What We Learned After Testing a Porsche 718 GTS 4.0 40,000 Miles | Car and Driver

[@Tothefloor]

The best thing car & driver ever did was to hire Carlos. He’s a fantastic presenter.

Been watching him for over 10 years, since the Motortrend Ignition days - he's fantastic

[@HoratioHoodoo]

First time I'm seeing him. Quite good

[@BMWWolf]

LEGEND

[@mpp9964]

Now if the could just net Jason Cammisa

[@sebastianromero420]

Too bad for motor trend

[@craigyirush3492]

This is how car journalism should be - not instagram influencers, but finding out what new cars are really like, warts and all. Drove one of these at PECLA and that engine is every bit as good as Carlos says! One of the best and last NA engines. Plus handling and steering were equally good.

[@mr.knowitall6902]

Probably one of the greatest Porsche ever built

[@VK6AB-]

I fully agree with this, in the real world its an excellent car, a true all rounder and yet never feels compromised. I'd argue the 981 GTS is better still because of both sound and the right sized nature of the 3.4L 911 engine.

[@tamasszabo8824]

`73 RS, 964 RS, 959, CGT, 918, any GT3/GT2/RS, 911 R, 992 S/T are some of the greatest Porsches ever built.

[@VK6AB-]

@@tamasszabo8824 Thats what you're told to think - I have owned several on that list, moreover, the 992 ST is another over marketed Porsche and not one of the best either.

[@tamasszabo8824]

@@VK6AB-I am glad that you know what I have been told to think. Walter Röhrl considers the ST "The best 911", but what does he know?? I own a GTS 4.0 and it is a great car, but certainly not one of the best Porsches.

[@xtnuser5338]

@@tamasszabo8824 Whether or not this car is one of Porsche's best depends on ONLY two things: What criteria you use to rank them, and how long you're willing to make the list.

[@chrisz2827]

Just completed 2600kms driving from London to Paris, Luxembourg, Kitzbühel, Brescia and Cannes in my 2021 BGTS 4.0. I just love this car. It brings a smile to my face everyday. I agree with your comments except on the cup holders. Give me these vs.. 992 any day…and yes, real buttons and not a haptic pad in sight.

[@675daytonarider]

Do you have an Instagram account? Interested in doing this or a similar trip.

[@spyrosspyrou9432]

There are so many versions through the years off these cars, i still have my first Porsche the 2007 Base Cayman, then owned the base 2013 Boxster, then the 2017 base turbo 718 boxster and now the 718 s turbo. And to be honest every one is great, its like there is no bad one, they feel special every day, never gets old. The 718 is twice as fast as the original base Cayman, yet it doesn't matter you get in and just wind her up and smile. Pure joy in every flavor. Find a sharp corner and don't brake like most cars and feel the unbelievable feel you cant get unlike any other car. You have to drive one to understand what you are missing.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

I think the GTS 4.0 is the absolute sweet spot for a Porsche sports car. It’s the one I would get.

[@SomeGuysGarage]

If only they shortened the gearing...

[@chuckcribbs3398]

@@SomeGuysGarage Agreed!!

[@simonm9923]

@@SomeGuysGarageit’s a 180+mph car, what speed do you think it should do in 2nd while maintaining sensible gear ratio spacing and acceptable cruising revs in 6th?

[@SomeGuysGarage]

@@simonm9923 the GT4 RS ratios would be a good start....top speed is meaningless, 99.9999% of owners will never see the top of 6th gear.

[@simonm9923]

@@SomeGuysGarage it has 1000 more revs so not a direct comparison. I don’t mean top of 6th but to have sensible ratio gaps, if you want 60 in 2nd and 80 in third you’ll be doing about 4000rpm in 6th at 70 mph - will get very tiresome very quickly….

[@TorqueTestChannel]

The only problem with these cars is finding one. A used one sells for more than MSRP, which means a 400hp 991.1 Carrera S is still going to be the N/A buy for some time.

[@SomeGuysGarage]

What the heck are you doing here? lol We luckily don't have the dealer markup problem up here (at least in the same way), but the allocations are still few and far between.

[@TorqueTestChannel]

@@SomeGuysGarage Oh hi der! An allocation for a non RS cayman is sort of silly to begin with. 10-25k mile GTS 4.0's are selling for $95-100k.

