FL5 vs base 718 Cayman

[cullystout]

A friend of mine got a 2025 718 Cayman around the same time I got my 2026 CTR, which we discovered after the fact. It occurred to me that though these cars are very different and maybe not many people would be cross-shopping them, what if...

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[ctechauto]

Our shop track car is a 981 Cayman S and we focus mainly working on Type Rs.

They are apples to oranges.

BUT Hondas and Porsches are similar in the vein of drivers engagement, handling prowess and those intangible "feels". Not to mention the motorsport history both brands have. That is why we love both.

 

[optronix]

I've owned every generation of Boxster GTS; a manual 981 GTS, and PDK versions of a 2019 with the 2.5T and a 2023 with the 4.0 flat six. And also a 991.2 Carrera S 7MT for the rear-engine reference point.

I'm not going to tell you that the FL5/DE5 is a better driver's car, that's ridiculous. But it's shockingly close in terms of driver engagement. All of the inputs are on par with Porsche. Steering, shifter, braking, and the overall chassis feel- Porsche does not have a significant advantage here and that's not an understatement.

What is genuinely missing: the phenomenal weight distribution from the mid-engine platform making you literally feel like the car is revolving around you, and the incredible grip from a RWD platform. It's impossible to make the car misbehave unless it's absolutely on purpose... oh yeah, and the theater and emotional elements- ESPECIALLY WITH THE 6 CYLINDER VARIANTS. Actually the 2.5T and 4.0 are genuinely fast cars; 0-60 in the sub-4 second range; and PDK launch control is absolutely magnificent. The 981 is no slouch (0-60 in less than 4.5 for S and GTS IIRC), but the torque from the newer engine variations are noticeably superior. The 981 exhaust note is surprisingly the best of the bunch; the 4.0 has incredible induction noise but the volume and tone from the exhaust is noticeably quieter and less emotional than the 981- at least stock. A set of over-axle pipes or even better a full inconel exhaust from Kline clears that problem up quickly - but can set you back as much as $11k (including headers). The turbo 4s notoriously get absolutely shit on from the entire auto enthusiast community, but honestly they sound like a hopped up Subaru, so to my ears they still sound great... but the bar set by the 6 cylinders is just so high the complaints are virtually validated.

In any case. If you've got the money and don't need the extra practicality of having 4 doors it's clear that the mid-engine Porsches remain legitimate top-tier sports cars. But the FL5/DE5 platform being routinely brought up in comparison with these cars is justified.

Also I'll just point out FWIW that the way my car is set up now there really aren't too many Porsches that can really compete with me at my local PCA autocross. They're certainly out there but I've neutralized most of the performance advantage with just more camber and stickier tires. Let me be clear- only the 718s that are also equipped with sticky tires AND good drivers can compete on raw times. To take the competitive/subjective element out of it, it's fair to say I'm faster now in my DE5 than I was in my stock Porsches. Not by a little either.

 

[HondaHoon]

I own/operate a 2007 Porsche 911 GTB3 class racecar.

I own/operate a 2025 Honda Civic Type R.

I have never owned/operated a Cayman.

However, Honda FL5 vs Cayman.

Two totally different designs of vehicle (front engine/mid engine).

+/-$30K difference starting the journey (with base Cayman).

Both great cars with flaws.

Honda wins for me because if you decide to use either on track I will gladly pay the Honda tax vs Porsche tax on wearables and parts anyday. Cheaper to insure.

Both are great street cars. Neither cars limits can be acheived unless you are breaking the law, and putting yourself or others at risk.

Drive together, have fun, be safe. But remember, if riding together. You need the Axis of Evil to be all powerful. Japanese, German, AND Italian.

 

[Nikw91]

I’ve ran with a good 4-5 Porsche Boxster and Cayman 718s that I’m assuming are mostly stock. They're pretty dang quick for a little 2.0 turbo just like the FL5. Little slower then me with full bolt ons but they would pass new 5.0 Mustangs all day and keep up with CT4-V Blackwings.

