"the 718 has no mufflers" "let me turn PSE on, oh there seems to be no difference" .....because it's straight piped Aside from that, they are quite different in other ways. For starters the 4.0L in the 718 has a noticibily broader torque curve. Plus when you modify it with headers and a tune it really pulls like a MF. The 981 with similar mods isn't slow, but the 4.0 really comes alive. That being said the 4.0 doesn't sound as good IMO. The sound is almost a little lotus evora at times. I don't think anything can compete with the 981 flat six. Also the 4.0 has cylinder deactivation and when it's engaged, the car sounds like a washing machine on the spin cycle, it's awful. And lastly every 4.0L I've heard makes this god awful chirping noise at idle that sounds like the smoke monster from LOST. IDK if it's an injector pump or what, but the 3.8 idles quiet as a Honda. Oh and the chassis, the ride compliance in the 718 is ridiculously good. It's great if you want to cover ground but I sort of prefer the harsher ride of the 981, it provides more drama and sense of speed.
Thanks for the comments! Here's the valved exhaust with no mufflers by JCR. Not exactly sure how the sound changes with the valves opened or closed: jcr-developments.com/products/titanium-valved-race-pipe-non-silenced-1
They are both such awesome Porsches, and you truly cannot go wrong with either one! I do like the overall purity of the original 981 version, but I also have to acknowledge the refinements and improvements made between the generations. Thank you for another informative and well executed review!
I like the comparison format too...but I have to say, I disagree with your ratings. Straight exhaust on the 718 and you give it a higher rating for road tripping and daily driving? As if! Don't ignore the elephant in the refrigerator! I'd rate this particular clapped out 718 much lower than the 981 on DD and road tripping car on interior noise. Can you even play the stereo in that thing? . I daily'd a 987 CS with coil-overs, GT2 carbon buckets cat-back and a roll bar for 7 years. Great fun...but I wouldn't rate it very high on the DD scale. Another factor for daily driving in my neck of the woods is, "will it run through a good commercial car wash?" Neither of these cars pass that test. They both have wings, which is a non-starter at any car swash.. This is the test that I think about with every car I buy. I'm not going to hand wash my car all winter. I don't keep supercars around because I know I'll want to drive them all the time and that's problematic. I have 40K on my silver/black manual +10mm PASM optioned 2.5L 718 CGTS...I bought it about this time in 4 years ago. I love that car! It is so near the edge of what can be happily driven daily...and it doesn't go over the line. Would I rather drive a 6 cyl NA CGTS? Well.... maybe at a track day? Heck, maybe all the time, but I'm not willing to spend the $50K plus my car it would cost to buy one...and there aren't many around....and that extra torque of my 2.5 turbo is really nice around town. Tires larger than about 295 width are problematic in my $9, soft cloth, ride-thru, no swirl marks, 2 miles home to a cozy garage and detail spray car wash. I had a '19 Carrera T for a few months before I traded it for the 718 GTS. Great car, but 305 rear tires fail the "daily" test for me. It had enough ground clearance...just. Best colors for daily use are light metallics, not yellow and not red!. Light metallics don't show small finish flaws, hide dirt better etc....also more stealthy than Carmine Red with a wing or a Screaming Yellow with a wing. These are not the sort of cars I want to daily drive. Love going to car shows and seeing them...owned by someone else! These are both are terrific cars that I'd be thrilled flog for a weekend, but not sure I'd want to live with either one day to day. BTW, there's a new kid in town...Lotus Emira...and it passes most of the daily drive tests, skinny tires, suspension lift available, looks gorgeous and will be a hoot. For me, build quality, dealer and parts network count too. ...I might chicken out but good to have a dream, I guess.
Thanks for sharing! Really like hearing everybody's thoughts on these cars. This 718's exhaust can be really loud, but at part throttle cruising around, it wasn't that intrusive, in my opinion. It received higher daily and road trip marks than the 981 purely because the suspension is a bit more compliant and comfortable, and the exhaust wasn't loud enough when cruising for me to give it lower scores. Perhaps I'm more immune to loud exhausts from driving around a V6 Camry with no muffler... The scores, in the end, are subjective. One could easily make the argument that both cars should have received lower daily and road trip scores, but I chose to stand behind the scores I gave them immediately after driving. I will admit, if you're not a fan of aftermarket exhausts, then you probably won't be able to live as easily with this 718 GT4, and could probably lower it's score by a half to full point.
Love the longer format. I recommend a longer drive as well. Maybe a five mile review would allow the reviewer to better sort out the cars. Keep up the great work!
I like the comparison format…Too bad you couldn’t find box stock examples as I feel the mods on these cars, especially the 718, may change the driving experience enough to influence your ratings. Also, car show ratings appear to me to be very generous to both cars given how often they are seen. Finally, I’m not sure why you would give the 718 a better rating on fun to drive due to its super loud aftermarket exhaust but not lower its daily driving and road trip ratings.
