2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 Quick Review 

Hey everyone just a clarification. Starting price for the Cayman recently changed (the wrong direction). In the US it's now $96,850 with delivery, and in Canada it's $112,042. And if you've read this far, you are very beautiful and I love you.

I had an Emira on order for 18 months and cancelled it and got a GTS 4.0 manual and never looked back. The GTS is totally brilliant and I daily it without issue

There's a guy in my town with one similar to this, it is at least 2017 or older, a yellow manual one, aftermarket exhaust, definitely a 6 cilinder, that car makes one of the best engine noise I've heard in my life

I’ll admit that I’m biased as an owner, but there is a change in sound when you cross 4K rpm. It’s not just one sound. It becomes much more throaty above 4K.

I have the little flat 4 turbo but I still love this car so much. It drives so ridiculously well.

It's 2 am for me and I am literally about to sleep. Looks like I'm not sleeping today

I love that at 5:14 the little window GoPro in the background just gives up 😂

So I just got my '23 GTS, manual, leather, comfort seats, bose. It is absolutely fantastic. Street and track- phenomenal

All Caymans are gorgeous in the corners. They way they handle transitions and weight transfer is really, really special. I think every enthusiast should get to experience one of these (any Cayman, really!) on a track or great back road at least once in their lives.

Loved your comment about Porsche always finding a way to remove weight. I was at my local dealer recently for a service appointment and they allowed me a sneak peek at a new 718 Cayman GT4 RS they had hidden in the back. I was chatting with one of the staff and we got on this very topic of weight, when he pointed to the Porsche emblem on the front bonnet. He asked me if I noticed anything different, when I looked closer it was indeed different, it was a decal! All in the interest of saving weight. So you are right, Porsche will search for fractions of a gram if it serves their goal. As for your comparison to the Emira, I hear what you guys are saying but I would still take Porsche. It’s easy to fall in love with a car for one reason or another, but what really counts is build quality and the ownership experience after the purchase, and Porsche hands down goes out of their way to service their customers. I can’t say enough about how well Porsche treats me as a customer, and when there is an issue I can’t say enough about the responsibility they take, they genuinely care. I have both modern and classic Porsche cars in my garage, and they treat me and my cars exactly the same regardless the vintage.

Just bought this today as a daily and only car. Same colour and manual! Pick up in a few days and can't believe it. It's just gorgeous in person and what a fun drive. Obnoxious 😂

I have the base with all the GTS bits and a full leather/Cayman. Manual. It’s amazing and the gearing is great.

Just sold my 2022 Cayman S. They truly are an amazing driving machine, but they are just not great daily drivers or road trip cars. Stiff, cramped and loud is the best way to describe a Cayman on a long trip. Loved it for shorter weekend romps in the mountains and a beast on the track, but daily in traffic, just not great. If you can afford to keep one in the garage for track and a Saturday run through the twisties, its just amazing.

I tried to order a new GTS 4.0 over a year ago. The dealer basically said no chance (20+ on the wait list just to get an allocation), so I scoured the West Coast and settled for a lightly used '17 718 S. Great car, and the 4 cylinder doesn't actually sound terrible. It certainly has way more usable torque down low, and not super far off on the hp. I would have loved to order my personal spec, but I'm happy with my first Porsche. Dancing through the back roads is pure bliss...

I love my GTS 4.0 and mine's also Python Green. I have different wheels and a two-tone Black / Chalk leather interior. It is an absolutely fabulous car and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

I can't wait to drive one, I drove the 981 Cayman GTS on track and it was magnificent.

F**king love watching these videos. Especially on the toilet or eating dinner after work!!!!!!!! Awesome content my boys keep it up 👍🏼

i got a base model 718 and even if it’s the turbo f4 it’s still an amazing car

I got my photos last week and mine is currently in transit to the port. Tracking it on the site is pretty cool.

I have the 981 GTS and it is the most enjoyable car that I have ever had. Flat, precise handling, superb suspension, lovely exhaust note and the engine right behind you, is just addictive. A true lightweight sports car that puts a huge grin on my face every time I get in it.

This beauty deserves a full fledged review

Watched this...and the note about the exhaust not changing tone is an interesting one. The 981 3.4L definitely seems to have a tone change above 6K or so, it's weird to me that the 4.0L in the 982 doesn't have that!

That's great that you guys let your biggest fans watch you track test the cars 👍😆

Thanks for spending time discussing the seats. It’s hard to get good, unbiased impressions on these for extended seating. I prefer an upright driving position, so the buckets might be good for me.

