Hello everyone. This is Mina, the administrator of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” This series, Porsche Owners File, was created in response to readers’ requests to share the real voices of various Porsche owners. The 19th installment features a purchase, options, and driving review of the 718 Cayman from “Naiya.”

〘Owner Information〙
・Featured car: Porsche 718 Cayman Right-Hand Drive (Base Grade)
・Pen name: Naiya
・Residence: Hokuriku region / Studio apartment
・Family status: Single in their 30s
・Previous cars:
Suzuki first-generation Swift (had no interest in cars at all) → Suzuki second-generation Wagon R (also no interest in cars) → Honda second-generation Integra Type R [DC5 model] (awakened to the greatness of sports cars, lol)
・Message to readers:
The 718 Cayman has a compact body, so despite being a sports car, it’s perfectly manageable for everyday use. Removing the tonneau cover reveals a rear luggage space that can hold (considering it’s mid-engine) a decent amount of cargo, making it practical enough even for those who can only own one car.
For a Porsche that’s within reach for ordinary people who work hard, there’s the Macan SUV (inline-4) in the same price range, but I bought the Cayman because I believe the essence of Porsche lies in low-riding sports cars.
Also, since “the latest Porsche is the best Porsche,” I decided to buy new rather than a well-maintained used one. (There have already been two recalls since the 718 was introduced.) Car critic Soichi Shimizu says, “Poor people should buy Ferraris,” but I want to say, “Ordinary people should buy the 718 Cayman new.” lol

1) How I Came to Purchase

I chose Porsche because I was looking for a cool manual transmission (MT) car available new, and that led me to the Porsche 718 Cayman.

First, I searched with the premise of a cool MT car available new, which narrowed it down to two choices: the Honda Fit 5MT Cross Style (personally, the only cool MT cars available new alongside the 718).
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I fell for the allure of the 2-door coupe and chose the 718, but since the S grade and above were over budget, I went with the basic 718 model.
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Although I admired the open-air thrill of the Boxster, since I could only park outdoors and didn’t want to damage the soft top, and because I think the Cayman has the coolest design among Porsches, I decided on the closed-body Cayman.

2) Options / Specifications

The specs are the base grade 718 Cayman right-hand drive. Options included “No model name logo,” “6-speed MT,” “Power folding mirrors,” “Park assist with reversing camera(front and rear obstacle sensors),” “Floor mats,” and “Passenger seat luggage net.”

・I chose “No model name logo” because I thought it would be easier to wipe the body without any bumps, lol.
・I chose “6-speed MT” because I discovered the joy of sporty manual shifting with my previous Honda Type R. The PDK in the test drive felt too easy and not fun, lol.
・I added “Power folding mirrors” just in case I had to park or squeeze through tight spots.
・”Park assist with reversing camera” for the same reason, since the apartment parking is narrow.
・I wonder if anyone skips floor mats, lol.
・The salesman said, “It’s free, so I added the passenger seat luggage net” and had already checked it in the car config, so I went with it, lol.

3) Delivery Process

・December 16, 2018: Ordered at local dealer
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・Mid-April 2019: Suddenly received a call from the salesman saying, “The car is already completed and currently being shipped by boat (sweat).” (Why there was no notification from the factory about production month or completion is unknown, lol)
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June 2, 2019: Delivery

4) Porsche Performance Experienced After Ownership

Though it’s the “entry-level” Porsche available new, with the chassis, engine, and suspension all standard “completely stock,” the overall body rigidity, lightness, high driving performance, and the perfect balance of natural feel without electronic intervention are outstanding.

① Engine / Engine Sound

The basic 2.0-liter engine’s performance in the MT without Sport Chrono feels sluggish at takeoff even in Sport mode, and it stalls easily if you’re not careful, lol. But once moving, power, torque, and response are all excellent.

If you can’t tolerate sluggish takeoff, I recommend choosing the 2.5-liter engine in the S grade or higher.

Personally, I don’t like the engine sound… I prefer the high-pitched sound like the NA-era VTEC. However, a Subaru enthusiast friend loves the 718’s engine sound, so opinions vary widely.

Next page → What about the MT evaluation, ride comfort, handling, brakes, maintenance, etc. of the Cayman?