While V8-powered sports cars like the Jaguar F-Type SVR and the Chevrolet Corvette will get your pulse racing with their throaty engine notes and breathtaking turn of pace, they’ll also quickly drain your wallet of cash due to how often you’ll need to make a trip to the gas station. Therefore, less powerful and more efficient models like the Toyota Supra are a good option, and they’re cheaper to buy brand-new, too.

That said, the used market offers some tantalizing premium options that feature similar performance, but are cheaper than they used to be, thanks to depreciation. The four-pot-equipped 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS is just such a vehicle.

The 718 Cayman Marked A Change In Approach For Porsche

When it came time to replace the Porsche Boxster and Cayman 981 models for the 2017 model year, Porsche elected to make a decision that would polarize its fans around the world. The legendary naturally aspirated flat-six powerplant was discontinued for both models, and was replaced instead with a smaller turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four unit, with the respective S versions of each model coming with an enlarged 2.5-liter variant of the engine. It was still a powerful little number, with even the base 2.0-liter unit producing 300 hp.

It was also lighter and more efficient than the flat-six that came before, though its comparatively dull engine note proved to be a huge disappointment for many. Still, the mid-range Cayman’s driving feel was retained and, due to the lighter engine placed in the middle, was even more agile than before. Notably, it was also the first Porsche sports car to feature a four-cylinder engine since the 968 went out of production in 1995. Still, Porsche felt it could do better.

The 718 Cayman GTS Enhanced Each Critical Element Of The Vehicle

For 2018, the GTS version of the Cayman was introduced. The GTS was shipped with a tweaked version of the 2.5-liter flat-four found in the Cayman S, which saw power rise from 350 hp up to 365. The new variant was also graced with a stiffer suspension setup and beefier brakes to ensure it could also get through the bends quicker than the standard Cayman models, while it also got more aggressive interior and exterior styling. It cost just over $10,000 more than the Cayman S upon release, courtesy of a base $79,800 MSRP.

Thanks to the passage of time, you can now pick up early ones for the cost of what a standard Cayman would have set you back when it was new.

Discussion

Which Porsche 911 model would you buy?

CarBuzz has a chance to drive the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S (992.2 generation) for the first time this week. The Carrera S is now a mid-range 911 model, sitting above the base Carrera and the Carrera T, which only comes with a manual transmission. With 473 horsepower going out through an eight-speed PDK to rear-wheel-drive, the Carrera S hits 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Would you spend $146,400 on it, or would you spend less on the manual-equipped Carrera T? Or would you spend more to get the new hybridized GTS? 

A Used Cayman 718 GTS Can Be Had For The Same As A New Supra

The four-pot 718 Cayman GTS was only offered for two years, before the variant was equipped with a tuned version of the 4.0-liter flat-six found in the Cayman GT4. As a result, they are rarer than you might think. According to Kelley Blue Book, you’ll need to expect to hand over around $64,000 for earlier 2018 examples, and closer to $68k for a later 2019 GTS. Classic.com, a site that collates vehicle auction listings from around the world, backs up this estimate, as it reports that the average sale price for the model currently stands at $68,700.

These values put it a fair way above that of a new 2026 GR Supra, which starts from $56,900. Fortunately, it is possible to pick up a used 718 Cayman GTS for the same kind of cash a Supra will cost you, if you know where to look.

Cheaper GTS Options Can Be Found Via Dealers And Private Listings

AutoTempest, a site that collects vehicle listings from around the US, comes to the rescue here, and there are two Cayman GTS options on sale for the same kind of price as a new Supra at the time of writing. There is a catch though, as you’ll have to swallow the fact that they have previously suffered damage and been repaired, albeit to a high standard. The cheapest on the site is a blue car that has covered 45,000 miles, which has suffered water damage at some point in its life. Sold via TrueCar, the vehicle had been served and checked over by a certified dealer, and was cleared as good to go for $54,999.

Another GTS, which was offered through Cars.com for $56,995, had suffered a minor accident in the past, but again had been fixed to a high standard. If collectability isn’t a huge concern for you, these repaired examples promise impressive performance for around $10k less than the price of a normal GTS.

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The Cayman GTS And The Supra Are Well-Matched From A Performance Perspective

It has to be said, though, the GR Supra makes a compelling case for itself from a pace standpoint, especially given you can get a brand-new one for the price of a used and previously damaged Cayman GTS. It may weigh a full 400 lbs more than the Cayman GTS, but the Supra’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six B58 engine produces more grunt at 382 hp, as well as considerably more torque. As a result, it can hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, two-tenths-of-a-second quicker than the GTS can manage the sprint. The engine has a spritlier note, too.

The front-engined Supra won’t deal with corners as efficiently as the lighter and mid-engined Cayman, but it still provides an engaging drive. From a pure driving pleasure perspective, the Cayman’s superior chassis and more focused setup provide the best driving experience, but you’ll have to deal with cars that have lived a patchy past to get one for the same price as a new Supra. On second thought, there’s always the standard 718 Cayman S…

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Fans Of The Flat Six Can Make Big Savings On Early 987 Caymans

If you can deal with running an older car, the early Cayman S 987.1 provides excellent value and surprisingly potent performance when compared to its much newer counterpart. For less than half the cost of a new Supra or used 718 Cayman GTS, you can net yourself a mid-2000s Cayman S with decent mileage. A good example is this 2006 example sold through Cars.com, which is up for $25,995 at the time of writing, and has covered just over 57,000 miles. There are plenty of other strong options with less than 70,000 miles on the clock for less than $30k too, and you’ll get the added benefit of getting to hear that glorious flat-six whenever you fire it up.

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The Cayman S 987 Still Has Claws

The S version can still get down the road well too, given the 3.4-liter six-pot provides a handy 295 hp to the rear wheels, via either a six-speed manual or five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Opt for the manual, and you can expect to hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Combine this turn of pace with the Cayman’s assured handling balance and premium cockpit, and you’ll have a hell of a package for less than half the cost of the 2026 Supra or used Cayman 718 GTS.

Sources: Porsche, Toyota.