[@snakehead5444]

Funny to find you here lol

[@SomeGuysGarage]

@@TorqueTestChannel we're seeing $125-140k CAD for used GTS 4.0's which is probably a bit cheaper than $100k USD when adjusted but not by much. The Porsche market as a whole is crazy though, my 21 Macan GTS would cost ~$25k more for the same thing new ordering today versus a few years ago...I'm not sure I could justify the price of one again. Porsche's are quickly getting out of the realm of possibility for the enthusiast.

[@TorqueTestChannel]

@@SomeGuysGarage Getting close to sports cars at super car prices in the 911 range now. Porsche has never been about the on paper specs, you have to drive one to know the worth, but the on paper price is very much something any Joe Blow can appreciate and it's getting absurd with trimflation. Bigger brakes, a wing and +60hp for 180% the price was defendable when a cayman was 40 grand and a 911 70 grand.

[@danieltackett4089]

Ordered mine in June, got it in December, and I just got past the 2000 break-in miles. As the video shows, the sound is glorious and addictive. I’ll avoid the 5000 rpm clutch drops and believe C & D’s acceleration figures…and not have to replace my clutch. I agree with the good stuff and mostly with the bad stuff. My phone fits in the console and my wallet fits in the door pocket, so all good. The cup holders are over-engineered and useless. But I can put a water bottle on the floor behind the opposite seat where it is secure but still easy to reach. That workaround is worth it to explore just how much fun it is to drive!

[@dp2901]

I just cracked 100 miles on my 718 CGTS which replaced my 981S. It’s worth every penny!

[@tmh44]

Loved my GTS 4.0 Cayman, unless you're doing frequent track work, it's a better road car (and road trip car!) than a GT4. Future classic 100%.

[@TheKoolaidekidd]

Hey, I should be offended by that statement, as I own a 2021 718 GT4 with wait for it, 58K miles I put on it. I'm not though :). The car has been a blast for me and I have taken it on many road trips. I don't find anything wrong with the ride.

[@tmh44]

It's a personal preference thing. The GT4 is still suitable as a road car of course, but I personally preferred the more supple ride of the GTS. Don't worry though, I work at Porsche in product development and respect (and have driven) both cars...they are excellent!

[@YouArentSlick]

Watching this guy review cars takes me back to watching Motor Trend back in high school days, geeking out over our dream cars. Time flies!

[@zshark365]

The sound is even better with the windows down. You hear what people hear on the street as you drive by and it's super dope.

[@FPhil95]

I ordered my GTS 4.0 around your first 10k mile article and I've enjoyed reading all your updates while waiting for delivery. That special day came and 6 months into ownership this final update+video came out. Thank you for celebrating such a nice and special car!

[@danielpfister6774]

Great video 🤓!!! Last February 2023, I acquired my new 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 which has the 4L NA flat six cylinder engine (same unit as a GT4) and a PDK gearbox. Power output (394 bhp) and torque (317 lb-ft) are a nice match to this car's sensible curb weight (~3200 lbs). The color is Gentian Blue metallic with a black/chalk all-leather interior and silver wheel rims. It's definitely an entertaining driver's car! So far, I've only done 452 miles but hopefully a lot more this coming Summer! The PDK is also a lot of fun (it's definitely quick) 🤓 All the best and thanks again from Colorado! "Porsche...There is No Substitute!!!"

[@travismaulden7170]

And as of 2024 you start at $95,000 for a 6 cylinder 718. Straight crazy.

[@skippynj1979]

I know... I have one on order.. b

[@VK6AB-]

Why, how many NA, manual sports car choices are out there?

[@jimjones-pz1tt]

Don't worry, the 2025s will all be EVs and they will pile up on Porsche dealer lots next to the unsold Taycans which are being offered under MSRP.

[@VK6AB-]

@@jimjones-pz1tt yep its going to get interesting.

[@neilturner6749]

@@skippynj1979good thing is - you’re gonna love it!

[@humorsourceincturner7854]

I'm on my third Porsche with those cupholders. I like them more now than I did at first, and when I saw what replaced them in the 911 I appreciated them more.

[@daviddee7103]

I never had an issue with the cup holders when I had a Cayman, and in my 911, they dont fit the biggest cup but a standard 16oz cup is fine, plus I just like the fact that when you are not using them the are out of sight

[@greatloverofmusic1]

You're on your third Porsche? Sir I officially hate you. Oh wait, would you consider adopting me?

[@gilbertferguson1685]

Nice review. The Cayman like all Porsches are great driving cars. Not cheap to buy or maintain, but performance and driving experience will put a smile on your face every time.

[@bigjoes.1545]

Thank you for being a bastion of car journalism. This publication is an example that quality work is always worth it.

