Lotus Emira vs Porsche Cayman GTS! Full Detailed Comparison - Sound, Performance, Daily Use, & More

[@Hapkin]

Emira is the perfect 2nd or 3rd car for true drivers. It encapsulates what I value in the driving experience. Hydraulic steering when everyone else is EPAS, chassis PERFECTION, DOUBLE WISHBONES, visceral feel, carrying momentum, the interesting ability to use weight distribution to your advantage coming out of corners early like in a 911. To me its the perfect newest old car you can get.

[@annenominous7220]

its really just a 1992 honda accord with a better engine! exact same suspension, steering linkages, its comical.

[@EventfulMugs]

As a Lotus driver, I must say this is a very good and fair review. Well done guys.

[@alechappy2070]

I do want a Lotus just for the 2GR - FE supercharged... I have a Toyota/ Lexus V6 and that motor will outlive Porsche itself. It is motivation without complication. The Porsche is great but the Lotus is wild, naked vocal sex in a public Arena.

[@CapitulationTrader]

First time I’ve ever seen your content. You do great work. You communicate complicated information in a simple manner. Great great work. I really enjoyed all your discussions. Thank you

[@dbrentski4800]

Agree - first timer also... decent production.

[@theartfuldodger9408]

I watch a lot of car KZbinrs and review channels and this by far has been the absolute best I’ve seen. Bloody well done.

[@Ascerian]

I wasn't sure what to think when I saw the length of this video, but I'm so glad I watched it. Freaking awesome so far good job guys

[@Ascerian]

finished watching. Best car comparison video I ever saw. 🏎️❤️

[@AaronStarkLinux]

I think I like the Porsche more, but I also like the Emira, but the Porsche is a Porsche after all, but then... The Emira is also amazing. I like the Porsche more, but I also prefer the Emira, I like the Emira and the Porsche, but..... IDK Man, LEAVE ME ALONE!

[@jonnyspeed]

I find new Porsches to be too clinical and dull (over-refined) until you get into the high end GT cars, which are out of my budget at the moment.

[@Peanutdenver]

I would personally choose the Emira, if I didn't want the Porsche or if it was a Thursday then of course it'd be the Emira. So the obvious choice is of course is the Porsche Emira.

[@Hapkin]

If I ever get another Porsche it will be a GT3 or GT4 RS. Everything else is boring to me with my priorities on steering feel and feedback, chassis feel and engagement and emotional feel.

[@acidcube6967]

😊😊😊😊

[@misnomerl6329]

I'll take Emira all day over GTS.

[@happy.madison6216]

Do the 3rd cat delete + milltek valve controller on the Emira and it sounds wild. For literally $650 USD the entire sound changes dramatically and I don't think there is any longer a comparison between the two. The Emira sounds absolutely insane.

[@Magic_Vince]

Same for the Cayman. Sounds wild with a modded exhaust.

[@Hapkin]

Mine is sitting in a box ready to install

[@beerwolf2836]

Unfortunately not possible for me in Switzerland due to homologation regs, but it sounds pretty good with the standard exhaust in sport mode

[@barryrodgers3039]

I was on the waitlist for a Porsche Carrera T and the Emira. From what my dealer said, the 4.0 718's are almost impossible to get. In the end, I went with the Porsche 911 T because an allocation came up first. I was a little relieved because the Lotus dealer was out of state and it seems like a riskier purchase. However I still think the Lotus is a more beautiful and more exotic car. It also sounds better.

[@hangpilot1200]

I daily my 981 Cayman. 78,000miles and climbing. The howl of a flat-6 is intoxicating. The look of the uninitiated as I open to Frunk to load a cart full of groceries 🤣

[@andrei120592]

Mee too ! The best sound in my opinion

[@Rex_Racer]

I’ve had people stop and ask if I had engine trouble while loading the frunk. Additionally, people have been shocked at the gas station when they see you filling up the front fender 😂

[@Ascerian]

I had a 987.1 for many years and i agree, the sound is the best thing about it. The Bose stereo amplifier in mine broke, and i never fixed it ....ever. Didn't need a stereo, you have that engine!!! Above 4000 rpm it's just amazing.

[@williamjackson5357]

While putting the groceries in my frunk one Sunday morning, this sarcastic a**hole driving a mustang says” hey it looks like someone stole your engine “. I replied “no, I just put it behind my seat to give my Porsche more balance and stability going into and out of curves while you will have to decelerate in your car”. He was freaking speechless 🏎

[@jimiverson3085]

I have a 987 Boxster. Was putting things in both trunks one day when a guy asked me where the engine was. I told him it didn't have one and that I moved it with my feet like Fred Flintstone.

[@timoliver8940]

Harry Metcalfe (the Harry’s garage Channel on KZbin ) drove himself and his wife from UK to the South of France in his barely run in Emira last year - they didn’t seem to have too many problems with luggage space for two.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

Harry has now sold his emira, for a tidy loss

[@MatroX67]

I thought 2h+ was way too long for such a comparison but actually it's pretty much the amount of time needed to do it well! Great content

[@SShepherd]

I had a hard choice between those two, but my main issue with the Emira was the lack of dealerships in the US, which limits the service availability, and the feedback from owners on all the issues they've been having with their new Emira's. I ended up going with the 2024 Porsche Boxster convertible, and always on my list to add to the garage anyway especially with the upcoming EV change. The Emira's exterior design and engine however made it a strong contender.

