E92 v8 still superior, which cayman?

Have an e92m3 6MT with BMW performance exhaust and it sings so beautifully. Smiles every time I push it to redline and shift.

Looking to add a cayman. Used to drive a mid engine car and I miss it. Absolutely love the subtle exterior changes on the 718 cayman and think it is the right size for a sports car.

It's funny to me that everyone is so excited about the new 718 cayman gts 4.0. Yes it's a flat 6 NA, but it is just not as special as the M3 V8. The flat 6 specs are lower than the v8 and it really doesn't sound that great. The m3's v8 power delivery, redline and sound is just so much better. The older mezger engines sounded way better than their current line up.

I think I actually prefer the power and tunability of the 2.5 flat 4 in the cayman S better. Has anybody driven both the 718 cayman s and cayman gts 4.0? If so what are your thoughts.

Having been in several porsches and owning a Macan turbo, I can vouch for Porsche chassis and suspension. It is just on a different level. Amazing really.

Porsches are so damn expensive but I want one. Leaning towards the cayman S because if I want engine sound I'm driving my M3. If you put the s65 v8 in a 718 cayman chassis? Well THAT would be very exciting.

My uncle has the 718 Cayman with the flat 4 turbo. Driven it, great handling car but boring engine. Yes it kicks but that's like any turbo car. Runs out of steam quite easily and doesn't do anything for me in the sound department.

The only car I would consider getting after my E92 M3 would have to be a GT4. New or the older one.

The new GTS with the 4.0 is nice but quite expensive, I would just continue to save until I have GT money. I feel like the GTS is much like a 335i whereas the GT4 is the M3. I just wouldn't want a gap car to something that is in between, that's just me personally.

GORDON.M3 wrote

My uncle has the 718 Cayman with the flat 4 turbo. Driven it, great handling car but boring engine. Yes it kicks but that's like any turbo car. Runs out of steam quite easily and doesn't do anything for me in the sound department.

The only car I would consider getting after my E92 M3 would have to be a GT4. New or the older one.

The new GTS with the 4.0 is nice but quite expensive, I would just continue to save until I have GT money. I feel like the GTS is much like a 335i whereas the GT4 is the M3. I just wouldn't want a gap car to something that is in between, that's just me personally.

I need to test drive a cayman S. I used to have a mid engined car that didn't have enough power. 2.5T with a lot of torque sounds like a lot of fun actually.

I test drove a base 718 Boxster before buying my 2nd E92. Straight up, the engine is the issue with that car. Just think back to any basic 4 cylinder turbo engine you've driven. Congrat, you now know what those engines drive like. It's effective, if utterly uninteresting and sounding like a FA20 WRX. Now the TT V8 in my Cayenne is a hoot (tuned), particularly in (effectively RWD) sport mode. If the Boxster had an engine with some of the same character, it would be a different story.

I drove a 2018 718 Cayman...loved the dynamics of the car, the balance, and it felt like it had grip for days. Sounded like a subaru though. Didn't like it the sounds at all. I can imagine though, that a 981 Cayman S/GTS or 981/718 GT4 are completely different and therefore, amazing cars. As of now, the only thing that can replace my e92 M3 is a stripper e9x or a Cayman GT4. The future dream car is a 991.1/.2 911 GT3 or GT3RS.

94jedi wrote

I drove a 2018 718 Cayman...loved the dynamics of the car, the balance, and it felt like it had grip for days. Sounded like a subaru though. Didn't like it the sounds at all. I can imagine though, that a 981 Cayman S/GTS or 981/718 GT4 are completely different and therefore, amazing cars. As of now, the only thing that can replace my e92 M3 is a stripper e9x or a Cayman GT4. The future dream car is a 991.1/.2 911 GT3 or GT3RS.

Can't replace the e92 M3. S65 is too good. Only Porsche's GT3 rival it.

Agree the older 981s with the F6 sound great. But a lot slower than the 718 series.

Maybe have to wait for the new cayman to come out and pickup a 718 GTS 4.0 or GT4 later 😄

Having driven the 4-banger 718 GTS (write-up here), I agree that these are cars with amazing chassis and steering, and deal-breaker engines. The turbo-four can't hold a candle to the S65 for sound, response or character.

I too think you'd need a GT3 to get an engine that rivals the S65. Sometimes I kick myself for not buying this ratty $73k 997.1 GT3 last year.

414bhp wrote

Having driven the 4-banger 718 GTS (write-up here), I agree that these are cars with amazing chassis and steering, and deal-breaker engines. The turbo-four can't hold a candle to the S65 for sound, response or character.

I too think you'd need a GT3 to get an engine that rivals the S65. Sometimes I kick myself for not buying this ratty $73k 997.1 GT3 last year.

Nice GTS write up 👍

That white 997 GT3 looks oddly familiar. I know a car in SoCal that had the same story.