[@LouieDoesaThing]

Love my GTS 4.0 so much. So many smiles per mile and it just never gets old driving it. It is a very, very special car.

[@drewcas76]

Love these videos - testing at 40k is genius. What’s still great, what’s grating, maintenance. Great stuff!

[@nomoracin]

i'm surprised that he didn't complain about the tall gearing. one small thing that i hate is that you can't change tracks when listening to something on carplay.

[@pauljoyquilter359]

I have driven my 981 GTS from 7am till 10pm with a few stops and felt great afterwards. It is hands down the best fun, most comfortable and capable car that I have ever owned - well beyond the BMW M5 that I had. A true drivers car, and more. I would be interested in your comments on the differences between the 3.4 and 4.0 flat sixes in real world use.

[@tamasszabo8824]

I had a 987 S for 11 years and 130 k miles. Current car is a GTS 4.0. Both Caymans. The 987 actually sounded much better, but the 4.0 has more torque everywhere and its' PDK shifts much faster than the older unit. Fuel consumption has also improved: 340 miles vs. 400 miles/tank with the new one. Overall, the GTS 4.0 is better in every aspect than the 987 (981 is pretty much the same), but engine sound. It sounds nice over 4-5000 rpm.

[@wyang4895]

I had a 2014 Cayman S and currently have a 2023 Cayman GTS. The 2023 is faster everywhere - that's the biggest difference. I had manual in both and the 2023 has better clutch engagement and the steering is better as well.

[@a64738]

I just did two 17 hours drives (with stops to eat and fill fuel) and switch drivers as we was in 2 my 2012 Ford Transit 3 seater box van (it is the size of a small house 3,3m tall). The most relaxing was being a driver as the 2 seat passenger seat is not adjustable... Strange thing that I had less pain and muscle aches after 17 hours with that car then 2x3 hours with my mom`s Golf... Now I look forward to do the same trip with my own Porsche hopefully i buy after januar 2025 :)

[@wheelwrightpl9429]

So the professional drivers destroyed the clutch on this thing, and it costs $4900 to replace ? That throws a lot of cold water on the ownership proposition..

[@papa_pt]

Professional car reviewers not drivers 😉

[@biznatcho7]

You should watch Jason Cammisa’s video on 0-60 times to understand why clutches don’t last very long around automotive media.

[@wheelwrightpl9429]

@@biznatcho7It looks to me that Porsche or BMW (with which I had a similar $$$$ clutch "experience") don't care about clutch durability, and why should they ? It is huge money-grab for them, with no recourse on part of consumers, because the final warranty-denial verdict always belongs to the manufacturer. And they blame "driver abuse". That's at least my (terrible) experience in Canada with BMW. But I am a sucker for punishment, because my next car will probably be a manual G29.

[@Dragobrath]

Get a PDK.

[@wheelwrightpl9429]

@@Dragobrath IMHO manual is better suited for everyday driving, because it keeps me engaged. I agree that PDK would probably be preferable on track, especially for a novice.

[@HZACHARY2004]

The Cayman S was my first, and most fun Porsche. After that, I only bought Porsches hoping for the same experience. Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan, 2 911s, but none of those delivered the same satisfying experience.

[@peterbregman1382]

Agree my first Porsche was 2006 S fave car ever but just ordered the 2025 GTS loaded.

I've been waiting for this video and corresponding article for at least a year now, finally! Thank you C&D team, and Carlos - your long term articles on the 4.0, opinions, and some of the options you picked are what made me even more confident when I pulled the trigger on my new build. Picked her up last October, last of the manual + N/A cayman/boxster platform - she's a keeper. I absolutely love every mile I put on it :)

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Congratulations, what color int/ext. ?

@@melaniezimmermann-jv7th Thanks! Race-tex extended leather interior with black brushed aluminum, gentian blue exterior with satin platinum wheels. Took many months on the configurator but it turned out exactly how I wanted

[@johnbambo9036]

Stepped out of a 2014 981s (PDK) Boxster here in Australia into a 2024 718 GTS (Manual) Boxster. The PDK is a fantastic gearbox but the Manual on a country road is just magnificent. The 718 is an improvement over the 981 in every way except noise. I'd call that one a draw, they're just different in that regard.

[@neofaktion]

Definitely! I went for a 718 due to the improved technology and chassis, but a 6-cyl would sometimes be nice!

