I’ve been on the hunt for a Cayman and while I love the thought of getting a flat six the price swing for grabbing a 718 2.5 GTS seems too good to pass up.

This would be my first Porsche so I’m not necessarily a purist. While I’m planning to buy and hold, I don’t want to tie up a lot of extra cash in a 5th vehicle. I’ve been tempted by a GT4, but just not worth it for the amount of use I’ll be getting out of it.

I’ll probably only see 1-2 track days a year and am coming from owning a few GT350Rs, a GT350, M2 Comp and more recently picked up an FL5 Type R.

Theres a lack of inventory on what I’m looking for especially when factoring in a manual transmission. The market is shifting quickly, but there is still an inventory issue.

Any input on finding private sellers for these cars? Already have all the main locations like FB marketplace, AutoTrader, CarGurus, BaT (overpriced when they come up), not a member of PCA so it tapped into my local chapters.

I’m not in a hurry, but know a private seller is where it’s at.

Thanks in advance!

 

Here is useful thread to check out: https://rennlist.com/forums/718-gts-...l#post18838476

 

^That's not helpful, at all, as he said he wants a 2.5. There's still probably a $30k delta on the used market for those cars.

If you haven't tried finder.porsche.com, that's another route you could go. The Porsche CPO program is probably worth the extra cash, and inventory should be far higher than anywhere else.. Other than that not sure where else someone would advertise a car they're selling privately. PCA mart is probably your best bet there honestly. Pay the $50 if you plan on getting a Porsche anyway, it's a worthy membership.

 

I'm in the same boat you are so I am glad to see others. It seems like 78-90K for a cpo or used lower mile 2.5 GTS is what I have been seeing and many of those do not even have the GTS package which surprised me how many people optioned this car that way. Best of luck

 

Yeah, there’s only a handful of GTS cars available with a manual in the nation… Difficult to find one in a good spec.

 

Thanks! Inventory is super dry on these especially in the manual cars in good specs like I mentioned. Seems like it’s just going to be a waiting game.

I found one on here that was a little higher mileage and CPO, but it’s a little overpriced and the seller is unresponsive. Doesn’t usually bode well for trusting an out of state seller.

I’m surprised how many of these cars don’t have PPF on the front clip.

 

I'd put a feeler out here and on 718forum-dot-com

 

As another option, a Cayman T if you can find one because it comes with the limited slip differential. They are super rare though. I've only seen two used ones for sale in the last half year and they were going for around $75-$80k.

 

Keep looking - they (2.5 liter GTS) are out there and are good buys.

Here is one that just popped up today https://rennlist.com/forums/market/1352579 (no affiliation)

 

I just scooped up a 2018 GTS in carmine red with 8700 miles, still with CPO until 2025 for 75k this past weekend.

 

Awesome dealer or, private?

 

Don't just look at 982/718s - the 981 GTS gets you into that special NA flat 6 instead of the turbo 4. Its not about being a purist - just the engine sounds of the flat 6 Caymans are intoxicating and a big part of the experience IMO.

 

Dealer.

Honestly, the 2.5 is surprising me a lot. Anyone that says that it doesn't sound good, or feel as special is wrong. I came from a 997 turbo before this, and I can honestly say that I like this platform even more. Its more eager and light on its feet. It may not have the same brute force of the turbo, but the overall feel of the car makes it for a better driving experience.

 

The 2.5L gets a bad rap for sound. It's better than a Miata, worse than something with more cylinders. An aftermarket exhaust that removes the mufflers helps.

It's a really impressive 4-cylinder with a variable geometry turbo, the key is to understand how anti-lag and the tune (factory or otherwise) work. I highly recommend a tune, I have the APR 93 octane tune. For a street car having more power down low is intoxicating and it really moves and keeps moving all the way up to the top speed I can manage on public roads.

The trick is getting it going. In Sport+ and inividual mode (properly configured to Sport+) you get much more aggressive anti-lag and a faster spooling turbo. It's completely different from Normal and Sport.

Rev matching gets much maligned but when you need to regularly downshift into first it's handy to make it fast and easy and that will also help you get going sooner. You can still get stuck waiting at parking lot speeds, and there is definitely a dead zone in 2nd gear where first isn't a great option because you would need to shift almost immediately.

It's comical how my Mazda 3 AWD Turbo is so slow for the same displacement and how fast the 2.5T is for the displacement and cylinders it has.

I have definitely thought many times about upgrading and what my next car would be, but the scarcity of allocations and the fact that so many things are a lateral move in at least some way has kept me from pulling the trigger. Really the only option is a 911 S Cab or going with an automatic and something big displacement like a C8 corvette.

 

^^^^^ Thanks for your thoughts about a 2.5 with a tune. I thinking about it but haven’t pulled the trigger.