Differences. There are differences. To put it simply, at least at your writer’s skill level, the less-potent Cayman GTS feels perfect. There’s plenty of power, plenty of braking, plenty of grip and plenty of urgency delivered in a way that mostly encourages, builds confidence and never overwhelms. Even after multiple hard laps around Laguna Seca, I got out of the GTS feeling at ease, relaxed and laid back, not like I’d just been beaten up and frightened and left to seek out a security blanket and go hide under a staircase.

Driving fast is hard work, but not in a Cayman GTS. It’s an easy, stress-free car to drive the bejesus out of. There’s no fuss. No drama. Just predictable, stable and very precise reactions to your commands. The athleticism, and the mid-engine stability, makes it feel effortless at your fingertips, willing and eager and at ease. And the sound, grip and smoothness of it all never get old.

The GT3 is, um, wilder. Unless you’re an experienced performance driver with plenty of track time, it makes you aware, frequently, that you’re not using all of its capability, though like the Cayman, it will play ball with all skill levels if you’re okay with the car having a snooze while you work up the courage to flog it a little. With the GT3’s rear-engine rear-drive setup, tighter suspension and more power, it’s friskier, and likes to slip, slide, shift and turn on its tires more easily, more vigorously, more startlingly, and more often. Squirms and slips and sensations you’re isolated from in other 911 models are proudly displayed here. It’s a very active car.

And, you can brake deeper, power out earlier, and gobble up the straight stretches more ravenously, though for a skill level like mine (I’m a reporter, not a racecar driver), the GT3 is a more intense thing to drive, and you’ll likely need more breaks. And some driving lessons. And a few extra pairs of underpants if you plan on pushing things a bit.

It’s like this.

Whenever you ask the Cayman to do something at high speed, it’s all like “PFFFFFT!!! Bro, seriously? We can totally get around that corner this fast without winding up in the cabbage. I totally got this, bro!” and that’s it.

Conversely, when you ask the GT3 to do something at speed, it’s all like “!!!!!!!!!! HECK YA!!! I’LL RIP THE HELL OUT OF THAT CORNER AND GIVE IT A WEDGIE!! DO YOU WANT TO GO SURPRISE-SIDEWAYS??!? HOW MUCH TIRE SMOKE DO YOU WANT BRO? YOU LIKE TIRE SMOKE, RIGHT?  ARE YOU GONNA HIT MY REV LIMITER!?? BECAUSE I LOVE WHEN YOU HIT MY REV LIMITER!!!! HEY, HAVE YOU GOT YOUR SEATBELT ON??? CAUSE YOUR GONNA NEED IT TO HOLD YOUR LUNGS INSIDE OF YOUR CHEST WHEN I START MAKING G-FORCES! LOL!!!!!!!!!! BRO, WHY ISN’T MY THROTTLE ON THE FLOOR? YOU’RE NOT A SISSY-CHICKEN, ARE YOU? BRO?”

So, there it is. The Cayman is easygoing, relaxed and extremely confident when driven hard. The GT3 is beautifully haywire, and, probably a better choice if you like being informed, regularly, that you’re alive via nervous pangs in the stomach and a wicked adrenaline buzz.

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