Porsche 718 Cayman S - still the perfect sports car? | First Drive | Autocar
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2016
- Porsche has launched the 718 Cayman, and we've driven it on the some of the finest roads in the UK. Subscribe to Autocar now: smarturl.it/autocar
Like the 718 Boxster we drove a few months ago, Porsche has given the 718 Cayman a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, rather than the old, soulful six-cylinder. Does it matter as much here? Or is the four-pot really a fine replacement?
We find out, and wonder: if the 718 Cayman still is as close as you can get to being the perfect sports car, what from Porsche's huge options list would you need to tick to make it the optimum version of it?
Which Cayman would you have?
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"It doesn't sound great..." Yes it does, and I can't wait for these things to come off-lease in a couple years.
Personally I think that the previous Cayman looked much more aggressive from the front, and that 6 cylinder... Well it just can't be replaced by a 2 litre turbo...
Yes the back end of 718 is spectacular but they really lost something on the front. I'm loving my 2016 GTS.
Took an S out for 90mins and can honestly say it is very (yes, very) difficult to find fault - with any aspect. Yes, the sound is different to the traditional six pack, but it is by far not unpleasant. Certainly, the improvements on the previous Cayman are there and I'd guess that this is the direction Porsche are happy to go > 4 cylinders + turbo. They are selling a lot and maybe a new generation of Porsche owners are falling in love without even knowing what went before. Again, it's not a bad sound, just different. Love or hate it, it's still a cracking sports package and I'd have it !!
Sales way down
eddie gray and the rear lights fill up with condensation
I think the deficiency of the noise is the biggest excuse people have been making to not buy this car. I got the sports exhaust package and man this car is a blast to drive. People to really understand you have to drive one and this car will not disappoint you.
You feel low if you don’t drive this car. Has added a new dimension to my life and I have only driven naturally aspirated Manual transmissions so far.
Whoever thinks there is ANY deficiency in the 718 Cayman S PDK...well, you are crazily mistaken. This car is unbelievable, and this is an ATYPICAL 4-cylinder engine that blows away the prior 981 flat 6--blows it away. My last car had a world-class V8, and the new Porsche makes that car--the RC F carbon TVD--look silly. This is the future and a direction being taken my Porsche to achieve incredible performance while breaking from old standards. This 4-cylinder, 350 hp engine with PDK and sport chrono has created a uniquely capable supercar. Sound: this is what the new Porsche sounds like. It growls, it's aggressive, and it unapologetic. This car is FASTER than most of the 911s, handles better with remarkable balance, devours the corners, and, for all intents and purposes, is the best Porsche today for the true Porsche-phile.
And yet sales are low, sorry no matter how good this car is, the sound of that engine Does damage sales
John S Where’s your data for that? Everything I’ve seen says that sales are up.
@@Meatwad650 since the 718 name was used boxster and Cayman sales have been combined but before that they were not, if you could see the Cayman sales individually then Cayman sales have been larger in the past, especially when a new model was introduced, the 718 Cayman from new is the worst selling new Cayman model
All I want to know is expected longevity next to the 6?
@@nomansland4811 Probably pretty good. Porsches are pretty reliable, and they’ve had lots of practice building turbo cars
I know its a efficient turbo four cylinder but damn a flat six just feels better knowing that's what under the hood
Tragic because of the exhaust note? A bit extreme perhaps? Strikes me that you are like many Porsche fans that decry advancements in technology such as water cooling, Dual clutch transmissions and more powerful, more fuel efficient turbocharged engines. When a 718 Cayman S can run around Nurburgring 6 seconds faster than my 997 GT3 RS, what is to debate? I look forward to my new Cayman S, and will keep my GT3 RS for shows and Sunday runs because it looks cool. But the 718 is a better car. Even with a wimpy exhaust note!
Sadly sales down on all 718 s
eddie gray not sadly, I picked up a leftover for $20k less than sticker (about $2k lower than base price). Take advantage of a low price on arguably the best driving car for the money ever. The actual sound (not a video recorded sound) is much better than I ever thought it would be after reading all the criticism.
I enjoyed reading a GT3RS owners perspective. 3 years later I am still enjoying my 718 GTS greatly it has made me a better driver. The performance is hard to believe I’m talking progression. I still appreciate and drive my 987 S as well. This is some serious bang for the buck.
