[jonchicoine]

I currently am driving a 2017 718 Cayman S and lease is about to expire. I'm on the fence whether to buyout the lease or not. I've only got 4k miles on it ...

Anywho, does anyone have recent experience driving both vehicles? Obviously the biggest difference would be the 4cyl. vs 6cyl ... but how about the other things? How does the cabin noise compare to the 718 when just cruising? i'm guessing it's mostly the same or slightly quieter in the 911 as you're not really sharing the cabin with 718 engine... How's the ride compare? My 718s has all the bells and whistles except for ceramic breaks ... and honestly, in normal mode i would say the ride is just slighly more compliant than my mazda 6. It's surprisingly good even with 20" rims.

Again, i'm looking for comparisons as a daily driver with the occasional spirited driving... Am not asking for comparisons at the limit or on the track.

until i can get back down to the porsche dealer, i would love to hear others opinions on comparisons of the two. With the 911 are you really paying 20 or $30k more just for the 911 badge? Obviously, i'm talking about a base 911 or perhaps a 911s ... something in approximately the same price bracket as decked out 718.

I wonder when we'll see the new 718 GTS 4.0 for order too ...

-jonathan

 

[xhyphenx]

Here is my take...... I just picked up my GTS in March of this year. There was a leftover 2019 911 Carrera S that was priced at $121K, and I would consider in a plain jane nothing special Carrera S and it was my front runner that I was ready to take home. I got the chance to test drive this car and the GTS.

Carrera S likes:

• Ease of getting in and out of was easier
• Felt more comfortable, and I could see my wife and I taking longer trips in this platform
• A lot more opportunities for aftermarket parts

- This is extremely important to me

Complaint for the Carrera - Price point

GTS likes:

• Price point
• Most people don't know that it's not the iconic 911 if it's debadged.
• Spend around $4-$5k on performance parts and a tune, and it's HP is right at or higher than the base Carrera

- I like to be the underdog / shock value when telling people what the car's HP is with minimal upgrades added

My only complaint is the car is a bit of a pain in the ass for me to get in and out of. I'm 5'11" about 240, and it's a bit comical watching me get out of it sometimes. HAHA!!!

The GTS is the car that i'm cutting my teeth on in the Porsche world. The goal is a 911 in the near future, but until then I'm enjoying the **** out of this car. I smile ear to ear every time I get into it. IT gets driven about 3-4 times a week (I work from home).

 

[jonchicoine]

Lol, i hear you on the ease of getting in and out of... in particular, getting out gracefully is a challenge ... being 53, a bit overweight with a bad knee ...

 

[xhyphenx]

Lol, i hear you on the ease of getting in and out of... in particular, getting out gracefully is a challenge ... being 53, a bit overweight with a bad knee ...

I have the 18 way seats.... Sometimes I wonder if the basic seats would be a bit more comfortable to get in and out of.

 

[Scrounger]

I ditched the sports seats plus as the seat bolsters were a PITA when getting in and out.

WRT the 911 and 718 comparison, comfort levels may be a little better in the 911 however from what I'm led to believe the 718 is the more driver focused car that handles better than the 911 (but dont tell 911 owners that).

You'd have to drive both back to back to make the comparison but also look at what you're getting for your money.

Here in the UK a base 911 starts at a tad over £82k. I've just specced one up with most of the options I have on the 718 and it comes out at £96k and thats with not a lot of options added like SC.

Now dont get me wrong, the 911 is a stunning car and something I'd like to aspire to but my base 718 with every option I want comes out at £55k (no SC). I'd rather have the £41k in my back pocket thanks. So I even put my exact spec on a GTS which has near enough the same engine as the base 911 and it comes out at £69K. Again a saving of £27k.

Yes the 911 will be more refined and probably has more of the WOW factor but bang for buck the 718 wins hands down.