I can't believe I forgot to subscribe, Until now! Thanks for the off the cuff commentary, temporal tomfoolery, and how you effortlessly evince expertise .

I had the privilege of renting one of these through Turo last summer for a long weekend at Watkins Glen. What an absolutely brilliant car, even though my driving was limited to public roads not the track itself. That flat-4 makes a great sound, and has all the power you need! Probably the best vehicle I've ever driven.

Thanks for unfiltered honest review about the sound of the car you’re the only ones to say it….I’ll keep my manual 996 Carrera with the fister exhaust

Just did a canyon run and had my buddy trailing my Base Cayman 2L turbo with his GT4. His comment “Dang. That thing is FAST. I could barely keep up.”

These cars are very stiff and very durable. I have a 981 Boxster S with 76,000 miles, and it drives like new. I have a cat back exhaust and stage one tune and it makes north of 340hp. With headers and stage two it makes 370hp, truly all you need for the street. There are guys tracking these with 150,000 miles on them. Just keep up on the maintenance and it’s no worries. It has lifetime drive axles and timing chain. I do my own maintenance which takes about one Saturday every summer. If you buy a Quick Jack it’ll pay for itself in less than two years. I spend 200 a year for basic maintenance and replace soft tires every two years but there’s a price for everything and it’s well worth it for the sheer pleasure every time I drive it. You can get a 2013-2015 with 40,000 miles or less in really great condition for 50k or less. To me the greatest driving experience for your buck. I get compliments all the time and it’s an excellent daily driver. I’m old and have driven a ton of cars. There really isn’t anything like a mid engined Porsche.

Great review! I own, track, and autocross one of these...a silver '22 with Akra OAPs and Softronic tune (but otherwise stock). Traction control is disabled by pressing and holding the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) button down for like 4 or 5 seconds. There's also a PSM Sport setting which is enabled by pressing and releasing the PSM button normally, but I have no experience in that mode. If I'm on the track, PSM is always disabled.

Never gets tired watching a Porsche review.

Met James at the gym today ! Super nice and friendly. You both can take my Manual Mustang out for a spin anytime

Man my desire to drive cars with these guys is immense. I just want a track day with them. That’s all. Please?

Got offered one of these when l had my boxster Turbo serviced recently. Couldn’t wait to get back in mine. @430hp - Tuned and piped cars just on another level. My older 981 gts was slower but sounded way better. Turbo 4 is the best motor for these imho. Having said that the Cayman and Boxsters are just so good & don’t think theres a bad one in any gen.

I have been waiting for you guys to be so extra again.

i legit was going to ask if y'all stopped doing videos on this channel. Happy to know that y'all are still posting vids on it ! Great video tho and the color is SICK

It's a great car! I had a 2022 GTS 4.0 and sold it recently. The car is close to perfect except for the gearing. The gears, as everyone has already said, are too long and since the engine is amazing and revs to almost 8000 rpms, you get into "go to jail" speeds very quickly as you chase those revs. The car is amazing but it would be almost perfect with shorter gearing, where you could really enjoy revving the car out on the street without risking losing your license. I had a manual but I've heard others say the gearing is not as much of a problem with the PDK.

If you guys are comming to Europe anytime soon you need to make a review of the Alpine A110, an Amazing sports car!

I own one of these, and the added OPF together with the active exhaust valve mechanism just kills the sound, especially at lower revs below 4000. It definitely needs some aftermarket work to do if sound is what exhilarates your drive.

I just picked up my 2023 gts 4.0 in January and love it. Lotus was the only other I was considering since I required stick. The final straws for me is I don’t wanna pay 100k and have to worry when am I going to get the car, it’s first edition so what problems am I going to have and getting service seems like could be a pain since such a rare brand/car. It’s that price point people with some money can buy it but not like super car money where you’re ok throwing thousands for repair and struggle with dealer/repair network.

Dude im in love with this car! I just love it so bad! Great video ❤

I sold my 2014 Cayman S manual last year at the peak of the market. Looking to get either a 718 GTS, or a GT4 manual at some point in the future. It was hard to sell my beloved Cayman S, but I really want a GT4.

these are so sick - i saw that the 982/718 cayman with the 4 cylinder boxer is okay but i got myself a 981 cayman and it’s fantastic! has a lovely flat 6 and is like 60% off and still an incredible car

What a wonderful little car.....from todays perspective - it's the re-incarnation of Porsche from the 50th, small, nimble, light - less HP than the competition but still faster around the track, you can drive home from the track go shopping, the Frunk is awesome for use, the Cayman trunk too....I mean without track I would choose the Boxster/Spyder. Last small - light package - NA - Stick.....that´s the one to get and keep for the generations. Next one will be electric. Sigh.

