Porsche Cayman S: Can It Top The Boxster?

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When he drove the Porsche Boxster, Alex proclaimed it was the best car Porsche makes. Now he's driven the new Cayman S and it's, erm... probably a bit better.
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[@strongerandwiser2023]

The cayman s with the PDK box actually does 0-62 in 4.7 seconds. This was recorded by lots of companys that tested it.

[@anthonyjaswinski5732]

Boxster is awwwww. Cayman is whoaaa

[@tonysharp7300]

Carfection ó

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

And 911 is faaaaaark

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

@@ArtVandelayOfficial When you see the price it is :-)

[@TerrySteiner]

The Cayman S is my new dream car. Great review as always. I have been waiting for you to do this video since the first gen Cayman video (which was also a great video).

[@theeeMitchi]

Finally a video about the Cayman! Waited so long for this.

[@herpdadurrp]

is the title a joke i cant tell

[@leebougz]

You've made me laugh to tears!

[@spencer19811]

Love your videos they seem to get better and better. Excellent review, this is the exact car I'm saving for.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

Mate, you do know that Boxster and Cayman are just an ECU flash away from having exactly the same power as the 911.

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

I was gonna say that.. then it will probably be a better car....

[@647killa]

It actually is a better car. Atleast now it is. I've had the pleasure of driving a first gen Cayman and it was great. I can only imagine the second gen to be a better driver's car than the 911. Like the guy above said, its only a flash away from the 911's power. Truly the best car for the money and performance. I just don't buy the iconic argument about the 911.

[@jayfulf]

Well there is quite a bit more to the 911 range than any of you are giving credit for.

[@647killa]

Yes but look at where porsche's focus went away to with the new 991. They're chasing the GTR now with all their track focused 911. The reat wheel steering, no manual transmission option, the electric steering, all those gizmos. Like why would I not just get a Cayman as a driver's Porsche or the GTR for obsessive lap times?

[@jayfulf]

647killa 911 was a usable sports car and still is. They, like most auto manufacturers, are moving away from manual because majority of customers don't want it. Porsche has always tried to improve on "those gizmos". You don't like the new generation great, but the philosophy or focus hasn't changed. Some food for thought: you don't chase the GTR when you've already beaten it.

[@CAHCAHU4b]

nice vid guys. Keep sharing such a great goodies

[@Livelifechill]

I kinda like the boxter but I'm not the biggest convertible fan so this is perfect. If only it had a panoramic roof.

[@mrpcb2566]

Yes... You nailed it

[@frouwoulou]

Great Video as always!

[@kilove1]

thank you..its about time the cayman gets it prop's ..well done again..and good keep the glasses on ...

[@josephtomb01]

I've always liked the Cayman a little more than the Boxster. I would gladly take the Cayman anyday.

[@michaelsmitten9240]

The only fault I find with my Boxster S is exactly what you said about the clutch pedal, so I am grateful to find it is a design fault, not a repair fault, thanks

[@1MrLuar]

One of the best engines noise demonstration EVER :P

[@berroalejandro]

I see you went with the GoPro Hero3+ black...The superview mode inside the cabin says it all. Great video by the way

[@swessels]

Enjoyed this video very much. I would like to see more quality reviews of the base 981 series. When you look back and compare the base Cayman, for example, to the Porsche 911 from not all that long ago, it makes an excellent choice. The Cayman/Boxster S & GTS are currently getting all the press (and they are fantastic sports cars) but it's easy to get all caught up in the emotion and lose sight of how wonderful the base model 981s are.

[@arghmon]

LMAO "it's like Chewbacca playing the didgeridoo" ...love it!

[@sammyhtb]

will you be reviewing the 991 gt3?

[@LDN13Y]

Another fantastic video by XCAR, I love your videos please keep it up :D

[@thedudeabides1443]

Both are great cars, but there is no better pure sports car experience than top-down driving on a warm summer night with that flat 6 wailing right behind your head-especially with PSE.

