The End of an Era - 718 Cayman GTS to Macan SUV
The past week has brought dramatic developments regarding on-going enquiries towards moving to a new build Macan GTS as my daily driver and touring car. My reasoning behind this dramatic move has already been posted earlier. I decided it’s now time to do this.
With an unexpectedly surprising outcome this past week, I can now report that negotiations have successfully concluded with OPC Chester regarding part-exchanging both my Abarth 595 Competizione, and my 718 Cayman GTS PDK, for a new individual spec 2020 Macan Turbo 2.9 twin-turbo V6.
While avoiding going into the confidential details of the deal, what I can say is, OPC Chester came up with a stunningly attractive alternative offer. This provided a new build individual spec Macan Turbo with delivery predicted for the month of June. The Macan GTS spec and colour choice previously chosen was transferred across to the Turbo, which includes several expensive options already included as standard equipment on the flagship model. While the Turbo Macan was undoubtedly more expensive, the enhanced terms offered to me by OPC Chester were simply too compelling to turn down. This offer also removed the worry of further falls in the residual values of my current cars.
A date has now been fixed later in March for a driver to be despatched from Chester to collect my Cayman GTS. Meanwhile I retain the Abarth until the handover date of my Macan Turbo. By the way, the rumours of 718 Cayman GTS residuals dropping to floor are not supported in my experience. Values of the F4 GTS are holding up well. I wouldn’t be surprised if a buyer is already lined up. Time will tell. My car is probably one of the best of its type.
This radical change of vehicle from sports coupe to SUV marks the end of an era, going back over 12 years to 2008 when I took delivery of my first 987.1 Cayman 2.7 5 speed manual from OPC Edinburgh. Since that memorable day, I have only joy and admiration to express from owning all 5 of my Caymans. I have done everything possible with all of them, on both road and track, and through all four seasons. I’ve even added to my motorsport trophy collection late in life in the autumn of my years.
For my driving tastes, the Cayman is by far the best sports coupe. With a sublimely balanced chassis, great engines, combined with daily-driving practicality, makes the Cayman model the best Porsche of all. If I have one regret, it is that Porsche deliberately held back the performance of the Cayman range in deference to the 911, a philosophy which still prevails to the present day. When I started out with the Cayman 2.7 the car was often referred to as the “poor man’s Porsche”, and still is in some of the more Ultra 911 quarters. Nothing could be further from the truth. Choosing a Cayman is not all about affordability. Some drivers prefer the mid-engine chassis balance and daily practicality of the Cayman platform.
So, the deed is now done. I started out looking for a Macan GTS and ended up with a Macan Turbo. The deposit has now been paid, the spec locked down, and factory order placed. Patience is the name of the game now, whilst looking forward to my forthcoming car tour in July to the west country shires and Wales.
I’ll not deny it will be a big change of driving experience for me coming from the scalpel sharp agility of the 718 Cayman GTS to the more effortless progress of the Macan Turbo. It’s not that the Turbo is lacking sporting credentials, this is after all said and done, the flagship of the Macan range and the class leader of the sports SUV’s. The new 2020 Macan Turbo has benefitted from a number of upgrades. A new 2.9 twin turbo V6 engine replaces the previous 3.6 lump with a 40bhp power increase raising the poke to a useful 440bhp. Torque is a massive tractor-pulling 550Nm with a table mountain profile from 1800 - 5600rpm. Revised mapping of the PASM suspension settings, including PDK Sport and Sport Plus include revised gear change thresholds and rapid-fire gear changes. This will also be my first experience of the new tungsten carbide cast iron brakes, a sort of half-way house to the full ceramic brakes option. Higher pad friction is claimed along with the additional bonus of 90% less brake dust. New aluminium suspension castings, including the revamping of the air suspension system, contributes to substantial incremental performance and handling gains over previous models. Porsche says the new Macan Turbo is more of a sports saloon than an SUV. We shall see. I’m looking forward to finding out if this statement is true.
For all of my life I have always been receptive and adaptable to change. This Cayman to Macan SUV experience will be no different. I am confident that I’ll adapt very quickly to my new car choice. I am also confident that this Macan Turbo will be ideally suited for the mountain roads in my north Highlands locality.
Whoever becomes the next owner of my Guards Red 718 Cayman GTS PDK will be getting an absolute corker of a car. I am hoping it will be someone who will use it on track and possibly consider modifying the car for even greater dynamic performance. All the basics are there already and the potential is mouth-watering. Had my personal circumstances been different, this is the route I would have chosen for myself.
Finally, I forgot to mention my choice of colour for the Macan Turbo is Sapphire blue with GT Silver 21” Sport Classic wheels. The tyres unfortunately, will be the usual factory lottery. Naturally I’m hoping for Michelins.
I’ll be closing my reports on this thread following the departure of my 718 Cayman GTS in a couple of weeks. I’ll be starting a new thread on the Macan section in due course. New car, new beginning.
Brian
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