[@Bmontepeque11]

I love seeing these long term test results along with the money spent on the and the experiences with the car! Specially when it is for one of my favorite cars on sale, the 718 GTS 4.0!

[@MandalorianOfMiatas]

2:49 basically a Miata right there dude!

[@VK6AB-]

Great review. The one off "buttons not working" was most likely a voltage issue relating to battery charge level. The clutch issue .......drum roll, PDK. Never had an issue with my 981 GTS, just service plus change over of normal wear items. There's more interior storage than you mentioned e.g. behind the seats and the two slide closing bins behind the seats, one for the driver and one for the passenger. I own some great cars and the 981 GTS was a keeper for me and I'm sure a lot of 718 GTS 4L owners will feel the same way. Its an incredibly versatile sports car, will do everything from a track day to a road trip.

[@briani3599]

I am shocked about the issues with your car. I have owned 6 Porsches including a boxter GTS 4.0 and have had 0 issues with any. And they get track time.

[@angelo12321]

Were these low mileage cars? I did about 20 track days a year on my 981 Gts and it definitely had some small issues but all came with the territory

[@briani3599]

@@angelo12321 40-60k miles. Normal wear and tear but nothing like the test car experienced.

[@jameswillard1]

Don’t understand the complaints about lack of storage space. There are 2 small cubbie spaces in door pockets (on each door) and a center console lid that lifts to reveal more storage. What else is expected of a 2 seat mid engined car with 2 trunks? What you should’ve been complaining about was the long gearing

[@MDQDZINE]

Exactly...2 trunks..use them. (One hatch and one trunk)

[@tomwojcik7896]

It seems that they were really complaining about the lack of usable cupholders.

[@ohmyggg]

Plus you can use the engine cover itself as a parcel shelf. You can also get a net to secure items stored up there.

[@tamasszabo8824]

There are 8 different storage spaces in the Cayman cabin: glovebox, center console, door pockets, net in passenger footwell, engine cover (older models had a detachable net to hold things in place), lidded compartments lateral to the engine cover. The frunk can swallow a 25" Samsonite.

[@jonasbaine3538]

Yes finally someone else mentions excessively long gear ratios. Every manual Porsche suffers from ridiculously long gears. Wonder how expensive it would be to swap the differential?

[@JamTime0690]

I really enjoy Car and Driver and how this type of journalism is still around. Thank you

[@vvarioPL]

Hopefully I’ll pick my Boxster with that engine next week after a year-long wait. The break-in period will be a damn torture 😂

[@masterchinese28]

Congrats!

[@rdadams7507]

Congrats! You’re going to love it.

[@neilturner6749]

There’s no break-in period on non-GT engines. Not suggesting you go crazy, but no need to pussyfoot around either…

[@kristxlaw]

Congratulations, you will truly love it!

[@rdadams7507]

@@neilturner6749 That’s totally false. The manual clearly states there is a 2,000 mile break-in period.

[@PorscheCaymanG]

One thing to keep in mind with Porsche maintenance costs is that the problem isn’t the cars. Porsches are very well made cars. The high cost comes from the dealers. I go to independent shops and ownership cost is extremely reasonable.

[@TNation98]

Carlos Lagos is amazing. Thank you for hiring him. He's legit incredible!

[@jondiaz3475]

The annoying thing about the current interior storage issue is that the original Boxster had door pockets that could each hold half a Chicago-style pizza beneath the armrest, and didn't impinge on hip room at all. Really clever design, and super useful. We are still daily driving a 23-year old 986, and with the exception of having to get the car up into the air for virtually everything service related, its an easy car to keep around.

[@amirlavaf1]

I own this car and have the same issues with the air conditioning not working intermittently as well as the car play messing with the SiriusXM radio. Porsche couldn’t figure out the issue. Still happens to this day. Other than that, It’s flawless.

[@perfect_performance_brandon]

There’s a bulletin for the ac. The DME needs to be programmed.

[@vikd4292]

14k miles in 2.5 years for me. hoping to keep it for a long time. pure joy

[@Petrol_and_Cabernet]

Porsche ownership is an abusive cult. Paying for "options" that are standard items in a Camry is simply insulting. Add in the availability of the cars and dealer-adjusted markup, and Porsche is playing its buyers as chumps.

[@xtnuser5338]

No they're not. We are fully aware that they're overpriced. And they know we're fully aware. And we know they know, and they know we know they know, etc.

[@romulus_]

we're such stupid chumps that we figured out how to afford to be chumps. so, who's the chump in the end?