Had mine 3 days. Its epic in every way
I'm very happy to see somebody not trying to tippy toe around the issue of the engine sound. Thanks for not trying to hide the truth like many other reviewers do
Owned both but the h4 just too good to spend anytime thinking about my old 981. Each to their own.
£50-60K and you get a 4 cylinder engine. Sad times. :(
Issue is that on US site when you built to spec 718 Boxter, it comes up to $100,000.
100K for a 4cyl car..? That's where Porsche has lost me......
Totally agree, I would buy the old one in a heartbeat.
That was a great review
in addition, the rear wheel has been widened by .5 inch, but the tire width has remained the same. it makes the traction much more predictable. you can feel the slip and the hook and go. the front suspension utilizes the 991.1 control arms, the 991.1 turbo steering box, and i think they made the steering programming similar to the 981 GT4. i also think the smaller steering wheel has helped.
Finally someone being honest about the pitiful four banger in these cars.
Is this a random video noise, or an actual song that you play at the start & end of the video? I really like the tune...
I'm so glad I have the old one. Sounds incredible.
sweet ride!
definitely a great car, the new 718 is just a restyling and not worth selling your gts for a 718
im so glad I have the new one. way faster, better performance/ technology. Nobody but Porsche enthusiasts will know the difference in sound.
Great honest review.. I will lust and yearn for the last of the best 6 cylinder Cayman until I can actually afford one..GTS, I'm looking at you!
A move meant to lessen costs and meet the CAFE MPG requirements here in the USA, among other countries. A shame - I've owned a number of Boxsters and Caymans and it was ALL about that lovely flat six. It always has been, for me. Sorry, lads, you can keep this one. Looks like I'll be driving USED Porsches from now on. You've gone far wrong on this and I suspect there will be resistance from the enthusiast community..I think this chap's review was fabulous - thanks so much.
Should have been a 2.5L FLAT-SIX turbo instead...
Well, then there would have been the friction of six cylinders and that wouldn't have made any sense.
aka mid engined subie.
No ones paying £48k for a four cylinder, wouldn't mind if it came with a big price drop 😐
At the end of the day the markets will dictate what stays and what goes. At the moment there are two major political forces pushing the nonsense science of global warming, the EU and the US under the Obama administration.
With Britain being the second largest donor to the EU having just left the EU, it's future isn't certain. And Obama has only a few months left in office. Once these two entities are gone, things will get back to normal, but it'll take time.
No-one used to complain when the 4cyl turbo Lotus Esprit went up against the 964, NSX and 328 GTB? Or are only British 4cyl turbos okay, like in the Focus RS? Also, 718 is competing against Toyota Camry engined Lotus' and 1.7L turbo family car engined Alfa 4C, so what's wrong with a bespoke flat 4 in a Porsche? James Dean was happy to buy a flat 4 Porsches, do you know better than him?
my 4 cylnder 60s alfas are a hoot!
+Steven Farrington Im sure he meant 4 pot Porsche
+lapamful i can't wait! I want more V-12s!!
So are you saying that the outgoing Cayman is better than the incoming 718 model?
If the sound is the only problem you could find, I can overlook it. I test drove one and it's one of the best handling cars I've ever driven.
I have driven the 718 cayman S, it's already killer good, sounds like a hardcore tuned VW Bug with the awesome stock flap exhaust, killer sound. Can't wait for new Cayman GTS I wanna buy!
You can bet your ass the Cayman GTS will rocket in value
Cayman R GTS and GT4...
GTS is just a trim level, not a limited run. So I doubt prices will climb, maybe stay high for a while until Porsche come out with a car worth having. Nother another shitty 4 banger. Don't get me wrong. I own an S2000, 4 bangers have their place, but not in a 40K GBP Porsche
+9000Redline GTS was not just a trim level. Came with extra power. Do your homework.
Get use to it because you'll see way more engine downsizing in the near future. Hell, plenty of high priced cars have already made the switch to 4s and yet performance keeps climbing. It's all fine by me, as long as performance and reliability keep moving forward. Personally, I've never understood the obsession with cylinder count. So it sounds a bit different, who cares? The right exhaust system can help with that. Power is power. Performance is performance. Computers can make forced induction feel just like natural aspiration. Getting hung up on one insignificant aspect of otherwise amazing sports cars just seem absurd to me, especially given that downsizing is here to stay, like it or not.