[@Mike981S]

Great vid as always, but I still think the Boxster is better than the Cayman. You cannot really ootice the 10bhp difference, both are very torsionally rigid and you can lower the roof on the Boxster during a sunny day. :)

[@RoderickVoordouw]

The small performance increment over the Boxster is not a good argument in my opinion indeed. Most normal or even enthusiastic drivers will be just as quick in a Boxster as in a Cayman. If the presenter could give us arguments that it is noticably stiffer and a noticably sharper car, I could believe him. But he struggles throughout the video to deliver valid arguments to support his change of opinion. Even Chris Harris said a Boxster will give 99% of the driving experience of the Cayman, the 10hp difference is not noticable and in addition the roof can be lowered if you like that. (For this reason he prefered the Cayman as he prefers a coupe over a caonvertible) So if even he says there is hardly anything in it, it just comes down to, do you like to drive with or without a roof (and save a few Thousand euro's or dollars in the proces)

[@swessels]

Roderick Voordouw Well he did say he liked the look of the Cayman better because of the roof. I agree, although the Boxster look awesome with the top down and the 981 looks pretty good with the top up. I think another point in favor of the Cayman is that the Cayman has the extra space above the engine in the hatchback. Box outstanding sports cars though.

[@abuelo4310]

Cabin noise level is much less in the 981 BS than in the 981 CS. On a long journey, this could become a real issue in the Cayman.

[@981FTW]

Funny how many people don't realize this. At first blush one might call bullshit but once you consider how the Cayman's cabin traps the engine induction and the rear tire noise while the Boxster does not it makes sense. Having owned both (in 981S flavors, and currently a 981BS) I can confirm this. The Boxster is a surprisingly pleasant cabin, far moreso than the Cayman. That's not to say the Cayman is horrible. For some the Cayman's increased chassis stiffness trumps the extra noise. For me it did not.

[@Yeroh]

+Marty Cain If the sound in the cabin annoys you, then you have an entirely different problem.

[@123i123i1]

now with sound :D

[@louiecorp1]

what's the watch he's wearing? I'm in love with it!

[@robiulahmed]

The Cayman has finally come of age. However, I'd rather get a GT86 and save a load of cash.

[@mikehubey9873]

Arm Head naw... it would never compare to the cayman. You pay what you get.

[@BikingBadwithTC]

Front bumper design on Cayman looks sportier than Boxster. Still, super happy with my yellow Boxster S, especially when listening to its amazing engine and pse with the top down 🤙

[@AbleToCum1]

If the baes one does 4.9 sec how does s model also does the same time? Thought it was 4 to 4.2 sec as I tested

[@ocalaeyeguy]

with a simple ECU tune, can you get the performance out of the 3.4 inline 6 that the base 911 has?

[@severedsun3141]

***** I own a 2014 981S Boxster, and I have been keeping up with the ECU flash. It is coming soon. However, you (we) will need to replace the plenum, and possibly the Y pipe, to get to 350hp. But, hey...that is pretty minor stuff.

[@markchristiansen5536]

Tell me what sort of watch are you wearing . It looks amazing. :)

[@vikd4292]

what kind of watch is he wearing??

[@playerzoma]

sound!!

[@happypappy7309]

Ask yourself this question Your cruising down to the French Riviera on the route napoleon , the suns out the roads are amazing the scenery is amazing what kind of car do you pick to drive ? Hard top or soft top ?

[@staibybaby7289]

Happy Pappy I’m in Utah, where we have one of the nicest tracks in America. What do you think I’ll pick?

[@jaronbarrett2026]

Will there be a convertible edition?

[@bantu3187]

+Jason Procka booster..

[@garydaniels4426]

Did route Napoleon in soft top. However it was so hot the leather was burning my skin so roof was put up and aircon turned on.

[@robiulahmed]

One thing that bugs me is how they've deliberately hamstrung it so it doesn't encroach on 911 territory when it comes to performance.

[@rousseau327]

Porsche isn't the only manufacturer to do this, and it won't be the last.

[@robiulahmed]

Absolutely, but that statement just says that mediocrity is welcome because everyone else is doing it. Now, before people start saying "The Cayman isn't mediocre", all I'm saying is that it could have been better. By making the engine the same size as the one in the 911, but giving it less power is sending the message that you're not worthy to have the added horsepower. There really ought to be a proper difference in the engines between the 2 cars or simply give the cars equal prestige.

[@f0gGenx]

Something thats nice about the cayman is that it's mid engine. A 996 GT3 engine swap would be an interesting setup.

[@Redspeed93]

Yay! Sound!

[@BFIFE22G35]

I'm glad I caught on to this channel. Keep these reviews coming!

