My first car was a ‘71 Super Beetle; the Bug’s 60hp brought many grins to my teenage face as I tossed it around the back roads. I bought my Cayman S exactly because it reminds me of the way that Beetle sounded, and it generates the same kind of smiles 50 years later.
It doesn't, I own a 981 and I don't think it sounds that bad. It doesn't sound as good as the 981 and to pretend otherwise would be a little silly but it's not a bad sounding car.
I really miss his reviews he had at his channel. Now we don't have some autofan who do reviews like he did. Really interested in his opinion about new Hyundai I30n, Megane RS, etc...
I test drove a 2017 718 Cayman S the other day. I own a 2008 Cayman S as my daily driver and LOVE that thing. Getting in for the test drive I never thought I would want to part with my 2008, but everything about the 2017, engine noise included, was better. I wish I hadn't driven it because it's not a financial reality for me...but what a great car.
Thanks for pointing out the innocuous sound of the 4 cylinder. And I miss the old Chris Harris Drives where the reviews were much more subtle than the Top Gear obnoxious way of presenting things. It’d be interesting to separate TG and CH drives content, one for TV and the other for YT
Its a pretty terrible comparison to be honest. They let you listen to the 6 cylinder go through its rev range and then make you hear the 4 hover just above idle. Obviously not going to be as exciting. Keep it honest top gear!
Test drove the 718 around town and on highway. Sure, it's a marginally sharper car all round, but I couldn't wait to hand the keys back..... utterly underwhelming engine/exhaust note did nothing for me. Bought a low mileage 2014 Cayman s 981 PDK/Sports Chrono, stock suspension. Had the ecu remapped to 364hp, 420Nm, 0-100km/h 3.89sec, on stock air intake and exhaust manifolds. Cost? A$1900!! Pulls like the clappers from 3500rpm to redline. Sports car heaven.
The sound is the main problem. The flat 4 turbo just does not sound like a sports car should sound. And for that reason alone I'd choose the old Cayman S with the flat 6.
Just need some nice exhaust and it will sound like a Subaru sti, it's different for Porsche but that boxer engine was the masterpiece of Dr Ferdinand Porsche, lighter and more powerful engine, smaller so it can be located more to the center of the car for better weight distribution, the new 919 with the turbo V4 and electrical engines, things are changing,
csm I have heard both the 718 as well as the 981 Cayman. The 718 barely even made a sound. The 981 sings like no other car. I could hear it from a mile away.
What many people don't understand is that if the 718 had stayed with the 6 cylinder it would ALWAYS be a detuned version of what is in the 911. Many were not satisfied with that (me) and I think this engine was a compromise. This souped up 4 cylinder sounds good and puts the power down like the 981 could only wish. I don't like the shitty gas mileage though I average 16 mpg. I always drive in sport mode and rarely ever in sports plus.
I think the new 2.5T is amazing because for most people, track days aren't a regular occurrence. Without a track, accessing the potential of the f6 on the streets is really pushing the car to illegal limits. The turbo 4 makes that power much more accessible in the city where it is needed 80% of the time. A simple exhaust on the f4 will fix the problem. Yeah it's not as meaty, but when your experiencing what the car has to offer, I don't you'd really care. You're in a porsche at the end of the day.
Everybody complaining about the sound, and here I'm looking forward to brand new electric Caymans of the future, while enjoying the lovely sound of my 3 cylinder Škoda.
Aswin Prasetyo Exactly. No one daily drives their GT4 where I live even if they wanted to. It’s purely track/weekend car. I tracked my GTS with my buddy in his GT4, we were both surprised with the small difference on the straights since I have the PDK (he was still pulling on me slowly). However, on the corners he brakes way way later with monsters grip through mid-corners!
As old 6 cylinders manual Cayman S owner I’ve to admit 2 + 1 things: 1- I love my car more than ever 2- the new 4 cylinders is a great engine, pushes like hell and the final result on the new Cayman S is stunning: it’s lighter and thanks to different proportions even more balanced, making the car a proper knife so I guess it’s the right moment to stop denigrating new technology just because they’re not yet old fashion...that’s evolution + 1: sideways with a Cayman is possible but not that pleasant because is too balanced and after a couple of minutes you already feel stupid and prefer to drive clean and exploit the great precision and amazing balance...so I disagree when Chris Harris says “you can do it all day long” Amen
Except, it's not lighter than the 3.4 flat-6. I believe it when someone says the upgrade on the suspension is an improvement. Certainly the tech is better. I'll keep my 15/ 981S though. The sound of that engine is the reason I bought it over the 981... that and the 25K in savings over a comparably specced new car.
@Sebastiano Ricci "sideways with a Cayman is possible but not that pleasant because is too balanced and after a couple of minutes you already feel stupid and prefer to drive clean and exploit the great precision and amazing balance"....my gosh yes you need 1000 more upvotes for this comment this isn't Fast&Furious.
I have a 2006 Cayman S with a 3.8 swapped in. This is how they should have made them from the factory. It is very fast. I have never owned a car that has low end and top end power. And it just keeps pulling. And it has the flat 6 engine sound which is one of the coolest engine sounds I have heard that is not exotic car territory.
Can you add a Turbo to the old Cayman to help fill in the gaps at the high end? Keep it safe, 9 - 12 psi? - something decent not a hack job? - Or is that like sacrilegious?
I bet the Boxster Spyder from a little while back, the one with that crazy top that was hard to take on and off is going to appreciate like crazy down the road, that was my favorite Boxster of them all, especially white with the red interior and lettering on the side.
In August 2016 I went to Porsche of West Broward in Florida both 981 Cayman & 718 Cayman were available brand new in the showroom parked next to one another ..I started both cars right there in the showroom thats all it took for me to decide which one was for me, the price of both cars was in the $75k rang.....I drove home the brand new naturally aspirated flat 6 that day with the following options: sports chrono package, sports plus exhaust system, power steering plus, seat belts in racing yellow, 20" black satin Carrera S wheels, sports suspension options which lowered my car by 20mm, 6 speed manual transmission, smoked light package, seat ventilation, sport design steering wheel..... the sound of the naturally aspirated flat 6 mid engine behind my seat is like a symphony honestly I don't even turn the radio on I rather listing to the engine/exhaust sound......the soul of a sports car its the sound that is makes...not if you can cut 2 tenth of second from 0-60.....the 165 mile top speed in my 981 is something that I will never be able to experience its the exhaust sound that puts a smile on my face every time I start my 981 :)
Same story for me. Test drove both 718 and 981. Couldn't wait to return the keys of the 718. Sure, it's a very fast lawnmower a d I wanted a sports car, so I found a low mileage Cayman S PDK 981. Remapped the ecu to 364hp, 420Nm, 0-100km/h 3.89sec. Plenty fast and with a hair-trigger throttle response pulling like clappers to redline with that glorious flat 6 wail, I laugh during and after every drive... utterly enthralling.
sound; just getting you ready for the sound of Electric SPORTS Cars. 242 Laps on Ring, in my new 718 Boxster S; June - July 2017, European Delivery; Sound is not an issue.
