Test-Driving the 718 Cayman

The other day, while my GT3 was in for its one-year service, I had the chance to borrow a 718 Cayman for a day. My husband and I both drove it, so I’ll share my thoughts from a woman’s perspective—what it might be like if my wife were to use a Cayman every day—while my husband will weigh in as a Porsche owner and car enthusiast.

The 718 Cayman we borrowed was almost completely without options: a true base model, with no PASM, no sports exhaust, no Sport Chrono package, and standard 18-inch wheels and tires.

In a nutshell, my reaction was: “If my wife were going to use a Cayman every day, this base model would be more than enough!”

Ride Comfort

The suspension felt very well controlled, with no awkward aftershocks or lingering body movement. It was firm, but rode remarkably well. That said, my wife is used to luxury sedans from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMW, so at first she might feel that the Cayman lacks the smoothness she’s accustomed to and isn’t especially comfortable.

I think she’d get used to it as she drove more. And once she experienced the precise handling and the way the car responds exactly as you expect, the impression that it’s easy and enjoyable to drive would likely outweigh any concerns about ride comfort.

A Proper Porsche

I recently had the chance to test-drive a 911 Carrera 4S (992). Its evolution was impressive: I was surprised by how quick and responsive the steering felt, and the engine sounded beautifully balanced.

By comparison, the 718 Cayman’s steering wasn’t as quick as the 992’s. Even so, from its handling and braking to its throttle response, the Cayman gave me that same feeling of being able to drive exactly as I intended. That’s unmistakably Porsche, and I came away convinced that even the base Cayman delivers a genuine Porsche experience.

I’d once read somewhere that the Cayman was an “entry-level Porsche.” After driving one, I could see why someone might say that.

Compact Enough to Go Almost Anywhere

The Cayman is compact, unlike larger models such as the Panamera and Cayenne, so it’s easy to drive and park on ordinary roads and in everyday parking lots.

The Boxster’s soft-top color can make it stand out a little more around town. The Cayman, by comparison, is more understated. That makes it feel like a car you can use without worrying about drawing too much attention.

A Few Other Things to Know

As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, the Boxster and Cayman offer a surprising amount of storage for two-seat sports cars(with a trunk at each end), so I don’t think you’d have any trouble taking one on a regular grocery run.

Still, being a two-seater can make the cabin feel a little enclosed. After driving the 718 Cayman, I had the opportunity to drive a 911 Carrera GTS (991.2), and I was reminded how airy and open the 911’s 2+2 cabin feels.(I’ll share my impressions of the GTS in a future post.)

All that said, the base 718 Cayman was an excellent car—more than enough for everyday driving. Honestly, I liked it more than the BMW M2 Competition I’d test-driven before.

Of course, the M2 Competition was a great car too. But the test car I drove at the time cost a little over ¥10 million with options. Compared with that, the 718 Cayman we borrowed was about ¥3 million less, yet offered this level of performance. From a value-for-money perspective, the 718 Cayman seemed like the much better buy.

That’s my take, perhaps a little bold—but next, let’s hear what my husband thought.

A Porsche Owner’s Take on the 718 Cayman

My husband bought his first Porsche, a Boxster GTS, a few years ago. Since then, he’s owned several Porsches himself and often gets the chance to drive cars belonging to people he knows. These days, he seems to drive a different Porsche just about every month.

As a result, he’s developed a good feel for the character of each Porsche model, and the differences between trims and options. He also works on improving his driving skills, attending driving schools and practicing on simulators so he can give more accurate reviews(Seriously, what is he? lol)

So I asked him to give me his honest impressions after spending a day with a 718 Cayman that had almost no options.

Debating Between the Base Cayman and the S? Read This Before You Buy

When it comes to the 718 Cayman, my husband had this to say:

When buying a Porsche, plenty of people struggle to choose between the base model(also called the standard or basic model) and an upper-level trim like the S or GTS.
Especially when budget is a factor, you might find yourself thinking, “I really want the S, but maybe I should settle for the base model… No, maybe I should just go for the S after all…” Then you spend night after night going round in circles, unable to sleep.
If that sounds like you, here’s my advice, and I can say it with confidence: “Absolutely consider the base model.” I can say that with confidence, having driven all kinds of Porsches, including high-performance models like the GT3.

That was his take. I asked him, “I agree that it was really well put together and nicely balanced—but are you saying the base model is actually better than the S?” He replied:

I’m definitely not saying the S is a bad car. Of course it has more power than the base model, and that’s a real advantage. The S has qualities of its own, and you’re not going to be disappointed if you buy one. I understand that completely.
But if you ask me, “Does the base Cayman feel inferior to the S, or leave you wanting more?” my answer is no—not at all.

That’s how he put it.

He went on:

I’ve driven a base 718 Cayman before, but this time around, my takeaway was, “This is more than enough.” It offers outstanding value for money.
It’s more than capable around town, and on a winding road, it has just the right amount of power to let you work the engine. Once the turbo builds boost and the torque comes in, it’s seriously quick.
You might want more power if you spend all your time cruising at 250 km/h in the Autobahn’s fast lane. But you’re very unlikely to find the base Cayman short on power when leading traffic in the fast lane on a Japanese expressway.

I could see what he meant: the base model really does offer exceptional value. He added:

The 718 feels quicker than the 981 Boxster GTS, and I never once thought the standard 18-inch wheels and suspension felt too soft. If anything, the balance between engine power and the tires felt just right—it really drove home how important balance is in a car.
On a track, it might not match the S for lap times, but it could actually be more fun and a better car to learn in, because you can really feel that it’s within your control.

I get it. I used to think power was what mattered most in a car, and that faster was always better. But after driving a range of cars lately, I’m beginning to understand that balance is what really matters. A well-balanced car feels natural to drive—and that’s what makes it fun.

I told him, “I agree that the 718 Cayman felt well balanced. That’s why I enjoyed it so much. And it really felt like a Porsche. I’m not quite sure why, though…” He replied:

The suspension is on the firm side, but the high-quality, relatively soft bushings seem to create a wonderful balance of compliance and strength. That feels very Porsche.
The PDK shifts quickly, and when you drive aggressively in Sport mode, it handles downshifts and upshifts at just the right moments without you even needing to use the paddles. That lets you focus on enjoying the superb handling.
If you can set aside any concerns about the model hierarchy, the base version is more than enough. If I were buying a 718 Cayman, I’d probably choose the base model or the GTS 4.0.

That’s what he said.

Next time, I’ll write about the ride quality of the suspension without PASM, along with how the 718 compares with the 981.