They are good looking cars too. However, for a mid-engine Porsche with a $70,000 + MSRP that for sure means an $80,000 out the door price New with tax and any sort of add on. I would want it to be a little faster, personally.

 

[BuntaTypeR]

Sharing my video, chasing my friends GT4RS. His setup is pretty serious. JRZ RS Pro 3 coilovers, PFC brakes, aftermarket wheels, and RE-71RS tires. He also has a GT3RS and both of those cars are just insanely fast. Porsches really are the complete package out of the box. they're the kings when it comes to track cars.
He’s definitely the faster driver. He even kicks my ass when he drives his Civic Type R with way fewer mods, and the Type R has its limits being a heavier, FWD, 4door with worst weight distribution.
that Porsche PDK transmission is unreal.
I managed to catch up in a bit through the S-curves, but I made sure to give him plenty of space. It’s an expensive car, and I have no interest in getting into a wreck. my goal is just to push hard where I'm comfortable, have some fun, and take my car home in one piece.

 

[optronix]

Sharing my video, chasing my friends GT4RS. His setup is pretty serious. JRZ RS Pro 3 coilovers, PFC brakes, aftermarket wheels, and RE-71RS tires. He also has a GT3RS and both of those cars are just insanely fast. Porsches really are the complete package out of the box. they're the kings when it comes to track cars.
He’s definitely the faster driver. He even kicks my ass when he drives his Civic Type R with way fewer mods, and the Type R has its limits being a heavier, FWD, 4door with worst weight distribution.
that Porsche PDK transmission is unreal.
I managed to catch up in a bit through the S-curves, but I made sure to give him plenty of space. It’s an expensive car, and I have no interest in getting into a wreck. my goal is just to push hard where I'm comfortable, have some fun, and take my car home in one piece.

The RS cars are next level, cheat code type cars. My dream car is a Spyder RS, even though I've kind of soured on the Porsche brand as a whole...

I won't go into full rant mode but the future of Porsche doesn't leave room for base Caymans and Boxsters at $70k or even $80k. They no longer make sports cars that are actually attainable. I priced out a 911T, which is really just a base 911 with a few choice upgrades, and it landed north of $150k. Their failed attempt at duplicating Tesla landed them in a spot where they're no longer the most profitable manufacturer so now they're peeling back into "margin-saving mode", and the only enthusiast cars they'll make will be the "special" variants that plebes like us can't afford.

I lied, I ranted a little.

 

[Clark_Kent]

The RS cars are next level, cheat code type cars. My dream car is a Spyder RS, even though I've kind of soured on the Porsche brand as a whole...

I won't go into full rant mode but the future of Porsche doesn't leave room for base Caymans and Boxsters at $70k or even $80k. They no longer make sports cars that are actually attainable. I priced out a 911T, which is really just a base 911 with a few choice upgrades, and it landed north of $150k. Their failed attempt at duplicating Tesla landed them in a spot where they're no longer the most profitable manufacturer so now they're peeling back into "margin-saving mode", and the only enthusiast cars they'll make will be the "special" variants that plebes like us can't afford.

I lied, I ranted a little.

Not all that surprised to see we’re on the same page. I’m looking hard at a 992.2 911T as well. If you’ve had a chance to drive one, you probably get it. It’s nowhere near the most powerful car I’ve driven, but that almost feels irrelevant. What stood out to me was how balanced it is. Sharp front end, enough power to be genuinely quick, and still some traces of rawness (about as raw as a car can realistically be in 2026). It feels like a car built around driver engagement more than chasing numbers, which is getting harder to find.

As built, mine is just under $170K, which I’m definitely not thrilled about. But at the same time, this just seems to be where Porsche is pricing their cars these days. I've already ranted about my love-hate relationship with Porsche in the past so I'll skip that part. None of this makes the sticker shock easier, but the 911T makes a strong case if what you value is feel, balance, and involvement over outright horsepower.

