Not so long ago, Porsche created the Cayman as a hardtop variant of the convertible Boxster for the folks who wanted something more rigid and better suited for performance driving. It’s mid-engine layout made it an ideal candidate for back road blasts and track days, offering Lotus levels of sharpness with less compromises for regular usage. People quickly caught onto this and started demanding a more potent package with the 911 GT3’s naturally aspirated engine taking centre stage. After much procrastination, Porsche followed through and created the Cayman GT4 RS – a true delight in an age of ever more boring cars. This example is here today thanks to long time supporter of my blog, Fabio.
You wouldn’t think of Porsche as a reluctant brand, but when you put soo much of your pride into the 911, putting something like the Cayman above it is most likely considered as suicide. People knew that the car had serious potential, but Porsche were always ducking and weaving whenever a certain question was put in front of them – when will you put the 911 GT3 engine into the Cayman? The constant cat calling drove the folks in Stuttgart mad, getting that little bit louder each time they pushed back. Eventually, Porsche gave in and shoved the naturally aspirated flat 6 into the engine bay – but instead of producing 503 HP, it produced 493.
Like it’s bigger GT3 RS sibling, there is an extensive amount of aero on the car. There’s a large rear wing like the GT4 race car, vents on top of the front wheels, a rear diffuser, a lengthened front splitter and side strakes around the front bumper. Upgrade to the Weissach Pack and you get a carbon fibre bonnet, carbon fibre mirrors, magnesium wheels and special sports seats. As you can see, Fabio got this exclusive package because he’s serious about the driving experience. Makes sense for someone who used to own a Lotus Exige – a car that also happens to have a mid-engine, 6 cylinder layout. The GT4 RS however is a clear step up, which is really saying something!
I don’t know if this is completely true, and it could just be a stupid theory of mine, but the Cayman has a better chassis than the 911. Porsche knows this but won’t publicly admit to it because it would kill the mythos of the 911. The ideal layout for a sports car is one which places the engine behind the driver – not behind the rear axle. I say this because a lot of journalists PREFER the GT4 RS over the GT3 RS. After watching Doug DeMuro’s glowing review, I was like – have Porsche got it wrong for all these years with the 911? The GT4 RS offers incredible engagement, sounds absolutely biblical and offers better value than the GT3 RS.
When so much of what we see on today’s roads falls into the category of “hum drum”, anything that offers a pure, naturally aspirated engine is going to capture many hearts. Modern cars with this sort of character are dying out, as greedy execs continually hunt for profits instead of offering good products. Porsche is one of the last bastions for car enthusiasts, and the GT4 RS highlights this in a BIG way. Whilst it may not have 3 pedals, it will still go down in history as a proper diamond in the rough.
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