The 4 cyl Cayman’s (or is that Caymen ? 😅) are fantastic. Seriously. For the road, the power and torque is more useable and they sound angry and urgent.
I put a TPC tune on my 981s Flat 6 and that took care of my lack of power complaints. It sounds even better after the tune because the throttle body is now allowed to open 100%. If I want more power TPC offers a turbo kit, but i think it's perfect now @ 365HP with the tune. I've driven a 718S and its a hair faster than my tuned 981, sure you can tune the 718 too but so what unless you race on a track both versions are plenty fast one just sounds glorious while doing it. High Revving N/A motors with 3 pedals are such fun to drive.
Even going slow on the 981, it sounds like it's going fast. When I first bought the my 981 I hadn't showed him my car yet and he asked "is that a Cayman you have? It's sound sexy."
I like the sound of the old one but didn't want a used car, preferred a brand new car to my spec. Also the S with sports exhaust system in sport or sport + sounds nothing like the 718 in that video.
People commented about the sound most definitely didn’t hear or drive the 718 yet..the sound is great esp with PSE, it has pop and bang when you put in sport mode..Although I like the sound of Cayman GT4 better but doesn’t make me like the 718S less..Nevertheless its better by miles with its predecessor.
It's different sounding, but I have no problem with it. The Cayman is still a fab car. BTW, I got a kick out of Harris saying that the old Cayman S didn't have enough power for the chassis. Really? Don't buy that.
I have the 981 Boxster S and recently had the 718 Boxster S for a few days as a maintenance loaner - I'll never upgrade. There's no soul in the new engine, even with sport exhaust.
I drove the 981 Boxster GTS and owned a 981 Boxster S and I agree with your dealer. The new 718 S and GTS perform at a much higher level than the 981 but some do not like the 4 cylinder. I like the 4 cylinder because it is so tractable.
While I do agree that the sound, which is by the way subjective, is a part of sports car ownership, I would never trade performance for an exhaust note. Was trying to decide between the flat six and the newer turbo four. One drive in the 718 turbo and the decision was an easy one for me as it outperformed the 2016 I was considering.
I picked up a g8 value 718s, put on a stage 2 tune with high flow exhaust and have a Porsche that out performs a 23 gt3 over the quarter. Incredible car & value for money. Go figure.
i learned to drive in a '62 VW beetle and when i was recently at the nearby porsche dealership i heard a car start up and thought to myself, "...who has a beetle around here?" ...it was a brand new 718! no lie.
I have a 718s and the whole sound of the 4 is overblown. It sounds different and I like it I think it gives the car its own identity. I also have a 991.1 so no six cylinder bias here
I dunno. I havent tracked my 718S yet. But the damn thing is fast and handles well. Do I miss the sound from a flat 6. Yes. But the 718 is a great car.
Have people not realised that all car manufacturers are ditching big engines and now going for smaller turbo charged since they; - Provide better fuel economy - Cost less tax (not only for the consumer but also the companies meet regulations) - Better power to weight ratio There are no drawbacks to doing this and technology will only keep on improving. Give it another 5 years and Porsche will start using hybrid motors.
Porche lost a customer with this engine and I bet I am not the only one. I was ready to pay cash for the new cayman S but opted to go for 2015 second hand GTS instead
Yeah. 45 more HP, upgraded 911 steering and braking components, GT4 suspension parts are all a waste of money. What you want is noise. I bought the new one and all this performance just sucks. I am licking my auditory wounds. Boy do I wish this car didn't perform this well. Do you guys just show off in your cars. Is this sound controversy just boys who are trying to get people to look at them to feel alright about themselves?
Glad I canceled my 718S order for the last brand new 981 Cayman GTS with the flat 6 in 2016. That engine I purely intoxicating. Makes you stop giving a crap about power (which is plenty for the road, although I could use and enjoy 500hp easily).
Thanks Chris Harris for stating that engine sound does matter to car guys .I think that Porsche wanted to put some more distance between the 911 and 718 and the 4 cylinder engine was the way they did that.I just looked at a focus group that had the 718 Cayman, Jaguar f-type coupe, Lexus coupe, Audi TT RS, Infinity Q60 coupe vs the new offering from a Japanese maker.Other than the Audi 's 5 cylinder engine all the others had a 6 cylinders EXCEPT the 718 Cayman. Being the most expensive but also the only one with a 4 cylinder in the group, this stuck out as a big reason to look at the other cars a lot harder than I ever would have before.
It has to do with emission regs.. all displacement has to go down and turbos are added. But on the Cayman there is no room for all the turbo piping and a flat 6 so they had to go flat 4 with turbos instead
They did manage to still keep the flat 6 with all the turbo plumbing in the 911. It looks like a company decision to go 4cylinder vs stay with the 6 for the lower price point sports car.Fuel economy is the same or slightly less with the 4 cylinder turbo's.
The 4cyl versions are truly a unique and incredible car in their own right. Porsche would’ve done well to add a lightweight turbo version, but then again that would outperform there top cars. That’s a problem.
The sound is more important than power and handling? Sounds like a bunch of Harley Davidson owners. A six cylinder engine can be more naturally balanced. If the complaint was vibration or reliability of the turbocharger, that would be understandable.
I've been looking sharply at the Cayman s for the last 2 years. I will be buying this car for a daily driver. Not something to keep in the garage and drive on special occasions. I maintain my cars and keep them for a long time. My personal opinion is, naturally aspirated engines are cheaper to maintain and are more reliable in vehicles that are expected to rack up large amounts of mileage. I didn't want to buy a used car. I would rather have a new car that I know has been broken in properly and benefits from all of the new engineering upgrades. Who doesn't want more power, but I would be willing to sacrifice a few horses for longevity. I now find myself at a crossroad.
