If I had my druthers, there could be a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 in my storage. It’s an excellent automobile to drive with a naturally aspirated flat six-cylinder engine, head-of-the-class dynamics and severely beauty. But that greatness additionally comes with a six-figure price ticket. Ouch. If that is just a little too wealthy to your blood, however you desire a actually rewarding expertise, may I recommend taking a gander on the 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman T?
LikeMid-engine balanceResponsive and communicative steeringLively turbo engine
Don’t LikeEngine word is not sensationalNo Android Auto
Optimized base The T builds on the bottom 718 Cayman, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine making 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. While these aren’t jaw-dropping numbers, they’re greater than serviceable, getting this 3,065-pound coupe to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with the usual six-speed guide transmission. Those who pony up a further $3,730 for Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearbox can do the 60-mph dash in 4.5 ticks. Top pace for each drivetrain configurations is 170 mph.As far as energy is anxious, the bottom flat-four offers greater than sufficient. The Cayman T will get off the road properly and the engine delivers stout midrange grunt for taking pictures out of corners. Power hardly tapers off when approaching the 7,500-rpm redline and this automobile is a pleasure to command whereas working the slick guide shifter. Throttle response can also be snappy with pedal placement that is perfect for heel-and-toe rev-matching. If there’s one factor that Porsche followers will knock, nevertheless, it is the engine word. To me, it is not horrible, particularly with the game exhaust. But it admittedly would not maintain a candle to the fantastic noise a correct flat-six sings.
Acceleration instances and v-max numbers aren’t what the Cayman T is admittedly about. Instead, it is the general expertise. To enhance that, the T will get some customary chassis goodies that beforehand weren’t obtainable on the entry-level 718, equivalent to Porsche’s sport suspension setup that drops trip top by 20 millimeters, lively drivetrain mounts, a mechanical limited-slip differential, 20-inch Carrera S wheels and the Sport Chrono package deal.All of this works to make the Cayman T an attractive specimen, particularly with the Sport Plus drive setting engaged. It activates a dime and the electromechanical steering system offers oodles of suggestions. There’s hardly any dive underneath braking and there is little to no physique lean. The 20-inch staggered Pirelli P Zero tires provide tons of grip, and this balanced dealing with conduct has me hankering for observe time to soundly discover the 718’s dynamic limits.
When it comes time to simmer down for routine commutes or street journeys, the Cayman T remains to be lots succesful. Throwing it into Normal mode softens the dampers, offering some trip compliance round city, which is not any simple feat on a automobile shod with 35-series tires. Don’t count on to unnoticeably float over each street imperfection, however small to medium impacts are largely absorbed and even larger blemishes do not actually jolt the cabin. The Cayman T is comparatively fuel-efficient, too, returning an EPA-estimated 20 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 26 mpg on the freeway.
The Cayman T comes customary on 20-inch Carrera S wheels.
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Small visible changesLike any correct sports activities automobile, the T appears the half. It is not all that totally different from the usual 718 Cayman, but it surely would not should be. The Cayman’s curvy physique traces and good proportions nonetheless garner consideration, and the one issues that set the T other than the bottom automobile are the Titanium Gray-painted 20-inch wheels, grey mirror caps, black exhaust ideas and badges. Head inside and there is a barely smaller-diameter GT Sport steering wheel, nylon door opener loops instead of conventional handles and woven Sport-Tex cloth seat inserts. Overall, the Cayman T has a purposeful and easy inside freed from many frills. The seats are generously bolstered, the driving place is comfortable and there are some storage cubbies within the doorways and heart console, however you are not going to search out tender leathers lining each floor or snazzy trim items jazzing issues up — a minimum of not as customary. In typical Porsche vogue, all that type of stuff is out there as extra-cost choices.Setting the T other than the bottom Cayman are a smaller diameter steering wheel, nylon door pulls and particular seat inserts.
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That’s to not say my Cayman T tester would not have any creature comforts and extras. Dual-zone computerized local weather controls and three-stage heated seats are right here. Handling infotainment is the last-generation Porsche Communication Management system that makes use of a small however crisp and responsive 7-inch touchscreen. Here it is outfitted with obtainable navigation that rapidly calculates routes. A Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay are customary, although Android Auto nonetheless is not supported. The driver-assistant tech menu is restricted to a $700 blind-spot monitoring system and $1,670 adaptive cruise management system, with the latter solely supplied on PDK-equipped vehicles.How I’d spec itGiven the performance-focused mission of the Cayman T — which begins at $70,250, together with $1,350 for vacation spot — I would not go too loopy including choices when constructing my perfect mannequin. I’d throw in a no-cost white paint job on it that’d distinction properly with the black aspect strips, grey wheels and mirror caps. As engaging because the $7,410 carbon ceramic brakes could be for observe working, I’d forgo these to maintain price in verify and since the usual metal clampers are greater than sufficient for spirited avenue driving. Choosing the $140 16.9-gallon fuel tank as an alternative of the usual 14.2-gallon unit offers extra driving vary and the $700 blind-spot monitoring system provides peace of thoughts. That brings my perfect automobile to $71,090, which barely undercuts the $72,710 price ticket of the automobile pictured right here.The 2021 Cayman T begins at $70,250, together with $1,350 for vacation spot.
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A pure sports activities automobileAs a lot as I like the Cayman GT4, I by no means as soon as discovered myself uninterested in the Cayman T. Outside of the less-than-ideal engine word, it is troublesome to search out one thing to dislike in regards to the T from a efficiency standpoint. There’s sufficient energy to maintain issues fascinating throughout spirited drives, the chassis presents supreme steadiness, it appears nice and, most significantly, it is a automobile that is pure, involving and actually a blast to wheel round.