D LG You are not an emotional creature are you? Perhaps not even human :O A 12 cyl F1 engine is fucking amazing. Oh and downsizing isnt the problem, its the amount of cylinders in my mind. You can make a 3L V12 instead of a 6L and put electric stuff on it and you get sound and less carbon stuff in the air ;)
I liked the car. But that apart... Which location is that where you're driving? It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen. Please let me know the place so I can plan my next vacation.
Un 911 en formato mini y perfecto para el dia a día. Preciosidad !!
+Autocar, what about after market exhaust systems??
Nice review and I agree with all your points. With the move to turbos, the Cayman/Boxster/911 are no longer cars I would consider buying.
Wry efficient review, I’ve seen 100s of them. Sounds isn’t that bad, in fact better imho but at the very least different and just as good if you want deep rumbly low rpm sounds. Which you can better w boxeter ;) you designed the perfect 718 in your video, the ceramics can’t be bought my the configurator in USA, at least I didn’t see it. Congrats on the wonderful review
How much does it cost to Service?
Nothing an Akrapovic exhaust can't fix ;)
I’ve no doubt it’s a great car but I do love the 3.4l engine in my Boxster S.
I wonder what this new 718 will do to the value of the last generation Cayman which I still love?
A tip: you can watch series at KaldroStream. Me and my gf have been using it for watching lots of of movies these days.
@Tyler Salvador Yea, I've been watching on kaldrostream for since december myself =)
@Tyler Salvador yea, I've been watching on kaldroStream for since november myself :)
Just get a 981 gen 2nd hand with some nice options, like the GTS
Why does this video have a comment section and the newest feminazi video does not?
As a 2016 Cayman GTS owner I can say this: The 718 Cayman S is improved in nearly every objective performance measure over the outgoing 981 Cayman S with the NA flat 6, and now cheaper to boot, so many new Porsche owners will be very happy, but I still wanted the older NA flat 6 powered car
I watched a video by Matt Farah the other day, he drove a 991.1 carerra gts after driving the new turbo carerra s, and while it sounded good he said that the lack of torque in the older motor kept him bored.
I think once people experience how hard these engines pull, nobody will care.
Matt Farah chose a Ford Fiesta ST over an E46 M3. I know cars are a purely subjective experience, but that should tell you all you need to know about him.
+David C I don't blame him, as much as I love the e46 myself (being a massive BMW fan) the e46 is very over hyped.
If I had the choice between a fairly new hatch back with a warranty vs a 10+ year old car that's probably been beat to hell, I'll take the new car with a warranty.
Plus the new fiesta with a tune is a very good package.
*****
Yeah I agree about them being overhyped, but a modern 4 pot turbo Fiesta being better? Certainly more chuckable but the engine alone in the M3 should win any driver over
David C yeah that was probably a bad example, but thats what first came to mind lol
I'm holding on to my 1st gen Cayman S : )
The new 718 wants to now make me buy out my 2015 lease on Cayman and keep it as the last classic flat 6
Sweet car! I hear some STi in that exhaust note...
yay an 80 thousand dollar sti ...
It's funny to go back and watch all these early reviews and the same commentary. The car is by every objective measure a superior car to the 981. It still is. The subjective measure of sound is some article of faith for some men unable to accept advances in technology and performance. Fortunately most of that blow hard commentary is just a historical amusement to people looking for continuous improvement in the driving experience. The logical evolution of the Cayman continues to see it as the pinnacle of driving pleasure.
Nice Subaru you got there mate!
Love that Color
You want the ceramic brake for US$8000 instead of the PDK???
I have one of these on order (not an 'S' though, that's a bit too expensive for me)! can't wait for it to arrive! And I don't care about turbo etc, its still a great car :)
Same.. when are they delivering you the car ? i ll get it end of october :(
I have a 718 Cayman base coming on order as well and I was told November. I sort of want a 981 GTS but I don't want to spend 90K.
They told me october or november as well, because they still don't have the allocations :(
+Dmitry L you're still waiting for an allocation? I have mine already apparently.