I have a 981 (edited!) Cayman... the 6-cylinder engine is one of the things that makes it special... all my other cars are 4-cylinder... if you're spending the thick end of £50k... well, a 'six' is one of the things to have... silky... it's not noisy, it's just musical... (quite like the Beemer '6' to...)
It would compete to much with the 911. I think one of the reasons they’ve chosen a flat 4 is so more people buy the 911 which they have larger profit margins on
Oh dear! BBCitis strikes again. Stupidly I hesitated to exchange my 987 because asinine reviews, but now I have I’m completely sold on the far superior 718. The car is better in every respect, considerably faster and quieter and more relaxing to drive. The new engine is a stonker and it makes the six seem hard work and slow.
The 718 Cayman S is very fast, but I don't think I've read or watched a review yet that did not deduct points for the engine sound. I'll be keeping my 981 CS for a long time.
@Kyle Martin that's adorable...I used to think numbers on spec sheets were important, too...an RS5 does not compete at all with a 981 or 982 for that matter.
andyouf that’s my point! All these 718 owners say the 718 is better in every way compared to the 981... my RS5 comparison proves my point. These 2 tenths a second faster to 0-60:mean nothing! The 981 GTs is a far superior car headed for collector status. It’s perfectly priced between the new 718 and Gt4
@Kyle Martin ah I got you, apologies for the snarkiness Second hand 981's in Germany have increased in price by 12% since 718 came out. I used to be like that , where I'd see a car is faster by a few tenths of a second in the 1/4 mile and automatically think "better" (when I was 10). 718 is a concession to EPA mandates. "And now for a nasty bit of cognitive dissonance, because there are two completely contradictory ideas here that you have to hold in your head: the new Boxster is subjectively improved in every area, and yet its not necessarily a better car than the one which went before. It handles better, goes faster, is more efficient and all that nice spreadsheety ticking of boxes. If you came to this car without knowing the old one, then you’d be blown away. And yet, it’s not - quite - as emotional or engaging as the previous six-cylinder generation, simply because of the way the engine makes power. In a roadster, a sportscar, there’s no shame in having to work an engine that little bit harder to hear and feel it really get going." www.topgear.com/car-reviews/718-boxster-s-2016/first-drive
Joe Stevenson I agree and it’s better to have a more powerful, quieter car than a louder car with less performance. In an ever overcrowded world try not to be a nuisance unless you are on the track. I think 718 Cayman gts is really a hell of a sports car!
As usually Chris nailed it. Boxster’s and Cayman’s aren’t race cars, I am happy to trade a few 1/10th of a second for the sound of the “old” 3.4l NA engine.
I have this car, bought it after much though about the reviews on sound but guys the way this thing drives beast the shtt out of everything. I got it with the sports exhaust in options and it sounds great. It drives great and leaves me smiling. This is an awesome car and you guy judging on paper and sound is being unfair to this great machine. Drive it and know it. If you are commenting based on just numbers and Tv sound, sorry to say but the 4 cylinder non sense is over over over hyped.
Agreed. I’ve had this car for 2 months and have driven nearly 10k miles. Complete fun each time I drive it. Will likely sell it once I hit 40k miles though and upgrade to a AMG GT or 911 Carrera S
The first Porsche 911 had a 2-liter, six-cylinder engine, that sounded glorious. Why haven’t they kept this brilliant formula, instead of going to the four banger? It is said that Porsche listen to their clients; let’s start the pressure.
Jonny M Glof R does sound better. But these are the realities today... Aplina, Alfa all have 4 cyl turbo engines. Maybe in the future they will juice the sound up a bit. One upside is that the weight can come down.
Derek Hood modded 16 5.0 owner here. you make valid points if speed is your main concern but I would take this car over mine any day. The cayman is better in every way other than price, and sound.
I was gon say, sound is incredibly important It's also like horses charging. With sound it's badass. Muted, it's just animals speeding and they're not even that fast next to a naturally silent Jaguar
Dunno man. Small details like the suspension and such are interesting to me and barely any car show ever talks in-depth about it because it's "boring".
It's hard to really appreciate a sound from a video. I had a 2006 turbo cayman S, and the sound was unlike anything i'd ever heard. I'd have to hear a new cayman to give a proper opinion on it though
And porsche made a so nice sounding V4 in the 919. Sure it is a race car but it says something that it is possible to make a fenomenal sounding turbo 4
It just ticks so many boxes. You are all delusional. Would you really rather get more performance, better looks, better handling, newer model or just better sound? Really? I really, really fail to understand this. Get a new exhaust? Try to make it better? DUDE COME ON IS THE EXHAUST NOTE THE PRIMARY REASON BEHIND WHETHER YOU BUY A CAR OR NOT?
I simply do not understand the obsession with the sound - I have the 3.4 987S, just sold aPDK 981 3.4S, and as per another comment below, the 4 pot turbo sound is gruff, it is growling, it is deeply sexy in my view. I have the press car in Miami Blue, RO16 FXC, for sale on Autotrader now, 4 new Pirellis and Porsche Warranty.
Intake noise? Air getting sucked into the engine noise. I heard the exhaust note, the only complaint to what is an amazing car. The 718s is faster around the TG track than the Pagani Zonda C12s. but lets bang on about the exhaust sound.
Almost bought a nicely optioned 2017 Boxster S with 7k miles for $59k....missed out on it when someone scooped it up from under my nose. Kept looking and found a 2013 Boxster S time capsule with (albeit different/lower but likely) more suitable options, nicer wheels, Brombacher exhaust, a rare color combo and only 4,000 miles! Picked it up for $49k. Very happy with the decision. Sure, one can argue that the newer 718 is an overall better car but I don't feel like we're missing out with the 981. A 718 S with a tune would be a considerably faster but not necessarily a better overall Porsche experience. The 718 IS evolution but with less soul. The driving experience/sound with the 981 is simply incredible. Adding the Brombacher tune and filters to get a bit more power and I'm sure this nearly new 981 will be more than satisfying for many years to come.
Such a shame; Porsche’s decision to replace the flat six with four pot turbo..... Still, I am very happy with my GT4, stunning car, and sounds epic.....