Glad you liked it. The exhaust upped the fun factor rating for the 718 by a quarter of a point, as I explained in the video. You make a good point; as I watched it before publishing, I felt I may not have taken the exhaust into account enough for the daily driving rating on the 718 GT4, and even that I maybe gave both of these cars higher daily and road trip ratings than they deserved. But these are the ratings I felt the cars deserved immediately after driving them, and they're what I decided to stand behind for the final video. Though I do draw on facts and experience for the ratings, they are subjective in the end. It's good to hear feedback and have conversations about the content, thanks for sharing your feedback. And yes, the JRC exhaust on the 718 is really loud and should be taken into account if you're considering daily driving it. Might be worth lopping a half to a full point off this 718 GT4 Daily Driving and Road Trip if you really don't like loud exhausts. Still hoping to drive a stock 718 GT4...
@@thedamonlowney Fair enough on the ratings being subjective. And the immediate reaction you have to a drive is probably the most accurate one for you. Good that you stuck with them, then. One thing that would impact my road trip ratings on these cars would be if they are equipped with the extended range fuel tank. The smaller tank would be a negative, unless I was driving an example with no mufflers! RS
Thanks for the video. I strongly doubt this 718 doesn’t have a muffler. You talked about the valves on the 718 but if it doesn’t have a muffler it doesn’t have valves. The 718 power doesn’t drop off towards redline whereas the 981 does. The 981 is the better sounding car though even with exhaust mods on the 718.
My money has always been on the 981 GT4 (raw and undiluted as opposed to the 982 GT4 - I'll let Porsche call it whatever it wants... - which had to be toned down to give way to the already planned GT4 RS... the fact that the owner of this 982 GT4 had to spend money tweaking the exhaust [on a GT Porsche!!!] just proves the point... and negative marks to your review by comparing apples with oranges in what concerns exhausts...really?! you lost the plot with this one ) and this has done nothing to change my opinion. I will take this opportunity just to state an unbeatable fact: rarity - the original GT4 production run is way shorter and therefore much rarer than the current generation still being made in 'bucket' loads as Porsche milks it till the end
I came in here to share exactly your sentiments, in every way! 981 GT4 is the future modern classic and current market trends reflect it. The 1sts of most things are.
Problem with 981 GT4 is it lacks torque.. which the 781 GT4 solved. Yes it sounds good but you have to put more money to put more power in a NA engine. Plus the twin exhaust looks better IMHO. I also did not like the 981 tail lights. I owned both.
@@isserdigan2835 interesting, but even the softer quieter face lift 982 GT4 had identical torque for the manual version at 420Nm so not sure where you’re pulling your facts. It had a bigger displacement slightly for more horsepower but real world driving saw it just as fast as it was heavier than the original. Rear lights were a bit goofy but easy to change out for the GTS versions which bring it bang up to date. I’d love a softer PDK 982 GT4 as reckon it’s the perfect daily (I’d still want the 918 buckets though!). Cheers
Each their own, but….. both are too quiet for me. Either GT4… it’s getting an exhaust, and yes, I’m actively looking at GT4. Sold my twin turbo 370Z. Need a better backroad car. GT4 is it. Possibly a GTS.
Answer to question no one is asking. Of course the 718 is going to come out on top - it costs $20,000 more! What people would like to see is a 981 w/ headers and a tune vs. stock 718.
so much misunderstanding about the alcantara wheel. It does not deteriorate any more than leather, it just does it in a different way. Leather will lose that factory matt finish and appear shiny. Alcantara will lose the fluffy feel and appear flat. Both are caused by grease from your hands. Both can be sorted or avoided by intermittent cleaning.
Nicely done! Your reviews are alway informative, but the new format is really first class and the production on these is better than most anything out there. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2016 GT4 and watching this makes me miss it.
I've owned a 718 2.0 M6 since 2019, and the car never disappoints. It is an amazing chassis, regardless of the iteration. That said, the RS version makes this comparo a bit pointless. Both of these iterations were held back from their potential, as the RS demonstrates. And since you mentioned the "e-Cayman", one wonders what you will do with all the extra video time when you can no longer rave about the exhaust. Certainly, you won't dare throw it up against one of these beauties - what will you go on about, the better 0-30 times?
the test would be relevant if it was based on two entirely original models, or add an after market exhaust to the 981 but it doesn't need it to be fun. Thanks for the test though.
I'm literally struggling with this decision right now. Which one for the garage long term. My wife is going to start a stick-shift-only, female-only, racing league.
Nice job Damon! Although a One-Mile review may not quite be long enough...it's certainly long enough for a big sh*t eating grin! I like the new format too!