I ordered it last October, and I am going to get it next week

How do you not like the sound of this?? Gives me chills

Good vid as always. I had to subscribe (surprised I did'nt already).

I always struggle with this. I really like Porsche and I've done Camp4 and Camp4S and driven quite a few in anger and around the place. They always feel like the perfect car "for everything", but mildly compromised when it comes to all out fun as a result. They never really do lightweight - 50kg on the spyder version (at least the old generation) was disappointing. Seeing so many on the road also makes it feel less special to me. It's also easy to lost in the options. Every car review says how perfect they are - until the new generation comes along. I was looking at one for an upgrade to my lotus exige 4 cyclinder (because I was trying to adult more) - but my head said yes, but my heart said no. Got the V6 exige. It only does one thing well. Everything else is a compromise. It is objectively a terrible option as a daily driver. But it was and I loved it. It is bullet proof with the toyota engine and drive train. Taken it everywhere. I've done 160,000 km in it. Then when I went to upgrade that lotus, I went to a 600LT. I still have the lotus though - you will never pry that from my hands.

Always, best car review, as usual!

My 2nd favorite 718, my #1 is the OG 718 Spyder

718 GT4 owner. I personally don't think the tall gearing is the main issue but it is part of the problem. For me, the main issue is the 4 liter doesn't sound alive until you are at least half way through the RPM band. If Porsche managed to make the engine sound more lively down low, people wouldn't be complaining nearly as much. If it the Cayman/Boxster 4 liter sounded more like the GT3 4 liter in the GT4RS/Spyder RS, most of the complaining would go away as you wouldn't be forced to rev the engine out so much to actually hear it. Changing out the exhaust would fix some of the problem, making the car sound a little different earlier.

I contend: the car in Sport Plus in AUTO with Traction Control (PSM) ON will be faster around the track. And he can't rotate it because it resists rotation with everything in its being. Instructors at PSDS have trouble breaking these loose.

Best year for this model or is the new...best overall for a sporty, fast experience with solid quality. I will research some. Besides being new...are they improved for a better driving experience?

This is and has been one of my dream cars for a while now. I'm not a track going person so no need for the gt4. No matter which Porsche model you get I believe the gts is the best version to have.

You're 100% right when it comes to Lotus delivery, you will never know when you'll be getting it. Also the engine noise sounds a lot better in the Emira. The supercharger noise, the exhaust during the upshift.

I own a 2022 GTS Boxster and it is a wonderful car on the road. Drives like an old fashioned English sports cars. My only complaint is that the engine never makes any pops, crackles and back fires like the 992 911 models do when down shifting in the pdk. It is a much smaller car than the 911 and the dashboard tech is five years old. Still has a cd changer under the d small display. Bose sounds great. So much fun cutting through freeway traffic. Top down is wonderful. Definitely the Boxster is better than the Cayman. As long as you get over 4,000 rpm - it sounds more serious but still missing the sound like in any 911 engine.

I love the sound because it reminds me of vintage need for speed hot pursuit porsche sounds on SEGA 😂

Throttle House you should do a 2016 Porsche 981 cayman GTS the one with the flat 6. That has always been my favorite car.

This Cayman 718 GT4 looked so legendary to drive.

It's amazing how far cars have come from the 60's and 70's. If all we have to complain about is infotainment and engine sound, I think we are very lucky

Wholesome video hilarious stuff.

It would be great if you guys could drive the alpine A110, curious how you would compare it to these kind of cars :D

Just picked up my GTS 4.0 _after a 2+ year wait._ Groan. But it is top down brilliant, and the track awaits! (once the ridiculous break-in period is over). This after testing an Emira at Eagle's Canyon. Really well executed sports car, and had a great day at the track with it. But no freaking way I'd choose the Lotus over the Porsche as the one to actually own. The Porsche is an obviously much better designed and built car. Just the cockpit alone seals the deal.

SO. MUCH. WANT. The perfect sports car daily.

