[CGTS]

Two months in of Cayman GTS ownership, her are a few random thoughts.


The car is a superb drive with sublime handling and outstanding performance, with little to fault; if anything there is so much effortless power and the car is so driveable that it is almost too competent.


No faults and only one design fault: the seat belt buckle bangs against the door frame when not used. The only other thing is the drone over a long distance; I’m not going to repeat what has been said about the quality/nature of the sound and whether it is ‘good’ (it is really is just different) but it has that one character when that I’d like to find a solution for.

For the things that I have specced that are ‘must haves’ for me now having lived with the car for a bit:
The GT steering wheel – I won’t order another Porsche without it
PDK – a surprise for me having been brought up on manual shifting cars – brilliant

Some things that I wasn’t sure about at the time:
Multifunction on the GT steering wheel – works really well and I’d have it on any car that’s more than just for the track
Dual zone AC – still not sure
Bose – not worth it

Cruise, heated seats and folding mirrors I’m used to, useful for where I live and I'd pretty much order any car with these.

I’ve read on the forum about the soundaktor on the 718 base and S, so went to my dealer about anything that can be done about the drone; they said there is a soundaktor on the GTS and even had a charge rate for disconnecting it. I’m wondering if they were referring to the actuator for the PSE, so I’ll check with them again. In the meanwhile, I’ve found a partial workaround that lets me access the handling and performance with a bit less of the drome by using the individual setting on the sport chrono. I set the individual setting on the dial to sport mode and then scrolled down the list to untick sports exhaust, which has helped.

A great car.

 

[puffyD]

Thank for the update. What do you like so much about the GT Steering Wheel?

 

[CGTS]

The GT wheel has a slightly smaller diameter, the grip feels a little thinner and like that the the main body is black rather than chrome. Mainly it makes the car feel a little more responsive and suits the nature of the GTS, IMHO.

 

[don]

Thanks for the update and review. Any good photos of your car? Did you change any of the interior options?

I'd agree with your general thoughts although during my test drives I haven't noticed any significant drone, at least when driving slow and maybe it depends on what car you have come from? I mean everything is so close in the Cayman, at least noise wise. Although I thought the 718 was a quieter drive than the 981, but yes switching off the sport exhaust option helps. Not sure if it affects performance?

I think the consensus is that there is no soundaktor on the GTS to disconnect so that will probably not assist.

There was a speaker upgrade post where someone stuck Dynamat on the inside of every panel including the doors and engine bay. I think that would have to help reduce the sound intrusion into the cabin but a lot of work.

I also think the smaller GT steering wheels is great. I'm uncertain about the folding mirrors myself but it is not a real costly option to add so maybe it should be included for the price.

The banging buckle seems to be a common porsche problem including 911 and I think some people put a bit of felt to stop the tapping.

 

[Semitone]

they said there is a soundaktor on the GTS and even had a charge rate for disconnecting it. I’m wondering if they were referring to the actuator for the PSE, so I’ll check with them again.

I, for one, would love for you to double check about this. I am finally approaching 3000 miles on my 718 GTS and not sure I even hear a drone anymore What I do notice is that the engine, from inside the car, doesn't sound, "close" to the passenger compartment like it does on my 987. The engine sounds like it is buried under a foot of sound deadening material, and maybe just letting some distant rumble through to my ears. I'm tempted to see if there is some sound deadening material that I can remove so the sound isn't so muffled. Maybe it will be more pleasant. On the other hand, maybe it will just be louder!

I've never had a Porsche with a decent sounding stereo. Just too much ambient noise to have a nice listening environment.

I didn't order the climate control. After bitching for a decade about what type of idiot has a friggin expensive car without electrically adjustable seats and climate control. I ordered a new car without either. QED

I have multifunction on my Macan, skipped it on my 718. I wanted to cut back on options, but needed the leather GTS interior with contrast stitching skipped a lot of the "comfort' features like interior lighting, keyless entry,heated steering wheel, heated seats ... Don't miss any of it yet.

I typically like cars more the longer I own them. Expect the same of the 718.

 

[Guaji]

Maybe it's me...but I still think there is some kind of sound enhancement on the GTS. My individual setting is Sport+ with normal exhaust . I will try Sport mode with normal exhaust to hear the difference. For me the sport exhaust is not that loud. The issue I have is, when I change between Sport to Normal mode or Sport+, there is a distinct reduction in cabin noise , which I prefer for longer distance driving. The Sport mode with sports exhaust defiantly has more pops and other noises which I like. In Sport+ or Normal mode with sport exhaust engaged, the exhaust is very tame, nothing like in Sport mode. The difference I hear is in the engine noise, not the exhaust. I've read that the GTS has a sound amplifier on the wall between the engine and seats.

In regards to some of your other observations....the car I originally ordered was without the dual zone climate control and Bose radio. I would probably still order it that way, since I drive mostly without a passenger and I am not too picky about the audio. The 718 I ended up buying has dual zone and the Bose system. I love the multi function GT steering wheel. I originally ordered just the GT steering wheel.