[@aqwertdes]

i took my friend's cayman S 981 for a test drive recently and first thing i checked was the 0 to 62 mph time. you see the European specs claim that a cayman with a pdk and the Sport chrono package would do a 0 to 62 in 4.7 sec while the American specs claim a 4.4 sec with the same options. now belive it or not we got a 4.403 on the first run and a 4.245 on the second run. we did use lunch control on the second run. what does that mean well it means the cayman S is quit the fast little car. i cant say its faster than a 911 991 carrera cause i never drove one but its diffently faster than a 997 carrera.

[@renekramerrk]

Do you test the car on a regular British street?

[@marcussoori]

The Cayman nose/front bumper is not the same as that on the Boxster, as the reviewer claims.

[@djh29971]

Brilliant car. For £'s, the best car Porsche make as the engine is in the right place. Very practical for a two seater, with two decent boots, which gives it the added advantage of the Boxster. 911's are unique (avoid old 996's, especially pre 2002 models), a great car in a different way, but are expensive, making Cayman and Boxster's great value for money. Porsche won't let them have the power they deserve as it would severely dent 911 (991) sales (especially in the U.S), but with the new GTS, they're getting close.

[@Minutemadex]

Our Porsche Cayman won't start anymore. This isn't some kind of advertising but please check out the latest uploaded video on my channel, it shows what happens when I try to turn on the 2006 cayman. All the info is in the description of the video. I would love if some of you people who actually know a thing or two about cars could leave some tips and idea's about what the problem might be in the comments on the video. Thanks in advance!

[@RussellRobinson77]

Best Porsche in production imho.

[@michaelsmitten9240]

One problem in comparing the Boxster S with the Cayman S is the very essence of roadsters, i.e. being convertible! - the difference of 0.3 secs to 60MPH, doesn't compensate

[@byZinck]

You should review the 911 Turbo S! :D

[@apache1234657]

I like the manual gearbox because I know when its the right time to change gear not some silly computer

[@647killa]

Precisely...though the new generation of drivers will never agree with you as we are too reliant on technology.

[@redtvproductions1]

Bullshit. Childish.

[@issdesign1]

yes

[@dougiequick1]

New lyrics old song? "Oh Lord wont you buy me a Cayman S please, my friends all have that Nine One One disease, Worked hard all my lifetime, I've not been a sleeze So Lord, won't you buy me a Cayman S please

[@craigmccann1028]

A small 2 seat performance convertible will always have a place in this world. A Cayman is not a convertible. If you've got to have a rag top, the Boxster is a great solution.

[@kumbackquatsta]

review a golf tdi

[@AutoPassionist]

2:53 that problem only comes if you are weak in your legs, it is a quite hard clutch but its because its a good sports clutch, if you think the clutch is hard on that thing, wait untill u get into a Porsche RS 2.7 or a RSR (classic), i tried sitting in a RSR a while back and that clutch was not... easy. (it felt like the break peddal)....

[@kabob21]

+TheRazerHD I've driven a 2014 Cayman. It's not a stiff clutch at all. It does have inconsistent pedal travel but not to the exaggerated extent the reviewer in the vid said it is.

[@AutoPassionist]

kabob21 i know, iv driven a 2008 boxster S and like you said the travle is a bit inconsistent but its not too stiff... its like.. "sporty" stiff:)

[@kabob21]

I'm not sure if I'd even consider it sporty stiff but my weekend car has a twin-plate clutch so what do I know about clutch pedal weight.

[@mastershake9551]

I love my boxster I love the Cayman.... Ahh I love Porsche

[@SpeedmonkeyCoUk]

Disagree. I found the Boxster S to be ever so slightly softer and easier to get along with. Whilst the Cayman is wonderful the Boxster feels a smidge better. And you can take the roof down. And the manual's 2nd gear is ridiculously long. PDK is nicer on a day to day basis

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

The 987.2 is the Best Porsche Cayman ever.. No electric this that and the other and the gearing isn't massively tall.. The 2.9 manual is my choice after owning all flavours of the model. And yes, I prefer it over most 911's except for maybe a GT3 or earlier air cooled examples. But then it's just down to Price.

[@TheNewSchoolGamer]

I'm glad Porsche eventually un-nerfed the Cayman with the GT4

[@seinsmeld13]

It's a beautiful car. The Boxster is the better car as it is thousands less. A convertible should cost more not less. If I needed on car and price was no object I would take the Cayman S over the Boxster.