So, deciced to drive the 981 with closed exhaust valves - and enjoying the sound. Hmm... Well, minor thing, great comparo anyway. There is just big difference in the exhaust tone and loudness if the valves are open.
Damon, I love ya brother...but Carmine red is too close to maroon for me and GM forever ruined me on anything akin to maroon. Give me flashy yellow every day (and a Valentine One-LOL).
I'm sorry, you are buying a spoiler from Techart. I don't know if it is a real Porsche Techart, a bit different, but a GT4 is so different. Then just have it professionally sprayed with a Gyeon glass coating and have it adjusted at Porsche Gelderland so that you get the right one. If you are busy, driving a Porsche costs money, so don't skimp on it, they can also install the good cylinders right away so that the rear hatch opens properly
Since cars are driven primarily after they are warmed up, would it make sense to warm the cars up before driving them? A longer drive would be nice. Two cars for the price of one is an excellent idea.
Damon got the 981 to about 7,000 (give or take 100 rpm; wasn't staring at the tach), which you can hear when he takes it out for a sound check after the ratings. He ventured to roughly 7,500 in the 718, which you can also hear in the video a couple times.
Really enjoyed this. Was interesting to see two similar cars in different gens compared. Must have been difficult to source these two cars on the same day.
Glad you liked it! Not usually easy to get two cars into the same place on the same day for 4-5 hours. Fortunately some connections in the area allowed us to bring these two cars together, and the owners are friends with each other, so that helped.
The differences between the 981 and 718 GT4s described in the video are basically true for other models too. I switched my 981 base for a 718 T last year and the extra handling sharpness, more compliant suspension, much lighter clutch (you get used to it) etc. make the 718 an overall better car, especially for daily driving and road trips. Not that you can go wrong either way...
Depends. Present both cars for sale with similar specs at the same price, I'll probably go 718 Cayman GT4. If I found a 981 GT4 that checked all the right boxes and a 718 that didn't, for the same price, 981 GT4 all the way.
@@thedamonlowney there is still a 15-20K price difference on the used market. seeing as porsche just officially discontinued the 718 gt4/spyder this week, gotta see where the used market goes. good clean 981 go from 95-110 if cpo. same optioned 718 run 110-125ish still
Great video, excellent comparison, clearly both are great cars to drive, the 718 GT4 is a bit more fun, if you adapt at the soft clutch. I am looking forward to more videos like this.
I'd say fun factor would have been 9.25 for both if both had the stock exhaust (or perhaps both would be 9.5 with muffler delete?...), though I'd like to drive a 718 GT4 with that's totally stock one of these days to confirm. 981 GT4 and 718 GT4 are so similar that it'll really come down to preference with regards to slight differences in steering, suspension, clutch, and, of course, whether having the 4.0 liter vs the 3.8 matters. I definitely preferred the 981's clutch pedal feel over the 718's, but that's not a dealbreaker for me.
@@thedamonlowney the stock 718 exhaust pales in comparison to the 981. I own a 718 Spyder. Exhaust mods are almost mandatory to make the 718 sound better and likely the reason this one was modified. It really transforms the car. I think the 981 would have likely got a pretty good edge on the fun factor rating if it were stock to stock. The particulate filters really make it sound funky. And even with the PSE button on, the valves close between 1500-4000. So many people pin them open or get an aftermarket valve controller.
Despite the annoying commentary, I have watched till the end. Gorgeous cars. But the commentary is simply not up to what I have expected from PCA. Comparing cars which are not standard is simply comparing these 2 particular examples. Hence making an overall conclusion is simply senseless.
I appreciate the time it takes to do reviews but it is blatantly obvious that the reviewer doesn't own and live with a GT4. I owned the original 987 Cayman S and it was my modifications that led Wolfgang to green light the GT4 so of course I scooped up a 2016 when Porsche finally made it available. Daily driver I would have rated lower if you face rush hour traffic. I don't get the car show rating for the car being reviewed as it lacks most all of the visually stunning options. My GT4 scores well at car shows but the one reviewed here would not, so perhaps that score is based on "potential". Road trip is where I also disagree although that perhaps depends on how you define road trip. One of my best recent road trips was a long weekend getaway to Hermann MO driving Highway 100 and the back roads in SE Missouri. There were 2 of us, plus luggage, we toured wineries along the way and it performed phenomenally. If a road trip means seeing the largest ball of twine, well then maybe not so much, but if twisty roads are part of your road trip along with bringing luggage for 2, the GT4 excels. Fun factor anything over 9 is good, again I might have gone 9.5 but fun is relative. Did the 981 GT4 have the transmission swap? I found the clutch feel changed when the transmission recall was performed. Sadly the 718 car seems to lack many of the nice visual enhancements. I just don't understand spec'ing out a GT4 and not including the performance parts and the visual enhancements. Otherwise you might as well buy a base Cayman and call it a day. I highly recommend seat protectors for the side bolsters on the GT4 bucket seats. I find the 3.8 revs a little faster than the 4.0 but the GT4RS seems to have fixed that with the GT3 engine. Oh, if you engage PASM in sport in the 981 GT4 you should feel it immediately and it is noticeable, so if this wasn't noticed, perhaps something was wrong. I would also suggest taking both of these cars to the track and comparing them there. I find the 718 is a bit more forgiving on the track than the 981 which I chalk up to suspension changes between the models. Keep the reviews coming but I would also suggest interviewing owners after you've driven them to address your questions or concerns. Keep in mind both of these cars are slower 0-60 than an electric family sedan. ;)
That 718 should not be legal on public roads without mufflers. The stock exhaust sounds fine, and does not make non-enthusiasts hate sports cars. Also, to me, that 718 would be awful for road tripping with all of that noise. Even my base 718 would be nicer for road trips, if it were quieter at highway speed, though the standard seats are comfortable.
