[Chris NZ]

As someone who was waiting for, and planning to buy, a GTS 4.0 but landed up having my head turned by a 991.2 Carrera T I can tell you that they are very different cars, however the differences are more marginal in the areas you are asking about (comfort levels and cabin noise).

Cabin noise in the 718 - the engine is probably noisier (it's closer to your head and I believe that Porsche tried to offset the quality of the sound by increasing the level of sound as it is not a quiet engine). Cabin noise in the 911 - my experience suggests that road noise is louder in the 911 - the wheels are larger so more tyre roar and for some reason the wheel arches really seem to amplify the sound of stones etc. (apparently this is well known 911 trait). This is made even more my Carrera T with reduced sound insulation. As far as the engine noise is concerned it's not as intrusive but sounds a lot better in my opinion.

Comfort levels are probably fairly similar between the two cars, with what suspension is fitted (standard, PASM, Sport PASM) as well as the wheel size being big factors in ride comfort. Overally the 911 probably takes it though. Then there is also the question of whether you need the rear seat or whether the rear boot makes more sense. For me the rear seats don't get used often but mean that we are a one-car family, something I couldn't have done with a 718. My partner definitely prefers the 911, I think largely because the engine isn't as omni-present as it is in the 718 and overall it just feels more solid and seems to exude an air of quality that the 718 doesn't quite achieve (this is very intangible though and hard to quantify).

The big differences are in how the respective cars handle. The 718 is like a go kart, very nimble and agile; whereas the 911 is more planted and stable. Through tight and twisty corners the 718 will come out on top; on long sweepers and straight the 911 should take it (not sure where you got your quarter mile stats from...). These characteristics were borne out on a recent track day I did. In short they are very different and require different driving styles to get the most out of them but both are exceptional.

Engine-wise I truly believe the twin-turbo flat six 3.0 in the base Carrera may be one of the best engines Porsche make. It has a linear power delivery similar to that if a normally aspirated engine but more torque over a broader rev range than any of the F4T engines. The amount of power is also spot on (many think that since the introduction of 3.0L TT on the 991.2 the power of the S and above is simply too much to extract any enjoyment on a spirited road drive as you are generally driving well below the engines potential).

We are a one car family so the 911 gets used everyday - work commute, grocery shopping, weekend B-road blasts, trips out of town with our dog etc. The only thing we couldn't really tackle with it is bad unsealed roads (ground clearance is a bit of an issue, especially with Sport PASM). I know I would have been very happy with a GTS 4.0 if I had gone down that route instead but have no regrets with my decision to go for the Carrera T instead.

 

[jonchicoine]

As someone who was waiting for, and planning to buy, a GTS 4.0 but landed up having my head turned by a 991.2 Carrera T I can tell you that they are very different cars, however the differences are more marginal in the areas you are asking about (comfort levels and cabin noise).

Cabin noise in the 718 - the engine is probably noisier (it's closer to your head and I believe that Porsche tried to offset the quality of the sound by increasing the level of sound as it is not a quiet engine). Cabin noise in the 911 - my experience suggests that road noise is louder in the 911 - the wheels are larger so more tyre roar and for some reason the wheel arches really seem to amplify the sound of stones etc. (apparently this is well known 911 trait). This is made even more my Carrera T with reduced sound insulation. As far as the engine noise is concerned it's not as intrusive but sounds a lot better in my opinion.

Comfort levels are probably fairly similar between the two cars, with what suspension is fitted (standard, PASM, Sport PASM) as well as the wheel size being big factors in ride comfort. Overally the 911 probably takes it though. Then there is also the question of whether you need the rear seat or whether the rear boot makes more sense. For me the rear seats don't get used often but mean that we are a one-car family, something I couldn't have done with a 718. My partner definitely prefers the 911, I think largely because the engine isn't as omni-present as it is in the 718 and overall it just feels more solid and seems to exude an air of quality that the 718 doesn't quite achieve (this is very intangible though and hard to quantify).

The big differences are in how the respective cars handle. The 718 is like a go kart, very nimble and agile; whereas the 911 is more planted and stable. Through tight and twisty corners the 718 will come out on top; on long sweepers and straight the 911 should take it (not sure where you got your quarter mile stats from...). These characteristics were borne out on a recent track day I did. In short they are very different and require different driving styles to get the most out of them but both are exceptional.

Engine-wise I truly believe the twin-turbo flat six 3.0 in the base Carrera may be one of the best engines Porsche make. It has a linear power delivery similar to that if a normally aspirated engine but more torque over a broader rev range than any of the F4T engines. The amount of power is also spot on (many think that since the introduction of 3.0L TT on the 991.2 the power of the S and above is simply too much to extract any enjoyment on a spirited road drive as you are generally driving well below the engines potential).