 

[Third]

In my mind both cars are well suited to driving from A to B but provide very different driving experiences for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are size, weight, weight distribution (ie, engine location), model-dependent engine power output (300-400HP or 400-700HP), and drivetrain options (911). Couple that with the fact the two cars are not at all comparably priced, and it's my opinion the comparison is apples to oranges. That is, I don't feel one is better than the other, they are different.

 

[jonchicoine]

In my mind both cars are well suited to driving from A to B but provide very different driving experiences for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are size, weight, weight distribution (ie, engine location), model-dependent engine power output (300-400HP or 400-700HP), and drivetrain options (911). Couple that with the fact the two cars are not at all comparably priced, and it's my opinion the comparison is apples to oranges. That is, I don't feel one is better than the other, they are different.

Well, my 718S MSRP was $99k (yes, about $30k in options!)... i could get a base 911 for that money... Also, i could buy a low milage 911 that's only 1 or 2 years old with some options for the same money... So, to me, it's definitely not apples to oranges by any means.

and ... regardless of price, i was asking for is there any noticeable difference in ride comfort or cabin noise ... or are they roughly the same?

apples to oranges? jeez ... not at all man ... the 718s is faster in the quater mile than a base 911... On a tight course the 718S is actually a hair quicker than a 911S (see video):

 

[alf_17]

I own both a 718 Boxster and a 911 Carrera coupe (992-gen).
If I could only keep one of them it would be the 718, the handling just feels sharper and the whole car pivots effortlessly around the driver when taking a corner... That and I am a bit of a sucker for driving top down
That being said, the 911 is also a very good car, the handling just feels like it is a step behind the 718, it might be partly due to chassis and weight distribution, but it might also be my mind playing tricks on me.
A more experienced driver could likely come up with a more detailed description of the handling differences than me.
The 911 has its strong points as well, comfort and power (based on base models of both cars) are higher, and in my mind a silver 911 Carrera coupe is one of the most beautiful cars out there.
The 911 also feels more refined to drive, and even though i love the sound my 718's F4T makes, the F6T howls and has very similar torque delivery (if not better).
In the engine department I think the 911 would be substantially behind on points if the engine was NA, because turbos does wonderful things to engines
Compared to most other sports cars the 911 is however a gem when it comes to the handling, the problem just is that Porsche set the bar high when they released the 718 Boxster/Cayman.

 

[jonchicoine]

I own both a 718 Boxster and a 911 Carrera coupe (992-gen).
If I could only keep one of them it would be the 718, the handling just feels sharper and the whole car pivots effortlessly around the driver when taking a corner... That and I am a bit of a sucker for driving top down
That being said, the 911 is also a very good car, the handling just feels like it is a step behind the 718, it might be partly due to chassis and weight distribution, but it might also be my mind playing tricks on me.
A more experienced driver could likely come up with a more detailed description of the handling differences than me.
The 911 has its strong points as well, comfort and power (based on base models of both cars) are higher, and in my mind a silver 911 Carrera coupe is one of the most beautiful cars out there.
The 911 also feels more refined to drive, and even though i love the sound my 718's F4T makes, the F6T howls and has very similar torque delivery (if not better).
In the engine department I think the 911 would be substantially behind on points if the engine was NA, because turbos does wonderful things to engines
Compared to most other sports cars the 911 is however a gem when it comes to the handling, the problem just is that Porsche set the bar high when they released the 718 Boxster/Cayman.

Thanks for your feedback! I actually like the lines of the 718 cayman over the 911.

A common comment i'm seeing is the 911 is more comfortable ... why? how so? are talking about more than seats? suspension?

 

[gatorfast]

There are tons of differences between the two. Mid-engine vs rear engine, 2 seats vs 4 seats, interior and exterior size, etc. The 911 is iconic and the marque Porsche example. The 718 is a fantastic car but unless you are one of those people that obsesses over size/weight then I would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldnt take a 911 over a 718. If I could have found a 2018 base 911 for a comparable price to my 718 then I wouldnt have thought twice about buying the 911. But of course the price chasm is large which is why many of us start with a 718 and work our way up

 

[alf_17]

Thanks for your feedback! I actually like the lines of the 718 cayman over the 911.

