Would you guys trade in your C63 for a very low mileage 2018 Cayman GTS?
Or vice versa? Did anyone have 718 Cayman before the C63?

 

No, not really. Completely different cars. The C63 is a 2+2 GT coupe with plenty of trunk and room for comfortable high speed long distance travel. The Cayman is a mid engine 2 seater sports car. I've toyed with the idea of a Cayman as a weekend fun car, but not my primary car. The only 718 Cayman I would ever consider, though is the GT4, but not until it comes with PDK. The gears in the manual transmission are way too tall and Porsche recently admitted it, but it was not feasible to redesign the old box they threw in it. I have no interest in the 4-banger and even Porsche realized it was a mistake.

 

I would not. I would swap for a 911 turbo though if I would not need my 4 seats and 4 doors for daily driving. But not a 4 banger Cayman.

 

Have you guys driven it? I've driven a 718 Cayman S for a few days and was very surprised. It was much slower than my C63s and no V8 sound but everything else was on another level...But I'm hesitant to give up on the V8 engine just yet

 

Yes its driving dynamics are at another level. That's basically what it is about and why I would consider one as a fun weekend car for the canyons where the driving dynamics actually matter. As a sports car it's just more single focused. The C63 is not as light and as dynamic, but it has the overall package going for it. Even just driving around town is an experience in the C63 and it holds its own in the canyons. I've been having plenty of fun that last four weekends.

 

GT4 maybe, otherwise no. If I go 911 route it needs to be a GT3 or turbo.

 

I agree. GT3 RS is one of my dream cars. The Cayman GTS was sold in a day so guess I'm keeping the C63!

 

Like has been said, it is a completely different car. I have a 2011 Boxster Spyder and a '19 C63s coupe and they could not be less alike. Top end howl vs. torque and meaty sound, light-weight nimble with incredible balance vs. good handling but more of a musclecar, and the list goes on and on...... I highly recommend you spend some time in one prior to making a decision. If you have any other questions happy to help. For what it's worth on the maintenance side, I've had the Spyder since new and just brought it in for annual service. It has needed nothing in literally 10 years except for regular service and a set of tires (except some mouse cleanup when I used to store it for winters on the ground - now on a lift).

 

I own a 2018 Cayman base and drive it several times a week back and forth to work. It splits transportation duties with an older Lexus GX that I have kept around because its paid for and is so solidly dependable. The 718 cars (Boxster or Cayman) greatest strengths are their chassis and handling and the way they feel going around a corner. My commute includes 10+ minutes of rural back roads that are narrow, twisty and contain a lot of elevation changes before I reach the 4 lane highway into the town where I work and the Cayman is just brilliant at it. So that's 20'ish minutes a day (round trip) of automotive therapy in the form of attacking corners in a car that feels amazing doing it.
But I also have several minutes of highway speeds on the 4 lane and of course the Cayman is quite noisy and despite very comfortable 14 way seats it is no longer in it's element and is less compelling. Around town it can be amusing as long as you don't mind winding it up a bit because the engine really needs to be kept at 3k rpm and above to achieve fun amounts of thrust. I've heard the S is better at lower RPM's because of the larger displacement and variable vane turbo but have not driven one.
I've considered a C63 for a long time actually and may still one day make the move. I've had a love affair with the V8 engine and AMG products for many years but I can't afford both a C63 and a 718 and I know if I got rid of the 718 I would miss it's light weight, mid engine configuration and amazing chassis. Out of the 25 or so sports cars that I have owned over the years I consider it the best all around. If it were less noisy at highway speeds and had a better sounding exhaust (I actually dont mind the engine sound from within the car - it sounds rather air cooled which I think is cool) it would be darn need perfect.

But yeah, AMG V8. Who wouldn't want one of those?

 

Nice write-up! I think the Cayman is just not a good comparison to the AMG - two different cars with much different strengths. If anything the comparison in my mind would be more 911 vs AMG. But Porsche's in general and AMG's don't compare too well, they have different strengths and it depends what you really care for the most. A nice article here comparing AMG GTR and Porsche GT3 ...and I like this intro "The new 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 is leading when the first proper gap presents itself, but it could easily be the other way around. As both drivers simultaneously engage go-for-it-mode, the Mercedes-AMG GT R gains ground quickly, thanks to its big power advantage. In just about any gear, from the word go all the way to the near-200mph top speed, the Merc is at least as fast as the Porsche. And yet the driver of the 911 couldn’t care less; he’s too busy with his foot to the floor, celebrating each blaring 9000rpm upshift." As it goes, my son would always opt for the Porsche...while I lean towards the AMG.

 

I've owned a 981 Cayman S previously and it was a pretty awesome car, bit small for me for a daily. I'd much rather have a 911 for daily.