The roads in the Muskoka area are made up of a wild combination of high-speed sweepers, decreasing radius corners, switchbacks and chicanes. Even at safe road speeds, the Cayman is a joy to drive. You feel connected to the car at all times, in complete control, and the more you drive the car the more confidence you have in it. Steady-state cornering capabilities are astounding. Without a doubt or any hesitation, I would say the Cayman GTS is right up there with the flagship 911 in terms of its road capabilities. At higher speeds (speeds you’d never see on a road), the GTS would probably give a little to the wider 911 with its rear-engine layout and bigger power, but for public roads and most race tracks in Canada, you’d be hard pressed to go faster in any 911 than you would a Cayman GTS. I can’t stress enough just how much fun you have driving this car. It inspires confidence. It’s light. It’s comfortable when you want it to be, and stiff when you want to turn up the fun dial. It’s not going to win many drag races but I can tell you I’d pick a GTS over any 911 for personal use, due to the drivability and fun-factor, hands down.

I guess I’d be remiss not to mention fuel economy. The six-speed manual GTS is rated at 12.7 L/100 km city and 7.1 L/100 km highway for a combined rating of 9.0 L/100 km. The PDK GTS is rated at 11.4 L/100 km city and 6.3 L/100 km highway for a combined rating of 8.2 L/100 km. Due to my heavy addiction of hearing the GTS snarl throughout its rev-range with heavy doses of the go pedal, I achieved a combined rating of about 12.5 L/100 km in real-world driving. I did manage to achieve 8.1 – 8.8 L/100 km through a 50 km stretch of hilly highway at around 110 – 120 km/h. That’s pretty impressive to me. Your mileage will vary.

Considering a base model 911 Carrera starts at $96,200 with no options, and a 911 Carrera S starts at $112,800, the well-optioned Cayman GTS is a great alternative to the kind of Porsche buyer looking for the ultimate driving experience for the lowest relative price. I know what I would buy…

Warranty:
4 years/80,000 km; 4 years/80,000 km powertrain; 12 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 4 years/80,000 km roadside assistance

Competitors:
Alfa-Romeo 4C
Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Pricing: 2015 Porsche Cayman GTS
Base Price: $85,800
Options: Carmine Red colour $2,950; GTS Communication package* $4,200; 20-inch 911 Turbo Design wheels $1,640; ParkAssist (front and rear) with reversing camera $1,730; Convenience Package $1,030 – heated seats, two-zone automatic A/C; Infotainment Package w/ Bose $4,560 – Porsche Communication Management w/ navigation, Bose surround sound, satellite radio, online services
Destination: $1,085
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $103,095
*Despite the name, this is an interior trim package

Connect with Autos.ca