Since its introduction in 1996, the Porsche Boxter was a mid-engined cabriolet, however, during 2005, the German automaker introduced the Cayman which was marketed as a three-door fastback coupe. Now in its fourth generation, the 718 Cayman became available globally in 2016, with Porsche introducing revised versions of the 718 model to as recently as 2020.
Related: New vs used Porsche 718 Boxster: what are the top three differences?
The Cayman used to be considered the poor man's 911, however, the most recent models offer impeccable performance and handling from its mid-mounted engine. The 718 also retain the latest design language from the Stuttgart manufacturer incorporating the modern bumpers, headlamps and taillamps. Let us compare the new 718 Cayman with a used model to find the pros' and cons.
Engine
For this comparison, we will be looking at the GTS versions of the Cayman models. The GTS trim level is usually regarded as the sweet spot in the range as it combines the best performance with the most comfortable and feature-packed interior. The outgoing 718 Cayman GTS came fitted with a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo flat engine mated to either a 6-speed manual- or Porche's PDK transmission. In manual form, the Cayman GTS produces 269 kW and 420 Nm of torque while the PDK setup gains an additional 10 Nm.
In the latest Cayman GTS, Porsche incorporated the familiar 4.0-litre, six-cylinder, boxer-motor. In combination with the manual 6-speed transmission and sports exhaust system, the setup produces 294 kW and 420 Nm of torque and will propel the Cayman to 100 km/h in 4.5s and on to a top speed of 293 km/h.
Infotainment
Featuring as standard equipment is a high-resolution 7.0-inch touchscreen and the Sport Chrono package. This comes installed with the Porsche Communication Management system which offers the enhanced Track Precision App for drivers to access performance-related data at a later stage. Optionally customers can specify navigation, voice control, Porsche Connect and either one of the BOSE Surround Sound System or Burmester Surround Sound System.
Maintenance Plan and Warranty
When you purchase a new Cayman GTS, Porsche includes a 2-year / unlimited-kilometre warranty as standard. To bolster this Porsche also include a 3-year / 100 000 km maintenance plan. Now when you consider a used model, chances are you might not be able to take full advantage of the included plan and warranty as the vehicle might have exceeded the agreement parameters. This is why it is important for potential buyers, to take into account both the age and the milage of these vehicles as you might find that the vehicle mileage is low but that the vehicle exceeds the time frames.
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