If you’d like an entry-level Porsche but nothing as basic as, say, an entry level, 2.0-liter 718 Cayman or Boxster, you can opt for their GTS versions instead that have an extra 65 hp squeezed from their 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, or 15 more than the similarly sized S.
Altogether, you get 365 PS (360 HP) at your disposal, and if you can afford the PDK versions, you’ll be hitting 100 km/h (62 mph) in as little as 4.1 seconds, as opposed to the 4.6 seconds if you opt for the manual instead.
Yet, the reviewers from The Straight Pipes seem to prefer having to operate the clutch themselves, saying that their ideal Cayman/Boxster GTS configuration involves the 6-speed manual transmission, where one of them would even rather have a Cayman GTS over a base-spec 911 Carrera – something we figure is definitely worth debating.
It’s worth noting that the PDK versions have slightly more torque and will launch you off the line harder than the ones with the manual transmission. So if straight line speed is all that matters to you, opting for the PDK over the 6-speed manual is kind of a no-brainer.
Of course, these two are about way more than raw power, and perfectly capable of reminding you why you love driving so much, a trait held by most rear-wheel drive Porsche models.
In the U.S., you can purchase a 718 Cayman GTS from $80,700, whereas the Boxster GTS will set you back a bit more, at $82,800. Meanwhile, the cheapest 911 you can buy, the base-spec Carrera, costs upwards of $91,100.