There's virtually no difference between the model years and very little difference mechanically between an S and a 4 cylinder GTS. If the 2018 has everything you're looking for in terms of options and the price fits your budget, then it's likely the better purchase since it's further down the depreciation curve.

 

Thanks for the input. I understand they’re very similar.
Good point on depreciation curve. Outside of that, I’m trying to decide the value of waiting for a 3-4 year newer car.

 

Keep in mind these cars are pretty reliable and don’t have a lot of issues. I had a 2017 CS that I recently and zero age related issues. Are you thinking that you keep the car 10 plus years? If not I would not let the right car go just because it is a 2018 versus a 2021.

 

My last car was a 2013 Audi S5 manual. Bought it like 3 years old and just sold it. I buy the cars I like and tend to keep them until repairs exceed the value.

 

My S has sport chrono and manual 6 speed but no PASM. It was not a deal ender in my case as I don't track my car nor intend to. Are you looking just in your immediate area or willing to find one within a several hundred mile radius? I see several available that click the boxes under $80,000.

 

That's great! Where do you see them?
Localish of course would be easiest, but I've got searches nationwide on finder.porsche, cars.com, PCA classifieds, even Carmax & FB, but the only ones with both options I've seen are like 2018, or '23/24 in the mid 80s.

 

Just my $.02. Boxsters and Caymans depreciate. They’re the red headed stepchildren of the Porsche brand. If you‘re going to buy one, buy the one that speaks to you in your price range. Don’t be afraid of the initial cost or the future depreciation if you plan on keeping it. It will give you more smiles per mile than anything you’ve driven before. If you like torque get the 4 cylinder. If you like rpms get the six. But get the one that speaks to you and wont be disappointed.

 

Just my $.02. Boxsters and Caymans depreciate. They’re the red headed stepchildren of the Porsche brand. If you‘re going to buy one, buy the one that speaks to you in your price range. Don’t be afraid of the initial cost or the future depreciation if you plan on keeping it. It will give you more smiles per mile than anything you’ve driven before. If you like torque get the 4 cylinder. If you like rpms get the six. But get the one that speaks to you and wont be disappointe.

I’ll give you $0.01. Dealers are asking about what I paid nearly five years ago for cars like mine (2021 GTS). That is zero depreciation, at least so far. I don’t really care because I have no intention of giving it up. I certainly agree about the miles of smiles.

FYI, the torque in the six arrives a few hundred RPM later than it does in the 4 pots, but there is gobs of it. All three engines are very strong. I think the big difference is the cost.

 

You must have an excellent, low mileage example and the dealer see’s an opportunity to upsell you and a potential new owner of your car. (If you were selling).

My car has nearly 40,000 km. No offers for my car from dealers - the asking prices are from the Porsche website for similar cars. I certainly expect it to eventually depreciate.

 

I‘m not 100% sure if this was in response to my post about the sale of my 2017 CS but I will assume so.

I did not sell my car to a dealer. I did a private party sale. While my CGTS was on the boat I had the dealer give me a quote in hopes of going the easy route while taking advantage of reducing my Arizona sales tax on the new car by the sale price on my CS. Let‘s say the offer was the lowest of any wholesale buyer by almost $10k. The highest wholesale offer was $10k less than I got. The extra $$ was worth the effort. Having said that after four year the dollar is worth less so I still had some depreciation. Free rides are rare.

 

I'm not sure where you are looking, but I think you may need to look a little harder and be patient. Have you tried the Porsche website "shopping tools"? I just plugged a few parameters in and this 2024 Cayman S with only 100 miles - i.e. essentially brand new - came up at an asking price of $89k, almost $6k under MSRP. I'd dare them to rip up a check for $83,000. That may still be more than you want to spend, but it's a new car with PASM, Sport Chrono and PTV. Essentially the equivalent of a 2024 2.5 GTS without the nearly imperceptiable engine tuning tweak. https://finder.porsche.com/us/en-US/details/porsche-718-cayman-s-my24-preowned-9Z8067?condition=used&condition=porsche_approved&model=718&category=718-cayman-s&category=718-boxster-gts&position=20815,38.98249,-77.08722,-1&transmission=manual&order=price_asc

There are plenty of others with under 10-15k miles at reasonable discounts to their original MSRP's. I am not in that market (S model), but the deals that I am now causally seeing on GT4RS's suggest to me that the "irrational exuberance" of dealers and speculators trying to get big ADM's and flip profits is coming to a somewhat harsh end. So patience may be on your side.

