We spent a full day lapping a stock 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 (6-speed manual) to gauge real-world track performance. Here’s how it handled heat, consistency, and driver workload, with verified lap times and setup notes.
Our test car packed the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six rated at 394 hp and 309 lb-ft, driving the rear wheels via a mechanical limited-slip differential (PTV) and a six-speed manual. It rode on 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (235/35R20 front, 265/35R20 rear), PASM adaptive dampers, and steel brakes (350 mm front, 330 mm rear) with fixed calipers (6-piston front, 4-piston rear). Curb weight measured 3,210 lb with a half tank of fuel. Testing took place on our 2.1-mile handling circuit (12 corners, 105 ft elevation change), 78°F ambient, light crosswind.
We set cold pressures at 30 psi all around; hot stabilized at 34 psi front, 36 psi rear. Baseline laps were run in PSM Sport; the flyer with PSM fully off. Best lap: 1:37.8 on lap 5 of a 12-lap stint, with a 3-lap cluster within 0.2 sec. Peak speed on the main straight was 128 mph, and we recorded sustained lateral loads around 1.03 g on the PS4S.
Turn-in is immediate and confidence-inspiring. The front axle bites cleanly on entry, especially with a whisper of trail-brake, and the chassis rotates progressively without snap. Mid-corner balance trends neutral; early throttle will nudge the car into mild exit understeer, while a measured lift yields gentle rotation. The diff locks predictably on corner exit, giving repeatable traction out of second-gear hairpins without axle hop.
PSM Sport allows a useful degree of slip; with PSM off, the chassis remains benign and easy to place. The flat-six is all about linearity and response: it wakes up past 4,000 rpm and pulls to a 7,800-rpm redline with crisp throttle modulation that makes balancing at the limit natural. Gearing is on the taller side, but second and third are perfectly spaced for this track, minimizing shifts. Pedal placement is textbook—heel-toe downshifts are effortless—and the shifter’s short throws and positive gates invite precision.
Brakes delivered a firm, consistent pedal; we saw peak decel of 1.12 g with no fade over 10 hot laps, and rotor temps peaked at 530°F by IR gun on pit-in. Heat management is solid. Oil stabilized at 248°F and coolant at 221°F with no power derate. The PS4S tires began to feel slightly greasy after eight consecutive laps, widening the final sector by ~0.3 sec.
Outer front shoulders showed modest wear, suggesting the car would benefit from additional negative camber (target ~-2.0° front) for sustained days. Ride over curbs is composed; the car absorbs medium sausage kerbs without upsetting the platform or spitting you wide on exit. Overall, the 1:37.8 is less about headline speed and more about repeatability and driver confidence. For frequent track use, we’d recommend high-temp brake fluid, track-oriented pads, and a Cup 2 or similar tire to unlock another second or two while maintaining consistency.
As delivered, the GTS 4.0 is a deeply communicative, forgiving tool that flatters intermediates and still rewards experts with precision and endurance.