[@johnundertaker1]

UGLY GERMAN CAR FROM FERRARI

[@resomer]

i think this is the best car on the market. although it's just fun to drive a cabriolet -> boxster

[@Scrapit99]

The fact that a 2002 boxster s has a 0-62 in about 5.5 seconds, and a top speed of about 168mph, is crazy. Yes I think that Porsche is getting better, but 10 years later... wow not extremely impressed

[@viasevenvai]

An ECU flash might give 8hp, even with intake/exhaust. A turbo car is likely to get 30hp, but N/A no way.

[@SolidShoikot]

Why are there so many videos done on Porsche? Please guys at X-Car, I love you guys, but we need videos on something more different. Seems like every other week, there's a new video on a Porsche... Change is good.

[@stevenp3176]

Cayman looks better but it’s hard to argue with the price of a boxster in the used market.

[@NoGoodJim]

Better than the GT2 or the GT3 RS?

[@Umadeabadmistake]

Or a 911 Turbo S, or again the GT2 RS, which can be fitted with 4 wheel drive.

[@freddydakine5806]

I tried the Cayman but settled on the 911 base model. They're completely different in character. The recent refinement of the Cayman spoiled it further. Porsche should of left it without all the pizazz.

[@raydm4015]

Did he just say the 911 has a 3.4 liter engine? I thought that was 3.6...

[@VShehur]

this Shell advertisement in front of video more OFFroad then a Ferrari style, isnt it?

[@conorwainer9272]

I think the Cayman beats the Boxter, forgetting the +10bhp, because its slightly stiffer, and has an extra boot... So it really is all in the roof I think

[@bgd73]

I agree. The quibbling over power however.. I'd go the 2.7 liter version and be happy as ever.

[@stefanneculavtelaru9321]

3.6l flat 6 engine wha ? 2:15 / 2:17

[@flyingphoenix113]

still like the boxster better. looks better and always has. the caymans roof looks awqward

[@davidbaber5445]

Not a fair comparison between a rag top and a hard hat ....🤔

[@Dominikmj]

You can't say, what is the best car of Porsche. You can only say, what is the best car of Porsche for you! For enthusiast and amateur racers, there is nothing beyond a GT3 [until the GT2 is coming out and the GT3 RS and the GT2 RS...]. For people who have almost bottomless money to spend, the 918 Spyder is well beyond anything else of the current Porsche lineup. For people who like a status car, there is the 911 Turbo S [yeah - I think if you are now buying a Turbo, you just proof, that you don't have the extra cash to buy a S - sad but true]. And if you are a rather classicist, it is a 911 Carrera S [or Carrera 4S - depending where you are living]. BUT: Since I drove convertible, I can proof, that there is nothing beyond the sky over your head. So for a lot of people [who live in countries with serious good weather] a Boxster S or a 911 Cabrio is the right way to go [still could go for a Turbo Cabrio, or a 918 - but you have to have the cash]. And soon the Targa is coming out...

[@xXmtp101Xx]

If all you want is Porsche why would you pay £30-40000 for one of these when you can get a 996 911 for around £10000 in decent condition. Plus remap exhaust intake clutch brakes coilovers and maybe some newer bits in the interior and you've got a really nice 400bhp 911 for £20000, half the price of a cayman

[@clu4u]

Because you could get a Cayman for less than 10,000...

[@Lee-pf1tx]

speaking of can't afford it. Someone give me a guess of how much maintenence cost in an average year

[@rakennavarro2557]

1,000$-2,000$

[@jacobjohnson4763]

Not much actually. More than a Honda but nothing close to other cars in it's performance class..

[@jacobggowoodishhg5177]

+Jacob Johnson And if you do it yourself, it is a quite practical car.

[@Forgemno]

$2500

[@justinglaser3547]

Lee Scott my dad only pays $250 a year for an oil change and thats it.

[@BubuBarong]

Bullshit IMHO: a Boxster is 99% of a Cayman PLUS another 100% of a spyder... All in one. It's two cars vs one.

[@bloodpig101]

...better than the GT3?!

[@Hansorghini]

If you love sound get the boxster with pse. Do you honestly feel 10 extra horsepower in the cayman? No.

[@anthonyjaswinski5732]

987 still looks the best

[@TheHeinrichYin]

this car used to be one of my favorite sports car, but the alfa romeo 4c EXIST

[@budwise7332]

Mk3 tts beats it speed wise and price wise.

