Is the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 Better With A Manual Or PDK?

[@DriveSteady]

Which do you prefer for your GTS 4.0, manual or pdk?

[@wday482]

Definitely manual.

[@DriveSteady]

The right choice 👌

[@damo5701]

GTS 4.0 Manual or PDK? Either, there is no wrong answer! The excellent gearbox & clutch along with rev matching (for those who with two left feet) makes the decision more difficult than in some models where the manual box & clutch can often be unwieldy or heavy & slow. Of course purists, a word sometimes synonymous with w⚓, would tell you it has to be manual. They will poo poo base and S Caymans for not having 6 cylinders. Buy whatever floats your boat.

[@VK6AB-]

PDK, there is no right choice there is only the right choice for the owner. However, why does Porsche offer the RS models only with PDK. 😀 A more interesting consideration is engine choice. I prefer the 3.4L in the 981 GTS (with PTV), 340HP and 380Nm torque, just perfect for most back road driving e.g. it can be wrung out and makes a lot of great noises particularly with the PSE. A lower HP car driven to its full is often more rewarding than a high HP car ever held back.

[@Alex718GTS4.0]

Manual

[@jacebeleren429]

I have a gts4.0 and to me the question was simple; name the next time you will be able to buy a naturally aspirated six cylinder Porsche for under 100k?

[@DriveSteady]

That's exactly the point I try to make at the end of the video....thanks for watching

[@Alex718GTS4.0]

That is precisely why I bought mine. A sports car with NA motor, only two seats, 6-spd MT, 400hp, that weighs less than 3100 lbs. It's an amazing car that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

[@wizzpet6562]

You listed all the reasons why I bought my manual Boxster GTS 4.0 without even a test drive (none available)… and I don’t regret it one bit! Great review!

[@rembo183]

They’re great but so darn expensive! What did your cost?

[@wizzpet6562]

@@rembo183 Got mine before the pandemic & inflation craziness when they were still below 100k$ in Canada. Even negotiated a discount which is now a thing of the past!

[@rembo183]

@@wizzpet6562 - 👍🏻

[@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!!!"

[@amac8487]

I own a 718 GTS… and normally I would opt for manual in nearly all sports cars. But, the PDK is just SO SO SO good, that with Porsche I opted for PDK. It really allows to extract the most out of the car. I have no regrets at all

[@Dragobrath]

This. I really value the ability to focus on the road, surroundings and the actual driving.

[@ExLiteW]

sounding like a skill issue. Can do all of this with a manual lol@@Dragobrath

[@juergenGTS]

Thanks great video. Getting my Boxster GTS manual in 10 days. Last of its kind. Super excited.

[@DriveSteady]

Congrats...awesome car. Enjoy

[@DriveSteady]

Congrats...awesome car. Enjoy

[@pauljoyquilter359]

The only caveat to the PDK versus manual question is - those of us who have knee injuries so can’t drive a manual in heavy traffic, which is why I have the PDK on my Cayman GTS.

[@Wu.Tang.Financial]

Drove both, bought the manual. The PDK is amazing and more practical, but with the manual it’s essentially the perfect drivers car outside of rare exotics that you can daily drive. The tall gearing has an upside in that you don’t have to shift that much as a commuter, and that stick is as sweet as they come. You can’t go wrong either way, but if you’re aching for a proper drivers car this one is near flawless

[@trigganometry168]

Easy choice it's the manual transmission which is cheaper upfront and commands more money then the PDK on the backend if you ever decide to sell. Money aisde if the manual trnasmisssion was more expensive I would have still paid the $$$ for it. In just 10 months of ownership it has become my forever car and believe nothing will ever be as good as this car. I was lucky enough to avoid the markup and the price increase for MY 23 & 24 I got mines at $90430 plus $1350 for delievery. The same spec in my 2022 GTS would now cost almost $9k more on the configurator. Also if they had updated the interior to the 992 911 generation interior with all those screens and piano black trim I probably would have passed on the purchase. I love analog gauges and actual buttons!

[@DriveSteady]

You got in at the perfect time! Such an awesome car

[@jonfrench7133]

Actually in the UK the PDK commands a higher resale

[@jonfrench7133]

With you on the 992 and piano black interior. No thank you

[@trigganometry168]

@@jonfrench7133. Interesting market in the UK. I wondered if that will swing the other way once the manuals transmissions goes extinct.

[@DriveSteady]

Oh interesting! Do you happen to know why?

[@chrisgilligan4968]

I grew up driving manual - and love it.....but hard to argue the PDK being half a second faster 0-60.

[@jaytee743]

Interesting...I may have missed it, but I wonder if there is an aftermarket exhaust on that car or if the mic was picking up outside noise? My GTS 4.0 doesn't sound like that inside. I went to a C&C today and after driving around in a friend's GT4 w/ OAPs, I'll definitely be upgrading soon. The sound is so muted in the stock car. Also, I have a manual and one issue I overlooked with the long gears is that because it's a NA engine, you don't get a lot of power down low. As such I pretty much always keep it above 4k. And if you decide to follow the user manual, you aren't supposed to rev higher than 4k for the first 2k miles so you could be in for a painful break-in period.

[@DriveSteady]

I have a mic mounted right by the exhaust, I cut it in and out when I accelerate, good catch!

[@mangomaniac95]

Engineering of PDK is top notch. Driving experience of manual is second to none.

[@Little_Britain74]

Convinced me to go manual! And I usually hate manuals. But like a Miata I think this is the only other car that an automatic transmission (no matter how good) takes something away from the driver engagement

[@DriveSteady]

Manual all the way

[@whatsupwithsteve]

Great video & I'm so excited! I just got one of the last allocations for a '25 and put my order in today, with a stick of course..:) Whoopee and take that EV mandate...:)

[@DriveSteady]

💪💪💪 did you get manual or pdk?

