Porsche Cayman 4.0 GT4 RS 2dr PDK

  • Automatic
  • Petrol
  • 21.4 mpg
  • 2 door coupe
  • 299 g/km CO2
  • 299 g/km CO2 emissions
  • 21.4 mpg Fuel efficiency
  • 3.4 secs 0 to 62 mph
  • 500 bhp Engine power

Ten Second Review

This 718 Cayman ditches the old flat six engine of its predecessors in favour of a more efficient turbocharged four cylinder powerplant for mainstream varaints, yet still offers more power. As for the name, well in case you were wondering, the '718' reference refers not to the engine but a series of classic Porsche mid-engined models that won numerous races in the 1950s and '60s. Enough with the briefing; what's this car like?

Background

As ever, Porsche determinedly refutes suggestions that what we have here is simply 'a Boxster with a roof' but that's essentially what it boils down to. Not that there's much wrong with that, the exemplary handling balance of the brand's entry-level model enhanced by a body almost twice as stiff, enough to make this car the darling of the red mist brigade in the motoring press, if not as strong a seller as its maker would have liked. So what to do? Porsche could certainly make this car quicker, even sharper to drive, more efficient to run and higher tech to use - and sure enough, all of that was done for the launch of the original version of this third generation model, back in 2013. It wasn't quite enough, even with the subsequent launch of more focused GTS and GT4 versions. Will this 718 version fare any better? It'll be interesting to see...

Driving Experience

So, what's it like? Well, the cabin envelopes you like a proper sports car should. You sit low, and there are no seats behind you; just a bulkhead that separates you from the flat four turbo engine, just thirty centimetres from the small of your back. That'll be either a 2.0-litre 300PS unit if you've opted for the standard Cayman or Cayman T. Or a 2.5-litre 350PS powerplant if you've chosen the Cayman S. If you're wondering, that's now equal to what you'd get from the same engines fitted to equivalent Boxster models. If you want a six cylinder engine, there's also a 4.0-litre 400PS unit for the Cayman GTS, also available in 420PS form in the track-focused Cayman GT4. All the powerplants are, as ever in a Cayman, mid-mounted, that being the major point of differentiation between this entry-level Porsche coupe and its pricier 911 stablemate, which has its powerplant slung out behind the back wheels. Here, in contrast, it's hunkered down in the middle of the car, something that has all sorts of beneficial effects on this car's handling dynamics. Even if you don't plan to thrash round the Nurburgring, you'll notice a balance and friendliness to a driving experience that feels, well, just right. You'll be wanting some numbers. The basic 2.0-litre Cayman with a PDK auto 'box and the Sport Chrono package will accelerate to 62mph in 4.7 seconds and run onto 170mph. Go to the other extreme and plump for a 2.5-litre Cayman S with PDK and Sport Chrono and you'll be able to demolish the 62mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds with the engine pulling strongly from 4,000rpm and taking on a lovely guttural bark as the revs rise towards the red line and the cars hurls itself on towards a top speed of 177mph.Turn-in is crisp at whatever speed you choose and body roll's well contained too. What we have here is a masterclass in sportscar excellence.

Design and Build

Does it look like a 911? The uninitiated might think so but visually at least, the Cayman is no longer a lesser, rather clumsy copy of that car. As for the '718' series changes, your eye is immediately drawn to the nose with its much sharper profile and ultra-slim Bi-Xenon front lights above the air intakes. In profile, there are strikingly sculptured wheel-arches and side sills - and a wider look to the rear, emphasised by a high-gloss black strip with integrated Porsche badge between the redesigned tail lights. Behind the wheel, the upper part of the dash panel including the air vents is new. The smarter sports steering wheel is fashioned in a '918 Spyder' design. Plus an extensive range of connectivity options have been added to the 718 cockpit, along with the Porsche Communication Management infotainment system as (at last) a standard feature. Mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and the 150-watt Sound Package Plus are all part of this package. Practicality remains as before, with a 275-litre boot out back and a further 150-litre compartment in the front. That means a 425-litre total that's actually more than you get in a Volkswagen Golf. A two-seater Porsche sportscar that carries more gear than your average family hatch? The surprises keep on coming.