[@rondail5675]

That is my issue also. Cars have issues and need service. Now if Lotus could work out a service program with Toyota......

[@ckjl7704]

better drive one before they turn EV

[@beerwolf2836]

This was a great comparison between two great cars! I’ve owned an Emira (green verdant, V6 manual) for a year now, and its a delicious combination of killer looks and a dramatic driving experience. It’s outstanding as a very special-feeling sports car. It’s an exciting event to drive, every time, and gets a lot of attention. The plan was to sell my beloved manual Boxster S, but I couldn’t do it and ended up keeping it as a really practical, fun and user-friendly daily driver, and for those days when I want to get the roof down. Porsches are very popular where I live in Switzerland, but that’s because they are quality. The Lotus is in a different category - it feels just very special, rare and beautiful. But I love them both

[@gp1683]

Emira Adaptive Cruise, Page 89 of the owners manual. "* Adaptive cruise control option is only available for Emira V6 automatic transmission vehicles or Emira 4-cylinder models fitted with the 8-speed dual clutch transmission system."

[@autodigitvlogs]

Manual drivers aren't interested in "technah largy!"

[@somerisme]

I've got the Auto... Adaptive cruise didn't make it to production.. the buttons are there but they do nothing

[@jonasbaine3538]

Ridiculous and just like gr86 where manual cars don’t get radar cruise yet my 2015 mustang gt 6 speed has radar cruise…🙄

[@allenyao552]

I ordered an Emira just for the looks. I think it’s one of the best looking cars of all time. Though I ordered the car more than 2 years ago it’s still not here, and I have to live with the lotus problems.

[@beerwolf2836]

When you get it, it really is worth the wait 😊

[@allenyao552]

@@beerwolf2836 🥲I would really hope so

[@paultune1696]

Keep the faith, it is absolutely worth waiting for.

[@allenyao552]

@@paultune1696 My buddy waited for 3 years and finally got his Emira. Now it's my turn😶

[@michaeldarby6655]

I just found out mine is formally in production! Just in time of xmas, only 1.5 years later... can't wait

[@jonfarah8529]

love this type of reviews, very detailed, hours long, uncut

[@Steveawm430]

Thanks for a very interesting and thorough review of two great sports cars. Looking forward to your next instalment!

[@chrisharris4223]

Ive driven both, you summarise it really well. The Emira is more special and as a second car would be my pick. But I went for the Porsche. My GTS is my only car though (don’t do many miles for work) and I did feel the reliability, practicality, dealer network supported a more ‘sensible’ decision. Great review

[@KurokoShirai]

Regarding wireless carplay -- you can get a wireless dongle to plug into the usb port in the glovebox and it works perfectly. Regarding cylinder deactivation on the Cayman -- it deactivates one 3-cylinder bank at a time, and it switches between the two banks every 20 seconds to even out the wear on them.

[@danmobile]

In the Looks department, the Lotus is a 10 and the Cayman is 5

[@GuapLord5000]

Me too. And I've been a 911 fan since the early 80s. It's like the 911 and a Miata had a baby. A perfectly fine baby, but she's not going to get any cover shots on... Baby... uh... International Baby... Baby Journal... Quarterly? Anyone know any popular baby magazines? Sry... i fucked that one up. You can't always hit a home run.🤷‍♂

[@bf5175]

Yep. But a few points of that is just the color. The Lotus is in an eye-catching yellow, and the Cayman is a totally forgettable Toyota Camry gray.

[@danmobile]

@@bf5175 Agree, another reason not to buy boring gray cars. I never understood the whole "It matches the tarmac!" look

[@Jay-xr3sb]

The 981 looked better

[@danmobile]

@@Jay-xr3sb Nah. Boring af

[@johnbris5]

Congratulations! This is probably the best car video I've seen this year!

[@ckjl7704]

I was in this dilemma back in 2022. Finally I decide to go with a Boxster GTS 4.0 because it's open top which lotus doesn't have . If I want to buy a coupe i would rather have Emira.

[@joeashton3871]

Great review! At first I passed up your review due to it being over 2 hours long (You might consider breaking it up into shorter more digestible videos). But since I'm retired I took the leap and listed to your whole video. Like you I'm a Porsche fan and owned a 993 Cab for 10 years. When I was at my Porsche dealer a gentleman was trading in his Boxster Spyder (the one with the buttress convertible). He said it was not as exciting to drive as his 911. This leads me to agree with your summation. Your detailed real world assessment (eg NOT track focused) was great. From what I have read, Lotus cars have always given real world driving excitement dare I say like my 993 or even better. So your putting the Emira as the more exciting backroads toy is what these cars are about. I thought is was the most appropriate was to measure these cars as driving my 993 on Connecticut backroads is why I loved it so much.

[@James_Ryan]

Awesome comparison! Definitely Emira for me as a weekend ripper (I prefer EV for daily). I just wish it had a CD player like the Cayman. 😉

[@Busy_Child]

Kyle, I couldn't get a GT4 or GTS 4.0 allocation, but I was able to get a Carrera T. I always wanted a 911 and it felt awesome to custom order it how I wanted. I am loving the car, don't even think about the fact that it's turbocharged most of the time and the 7 speed manual feels great to shift. Feels so light and nimble compared to my C63 AMG and Model S.

