There’s no doubt both cars are amazing but how they go about accomplishing that connection with the drive IMHO is very different. The 987 accomplishes an amazing driving experience by paring down the extra’s which leaves the driver to only focus on the connection with the car. Porsche went a step further to enhance parts of the car that provide feedback to the driver including the suspension, mild tune of the engine and IMHO the LWB’s. The 987 doesn’t really feel all that exciting or different until you start pushing it in the corners, it’s at that point when you start pushing it that you connect with the car and all of a sudden everything else around you no longer matters. Your only focus is driving that car through the corners and feeling all the nuances of the road hitting your hands and body. PSE helps with the sound although not nearly as much as with the 981.

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have enough seat time in the 981 Spyder to really explain what makes it great but my short drive in Nick’s car immediately told me that Porsche took a different approach on the 981. They didn’t necessarily take things away and I can say that very few of the cars were specked without AC and Radio if at all. So with the expectation that the buyer wasn’t going to remove some standard features they instead gave the car razor sharp steering response using a different steering rack, a bunch more power from a bigger NA engine and an exhaust sound to die for. My primary takeaway was that even when the 981 Spyder is driven at slower speeds it still engaged the driver primarily due to the exhaust and more immediate power. I didn’t get that same sensory feedback I get in the 987 but again it didn’t matter because it had other components that made it an amazing drive.

So it just comes down to what you want, both are amazing and we are fortunate to own them.

Getting back on topic, I think the S and GTS models are amazing bargains in the used market and they don’t give up that much on the Spyder/GT4.

I think that is all “Bob on” as we say on the little isle.
Nice summary Afshin on all points.

Still travelling but my friend sent me a photo(exterior in gt silver)...

I just traded a 991.1 C2 for the 981 Cayman GTS.
I’ve only driven the GTS a couple times at this point, however, feel it’s going to be somewhat more engaging. Somehow the engine sounds much better in this build. Mid Engine on the track, I’m sure will drive more confidence.

Interesting, how does a 991.1 NA engine sound vs the 981’s? I was assuming that it will be similar? Or less feel since engine is positioned back further?

Took my 981 C GTS on the twisties yesterday and find it a little more nimble vs the 991.2 CS especially on turn in. The ride is very compliant as well and not crashy at all for a short car. But the sound is really nice , much better than the 991.2 or my older 997 turbo.

Although the 991.2 has a lot more power and luxury amenities.

interesting question and an important one!
the same engine in the 981 GTS with sport exhaust sounds absolutely amazing, with cracks/burbles, an engine note that is not even remotely comparable to the 991.1 configuration.
Could be engine location, exhaust geometry, no idea, but much much better.

Speaking of sound, I drove the 981 Spyder to work today. At full throttle under an overpass with the top down the sound prompted me to think that it sounded almost identical to the RSR race car. The engine is that loud and outrageous.