981 Cayman GTS ... question

[CarreraGTS]

hi all.

I have sold my GT4 sadly, as its mileage sensitivity and lack of use was getting me down.

I prefeered my 997 GTS as it gave a greater bandwidth of use and mileage was not so sensitive as the GT4 so now considering my options.

I dont want to spend GT car money any more as think the market for high end cars is now very very slow and have noticed that 981 Cayman S Cars don’t hang around in forecourts if they are specced well. The £40k Porsche market seams to still be strong so was considering an S or a GTS but ironically the GTS cars seam to sit longer than well specced Chrono PSE "S” Cars ...?!

What are both cars like, is the GTS a step up from the S ... as both cars are total end of the line cars they could prove a sound long term buy and have a large enough bandwidth to give me thousands of miles of enjoyable Porsche ownership which I sadly wasn’t finding in the GT4

your thoughts please
Andrew

 

[PaulJ]

In terms of performance, realistically The GTS can't be much of a step up in performance, but all I can say is that after 4 years/30,000 miles in my GTS I find it still delights in every way. I think the all Alcantara interior is very welcoming in all temperatures and the standard fit options well selected by Porsche. I only added front and rear parking packs and partial black wheels to mine. I sometimes get the impression that by well specced, some cars/owners have veered towards the turquoise steering wheel/leather trimmed rear view mirror/mood lighting in the glovebox end of the spectrum. Still each to their own. []

 

[MrDemon]

should have kept the Gt4 and just used it, over worrying about miles, cars are still well over list, my biggest regret with my GT4 was I did not use it enough but still did 5k miles.

steering feel on S and GTS models is not great

 

[Boomer_Zoomer]

Andrew,

If you want a useable, fast, comfortable, touring car that is not mileage sensitive, my advice as a 4 time Cayman owner, is buy a well specced 718 Cayman S. It'll out-pace any 981 GTS on the track, and if you find one with the alcantara trim, -20mm sports PASM, Sports Chrono, PDK, mechanical locking LSD, as my example has, you'll not be disappointed I assure you. My car has now done almost 17K faultless miles and is an ideal tourer and occasional track day fun car.

The £40k market is strong as you rightly say. A good 718 CS is bang on the money there.

Brian

 

[ralphmusic]

should have kept the Gt4 and just used it, over worrying about miles, cars are still well over list, my biggest regret with my GT4 was I did not use it enough but still did 5k miles.

steering feel on S and GTS models is not great

So how did you add the 1?

 

[CarreraGTS]

should have kept the Gt4 and just used it, over worrying about miles, cars are still well over list, my biggest regret with my GT4 was I did not use it enough but still did 5k miles.

steering feel on S and GTS models is not great

I don’t agree with values of GT4 being over list ... 30% of GT4‘S are For sale and not shifting ... I sold mine in 3 days at 911 Virgin which would suggest they had valued it on the low/competitive side. It was a great spec, low mileage and PPF and one owner which helped. I was offered £10k below list by OPC this year also, which scared me tremendously. But with winter looming and only 300 miles this year it seemed like the right thing to do. Especially with Gen2 GT4 round the corner. I just never loved it like the 997 GTS to be honest and unless your going to track it it is too over powered and over geared for street use. Hence thinking 981 GTS ... which are selling allot faster than GT4‘S and actually holding up the GT4 values if truth be told. If gen2 is turbo charged then I’ve made a big error but can’t see that happening ...

 

[CarreraGTS]

I agree ... I think the 981 Cayman GTS is the sweet spot of modern day Porsche motoring, mixed with relatively low build volume (much less than GT4) last naturally aspirated Porsche mid engined GTS Car ever produced, useable every day mpg and driving dynamic and at a £40k + price point ... surely makes it the logical Porsche purchase

 

[Bilko1]

"....only 300 miles this year....." Is it just me? Or does anyone else think "What's the point of having one in the first place.....?" If someone owning a GT4 (or any car IMO) is that concerned about values then in truth they might as well stick the money in a savings account or something else that gives fixed returns. They would probably have just as much fun too LOL!!!