 

[optronix]

Not all that surprised to see we’re on the same page. I’m looking hard at a 992.2 911T as well. If you’ve had a chance to drive one, you probably get it. It’s nowhere near the most powerful car I’ve driven, but that almost feels irrelevant. What stood out to me was how balanced it is. Sharp front end, enough power to be genuinely quick, and still some traces of rawness (about as raw as a car can realistically be in 2026). It feels like a car built around driver engagement more than chasing numbers, which is getting harder to find.

As built, mine is just under $170K, which I’m definitely not thrilled about. But at the same time, this just seems to be where Porsche is pricing their cars these days. I've already ranted about my love-hate relationship with Porsche in the past so I'll skip that part. None of this makes the sticker shock easier, but the 911T makes a strong case if what you value is feel, balance, and involvement over outright horsepower.

I'm definitely not saying they don't make great enthusiast cars. The 992.2 911T could be argued is the best driver's car available in today's new car market. But the eye-watering MSRP is a pill I can't swallow... and unfortunately it's doing exactly what they want it to, because it's affecting used car prices as well.

Also it's sad to me that there doesn't appear to be a world in which I can walk into a Porsche dealership and spec out a new mid-engine car. At this moment, I'm pretty sure you can't (maybe the RS versions?). I'm not sure where the electric cars sit in this conversation anymore; I'm pretty sure they were expected to be released by now on Porsche's previous multiverse timeline where electric was "the future of the brand". I just have no idea where they sit anymore.

That said my wife is excited about whatever new variant small SUV/crossover they're developing now so I can't say I'm done with the brand for good...

Also FWIW, I hear Honda's not doing so hot either...

 

[asone]

I know the numbers don't mean much for the driver's cars , but side by side comparison of the number.

Spec	2025 Porsche 718 Cayman Base 6MT	2026 Honda Civic Type R Type R
Price
MSRP	$74,795	$46,895
MSRP with Destination	$76,790	$48,090
Destination Charge	$1,995	$1,195
Engine
Engine Type	2.0L Turbo DOHC Flat-4	Inline 4-Cylinder Turbocharged
Displacement	2 L	2 L
Boost Pressure	—	25.2 psi
Horsepower	300 hp @ 6,500 rpm	315 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque	280 lb-ft @ 1950 rpm	310 lb-ft @ 2600-4000 rpm
Redline	7,200 rpm	7,000 rpm
Valvetrain	DOHC 16-valve VarioCam Plus	16-Valve DOHC VTEC
Bore and Stroke	91.0 mm x 76.4 mm	86.0 x 85.9
Compression Ratio	9.5:1	9.8:1
Injection Type	Direct Injection	Direct Injection
Drivetrain
Drive Type	RWD (mid-engine)	FWD
Differential Type	Open	Helical Limited-Slip Differential
Transmission
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-Speed Manual (6MT) with Rev-Match Control
1st Gear	3.31 (46 mph **)	3.625 (38 mph **)
2nd Gear	1.95 (77 mph **)	2.115 (65 mph **)
3rd Gear	1.41 (107 mph **)	1.529 (90 mph **)
4th Gear	1.13 (133 mph **)	1.125 (122 mph **)
5th Gear	0.95 (159 mph **)	0.911 (150 mph **)
6th Gear	0.81 (186 mph **)	0.734 (187 mph **)
7th Gear	—	—
8th Gear	—	—
9th Gear	—	—
10th Gear	—	—
Reverse	3	3.757
Final Drive	3.89	3.842
Fuel Economy
City	21 MPG	22 MPG
Highway	27 MPG	28 MPG
Combined	24 MPG	24 MPG
Recommended Fuel	Premium	Regular Unleaded (Premium Recommended)
Tank Capacity	14.2 gal	—
Suspension
Front Suspension	MacPherson strut	Dual-Axis MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	MacPherson strut	Multi-Link
Front Stabilizer Bar	Standard	29.0 mm x 5.0 mm (tubular)
Rear Stabilizer Bar	Standard	20.5 mm (solid)
Turning Diameter	36.1 ft	—
Brakes
Front Brake Calipers	—	Brembo 4-Piston Aluminum
Front Brake Disc	Ventilated disc	13.8 in. ventilated, two-piece
Rear Brake Disc	Ventilated disc	12.0 in. solid
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front	18 x 8.0 in. Alloy	19 x 9.5J
Wheels Rear	18 x 9.5 in. Alloy	19 x 9.5J
Tires Front	235/45R18 Performance	265/30ZR19
Tires Rear	265/45R18 Performance	265/30ZR19
Dimensions & Weight
Length	172.4 in	180.9 in
Width	70.9 in	74.4 in
Height	51.0 in	55.4 in
Wheelbase	97.4 in	107.7 in
Front Track	—	64.0 in
Rear Track	—	63.5 in
Ground Clearance	—	4.8 in
Approach Angle	—	10.9°
Departure Angle	—	15.1°
Cargo Volume	20.2 ft³	24.5 ft³
Curb Weight	3,104 lbs	3,188 lbs
Weight Distribution (F/R)	—	62% / 38%
Interior
Headroom Front	40.6 in	39.3 in
Headroom Rear	—	37.1 in
Legroom Front	41.6 in	42.3 in
Legroom Rear	—	37.4 in
Shoulder Room Front	56.0 in	57.0 in
Shoulder Room Rear	—	56.0 in
Hiproom Front	—	54.3 in
Hiproom Rear	—	48.9 in