Navarro Jordan well, I think the allocations started last week? So probably I do, but they didn't inform me yet
How do you create the perfect Cayman? Hmm how about optional features of Twin Clutch PDK, yes Ceramic Brakes, TVVB drop the 6 cylinder back in with compatible twin turbos and add a supercharger?
718 cayman S vs M4 vs M2?
With the same money i totally would get a 981 Gts
...and I did! Couldn't be happier.
Yep
NO way! GT4 or Spyder. I did. Sounds awesome great experience....
Princess Peach "With the same money"
SenszR
They are close enough. Well specced GTS is only 20-30k AUD or 10-15% cheaper. You get a lot for that extra 15% in cash.
i really feel like the cayman should have turboed the 2.7L 6 cyl engine to the same power, would have needed less boost and sounded better... i personally think a cayman in Miami blue is awesome
I can't understand why you would miss the flat 6 this is an awesome car and whilst it doesn't have the noise you seem to want, I just don't get why that would make this not for you, it's the best Porsche in decades and is sooooooo good to drive. Madness, judging a car on its sound when it is as good as this.
Who makes a sports car video and doesn't put a revving clip to present the engine sound?!
It sound so bad... They don't even brother
Gah, it's criminal that Porsche have ditched their delicious NA engines :(. Great review though & I think you spoke for most of us enthusiasts here. Hopefully the drop in sales will "inspire" Porsche to go back to the six.
981 future classic right there
most coments are 7 years old, what do people think now, iv had both 981 and now 718 and love the 718
That car is ex-ACTLY the same colour as my Grans Eye shadow.
Last 45 seconds.. well said.
Let's remember that the 919 ALSO has a turbo V4. So. Direct decendant of that great championship winning vehicle? I like to thnk so. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.
I totally agree about the engine, what a massive disappointment. I test drove a Boxster recently and I thought the engine note was an abomination. People were worried it would sound like a Subaru but if only it sounded that good. It sounded like a 1960s Beetle. Awful noise. I actually cut short my test drive I hated it so much. I also disliked the build quality, interior plastics are cheap, plastic sport steering wheel as opposed to previous mets
Me port wheel. Awful rear trim with Chavvy Porsche logo on it. I've owned 3 Boxsters but I'll never own a 982.
Raise the volume of your voice! It's hard to hear you!
...while over at BMW they managed to keep the 6 cylinders and transfered to turbos, even for some of the small 2 series.
If Porsche doesn't realise what a big chunk of character they cut out of the new Boxter/Cayman by changing the engine (note) so drastically they deserve to loose sales.
for people complaining about the flat4 turbo.... are u buying this car?? stop complaining, Porsche know what they're doing...
already seen one in public and don't think it looks as good as the 981 and I also wish they would've kept the 6 cylinder engine
hold on im sure i watched a review with this guy driving the 4 pot boxster and he said it was absolute trash???
I can’t believe an LSD is an option on a $60,000 cayman but standard on a brz
Porsche dropping 2 of the cylinders off the cayman makes the Alfa 4C and even more attractive option than it already was.
They have done there best to make an affordable Porsche to help our planet I think there will be many of these on the road 🤠
How can you miss what was never there ? A 981 Cayman which goes to 8.5k revs lol, o well, roll on the 5 pot TTRS in this price range.
If I buy a sports car I am not looking at fuel figures. I am looking at character. I don't want a Prius! WTF? Maybe the older Cayman even secondhand is more attractive again.
Is it a flat 4 or inline?
Who fucking cares.
+Malc180s thanks for the great input!
abracing199 An appropriate response to a boring question about a really boring engine.
+Malc180s he was curious about the engine. Its not our fault you have Daddy Problems.
I think its a Flat 4... Correct me if I'm wrong.
I think the BMW M240i would like a word with you.
The old car does not rev to 8 and a half thousand rpm.
7,800 I believe.
Maybe he's talking about the GT4?
That also does not rev to 8500. 7800, I believe.
I guess he was thinking about the engine in GT3.
GT3 revs to 9000,only the older model GT3 revs to 8,500..just a mistake on his part
I love the his car
For $60k you can get a low mileage 991 with about 20-30k mikes still under warranty.