A common comment i'm seeing is the 911 is more comfortable ... why? how so? are talking about more than seats? suspension?

I think interior size (at least in the 992), noise (I know comparing a Boxster and a 911 coupe in this aspect in hardly fair) and suspension are important in making the 911 feel more comfortable.
I also test drove the old 911 (991.2) which has the same seats as a 718 so no discernable difference between these two seat wise, but the 992-gen has a new seat design which is different.
The 992 seat feels wider, and to some extend more comfortable, but for spirited driving I actually prefer the tighter seats in the 718.
Seats in both variants are Sport Plus seats.
Since I have absolutely no seat time in a 718 Cayman (or any Cayman for that matter) I think it is a fair assumption that comparing a 718 Cayman vs a 911 coupe might bring the two closer in the comfort department.

 

[Third]

Well, my 718S MSRP was $99k (yes, about $30k in options!)... i could get a base 911 for that money... Also, i could buy a low milage 911 that's only 1 or 2 years old with some options for the same money... So, to me, it's definitely not apples to oranges by any means.

and ... regardless of price, i was asking for is there any noticeable difference in ride comfort or cabin noise ... or are they roughly the same?

apples to oranges? jeez ... not at all man ... the 718s is faster in the quater mile than a base 911... On a tight course the 718S is actually a hair quicker than a 911S (see video):

I think you may have misunderstood me. I was just saying that other than both being able to get you from A to B, they are very different cars. As for myself, I want to drive a mid-engine, two-seat sports car so I own a 718S. I could buy a 911 Turbo S but it would check neither box, so comparisons stop there for me. Hopefully that clarifies my comment. That said, I can understand if you're indifferent as to which model you would own in terms of the platform itself (ie, size, weight, seating, engine placement, and so on) and price was no object, you would want to compare other things like interior cabin noise and comfort.

 

[Marino]

I could talk about this topic all day long and bore you. I have just changed 3mths ago from an Agate grey 718 Cayman GTS to a brand new Guards red Carrera 4 (992). From the beginning let me be clear that I loved / love both cars, both awesome driving machines.

The 911 cost an awful lot more money than the Cayman. I had a heavily specced Cayman GTS, it cost me £76K UK new, my heavily specced Carrera 4 cost me £102K, so the 911 is a lot more money. You can’t really get a 992 911 for less than £100K by the time you put on options. I considered getting a 718 GT4 and could have specced one of those for £86K with buckets and fire extinguisher, so even a GT4 would have saved me money over a Carrera 4.

There are pros and cons to both cars, obviously the 718 is cheaper, you could argue better value than the 911, the 718 believe it or not has a better cold start than the 911- yes you heard it here that the cold start in a 4 cylinder 718 is better than a flat 6 911. The 718’s explode into life with an angry snarl, the 911 cold start is good but not as dramatic, but the 911 sounds far better on hard acceleration, the noise of the flat 6 is glorious under heavy acceleration, and addictive, but the Cayman did over run more and I loved the over runs on my 718, although the 911 sports exhaust is improving with time. The 911 rev matches beautifully and that sound greats. Yes the Cayman was louder inside than the 911(neither are quiet cabins) but the Cayman louder. The Cayman felt more focused and more like a racing car, but the 911 grips the road better, both are fantastically well balanced. Both are equally fast (370bhp Cayman vs 385bhp Carrera 4 which is slightly heavier and bigger). The 911 get noticed much more and draws much more attention than the Cayman, the Cayman got lots of comments and admiration but the 911 much much more. The interior of the Cayman, esp with the GTS leather pack, was awesome but the interior of the new 991 is another level and the infotainment is class leading. I miss my small rear boot in the Cayman but the back seats in the 911 take a set of golf clubs and small kids so it is more practical. I love the big massive tyres on the new 911, 21” 305’s at the rear, but the tyre roar is marked, and it is with all 911’s apparently. The 911 is more comfy but I never found the Cayman uncomfortable.