Market and Model

What Porsche advertise the Cayman at and what it rolls out of dealerships costing are usually two quite different things but in terms of list pricing, if you think of the base 2.0-litre model as costing around £45,000 (the T version is around £52,000) and the 2.5-litre S variant as being pitched at about £54,000, then you won't go too far wrong. The GTS six cylinder is around £64,000 and the GT4 around £75,000. To save you checking, that means a Cayman is priced very similarly to its Boxster open-topped counterpart. The standard Cayman features 19" alloy wheels, auto stop/start and sports mode, an audio CD system with colour touch-screen control, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity and a three year warranty. A central feature of the new interior is Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and the Sound Package Plus with 110 watts of audio power. PCM can be extended with optional modules to thoroughly adapt it to personal requirements. For instance, the navigation module including voice control is available, which makes it easy to input driving destinations. In addition, the Connect Plus module is available as an extension of the navigation module; it provides online navigation services and enhanced online audio features. With Porsche Vehicle Tracking System Plus (PVTS+) as standard, the 718 Cayman offers the highest class of vehicle security. All new Cayman customers also get the opportunity to explore the potential of their car by participating in a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone. It's hard to imagine a more enjoyable day you could spend with your new toy.

Cost of Ownership

So to the efficiency figures. The launch of the 718 Cayman represents a return by the brand to building sports coupes with flat four-cylinder 'boxer' engines. The addition of a turbocharger significantly boosts torque while improving fuel economy. In the 2.0-litre 718 Cayman, the four-cylinder flat engine with PDK has a Combined fuel consumption figure of up to 33.2mpg and up to 193g/km of CO2 (both WLTP). In the 2.5-litre 718 Cayman S, the 2.5-litre turbo engine with PDK returns up to 31.0mpg and up to 207g/km (both WLTP). Each 718 model is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) auto transmission, which now features fuel-saving 'virtual gears' previously introduced on the 911 model series, is available as an option. The PDK transmission features a 'sailing' mode whereby the engine is decoupled during periods of trailing throttle or on longer downhill sections, dropping the engine revs to a mere 700rpm, further saving fuel. Prod the throttle and it will instantly resume duty. Residual values have held up reasonably well on the last Cayman and there's no reason to believe that this model won't follow suit. Here, it seems, is a car you can buy with your head as well as your heart.

Summary

Whether this improved Cayman can finally upstage its pricier 911 stablemate - or indeed whether this is the car a modern 911 really should be.... well, we can't help wondering whether these are really irrelevant questions. If you like one of these Porsches, you'll probably be unconvinced by the other, with fundamental differences that are small but highly significant. As ever, perhaps a closer rival to the 718 Cayman is the car it was designed upon - the 718 Boxster, which drives almost as well and offers the option of open-top summer driving. Ultimately, what it boils down to is that Porsche has two brilliant cars on its books and as problems go, that's not a bad one to have. What's not in doubt is that the Cayman makes the dilemma of where to spend a sports coupe budget limited in the £40,000 to £50,000 bracket about as straightforward as it can be. In the real world, it's one of the quickest cars you can drive and one that makes you feel special every time you sit in it. True, the asking price isn't cheap, the options are expensive and there are more powerful rivals that cost the same. But it's also true that for the money, nothing else offers as complete a driving experience.