 

[TypeRD]

I'm definitely not saying they don't make great enthusiast cars. The 992.2 911T could be argued is the best driver's car available in today's new car market. But the eye-watering MSRP is a pill I can't swallow... and unfortunately it's doing exactly what they want it to, because it's affecting used car prices as well.

Also it's sad to me that there doesn't appear to be a world in which I can walk into a Porsche dealership and spec out a new mid-engine car. At this moment, I'm pretty sure you can't (maybe the RS versions?). I'm not sure where the electric cars sit in this conversation anymore; I'm pretty sure they were expected to be released by now on Porsche's previous multiverse timeline where electric was "the future of the brand". I just have no idea where they sit anymore.

That said my wife is excited about whatever new variant small SUV/crossover they're developing now so I can't say I'm done with the brand for good...

Also FWIW, I hear Honda's not doing so hot either...

Yes. I hate that even used Porsche prices are so out of control…and that’s assuming one can even find the spec they want on a “basic” GTS Cayman or 911 w/ manual. Of course the price and scarcity go hand in hand.

 

[ctechauto]

Yes. I hate that even used Porsche prices are so out of control…and that’s assuming one can even find the spec they want on a “basic” GTS Cayman or 911 w/ manual. Of course the price and scarcity go hand in hand.

Well thats because the GTS models are not "basic" spec. Since Porsche options are effective a-la-carte, they made the GTS basically a fully loaded S model (its not a GT trim either) with some interior trim differences and slight OEM tune in some models and OTD new costs a hair less than if you would add every available option the GTS comes with. Its the most odd model trim IMO especially for enthusiasts.

 

[TypeRD]

Well thats because the GTS models are not "basic" spec. Since Porsche options are effective a-la-carte, they made the GTS basically a fully loaded S model (its not a GT trim either) with some interior trim differences and slight OEM tune in some models . Its the most odd model trim IMO especially for enthusiasts.

Yeah I know. It was tongue in cheek, hence the quotation marks. The guys at the country club would view a GTS as a “basic” Porsche…the entry level into “real” Porsches.

 

[ctechauto]

Yeah I know. It was tongue in cheek, hence the quotation marks. The guys at the country club would view it as a “basic” Porsche…the entry level into “real” Porsches.

Do we as enthusiasts really care what the guys at the country clubs think?

 

[TypeRD]

Do we as enthusiasts really care what the guys at the country clubs think?

No, and I’d never be a country club member because I don’t care. Lol! That really wasn’t my point. My only point is that shopping for a GTS for a reasonable price and right spec sucks. Those shopping GT level don’t deal with this pain.

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