[@tommycastro7357]

He's funny

[@LeJohnz]

I personally think the GT3 is the greatest that Porsche makes, but I geuss opinions are subjective.

[@Jirinoshi]

What about the RS 4.0

[@thaStorMaj]

Maybe he included prices in that calculation too. ;)

[@LeJohnz]

stormy Even in terms of pricing, the GT3 is a great value in it's own right. See evo's comparison and how they concluded it can be superior to the McLaren 12c, which also brings that competition to Ferrari's 458. The GT3 even makes people question the 911 turbo. There is also one car that imposes on the cayman's territory that British people may not think of, the C7 corvette, and that too, offers more performance.

[@LeJohnz]

Jirinoshi the 4.0 is definitely a ferocious engine, but Porsche's already saying that the new GT3 outpaces it on the nurburgring.

[@karstenpedersen7749]

John Le Are you a racecar driver ? If not, how would you know the slightest difference over a 20 km track ? For ordinary people, it's far more important how the car behaves on roads, how it makes you feel, how practical or usable it is, and last but certainly not least, the cost!

[@clu4u]

Alex, is your butt dyno so attuned that you can detect 10hp, or .1 sec 0-60 acceleration? Sorry, my BS detector just went off. Sorry but my 05 Boxster S with tuning, headers, cat back, under drive pulley and lightweight fly wheel with Bilstein shocks is as much fun as any Cayman. Except the GT4...

[@clairebannister4749]

still 40k sadly

[@UDPride]

Love my 06 Cayman S. I believe the new Caymans are better than the old, but the incremental step not worth the price to make the change. Only Porsche I would even consider swapping it with is the Gen I GT3RS or the 991 GT3. Its so good, I hardly drive my 930 anymore. And, hate to say it, I might even consider the PDK.

[@393coupe]

Only someone with a proper english accent can accurately review a Porsche.

[@limericklad2000]

You're still wrong. The new GT3 is. By a mile.

[@limericklad2000]

The 991 Carrera S is also superior. As evidenced by it winning Motor Trend's Drivers Car of the year award the last two years in succession.

[@EuropeansCars]

Well I still thinks Porsche´s are great

[@anandn7425]

Rubbish. I own a 2013 Boxster S and I would be hard pressed to tell the difference in 10 hp. The guy doesn't know what he he is talking about. 30 mpg? In your dreams. On long highway drives, with the six speed manual, the best I have averaged is 25-26 mpg. At 70-75 mph. The clutch is extremely progressive in take up. If you have strong legs that is. There is no abrupt spring back after engagement. It is superb and so is the 6-speed manual. Both are excellent cars but please don't diss the 911. The 911 s is superb and much faster. If you want the best 911, buy the fantastic GT3.

[@dsilvap]

Better than the 718 :)

[@verygood7155]

It's nose is not the same as a Boxster.

[@jacobjohnson4763]

Which is the main reason I can't stand the Boxster or many 911's for that matter. The nose looks a bit feminine to me. The Cayman looks aggressive..

[@verygood7155]

Take heart knowing that the noses of either the Cayman or the Boxster are interchangeable as are their rear bumper skins.

[@z2153]

Porsche naming convention is not good. The Cayman and Boxster are so close that it should be a Cayman Convertible and a Cayman just to be more concise.

[@claus1225]

this is the best car for people who cannot afford 911.

[@jacobjohnson4763]

The only thing keeping the 911 on top is Porsche de-tuning the Cayman. You can take the 911 if it compensates for your shortcomings but the Cayman is the better car..

[@alexlavenus]

I wish if porsche makes cayman 350 HP and the cayman s 500 HP And the 911 between 550HP up to 850 HP

[@justinglaser3547]

Alex Lavenus The Cayman may be under powered but 500 HP is a bit much for a mid engined sports car don't ya think?

[@bucsfan2565]

Alex Lavenus Swap it with a 5.0 chayote

[@anthonyjaswinski5732]

Lots of Boxster defenders on the thread. LOL. Sorry, Box -- your car looks like Barbie Vette next to Cayman and 911

[@clu4u]

Anthony, unless you make your living racing on a track, my Cayman Cabriolet is more than a match for your POS. And I mean Piece Of Shit.

[@Bischlarbo69]

Rhetorical stupid title is stupid.

[@rakennavarro2557]

Boxster is a barbie car.

[@TomCccog]

Add a pedal commander and that more than offsets the 10 hp. Boxster all the way for me.