These ratings seem to be for a Cayman channel. Most any 911 will grab more attention at a car show. Consider a GTS, with the same stitching, alcantara, etc. A GT3 gets WAY more attention than a GTS, so would a turbo - so the car show rating seems very generous. And, road trip in a teensy Cayman? What car would you give a lower score to? A loud small car, with stiff suspension and short wheel base and limited storage is the worst for long trips. Almost every current Porsche is better for road trips than a GT4 (911, Panamera, Taycan, Cayenne, Macan. base Cayman.) Maybe this is the GT4 review channel and of GT4s these two get the high scores? :)
I see 12 gt3's for every gt4 at car shows/cars and coffee meet-ups. The running joke is that folks who attend think all Porsches are gt3's because that's all we ever see at such events. And no Porsche gt car is a great "tourer". The lower spec gts/s variants are much better at that sort of thing.
That is not a very good synopsis. I went to a very large C&C and it was “Porsche Day”. There were about 400 Porsches. And about 350 were 911s. Probably 10% of those were different vintages of GT3s. Another 10% 911 Turbo. There were about 4 GT4s. 2 Carrera GT. 2 918 Spyders. I own a 718 Spyder. You know how many of them there were??? ONE….MINE! And your take on road tripping is way off. The frunk is huge. I can easily put two carry ons in there along with other stuff. The rear trunk can still fit two carry ons but since you already them up front, you can put other stuff back there. IMO, from a storage standpoint, the Cayman/Boxster has more storage space than a 911. Of course a Cayenne is gonna be better in this category. I own one of those also. But are you gonna track a Cayenne? Nope. But you can road trip a Cayman….and quite easily at that.
@@flyjbaker Specific Porsche events obviously have a good assortment of models. I'm referring to regular C&C events and there are always more GT3's than any other specific model or trim of Cayman/911 at the ones I attend. My road tripping comment was based on the GT cars (all of them, GT2, 3 and 4) being "worse" than their S and GTS trim levels. Suspension, noise deadening, tires, ride height, etc. all contribute to a ride that is more fatiguing than the softer and quieter S/GTS. That's it...don't read into it more than that.
"the 718 has no mufflers"
"let me turn PSE on, oh there seems to be no difference"
.....because it's straight piped
Aside from that, they are quite different in other ways. For starters the 4.0L in the 718 has a noticibily broader torque curve. Plus when you modify it with headers and a tune it really pulls like a MF. The 981 with similar mods isn't slow, but the 4.0 really comes alive. That being said the 4.0 doesn't sound as good IMO. The sound is almost a little lotus evora at times. I don't think anything can compete with the 981 flat six. Also the 4.0 has cylinder deactivation and when it's engaged, the car sounds like a washing machine on the spin cycle, it's awful. And lastly every 4.0L I've heard makes this god awful chirping noise at idle that sounds like the smoke monster from LOST. IDK if it's an injector pump or what, but the 3.8 idles quiet as a Honda. Oh and the chassis, the ride compliance in the 718 is ridiculously good. It's great if you want to cover ground but I sort of prefer the harsher ride of the 981, it provides more drama and sense of speed.
Thanks for the comments! Here's the valved exhaust with no mufflers by JCR. Not exactly sure how the sound changes with the valves opened or closed: jcr-developments.com/products/titanium-valved-race-pipe-non-silenced-1
The noise you hear at idle are the injectors….
They are both such awesome Porsches, and you truly cannot go wrong with either one! I do like the overall purity of the original 981 version, but I also have to acknowledge the refinements and improvements made between the generations. Thank you for another informative and well executed review!
