Hi all!

I scored an hour in a 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 recently. My drive route included some highway, city and mountain roads, and I pre-ran it in my AMG GT S to set a benchmark for comparison.

I know many of you love sports cars, so I thought I'd share my impressions! (My full write-up with more pictures is here.)

* For seat and suspension comfort, I preferred the GT4 (with Porsche's base sports seats). I was more comfortable on the highway in the GT4 (vs the GT S) and more confident on a bumpy back road that the GT4 would hold its line over severe bumps.
* Having experienced the 911 GT3 engine, I was disappointed with the Cayman GT4 engine. Yes, the GT4 is a revver, but it's not as reactive or torquey as the GT3; I felt like it was missing the special sauce. For my street route, I preferred the AMG GT S turbo V8, because torque.
* Shifting the GT4 6-speed is bliss. This is one of the best manuals I've ever used.
* But the 6-speed's long gearing muffles some of the engine's punch. I like cars--like the GT S--where the engine terrorizes the rear tires. The GT4 doesn't have the gearing or power to do that.
* Surprisingly, the GT S feels as nimble into a corner as the GT 4. I expected the lighter, mid-engine GT4 to feel more agile than the GT S, but _subjectively_ they felt about the same.
* The GT S and GT4 have equally informative steering, though they talk with different accents. I prefer the GT S's well-oiled hydraulic assistance, but the GT4 EPAS is extraordinary, too.

Anyway, I had a great day playing with the two cars. I'd be happy owning either one!

Best,
Mike

 

Nice write up! I was cross shopping the GTS and the GT4 before I got my GTS. They’re just 2 different animals and happy I stuck with the GTS.

 

"Running in Comfort mode, the DCT gearbox quickly upshifts to eighth gear... "

I know you have to stretch the thesaurus to the max when writing an article of this type but I think you have one gear too many.😁 Nice article.

 

Fixed! Thank you for the editorial support!

 

thanks for the comparison. I currently have a GTC, but a 718 Spyder is very high on the list for my next vehicle. I wish the top wasn't as fiddly but I can live with it. I love my GTC but I miss changing gears, and I have always preferred the road handling of a mid engine layout.

 

In our opinion, the GTS is more of a GT car than a track car. I think each car shines on different aspects.

 

what do you mean more of a GT car than a track car? Other than the GTR, isn’t a GTS more raw than any other lineup of AMGs?

 

No worries. I'm hypervigilant which is a blessing and a curse.

 

If I hadn't bought my GT I probably would have ended up with a Cayman variant. I bet I would have generally enjoyed driving the Cayman more. The stiff seat, poor visibility mainly due to the huge side mirrors, and overall size/width of the GT kind of bothers me. But strange enough I'm sure I'm happier with the GT. I think the maintenance will be lower. I doubt I'll resale, but I think the resale value will do much better. And mainly the GT is ridiculously faster (especially if tuned).

 

Go to the AMG Academy Advanced and Pro courses and you’ll find that the GTS does extremely well on a road course. Not GTR good of course, how could it be, but very capable and fun all the same. It is far more ‘sporting’ than a ‘Gran Touring’ name would lead one to believe.

 

I also have a GTC and except for when I am in a non-passing situation, I always have it it manual mode. Agreed it's not as enjoyable as a stick shift, but it does help fill that void. I love the quality of the transmission and the upshift and downshift speed and synchrony. I'm good with a stick and clutch, but nowhere near as good as the ghost in the AMG machine.

 

The cool thing with the AMG GT S is that Race programming is really good! When I'm going full tilt, the automatic programming shifts where I want it to 95% of the time. That's enough for me to forego manual mode and just let the car pick the gears.

 

I went from a 2016 GT4 into a 2016 AMG GTS. I agree with the OPs thoughts, and here are mine:

1. GT4 is one of the best driving cars I have owned. While not as fast as the GTS it feels smaller than it is in a good way. Visibility is much better and it is easier to drive fast.
2. The GT4 is more confidence inspiring.
3. The GT4 has and will hold its value more than the GTS
4. The GT4 I had was low spec but had the CF bucket seats. While that was great for the track, they were not comfortable for longer trips (just MY experience). Also the infotainment was lacking and there were just a bunch of compromises due to the low-spec.
5. Shifting on the GT4 is truly amazing, but due to longer gearing, you don't get to do it enough.
6. I would easily get another one, but would have the "sofa" seats and higher spec. Actually a Cayman 4.0 GTS manual is probably the sweet spot.
7. The GTS for me is just the perfect car. Great combination of speed, luxury, and supercar looks. It doesn't have the raw driving experience of the mid-engined GT4 but is still an amazing driver and GT car.
8. I love the exclusivity of the GTS. Where I love, you never see another one and people are always asking what it is.
9. The GTS is a visually restrained supercar. Less boy racer, less automatic douchebag. The GT4 looks like a race car. As my teenage daughter says, the GTS looks like something that an "Orthodontist who is also secretly 007 would drive". I'll take that. lol.

With all that said, I sold my GTS last fall to take advantage of the ridiculous market (made $20k over what I paid for my '16). Since the market is softening and winter is over, I just got back on the bandwagon and with my sale proceeds plus a little, I was able to buy this beauty. 2018 GTS loaded (carbon ceramics, Dynamic, carbon fiber interior etc..) So happy to be back!

 

Thanks for your thoughts! (And for agreeing with mine! )

I love the color of your new car!