What a Great car
Matt speaks the truth... The car itself is definitely an upgrade over the previous generation, it's faster, better handling, better chassis, everything is better. But it has lost it's soul. Shame really.
Taxes will mean this thing gets "cheap" where i live
Have Autocar deliberately muted the terrible sound of the exhaust ???
I wonder why they couldn't have developed a 2.5 flat six.. the 991.2 may not sound as brilliantly as the 991.1 (so people say at least) but to me it sounds more than good enough. and the "normal" Cayman is a 2.0?! wtf - next step cayman tdi?
Porsche said Cayman GT4 will keep 6-cylinder engine, and they may update the current one.
This reviewer put me to sleep
i prefer this to some guy who sounds like he's literally jacking off mid review
hhahahahahahah
Reviewer is good, car is pants
Never understand manufacturers only allowing auto-blipping to be switched off when all stability systems are off.
So, wait. They're using 2L and 2.5L boxer engines? Are they sourcing engines from Subaru and not telling anyone? That seems way too coincidental.
yea I love the car but I have to agree on that engine ,not a big fan of it
They should have called it the MR2 Turbo... oh wait that's already been done hasn't it.
id get this because the sound is so underated trust me... Ive heard 4 of these already... they dont sound anything like subaru's even though the engine is the same... EVERYONE SHOULD STOP MOCKING THE TURBOCHARGED FLAT 4!!! ITS SO LOUD!!!
I would agree LOUD!! Its very LOUD!!!, BUT NOT GOOD. Not even close being as sweet as the flat 6.
I would agree LOUD!! Its very LOUD!!!, BUT NOT GOOD. Not even close being as sweet as the flat 6.
I think you've summed up perfectly what many of us are feeling. The first time I was turned on to Porsche was when I saw (and heard!) that Escape in Stockholm film. What an engine that was!
But hopefully, one of the key culprits pushing the global warming scam, the crummy EU, is on it's last legs seeing as Britain voted to leave. Maybe then car companies will stop being pressured to keep downsizing engines (I don't care what anyone says, turbos increase fuel consumption; turbos only lower fuel consumption on paper if you drive like a corpse).
Sounds crap at the end. Revving the knackers off it is part of the fun.
Not a fan of the body style
the back is ok
Peeps, y'all need to see it in person, rock your world...
+clu4u I have, still...
Body style is the best Cayman design yet
PCCB = Porsche ceramic composite brake
I'm surprised all the Yanks who are still stuck in the 1960s aren't all clamouring for Porshe to fit a pushrod V8 into it.
Porsche should really offer the Cayman in a 6 cyl option exclusively for the US, as it has now pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, and therefore Porsche wouldn't have to meet it's quota for that portion of North America. That would at least allow them to circumvent that problem, while at the same time meeting their numbers per the countries which are still in the agreement. Given that the US has pulled just recently, I have a feeling Porsche will release a 6 cyl option in the near future, but how the BMW Z4 now comes in different levels, starting at the turbo charged 4 cyl, up to the classic BMW inline 6. And given the outrage and negative press, I think there is reason to be optimistic that Porsche will create a 6 cyl option for the US market soon.
Lose the silly full-screen stat captions that flash up, please.
2 cilender less takes away 90 % of owning a porsche. i'd rather buy a old 944.
The old 944 used to have a 2.5 4 cyl as well but yeah they should have included the 6 cyl as an option.
yes exactly i know about the 944 , in my eyes it's a better car than a cayman with an engine that you can find in any audi.
It's a flat four, not an Audi engine. You might say, a bit like a pre 911 porsche.
2 cylinders less, more hp, more torque, less weight, still has a good sound, I don't know what your whining about
I owned a 944 and a 944S2 in the 90's and anyone who'd rather drive/own one of those dinosaurs as opposed to this cutting edge sports car is either nuts or blowing smoke. My new 718 will be delivered any day.
To be honest, from what I have heard, the 718 Series disappoints me. I feel like I would rather just save up for like a Carrera 4s.
OMG, im one of the first people seeing this !
You forgot one thing in your "perfect sports car" - it has a bit of a weight problem! No amount of Porsche acronyms will fix that.
not good anymore; think a Corvette C7 is the better choice with gives much more fun !
That was a bummer