718 Cayman - Base 2.0 with options Or boggers GTS

[Richard-3pdyn]

Hi all

Hoping I can get some thoughts on what those fortunate enough to be in the position to buy a 718 would do..

I am in the market for a 718 Cayman and will likely buy new as I can't find any cars used that have the spec I want in a base car (sports plus seats rarely specced for example).

I am after a PDK car.

We're I to go for a base car it is coming out at c. £50-54k dependent on how silly I go!

Cutting a few (most!) corners I can get a lightly spec'd GTS for £65k

My plan is to put down £15-20k deposit and worry about it in 3 years. The GTS is c. £100 pm which is manageable.

I feel the GTS will be way more special but wonder if by not speccing it up (e.g. interior etc.) I am missing the point.

Is the base model with a nice spec going to be a nicer ownership proposition? And of course 3-4k cheaper over the 3 years..

I do wonder which would depreciate more too. Presume the GTS will be better..?

Penny for your thoughts...

[nxm]

Depreciation for the GTS is unknown as it is so new but historically it will hold it's value better than the base model.

Even the standard GTS looks and feels special, especially if you keep the alcantara with the GTS on the headrests (which you can do with the base GTS interior without going for the pretty amazing, but expensive, GTS interior pack). Personally I would always keep the alcantara on the GTS. IT's what makes the GTS the GTS on the inside.

You can jazz up the interior further with a couple of relatively cheap options, such as coloured seat belts, just to give the interior another lift, maybe match that seat belt colour to the sports chrono face.

So if you can afford it, you do not need to spend a fortune on options on the GTS to make it feel special. It's pretty darn special to start with.

[Twinfan]

GTS depreciation is traditionally strong, but by putting no or few options on it you are going to find it less desirable when you come to sell it on. Regardless of the fabulous GTS interior pack, options such as heated seats/parking sensors/sound system/paint/auto wipers etc will all have an effect.

If it's a daily, you may find a well specced base model is more suited to the job. As a weekend fun car, you could probably justify the lack of GTS options.

If you're going for a low spec GTS, you may find a PCP deal attractive. There are some good offers on at the moment - £1000 deposit contribution and a high GFV, Maybe you could keep £10-15k in your pocket, pay the higher monthlies, and give the car back after 3 years?

[BnB]

Unless you're in one already today, get a well-speced 981 that's done some depreciating. The lifetime ownership cost will be lower, you'll bathe in the same luxurious options and the engine will make you smile instead of wince.

[nxm]

Twinfan said:

GTS depreciation is traditionally strong, but by putting no or few options on it you are going to find it less desirable when you come to sell it on. Regardless of the fabulous GTS interior pack, options such as heated seats/parking sensors/sound system/paint/auto wipers etc will all have an effect.

If it's a daily, you may find a well specced base model is more suited to the job. As a weekend fun car, you could probably justify the lack of GTS options.

If you're going for a low spec GTS, you may find a PCP deal attractive. There are some good offers on at the moment - £1000 deposit contribution and a high GFV, Maybe you could keep £10-15k in your pocket, pay the higher monthlies, and give the car back after 3 years?

I was guessing that you had a fair few of the essential options if the spec was £65k.

I agree that some are very desirable.

As I can't resist playing on the configurator, I came up with this spec below for just over £65k and covers the stuff that I think is most desirable and you still have a very, very special car. Some of these items may not be on your list, others may be more important, for example, you may want to upgrade the lights as the standard lights are not great. However, that may depend on how much driving you do in unlit areas.

Bottom line IMO, you can definitely have a special GTS at around £65k with the options that are most desirable.

http://www.porsche-code.com/PJSKRWI7

[Tony 1234]

I think the base Cayman will hold it's value better pro rata, I ordered a GTS last year but cancelled and ordered the 2lt after being informed that was the car with least expected deprecation

[nxm]

Tony 1234 said:

I think the base Cayman will hold it's value better pro rata, I ordered a GTS last year but cancelled and ordered the 2lt after being informed that was the car with least expected deprecation

At the moment depreciation of the GTS is unknown. My advice is go for whatever gives you the biggest smile (provided you can afford it) whatever you choose will be great.

[Pinball]

I was a similar decision a year ago choosing between the base and s. I went for the base as I felt the 8K price difference between the two was of greater benefit to me spent on spec than the slight performance gain.