Clarkson & Co were car journalists who became celebrities, and their delivery of car info became synonymous with their personalities. After they left, the BBC initial response was to take celebrities and try to make viewers believe theywere car journalists. Thru 22 series, Top Gear was a vicarious experience, as the vast majority of viewers were never going to own the cars they showcased but thru the writing and the travel, we could imagine ourselves in those places and in those cars. Series 23 and 24 seems to think they should take those same luxury vehicles and super cars and talk about them as though the viewer might actually buy them. Top Gear’s “voice” left when Clarkson May & Hammond left, so instead of a re-think about what BBC’s Top Gear should be, it seems like the commercial wing of the BBC panicked and tried to keep their international viewers by launching a poorer version. With an aging set of hosts, even The Grand Tour only has 4-5 more years left in it, so a re-tread won’t do. If the BBC can completely re-invent their car show like they did 15 years ago, great. If not, let creativity inspire something new that we haven’t seen before.
You guys are such weirdos with your sound comments, the new car is so much faster and more importantly the heaps of torque are always right there, have fun waiting on the revs and cheesing as you hear your wailing engine, weirdos indeed
Don't worry. The upcoming 718 Cayman GT4 will still have a 6 cylinder engine, but i think it will be a downsized version of the engine from the 911 GT3/GT3 RS
Leave it to Chris Harris to describe the problem of the increasing migration to assorted four-cylinder engines from sixes and eights PERFECTLY. Thanks, Chris.
![Should I buy a Porsche 718 Cayman S ? [MY NEXT CAR !]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2EJiF7-0PoM/mqdefault.jpg)
My first car was a ‘71 Super Beetle; the Bug’s 60hp brought many grins to my teenage face as I tossed it around the back roads. I bought my Cayman S exactly because it reminds me of the way that Beetle sounded, and it generates the same kind of smiles 50 years later.
I dont think it sounds that bad...Relative to how bloody brilliant the rest of the car is
It doesn't, I own a 981 and I don't think it sounds that bad. It doesn't sound as good as the 981 and to pretend otherwise would be a little silly but it's not a bad sounding car.
@@capuchinseven he is talking about shit sound of 718 not 981
It has no sound, it has no looks.
If only they made unequal length headers for this flat four 😍
@@timcheou5649 Old mate there is saying that as a 981 owner he doesn't think that the 718 sounds bad in comparison. Not as good, but not bad.
It'd be hilarious to interview Clarkson, May & Hammond for the Star in a Reasonable Priced Car.
Agreed! The 981 caymans might even become future classics.
Spot on Chris. Test drove a 718 at a recent service visit. Makes me love my 981 BXS even more
Finally some Chris Harris 😪
Overrated guy
Best guy there is in this business.
I really miss his reviews he had at his channel. Now we don't have some autofan who do reviews like he did. Really interested in his opinion about new Hyundai I30n, Megane RS, etc...
Want to know how the Porsche Cayman came to exist? Listen to the man who designed it!
ruclips.net/video/Yyc1UsnDqYU/видео.html
I test drove a 2017 718 Cayman S the other day. I own a 2008 Cayman S as my daily driver and LOVE that thing. Getting in for the test drive I never thought I would want to part with my 2008, but everything about the 2017, engine noise included, was better. I wish I hadn't driven it because it's not a financial reality for me...but what a great car.
Ted Ferenczy wait 2 years and get a 718 CPO on the cheap
@@kmartin971 unfortunately prices have gone nth in Australia, buyers have realised how much performance you get out of these
Thanks for pointing out the innocuous sound of the 4 cylinder. And I miss the old Chris Harris Drives where the reviews were much more subtle than the Top Gear obnoxious way of presenting things. It’d be interesting to separate TG and CH drives content, one for TV and the other for YT
Gustavo agreed for sure
You're right. I felt like I was watching him imitate Richard Hammond (very forced & scripted). Why would TG change what makes Chris Harris great?
It reality it sounds nothing like what was portrayed in that video.
Its a pretty terrible comparison to be honest. They let you listen to the 6 cylinder go through its rev range and then make you hear the 4 hover just above idle. Obviously not going to be as exciting. Keep it honest top gear!
Totally agree
This car sounds amazing, especially if you have sport exhaust feature!! Stop saying that’s sounds bad!!!
I bought a 981 last week. That engine is sweet, and with sports Chrono, great fun.
The car drinks though.
Had a 981 boxster S and I loved that car.
I love my 981 Cayman S. More car than anyone else would ever need :D
It drinks 😂 you should not drive like you stole it
As an owner of a Cayman S 981c that clip goose bumps me all the time - amazing!
Test drove the 718 around town and on highway. Sure, it's a marginally sharper car all round, but I couldn't wait to hand the keys back..... utterly underwhelming engine/exhaust note did nothing for me. Bought a low mileage 2014 Cayman s 981 PDK/Sports Chrono, stock suspension. Had the ecu remapped to 364hp, 420Nm, 0-100km/h 3.89sec, on stock air intake and exhaust manifolds. Cost? A$1900!! Pulls like the clappers from 3500rpm to redline.
Sports car heaven.
The sound is the main problem. The flat 4 turbo just does not sound like a sports car should sound. And for that reason alone I'd choose the old Cayman S with the flat 6.
BlackWind damned right!
Since Porsche makes SUVs and Sedans, they could take that flat 4 and make a hot hatch that is coupe only.
That was the number one thiing with the Cayman...a mid six.
Just need some nice exhaust and it will sound like a Subaru sti, it's different for Porsche but that boxer engine was the masterpiece of Dr Ferdinand Porsche, lighter and more powerful engine, smaller so it can be located more to the center of the car for better weight distribution, the new 919 with the turbo V4 and electrical engines, things are changing,
csm I have heard both the 718 as well as the 981 Cayman. The 718 barely even made a sound. The 981 sings like no other car. I could hear it from a mile away.
What many people don't understand is that if the 718 had stayed with the 6 cylinder it would ALWAYS be a detuned version of what is in the 911. Many were not satisfied with that (me) and I think this engine was a compromise. This souped up 4 cylinder sounds good and puts the power down like the 981 could only wish. I don't like the shitty gas mileage though I average 16 mpg. I always drive in sport mode and rarely ever in sports plus.
it's not just sound, it's also smoothness, balance and refinement that the old F6 excels at
Just drove the GTS,...sounds angry with a deep growl. Nothing wrong with that, and it's acceleration is outstanding.