[@whatsupwithsteve]

@@DriveSteady Blasphemy....I got the only way to get one of these....that nice shifting manual 6speed..:)

[@DriveSteady]

@whatsupwithsteve good choice

[@whatsupwithsteve]

@@DriveSteady Haha thanks, looking fwd to it!!

[@fivepotfury1132]

Great video! The Lotus Emira checks almost all of those boxes expect the NA engine :)

[@DriveSteady]

😀....Want to drive one of those!

[@gmund317]

That's a HUGE box left unchecked

[@cartergarnon6299]

You still have to install a valve controller in order to keep the valves fully open. $250 for that, plus bmc filters, and you’ve got the hard top version of the best all around car Porsche makes.

[@DriveSteady]

Agree!

[@jacebeleren429]

The pro move is to get the soul performance OOF delete.

[@felipeandresferesserrano2652]

Which valve controller you recomend

[@carminered]

@@jacebeleren429 the proer move is the JCR OPF delete

[@ianexum1961]

Completely agree. And I chose a 2023 GTS 4.0 (6M).

[@rembo183]

I totally agree with you but I haven’t gotten one because the pricing has gone through the roof in the last few years. They are selling well over $100k. Markups are common and hit the enthusiast on a fixed income hard. Of course they do hold value better than most.

[@b54est1]

I’ve owned 9 Porsches and a BMW M3. The first drive of the GTS was Holy Shit Fabulous and better than the rest

[@b54est1]

I’ve got the Manual

[@a64738]

"Better" like faster? With manual No... Better like more fun with manual ? YES !!!

[@neilgaydon5430]

Typically I love manual (my F430) but ordered PDK given the extra torque and low down pull for day to day. The manual was great when wringing it out. It’s a pity. Both are great alternatives.

[@m5pilot397]

Extra torque?

[@neilgaydon5430]

@@m5pilot397 420Nm manual 430 Nm PDK

[@solar5286]

If you can get past the long gear ratio on the manual, it’s great. But you don’t get to shift very often or rev out the engine unless you’re on the highway. I would have liked to see a bit shorter gears!

[@DriveSteady]

Yup shorter gears would make it pretty close to perfect

[@solar5286]

@@DriveSteadythat would be what, probably what a $10k mod? Less then the markup on these lmao

[@DriveSteady]

Haha, pretty much

[@rgp8038]

Just got mine with a PDK.

[@Libra67jtc]

Its a no brainer....if you commute in the city dsily PDK makes sense. If you not a daily city commeter and live out of town in the country or suburbs then manual is the way to go. Just use common sense when making your purchase. My definition of a "PUREST" is someone who thinks he is a great driver becaise he spends to much time driving racing sim games and not the real thing.😊

[@waltvancourt5052]

I see dealers with 10k mark-up on these. I still keep stalling my sypder on takeoffs 1 or 2 times when i take a spin ! 😅

[@DriveSteady]

Love the Spyder too! Manual or pdk?

[@waltvancourt5052]

@@DriveSteadymy 1st manual !

[@DriveSteady]

You made the right choice. Top down + 6 speed manual + 4L =amazing. Keep that car forever if you can

[@el_terrible_chevalier]

I understand all the hype for the purist sensations with a manual transmission, but man, One of the greatest ingeneering that Porsche have it's his PDK. I'd go for it. If I want a manual, I could go for any other car. You're gonna tell me that you're going to miss maybe the best automatic transmission in the market? I say hell to the no

[@WilliamBadmf]

I have been reading all the comments on which to choose. I have a brand new 2025 GTS on order. Really torn between the manual or the PDK but with this comment of yours, I think I will go with the PDK

[@georgepotcovaru2595]

Thumbs up ! Please consider using 'really' less often , lots of reviewers do it as well ..

[@motorconcierge]

I love PDK, but make manual great again!

[@DriveSteady]

100%

[@Aiken47]

$260k in Australia

[@DANNY40379]

I'm a control freak, so it's a manual for me😋

[@prawnstar9213]

Every single thing you can option is optioned and to me it’s gross.. it’s the only company you can get a red or yellow AND heated for $0 though.

[@andrewharvey6213]

The GT3 and the GT4 have different engines, and the 718 4.0 has the GT4 engine, slightly detuned.

[@Demmrir]

He included the GT4 RS in that list, which has a GT3 engine. I'm assuming that's what happened for his benefit.

[@DriveSteady]

That's what I meant. Thanks for clarifying

[@andrewharvey6213]

So to clarify: the GT4 and the GT3 have different engines and the GT4RS and the GT3 have the same engine and the GT4 and the GTS have the same engine and the GT4RS and the GT4 have different engines. Simple!

[@DriveSteady]

Exactly

[@jandejong8209]

Dont be fooled, check the bore and stroke on the gts 4.0 and the gt3. You will see that the bore and stroke are identical, however this doesnt mean it is the same engine. There are so many things that determine the feel and power delivery of an engine, for example, valves, injectors, pistons, fuel pumps, just to name a few. All those different components change the engine, so the fatc that the bore and stroke are the same doesnt mean the engines are the same.

[@andresmattos7541]

Its still overpriced AF

[@123antimiro]

Cayman never with 4.0 you need to rev it and rev it but it is not a motorbike it is a car. The best Cayman is with 2,0 or 2,5 Turbo engine with sport exhaust from Tubi Style or other sport exhaust producer with the pedal box from DTE Germany and last but not least. PDK is a must. If you want to change a gear use a paddles unders steering wheel and it is great!

[@m5pilot397]

Those four-banger turbos sure sound, uh, well, uh, not awesome. PDK is great on the track. You don’t need it on the street. It’s heavier, and costs almost $4000.