I like the comparison format too...but I have to say, I disagree with your ratings. Straight exhaust on the 718 and you give it a higher rating for road tripping and daily driving? As if! Don't ignore the elephant in the refrigerator! I'd rate this particular clapped out 718 much lower than the 981 on DD and road tripping car on interior noise. Can you even play the stereo in that thing? . I daily'd a 987 CS with coil-overs, GT2 carbon buckets cat-back and a roll bar for 7 years. Great fun...but I wouldn't rate it very high on the DD scale.
Another factor for daily driving in my neck of the woods is, "will it run through a good commercial car wash?" Neither of these cars pass that test. They both have wings, which is a non-starter at any car swash.. This is the test that I think about with every car I buy. I'm not going to hand wash my car all winter. I don't keep supercars around because I know I'll want to drive them all the time and that's problematic.
I have 40K on my silver/black manual +10mm PASM optioned 2.5L 718 CGTS...I bought it about this time in 4 years ago. I love that car! It is so near the edge of what can be happily driven daily...and it doesn't go over the line. Would I rather drive a 6 cyl NA CGTS? Well.... maybe at a track day? Heck, maybe all the time, but I'm not willing to spend the $50K plus my car it would cost to buy one...and there aren't many around....and that extra torque of my 2.5 turbo is really nice around town.
Tires larger than about 295 width are problematic in my $9, soft cloth, ride-thru, no swirl marks, 2 miles home to a cozy garage and detail spray car wash.
I had a '19 Carrera T for a few months before I traded it for the 718 GTS. Great car, but 305 rear tires fail the "daily" test for me. It had enough ground clearance...just.
Best colors for daily use are light metallics, not yellow and not red!. Light metallics don't show small finish flaws, hide dirt better etc....also more stealthy than Carmine Red with a wing or a Screaming Yellow with a wing. These are not the sort of cars I want to daily drive. Love going to car shows and seeing them...owned by someone else!
These are both are terrific cars that I'd be thrilled flog for a weekend, but not sure I'd want to live with either one day to day.
BTW, there's a new kid in town...Lotus Emira...and it passes most of the daily drive tests, skinny tires, suspension lift available, looks gorgeous and will be a hoot. For me, build quality, dealer and parts network count too. ...I might chicken out but good to have a dream, I guess.
Thanks for sharing! Really like hearing everybody's thoughts on these cars. This 718's exhaust can be really loud, but at part throttle cruising around, it wasn't that intrusive, in my opinion. It received higher daily and road trip marks than the 981 purely because the suspension is a bit more compliant and comfortable, and the exhaust wasn't loud enough when cruising for me to give it lower scores. Perhaps I'm more immune to loud exhausts from driving around a V6 Camry with no muffler... The scores, in the end, are subjective. One could easily make the argument that both cars should have received lower daily and road trip scores, but I chose to stand behind the scores I gave them immediately after driving. I will admit, if you're not a fan of aftermarket exhausts, then you probably won't be able to live as easily with this 718 GT4, and could probably lower it's score by a half to full point.
Love the longer format. I recommend a longer drive as well. Maybe a five mile review would allow the reviewer to better sort out the cars. Keep up the great work!
I like the comparison format…Too bad you couldn’t find box stock examples as I feel the mods on these cars, especially the 718, may change the driving experience enough to influence your ratings. Also, car show ratings appear to me to be very generous to both cars given how often they are seen. Finally, I’m not sure why you would give the 718 a better rating on fun to drive due to its super loud aftermarket exhaust but not lower its daily driving and road trip ratings.
Glad you liked it. The exhaust upped the fun factor rating for the 718 by a quarter of a point, as I explained in the video. You make a good point; as I watched it before publishing, I felt I may not have taken the exhaust into account enough for the daily driving rating on the 718 GT4, and even that I maybe gave both of these cars higher daily and road trip ratings than they deserved. But these are the ratings I felt the cars deserved immediately after driving them, and they're what I decided to stand behind for the final video. Though I do draw on facts and experience for the ratings, they are subjective in the end. It's good to hear feedback and have conversations about the content, thanks for sharing your feedback. And yes, the JRC exhaust on the 718 is really loud and should be taken into account if you're considering daily driving it. Might be worth lopping a half to a full point off this 718 GT4 Daily Driving and Road Trip if you really don't like loud exhausts. Still hoping to drive a stock 718 GT4...
@@thedamonlowney Fair enough on the ratings being subjective. And the immediate reaction you have to a drive is probably the most accurate one for you. Good that you stuck with them, then. One thing that would impact my road trip ratings on these cars would be if they are equipped with the extended range fuel tank. The smaller tank would be a negative, unless I was driving an example with no mufflers!
RS
I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen a Cayman GT4 out in the wild. They aren’t common at all.
@@RichardStrahota the 4.0 equipped models come with the extended range tank as standard, where its optional on the 2.0 / 2.5 flat 4 models
@@halh865 Good to know, and thanks!
