Porsche Cayman GT4 & Boxster Spyder | PH Video
Dan P heads to Scotland to see if Porsche Motorsport can outdo itself...
The 981 Porsche Cayman GT4 set the bar for a mid-engined, non-supercar coupe so high that we wondered what Stuttgart could do to scale the heights when the 718’s turn came. Extra power was almost a given, especially with a new 4.0-litre flat-six due. But better handling for a more involving experience? That was a tall task when the starting point was so sublime. Yet here we are, graced with another GT4 and, for the first time, a near identical Boxster Spyder, using the same running gear under a soft top body.
The 9A2 Evo boxer unit, which trades the turbocharging of the 992’s block for a new adaptive cylinder control software, different injectors and a variable intake system, features in both. It delivers 420hp, an increase of 35hp on the old 3.8 GT4, at 7,600rpm and 310lb ft of torque from 5,000rpm, with the limiter set at 8,000rpm. Mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, it pushes the pairing from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds - plenty quick enough for cars which are built to deliver an immersive handling experience.
Key to the GT4’s track performance is its aerodynamic package. There’s a large fixed rear wing as before, which has been further developed for more downforce, but it’s the addition of a large rear diffuser that helps to suck the car closer to the ground without adding drag. The diffuser is also on the Spyder and there’s an extending spoiler to match, giving it a substantial advantage over its less focussed predecessor. But the GT4’s racier exterior and lighter bodyshell leaves it with the superior overall performance, as illustrated by its 7:28 Nurbugring lap time. That’s four seconds quicker than the Carrera GT, by the way.
Dan, the lucky git, got the chance to see if both cars lived up to their on-paper enhancements - starting at Knockhill circuit in the GT4 and finishing on the surrounding roads in the Spyder. Has Porsche improved on near perfection? Get clicking.
The US spec cars will be sans filter, very interesting to see how they sound. Removing that frustration your left with the gearing, I think Porsche do it intentionally so as not to step on the toes of the GT3. I watched another video with Andreas Pruninger(sp?) where he said a PDK version was coming, I suspect it will be mighty quick due to the increased flexibility.
I was hoping this would depress 981 values so I could afford the original, but seems like a bit of a downgrade over the 981 when you factor in the sound.
te. Give me a faster 718 GTS pdk any day of the week As an original GT4 owner, personally the gear ratios have never bothered me. It's just an all round brilliant car. Now hoping to swap to the 718 Spyder though, even if the sound is a bit muted. That's just the world we live in now and sometimes you just fancy a change.
I like Dan, Jethro and Henry on various channels, plus Grandpa Metcalfe, he's the best ever .... they have enthusiasm and analysis unlike going over the top and hamming it up for the cameras unlike some people who shall not be mentioned. Ok Clarkson and Harris. They were good at the start, got corrupted by their own egos and self masturbating social media channels.
Funnily enough I have started liking Mat Watson's stuff, even though when I first watched him ages back I thought he was a twonk. It might be that he does not take himself too seriously, is pretty funny and just stays the right side of being "me me me".
Or else I am just getting too soft on the journos after 35 years of reading / watching.
LJK Setright was always over rated by the way. Bulgin was far better but then went a bit LJK later on. Wish he was still writing today though
I like Dan, Jethro and Henry on various channels, plus Grandpa Metcalfe, he's the best ever .... they have enthusiasm and analysis unlike going over the top and hamming it up for the cameras unlike some people who shall not be mentioned. Ok Clarkson and Harris. They were good at the start, got corrupted by their own egos and self masturbating social media channels.
Funnily enough I have started liking Mat Watson's stuff, even though when I first watched him ages back I thought he was a twonk. It might be that he does not take himself too seriously, is pretty funny and just stays the right side of being "me me me".
I like Dan, Jethro and Henry on various channels, plus Grandpa Metcalfe, he's the best ever .... they have enthusiasm and analysis unlike going over the top and hamming it up for the cameras unlike some people who shall not be mentioned. Ok Clarkson and Harris. They were good at the start, got corrupted by their own egos and self masturbating social media channels.
Funnily enough I have started liking Mat Watson's stuff, even though when I first watched him ages back I thought he was a twonk. It might be that he does not take himself too seriously, is pretty funny and just stays the right side of being "me me me".
It will be interesting to see how he goes on as fame and stardom continue to grow his bank balance. The great thing about youtube is you can easily flick back a few years to compare and contrast. Doug's earlier reviews a lot different. The cross over will be when the Doug reviews become more about him than the cars. I hope he spots this in time. Perhaps it has already happened?
The funniest thing in motoring is Doug giving a handling score out for driving some car down a ramp from the Taco Bell to the freeway with a slight corner....
He's no Didier Auriol is he?
outstanding extemporaneous speaking (not just the ball gag gag, but the whole of the on-road segments)
driving and talking use different parts of the brain, so it's always impressive to see somebody behind the wheel speak fluidly and with quite a range in vocabulary whilst emitting almost no ums and uhs
We are entering frustrating times and the end of the NA engine is near. Increasingly manufacturers have to compromise on certain issues ( sound, power etc ) to meet ever more stringent regulations and it will end with the fact that previous models were the better ones as we are descending from the peak rather than continuously climbing towards it. Electrification will take over and that will go much faster than we think. I like the Cayman and the Speedster, but I will not buy a NA engined car. They are too compromised.
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