[@barryrodgers3039]

Similar story. I was on the wait list for a 718 Spyder for over a year. Switched to the Carrera T when that fell through and was told that any 4.0 718 was almost impossible to get. I had also been on the Emira wait list for almost a year. The delays there were frustrating and the only dealer was out of state. Was happy when the chance to order the T came through.

[@Peanutdenver]

@@barryrodgers3039 I currently own a 718 GT4 and while I was getting a new set of Michelins on it two months ago I drove a 992 Carrera T and was super impressed. I was my favorite 911(in the short 3 hours I had it)behind the 992 GT3. My GT4 is brilliant and I do love it, but I miss my 997.2 GT3 as there's just something extra special about the 911. Porsche of course plans it this way.

[@rd5140]

Terrific review!! I4 on order

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

For me it would be also a clear choice - a keeper is the Porsche, daily driver, one car only - 2nd or 3rd car the Lotus. I had a number of Porsche including the topless brother of this one, a BoxterS and it was a serious but wonderful car. The exterior Lotus is more exciting and fresh. The interior is way better in the Porsche. The gauges are like jewels at night - analog and real, that will be a thing of the past soon and will age very very well.

[@norwegianblue2017]

No question. Having that super limited storage in the Lotus that gets crazy hot is not an option for a daily or even an extended road trip car.

[@TejSingh-mm5so]

agreed. I don't like the idea of trying to do perfect rev matches on a digital tach.

[@almac9203]

Porsche is the more reliable Car that will likely hold its value far better. Lotus isn't known for quality or reliability. Lotus is like a fun fling whereas Porsche is marriage material to use an analogy.

[@wall1]

​@@almac9203are you dumb. The Elise has a Toyota engine which is one of the most reliable engines. The emira is a Toyota v6 and will hold more value down the road bc it will be the last manual for lotus. You guys are really dumb

[@wall1]

Porsche is ugly

[@richardclegg5853]

I'm an admitted 911 snob, but these are both truly great and BEAUTIFUL cars... If 911's never existed I'd be very happy with either of these... Great review LONG LIVE THE MANUALS!!!

[@718YellowSubmarine]

Nice and properly nerdy comparison. A friend of mine has the same Emira (manual, yellow) but with black top. I agree the Emira is more exiting to look at vs the "base" 718 Cayman, especially yellow vs grey.. But I happen to own a Racing Yellow 718 Spyder (manual of course and it has the buckets) so how is that for exiting looks 😉. I think it's actually as practical as the Emira too. We drove it across Europe last year and we had no issues with the luggage, I own inexpensive luggage from Roadsterbag since my previous base 981 Cayman (also Racing Yellow). That too got all the looks so colour is a key wow factor IMO.

[@SShepherd]

Additional Porsche 718 Style and S allocations came in last week in the US and are available for MSRP if you want to order one now for delivery in 3-5 months, but you would have had to been on a waiting list for the GTS to be getting one for 2024 or next year before the final EV change over.

[@Encourageable]

They aren’t going to change to EV for a few years. They’ll have ICE for awhile longer in the US. EVs have a major negative connotation right now - they can barely sell them anymore because they have no resell value. As for 2024 models, they better be below MSRP because a redesign is coming in a few months. No one wants to get stuck with the old model.

[@SShepherd]

@@Encourageable My daily is a Tesla Model X and after all the issues I've had with Tesla on the purchase, delivery, follow through, then their massive cost cuts exasperating my cars depreciation plus the battery loss/range issues.. I'm one of those early adopters that's done with EV's. I'll keep a CHEAP $40k'ish one in the future possibly as a 3rd car for putting high miles on, but I'm not touching an expensive 'luxury' EV ever again. The higher supercharger rates, repair costs, and insurance are another hidden cost on them that negates the maintenance advantage. You are correct about the Porsche 718's, latest article walked it back saying they'd develop the EV model in parallel, the ICE model should continue another 2 years into 2026 with no further improvements/changes.

[@bl8977]

​@Encourageable There isn't going to be a redesign for the 982. They make a few 2025 but they're done. Anyone who bought the 2024 718 S or GTS specd out with 6spd MT are going to be highly sought after

[@Rex_Racer]

You’re not actually sitting higher in the Emira. The belt line of the Porsche is higher, which creates the illusion that you are lower.

[@1AdamDaily]

This video rocks! 718 sounds more refined. Both cars are on my list of wants.

[@abdullafakhroo7999]

All KZbinrs should learn from you! This is a Riview. 2 thumbs up. Wishing you all the success.

[@razvanyke]

Wow, this is a video I wanted to see and you guys made it. Cool stuff

[@danieltackett4089]

Thank you for such a detailed comparison! You uncovered some important differences by not just judging them “on paper.” I’m the target market for both of these cars: an exciting yet comfortable manual sports car. Both were seriously considered. No manual in the C8 ruled it out. I wanted one fun car for canyon runs, instructing on race tracks, and for 2-week road trips. The Lotus looks better inside and out and has the best suspension and steering feedback. But I bought a new GTS 4.0 because it’s not as extreme as a GT4, but it still works great on track and in the canyons. For road trips, it fits 2 roller bags in the frunk and backpacks or soft luggage in back. Impossible in the Emira. I ordered the Sport Seats Plus (bolsters for the track) and 18-way adjustments and ventilation (for road trips). Having so many Porsche dlrs and their history of reliability makes the GTS the right choice for road trips. And, as the final year for a naturally aspirated engine + manual transmission, I think the 2024 Porsche 718 will hold its value much better than the Lotus. All of these factors matter to an actual owner, and I feel lucky to get an allocation and buy one.

