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.<\/strong><\/p>\n In a nutshell, my reaction was: \u201cIf my wife were going to use a Cayman every day, this base model would be more than enough!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n The suspension felt very well controlled, with no awkward aftershocks or lingering body movement. It was firm, but rode remarkably well.<\/strong> 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\u2019s accustomed to and isn\u2019t especially comfortable.<\/p>\n I think she\u2019d 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\u2019s easy and enjoyable to drive<\/strong> would likely outweigh any concerns about ride comfort.<\/p>\n 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n By comparison, the 718 Cayman\u2019s steering wasn\u2019t as quick as the 992\u2019s. 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\u2019s unmistakably Porsche, and I came away convinced that even the base Cayman delivers a genuine Porsche experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019d once read somewhere that the Cayman was an \u201centry-level Porsche.\u201d After driving one, I could see why someone might say that.<\/p>\n The Cayman is compact, unlike larger models such as the Panamera and Cayenne, so it\u2019s easy to drive and park on ordinary roads and in everyday parking lots.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Boxster\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n As I\u2019ve mentioned on this blog before, the Boxster and Cayman offer a surprising amount of storage for two-seat sports cars<\/strong>(with a trunk at each end)<\/span>, so I don\u2019t think you\u2019d have any trouble taking one on a regular grocery run.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 2+2 cabin feels.<\/strong>(I\u2019ll share my impressions of the GTS in a future post.)<\/span><\/p>\n All that said, the base 718 Cayman was an excellent car\u2014more than enough for everyday driving. Honestly, I liked it more than the BMW M2 Competition I\u2019d test-driven before.<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, the M2 Competition was a great car too. But the test car I drove at the time cost a little over \u00a510 million with options. Compared with that, the 718 Cayman we borrowed was about \u00a53 million less, yet offered this level of performance. From a value-for-money perspective, the 718 Cayman seemed like the much better buy.<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s my take, perhaps a little bold\u2014but next, let\u2019s hear what my husband thought.<\/p>\n My husband bought his first Porsche, a Boxster GTS, a few years ago. Since then, he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n As a result, he\u2019s developed a good feel for the character of each Porsche model, and the differences between trims and options.<\/strong> 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)<\/span><\/p>\n So I asked him to give me his honest impressions after spending a day with a 718 Cayman that had almost no options.<\/p>\n When it comes to the 718 Cayman, my husband had this to say:<\/p>\n When buying a Porsche, plenty of people struggle to choose between the base model(also called the standard or basic model)<\/span> and an upper-level trim like the S or GTS. That was his take. I asked him, \u201cI agree that it was really well put together and nicely balanced\u2014but are you saying the base model is actually better than the S?<\/strong>\u201d He replied:<\/p>\n I\u2019m definitely not saying the S is a bad car.<\/strong> Of course it has more power than the base model, and that\u2019s a real advantage. The S has qualities of its own, and you\u2019re not going to be disappointed if you buy one. I understand that completely. That\u2019s how he put it.<\/p>\n He went on:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve driven a base 718 Cayman before, but this time around, my takeaway was, \u201cThis is more than enough.<\/strong>\u201d It offers outstanding value for money. I could see what he meant: the base model really does offer exceptional value. He added:<\/p>\n The 718 feels quicker than the 981 Boxster GTS<\/strong>, 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\u2014it really drove home how important balance is in a car.<\/strong> I get it. I used to think power was what mattered most in a car, and that faster was always better.<\/strong> But after driving a range of cars lately, I\u2019m beginning to understand that balance is what really matters. A well-balanced car feels natural to drive\u2014and that\u2019s what makes it fun.<\/strong><\/p>\n I told him, \u201cI agree that the 718 Cayman felt well balanced. That\u2019s why I enjoyed it so much. And it really felt like a Porsche.<\/strong> I\u2019m not quite sure why, though\u2026\u201d He replied:<\/p>\n The suspension is on the firm side,<\/strong> but the high-quality, relatively soft bushings seem to create a wonderful balance of compliance and strength. That feels very Porsche. That\u2019s what he said.<\/p>\n Next time, I\u2019ll write about the ride quality of the suspension without PASM, along with how the 718 compares with the 981.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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\u2019ll share my thoughts from a woman\u2019s perspective\u2014what it might be like if my wife were to use a Cayman every day\u2014while my husband will weigh in as a Porsche owner and car enthusiast. The 718 Cayman we borrowed...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":17479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=17460","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,60],"tags":[186,195,199,219,243],"class_list":["post-37827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","category-aboutcayman","tag-porsche-cayman","tag-porsche-report","tag-base","tag-219","tag-pasm","en-US"],"yoast_head":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0062-1280x854.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRide Comfort<\/h4>\n
A Proper Porsche<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_0057-1280x854.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCompact Enough to Go Almost Anywhere<\/h4>\n
A Few Other Things to Know<\/h4>\n
A Porsche Owner\u2019s Take on the 718 Cayman<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_7239.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDebating Between the Base Cayman and the S? Read This Before You Buy<\/h4>\n
\nEspecially when budget is a factor, you might find yourself thinking, \u201cI really want the S, but maybe I should settle for the base model\u2026 No, maybe I should just go for the S after all\u2026<\/strong>\u201d Then you spend night after night going round in circles, unable to sleep.
\nIf that sounds like you, here\u2019s my advice, and I can say it with confidence: \u201cAbsolutely consider the base model.<\/strong>\u201d I can say that with confidence, having driven all kinds of Porsches, including high-performance models like the GT3.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBut if you ask me, \u201cDoes the base Cayman feel inferior to the S, or leave you wanting more?<\/strong>\u201d my answer is no\u2014not at all.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_7240.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s 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\u2019s seriously quick.
\nYou might want more power if you spend all your time cruising at 250 km\/h in the Autobahn\u2019s fast lane. But you\u2019re very unlikely to find the base Cayman short on power when leading traffic in the fast lane on a Japanese expressway.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOn 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\u2019s within your control.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe 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.
\nIf 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\u2019d probably choose the base model or the GTS 4.0.<\/strong><\/p>\n