Cayman GT-4 Matches 2011 911 GT-3 'Ring Time

[steved0x]

> The SPORT button activates automatic throttle-blipping for downshifts and provides sporty gear changes.

This seems pretty cool. I have seen some aftermarket solutions discussed for the 986 Boxster for auto-blipping but it seems like a lot of trouble.

[Perfectlap]

$85K base.. Same as the base 991 Carrera with only 350 HP.

"The GT4 will make its first official public appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show in early March. US dealerships will start receiving shipments of Porsche’s newest sports car in July. Its starting price is $84,600, not including the $995 destination fee.

Source: Porsche"

[husker boxster]

Cayman GT4 Announced!

I don't care whether it's USD or Euro, in fact I hope it is USD. But if it is USD, Porsche will be pricing it under the GTS and near the price of a base 991. Do we really think they'll do that? $98K (86K Euro) slots more reasonably in the Porsche line-up.

[tomonomics]

^^^ Agreed, less is more on any GT3/4. I do like how they made things like AC and Radio Delete a no-cost option, unlike the Boxster Spyder in which they raised the base price to strip it all out, and then charged you again if you wanted it as an option.

I would possibly add heated seats and satellite radio for $1200. However one option I would not leave out would be European Delivery. I would take a two week test drive in Europe before bringing it home.

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by tomonomics

I would possibly add heated seats and satellite radio for $1200. However one option I would not leave out would be European Delivery. I would take a two week test drive in Europe before bringing it home.

Agreed on this especially since their is no additional cost. A trip back home is always welcome and a new GT4 is a good excuse. The relatives might hate me though.

[tomonomics]

I doubt you'll ever see a GT4 Boxster. The GTx series have always been coupes....and going forward I think Boxsters will increasingly be thought of as the 'roadster' versions of the Cayman.

Too bad I didn't hit the Powerball lottery...oh well, there's always Saturday.

[Perfectlap]

^Road&Track have cold weather spy photos posted on their website of the Boxster GT4.
I don't see why they would let tradition get in the way of ready made sales of a 385 HP roadster.
They've already thrown tradition out the window with both hands by daring to put more power in a Boxster/Cayman than a base Carrera, sans PDK no less.
I think someone at VW is doing all this just to piss off the old guard at Porsche.

p.s.
Cayman... Boxster. It's the same car. Porsche don't call the 911 Cabriolet the Riviera and the Coupe version the Carrera. They are both 991 Carreras. This whole idea of calling one 981 the Cayman and the other Boxster was just a marketing ploy to rile up interest in a hard top Boxster and create a "stepping stone" car. VW seems to be taking the BMW M car approach now and just tossing bigger motors at any platform that will sell. Carreras are no longer the bread and butter cars for Porsche, those are now the sedans and SUVs. Things in the sports car category at Porsche will be very different than they were in the 2000's. I mean a near 400 HP Boxster/Cayman for the price of a base Carrera? Dayum...

[tomonomics]

Agreed they are the same car. But the 'ster' in Boxster came from roadster, so they had to call the coupe something else.

981 Boxster S = 315 HP Boxster GTS = 330 HP
981 Cayman S = 325 HP Cayman GTS = 340 HP

Do you see a trend? The spy shots don't show a large wing, nor larger side intakes. They will likely bump up the GTS engine to ~355 HP and you will end up with another Boxster Spyder, RS, or Club Sport, or whatever name sounds more expensive/exclusive. You won't see a 380+HP Boxster GT4 in my opinion.

The Cayman will continue to be a step up from it's soft-top stablemate, they are making that very clear with the newer models. Having said that, all of these new variants will increase the depreciation curve of the GTS models, which I look forward to in about five years.

[Perfectlap]

The power bump the Cayman has received in the past was necessary to compensate for the higher center of gravity, otherwise on equal power the Boxster would be quicker. And that would throw a fly in the ointment of selling the Cayman as the stepping stone car for the eventual Carrera upsell.

I'm not so sure that the aero considerations as far as the rear wing are the same for Boxster and Cayman due to the higher COG for the Cayman. For instance in the Cayman R vs. Spyder head to head in Excellence Magazine with J. Van Overbeek driving, everyone one of the Boxster's laps was faster than the Cayman R's and the Boxster had nothing more than the duck bill. If you read Van Overbeek's feedback, it seems that a Cayman really needs the rear wing whereas the Boxster can easily find grip without it. The side intakes are not such a big deal, definitely not anything to tip Porsche's hand one way or another. And another (essentially) Boxster GTS variant that costs the same as a GTS but isn't an actual GT4? Sounds a bit clumsy vs. simply offering an actual GT4 option for the Boxster on the configurator.

I used to agree that you wouldn't see a Boxster GT4 to protect the Cayman as a "stepping stone" car. But the pricing and turn key power on the Cayman GT4 tells me someone pretty high up there is going against the grain. If they would finally expose the 991 to a faster mid-engine car, then I see no reason why they would then protect the Cayman. They've burned the bibles at Porsche and are taking BMW's M power approach to all their models.

[kk2002s]

Guys, how can anyone pass on the painted keys to match your car
only $365

What the ....?

Why no Seal Grey?? That does it. If I can't get it in Seal Grey I'm cancelling my order

[BIGJake111]

I would love to see what they would do with a boxster gt4, that is really an untapped market, so I say go for it! Mid engine drop top track toy, heck yeah. I like that these cars are not entirely about the numbers as well, they are simply meant to be crisp quick and fun!

[Porsche9]

I for one can't wait to see a comparison test between the GT4 and the Carrera S or maybe even the Carrera GTS. I for one think the GT4 will stomp'em. Wonder how the 911 snobs will react.

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

I for one can't wait to see a comparison test between the GT4 and the Carrera S or maybe even the Carrera GTS. I for one think the GT4 will stomp'em. Wonder how the 911 snobs will react.

Same ring time as a 2011 911 GT3. The Cayman GT4 is not in the same category as a Carrera S or even the GTS. It is in the same category as a 4 year old GT3...

I almost bought a Cayman S. I think if this car was out it wouldn't be an "almost".


/

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by fatmike

Same ring time as a 2011 911 GT3. The Cayman GT4 is not in the same category as a Carrera S or even the GTS. It is in the same category as a 4 year old GT3...
/

But faster than the flagship 991 (8:02 N-ring). And we do have to keep in mind that the 991S and 991 GTS are not in the same price zip code as the Cayman GT4.

7:40 in a manual for the GT4 is probably a 7:38.9 PDK Walter Rohrl behind the wheel lap time. Which is Lexus LFA, Ferrari 458 and Scuderia territory with more room for improvement. That's a seriously fast sports car.

[Porsche9]

This video shows the Porsche Cayman GT4 will be a Porsche for hell raisers | Total 911

[BIGJake111]

Some things change over time, some things don't.