 

[CarreraGTS]

Owned the car for 2.5 years ... as time went on I felt the desire and need to drive the car diminished. I also had other cars that were more enjoyable in many ways. I’m not looking for an argument here just wanting help regarding a more useable Porsche. The simple fact is that gt4’s Are the most mileage sensitive cars under £100k in the world, just ask any specialists ... as you can see in the classifieds there are plenty for sale. The market is now flooded with GT cars that carry six figure price points. Which is why I was thinking GtS as a useable daily driver just like in this video ... https://youtu.be/fxXrDIevmlY

 

[geoff lane]

I had a 981 BGTS which had nearly every option box ticked and changed it 18 months ago for a GT4. So having owned both I would say go for it. Also owned a B718S which is a great car if you can get your head around the engine sound issue and having owned a GT4 you may well find that a problem as the GT4 has a lovely exhaust note. The 718S is faster and handles a little better than a 981GTS (marginal) and will cost about the same for a well specced 718S.

As an car for all seasons the GTS is ideal it has enough performance, handles really nicely, has less cabin noise than the GT4 which is my main criticism of the GT4 as a long distance tourer. It is a lovely place to be if it has the GTS package with leather and carbon. It also holds its value. In my opinion it is probably a better daily proposition than your GT4.

However the GT4 is a great car I have managed to get my head around the mileage / value issue and use it, the car does everything well, I bought it 18 months ago as a 2 owner car with 300 miles it now has 13k enjoyable miles under its belt and is going really well. My point is there is no right or wrong so my advice would be try both a 718S and 981GTS and go for the car that gives you the most smiles.

 

[AndrewCS]

Tried a GTS but purchased a lower mileage, well specced S and saved £10k ... both cars felt `the same` to drive.

Also `tested` a few 718`s ... dynamically superior but not the overall experience I wanted.

 

[Dylan1]

I did the same as Andrew

i picked up a beautiful 981S with 20k miles with PDK sport Chrono suspension sport PTV limited slip diff xenons adaptive 18 way seats 20”Carrera wheels ,everything apart from 20 bhp that the GTS has but £10-15 k less

it’s brilliant

 

[CarreraGTS]

Thanks everyone ... I like the limited run (less than GT4) element and future value of the 981 GTS as opposed to new 718 S ... the GT4 was nice but too one dimensional and too many cars built and hated the whole stress of lack of use, mileage to £85k value etc etc ... I just felt that kind of money could have been put to more smiles per miles rather than garage queen. I like the Cayman S at £40k idea as believe they sell quicker and actually hold value better than GtS cars at the moment. Im just wanting out of the whole Porsche GT car snobbery factor that’s a bubble ready to burst and just want to get back to driving one car rather than having a fleet of garage queens - those days are now over I feel ... maybe even thinking BMW M2 Competition or Z4 M Coupe but just love Porsche’s ...

 

[roblaurie]

I did the M2 thing between my current and previous Porsches and I think you'd regret it. The M2 was good but it wasn't a Porsche and don't even go near a Z4 unless the new one has been transformed.

With regard to the 981 S/ GTS/ 718 debate , I'm in Brian's camp, get a 718.

Cheers,

Rob

 

[CarreraGTS]

I did the M2 thing between my current and previous Porsches and I think you'd regret it. The M2 was good but it wasn't a Porsche and don't even go near a Z4 unless the new one has been transformed.

With regard to the 981 S/ GTS/ 718 debate , I'm in Brian's camp, get a 718.

Cheers,

Rob

Thanks Rob ... out of interest, I see you have had a 997 GTS as I did ... I totally regret selling it, it was way better 95% of the time than the GT4 .... How did you find yours ??! Andrew

 

[roblaurie]

Hello Andrew,

Because of a change of circumstance, I was going through a divorce, I didn't keep it very long but I certainly regret parting with it from a financial point of view !

I was coming from a Cayman R and found the GTS a more comfortable option for someone of my years. The R was great fun in small doses but uncompromising for longer trips. I didn't get a chance to track the GTS either so can't compare that aspect of it.

Some say it was the last pure 911 and that seems to been borne out by the money they're fetching.

