Driving the first and last ICE Porsche Caymans | 718 Style Edition 

I still love the rear haunches on the original Cayman, I always thought Porsche should have retained more of that original look in the 718. Either way, both are wonderful cars. The 718 in particular offers incredible value IMHO in the handling and performance space. Smart collectors will add a 718 Spyder RS to their stable while they can get one.

The curves and seductive lines of a 987 only get better with age. It's a design with character that's modern and classic. Park a 987 next to a 356, and you see the heritage. Park next to a 964 or 993, and you'll appreciate the evolution. The 3/4 rear view is stunning on a 987. Future versions just became more subtle in design while pushing tech, performance, comfort, and durability. All Caymans are amazing and have their place and purpose. For me, it's my 987.1S. I could, and do stare at it for hours! I love the shape and the fun fact that the rear haunches are 1.5" taller than a Boxster's. Now go out and drive! 😎

The 987 is the most attractive modern Porsche since the 993 to my eyes. I just love the smooth sexy lines as opposed to the more harsh-edged lines of later variants. I also love the sound of a flat 6 although the power and scoot of the newer 718 cannot be denied.

As the owner of a 2022 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 I find this comparison truly interesting. The Cayman/Boxster are considered the less accomplished younger siblings to the 911 while actually being the Mid-engine evolution of those first 911s

Thanks for sharing this. I have a 2018 718S but after watching this I think I'll have to give the 987.1 a try.

Love the 718!

987.1 for me. It just has better angles for sure and the flat6 is glorious. 718 looks like it had too much to eat. 987 is tone, fit and manual box.

Only because it hasn’t been said here yet, but I would argue that the true ‘sweet spot’ is the 987.2 S. 987 timeless stying / hydraulic steering / 981 reliable flat 6. Mine is a 6spd, but PDK also available for this gen if an auto is what you crave.

ICE Cayman will be back once Porsche realizes that EV is a flop and there's not even nearly as much interest in it.

To my eye, the 987.1 has better styling, cleaner lines, an actual key, no touchscreen, manual gearbox & N/A. EV has no appeal to me.

I'll stick with my 987.2 2.9 Base 6 speed poverty spec. All you need. All you'd ever need.

I have the 718 Cayman GTS 2.5L 20 bhp less than the GT4, it’s an amazing sports car, sticks to the road like you would not believe, plenty of power all the way to the red line. It’s great all rounder, daily to track very underrated.

Excellent overview, and great send off to an awesome car. Glad to have joined the 718 club when I got my 2019 S model (with PASM Sport and PTV) last year. The car makes an excellent daily, an incredible drive on the backroads out where I live, and is a beast on track days with my local PCA chapter. No matter what I'm doing, the car is up for the challenge of providing a thrilling and fun ride. ^_^

Thanks for sharing. I don’t know why Manny and Vu didn’t talk about 987/981 as affordable entry level cars on the last podcast-shame on them for only thinking 911 and SUV. Cayman is an affordable, enjoyable Porsche. I love my 981C. I hope to see you at SCCA in the near future, I missed the last one due to family.

Thanks for the video comparison, I own a 987.1 Cayman S and love it, but having driven other turbo 4 cars, I understand the low end torque appeal (and perhaps weight savings from a smaller flat4 engine)

To expand my thoughts a bit on the 718 Cayman, whether a Style Edition or not. If budget were not an issue, presented with the 987 in the video (if I didn’t own it) or a non-Ruby Star Neo 718, I’d likely go 718 Cayman, preferably manual but maybe PDK. Lower it, DSC Sport, anti-roll bars maybe, sticky tires.

I'm in love with my 5-speed '07 Base 987.1 and I don't care who knows it ❤ For many reasons, I'm not sure I'd feel the same engagement with a 718. Great work on the video as always, Damon!

Having had the 987.1 S Cayman, followed by a 718 S Cayman, the 718 is more refined. The cars feel similar, but the 718 is crisper and quicker.

Both are fun, the 718 is better. Elephant in the room is $$$$.

It will be interesting to see what the real world range of the EV Cayman will be. If it gets driven hard and heaven forbid, over 100 mph, I can't imagine the range will be more than 150 miles.

I had a 2006 987.1 Boxster base with P04 Sport package (PASM + 6 speed manual) for 14 years. P04 package made it almost S priced so it sat in the dealer showroom and lot until fall 2007 when they discounted it to sell. In 2021 I traded it for a 718 Cayman S. The interior is much more spacious for tall people so that was the great for 6’5” me. The 2.5 turbo was a beast. Power everywhere in the range except 2-3K rpm as you note. Sport and Sport+ modes mostly hid that issue. I missed the flat 6 so in late 2022 I traded out to a one owner, low mileage 2015 Cayman S. I did the rear camera and CarPlay hacks and have most of the 718 tech now too. Horses for courses as they say, but the 981 variant is the best mix from my sampling.

981 > 718 I know it's beating a dead horse, but the 981, to me, is still the last great generation of these cars. The 987's were perfectly go-kart-like, but the 981 brought a better engine, interior, refinement, and passion to the car. Every 718 I've driven is faster, and perhaps the steering is marginally better, but good gawd NOTHING replaces that 3.4L Flat Six, except more displacement. No matter how it's tuned the flat four sounds flaccid at best. Any decent sounds that it does have are heard at idle, or a cold startup, after that... Souless.

I’ll go out on a limb here and predict that there will be more ICE 718s.

Those are great looking roads!

Well done!

I’m disappointed my favorite car is being discontinued before I can afford it 😥. I think the four cylinder is an amazing engine, especially the S model. I have absolutely no interest in an electric vehicle. Except the Taycan cross tourismo, but I’ll never be able to afford that one.

Not sure I like a turbo 4 from a longevity perspective

Love my (first) Porsche Boxster 981 2.7 from 2014 with PDK & PASM. Drove a 986 2.5, love them both. Love the sound of the flat 6. (See my video’s)

The more i watch these cayman videos, the more i want an older gen like the 987. I want emotion rather than specs.

I’m thinking of ordering the 718 GTS 4.0 before they are discontinued. I’m torn between Boxster or Cayman version 🤔

Great review!

How about a turbo flat 6? I would get one. But, not a 4.

I would love to get 987R!

Where/what backroads did you film this?

still nothing about Boxsters from PCA.

The later Caymans looked like Z cars from the side.

My favorite car is the Cayman, and I own a 987. I have watched as Porsche gave it worse steering, a worse engine, and added weight. Now with the ICE engine being replaced with electric, i am out. I am rooting for you to fail Porsche.

Going EV! Porsche is losing sight of its marker & doesn't have a clue of the Porsche aficionado. If we wanted a Dyson, we'd go to Lowe's. The purchase of a Porsche is its heritage, handling, long-range touring & its magnificent sound. EV, they didn't learn from the Taycan stacking up in the rear lot? Knock, knock, knock, is this on? Really, EVs?

“First of the last ICE Cayman’s” I’m sad 😢 Love my launch year Cayman S, will never sell it, best driving car ever! This not a good comparison, no offense…

Like all those before them Porsche will find nobody buys EV's......Sad but the learning curve on this seems to take a while.....You can't mandate shit we refuse to buy...

Later Caymans look alot more like Austin Martins and not like Porsches.

EV ? 😆😆😆😆 USA dropped the EV mandate and few will buy a battery 🪫 sports car . Expect 1/3 less claimed milage per charge no Matter what u buy battery powered