Isn't it funny that the 997.1 GT3 engine closely resembles the s65 spec? And that's the top Porsche. Even though it won engine of the year forever, it still feels like the s65 is underrated.

The weight of the e9X holds it back from being the epic car it could be. It's dual purpose relegates it to just amazing.

I'm starting to look at 981 GT4s now and want a high mileage drivers car but they don't exist. They are 99% trophy cars that are treated more like stocks than race cars. To me the 718 GT4 looks better than the 981. But the 981 3.8 sounds waaaay better than the new 4.0. Both would be outrun by a tuned 718 cayman S though. Turbos are just faster.

imserious wrote

Nice GTS write up 👍

That white 997 GT3 looks oddly familiar. I know a car in SoCal that had the same story.

Do you know how it managed to get paintwork on three sides? I'm dying to hear that story.

imserious wrote

I'm starting to look at 981 GT4s now and want a high mileage drivers car but they don't exist.

I got to drive one of the 981 GT4's on a short highway test drive, and frankly, it didn't feel like any more of an event than the M3. I'd recommend you get a good test drive before you buy, because you might be a bit letdown like me. After that drive I'm left thinking it is GT3 or bust!

414bhp wrote

imserious wrote

Nice GTS write up 👍

That white 997 GT3 looks oddly familiar. I know a car in SoCal that had the same story.

Do you know how it managed to get paintwork on three sides? I'm dying to hear that story.

imserious wrote

I'm starting to look at 981 GT4s now and want a high mileage drivers car but they don't exist.

I got to drive one of the 981 GT4's on a short highway test drive, and frankly, it didn't feel like any more of an event than the M3. I'd recommend you get a good test drive before you buy, because you might be a bit letdown like me. After that drive I'm left thinking it is GT3 or bust!

I don't know the full story. But my step-brother bought a non-running white GT3, fixed it to good as new, drove it and sold it for a nice profit.

Good call on test driving the 981 GT4 first. I'll have to do that. I'll report back when I finally test drive these caymans.

imserious wrote

Have an e92m3 6MT with BMW performance exhaust and it sings so beautifully. Smiles every time I push it to redline and shift.........

It's funny to me that everyone is so excited about the new 718 cayman gts 4.0. Yes it's a flat 6 NA, but it is just not as special as the M3 V8.......
.

imserious wrote

Can't replace the e92 M3. S65 is too good. Only Porsche's GT3 rival it.....

Doesn't sound like you really want a Cayman to me.

DenverSteve wrote

imserious wrote

Have an e92m3 6MT with BMW performance exhaust and it sings so beautifully. Smiles every time I push it to redline and shift.........

It's funny to me that everyone is so excited about the new 718 cayman gts 4.0. Yes it's a flat 6 NA, but it is just not as special as the M3 V8.......
.

imserious wrote

Can't replace the e92 M3. S65 is too good. Only Porsche's GT3 rival it.....

Doesn't sound like you really want a Cayman to me.

Cayman would be an additional car. I would never replace my e92 with a cayman, but I do want to add one for a different purpose.

E92 = daily, best sound and engine
Cayman = weekend car, handling

Cayman needs to have a sense of occasion to be a good weekend car for me. Need to test drive different models.

I think you'll be underwhelmed with anything other than a GT4. None of the Caymans I've driven would be worth owning as a second car over a M3, and that also includes a '16 GT4.

Ive also driven the cayman s 718 and the 981 back to back and I was underwhelmed. I think you should test drive an Evora GT. It will honestly blow you away. Makes the M3 feel like a yacht and the supercharged v6 sounds fantastic. It has way more character than the Porsche as well. I was going to buy one but I decided to wait for the Emira V6 and have a deposit on it

nycplumber wrote

Ive also driven the cayman s 718 and the 981 back to back and I was underwhelmed. I think you should test drive an Evora GT. It will honestly blow you away. Makes the M3 feel like a yacht and the supercharged v6 sounds fantastic. It has way more character than the Porsche as well. I was going to buy one but I decided to wait for the Emira V6 and have a deposit on it

You're right. I'm not sure I love the looks but they have the right formula. The emira looks pretty exotic and may be one to consider.

Ok the Emira is hot. I'm definitely looking into it. In green, with yellow brakes.

I tried a 718 Boxster 2.5 S, and here are my short impressions:

Drivetrain
-very fast PDK transmission. Downshifts are instantaneous and crisp even going down to 1st gear which I normally don't on my M3s. Upshifts are seamless, little drama. Just pure fast.
-engine has decent power, but delivers in a very dull fashion. There is zero drama nor wail of linear power at the top end of the rev range, unlike the Ms.

Suspension
-Rear feels unsorted on rough patches, and the car hops during hard cornering. This might be due to the lack of PTV plus (LSD) on the particular model I drove, you HAVE to add this option if you want to drive anywhere near M's pace.