[@don6148]

That’s why you are not their target market

[@stchupidee]

After years of driving high HP cars-M5s, CTSV etc, never went through a clutch in less than 100K miles. After replacing a GT4 clutch, I realized it's the same (undersized) clutch from the 2.7L Boxster...roh roh...so they raided the parts bin for a premier car and cheaped out on the clutch. Add in a clutch delay valve to "save the drivetrain" and you know why clutch was destroyed in short order. Although, 26K miles is a long time for the 718 4.0 engine. Bravo C&D. GT4s with similar power are losing clutches significantly earlier, with just a little help from our friends....at Porsche.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

What about the pdk variant? I have a 981 S, hope its built to last

[@stchupidee]

@Jay-xr3sb Reports from the race teams about the "service life" of the pdk come back with "there is none". So they're pretty stout. That said, I serviced mine, as in a fluid only change, at 10K. Fluid was amber and not in need of doing the filter yet. Will likely do fluid and filter at 20K.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

@@stchupidee I'm coming to my 12 Yr service, will have to pony up for pdk fluids/oil. Had the padm fault but otherwise a rock solid car!

[@n0vast0rm]

"We're not most Porsche owners, in fact we kinda get a perverse joy out of seeing what these cars do in real winter." Translation: We don't have to pay for these cars with our own money.

[@masterchinese28]

Translation: why we envy automotive journalists.

[@stephenfoster6940]

Insightful comment about the car being fun to drive even with half the power. That’s why every Boxster/Cayman ever made is fun to drive! 😊

[@gbarton800]

It’s absolutely true… 10 years with a 981B… best car I’ve owned with a long list of cars to compare including: Audi RSs, 987.1C, 997.1S, Shelby GT350, S2000s, and more!

[@stephenfoster6940]

@@gbarton800 Love my 981B 6MT. It’s going to be with me for a very long time. It will be interesting to see whether the next gen EV Boxster/Cayman will capture the essence of their predecessors.

[@mdx9286]

Every sportscar owner will tell you that complaining about space to store a Big Gulp and a bag of McDonald's is a non-starter. No one buys a two-door sportscar to haul around excess bulk. If anything, we're trying to find ways to lessen the overall weight for improved performance.

[@Dragobrath]

It's quite ironic that people complain about the storage space, when Cayman has the most of it compared to other cars in its class. Frunk is bottomless, you can fit long items under the read window, and can put large boxes on the passenger seat. Then you can install wireless carplay, and you never need to take your phone out of your pocket (or wallet, or the keys... seriously, why would you keep them in the car?). Just get in and drive.

[@CHEDDARANDWAFFLES]

That last “maintenance” can be done DIY for less than $200

[@TheGardenMG]

I assume you mean the spark plugs? There's no way you can torque them correctly without the special tool from Porsche.

[@m.hfitness]

@@TheGardenMGdoes anyone make a knockoff version yet?

[@kineticU]

Whaaaat this is not like a Toyota? 😊 My 718 4.0 Spyder reliable as heck. 10K miles and hope to get much more until my knees wear out

[@2whl4re]

Here's an observation - the people in the comment section complaining and nitpicking about stuff that isn't perfect with this car, are also the people who don't own one. The commenters who own one aren't complaining.

[@_que]

Thank u for that. Interesting there was an oil leak so early in the ownership of this type of car. Clutch replacement seemed early, but must be the cost of having fun.

[@oreally8605]

When you beat on a car, Porsche or Scion xB wear is gonna happen.

[@bdoggery]

No sir. There are a TON of clutch failures on the 4.0 platform. It’s all over Rennlist so info is easy to find. Mine went bad at 9400 miles and I’ve been driving manuals for 20 plus years. Replacing it with a heavy duty clutch and LWFW next week.. the stock clutch is basically made of styrofoam..

[@jonathancollard3710]

It’s amazing what Porsche can do to eke out a return on its R&D investment; this body style is now 12 years old!… I had one back in 2013 and it’s more or less the same inside with a few detail changes to exterior. Hats off 😉

[@opobadge]

Bit perplexed by the storage complaint, there’s tonnes of storage in the doors, glove box, front and back trunks and rear parcel shelf !! I did a 3k mile road trip across Europe in mine, with 2 people across 2 weeks with literally not even a thought about storage! There’s more storage than any other 2 seat sports car on the market!! Nice review though, I’ve done 19k miles now and it’s still absolutely brilliant

[@markw9512]

Spark plugs at 30k miles?? Modern spark plugs are supposedly good for closer to 100k miles. Weird.

