[Kingmota]

Anyone that bought a base model 718 must have felt that the additional cost of S/GTS was not worth it/ affordable or maybe they wanted to drive a more balanced car they can push to its limit. I am curious, though, for those who bought the 2.5L 718 whether they would have bought a higher end model if it had been available assuming similar car weight, suspension, transmission, ground clearance except more power for more money. Not trying to have another F4 Vs F6 thread. I realize that for realitively small dollars a 718 can be tuned to have enough power to offer what would be similar to higher model (i.e. 400 hp / 350 lb), but most of us would not risk our warranty.

I am consciously choosing the 718 Cayman GTS over more powerful, less expensive Vette because I value the entire package of the 718. My driving skills and expected usage probably won't fully exploit the power of the GTS, but I know myself well enough that if there had been a 718 GTS+ at 400hp/350lb for $10k to $15k more I would have either dug deeper in my pockets and/or forsaken some of my luxury options to have the "top dog" of the 718 line.

How about you? And if you would have paid for more power would it have been just to have the fastest available 718 or because you really want more speed?

 

[rsmith]

Oh sure, if there was a more powerful version out there, say just over 400hp and upper 300s or more torque I might have gone that route if I could have talked myself out of some options. I picked up a well spec'd Boxster GTS and spent a little more than I planned. So options would have to go to get more power.


I too chose a 718 over a Grand Sport or Z06 after several test drives of the Vettes, 718s and 911s. but I would have taken the Z06 over the 911s at least at the price points I could justify. But frankly, the 718 GTS has plenty of power (And I haven't hammered mine yet as I'm only approaching 1k miles on it), I wouldn't mind a little more torque though as it does down shift with just a little gas or slope where as the big v8s have the torque to overcome that need in easy driving. And with living at 6k elevation, the power difference isn't as great between the GTS and the Grand Sport so I got that going for me!

 

[RGM718]

Interesting question. My last three Caymans (2014 981, 2016 981 and now 2019 781) have all been Base. I previously had an 08 Cayman S and 2012 Cayman R. I found that the newer generations were offering performance comparable to the 987 S as Base. And, when I considered the 718 I test drove both 2.0 and 2.5. I was so impressed with the 2.0 that I saw no need (it was already able to accelerate well beyond respectable limits in any populated area) to move to the 2.5L. I spent my funds to tailor it to my exact liking. A sobering thought...........the 718 2.0 has 7 Lbs-Ft more torque than the previous 981 S and at about 2,500 RPM lower point.

 

[CupraLeon]

Chose for the 718GTS because of:

-quicker than the previous GT4 (wich I wanted to buy first)
-value for added performance features(cheaper than speccing an S with all those options) i.e. LSD + PTV , PASM, modified turbo/intake,linkages and connection rods are beefier
-it is by far the fastest 4 cylinder in the world (topspeed 295-300kph), Porsche delivered a masterclass piece of work,where other manufacturers (vw/mercedes/renault/audi) have been trying for years in the hothatch segment but didn't get anywhere near this.
-the sublime handling
-tuneability 450hp is within the reach for +- 6000 euros (6800usd)
-weight of the car

With all those things in mind there is no need for a more powerfull/ higher end 718. If you really want more get a GT3/ GT2 or a prancing horse =)

 

[Muppet]

The 2.0 is all you need for the street !
The only place where the 2.5 will outshine the 2.0 is on the track.
If you try using all the performance of either car on the street sooner or later your luck will run out and you will end up having an accident or losing your licence.
You’ve gotta know your limitations.
Because the car is far more capable than most drivers actual skill level.

 

[Kingmota]

The 2.0 is all you need for the street !
The only place where the 2.5 will outshine the 2.0 is on the track.
If you try using all the performance of either car on the street sooner or later your luck will run out and you will end up having an accident or losing your licence.
You’ve gotta know your limitations.
Because the car is far more capable than most drivers actual skill level.