  • Auto start and stop system
  • DAB Digital radio
  • Integrated 4G/LTE compatible SIM including data for the Porsche Connect Services
  • Integrated compatible SIM including Porsche Connect Services
  • Navigation incl porsche + Apple Carplay, connect module, wireless internet access, carfinder, remote vehicle status, remote service and vehicle track
  • USB interface in central storage compartment
  • Wifi and music streaming
  • Black side window trim
  • Body colour bumpers
  • Bonnet made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in exterior colour with black NACA air inlets for brake cooling
  • Centre wheel bolts in black including wheel hub cover with RS logo in silver
  • Exclusive design fuel filler cap
  • Fixed rear spoiler
  • Flow optimized stainless steel lightweight sports exhaust system with 2 tailpipes made of stainless steel in high gloss black
  • Front apron with large cooling intakes with grilles and spoiler lip with recessed GT4 RS logo in black and central air outlet
  • Front wheel arches made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in exterior colour including wheel arch ventilation in black
  • Intelligent lightweight body in Aluminium/Steel composite construction
  • Porsche logo in accent trim on rear apron painted in satin black
  • Rear apron lower part in black with diffuser including fins
  • Rear boot
  • Side air intakes with one grille, sideblades including GT4 RS logo in black synthetic
  • Variable intake system with two switchable resonance flaps and six individual throttle valves
  • 12V sockets in passenger footwell
  • Airbox cover with GT4 RS logo in silver and black
  • Ascending centre console with uncovered storage compartment and closed storage compartment
  • Front and rear luggage compartments
  • Lightweight door panels with storage net in black and opening loops in arctic grey
  • Lockable glovebox
  • PDK gear changer lever with manual alley, grip area and shiift gaiter in Race tex, shift pattern in racing yellow
  • Race-Tex roof lining and A pillar trims
  • RS sport steering wheel
  • Sports look pedal and footrest with stainless steel surround in matt brushed
  • Storage compartments in each doors
  • Two individual cup holders (Passenger side, integrated into dashboard trim strip)
  • Carbon interior pack in satin finish - Cayman
  • Interior pack with items in leather and Race-tex - Cayman
  • Front seatbelt pretensioners + load limiters
  • Full size driver and passenger airbags
  • Passenger airbag deactivate switch
  • Porsche side impact protection doors with thorax airbag in outer backrest side bolster and head airbag for driver/passenger in door panel
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPM) with track mode
  • Alarm system with interior surveillance
  • Dashcam prep
  • Engine immobiliser with in key transponder, central locking and remote control
  • HC+NOx: N
  • Particles: N
  • Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 299
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 299
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 299
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 273
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 273
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 254
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 254
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 501
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 501
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 280
  • WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 280
  • Camshaft: QUAD CAM
  • Catalytic Convertor: True
  • CC: 3996
  • Cylinder Layout: FLAT 6
  • Cylinders: 6
  • Cylinders - Bore (mm): 102
  • Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 81.5
  • Engine Layout: MID ENGINE NORTH SOUTH
  • Fuel Delivery: MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION
  • Gears: 7 SPEED
  • Number of Valves: 24
  • Transmission: SEMI-AUTO
  • EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: False
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 13.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 13.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 13.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 12.1
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 12.1
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 11.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 11.2
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 21.4
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 21.4
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 12.3
  • WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 12.3
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb: 21.4
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 21.4
  • WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 21.4
  • WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 23.3
  • WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 23.3
  • WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 25.2
  • WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 25.2
  • WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 13.2
  • WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 13.2
  • WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 23
  • WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 23
  • Alternative Fuel Qualifying: False
  • Badge Engine CC: 4.0
  • Badge Power: 500
  • Based On ID: N
  • Coin Description: N
  • Coin Series: GT4 RS
  • Generation Mark: 2
  • Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E
  • NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N
  • NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N
  • NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N
  • NCAP Safety Assist %: N
  • Safety Concerns: False
  • Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24
  • Service Interval Mileage: 20000
  • Special Edition: False
  • Special Order: False
  • Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999
  • Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3
  • Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 999999
  • Vehicle Homologation Class: M1
  • 0 to 62 mph (secs): 3.4
  • Engine Power - BHP: 500
  • Engine Power - KW: 368
  • Engine Power - PS: True
  • Engine Power - RPM: 8400
  • Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 332
  • Engine Torque - MKG: 45.9
  • Engine Torque - NM: 450
  • Engine Torque - RPM: 6750
  • Top Speed: 196
  • Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP
  • RDE Certification Level: RDE 2
  • Alloys: True
  • Space Saver: False
  • Tyre Size Front: 245/35 R20
  • Tyre Size Rear: 295/30 R20
  • Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
  • Wheel Style: CAYMAN GT4 RS
  • Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY
  • Height: 1267
  • Height (including roof rails): N
  • Length: 4456
  • Wheelbase: 2482
  • Width: 1822
  • Width (including mirrors): 1994
  • Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 64
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): N
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 136
  • Max. Roof Load: N
  • Max. Towing Weight - Braked: N
  • Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N
  • Minimum Kerbweight: 1415
  • No. of Seats: 2