[@daviddee7103]

should be 40k miles (service is every 20K miles with an oil change once a year), the problem with the 100k is often the plugs will weld its self to the head and you cannot get it loose...

[@gilbertferguson1685]

Spark plugs are part of the 40 k mile service unless you have exceeded the time limit. I had them replaced on my 911 at 30 k miles for that reason.

[@daviddee7103]

at 40k most shops apply some anti-seize to each plug for that reason...@@gilbertferguson1685

[@specialperson170]

Honestly even 150k is where most thing start to break 40k miles is almost nothing by todays standards

[@WestCoastSupercarsandClassics]

About 5:30 in, Carlos mentions the lack of override control for auto rev-matching - on our 2023 718 Spyder there is a button on the centre console which controls it. Very simple Yes it's a different model but you get the idea. btw the Spyder is just sublime, it's everything you wish for in a complete package from Porsche. It's also discontinued...so there's that.

[@angelscarreviews6094]

New subscriber here! Also If the satellite radio buttons don’t work inside the Porsche 718 GTS, maybe it’s because the car can get old if it has problems. BTW what an excellent driving experience.

[@sanderabernathy6276]

The A/C issue is common on the 718. Sometimes it will just not work. Some combination of restarting the car and waiting 10 minutes fixes it.

[@jonasbaine3538]

😮😂

[@ianmitchell9102]

The air con / buttons problem could of probably been resolved by a shut down, lock, walk away, and unlock All modern cars have an electrical fault once in a while in my experience Great 40,000 mile review 👍

[@allareasindex7984]

German engineer: Why do you want a cup holder in the car? Do you have a steering wheel on your coffee table?

[@TML34]

Wow, shocking reliability issues. I thought it was only Nick Murray. 😅

[@MarkLRandall]

What, the clutch abuse?

[@mr.knowitall6902]

I put on 22,000 miles my first year, not one single problem. And what you have to remember is that these are press guys they do not care about the car they don’t own the car and they’re not gonna treat the car like a normal person that actually spent 99,000 of their own dollars.

[@monsieurpelz7090]

Would you take this Cayman GTS or the Corvette C8 you reviewed a year ago ?

[@wyang4895]

The one thing which made me not even consider getting a C8 is it doesn't come with a manual transmission. Not that you're asking me but thought I'd chime in.

[@maestroadam]

Great video -- lovely car

[@Mattxwill1]

Everytime i get close to buying one of these i hear the repair bills and my overly responsible financial sense takes over. Going on 10 years now. 😂

[@dimitritimos6321]

😂

[@andydufresne8034]

All I need to be happy in life is one of these and a Lexus RC-F, and this thermos, and that's all I need.

[@elizabethsmith7342]

I am on the same wavelength - my happiness is complete. My GTS was factory delivered in March 2023, and her garage mate is my Lexus LC500, another wonderful sounding and performing NAS motor, one of the final ones available. Both make some seriously addictive noises, V8, flat six.... My garage and driving wishes have come true.... Thanks Porsche for making the GTS, and pleasde stop sending me info on the "NEW" Electric versions. NOT NOT Interested.... ever.

[@nomoracin]

i wish i had opted for either the leather steering wheel or the carbon fiber one. as much as i love the alcantara, it is so hard to keep nice!

[@PrimitiveMLG]

Carlos Lago 2012-2015 peak journalism

[@anmu9038]

This could have been easily 30 min video and I would watch it eating every second haha

[@dlg5485]

I love the 718 GTS and have aspired to own one ever since it came out, but the cost of ownership has always given me pause. I'm not rich and a buying car like this would be a real stretch for me, in itself, and adding in $1000s in maint/repair costs just makes it far less appealing. There are other options that may not be quite as high on the desirability scale, but cost FAR less to own. Even something like a Mazda Miata, at a fraction of the price and minuscule maint costs, would be worth considering.

[@dlg5485]

@@inthefieldundertheskyI've done a bunch of research on the 718 and the one thing nearly everyone agrees on is the high cost of ownership. I like to DIY, so it's not necessarily a deal breaker, but this isn't the easiest car to self maintain, due to the mid engine layout and tight engine compartment making access extremely difficult. This is why most owners just let the Porsche garage maintain it, and we all know how expensive that is.

[@EvanK2EJT]

I have a 718 (a base car, not the 4.0 GTS), and it's really pretty inexpensive and easy to maintain if you do it yourself. Yeah, access to stuff can be a pain without a lift (I have 9 lifts available to me at work, so that's a non-issue for me), but it's doable. If you don't have the skillset or tools and equipment to do it yourself though.......yeah, it can be expensive.

