What are the performance differences between the Factory Five 818 S and the Porsche Cayman?
Here’s how the 2018 Factory Five 818 S stacks up against a Porsche Cayman 981 (base 2.7 L) in real-world numbers:
WEIGHT & POWER • 818 S: ~1 800 lb, ~230 whp → 1 hp per 7.8 lb • Cayman 981: ~2 900 lb, 275 hp → 1 hp per 10.5 lb
ACCELERATION • 818 S 0-60 mph: ~3.8 s (Road & Track instrumented) • Cayman 981 0-60 mph: ~5.1 s (factory)
GRIP • 818 S lateral: 1.12 g (R&T) • Cayman 981 lateral: ~1.00 g (stock tyres)
BRAKING (60-0 mph) Both stop in roughly 100-105 ft; essentially a wash.
BOTTOM LINE The 818 S is the straight-line sprinter and the higher-g corner carver thanks to ~1 100 lb less mass and a superior power-to-weight ratio. The Cayman brings refinement, daily civility and mid-engine balance, but in raw performance the 818 S wins on both acceleration and lateral grip. If you want a street-legal go-kart, the 818 S is hard to beat; if you want a polished daily-driver sports car, the Cayman is the pick.
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