100% agree - I have bought the Miami blue car in the video for resale and it is stupendous! For sale on Autotrader now.
I’ve got an 2018 GTS, sounds like a race car to me 😛
I think the new 2.5T is amazing because for most people, track days aren't a regular occurrence. Without a track, accessing the potential of the f6 on the streets is really pushing the car to illegal limits. The turbo 4 makes that power much more accessible in the city where it is needed 80% of the time. A simple exhaust on the f4 will fix the problem. Yeah it's not as meaty, but when your experiencing what the car has to offer, I don't you'd really care. You're in a porsche at the end of the day.
that Rod Stewart Line was very clarkson, in a good way.
Rolling Shutter indeed, we need more of that
I laughed , out loud..
Just picked one up, sooooooo much fun to drive and I love the sound too :)
Any problems so far?
Everybody complaining about the sound, and here I'm looking forward to brand new electric Caymans of the future, while enjoying the lovely sound of my 3 cylinder Škoda.
Best of both worlds 981 Cayman GTS.
340hp and the sound is as close as a GT3 than any other model right now
Aswin Prasetyo you can even change the front bumper and add a rear wing and voila you have the GT4 (kind of)
Aswin Prasetyo Exactly. No one daily drives their GT4 where I live even if they wanted to. It’s purely track/weekend car. I tracked my GTS with my buddy in his GT4, we were both surprised with the small difference on the straights since I have the PDK (he was still pulling on me slowly). However, on the corners he brakes way way later with monsters grip through mid-corners!
As old 6 cylinders manual Cayman S owner I’ve to admit 2 + 1 things:
1- I love my car more than ever
2- the new 4 cylinders is a great engine, pushes like hell and the final result on the new Cayman S is stunning: it’s lighter and thanks to different proportions even more balanced, making the car a proper knife so I guess it’s the right moment to stop denigrating new technology just because they’re not yet old fashion...that’s evolution
+ 1: sideways with a Cayman is possible but not that pleasant because is too balanced and after a couple of minutes you already feel stupid and prefer to drive clean and exploit the great precision and amazing balance...so I disagree when Chris Harris says “you can do it all day long”
Amen
Except, it's not lighter than the 3.4 flat-6. I believe it when someone says the upgrade on the suspension is an improvement. Certainly the tech is better. I'll keep my 15/ 981S though. The sound of that engine is the reason I bought it over the 981... that and the 25K in savings over a comparably specced new car.
The new engine is heavier so they could have done the same with 981.
@@fredrikjonsson6410 the CG for the new engine is LOWER.
@@KPAX00 Good. It needs it. Due to the increased weight...
@Sebastiano Ricci "sideways with a Cayman is possible but not that pleasant because is too balanced and after a couple of minutes you already feel stupid and prefer to drive clean and exploit the great precision and amazing balance"....my gosh yes you need 1000 more upvotes for this comment this isn't Fast&Furious.
2:35
That positioning... Is just awesome...
I bought a first generation Cayman S years ago because of Chris Harris' review on Drive.
Wesley Gonzales what them payments looking like monthly
I have a 2006 Cayman S with a 3.8 swapped in. This is how they should have made them from the factory. It is very fast. I have never owned a car that has low end and top end power. And it just keeps pulling. And it has the flat 6 engine sound which is one of the coolest engine sounds I have heard that is not exotic car territory.
It would still be slower than the 718 2.5
@ArtVandelayOfficial look at you. Just like a pizza cutter. All edge, no point.
The thing I love about top gear is that if there is a chance to get right hand drive, they will do it
Mint driver Chris Harris! For me he's best auto reporter he always makes decent vids...
Second hand Caymans going up up up 😂
wtfdididolastnight agreed -- that 4 cylinder doesn't compare!
Zombie Head auwch..
Can you add a Turbo to the old Cayman to help fill in the gaps at the high end? Keep it safe, 9 - 12 psi? - something decent not a hack job? - Or is that like sacrilegious?
I bet the Boxster Spyder from a little while back, the one with that crazy top that was hard to take on and off is going to appreciate like crazy down the road, that was my favorite Boxster of them all, especially white with the red interior and lettering on the side.
Catalyst Network Solutions doesn't need anymore power, if that's what you're after better of getting a 911 👍
In August 2016 I went to Porsche of West Broward in Florida both 981 Cayman & 718 Cayman were available brand new in the showroom parked next to one another ..I started both cars right there in the showroom thats all it took for me to decide which one was for me, the price of both cars was in the $75k rang.....I drove home the brand new naturally aspirated flat 6 that day with the following options: sports chrono package, sports plus exhaust system, power steering plus, seat belts in racing yellow, 20" black satin Carrera S wheels, sports suspension options which lowered my car by 20mm, 6 speed manual transmission, smoked light package, seat ventilation, sport design steering wheel..... the sound of the naturally aspirated flat 6 mid engine behind my seat is like a symphony honestly I don't even turn the radio on I rather listing to the engine/exhaust sound......the soul of a sports car its the sound that is makes...not if you can cut 2 tenth of second from 0-60.....the 165 mile top speed in my 981 is something that I will never be able to experience its the exhaust sound that puts a smile on my face every time I start my 981 :)
Same story for me.
Test drove both 718 and 981.
Couldn't wait to return the keys of the 718. Sure, it's a very fast lawnmower a d I wanted a sports car, so I found a low mileage Cayman S PDK 981. Remapped the ecu to 364hp, 420Nm, 0-100km/h 3.89sec. Plenty fast and with a hair-trigger throttle response pulling like clappers to redline with that glorious flat 6 wail, I laugh during and after every drive... utterly enthralling.
sound; just getting you ready for the sound of Electric SPORTS Cars.
242 Laps on Ring, in my new 718 Boxster S; June - July 2017, European Delivery; Sound is not an issue.
and the flat 6 is back :)
Those graphics, filters and music look cheap now. You need to improvise Top Gear. Dont waste chris harris' talent
What the hell are you talking about... doesn't look cheap at all
@James
it doesn't look chris-harris-cool,
it more looks like pathetic-streetracer-
wannabe-fast-and-furious-style 🤣
The 4 cyl Cayman’s (or is that Caymen ? 😅) are fantastic. Seriously. For the road, the power and torque is more useable and they sound angry and urgent.
