There are sports cars that cost less than $400,000 in Australia that are more powerful, faster on a straight road, and more aggressive in character than the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. None of them is better to drive. The GT4 RS is the benchmark for what a driver’s car can be at any price – a naturally aspirated, high-revving, incredibly well-sorted machine that communicates with clarity and rewards skill with a completeness that nothing near its price approaches.
The GT4 RS Formula
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS uses the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six from the 911 GT3 – not a modified or de-tuned version, but the same engine, transversely mounted in the Cayman’s mid-engine layout. Producing 368 kW (500 hp) at 9,000 rpm. Torque is 450 Nm. PDK gearbox only.
The mid-engine layout transforms the GT3 engine’s character. Where the 911 GT3’s engine sits behind the rear axle and requires management of the resulting weight distribution, the GT4 RS’s engine sits amidships. The result is a car that is neutral and communicative in a way the rear-engine 911 simply cannot replicate.
The Handling
The GT4 RS corners with an accuracy and communication that has been called the best of any production car tested by multiple automotive publications. The steering has almost no dead zone. Load builds progressively as you enter a corner. At the limit, the car communicates exactly how much grip remains – through the wheel, through the seat, through the pedals.
Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control system manages the suspension without filtering out the feedback that makes the GT4 RS special. This is a deliberate choice – in a car designed for driver engagement, communication matters more than isolation.
The Engine Sound
The 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six in the GT4 RS at 9,000 rpm produces one of the most celebrated sounds in any current production car. The intake noise alone – a complex, layered induction roar that builds from 6,000 rpm to the limiter – is worth seeking out. Porsche has fitted NACA ducts in the doors specifically to feed the air intake and maximise the sound reaching the cabin. It is conscious, considered, and completely successful.
Australian Pricing
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is priced at approximately $335,000 to $370,000 in Australia before options. LCT adds approximately $84,000 to $93,000. A well-specified GT4 RS with the Weissach Package (which saves 35 kg through magnesium wheels and carbon components) typically lands at $440,000 to $480,000 on Australian roads.
Allocation is strictly controlled. Porsche Australia distributed GT4 RS allocations to dealers based on customer priority, and most cars were pre-sold before arrival. Used examples trade at or above retail price for low-kilometre, standard-specification cars.
Under $400k – The Competition
What else can you buy at this price in Australia? The Ferrari California T on the used market. A well-specified Porsche 911 Carrera S. An Aston Martin Vantage. A McLaren GT.
None of these provide the driving experience of the GT4 RS on a mountain road or a circuit. The Ferrari is front-engined and touring-focused. The Carrera S, while excellent, has a rear-engine weight penalty compared to the mid-engine GT4 RS. The McLaren GT is a grand tourer. The GT4 RS is a driver’s car without qualification.
Track Day Capability
The GT4 RS is exceptional at track events. Its braking distances, cornering limits, and balance make it immediately fast in the hands of a driver who understands the car. At Phillip Island or Sydney Motorsport Park, the GT4 RS will be competitive with significantly more expensive machinery.
Verdict
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is the best driver’s car under $400,000 in Australia. The statement stands up to scrutiny across multiple categories: engagement, communication, circuit capability, and the quality of the overall experience. It is not the most powerful, not the most luxurious, and not the most dramatic. It is the most satisfying to drive fast, and in a sports car, that is the only test that ultimately matters.
Side-by-side specs, Australian pricing and performance figures for every exotic and luxury car we cover.