Overall I loved both cars, overall the 911 maybe edges it, it just really nice driving a 911, it is after all one of the most iconic cars ever made, everyone loves the 911, but it was £36K more expensive, it’s basically almost a Golf R more than the Cayman GTS. Is that money well spent? I don’t know. The 911 residuals are incredible right now, so maybe. There are definitely things I miss about my Cayman GTS and I loved every minute I had with it. The Cayman is louder, angrier and more focused for sure. Those are good things.

 

[MikePhDPE]

it's the same difference as between an accord and a civic. It's like driving a big car compared to a gokart.

 

[DriveInHouston]

it's the same difference as between an accord and a civic. It's like driving a big car compared to a gokart.

Ouch!...

 

[JakiChan]

Here's a practicality thing that you may not consider:

Yes, the back seat of the 911 can "hold stuff", and really more stuff than the rear cargo space of a Cayman, for example. But that stuff is super exposed. You're not gonna leave your briefcase there if you're at all concerned about a "smash and grab". So I think that while the interior may feel a bit more cramped (I find the open space behind me in the cayman to be less cramped than the Boxster) the Cayman can carry more stuff safely in day-to-day life. Not worried about leaving my backpack or gym bag in the rear cargo area.

I also agree with Marino about the cold start. Last time I dropped off the car at the dealer for service they started it up and I was like "Wait is that my car?" It sounds super angry and sexy.

 

[MikePhDPE]

@JakiChan I wouldn't put a briefcase in the trunk considering how hot it gets. Maybe a pizza so it stays warm on the drive home. i find myself rarely using the trunk and often using the frunk.

 

[MLJJ]

Interesting. I put my cold stuff in the trunk because the A\C helps mitigate the engine heat. I've never noticed heat being a problem back there. In warm/hot climates the frunk has no insulation or assistance to keep cool.

 

[piran]

Interesting. I put my cold stuff in the trunk because the A\C helps mitigate the engine heat. I've never noticed heat being a problem back there. In warm/hot climates the frunk has no insulation or assistance to keep cool.

Odd but I've noticed quite the opposite on my 718 Cayman GTS, I have no history with a 911 so I cannot compare.

We have a more moderate climate in the UK The car's air conditioning appears to have zero influence way back there in the rear cargo volume. Sunlight (well, its infra red radiation component) travelling through the rear windscreen more actively heats up the whole rear end zone:-/ That black security gauze thing underneath the rear windscreen might even be worse than useless (with respect to any possible heat deflection). The engine and exhaust combination also actively warms up the boot and any stored contents - despite all the Porsche cooling fan and radiator technology.

The only time I store my photographic gear in the back is when I'm driving to a high humidity destination (Cornwall's The Eden Project for instance) where a warm lens doesn't mist over with condensation quite so readily inside their hot humid tropical 'biome'.

IMHO the bigger front cargo area keeps my stuff cool. It does actually have a minimal or 'sort of' insulation material and the aluminium bonnet acts as a big heat sink - particularly when on the go. Whereas the smaller rear cargo space warms up (see above). It's not a 'cooker' by any consideration but it does run warmish in there. However, contents stored in the front cargo volume actually stay quite cool - honestly - even when the metal bonnet is almost too hot to comfortably touch. I used to work extensively in the tropics and found that bigger rooms were always cooler than smaller rooms. YMMV

I do respect your position, the relative temperature differences are not massive, but I recommend you try experimenting again ...you might change your mind

 

[MOG_80TH]

I found this video amusing. It's a tad long but there is a cut down version. The spec of the two cars being compared was odd as I would have thought an S or GTS for the 718 should have been used just to bridge the gap power wise - not that 300bph is anything to sneeze at! His views are quite interesting.