[shades80]

Ok, so I got permission from the boss, my wife, that I can replace my 11 CS with a 2020 Cayman.
i am trying to keep the car under 85K out the door so I have configured both cars for almost the exact same price.

Cayman T - The Porsche Code
Cayman - The Porsche Code

A few facts, I will not track car so not sure it’s worthwhile getting the T, I am looking for insight into this i.e. spasm, ptv for a DD.
i am getting PDK as my boss er wife wants to drive it.
So any insight into the advantages or disadvantages of each would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance

 

[MLJJ]

I have a base and have not seen or driven a T. As I understand, the T is a little more track oriented. My suggestion is to drive both if you have that option. PDK is amazing. I think you will notice a big performance difference with the 11 vs the 2020 base. The T adds some bells and whistles that you may not need/want and doesn't add any more power. Enjoy the journey. Getting your other half to agree is a huge hurdle to overcome, at least it was for me. Congrats!

 

[JakiChan]

I've gone back and forth - I don't really see what you added to the base to make up for the delta in price. But the T will have things you simply can't get on the base - I think it has PASM sport (which you can see) and PTV.

 

[Silversword]

You have more interior options on the base I think. The T is a bit more focused and has Sports PASM which cannot be specced on the base, plus PTV and SC as standard (but you can add both to the base anyway) it also has some unique cosmetic touches. I am not certain but I think the T has less sound deadening as well.

If the car is to be foremost for "driving for pleasure" then the T is a nice package, but if you need more of an all-rounder and aren't particularly bothered by the addition of PTV and S-PASM you may be better opting for the base and not paying a premium for things you don't actually need.

 

[craig66]

You will see people going back and forth with vigor about the positives of PASM, S-PASM, PTV and SC. The reality is that for every day DD, spirited driving and almost all street driving the base car is more than enough and sometimes even too much. If you are looking to stay within a budget I think that those options are likely the first to go. I tried PASM with and without and felt no difference. Now it is possible that in reality had I driven with both for a week I would have noticed a difference but in truth I can not imagine more fun than I currently have and so I might never know what I am missing but I am okay with that.

 

[shades80]

Thanks for the responses.
What I am trying to figure out, and I will drive both cars, is is the T noticeable stiffer for a DD.. I know the car is .20mm lower and I assume the shocks and struts are different but compared to the base with no pasm, is it to stiff for a DD.

 

[DriveInHouston]

Thanks for the responses.
What I am trying to figure out, and I will drive both cars, is is the T noticeable stiffer for a DD.. I know the car is .20mm lower and I assume the shocks and struts are different but compared to the base with no pasm, is it to stiff for a DD.

This is the strange part. My Cayman S is too stiff for the patchy roads in Houston, yet it is the most comfortable car I 've had in a long time for trips.

My Mustang GT had to resort to pretty stiff suspension to put the horsepower down in anything but a straight line, but driving around the neighborhood it felt like it was forcibly rearranging my intestines... Yuk!...

 

[aeronca65tl]

I ordered a new 2018 base 2.0 with PDK in late 2017.

I have about 10,000 miles on it now and I love it. It's a great street car, plenty fast and can even carry a decent amount of cargo. My wife and I have done several longish trips in it with no problem.

I haven't driven it on any tracks so far (I own two other dedicated race cars), but I may run it at an event at Lime Rock this Spring. I've been racing for over 35 years and I am positive this Cayman would be fully up to the task of running a regular track day as-is.

By the way, I managed to buy mine for under $58K. Even now you should easily be able to get a base with PDK for under $62K (before tax). Personally I think the base 2.0 is sort of steal, considering how good it is.

 

[Baka1969]

Interestingly, for $85k USD, I'd consider the Cayman S.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

There’s an awful lot of CPO 2019 cars out there that could be a steal. However, you don’t get to spec to your liking then.

Either way... Congratulations on the future 718!

 

[Naptown]

Think of the base as coming with free premium gas for life, given the price difference. Agree the base is fun. I don’t use Sport mode most of the time as a DD, except in Autocross.