We are a one car family so the 911 gets used everyday - work commute, grocery shopping, weekend B-road blasts, trips out of town with our dog etc. The only thing we couldn't really tackle with it is bad unsealed roads (ground clearance is a bit of an issue, especially with Sport PASM). I know I would have been very happy with a GTS 4.0 if I had gone down that route instead but have no regrets with my decision to go for the Carrera T instead.

Thanks! appreciate your thoughts. Yeah, that's kind of what i'm thinking ... cayman gts 4.0 or base 911... but this whole covid19 has impacted my finances perhaps i should trade my 718 in for an mx5 lol.

 

[Kit Gerhart]

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.

How does the cabin noise compare at a steady ~80 mph?

 

[GBS303]

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.

I've watched this before along with several of his other video reviews and they're all very good, if a little long. He definitely provides a very German (i.e. practical) and honest view in his reviews so I enjoy them and find them more helpful than basic fan-boy videos.

I've driven both the 911 and 718 and as as day-to-day driver I would say the differences are largely subjective (as you might have guessed from all the comments above). To be honest, both are fairly loud and firm riding, so it's not like the 911 is this luxurious GT cruiser while the 718 is a racer. Both are pretty aggressive cars for day to day driving, but both are also a lot of fun to drive daily.

My comparisons have been between a carbio 911 and the Boxster, so both with convertible roofs. Both are relatively loud and I would not say that I found cabin noise in one to be noticeably better or worse than the other. However, the larger cabin in the 911 due to the back seats does make it feel more spacious than the Boxster. The 911 does feel a little easier to get in and out of, but only slightly so. Neither are easy or elegant to get in or out of if you're on the heavier side. The 911 does feel like a slightly larger car to drive, but that is really only noticeable if you're actively looking for differences.

The current 911 interior is a quantum leap more advanced in digital technology than even my 2021 Boxster, but I expect that the next version of the Boxster will have a substantially updated interior that will look somewhat like the 911 (larger screen etc.), so it might be best to compare those two models when the next Boxster comes out.

To be honest, I think they are very similar cars and which one to buy largely comes down to which look you prefer (and budget). Good luck!

 

[Kit Gerhart]

You have me convinced not to replace my Cayman with a 911.

 

[Mozella]

............ snip.................. I would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldnt take a 911 over a 718. .......... snip............

If by "take" you mean to say "swap" a similarly equipped 911 for a 718, you have a strong argument. But in the real world most people acquire their cars by buying them.

It's not strictly true to say that a 911 sells for just about double what a 718 goes for (Base prices $97,000 vs $57,000), but it's pretty darn close. At the high end a 911 Turbo S goes for a little over two hundred grand while a 718 GT4 is a bit over one hundred grand, so double the price is not a bad way to compare the two.

So if you ask "Would you swap your 718 for a 911?" the answer is an obvious yes. If you add in "............... and you'll have to write a check for $50K or $100K", or if you were to say, "Would you swap your 718 AND your wife's 718 for one 911?" then you'll get a lot fewer Cayman owners jumping at that deal.

 

[Kit Gerhart]

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

There's a huge price difference, and I wanted a manual transmission, hard to get in 911s these days. That's why I have the base 718 Cayman.

 

[DriveInHouston]

...
So if you ask "Would you swap your 718 for a 911?" the answer is an obvious yes...

Not obvious to me. I had the choice of a 911 Carrera 4 (MY16) and my 718 Cayman S (MY18).

Same price, same mileage.

After test driving both, for me, the obvious choice was the 718. All else being equal, I chose the swiftest, most agile sportscar. Even my wife said so, after test driving both cars.

If it were for sound, I'd keep my Mustang GT (just about the same mileage 23 k mi. vs the P-cars' 11k). You can't beat an American V8 for sound...

 

[alf_17]

How does the cabin noise compare at a steady ~80 mph?

I think the 911 has the more quiet cabin, but it could be because my 911 is a coupe and my 718 is a convertible.
It would be more fair to compare the 911 with a 718 Cayman in this aspect, but I unfortunately have no experience with this.