Excellent comparison between the two generations. The new long format is great.
Love the longer format and the comparison. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the video. I strongly doubt this 718 doesn’t have a muffler. You talked about the valves on the 718 but if it doesn’t have a muffler it doesn’t have valves.
The 718 power doesn’t drop off towards redline whereas the 981 does. The 981 is the better sounding car though even with exhaust mods on the 718.
Thanks for your comments! Here's the valved exhaust on the car: jcr-developments.com/products/titanium-valved-race-pipe-non-silenced-1
My money has always been on the 981 GT4 (raw and undiluted as opposed to the 982 GT4 - I'll let Porsche call it whatever it wants... - which had to be toned down to give way to the already planned GT4 RS... the fact that the owner of this 982 GT4 had to spend money tweaking the exhaust [on a GT Porsche!!!] just proves the point... and negative marks to your review by comparing apples with oranges in what concerns exhausts...really?! you lost the plot with this one ) and this has done nothing to change my opinion. I will take this opportunity just to state an unbeatable fact: rarity - the original GT4 production run is way shorter and therefore much rarer than the current generation still being made in 'bucket' loads as Porsche milks it till the end
I came in here to share exactly your sentiments, in every way! 981 GT4 is the future modern classic and current market trends reflect it. The 1sts of most things are.
Problem with 981 GT4 is it lacks torque.. which the 781 GT4 solved. Yes it sounds good but you have to put more money to put more power in a NA engine. Plus the twin exhaust looks better IMHO. I also did not like the 981 tail lights. I owned both.
@@isserdigan2835 interesting, but even the softer quieter face lift 982 GT4 had identical torque for the manual version at 420Nm so not sure where you’re pulling your facts. It had a bigger displacement slightly for more horsepower but real world driving saw it just as fast as it was heavier than the original. Rear lights were a bit goofy but easy to change out for the GTS versions which bring it bang up to date. I’d love a softer PDK 982 GT4 as reckon it’s the perfect daily (I’d still want the 918 buckets though!). Cheers
@@_______73_______ it is how torque is distributed.
Each their own, but….. both are too quiet for me. Either GT4… it’s getting an exhaust, and yes, I’m actively looking at GT4. Sold my twin turbo 370Z. Need a better backroad car. GT4 is it. Possibly a GTS.
I like the longer format. Great video, guys. Thanks.
Thanks for the comparison. But I guess I'll keep my 981 GT4 (until I win the raffle...)
Answer to question no one is asking. Of course the 718 is going to come out on top - it costs $20,000 more! What people would like to see is a 981 w/ headers and a tune vs. stock 718.
so much misunderstanding about the alcantara wheel. It does not deteriorate any more than leather, it just does it in a different way. Leather will lose that factory matt finish and appear shiny. Alcantara will lose the fluffy feel and appear flat. Both are caused by grease from your hands. Both can be sorted or avoided by intermittent cleaning.
981 GT4 sport mode also lowers the engine temp about 30 deg
Nicely done! Your reviews are alway informative, but the new format is really first class and the production on these is better than most anything out there. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2016 GT4 and watching this makes me miss it.
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you like the new format.
I've owned a 718 2.0 M6 since 2019, and the car never disappoints. It is an amazing chassis, regardless of the iteration. That said, the RS version makes this comparo a bit pointless. Both of these iterations were held back from their potential, as the RS demonstrates. And since you mentioned the "e-Cayman", one wonders what you will do with all the extra video time when you can no longer rave about the exhaust. Certainly, you won't dare throw it up against one of these beauties - what will you go on about, the better 0-30 times?
the test would be relevant if it was based on two entirely original models, or add an after market exhaust to the 981 but it doesn't need it to be fun.
Thanks for the test though.
Love the new format! And comparing two cars is a great idea. Well done.
Love the new long format.
Same! Looking forward to your car in the next one :)
I'm literally struggling with this decision right now. Which one for the garage long term. My wife is going to start a stick-shift-only, female-only, racing league.
Long term, 981. One year production, only came in manual and sounds better. 718s are a dime a dozen
Loving the new format
Tried both. Bought the 718, both great cars but the 718 was the better car to drive
Nice job Damon! Although a One-Mile review may not quite be long enough...it's certainly long enough for a big sh*t eating grin! I like the new format too!
So, deciced to drive the 981 with closed exhaust valves - and enjoying the sound. Hmm... Well, minor thing, great comparo anyway. There is just big difference in the exhaust tone and loudness if the valves are open.
Fair enough. Thank for watching.
I too like the comparison format. Keeo it up!
How does that pass inspection with no mufflers?
Damon, I love ya brother...but Carmine red is too close to maroon for me and GM forever ruined me on anything akin to maroon. Give me flashy yellow every day (and a Valentine One-LOL).