I put a TPC tune on my 981s Flat 6 and that took care of my lack of power complaints. It sounds even better after the tune because the throttle body is now allowed to open 100%. If I want more power TPC offers a turbo kit, but i think it's perfect now @ 365HP with the tune. I've driven a 718S and its a hair faster than my tuned 981, sure you can tune the 718 too but so what unless you race on a track both versions are plenty fast one just sounds glorious while doing it. High Revving N/A motors with 3 pedals are such fun to drive.
Porsche Cayman S: Exists
Karl "Baron" Smit: I'm gonna do what's called a pro gamer move
Even going slow on the 981, it sounds like it's going fast. When I first bought the my 981 I hadn't showed him my car yet and he asked "is that a Cayman you have? It's sound sexy."
I like the sound of the old one but didn't want a used car, preferred a brand new car to my spec. Also the S with sports exhaust system in sport or sport + sounds nothing like the 718 in that video.
Ben Harrison how much better does it sound? Similar to the old one?
People commented about the sound most definitely didn’t hear or drive the 718 yet..the sound is great esp with PSE, it has pop and bang when you put in sport mode..Although I like the sound of Cayman GT4 better but doesn’t make me like the 718S less..Nevertheless its better by miles with its predecessor.
It's different sounding, but I have no problem with it. The Cayman is still a fab car. BTW, I got a kick out of Harris saying that the old Cayman S didn't have enough power for the chassis. Really? Don't buy that.
I have the 981 Boxster S and recently had the 718 Boxster S for a few days as a maintenance loaner - I'll never upgrade. There's no soul in the new engine, even with sport exhaust.
I have a 981 Cayman GTS, I would never buy the 718. I will get another one in manual just for tracks.
Jarrod Dixon absolutely!
#confused
I will hold on to my Cayman GTS with its gorgeous flat 6 engine sound...this will appreciate by time according to local Porsche dealer in Dubai :)
I drove the 981 Boxster GTS and owned a 981 Boxster S and I agree with your dealer. The new 718 S and GTS perform at a much higher level than the 981 but some do not like the 4 cylinder. I like the 4 cylinder because it is so tractable.
While I do agree that the sound, which is by the way subjective, is a part of sports car ownership, I would never trade performance for an exhaust note. Was trying to decide between the flat six and the newer turbo four. One drive in the 718 turbo and the decision was an easy one for me as it outperformed the 2016 I was considering.
Congrats ! What’s the spec of your 718?
I picked up a g8 value 718s, put on a stage 2 tune with high flow exhaust and have a Porsche that out performs a 23 gt3 over the quarter. Incredible car & value for money. Go figure.
You got a 718s? How much was the upgrades?
i learned to drive in a '62 VW beetle and when i was recently at the nearby porsche dealership i heard a car start up and thought to myself, "...who has a beetle around here?" ...it was a brand new 718! no lie.
Bought a 981.. the sound is half the deal in that car. It's that good.
I have a 718s and the whole sound of the 4 is overblown. It sounds different and I like it I think it gives the car its own identity. I also have a 991.1 so no six cylinder bias here
Between the two which one do you prefer driving? How come you decided to go for both?
I dunno. I havent tracked my 718S yet. But the damn thing is fast and handles well. Do I miss the sound from a flat 6. Yes. But the 718 is a great car.
Naveed Afridi maybe with a different exhaust system the 718s will sound correct
Perfect car and exhaust to drive in Singapore, but not more than 90km/h 😅
Have people not realised that all car manufacturers are ditching big engines and now going for smaller turbo charged since they;
- Provide better fuel economy
- Cost less tax (not only for the consumer but also the companies meet regulations)
- Better power to weight ratio
There are no drawbacks to doing this and technology will only keep on improving. Give it another 5 years and Porsche will start using hybrid motors.
I had a pan S e-Hybrid...was always in the shop!
981 GTS PDK gets better gas mileage but higher CO2.. the new cater is not more efficient.
Just bought one of these, picking up tmrw ☺️☺️☺️☺️🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
Porche lost a customer with this engine and I bet I am not the only one. I was ready to pay cash for the new cayman S but opted to go for 2015 second hand GTS instead
Yep, I bought myself a 2015 BS 981 instead.
Good choice! The GTS will hold value much better.
I did the same thing! I love my 15 981 GTS!
Yeah. 45 more HP, upgraded 911 steering and braking components, GT4 suspension parts are all a waste of money. What you want is noise. I bought the new one and all this performance just sucks. I am licking my auditory wounds. Boy do I wish this car didn't perform this well.
Do you guys just show off in your cars. Is this sound controversy just boys who are trying to get people to look at them to feel alright about themselves?
KPAX yeah the 911 flat 6 in the 981 GTS is such a disappointment lol
Glad I canceled my 718S order for the last brand new 981 Cayman GTS with the flat 6 in 2016. That engine I purely intoxicating. Makes you stop giving a crap about power (which is plenty for the road, although I could use and enjoy 500hp easily).
Thanks Chris Harris for stating that engine sound does matter to car guys .I think that Porsche wanted to put some more distance between the 911 and 718 and the 4 cylinder engine was the way they did that.I just looked at a focus group that had the 718 Cayman, Jaguar f-type coupe, Lexus coupe, Audi TT RS, Infinity Q60 coupe vs the new offering from a Japanese maker.Other than the Audi 's 5 cylinder engine all the others had a 6 cylinders EXCEPT the 718 Cayman. Being the most expensive but also the only one with a 4 cylinder in the group, this stuck out as a big reason to look at the other cars a lot harder than I ever would have before.
It has to do with emission regs.. all displacement has to go down and turbos are added.
But on the Cayman there is no room for all the turbo piping and a flat 6 so they had to go flat 4 with turbos instead
They did manage to still keep the flat 6 with all the turbo plumbing in the 911. It looks like a company decision to go 4cylinder vs stay with the 6 for the lower price point sports car.Fuel economy is the same or slightly less with the 4 cylinder turbo's.
The 911 is MUCH bigger, so of course they can fit a larger engine.
Cayman WB 97.4 vs 911/ 96.5 , Cayman L is172.4 vs 911 / 177.1, Cayman W is70.9 vs 911/ 71.2 MUCH BIGGER = WTF
The 4cyl versions are truly a unique and incredible car in their own right. Porsche would’ve done well to add a lightweight turbo version, but then again that would outperform there top cars. That’s a problem.