Overall impression
A very nice car, feels like I am driving LHD vehicle although my test drive was RHD.
If you don't look at the Porsche badge it is a fine car by itself, but I had much more fun in 986/996 with cable throttles. Nothing beats the response and specialness of NA engines, and I feel much more comfortable pushing NA cars than turbos. I would go for 981 instead.

718 GT4 incoming for me, M and GT4 will be stablemates. 718 GT4 engine sounds dull with OEM exhaust due to symposer, OPF, and no X, but several options to rectify that without touching cats or headers, Cargraphic or JCR at the top of my list. If it wasn't that, it'd have to be a 981 GT4 or mildly track prepped 981 S. I have a few miles driving a Spyder and 718 GT4 PDK. I think that with the exhaust issue fixed, they'll sound as an 8kRPM flat 6 should, and they'll be a blast to drive. But I think that like the e92M, driving it will be a 'sum of its parts' experience that gets better the more you do it, thus I'll reserve declaring the 'event' level until I have a few hundred post break-in miles driving mine.

Saw the Emira mentioned above. I did an extended test drive on the Evora GT and loved the handling, feedback, and input points, but found the Toyota drivetrain to be too much of a letdown. Yes, it does make a stocker e92M feel like a yacht, but the S65 blows the supercharged V6 out of the water. I'm expecting the same for the Emira.

endur0 wrote

718 GT4 incoming for me, M and GT4 will be stablemates. 718 GT4 engine sounds dull with OEM exhaust due to symposer, OPF, and no X, but several options to rectify that without touching cats or headers, Cargraphic or JCR at the top of my list. If it wasn't that, it'd have to be a 981 GT4 or mildly track prepped 981 S. I have a few miles driving a Spyder and 718 GT4 PDK. I think that with the exhaust issue fixed, they'll sound as an 8kRPM flat 6 should, and they'll be a blast to drive. But I think that like the e92M, driving it will be a 'sum of its parts' experience that gets better the more you do it, thus I'll reserve declaring the 'event' level until I have a few hundred post break-in miles driving mine.

Saw the Emira mentioned above. I did an extended test drive on the Evora GT and loved the handling, feedback, and input points, but found the Toyota drivetrain to be too much of a letdown. Yes, it does make a stocker e92M feel like a yacht, but the S65 blows the supercharged V6 out of the water. I'm expecting the same for the Emira.

I'm on the list of waiting for an Emira also but first-year launch models will only come with the Supercharged V6 from Toyota so I'm going to have to wait till they start rolling out with the AMG 4 Cylinder Turbo which I think will be a much better mate with the chassis. I have an LCI C43 AMG with the updated engine and it is quite peppy around town, surely enough it doesn't rev out like the S65 but I'm sure it would be a blast when it gets paired to the Emira's chassis.

GORDON.M3 wrote

endur0 wrote

718 GT4 incoming for me, M and GT4 will be stablemates. 718 GT4 engine sounds dull with OEM exhaust due to symposer, OPF, and no X, but several options to rectify that without touching cats or headers, Cargraphic or JCR at the top of my list. If it wasn't that, it'd have to be a 981 GT4 or mildly track prepped 981 S. I have a few miles driving a Spyder and 718 GT4 PDK. I think that with the exhaust issue fixed, they'll sound as an 8kRPM flat 6 should, and they'll be a blast to drive. But I think that like the e92M, driving it will be a 'sum of its parts' experience that gets better the more you do it, thus I'll reserve declaring the 'event' level until I have a few hundred post break-in miles driving mine.

Saw the Emira mentioned above. I did an extended test drive on the Evora GT and loved the handling, feedback, and input points, but found the Toyota drivetrain to be too much of a letdown. Yes, it does make a stocker e92M feel like a yacht, but the S65 blows the supercharged V6 out of the water. I'm expecting the same for the Emira.

I'm on the list of waiting for an Emira also but first-year launch models will only come with the Supercharged V6 from Toyota so I'm going to have to wait till they start rolling out with the AMG 4 Cylinder Turbo which I think will be a much better mate with the chassis. I have an LCI C43 AMG with the updated engine and it is quite peppy around town, surely enough it doesn't rev out like the S65 but I'm sure it would be a blast when it gets paired to the Emira's chassis.

I actually prefer the supercharged v6. Yes Toyota, but stock exhaust sounds good.

I think torquey supercharger in a mid engine setup is going to be fantastic as it is in the evora. Plus you get the manual which is a must.

It's no s65 but a different experience is what I'm looking for. The s65 with an exhaust reving past 8k and a manual can't be matched. I think really only the GT3 with manual stands up to it. While the e9x platform is aging, it really is underrated. Such a sublime experience.

OP, what did you end up getting?

... moved this post to GT4 thread.