[@theanthonyv]

I love the Emira’s looks and feel. But when factoring in ability to get one, production wait time, service network, dependability, etc, etc, I’d have to go with the GTS, which is just fine… it’s one of the best driver’s cars on the planet. And as a bonus, it’s naturally aspirated.

[@mattyb1624]

Elmira mode switch delay on start up: Fix this by toggling the mode switch before you start the car, then you can switch modes instantly once the engine is started with no delay.

[@Libra67jtc]

There are never comparisons between other cars and Porsche for one simple reason. The Porsche pedigree. It's built to last and the best everyday drives for any car enthusiasts. Porsche for many might not be the best looking compared to the newer contenders, however they have stood the test of time. HANDS DOWN. Efficiency..... seriously guys.

[@Wiz33]

In a world where porsche are a dime a dozen and 90% of people cannot tell the difference between a 911 and a 718. The Emira wins on looks alone. The 718 is good (I have a 2024 718S) very precise but lack feelings where as the Emira's (which I just picked up 3 days ago) hydraulic steering and 4 wheels double wishbone communicate a lot more information to the driver. Ride comfort is close if you have the touring suspension. While there're still defect with the Emira's infotainment system but the one in the 718S is ancient.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

I went with 981S, the sound, reliability and for less that half the cost. Who cares about infotainment in a sports car. I wanted a convertible, very easy choice.

[@Wiz33]

@@Jay-xr3sb The infotainment is a joke. but no Cayman can match the Hydraulic steering and 4 wheels double wishbone suspension. The Cayman is boring but it let you drive beyond your skill level and is actually boring to drive.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

@@Wiz33 just buy a miata/mx-5 if you was the throw a car around on the street.

[@Wiz33]

@@Jay-xr3sb but a Miata does not look like a supercar. Drive a Emira first then we can talk.

[@Wiz33]

@@Jay-xr3sb You need to drive something with Hydraulic steering ,until you do, you have no idea what you're talking about.

[@handsomemike1742]

Best Emira Cayman comparison anywhere online. Thank you from someone considering both. Life's short, I'll go Lotus. But both superb

[@altosack]

Wow, interesting! Because life is longer than we think is why I go Porsche. I love the philosophy of Chapman/Lotus and I wish Porsche would apply it. What bugs me the most about the Porsche is the weight (I owned a 914/2.0 @ 2,000 and a ‘98 Boxster @ 2,700) and difficulty of allocation.

[@aaronschen9896]

Simple and elegant lines of 718 is a nice contrast to overstyled modern cars, if it wasn't so common, it would be more exciting. The emira is better looking though. Owned 2 lotus prior, can be patience testing at times. Have a 718 gts 2.5l currently, about 85% as much fun to drive as my old exige but much easier to live with

[@123antimiro]

Emira suits better to American taste. Fast food, no elegance, trumpery shapes

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

Great review! I'm biased because I already have a 987.1 Cayman and it does still have the hydraulic rack with amazing feel. I'd have to drive both to decide if I was going to give up my Porsche and spend another $80K. Either would be a delight.

[@nbaumg]

you can start the lotus in whatever mode you want. I forget the exact steps, im pretty sure its something like holding down the power button, turns on just the screen, then change the mode

[@pec6118]

That’s right; step in and briefly touch the start button to start the dash and center screen, change the drive setting to sport or track, start the car as you normally would with foot on brake and clutch pedal pressed down. Enjoy!

[@ferdinandbardamu3945]

The Cayman GTS 4.0 with a better exterior color, two tone leather interior, a Kline exhaust, 19” wheels and Öhlins suspension is basically the perfect sports car for the street.

[@jcelliott7377]

Or, hear me out, the Emira, with a Larini exhaust and Komotec CAI is a supercar for the street

[@dbrentski4800]

Yeah. The biggest thing against the Cayman GTS is the long ratio/ taller gearing. Its sorta fun between first and second gear and that's it. The fun ends. The car needs a tighter gear ratio in order to make it a desirable sports car to enthusiasts. Why not have fun between all manual chosen gears. Thats driving and feeling one with the car!

[@keithjackson4985]

Good video. I want the Porsches dynamics with the Emiras looks! If it came down to a serious decision, I would take the Porsche.

[@norwegianblue2017]

If you live in a really hot climate in the southwest, I can see you cooking the palm of your hand on the metal shifter in the Lotus like the bad guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark picking up the headpiece to the Staff of Ra. You can tell this car was designed in England with a mild climate.

[@SimonALogan]

Great review guys, thanks.

[@tg_ny]

I wish the Porsche had hydraulic steering. Would love to see a review of the Emira vs the Alfa Romeo 4C.

[@spacedog6592]

I am leaning Lotus, but at the same time, why not both! ;) Excellent review, subscribed.