The sound is more important than power and handling? Sounds like a bunch of Harley Davidson owners.
A six cylinder engine can be more naturally balanced. If the complaint was vibration or reliability of the turbocharger, that would be understandable.
I hear your the type of guy who never swapped custom exhaust on a sport car..
What year was the louder v6 cayman produced?
I've been looking sharply at the Cayman s for the last 2 years. I will be buying this car for a daily driver. Not something to keep in the garage and drive on special occasions. I maintain my cars and keep them for a long time. My personal opinion is, naturally aspirated engines are cheaper to maintain and are more reliable in vehicles that are expected to rack up large amounts of mileage. I didn't want to buy a used car. I would rather have a new car that I know has been broken in properly and benefits from all of the new engineering upgrades. Who doesn't want more power, but I would be willing to sacrifice a few horses for longevity. I now find myself at a crossroad.
So what did you end up going with?
@@leoletsdostuff3408 I bought a house.🤣 I still love that 981 Cayman S
I have a 981 (edited!) Cayman... the 6-cylinder engine is one of the things that makes it special... all my other cars are 4-cylinder... if you're spending the thick end of £50k... well, a 'six' is one of the things to have... silky... it's not noisy, it's just musical... (quite like the Beemer '6' to...)
918 is a different Porsche ;-D
Why couldn't porsche just make a smaller turbocharged flat 6 like a 2.5 turbo 6.this car would've been perfect
not enough room in the engine bay for turbo piping & intercooling
wish they would have borrowed the 2.5 5 pot from Audi for the 718.
for real tho that would've been dope
It would compete to much with the 911. I think one of the reasons they’ve chosen a flat 4 is so more people buy the 911 which they have larger profit margins on
They can add turbos, but then they have to remove the rear boot. It’s a realy realy thight packaged car.
Oh dear! BBCitis strikes again. Stupidly I hesitated to exchange my 987 because asinine reviews, but now I have I’m completely sold on the far superior 718. The car is better in every respect, considerably faster and quieter and more relaxing to drive. The new engine is a stonker and it makes the six seem hard work and slow.
The 718 Cayman S is very fast, but I don't think I've read or watched a review yet that did not deduct points for the engine sound. I'll be keeping my 981 CS for a long time.
limulus61 RS5 with a turbo 6 is faster than a 718
@Kyle Martin that's adorable...I used to think numbers on spec sheets were important, too...an RS5 does not compete at all with a 981 or 982 for that matter.
andyouf that’s my point! All these 718 owners say the 718 is better in every way compared to the 981... my RS5 comparison proves my point. These 2 tenths a second faster to 0-60:mean nothing! The 981 GTs is a far superior car headed for collector status. It’s perfectly priced between the new 718 and Gt4
@Kyle Martin ah I got you, apologies for the snarkiness
Second hand 981's in Germany have increased in price by 12% since 718 came out. I used to be like that , where I'd see a car is faster by a few tenths of a second in the 1/4 mile and automatically think "better" (when I was 10). 718 is a concession to EPA mandates.
"And now for a nasty bit of cognitive dissonance, because there are two completely contradictory ideas here that you have to hold in your head: the new Boxster is subjectively improved in every area, and yet its not necessarily a better car than the one which went before.
It handles better, goes faster, is more efficient and all that nice spreadsheety ticking of boxes. If you came to this car without knowing the old one, then you’d be blown away. And yet, it’s not - quite - as emotional or engaging as the previous six-cylinder generation, simply because of the way the engine makes power. In a roadster, a sportscar, there’s no shame in having to work an engine that little bit harder to hear and feel it really get going."
www.topgear.com/car-reviews/718-boxster-s-2016/first-drive
@@kmartin971 RS5 is much slower 7.59 than a boxster S 7.40 round Nurburgring. Even slower in straight 0-60 Boxster S is 3.6sec RS5 is 3.8sec
Much rather have a quiet car anyway tbh. Nothing not to like about this, faster, better handling and quieter?
Joe Stevenson I agree and it’s better to have a more powerful, quieter car than a louder car with less performance. In an ever overcrowded world try not to be a nuisance unless you are on the track. I think 718 Cayman gts is really a hell of a sports car!
As usually Chris nailed it. Boxster’s and Cayman’s aren’t race cars, I am happy to trade a few 1/10th of a second for the sound of the “old” 3.4l NA engine.
I have this car, bought it after much though about the reviews on sound but guys the way this thing drives beast the shtt out of everything. I got it with the sports exhaust in options and it sounds great. It drives great and leaves me smiling. This is an awesome car and you guy judging on paper and sound is being unfair to this great machine. Drive it and know it. If you are commenting based on just numbers and Tv sound, sorry to say but the 4 cylinder non sense is over over over hyped.
Agreed. I’ve had this car for 2 months and have driven nearly 10k miles. Complete fun each time I drive it. Will likely sell it once I hit 40k miles though and upgrade to a AMG GT or 911 Carrera S
The 4 cylinder sounds better to me than the 6. It's rougher, and more sinister. This car in black would be spectacular.
my dream car!!!! I love everything abt this car!!! 😍 #porsche
The first Porsche 911 had a 2-liter, six-cylinder engine, that sounded glorious. Why haven’t they kept this brilliant formula, instead of going to the four banger? It is said that Porsche listen to their clients; let’s start the pressure.
Love what you did there, it’s such a shame they’ve put a 4 pot in the cayman. Who wants to pay £50-60k for a 4 cylinder car. A golf r sounds better
Jonny M Glof R does sound better. But these are the realities today... Aplina, Alfa all have 4 cyl turbo engines. Maybe in the future they will juice the sound up a bit. One upside is that the weight can come down.
The next big thing will be fully electric cars with real engine sounds (added via the radio speakers or course).
Derek Hood modded 16 5.0 owner here. you make valid points if speed is your main concern but I would take this car over mine any day. The cayman is better in every way other than price, and sound.
dawie pieterse As a matter of fact, the 4 turbo weighs more than the 6 boxer.
@@callez2402 not true
I was gon say, sound is incredibly important
It's also like horses charging. With sound it's badass. Muted, it's just animals speeding and they're not even that fast next to a naturally silent Jaguar
Top gear show is going to be back to its good old glory days thanks to you guys. Excellent review.