 

[MattRG]

I consider Sport Chrono to be non-negotiable but that's just me and because I have some amazing back roads near my house that I can hit on my way home from work and it has become my alternative to therapy. Sport + mode with the addition of the Active engine mounts make the car far more visceral and aggressive where each shift is thumping you in the back and I find it to be enthralling and breathtaking in equal measure. Sport mode is fun from stoplight to stoplight but when you really want to romp on it Sport + is a whole different animal and I wouldn't want to live without it.

I also consider the standard suspension in the base car to be an excellent compromise between sports car grip and handling and ride comfort, especially with the 18 or 19" wheels. I have 19"'s and consider them "just right" in terms of looks and comfort but I know some folks prefer the lower profile 20" and lower ride height with PASM for a more aggressive look. How low do you want to go?

 

[Baka1969]

A well equipped Cayman S for around $85k.

Porsche Code: PLMTPQ20

To me, a better deal than a Cayman T.

 

[718Niko]

I'd get sport chrono if only for the rotary selector on the wheel. I don't have it in my base pdk and miss it a bit. Pressing the sport button on the center console is not as natural and fast as turning the wee thing. Especially since said sport button is right next to the stability control button which I do not want to press by mistake thinking I pressing the sport one.
Not a big deal : ) I just really like that rotary selector.

 

[shades80]

So for people who have driven the base and T, was the T significantly stiffer and therefor not for daily driving?
So the question is, If both builds fit your budget, which car would you get and why.

 

[neilf]

I’ll wade in here. Ran a base 2.0 (PDK) for 25,000 miles and now have a manual T as my DD since July. In all honesty there isn’t a night and day difference between the two. Both are fantastic so don’t beat yourself up over your choice. When I was speccing another 2.0 as replacement for my original 2.0 I found I’d pretty much spec’d a T. Icing on the cake was finance residuals on a T were stronger than a 2.0. This made a T significantly cheaper than a 2.0. Became a no brainer for me to order a T.

I‘m very happy with it as a daily. My 2.0 had PASM and I don’t find the T on SPASM any stiffer at all (looks very cool with the 20mm drop though).

A quick list of my experiences:
Ride Comfort - Softest to Hardest
2.0 PASM (off), T SPASM (off), (981) Steel Springs, 2.0 PASM (on), T SPASM (on)

Interior Noise Levels
Exactly the same

Handling
T just edges it

Exterior Noise
T significantly quieter from the exhaust, but this probably due to the GPF

Performance
Strange one this. Even though both models have identical engines/outputs the T felt vastly quicker than the 2.0 from day one.

Hope this helps.

 

[Third]

I’ll wade in here. Ran a base 2.0 (PDK) for 25,000 miles and now have a manual T as my DD since July. In all honesty there isn’t a night and day difference between the two. Both are fantastic so don’t beat yourself up over your choice. When I was speccing another 2.0 as replacement for my original 2.0 I found I’d pretty much spec’d a T. Icing on the cake was finance residuals on a T were stronger than a 2.0. This made a T significantly cheaper than a 2.0. Became a no brainer for me to order a T.

I‘m very happy with it as a daily. My 2.0 had PASM and I don’t find the T on SPASM any stiffer at all (looks very cool with the 20mm drop though).

A quick list of my experiences:
Ride Comfort - Softest to Hardest
2.0 PASM (off), T SPASM (off), (981) Steel Springs, 2.0 PASM (on), T SPASM (on)

Interior Noise Levels
Exactly the same

Handling
T just edges it

Exterior Noise
T significantly quieter from the exhaust, but this probably due to the GPF

Performance
Strange one this. Even though both models have identical engines/outputs the T felt vastly quicker than the 2.0 from day one.

Hope this helps.

A good and honest assessment. The buyer-community thanks you!

I assume the difference in "quickness" is due to the weight difference, and exactly what Porsche was after.

 

[Optical TDI]

I bought the base used and if I could add one option it would be ptv. The open diff stinks!! It’s even worse with the APR tune.

If you don’t like to accelerate hard out of corners on the street, probably not a big deal.

 

[neilf]

A good and honest assessment. The buyer community thanks you!

I assume the difference in "quickness" is due to the weight difference, and exactly what Porsche was after.

I‘m no expert but I you are probably right.

 

[DriveInHouston]

I wonder whether the 'quickness' feeling is due to a different mapping. It can be done, probably child's play for Porsche, keep the turbo spinning to reduce lag and off we go. Not more horsepower, just more readily available horsepower.