[@geofflyk]

One thing regarding the maintenance cost, the clutch replacement on Emira/Evora is an engine out job.

[@jcelliott7377]

First video of yours ive seen and i can tell you're real enthusiasts! Great video, you didnt need from the efficiency section on, no one is buying these cars for that 😂

[@radiogreenblue]

I had a Lotus Evora for a while but live far from the nearest Lotus dealer (located in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia). The Evora was fun but the driver's interior door grab pulled apart. So it was great to have a Lotus but now plan to buy a GTS 4.0

[@agooberss]

Nice review! The steering wheel is flat on top so you can see the track better and flat on bottom to get out easier. Starts on touring mode so you don't wake the neighbors that are hating on your sexy car. Which will be faster on the track?...the Lotus Emira with it's sports supension and cup 2 tires of course! The smiles on you faces while driving the Emira clearly makes it the car for the drivers!

[@gbarton800]

Electronic brake and USB comparison was a good one. When I jump between cars it seems I’m always opposite of what’s needed just like USB use.

[@oldsoulboy6483]

I'm in the market for either one of these. I have watched every video, read every report, I have driven both cars in glorious sunshine and pouring rain, on motorways, back roads and city centres. The Lotus looks the best and from outside, sounds the best outside, but I am still not sure I could put up with the super charger whine on a long trip, but it does have the best ride quality and steering. The Porsche sounds great from inside, has the best engine, has the best interior but sometimes feels a bit too stiff for some UK roads and will definitly have the better residual value, even with high miles that mine will do. I have been at this now for 3 months and stll cannot make up my mind, but I think that I might buy the Lotus or maybe the Porsche if I don't buy the Lotus or the Porsche.

[@erudite1579]

Have driven both ,, but own an '06 BMW Z4 M Roadster. For pure performance driving, I'd still take the Roadster over the other 2, any day.

[@titus4792]

Phenomenal comparison. Thanks for putting the video together!

[@DANNY40379]

You get the Lotuswith a Toyota or Mercedes engine You get the Porsche with a Porsche engine I think the choice is pretty obvious....

[@dbrentski4800]

I think you need to do your research... We have so many automotive companies sharing in a world to bring down cost of ownership. And as consumers, we need to embrace this methodology. For example: the new Toyota GR Supra is fitted with a BMW engine. Lotus began outsourcing what was the best and most bulletproof engine for their cars since 2005. They chose the Toyota twin-cam motor... with a few tweaks and add-in a supercharger, you get a "reliable" 400HP. I say reliable, because Toyota has built some of the most reliable daily-use engines in history. Auto enthusiasts are flocking to the Emira because you get supercar looks and a reliable powertrain alongside. Match made in heaven!

[@andrewrossnagel9433]

​@@dbrentski4800a transmission is included in a cars powertrain so no the powertrain is nowhere near as reliable as the Porsches. They will explode if you add 20% more torque. Porsche will handle A LOT more than that

[@Defender_Tom]

@@andrewrossnagel9433my Porsche couldnt hold stock HP…

[@mohsenkhatiblou311]

As a sport car enthusiast only lap time at a track matters. Not the MPG or all those other things you mentioned.

[@ms8742]

Having the Emira, I agree, there is no issue with the shifter. I like it in fact.

[@ericcindycrowder7482]

Fuel tank placement has a lot to do with weight distribution…..more accurately how the weight distribution CHANGES from full fuel to empty. The fuel is over the front axle in the Porsche, and I would assume the fuel is in a transverse tank between the engine and passenger compartment in the lotus, like most over mid-engine sports likes like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and NSX

[@Jay-xr3sb]

The emira has a high set engine, it's a heavier car that uses width for its mechanical grip. I bet you can feel the weight around a corner. The 718 jas a low set flat 6 engine for perfect balance, all this fuel tank talk is ignoring the the obvious issues

[@123antimiro]

Simple choice - yellow Porsche Cayman for me!

[@dfang888]

Excellent comparison! Quick correction on Emira start mode - instead of Touring (closed exhaust flaps), you can change the start mode to Sport or Track (more open exhaust flaps) without touching the screen every time you start the car. It is essentially a permanent change to start mode until, let's say a month down the road, you get tired of starting in that mode.

[@zerotoux]

How?

[@Driv300mph]

Yeah, how?

[@ohmyggg]

