Porsche 718 Cayman GT4: Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is a spectacular driver's car, a machine that offers up plenty of power, nearly endless levels of grip, and incredible balance on the road or track. That's also precisely why MotorTrend recently named the Cayman GT4 its Best Driver's Car of the Year. But as the rag found out, like every other car on earth, the GT4 has both pros and cons worth considering before you drop your hard-earned money on one.

Photos: Porsche

Pro: Supreme Balance

Thanks to its mid-engine layout, the GT4 (and Cayman/Boxster in general) provides fantastic balance on the road, which also helps it act as sort of a giant killer on the track. "On the twisting highway portion of our drive, it felt more like a dance than a flogging," MotorTrend said. "It was absolutely in its element and hanging on the tailpipe of 600- to 700-horsepower cars that cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars more."

Photos: Porsche

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Con: Jittery Suspension

On the road, however, that stiff suspension translates to a bit of a rough ride, which isn't unexpected from a track-focused car. "Some judges found the track-focused suspension too immediate and jitterbugging on less refined back roads or around town," MT noted. But that's a trade-off many are willing to make, of course.

Photos: Porsche

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Pro: Fantastic Teacher

What differentiates the GT4 from other cars of its ilk, however, is the fact that it's far more forgiving than most. "The GT4 is such a great instructor," MT noted. "'Dammit, drive me and trust me,' it goads. What you do matters, so find the perfect line and enjoy. The GT4 provides so much 'we got this' that I found myself pushing and pushing, but the car was always there for me. Such a great quality that only a few cars provide."

Photos: Porsche

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Con: Tire Noise

As is the case with the stiff suspension, there is also quite a bit of tire noise on the street to deal with. But again, that's something that most GT4 buyers are willing to deal with as a trade-off for the performance those sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires afford.

Photos: Porsche

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Pro: Great Track Tool

As MT notes, the GT4 lapped Laguna Seca quicker than a Ferrari 458, Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4Matic+, and more than one Nissan GT-R variant. "It does everything right, all the time, so you can just work on your lines and your braking zones," features editor Scott Evans said. "Anyone can get in this car and drive to their limit immediately, then work on increasing their limit."

Photos: Porsche

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Con: Underpowered

That performance is all the more notable considering the fact that the GT4's 4.0-liter flat-six makes "only" 414 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque. "Although it has the lowest horsepower rating in this year's field, it succeeds as a 'momentum' car, and that's how it's been engineered," MT noted. But in the end, that's a small complaint in the grand scheme of things. "This is a wonderful sports car - light, potent, precise, and deceptively capable," MT concluded. "Once you accept that it's not a 911, holy hell does this thing cook!"

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about both sides of the Cayman GT4 coin right here on Rennlist.com.

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