I have the sport buckets, and they are the best seats for long trips even though they are fixed. My wife also has found the same results.
yep, those are certainly underrated.
Love the format...great reviews, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I'm sorry, you are buying a spoiler from Techart. I don't know if it is a real Porsche Techart, a bit different, but a GT4 is so different. Then just have it professionally sprayed with a Gyeon glass coating and have it adjusted at Porsche Gelderland so that you get the right one. If you are busy, driving a Porsche costs money, so don't skimp on it, they can also install the good cylinders right away so that the rear hatch opens properly
Since cars are driven primarily after they are warmed up, would it make sense to warm the cars up before driving them? A longer drive would be nice. Two cars for the price of one is an excellent idea.
How was that an adequate sound comparison when the 981wasn't taken beyond 7000RPM (aka shrieking Valkyrie zone) and the 982 had a modified exhaust?
Damon got the 981 to about 7,000 (give or take 100 rpm; wasn't staring at the tach), which you can hear when he takes it out for a sound check after the ratings. He ventured to roughly 7,500 in the 718, which you can also hear in the video a couple times.
Really enjoyed this. Was interesting to see two similar cars in different gens compared. Must have been difficult to source these two cars on the same day.
Glad you liked it! Not usually easy to get two cars into the same place on the same day for 4-5 hours. Fortunately some connections in the area allowed us to bring these two cars together, and the owners are friends with each other, so that helped.
Sonax makes a great Alcantera cleanee
Thanks for sharing.
The differences between the 981 and 718 GT4s described in the video are basically true for other models too. I switched my 981 base for a 718 T last year and the extra handling sharpness, more compliant suspension, much lighter clutch (you get used to it) etc. make the 718 an overall better car, especially for daily driving and road trips. Not that you can go wrong either way...
The engine is from a 991 Carrera S and not a 997 generation.
Loud exhaust is loud.
he got hooked on it
Great comparison video.
Seems like the exhaust valves weren't opened via the button..
The NSX in red was my dreamcar for 30 years, and now I have a 718 GTS 4.0 on order a white one....😳
You'll love the 4.0!
@@PorscheClubofAmerica I hope so ;)....kidding a side, I know I will.
It will be a VERY LONG wait until spring.😵💫
Now, is the 982 gen worth the $20-30k price difference from the 981 gen?
Depends. Present both cars for sale with similar specs at the same price, I'll probably go 718 Cayman GT4. If I found a 981 GT4 that checked all the right boxes and a 718 that didn't, for the same price, 981 GT4 all the way.
best question I've seen, just like Turbo vs Turbo S...people want to say they have a 4.0L not a 3.8L, so they will pay a premium for that.
@@thedamonlowney there is still a 15-20K price difference on the used market. seeing as porsche just officially discontinued the 718 gt4/spyder this week, gotta see where the used market goes. good clean 981 go from 95-110 if cpo. same optioned 718 run 110-125ish still
IMO no… went with the 981… the RS is a difference animal.
No
Great video, excellent comparison, clearly both are great cars to drive, the 718 GT4 is a bit more fun, if you adapt at the soft clutch. I am looking forward to more videos like this.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
I'd say fun factor would have been 9.25 for both if both had the stock exhaust (or perhaps both would be 9.5 with muffler delete?...), though I'd like to drive a 718 GT4 with that's totally stock one of these days to confirm. 981 GT4 and 718 GT4 are so similar that it'll really come down to preference with regards to slight differences in steering, suspension, clutch, and, of course, whether having the 4.0 liter vs the 3.8 matters. I definitely preferred the 981's clutch pedal feel over the 718's, but that's not a dealbreaker for me.
@@thedamonlowney the stock 718 exhaust pales in comparison to the 981. I own a 718 Spyder. Exhaust mods are almost mandatory to make the 718 sound better and likely the reason this one was modified. It really transforms the car. I think the 981 would have likely got a pretty good edge on the fun factor rating if it were stock to stock. The particulate filters really make it sound funky. And even with the PSE button on, the valves close between 1500-4000. So many people pin them open or get an aftermarket valve controller.
Haha well of course a 718 with a full cat back is more fun, but it also didnt hurt its road trip score? Ok 😅 both are great thats for sure
I know I am late but the Valves open at 4k and it sounds similar
I wish Porsche would have got the gears right on the first one 😢
Both gens have long gearing tho
Despite the annoying commentary, I have watched till the end. Gorgeous cars.
But the commentary is simply not up to what I have expected from PCA. Comparing cars which are not standard is simply comparing these 2 particular examples. Hence making an overall conclusion is simply senseless.
