So, there I was — ready to wire the funds to a dealer in Indiana for a Racing Yellow 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. I had done the research, crunched the numbers (kind of), watched way too many YouTube videos, and was completely convinced it was the perfect weekend toy and occasional track-day car. I could practically smell the interior and hear that glorious flat-six rumble.
Now, to be clear — I wasn’t looking to buy a brand-new one. That would’ve been frivolous and unnecessary. No, I was in the market for a solid two-year-old Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) model. Let someone else take the depreciation hit — I just wanted the driving experience.
My first choice was Python Green, that gloriously bold color that screams “I did this for me.” But those are tough to find, especially CPO with the right options. So I had shifted my focus to Racing Yellow, which is still a stunner and very much in the spirit of the dream.
I probably would’ve feared it in a manual — not because I couldn’t drive one, but because I’d be too nervous about parking it anywhere or letting anyone else near it. Plus, I wanted my wife to be able to drive it too, and she’s not a fan of manuals. So I was more than happy with the PDK automatic, which is lightning-quick and the smarter choice for a shared toy.
But then came the moment of reckoning: I ran the plan by the budget committee of one (ahem, Liz). Let’s just say… the funding request was swiftly and decisively denied. And? I totally understand. It would’ve been an impulsive, unnecessary purchase. We have other priorities. I get it.
Still, a guy can dream, right?
Fast forward to the MaverickPCA meetup in Plano, TX, where I spotted this beautiful Racing Yellow Boxster S. Close enough to the dream. I asked the fellow club member and owner if I could just sit in it — just for a second — to experience that vibe. He said yes, and for a brief moment, I was living the fantasy.
Why the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 Is So Special
The 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 is what happens when Porsche listens to its enthusiasts. After years of turbocharged four-cylinder engines in the 718 lineup, Porsche brought back the joy with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, pulled straight from the GT4 and detuned just slightly.
It makes 394 horsepower, revs to nearly 8,000 RPM, and delivers the kind of raw, emotional driving experience that’s getting harder to find in modern sports cars. It’s a symphony of throttle response, mechanical grip, and pure sound — no artificial enhancements needed.
The Magic of Mid-Engine
What really makes the Cayman platform shine is its mid-engine layout. With the engine placed behind the seats but ahead of the rear axle, the weight distribution is nearly perfect — close to 50/50. That results in superb balance, precise handling, and incredible confidence through corners, whether you’re on a canyon road or a track.
You feel connected to the car in a way front-engine or rear-engine cars can’t quite match. The car responds instantly to steering input, and you always know what the chassis is doing underneath you. It’s the kind of driver-focused design that makes you want to take the long way home every single time.
So What Now?
Well… the dream’s on hold. I’m still browsing, still watching the listings, and maybe one day that Python Green CPO Cayman GTS 4.0 will cross my path when the timing — and the budget committee — aligns a little better.
Until then, I’ll keep going to meets, talking shop with fellow Porsche nerds, and occasionally sitting in someone else’s dream. Because sometimes, that’s almost enough.
And let’s be honest — it’s a lot cheaper than therapy.
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