[@murfenator82]

That is just insane to me that a $100k car that is less than 2 years old (albeit pretty heavily abused) had that many issues, has that much cabin noise, that few of options and still costs that much. I have a 2004 C5 Z06, and don't get me wrong, its nowhere near the same level of polished as a 2022 porsche, but in many ways its a very similar car. 405hp, 3100lbs, manual, sounds good and handles like a dream. Its noisy on the interior and the interior is definitely a joke in comparison to that 718, but the cruise volume level is not as bad as it (i got around 72db going 80mpd down the highway). Its super reliable and can take the abuse all day long. Again, im not saying a 20 year old gm product is in the same realms, or anywhere near as refined as a new porsche, but i don't think its worth 3x the cost either...

[@original2758]

$5,000 to replace a factory clutch is insane....Might as well of put in a performance clutch and lightweight flywheel while they were in there... My next upgrade btw, in my 02, 3.2 liter, 6 speed, 986, Porsche Boxster S with a Fabspeed exhaust, CAI, catless headers, IPD Plenum/TB, Numeric shifter etc.... 😊

[@alphabeta8403]

2:30 How it sounds 4:10 Not much interior space 6:05 Winter driving 7:05 $$$ cost in repairs 9:35 Expensive but wonderful

[@romeundernero]

I didn't take away anything from this review that I couldn't get from any other first time driving impression review.

[@yorbalindason]

Tuck the phone between the center tunnel console and the seat. That works fine in a 911 so should apply to a Cayman.

[@tamasszabo8824]

You can put an iPhone 15 Pro into the cubby in the front armrest.

[@v_n_bot]

more reviewers should do the long term reviews..... Just here for those long-term reviews😊

[@mjb0183]

Whoa whoa…..stopped from 70mph in 145 feet??? THAT is substandard. I saw a Cadillac Escalade V series stop from 60mph in 98 feet. Porsche should be embarrassed.

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Carlo... You can have as a no cost option a "nest" on the passenger side in order to carry some nice things. 😉

[@bladecutter1]

I custom ordered my 2015 Cayman back in February 2015, and took delivery of it in June 2015. I just hit 65k miles the other week. I have had 2 parts fail - The windshield washer fluid hose that makes a 90 degree bend at the front trunk hinge cracked, and the drivers window switch button does occasionally pop free, and just has to be snapped back into the switch body. I still love my Cayman as much today as I did 9 years ago when I picked it up at the dealership. And your costs for service are massively overblown. Buy a tool kit, and replace your own filters and spark plugs... Geez!

[@Showmetheevidence-]

How can you say his costs are overblown… he told you what the Porsche dealer charged for it. It’s a fact.

[@Michael_Lorenson]

Interesting and well done, thanks. If I could truly afford this Porsche, it still _might_ not be my final choice at its price, but it would be the one to beat going in. But, a hundred grand is a _lot_ of money...

[@scottsmith7337]

My 981 base only has 265 but feels every bit as fast as my 370z Nismo does !!!!

[@fredrosenfeld6450]

I owned a base 981 manual and it was a dog. My Kia Soul manual pulled harder. Drove a 2007 S manual and it ran harder. Drove a 2024 2.5S manual and it smoked both of them.

[@masterchinese28]

I saw one of these on sale recently with really low miles. I was tempted. I am curious how a 6'3" guy like me would fit in one.

[@danieltackett4089]

I’m 6’1” and fit fine with a helmet. Depends on legs vs. torso; I confirmed space before I ordered mine.

[@masterchinese28]

@@danieltackett4089 I'm long legs and average torso. Maybe I have hope!

[@danielpfister6774]

Similarly, I am 6'2" with longer legs and fit perfectly into mine (2023 CGTS4.0) ... just drop the seat down to its lowest position and you're good to go!

[@joshuabourgeois9734]

I can not imagine sitting so close to the steering wheel pulled all the way to you !

[@Htfsik]

Would the base Cayman be quieter?

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Aventurine green. ❤❤

[@AndreasMartinLaute]

A real car enthusiast doesn’t need cupholders.

[@SlickSniper3]

A little less reliable than I expected from the 718 4.0. Surprisingly the Supra you guys had was way more reliable.

[@J99tru]

Very good review. Thanks

[@ernesternest815]

Even better, get a base 981 at less than half the price and whine that 2.7l out and enjoy that flat 6 song.