Huge respect for putting together such a detailed comparison. Love your style, love the long form, and love your enthusiasm for these amazing machines. For me, it’s Cayman all day. First off, you definitely borrowed the minivan spec from your friend at the Porsche dealership. That thing is boring as hell when set against the yellow Emira. Agate Grey takes the cake for being the most uninspiring color on a Cayman GTS. The Porsche needs a brighter color to show off its lines and contrasting black elements. Objectively, the Emira’s 3/4 front view looks killer and super exotic, but I’m not a fan of the bulbous rear, which I think you mentioned. Not aesthetically pleasing and bears no resemblance to the sharp lines on the front of the car. Love all angles of the Cayman though and for a dual-duty commuter/weekend bomber, GT Silver Metallic would be my pick as it strikes the right balance of low-key, elegant, and sporty. Shark Blue, Ruby Star, Carmine Red, Arctic, and Ice Grey are also good options that pop really nicely on the Cayman. But however you slice it, the Porsche is understated whereas the Lotus is going for flash, so that one’s subjective to taste, use case, etc. On the interior, Cayman wins it hands down on account of looks, class, build quality, and materials. Emira gets it on tech since the 718 is essentially a 12 year old design, but the only tech I’d want from the Emira is wireless CarPlay (gotta use a wireless dongle w/ the Cayman). Comfort-wise, the Cayman can be spec’d with 14-ways if you want less hugging from the bolsters, plus you can sub leather for Racetex (which also makes sliding into the seat easier). Unfortunately on the Lotus, you’re stuck with that poorly integrated iPad looking tablet for the NAV screen, a hideous steering wheel, a semi-obscured digital tach, and the hodgepodge of buttons and controls that don’t seem cohesive. The exposed shift linkages and TB action in the rear view mirror feel like gimmicks and do absolutely nothing for me either. And if I ever bought an Emira, I’d find a way to remove that start button cover on day 1. Re: engine and sound, I also don’t think there’s a comparison to be made here. I personally would not want to carve canyons all day running the soundtrack of a supercharger whistle. Psychologically, I can see it being exciting for 20 minutes or a few laps around a track, but on such an expensive car, I’m a hard pass. That high revving NA flat 6 is much more pure, emotive, and delivers a gorgeous induction howl that the Emira lacks. Your comment that the 4L produces a $200k sound is definitely something I agree with because the first time I heard it, the grunt and tone reminded me of a slightly more tame 991.2 GT3, one of my favorite sounding induction notes of all time. Slap on a JCR exhaust and you now have a $200k sound from the exterior of the car too. NA motorsport(like) Porsche engine all the way. As for the stiffer suspension, I have a decent threshold for firm setups but you always have the option of adding a $1500 DSC controller to PASM-equipped cars to change the damper settings and boost compliance. Steering is a huge advantage for the Lotus (what a blessing to have that available to us in 2024) but it’s not enough to swing me over to the Emira with all of its gen 1 ownership issues and that underwhelming engine. I would just pick up a non-depreciating 987 Spyder, Cayman R, or 997.2 to scratch that itch again. I’m a former 997 owner who misses my old hydraulic rack but am also loving the GT3-calibrated EPS rack on my 981S. So for my value system, it shakes out with the Porsche on top. The Germans know how to build a car and the qualities of the GTS 4.0 generate all the fizz for me. No jank, no gimmicks, just a beast of a machine with a peach of an engine and limits that are surely way too high for public roads but allow you to grow into as a driver, esp if you open yourself up to track use (look up Mark Webber wringing its neck around Estoril on YT). Dealer network, ownership experience, and reliability are also things you will not get with the Lotus. I’d take a gamble on one as my 3rd or 4th slot fun car but my income stream is way too average for that, which is why if I can only afford one brand new sports car in the $100k range, it’ll be a Cayman GTS 4.0.

[@georgepotcovaru2595]

Superb the way you describe it all !

[@eric0w]

The Emira doesn’t use radar sensors on the front for adaptive cruise control. It only uses the front camera in the windshield. Same as the Volvos.

[@kyledaoust7351]

I've had 991 and two 718s, put on about 35,000 mi and have never once noticed any issue with the door lock light in the center console.....

[@abhisheknath5363]

I went from an nd2 Miata to an Evora and then a 981 Boxster GTS. Personally I think the Evora has got a lot more character than the Emira and that would be my choice b/w the two. For canyon driving specifically my pick would be the Boxster GTS because that flat6 sounds spectacular and roof down makes all the difference. Overall though money no object the car that’s the most fun is actually the Miata. Short gearing, skinny tires and a totally inconspicuous driving experience makes it the winner.

[@BaconSandwich72]

Had a ‘06 Exige and an ‘06 Cayman S a few years ago (both manual) so thanks for the time warp review!. Great long format btw. If it were my money right now…I’m leaning towards the 718 and it’s the engine note and cabin quality that do it. I am still fond of the Lotus though…maybe as a 2nd car. Saddens me that both manufacturers are turning these icons into battery-only cars soon. These purchases are soul based, and noiseless power trains on sports cars don’t do it for me.

[@crouchingmole]

prob the best comparison vid I've ever seen. Probably would have to go Porsche.

[@Grishaschannel]

If you like the lotus better, i advise getting the one with the Toyota engines. I had both the elise and evora and I initially went to the lotus dealership for oil changes and PMs. But then i got tired of being ripped off and I tried to go to a Toyota dealership where a fellow Filipino worked as a mechanic here in California and what a pleasant surprise it was because he knew how to do all the PM on my lotuses and it cost me 3 times less. I have a 911 and a boxter. While Porsches are nice cars, they can't beat the excitement i get when driving my lotuses And they get a lot more attention from people because they're really not as common as porsches

[@smaxfpv1337]

Man I wish Porsche would just bring out their caymans with the exterior hull of an emira. One can only wish.

[@snowboardinpassout]

Great review, guys. Being a Brit, I try not to be biased, but the Lotus exclusivity wins out, although had a Porsche 911 back in London, yet even with limited servicing for the Lotus in the US in Denver, the Emira wins.

[@SuperMookybear]

Great video. Any thoughts on how the Emira compares to the 992 Carrera T on canyon roads?

