Can a Porsche 718 Cayman S Go Toe-to-Toe With a GT4 for Half the Price?
A 718 Cayman S could be a world-class sleeper Porsche– with a few choice upgrades.
Josh Van Veld of Wolfpen, a Roswell, Georgia, European Auto Repair shop, had a mission. A customer brought in a Porsche 718 Cayman S, saying he was frustrated watching the taillights of his Cayman GT4-having friends disappear around mountain roads. It’s not just the power deficit between the four-cylinder 718 Cayman S and the GT4. It’s also a matter of aero and mechanical grip. So Wolfpen got to work.
The team started with a set of Tarett Engineering sway bars and end links, followed by Öhlins Road & Track coilovers and a Softronic ECU tune. Van Veld describes the Road & Track kit as a “premium-mid-level coilover” setup with stiffer-than-stock spring rates and adjustable damping and ride height.
To complement the new coilovers, the crew installed Tarett Engineering suspension components in the hopes of reducing factory body roll with “beefier” components than the stock equipment. The Wolfpen team also hit the Cayman S with an aggressive street alignment meant to maximize the street-worthy athleticism of the car.
Van Veld points out that the tune was more than enough to breathe new life into the Cayman’s turbo four. “If a manufacturer provides you with a stout turbocharged engine from the factory, then there’s usually plenty of horsepower you can tap into with a simple tune.” “Softronic says that, for $1,600 installed, their tune takes the Cayman S or Boxster S from 350 horsepower at the crank to 430.” Not too shabby.
While a Porsche 718 Cayman S like this one would have retailed for around $70,000 before optional extras, the used market tells a very different story. Today, you can get a Cayman S similar to the one in the video for less than $50,000. But considering the ask for even a used Cayman GT4, the modified Cayman S is a bargain.
Suspension, Tune & Alignment Transformed this Cayman’s Road Manners
In factory guise, the Cayman isn’t a bad recipe. Right around 3,000 lbs with 350 horsepower and a mid-engine layout. It’s a solid formula. However, with 430 horsepower at the crank and a much more athletic ride, this tweaked Cayman was a different animal entirely.
Van Veld took the car for a first drive and a shakedown drive after the modifications. “This is no dog. With 350 horsepower, it’s not slow,” he said initially. But that opinion didn’t last long. “All right, it’s not that fast,” he amended with a smile.
After installing the upgrades, he sang a completely different song. “I’m not certain which change makes the biggest difference. I’d say they’re about equal. The tune is what you notice at first, especially driving on surface streets,” he said. “With the suspension lowered and stiffened, with a big bump in power, it feels like a completely different car. I don’t think that this customer is going to have any trouble keeping up with GT4s.”
Photos: Wolfpen
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