That didn’t age well 😅
So true that.. they should have at least gone with 5 cylinders Audi have shown how good that can sound
Dunno man. Small details like the suspension and such are interesting to me and barely any car show ever talks in-depth about it because it's "boring".
This is ain't an engineering show. If you want to know more about those small details, go and read yourself engineering books.
The sound was such a huge part of the Cayman.
Really. I love the sound. It sounds muscular and honestly the 6 cylinder exhaust note was so boring
U lost me the NA 6 cylinder porsches make a sound from the gods this sounds like a hot hatch not terrible but not in the same league
It's hard to really appreciate a sound from a video. I had a 2006 turbo cayman S, and the sound was unlike anything i'd ever heard. I'd have to hear a new cayman to give a proper opinion on it though
@@DZGunner The Cayman wasn't turbo charged in 2006, did you fit an aftermarket turbo?
@@kw8757 Yes, TPC makes a turbo kit for this generation, and more.
@@DZGunner Thanks, I'll look into it.
Considering replacing my corvette with a 718S, I love to hoon, is the 718S just as easily hoonable? Power slides I mean.
That Rod steward example 🤣🤣🤣
Gone is the flat six magic. And the hydro steer rack. And the NA engine
What a weird world we live in. Watching Top Gear editing and cinematography, but instead of Jeremy's voice it's Chris Harris. I'm okay with this.
this car actually sounds good with the sport exhaust nothing like the old one but still not bad
kay Em interior fake exhaust noise is different that the sound you hear when outside the car
And porsche made a so nice sounding V4 in the 919. Sure it is a race car but it says something that it is possible to make a fenomenal sounding turbo 4
It just ticks so many boxes. You are all delusional. Would you really rather get more performance, better looks, better handling, newer model or just better sound? Really? I really, really fail to understand this. Get a new exhaust? Try to make it better? DUDE COME ON IS THE EXHAUST NOTE THE PRIMARY REASON BEHIND WHETHER YOU BUY A CAR OR NOT?
On a sports car, its half the reason. Its not a bl*dy Tesla vacum cleaner! 👍
I simply do not understand the obsession with the sound - I have the 3.4 987S, just sold aPDK 981 3.4S, and as per another comment below, the 4 pot turbo sound is gruff, it is growling, it is deeply sexy in my view. I have the press car in Miami Blue, RO16 FXC, for sale on Autotrader now, 4 new Pirellis and Porsche Warranty.
I miss Chris Harris on Cars
Intake noise? Air getting sucked into the engine noise. I heard the exhaust note, the only complaint to what is an amazing car. The 718s is faster around the TG track than the Pagani Zonda C12s. but lets bang on about the exhaust sound.
Came back after the 4.0 GTS is unveiled. Now they fixed the engine.
Almost bought a nicely optioned 2017 Boxster S with 7k miles for $59k....missed out on it when someone scooped it up from under my nose. Kept looking and found a 2013 Boxster S time capsule with (albeit different/lower but likely) more suitable options, nicer wheels, Brombacher exhaust, a rare color combo and only 4,000 miles! Picked it up for $49k. Very happy with the decision. Sure, one can argue that the newer 718 is an overall better car but I don't feel like we're missing out with the 981. A 718 S with a tune would be a considerably faster but not necessarily a better overall Porsche experience. The 718 IS evolution but with less soul. The driving experience/sound with the 981 is simply incredible. Adding the Brombacher tune and filters to get a bit more power and I'm sure this nearly new 981 will be more than satisfying for many years to come.
2:07 sick skids, but is that Happy Song?
Que máquina incrível 👏👏👏
When comes about Porsche , the 911 GT3 RS is the first and last choice for me
Well you can have a GT4RS now.
open westgate remap and exhaust and a small intercooler..430hp easy and a dope sound..wrong real ones 470hp
That color. Those wheels. Porsche. Sold. Now I just need a lot more money. 😆
Edit. Oh no it’s a 4 banger. Dude what the fu...ckkk
Only if it had that flat 6 engine 😐😣
Could wait for the GT4
GT4 will come with a 6 cylinder 😉😉😉
wouldn't bet on it
Shame everyone is after it and they will have a limited number
they are testing it on the nurburgring (proof video on youtube)
its 2010 and we want our glitch effect plug in back, for christ's sake who still edits like this?
Old top gear is best top gear
lol to the guy who says Top Gear is dead, It's a car show, Petrohead watches this for cars not for personality.
Good thing then, since you're getting a whole lot of cars and no personality.
The engine sounds so Nissan r34 to me but I don’t care. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love it!!
2:00 song name please
Such a shame; Porsche’s decision to replace the flat six with four pot turbo..... Still, I am very happy with my GT4, stunning car, and sounds epic.....
Clarkson & Co were car journalists who became celebrities, and their delivery of car info became synonymous with their personalities. After they left, the BBC initial response was to take celebrities and try to make viewers believe theywere car journalists.
Thru 22 series, Top Gear was a vicarious experience, as the vast majority of viewers were never going to own the cars they showcased but thru the writing and the travel, we could imagine ourselves in those places and in those cars.
Series 23 and 24 seems to think they should take those same luxury vehicles and super cars and talk about them as though the viewer might actually buy them. Top Gear’s “voice” left when Clarkson May & Hammond left, so instead of a re-think about what BBC’s Top Gear should be, it seems like the commercial wing of the BBC panicked and tried to keep their international viewers by launching a poorer version.
With an aging set of hosts, even The Grand Tour only has 4-5 more years left in it, so a re-tread won’t do. If the BBC can completely re-invent their car show like they did 15 years ago, great. If not, let creativity inspire something new that we haven’t seen before.
Aftermarket exhaust?
Chris Harris and Rory Reid. Thank You.
You guys are such weirdos with your sound comments, the new car is so much faster and more importantly the heaps of torque are always right there, have fun waiting on the revs and cheesing as you hear your wailing engine, weirdos indeed
I missed the sound of the glorious GT4 flat six
Don't worry. The upcoming 718 Cayman GT4 will still have a 6 cylinder engine, but i think it will be a downsized version of the engine from the 911 GT3/GT3 RS
This car was launched in 2016, why are you reviewing it now, over 2 yrs later
Leave it to Chris Harris to describe the problem of the increasing migration to assorted four-cylinder engines from sixes and eights PERFECTLY.
Thanks, Chris.