[@Steveawm430]

That would be a nice review - similar weight distribution and power - perhaps even more comparable than with the Cayman?

[@VK6AB-]

The Cayman has torsional rigidity of around 41,000 Nm/deg (I don't have a figure for the Lotus but the Evora was around 26,600 and this will be similar) - this allows the effective use of strut suspension with all the benefits e.g. weight and space, with the suspension not having to compensate for twist and bend. The engine and gear box in the Porsche are in a different league to the Lotus. The fit and finish are also in a different league. Ultimately the Porsche will still be going in 20 years and the Lotus won't. The 981/718 design is classic Porsche as is the 911 shape. The Lotus whilst a great looking car, will age poorly. The other point, there are very few lap times for the Emira, why? Because its not that quick - when tested around Lausitz it did 1:37.83 and the BASE Cayman did 1:37.13.

[@stirkac]

I see plenty of 20+ year Lotus on the road - also my Evora is 15 years, and still going. While I agree Porsche feels better built, they also fail just as much, but in my experience their owners are too proud to admit, and run straight to the dealer to fix the issue, rather than Lotus guys trying to fix themselves and posting rants on forums (nothing wrong with both approaches, just different mentality). The basic "ingredients" always come from suppliers Bosch, Aisin, Ate, Toyota/VW anyways...

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

@@stirkac I'm on my second Cayman and neither one ever went to the dealer or an "indie" shop.

[@VK6AB-]

@@stirkac Not the case thats why ~75% of Porsche sports cars ever made are still on the road. Moreover, Porsche owners are more involved in maintenance and motorsport than any other brand (as a proportion of owners). Every official Porsche club has a track series. I've owned both Lotus and Porsche and wouldn't own a Lotus again. The difference in build quality is enormous. The difference in the mechanicals is enormous. It seems to me you have a perception view of Porsche ownership without actual experience. I owned a 430 Cup at the same time as my 991.2 GT3 RS, the RS completely blew the Cup out of the water in every way. It no longer matters, Lotus are dead because they couldn't make a quality product at a price point the market would accept.

[@stirkac]

@@VK6AB- I haven't heard of any lotus destroying it's engine in a common way, like bore scoring or IMS. And when it does does fail in some way, a junkyard run to a cross-referenced part saves the day. Have fun spending any less than $10k on M96/7 engine. Also, there are probably 90%+ ferraris ever built still on the road, and I've been in their cars and to the factory many times, they exhibit similar build techniques/practices as Lotus does. So your made up statistic says nothing about fit&finish quality being important for keeping the car on the road.

[@VK6AB-]

@@stirkac Toyota engine, woeful linkage and gear box. You obviously don't know what you're talking about. Know nothing of engineering and little about manufacturing. These are my current cars 991.2 GT3 RS, 981 GTS, 600LT, 720S and most recently added a 296 GTB. Lotus have never been great in terms of reliability, but they used to be good fun round a track going back to the Lotus 7. They have been going backwards since the end of the Exige line and now for the first time ever, they have produced a car that is hopeless round a track (relatively speaking) as well, with the same tired engine, gear box and linkage from the dark ages - no innovation, poor QAQC and they're owned by Geely. Having owned two, never again. Moreover, despite all the post facto statements about it not being a "track" car, riddle me this why did they offer it with two different types of suspension setup and tire options. Cars evolve, Lotus didn't.

[@keithhere5868]

if everything is equal......use make value go to porsche...plus service if need is also go to the prosche..

[@rogernilsson_Swe]

You forgot the hidden storage behind the seats in the Cayman. Not so much storage but still some storage. Great rewiev though thx

[@phillipberk]

My Emira arrived a few weeks ago, but my BGTS 4.0 arrives in 69 days, as much as I love the look of the lotus, for me, as someone who will drive the car daily and use it on Florida straight roads, the Porsche is what Im choosing to keep.

[@dbrentski4800]

If you are driving straight roads, this makes sense as the long ratio/ taller gearing on the Porsche Cayman GTS. Its sorta fun between first and second gear and that's it. The fun ends. The car needs a tighter gear ratio in order to make it a desirable sports car to enthusiasts that want it for sporty or curvy roads.

[@phillipberk]

@@dbrentski4800 while the gearing is long, you are very wrong on how fun the car still is in the curves and tight roads, just keep it up high and then you just shift between 2 and 3rd

[@Lord_Silverfish]

Watching this whole video and only recognizing my home town when you got off the freeway was weird

[@steveness7909]

Lotus cars are Magic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@123antimiro]

You get attention in Emira because the yellow colour . I have Cayman in yellow and I allways gets attention too. The point is to choose right colour and right brand Porsche!

[@franksmolik9]

Great comp guys. One question, How tall is Kyle? I don't see a ton of headroom in either car for him but less so in the Emira which would be my pick.

[@NickG24]

Great video, but I’m still not sure which to buy at all 😂 Being British, it should be the Lotus, but still tricky. Interesting the overly long gearing on the Porsche didn’t play any part, I always wonder whether it would dampen the experience but it seems to have enough grunt not to matter too much.

[@earthstick]

In the UK Lotus offer the touring suspension with the Michelin tyres from the factory. I can't see why Lotius wouldn't in the US. Besides, tyres don't last forever so choose the ones you want when the factory ones are done.