 

[TheLip]

No faults and only one design fault: the seat belt buckle bangs against the door frame when not used.

On my base 718C, if you bring the buckle all the way up to the top, where the belt comes out, and the buckle is pointed up, it is designed to stay there. That way it does not slap around during driving. I assume it is the same on the S and the GTS.

 

[CGTS]

Thanks for the update and review. Any good photos of your car? Did you change any of the interior options?

I'd agree with your general thoughts although during my test drives I haven't noticed any significant drone, at least when driving slow and maybe it depends on what car you have come from? I mean everything is so close in the Cayman, at least noise wise. Although I thought the 718 was a quieter drive than the 981, but yes switching off the sport exhaust option helps. Not sure if it affects performance?

I think the consensus is that there is no soundaktor on the GTS to disconnect so that will probably not assist.

There was a speaker upgrade post where someone stuck Dynamat on the inside of every panel including the doors and engine bay. I think that would have to help reduce the sound intrusion into the cabin but a lot of work.

I also think the smaller GT steering wheels is great. I'm uncertain about the folding mirrors myself but it is not a real costly option to add so maybe it should be included for the price.

The banging buckle seems to be a common porsche problem including 911 and I think some people put a bit of felt to stop the tapping.

For the interior, leather wheel instead of alcantara, perforated leather seat faces instead of alcantara but alcantara kept on the roof lining.


I haven't got round to taking many photos, but here are a couple (I had to include the pre-reveal!)

 

[DJL]

On my base 718C, if you bring the buckle all the way up to the top, where the belt comes out, and the buckle is pointed up, it is designed to stay there. That way it does not slap around during driving. I assume it is the same on the S and the GTS.

Thanks @TheLip! The seat belt banging was bugging me - your tip solved the problem.

 

[OldJedi]

Thanks CGTS, it is good to read your remarks as you get to 3000 miles. As I approach 2000 miles I see that I’m in the minority. My CGTS replaced my 67 Corvette and I ordered it with a lot of options. I had to decide between the Alcantara or the ventilated leather seats. I wanted the Alcantara interior more. I picked the 18 way seats but did not want to spend the $5000+ dollars to get deviated stitching and leather dash but did order the white gauges and chrono. I happen to like the BOSE system and the LED headlights are very bright. The car always wants to just go, something I noticed the first time I drove her home. I know I picked the right car when watching TV at night and I get an urge to just take her for a ride. It is a really great car!

 

[rdmustang]

Maybe it's me...but I still think there is some kind of sound enhancement on the GTS. My individual setting is Sport+ with normal exhaust . I will try Sport mode with normal exhaust to hear the difference. For me the sport exhaust is not that loud. The issue I have is, when I change between Sport to Normal mode or Sport+, there is a distinct reduction in cabin noise , which I prefer for longer distance driving. The Sport mode with sports exhaust defiantly has more pops and other noises which I like. In Sport+ or Normal mode with sport exhaust engaged, the exhaust is very tame, nothing like in Sport mode. The difference I hear is in the engine noise, not the exhaust. I've read that the GTS has a sound amplifier on the wall between the engine and seats.

In regards to some of your other observations....the car I originally ordered was without the dual zone climate control and Bose radio. I would probably still order it that way, since I drive mostly without a passenger and I am not too picky about the audio. The 718 I ended up buying has dual zone and the Bose system. I love the multi function GT steering wheel. I originally ordered just the GT steering wheel.

I think dual zone is silly even with a passenger but when I found out that standard A/C doesn't allow you to set a temperature (it's just low/medium/high) then I definitely wanted the dual zone.

 

[rdmustang]

The GT wheel has a slightly smaller diameter, the grip feels a little thinner and like that the the main body is black rather than chrome. Mainly it makes the car feel a little more responsive and suits the nature of the GTS, IMHO.

GT steering wheel is 100% required for me. I'm not a large guy so I thought maybe it was just me but the standard steering wheel feels way too fat.

 

[RussellHodgson]

GT steering wheel is 100% required for me. I'm not a large guy so I thought maybe it was just me but the standard steering wheel feels way too fat.

The GT wheel is the best interior option IMO - I love it - feels the perfect size.

 

[Viffermike]

GT steering wheel is 100% required for me. I'm not a large guy so I thought maybe it was just me but the standard steering wheel feels way too fat.

The standard wheel is actually somewhat skinny -- probably about average for a sport wheel. The optional 'M Sport' wheels in BMWs, for instance, are significantly thicker -- and the upgraded wheel in my Lexus F Sport was thicker, too, as well as had a compound cross-section profile.

For me (6-4, with a long torso), the GT wheel was out because of its smaller circumference since it cut off the tops of the gauges at the adjustable column's highest setting. Until the column tilt gets more play upward, the GT wheel isn't as practical for taller 'drinks of water' like me -- and I did not like that it was slightly skinnier in profile size than the standard wheel, either.