Yes, I readily admit the GTS is plenty for my skills and type of roads I will be using. In fact, I switched my order from base to 2.5L more for low end throttle response with PDK than feeling the 2.0 L was not enough power. Maybe it is just the ego thing of wanting of wanting to have the best available, or at least the best attainable with your means. Just trying to be honest and in no way a criticism of the 718. By the same token, if someone had said you can get the extra power for free, but your car would weigh 200lbs more I would not have chosen it (my thought in new 718 vs CPO 911).

 

[wriggly]

I'm happy with the power levels of my GTS, but I wouldn't have minded more power. Kinda like a gun in your waistband, don't have to use it, just nice knowing it's there. >

 

[carlb]

I won't know unti track season.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[GTS]

For me, buying a GTS was justified based on my personal experience having bought, an regretted buying, other cars with the "base" engine. I didn't want to have engine envy again on what is essentially my ideal dream car.

 

[Optical TDI]

The 2.0 is all you need for the street !
The only place where the 2.5 will outshine the 2.0 is on the track.
If you try using all the performance of either car on the street sooner or later your luck will run out and you will end up having an accident or losing your licence.
You’ve gotta know your limitations.
Because the car is far more capable than most drivers actual skill level.

Yes, I readily admit the GTS is plenty for my skills and type of roads I will be using. In fact, I switched my order from base to 2.5L more for low end throttle response with PDK than feeling the 2.0 L was not enough power. Maybe it is just the ego thing of wanting of wanting to have the best available, or at least the best attainable with your means. Just trying to be honest and in no way a criticism of the 718. By the same token, if someone had said you can get the extra power for free, but your car would weigh 200lbs more I would not have chosen it (my thought in new 718 vs CPO 911).

More power and tq aren’t needed, but it’s the feeling of the extra juice when accelerating that is nice. Not trying argue, but lot of people say that about too much power for the street. I have a 2017 Boxster base and love it. Heck my Odyssey or Wrangler can go over 100mph. All modern cars can and will get anyone not responsible in trouble quickly. Just another perspective. My friend has a 981 base and can certainly get into 100mph quickly if needed. But it feels painfully slow compared to the 718 base.

 

[faizaan2000]

I've tracked the CS 4 times, and had a 2015 M3 previously which also got tracked. While the hp/tq is definitely more than enough for the road and the car is far better in almost every respect, I'd say there was a certain violence to the power delivery of the M3 that the CS just doesn't have. I think something closer to the M3 (425/400), around 400/350 would be great if everything else was left the same.

 

[autobahn]

I think 400HP in the 2.5 will be attainable with tuning and bolt-ons and the perfect amount of power.

Any more will overpower the chassis if that power is delivered as the current setup.

The reason the GT4 Clubsport is going to be OK with 425 is it's all going to be on the top end. I'm guessing there will be not much midrange.

 

[8833]

@ Kingmota, your logic is exactly the same as mine. I also chose a CGTS over a Corvette Grand Sport, and for the same reasons. And I would also pay more for a Cayman with more than 365 HP/309 torque. Not $50,000 more, but about $15,000 more. I would drop options that I chose like full leather interior and LED lights if I had to.

 

[RussellHodgson]

With my 718 CS if I could choose the amount of power then I'd probably say around 450 HP. That would give excellent 0-60 times (probably around 3 seconds), and excellent 0-100 times with acceleration still strong at that point. (Now maybe if it had 450 HP I'd then say I want 550 HP!)



With that said, 350 is still fantastic. On track days I don't need to push it to its maximum to keep up with many other cars.

 

[johan]

With my 718 CS if I could choose the amount of power then I'd probably say around 450 HP. That would give excellent 0-60 times (probably around 3 seconds), and excellent 0-100 times with acceleration still strong at that point. (Now maybe if it had 450 HP I'd then say I want 550 HP!)



With that said, 350 is still fantastic. On track days I don't need to push it to its maximum to keep up with many other cars.

