape. With that said, the earlier cars are fantastic by all accounts and while not as quick, you get that 6 soundtrack and currently, they are less expensive by maybe $10K or so.

ericb44

What is the intended use case? Is this a daily car, weekend warrior or track car? If daily I would go with the 718 and not think twice. If a weekend warrior or track car, personally I'd lean towards the 981 but that's subjective on what you would enjoy more as far as power delivery. To me, being the fastest isn't the objective, it's what makes you grin more ear to ear and the 6 IMO does that more then the 718. That said, as a daily driver, the 718 is easier to use.

raaizin

I have to agree with the above, get the newer car you should have less issues down the road. I test drove a 718 Cayman S and thought it was great. It sounded fine to me. For reference I have a 991 and quite honestly it sounds great onlt at 5k or higher. How many times can you do that on the road. You will love the torque down low!!!

rhitee93

It's all been said, but I'll share my experience since I was just in a similar position 3 weeks ago. I was looking to move into a newer car than my 987.1 Cayman S and went to look at a 981 Boxster S my local dealer had. They also had a 718 base I thought I would try. I expected to dislike the 718 based on all the 'hate' poured out on the 4-cylinder cars, and fully expected to drive out with the Boxster S. (I also kind of want a convertible again)

To be clear, I was looking for a year-round daily driver, as that is what my 987.1 was for me. I'm also not a track guy. My daily commute is ~10 miles with 50mph speed limits and 8 stoplights and very little traffic.

I liked the 981S plenty. It felt a lot like my 987.1S, but was a little more grown up and refined. However, the 718 was a lot more fun in the same traffic pattern. 0-60 in the base 718 felt much faster than the Boxster S. (Bothe were 6 speed manuals) The torque at 2000rpm is better than what the 981 had at 3000. I ended up taking the 718 home.

It's a bit childish, but the sound of the 718 still makes me giggle. I unplugged the soundaktor this week to see what all the fuss was about, and will leave it unplugged.

I've told others that my opinion might have been different if I was looking for a track car. The 981 was definitely more visceral. However the 718 is a much nicer way to go to work.