I own a Carmine Red 2016 981 Boxster GTS and a GT Silver 2024 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 (both PDK).
981 for design any day (and for the exhaust sound, but that’s a different story).
The front of the 981 is more aggressive and the rear flows just so much nicer without the porsche part below the spoiler and the nicer integrated rear diffusor. Also the center exhaust of the 981 is for me visually more attractive.
Interiorwise the sports chrono clock of the 718 sits way to far up front and I like the clock position in the 981 much more.
It makes the top of the dash look much cleaner.
The steering wheel look and the paddles are better in the 718.
Rest of interior is not much different. Both cars have alcantara 18-way seats, but I didn’t opt for the GTS package in the 718 and went for the full leather dash with black stitching and black leather trim, since I wanted the black tacho. The orange needles are a minus compared to the white needles in the 981 with the red GTS package.
PCM 4.0 is not much better then PCM 3.1 in the 981 for me. I don’t use the nav and keep my smartphone in the left cupholder, so you have a clear view on Waze instead of looking down on the PCM screen.
Having had a 2014 981 Cayman S and now a 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0, I understand your personal preferences. But for me, perhaps with the exception of the front grill, I prefer the 718 GTS exterior over the 981 at least for a Cayman. And having gone from a "standard" interior with 18 ways in the 981 to the GTS interior with LWBS in the 718, definitely prefer the 718 interior. I previously had a 997S, so I actually prefer the look of the sport chrono up on the dash. Again, these are all personal aesthetic preferences, no right or wrong. As for PCM, I had/have navigation in both, but the Apple Car Play and wireless dongle in the 718 makes for a far superior interface and functionality than the old 981 with no CarPlay. Can't imagine using Waze on my cell phone perched in the cup holder.
However, your post prompted my curiosity, why the redundancy of two very similar Boxsters? My wife and I have three vehicles, SUV, sedan and Cayman and I'm struggling to put 4-5k miles a year on the Cayman. Had managed 6k a year on my 981. But two sports cars - especially nearly identical - would be a waste for us. Assuming we remain happily married.