[Tony 1234]

Pinball said:

I was a similar decision a year ago choosing between the base and s. I went for the base as I felt the 8K price difference between the two was of greater benefit to me spent on spec than the slight performance gain.

I drove them both back to back last year and the extra cost of the S wasn't worth it for a daily, the 2lt is fast enough for pottering about.

[Richard-3pdyn]

nxm said:

I was guessing that you had a fair few of the essential options if the spec was £65k.

I agree that some are very desirable.

As I can't resist playing on the configurator, I came up with this spec below for just over £65k and covers the stuff that I think is most desirable and you still have a very, very special car. Some of these items may not be on your list, others may be more important, for example, you may want to upgrade the lights as the standard lights are not great. However, that may depend on how much driving you do in unlit areas.

Bottom line IMO, you can definitely have a special GTS at around £65k with the options that are most desirable.

http://www.porsche-code.com/PJSKRWI7

Very similar to my spec.

However I didn't spec the red bits but did spec multi function steering wheel

Also wondered if bose worth it

[nxm]

Richard-3pdyn said:

Very similar to my spec.

However I didn't spec the red bits but did spec multi function steering wheel

Also wondered if bose worth it

Mixed reports on whether Bose is worth the money. Plenty of people say it's not worth it. Others say it is. Only way to know for sure is to see if you can test the standard system and see if it's good enough. It's personal preference.

The red bits I added to lift the cabin a bit as you asked - will the GTS feel special? My view is with those (relatively inexpensive) little splashes of colour plus the standard alcantara it will feel very special indeed.

I saw a Cayman S with all black interior but with the red seat belts in the OPC. It made a big difference to the cabin.

Multi function wheel is nice. I have that on my spec but wouldn't say it's a must have option.

[nxm]

The other thing worth considering when looking at the base model is the brakes.

For me, when looking at the car purely an aesthetic grounds, the red brake calipers make a huge difference.

The base model doesn't have them and I wouldn't have a Porsche without them.

That's just one of my must have items, not saying it's right!

[Tony 1234]

nxm said:

The other thing worth considering when looking at the base model is the brakes.

For me, when looking at the car purely an aesthetic grounds, the red brake calipers make a huge difference.

The base model doesn't have them and I wouldn't have a Porsche without them.

That's just one of my must have items, not saying it's right!

Yes I agree I wish the 2lt had red brake calipers they look better

[James McScotty]

Why buy a Porsche on residuals? It's not a rational purchase. Get a Fiesta.

[Pinball]

I had a boxster loaner for a couple of months with Bose before I got my cayman with the standard stereo. Can’t say I noticed any difference. I’m not a huge audiophile though.

I’m indifferent to the red calipers. I don’t think they would have liked particularly good on a GBM coloured car IMO, so happy with the black ones on my spec.

[jimbo761]

Base in my view is plenty quick enough, at this end of the market usually the more you spend the more you lose in depreciation, it is not a classic or ltd edition. I don’t think you’ll get money back on the option spend either other than the essentials. That said I’d say the red calipers would probably be a good call..

[DJMC]

Pinball said:

I had a boxster loaner for a couple of months with Bose before I got my cayman with the standard stereo. Can’t say I noticed any difference. I’m not a huge audiophile though.

I’m indifferent to the red calipers. I don’t think they would have liked particularly good on a GBM coloured car IMO, so happy with the black ones on my spec.

The black ones will go base metal silver fairly quickly as the paint burns off. They then just disappear into the general "metal" colour inside the wheels. Not sure why/if the red ones stay red? Anyone?

[WG]

In my experience, the red calipers do not fade - had several cars with them and no problems.

[Pinball]

DJMC said:

The black ones will go base metal silver fairly quickly as the paint burns off. They then just disappear into the general "metal" colour inside the wheels. Not sure why/if the red ones stay red? Anyone?

I’ll keep an eye on them. I’ve also read that any acidic wheel cleaner can damage the paint on the black ones. So far they look fine but it hasn’t done a huge amount of miles and only been washed once.

[jimbo761]

No issues so far with my black ones after 16k miles & 16 months of commuting. I’ve even power washed it a few times to remove the winter road salt.

Edited by jimbo761 on Wednesday 7th March 08:35