 

[Chefleon72]

I got 2018 GTS Cayman after selling my 2010 Carerra S. I must say besides the sound, cayman drives better, has better low end torque, way better handling, lighter, more planted.. just so much more pleasure to drive, very precise steering . 911 felt sluggish at low speed, and very ass heavy.
Comfort wise after fiddling with a seat for a week I found perfect position. 911 has way more room and more comfortable on a longer trip. Then again I'm 6' and 220 lb. I don't miss the rear seats. They were useless even my toddler had difficulty sitting there 😀. Two trunks much more useful .
Porsche will never let 718 trump 911 - let's face it its the face of the brand. But 718 in my opinion is the best bang for a buck you can get as a sports car

 

[DriveInHouston]

...But 718 in my opinion is the best bang for a buck you can get as a sports car

An opinion shared by most 718 owners...

 

[turbo8765]

Biggest difference, once has the engine in the wrong spot the other doesn't.

There's a reason the ALMS cars moved the engine in front of the rear wheels several years ago.

 

[pdf72]

I had each for a day through the Porsche Drive program: a base 718 Cayman and a base 992.

My impressions are that the 718 is much more nimble and feels glued to the road. The one I drove didn't even have SC or PASM and I couldn't stop smiling while driving it. The feeling through the chassis and steering wheel is on another level. The 992 on the other hand is superior in every other way. It's much more powerful, it has better sound, the tech is much better and it is probably more livable day-to-day. The 992 felt like a serious sports car, while the 718 felt more playful and fun to toss around. If I was going for a drive on twisty roads, I would choose the Cayman. Also interestingly, even though there is a night and day difference between the 992 and 718 interior and tech, I find the 718 to be easier to use and more driver focused. The 718 is like a go-kart with everything you need at your finger tips. The 992 is like a high tech machine that also has a lot of power and great handling. After I returned the 992, I sat in a 718 in the showroom to see if I still liked it more. Sure enough, I sat down and felt like I was more comfortable with everything wrapped around me and driver focused. Hard to explain why I like it better when the 992 is so much of an upgrade.

I am planning to order one of these... tough to decide which one. I probably can't go wrong either way. Given that I had more fun in the 718 and it's cheaper, that's where I'm leaning. But there is certainly the attraction of getting the "iconic" 911 instead. Two or three years from now when I have gotten used to the 718, I don't want to be wishing for the 911.. that can get even more expensive.

 

[gfspencer]

I have loved 911s since I bought my first one in 1969. But when the Boxster came along I was hooked on mid-engine Porsches (2 987s and 3 981s). I love 911s but I enjoy driving a mid-engine Porsche more. Looking forward to my Cayman 718 T. It will be just right for the hills west of Menlo Park, California.

 

[pdf72]

I have loved 911s since I bought my first one in 1969. But when the Boxster came along I was hooked on mid-engine Porsches (2 987s and 3 981s). I love 911s but I enjoy driving a mid-engine Porsche more. Looking forward to my Cayman 718 T. It will be just right for the hills west of Menlo Park, California.

The Cayman T is exactly the one I would be interested in. I hope the 20mm drop isn't too much for our roads.

 

[GTS18BGTS]

The Cayman T is exactly the one I would be interested in. I hope the 20mm drop isn't too much for our roads.

We (the local PCA group) had a pre-PVGP (Pittsburgh Vintage GP) road rally this past Friday. Not a timed event and not a race. We had 28 cars that left the meeting spot in groups of four. There were two loops that ran north of the city. I was in the last group and the last car for the long route which was approximately 130 miles of mostly hilly, twisty back roads and secondary roads. I'm not admitting to anything , but all I can say is even with SPASM and in S and S+ modes at times, the car was magnificent at more than legal speeds. No bump or dip upset the handling. No loose gravel caused concern. The car really proved itself that day. Don't sweat cars fitted with PASM/SPASM.

 

[pdf72]

Why are Porsche dealers telling me that most people who buy a Cayman eventually want to upgrade to a 911? Is it a "prestige" thing or is it due to better practicality or performance or what? The 718 and 911 (992) seem like such different cars to me.

 

[Treemagnet]

All cynicism aside, this allows the dealer profit from selling two cars, and sometimes the resale of the first car.

 

[pdf72]

All cynicism aside, this allows the dealer profit from selling two cars, and sometimes the resale of the first car.

Well I'm deciding between a 718 and a 992. Maybe they're being honest and telling me to buy the car that I am more likely to hang on to. Or maybe it's better for them to sell 911's.

 

[GTS18BGTS]

Well I'm deciding between a 718 and a 992. Maybe they're being honest and telling me to buy the car that I am more likely to hang on to. Or maybe it's better for them to sell 911's.

I recently drove a 992 on the track at a PEC event. It's a heavy car and rides like one. When I purchase a 911, it will be one of the prior generations. If you want a light, nimble car that will put smiles on your face, the Cayman is the one.