Good luck.

EDIT: On that car above, I just clicked on the dealer link to open it in the Porsche Configurator. As a 2024 it had an MSRP of $94k, but in the 2025 configurator, it would be $103k+. So even at their full asking price, that equates to a $15k discount to what a new one would be today. 718 Cayman S | Porsche Car Configurator.

 

I'm not sure where you are looking, but I think you may need to look a little harder and be patient. Have you tried the Porsche website "shopping tools"? I just plugged a few parameters in and this 2024 Cayman S with only 100 miles - i.e. essentially brand new - came up at an asking price of $89k, almost $6k under MSRP. I'd dare them to rip up a check for $83,000. That may still be more than you want to spend, but it's a new car with PASM, Sport Chrono and PTV. Essentially the equivalent of a 2024 2.5 GTS without the nearly imperceptiable engine tuning tweak. https://finder.porsche.com/us/en-US/details/porsche-718-cayman-s-my24-preowned-9Z8067?condition=used&condition=porsche_approved&model=718&category=718-cayman-s&category=718-boxster-gts&position=20815,38.98249,-77.08722,-1&transmission=manual&order=price_asc

There are plenty of others with under 10-15k miles at reasonable discounts to their original MSRP's. I am not in that market (S model), but the deals that I am now causally seeing on GT4RS's suggest to me that the "irrational exuberance" of dealers and speculators trying to get big ADM's and flip profits is coming to a somewhat harsh end. So patience may be on your side.

Good luck.

I would agree with you the last few months has seen a significant readjustment. It went from very little dealer stock to plenty in stock of both new and used cars New stock does seem to be shrinking now reflecting end of production.

 

A lot of trust with online buying. Remote transaction was easy for me. My 2021 S came up from NC. Dealer easy to work with and they had a shipping company that they recommended. $1,100 going from NC to CT. Delivered in a box trailer. I took a cool video of it being unloaded. Also this shipper took 150 photos at the dealership and 150 pictures in my driveway.
Dave T

 

Sounds great, hope that's the case for me if it's not one I can visit/pickup.
My only similar experience was the reverse of yours. I bought my previous car (Audi) somewhat remote in CT and drove back to NC. I was able to do a test drive on a work trip but it was dark so I couldn't do a good visual. Had a friend check it out before I committed then did the paperwork remotely. Flew up to drive it home. It didn't go smoothly with the dealer at any step, but I decided it was worth the struggle and it worked out in the end. Seems like Porsche dealers are more willing to deal remotely.

 

I'll give you my standpoint on the difference between years; as many have said already, there is very little difference between the model years. The specs on each individual vehicle can be a difference-maker. Compare the vehicles side-by-side and take a long, hard look at the specs on each. More often than not, that can help you decide - as the specs on each car can vary greatly.

 

Have you looked on PCA market?

 

Yep, have an alert set

 

Make sure to expand your search distance and wait for the one you want. I'd only do that with a CPO porsche though. Its also fun to fly and drive one home. Did that with my CPO 2018 BS. The drive from Greensboro, NC to Northeast PA was fun. Took the long way which included twisty roads in the Blue Mountains.

Also did a fly and drive with my CPO Jeep Wrangler. Flew to Michigan, drove back to PA same day. Just a thought. Try not to limit your search area and be patient. The turbo 4 motor in the 2018 GTS is more than enough and if you read through hours of posts it appears to be rather bulletproof.

 

just found the only manual 2021 S with PSAM for you.
Used Porsche 718 Cayman S (MY21) for sale at Porsche North Scottsdale

 

I think that’s the one that just was sold to a someone’s daughter in the string above!

 

it is PTV and PASM... I am not thinking of buying it!

 

Doesn't SC give you rev matching? I had it on my 14 cayman S and it was awesome. I wouldn't buy a manual without it.

 

It does.
I’m pretty good at rev matching and really wanted it for the drive mode selector the wheel with the programmable individual setting. But on a test drive, the auto rev match didn’t get in my way and I could see the value in certain circumstances...