There is a reason to why Ehresmann does not use 0 - 60 times on there +400hp tunes, to much wheel spin when doing a launch.
So they use something like 60 - 120 mph instead

 

[aeronca65tl]

If I fully used the 300 HP in my base 718 on the street, I'd lose my license in less than a day.

If I intended to run track days, the added power might be cool but otherwise, the cost vs. benefit isn't useful to me.

I've been racing for 40+ years. I ran 10 SCCA and vintage events in 2018. So the appeal of my 718 Cayman is a bit different for me...…..I just see it as a nice street toy. I may take it to a time trials event at The Glen or Lime Rock in '19 but that wouldn't be a regular thing for me.

Although the base 718 isn't exactly slow, there's an old saying that kind of applies here: it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

 

[Viffermike]

I've owned more than 20 vehicles. None had the top-of-the-line engine. Sometimes that was due to budget, but sometimes that was a conscious decision.

Example: my 2002 MkIV GTi. I opted for the 1.8T instead of the VR6 because it was far more tune-able, it was proven, and it was a perennial Ward's 10 Best Engines winner.

Another example: my 2 Series. I opted for the 228i instead of the M235i because of weight and balance, as well as longevity and reliability (plus, I HATE the font that BMW uses for its ///M trunk numbering , LOL!). Turns out most privateer track 2 Series cars were also 228is for the same reasons until the M2 came along.

For the 718, I had no need for the 2.5L -- and, frankly, the variable-vane turbos caused me some pause since I plan to keep this car for several years. It's new engine tech, and I'm automatically skeptical of that kind of thing. Plus, the 2.0 is actually a significantly higher-strung engine than the 2.5, which is actually a good thing because it makes me less likely to want to mod it. Also: An extra $11K for a 0.1-second faster 0-60 time, 48 hp more, 29 ft-lbs more, an 'S' on the rear bumper cover, red brake calipers, and not much else is STEEP. Couldn't justify it. Finally, the point @johan and other make about use-able power on the street is very salient. Anything above 350 or so HP is wasted on a street car, just like anything above 120 or so HP on a sportbike is wasted on one used in public.

If I intended to track my car with any regularity, I'd have considered the S. I don't, so it's not needed. I have absolutely no regrets.

 

[Schredder]

I also contemplated getting a Z06 corvette. But I always wanted a Porsche , And the Cayman spoke to me. If you were going to track the car a GT4 would be nice but over kill for most of us. I got a CGTS . If I want to tune it years from now the possibilities are endless with what we can do. Coming from a Shelby GT350 it is still a step up. If all I could afford was a base car with a few options, I would still love it. I have never even ridden in a Porsche and I bought one. I heard the sales manager start a boxster GTS and I knew I wanted it. Mine is sitting on the showroom floor till spring , I still haven't even sat in it yet. All of these moder sports cars are too fast to really exploit on public roads. 300 horse is more than enough. 400 is great. If you need more in a sreet car , Then move up to 911s or American V8s

 

[nineball]

i got the S for 3 reasons.


1. i track quite frequently


2. almost any classic car i have seen sell at the auctions always went for more money with the biggest engine combo available, and that holds true in the marketplace as well. options lose money but no where near as much as having the smaller engine does.


3. there was no GTS in 2017

 

[don]

Some people will always want more and the beauty of turbo cars is that there are some easy modifications to extract another 10 to 20% increase in power and torque. When someone develops an E85/option tune then you are probably looking at maybe 30-40% increase depending on mods.

I think for most including myself the current figures are more than enough.

People would have read the 718 GTS reaching 0-60 in 3.7s and sub 12 sec 1/4 mile which is very fast and this is with standard tires. I would expect larger GT4 spec Cup 2 tires or even larger standard tires to bring further gains.

My only concern with more power and torque is how strong the pdk and drive train is. I guess for rolling acceleration it will be fine but if you are launching a lot then there must be a point where it becomes a concern?

Curious to know if the 718 PDK gear box and differential share any critical structural parts with more powerful 911s?