The 981 looks better and thus is better in my opinion lol
I appreciate the time it takes to do reviews but it is blatantly obvious that the reviewer doesn't own and live with a GT4. I owned the original 987 Cayman S and it was my modifications that led Wolfgang to green light the GT4 so of course I scooped up a 2016 when Porsche finally made it available. Daily driver I would have rated lower if you face rush hour traffic. I don't get the car show rating for the car being reviewed as it lacks most all of the visually stunning options. My GT4 scores well at car shows but the one reviewed here would not, so perhaps that score is based on "potential". Road trip is where I also disagree although that perhaps depends on how you define road trip. One of my best recent road trips was a long weekend getaway to Hermann MO driving Highway 100 and the back roads in SE Missouri. There were 2 of us, plus luggage, we toured wineries along the way and it performed phenomenally. If a road trip means seeing the largest ball of twine, well then maybe not so much, but if twisty roads are part of your road trip along with bringing luggage for 2, the GT4 excels. Fun factor anything over 9 is good, again I might have gone 9.5 but fun is relative. Did the 981 GT4 have the transmission swap? I found the clutch feel changed when the transmission recall was performed. Sadly the 718 car seems to lack many of the nice visual enhancements. I just don't understand spec'ing out a GT4 and not including the performance parts and the visual enhancements. Otherwise you might as well buy a base Cayman and call it a day. I highly recommend seat protectors for the side bolsters on the GT4 bucket seats. I find the 3.8 revs a little faster than the 4.0 but the GT4RS seems to have fixed that with the GT3 engine. Oh, if you engage PASM in sport in the 981 GT4 you should feel it immediately and it is noticeable, so if this wasn't noticed, perhaps something was wrong. I would also suggest taking both of these cars to the track and comparing them there. I find the 718 is a bit more forgiving on the track than the 981 which I chalk up to suspension changes between the models. Keep the reviews coming but I would also suggest interviewing owners after you've driven them to address your questions or concerns. Keep in mind both of these cars are slower 0-60 than an electric family sedan. ;)
Thanks for sharing!
981 is the most desirable in the market, it’s a collector car
A wonderful platform
7.7 road trip car? lol does the scale start at 7 and go to 10? These are awful road trip cars, and thats what makes them amazing track/weekend cars
Absolutely hate alcantara steering wheel.
Cool!
982 GT4 is now dead unfortunately.
What was the purpose of this review?
What is the purpose of your comment?
That 718 should not be legal on public roads without mufflers. The stock exhaust sounds fine, and does not make non-enthusiasts hate sports cars. Also, to me, that 718 would be awful for road tripping with all of that noise. Even my base 718 would be nicer for road trips, if it were quieter at highway speed, though the standard seats are comfortable.
These ratings seem to be for a Cayman channel. Most any 911 will grab more attention at a car show. Consider a GTS, with the same stitching, alcantara, etc. A GT3 gets WAY more attention than a GTS, so would a turbo - so the car show rating seems very generous. And, road trip in a teensy Cayman? What car would you give a lower score to? A loud small car, with stiff suspension and short wheel base and limited storage is the worst for long trips. Almost every current Porsche is better for road trips than a GT4 (911, Panamera, Taycan, Cayenne, Macan. base Cayman.) Maybe this is the GT4 review channel and of GT4s these two get the high scores? :)
We love Caymans and 911s (all Porsches, really). Thanks for the feedback. See Damon's answer to @RichardStrahota7444's comment for a little insight.
Worst take ever.
I see 12 gt3's for every gt4 at car shows/cars and coffee meet-ups.
The running joke is that folks who attend think all Porsches are gt3's because that's all we ever see at such events.
And no Porsche gt car is a great "tourer". The lower spec gts/s variants are much better at that sort of thing.
That is not a very good synopsis. I went to a very large C&C and it was “Porsche Day”. There were about 400 Porsches. And about 350 were 911s. Probably 10% of those were different vintages of GT3s. Another 10% 911 Turbo. There were about 4 GT4s. 2 Carrera GT. 2 918 Spyders. I own a 718 Spyder. You know how many of them there were??? ONE….MINE! And your take on road tripping is way off. The frunk is huge. I can easily put two carry ons in there along with other stuff. The rear trunk can still fit two carry ons but since you already them up front, you can put other stuff back there. IMO, from a storage standpoint, the Cayman/Boxster has more storage space than a 911. Of course a Cayenne is gonna be better in this category. I own one of those also. But are you gonna track a Cayenne? Nope. But you can road trip a Cayman….and quite easily at that.
@@flyjbaker Specific Porsche events obviously have a good assortment of models. I'm referring to regular C&C events and there are always more GT3's than any other specific model or trim of Cayman/911 at the ones I attend.
My road tripping comment was based on the GT cars (all of them, GT2, 3 and 4) being "worse" than their S and GTS trim levels. Suspension, noise deadening, tires, ride height, etc. all contribute to a ride that is more fatiguing than the softer and quieter S/GTS. That's it...don't read into it more than that.