[@GuapLord5000]

Wow... great comparison. Been deciding between the two. Subscribed. Edit: Also, anyone see that asshole at 23:09 biking up the mountain? GET A MID ENGINE, BRO!

[@jrms60r]

Love both cars but something to consider service and warranty issues. How close is your Lotus dealer? Hours away for me. I have a Porsche dealer 20 minutes from me.

[@flat6croc]

Great video, good luck with the channel, there's definitely something here in your detail and approach that isn't available elsewhere so I hope it gets you some deserved traction. One query regarding not just your content but all US channels, everyone is happy to show very obvious speeding (which is fine by me, just to be clear), but nobody will cross double yellow lines, even when the road ahead is really well sighted. In the UK, many roads as twisty as this would have broken lines throughout and overtaking is legal whenever the driver judges it safe. Obviously, that's not the case in the US, so the legality is different. But the safety isn't. It either is or isn't safe to overtake, regardless of the paint on the road. And like I said, pretty much all these channels show obvious speeding (speedo blurred out but gear indicator and revs visible so speed is a very simple calculation). Heck, if you're revving out in 2nd let alone 3rd in these cars, you are over the speed limit on that road. In short, I don't understand why one obvious traffic law flouting is OK but another isn't. Again, to be clear, breaking either is fine by me if done with appropriate consideration. Anyway, I'm not sure if people just don't cross those double yellows in the US ever, even when not filming. It's easier to respect the lines in the UK, because for the most part when there are two solid lines, it's for a reason, whereas in the US it seems they are often just blanket and there's no real overtaking culture. It's dying out in the UK, to be fair, but those who can will cling on for as long as possible!

[@foxyobrown]

Yeah I dont get it either. And the speeding is brutal, considering he went flat out up to 4th gear, which is like 200kmh in the Emira! You would get into jail doing that in my country… nevertheless great review.

[@flat6croc]

@@foxyobrown I have no issue with the driving depicted. But if safety is the primary concern, a well sighted overtake of a slow moving vehicle is certainly not more dangerous than carrying big triple digit speeds as shown in the video. I just don't understand why breaking the law by a huge margin with speeding seems to be seen as OK by the US car community but crossing double yellows (as far as I can tell) is a big no no. It makes no sense at all.

[@z06van21]

As a 718 GT4 owner, THANK YOU for bringing up what VERY few do.... strut rear suspension. Before I got mine I researched the hell out of it and just about every review was just gushing over its handling and composure. AFTER I got mine and spent some time in it and living on less than good roads, i discovered it was a hot mess damping and composure wise and not confidence inspiring when pushed hard on bumpy roads. I didn't later know or understand that is had a strut rear or what that meant. I have since gutted my stock suspension for MCS 2-way remote dampers and added rear toe links to be able to dial in much more rear toe that is needed to off-set the amount of toe change you get from having struts in the rear.

[@mic2349]

Love the Emeria but also love my Jaguar x type manual transmission with all wheel drive for $ 4000.00

[@GuapLord5000]

"It's not for the key people." Solid.

[@COZNA]

GREAT COMPREHENSIVE VIDEO!

[@jacksmith4460]

part me feels, if you are buying a sports/supercar, you should just get the one you would most want as a poster on your wall as a teenager (if they are modern cars then imagine if you were a teenager now)

[@rogernilsson_Swe]

One important aspect in my wiev is the market value on the used car market. How is the value on the Emira after 2-years or 3 years?

[@jcelliott7377]

There are no 3 year old Emira's but after an initial depreciation, the previous Evora is holding its value well, older versions (10 years+) are actually going up in value

[@piotr2951]

I saw other reviews were the sound measured iniside was lower in Emira compared to Cayman.

[@earthstick]

The Lotus is made from aluminium and fibre glass, what's to corrode? And Lotus hold their value very well. Used prices show depreciation is among the lowest of any manufacturer.

[@justaddafan]

Curious, did you measure the hip point on both cars to confrim the feeling that you sit higher in the Emira? You are highlighting the problem with Porsches, they are building cars to do everything and in doing so, it compromises what's most valuable in a sports car. Lotus is, unfortunately, leaning that way as well. The Emira is more "refined" than the Evora. But at this point in time, the Lotus is still the better sports car.

[@johnm5131]

in the end, it comes down to this: The Emira cannot be driven daily and will degrade into dust. We all had deposits on this car. And we all pulled them after hearing how carelessly they are built and how many corners were cut...which makes them 'toys' more than cars. The porsche will run like a clock to 100,000 miles. So,the test is interesting, but moot.

[@_Ben4810]

You'vr been watching too many desperate for content KZbinrs boo-hooing about not much... If you're pulling your deposit on a car because of what you saw on KZbin, then that's a plus for Lotus Cars tbh...🙄

[@BasedOnLiberty]

that was very detailed.

[@jasonburling1682]

I can get two sets of golf clubs in my cayman lying across the engine @ pick up a mate, most sports car fail in this situation, they are all fun & fast, but still need to have functionality.

[@Wiz33]

You can adjust the cruise speed on the Emira but it's not adaptive as they generally suck in manual.. Also get a production Emira and not a dealer demo as a lot of thing have been improved.

[@loopba]

Drove my Emira from Portland to LA, and never exceeded 3k RPM