[@whatspeedlimits]

If a tech 'doesn't have the tool' to do a job- don't let that shop do the job. Also- if a clutch can fail in a high performance car- it is underbuilt from the factory. Example- my '04 VW R32- I modifed (all motor) to make 25% more wheel hp than stock...and did hundreds of drag strip runs...no issue with the clutch. Other R32 owners could put turbos- no issue- up to 400awhp. Yet my wife's stock '17 VW GLI slips it's stock clutch on the highway when floored in 4-5th gear. VWAG (including Porsche) has been cutting cost / build quality since Piech died.

[@a0dancing0dino]

Carlos, what did you think of the gearing? Too long to enjoy it in urban areas?

[@Stigs722]

What a car!

[@bernardomedellin8997]

That’s precisely how I would spec that car, also probably my sport car in a real 3 car garage … had the money w buy it from you.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

Rather have the 981S for half the price, 95% of the car and it sounds better...(front looks better too)

[@6SpeedTA95]

Forums show that these 4.0 cars in GTS and GT4 trim are prone to eating clutches which is kinda odd. Makes me think Porsche just didn't put a strong enough clutch and/or pressure plate in the car.

[@nelson1525]

Have a 2014 Cayman S 325hp 50k+ miles...cupholders are great, hold whatever fits, it is loud...depends on tires and surface but who cares when that sound right behind your ears is singing. Have the PDK w/paddles, love that. Have changed the filters my self, easy. Will do the oil change, easy. Will do the brakes and plugs, also easy, when the time comes. Just the normal routine stuff saves you thousands. Check youtube to see how easy maintenance is. If you're paying the dealer, you're lazy and wealthy... good on you. Handling is superb, and I also have PTV, Porsche Torque Vectoring, traction control, makes cornering, and turn in sharper. Mid engines give great balance and increase your confidence in corners. Nothing compares. Used ones do not cost more than new. When buying used, make sure history records are kept and everything has been documented. Well kept ones are almost bulletproof...follow routine maintenance and minimize issues down the road.

[@captnjim44smith74]

I have settled on the GTS after months of considering the GT4 and Boxter. Living in the Deep South, black interior is not an option for me.

[@dangrass]

What was the fuel economy? $3,200 in service cost? Rear tires only lasted 20k miles? Clutch gave out at 26k miles? $4,900 to repair? Tensioner oil leak? High oil consumption? AC gave out? Sat radio became intermittent? Egads....there's a real double standard here. If a Tesla was this bad Carlos would be waxing eloquently about how bad the build quality was. While I often think about a used Cayman as an occasional use car for when I get tired of the Tesla's quiet, speed, comfort, and everyday usability, it's clear that the issues that have made older Caymans a non-starter seem to have been replaced by a new set of issues. These cars have way too many design/build problems to viable long term ownership candidates. it's really too bad. While a Miata isn't as cool as this thing, unlike the Cayman, it's a viable and ownable lightweight sports car for when you want a visceral sports car experience.

[@williamfischer3990]

I get the impression that this is the car that Carlos would gladly keep for himself.

[@arkachatterjee5179]

That AC intermittency issue plagues my 2023 model. It’s not serious - a restart of the car fixes it. But it’s annoying since porsche can’t fix it unless it experiences it (and the intermittency of the problem makes it hard to reproduce on command).

[@perfect_performance_brandon]

There’s a bulletin for the ac blowing warm. The DME needs to be proframmed

[@peteeberhardt3769]

One should always get get a 911 AWD with PDK. :) Eliminates those maintenance problems; consumer reports ranks those cars as very reliable for a reason.

[@eag8999]

You somehow think pdk is more reliable than a manual? Lol they regularly break on tracked cars and cost tens of thousand. Also, big pass on awd unless it is your only car and you live in the north.

[@pedrobergollo3068]

9:12 the AC thing is def a Volkswagen thing bc the same thing happened in my 18 sq5. But then it came back and we were fine

[@0xyg3n]

Don't you dare offend the most elaborate cup holder in history!

[@gordonmarshall7362]

Great presentation. Greeting from Toronto. Love your review. I love that cars colour If I won the lottery I’ve dreamt of purchasing a new Boxster with European delivery and driving to visit my wife’s family in a very small mountain town in Austria. I haven’t won the lottery yet. Keep reviewing my dream brand. Oh I own a 986 Boxster for over 18 years love it. Everyday when I start it up my face smiles despite having to replace the engine Thanks G