Living with the Cayman GTS - Long Term Update #3 | Everyday Driver

Man maths, selling an older Cayman because you need the money to buy a house, then turn around and buy a new more expensive Cayman.

When my wife realized I was serious about buying a cayman and came down to the dealership with me to look at a CPO CGTS…. She rolled her eyes at me during the test drive when she realized it was a manual. She grilled me about why a CPO ‘15 cost as much as a 718 S. She asked why I would want used vs new. She asked if I could deal with the slight paint imperfections. She even asked if I liked the paint color. Um…. Carmine red, so yeah…. She asked a bunch of other questions. In the end, she said you work hard, get what makes you happy. 4 years later and I still smile every time I hear that cold start, or 6k rpm as I sail up an on-ramp. Or when I walk back to it after we have Sunday brunch. It’s not the fastest. It’s not the icon 911. But it’s damn near perfect for me.

981 caymans are the perfect car, on track, road trips, daily driver - they are excellent in all situations. the number of people i have had say how much they love it even with 4000 miles of road trip grime on it is unreal, so many comments about how it must be so much fun (it is). I'll drive mine till they tell me it can't be repaired or they stop selling gas.

As a MT BMW M2 Comp owner, after watching your videos on the Caymans, I had to give them at least a test drive. I found a 2016 MT Cayman GTS in my area and took it for a spin. Wow, I now understand the hype. The car was so balanced, shifted like a dream, with a beautiful exhaust note. It’s wasn’t as fast as the M2C, and lack that brutal BMW M acceleration, but the refinement was just next level. Funny enough, since I enjoy the Cayman, I took my wife to look at a Macan S and we both fell in love and purchased one. Now I’m looking at purchasing a Cayman GTS for myself and selling the M2. 👍🏼

Your Cayman generation comparison video was what pushed me over the edge into buying my first Porsche - a 987.1 Cayman. Thanks for showing these cars some love!

It's one pedal shy of greatness.

Well said! I have a 981 cayman S and words can't explain how satisfying it is to drive to the track, beat the crap out of the car, drive back home, and then drive to work the next day. To this day I still spend a few minutes looking at the car before I head in.

Paul, you did great job articulating what the car makes me feel. I do own pretty much the same car, 2015 Cayman GTS with PDK, in Carmine Red. I spec'ed it and went all the way to Zuffenhausen to pick up. It's been 9 years. I can not believe it. Still every time I drive the car, it gives me from ear to ear. I can not wait to drive it next time. When I do drive the car, I mean it. I have enjoyed a lot of autocrossing. Since 2021 I have been tracking the car. Last year I had 15 track days. I feel so good about making use of the car as Porsche meant. Though I thought of replacing it by other Porsche, I have been having a hard time. You know exactly what I am going through. Thank you for sharing your experience.

I just took delivery of a new 718 Cayman S(first Porsche) that I specced myself and after only driving it 1000 miles, I share the same exact sentiments as you. I think it's my forever car.

My GT3 is also a 2015. I have the same technological and interior quirks that you do, the cabins are very similar. I feel so much the same way as you do about your car as I do about mine. It's truly a reflection on the astounding care and attention Porsche puts into all their cars.

What a wonderful portrayl of not only the car but what you love about the car...the relationship, the connection. Well done, Paul!!!

Absolutely magnificent car, the 981 GTS is one of a kind, I had them (GTS)s since 2017 PDK car first then I swapped it for a manual high spec car it even got better, never thought of selling it, it is a keeper, I totally agree the 981 lines are just perfect, they don't make anything like them anymore.

I enjoy my 981 GTS very much. Mine is spec'd with 6MT, X73, PTV, nav, and GTS interior package with the 18 way sport plus seats. I've done 19 HPDE days in my 19 months of ownership, with some events as far as 800 miles from my home. The car is wonderful on track, even in the rain, and driving from my home to events is comfortable. I've ridden in Caymans with the LWB seats and my 66-year old back would not be happy in those seats. Consumable costs are reasonable - just new pads periodically (I'm on my 3rd set of race pads), oil changes after every 6 HPDE days, and I'm on my second set of 200TW tires. Shortly after buying the car I bought some used 19" HRE wheels from a friend, so the 20's stay in my garage. This car is a keeper.

981 is the best sound Porsche ever!

Thank you Paul for putting together 3 fantastic heart felt videos on the Cayman 981 GTS. They surely helped me decide to buy mine, and 3 weeks into ownership I'm beginning to relate to your experiences each time I sit behind the wheel. Thanks for putting in the time and effort to create such valuable content 👌

This perfectly epitomizes why we drive.

Hey Paul, you summarised it really well...practical, relatively affordable, and BEAUTIFUL car. 👍🏻

My dream car!! Love these long term owner videos!

I love my 981 GTS for the way that it never fails to bring a smile to my face, makes me laugh out loud at how effortlessly it goes around corners, and at how beautifully it does everything that you expect a true sports car to do, and more. The sound is superb. The only complaint that I have is that I have annoying rattles in the interior at the rear which are incredibly hard to nail down. Otherwise I agree totally with your comments.

I absolutely love long term updates. This one was solid. Great video.