Anyway you're getting lots of opinions so I hope you end up making the right choice for you.

Cheers,

Rob

 

[andrewjb]

I managed to pick up a very highly specced S recently, dealer said I was very lucky to find it, literally wasn't advertised when I put deposit down.

It's even got the GTS "design pack" body kit.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Thanks everyone ... I like the limited run (less than GT4) element and future value of the 981 GTS as opposed to new 718 S ... the GT4 was nice but too one dimensional and too many cars built and hated the whole stress of lack of use, mileage to £85k value etc etc ... I just felt that kind of money could have been put to more smiles per miles rather than garage queen. I like the Cayman S at £40k idea as believe they sell quicker and actually hold value better than GtS cars at the moment. Im just wanting out of the whole Porsche GT car snobbery factor that’s a bubble ready to burst and just want to get back to driving one car rather than having a fleet of garage queens - those days are now over I feel ... maybe even thinking BMW M2 Competition or Z4 M Coupe but just love Porsche’s ...

If you mean one dimensional in terms of the GT4 not being a daily/regular use car, I have to agree. For me it's too special for that sort of duty and can be a PITA when used for shopping/commuting (easy to scrape the splitter on humps, bumps and curbs, clutch too heavy for crawling traffic and it attracts too much attention when parked up). However, I've not come across any GT4 snobbery from the owners. I know at least a dozen other owners and all of us have bought them because they are an utterly brilliant car to drive on days out and especially on tracks. Of those owners some bought them new and others like me had to pay overs. None of us are concerned about a GT bubble because we only bought them to drive and enjoy. As they say, life's too short to worry about the value.

But going back to your original question of should you go for 981 GTS or S, I can't help but notice that you mention future values a number of times even though you want to get one that you can drive regularly. To me that instantly makes the GTS the default winner because it will be worth more in the future. However, choosing a GTS might mean that those value concerns come back i.e. you might start worrying what the miles you put on are doing to its value. Especially as it could cost you £10K to £15K to by one over an S. Therefore, if you really want to get back to driving without worry about the value then surely choosing the S is the right answer.

 

[polar964]

Hi Andrew,

Like with most things, its very much down to personal choice. However the spec' a car has can make all the difference too.

I have had my 2015 Cayman GTS now for 12mths. Personally I think it is absolutely awesome both in looks and most importantly driver involvement. Importantly for me its a manual, has non adaptive sports suspension, carbon ceramic brakes which are fantastic and carbon bucket seats which hold you perfectly. Its a tremendously balanced car and handles fantastically with exceptional grip. Despite what has be mentioned, I find there is plenty of feel through the steering. Regarding performance, this can only truly exploited on the track, where the combination of chassis, suspension and brakes come into their own and then its down to the capabilities of the driver! The Cayman GTS is no slouch and many will not fully appreciate or experience its true performance, which is a shame.

Well cared for examples are holding their price too

So what is not to luv about the GTS.

Hope you get one, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Twinfan]

As other posters have said, if you really want value for money and something you can use without worrying about values then a high spec S is probably the winner, unless you value the extras that a GTS has - 15bhp, alcantara, more pops/bangs/burble from the exhaust, bodykit etc. However, even with higher miles the overall cost of ownership of a GTS when you come to sell may be less. I think it will depend how many miles you intend to do.

I've driven a GT4 at PEC and unless you track regularly I've said before that the S or GTS is a better road option, especially for long distances, as it's more refined and handles just as well. The GT4 feels a bit more hardcore which is great for Sunday morning blasts on quiet roads, but they attract a lot of attention due to the wing. Not my style but for others it's a must, which is why I'd choose a GT3 Touring over a GT3 with a wing. The GT4 has higher limits but if you're reaching them on the road you're driving highly inappropriately IMHO. I would always feel that the GT4 was being held back on the road, not so much in an S or GTS.

If you're thinking of going for a manual gearbox they are a rare car in 981 format - only 135 manual Cayman GTSs made it to the UK for example. If you're picky on options you may have a long wait to find a car or you'll have to compromise somewhere.

The bottom line is you need to take a car or two out for a drive to see what you personally think of them []