I would never sell my 987.1 with the following mods. It’s a blast to drive in the track and got it to weigh at 2900 lbs. 1. B16 Bilstein Damptronics for PASM 2. DSC Suspension Control Module 3. Remus race exhaust 4. BMC air filter 5. GT3 brake ducts 6. IPD Plenum and 997 GT3 Throttle Body 7. Tarett UnderDrive Pulley Kit 8. FVD Brombacher Motorsports Oil Pan w/ X51 Baffles 9. OEM 3rd radiator kit 10. Beru coil packs 11. RSS tarmac Lower Control Arms 12. Sparco QRT-C seats 13. Schroth GT4 four point harness 14. RSS harness bar 15. Pagid Yellow pads 16. EVOMsiT ECU calibration 17. 997 GT3 short shifter kit 18. Acrylic clear engine cover 19. Volk wheel 19 lbs 20. Serbo disk brakes 21. Rennline Front Strut Brace 22. Rennline Track Mat Floor Covers 23. Raceseng circuit cylinder shift knob 24. 10 pound battery 25. Driven XP racing oil every year change. 26. Motul 600 brake fluid

What I really wanted to see was the modified Golf R - what lap times did that get when the cameras were off??

Great video! Love the color, Porsche are supposed to look like you just got it outta happy meal 😂

nice to be back at the old track

Just to think you could have made a three-hour travelogue with these delightful cars. Enlightenment 2 ?

8:39 no chance you were breaking mechanical grip with those inputs at low rpm 😂. PSM off gives you loads of slip

Beautiful cars, I've owned a Cayman and a 993 C4S, but the cost of Porsches these days is eye watering. And don't get me started on maintenance costs.

I know you don't have it in North America, but Alpine has the A110 S that can match the Porsche on driving skills, may be not on engine sound. A special version of it will compete at Pikes Peak this year !

Take the OPF filters off. All Porsches come with those now.

Biggest problem with the Emira is the engine is an old 2GR engine without D4S, and it doesn't have special internals, a dry sump or anything that makes the engine anything different than a 10 year old Camry engine, besides the supercharger. It doesn't feel as special because of that, but it is probably a blast to drive.

Feels like both car aren't real (Amira and Cayman) since you guys are still waiting for your Amira and I'm still waiting for my Cayman that I ordered in March 2022 (still don't even have a vin). What dreams are made of ? Great video, keep up the good work.

"a friend's pregnant lady" is the best TH quote ever

Loved this car for its performance.. Not sure as a daily whether I could live with the loudness!!

beautiful to see

I have the 2022 version of this car. She’s a beautiful daily, a wonder on the track and lovely on back roads. Mine is in the ultra rare FrozenBerry Metallic. She’s my forever car. Cheers on a good video/review. BTW in the US, the 2022 variant doesn’t have the “noise” issue you mention

Got mine coming in July. Until then I'll just have to keep watching this video I guess.

HATE that green, but I like the Cayman design a lot more than I used to w. 1st gen, esp. with that GT4 big wing, looks neat,

YAY Extra!!😀

So în the end , are you still keeping the order for the Emira on ?

In all these years of absolute adoration for the Cayman, I need someone to tell me why there still isn't a divider between the cabin and the cargo space. Even a net would be good enough

Doppel (Double) Kupplung (Coupling or Clutch) Getriebe (Transmission). Add it together because German works that way: Doppelkupplungsgetriebe

Do you have the Alpine in Canada? It's lightweight too

Any suggestions on sources of Canadian track day insurance?

The engine sounds decent but I think the thing that is missing is the exhaust note. I think emissions and noise restrictions have something to do with that.

I own the 2014 981 S because the engine and sound

Did I just see James in Whitby, Canada jogging in a blue hoodie😅

you have the windows closed, Open the windows and drive this car! The sound is out there!!!

Drove one recently flat out at PECLA. Great chassis, epic engine, but nearly $100 grand?

The 718 Cayman GTS is a Porsche that more people can aspire to. I can’t get close to a lowest-end, “stripper” Carrera 911 for less than $120,000, but the very well-equipped 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 that I spec’d out came in at only $108,180. Just a matter of convincing my other half that we need it.

Any delivery date on the Emira..?

Mmm silly question... Which one is more fun, and I would really want u to answer it after reviewing the new Mustang Dark Horse... The mustang or this Cayman GTS?

Is this better in manual or PDK?

Extra Throttle House rulez!

My 718 Spyder, with it's 991 GT3 front end suspension is a wonderful smooth reliable car. However, initial under steer and front end washing out along with tendency to body roll at quicker turn-in speeds are a disappointment. Safely increasing toe-out help some what, but the tendency is always there. I can imagine that with the GTS, equipped with less track focused front suspension, the problem can only be worse. MY Maserati MC20, driven back to back literally feels like it dives and locks into fast curves, as if the tires fall into slots.

Me watching a review of a car I can’t even afford a month lease for

“A small hand of cuppage” 😂😂😂😂😂