Currently I’m comparing the C8 to the 718. A while back when my budget wasn’t as high I was comparing the Supra MK5 to the M2. One thing they have in common is that the Supra and 718 are the lighter less powerful cars but more fun and the M2 and C8 are faster more powerful cars. How hard would it be to get some extra horsepower into the 718? I have about anither 60-70k sitting around for upgrades, track days, and consumable costs so I have a bit set to the side to upgrade whichever car and give them a little more go. If the Cayman was more fun, better handling, and fast then it would rule out the C8.
At some point, the law of diminishing returns is a factor. It doesn’t make sense to buy an under powered 718 Base or S model and then sink another $50-$60k into upgrades. You’ll never get your money out of that car if you wanted to sell. Better off using some of that money to get into a GTS 4.0 from the jump as it offers more stock HP and other track valuable goodies from the factory.
Here are four upgrades/considerations regardless of model choice to boost HP/performance. I personally wouldn’t overvalue HP unless you plan to drag race or competitively track your car.
Tune. Typically, naturally aspirated engines can net an extra 25 HP, Turbos can often gain 60 plus from just a tune.
Exhaust. Fabspeed offers upgraded molded exhaust headers, over axle pipes, sport Cats, and cross pipes that significantly improve both power and sound. In the US Spec model , a 718 can also delete the GPF without throwing an engine code and should still pass state emissions with just the Sport Cats. Their website shows HP gains per each engine type…Soul and Akropov are similar.
Air Intakes. This simple bolt on MOD improves engine breathing…relatively cheap upgrade.
PDK Transmission. The three-pedal-mafia will likely hate on me for saying this truth, but a PDK auto/manual transmission outperforms any standard 6-speed transmission. You just can beat shift speeds of a dual clutch transmission, and PDK is arguably the best Auto Transmission engineered for non super cars.
Hope this helps
No, to be completely honest I just want it to be fun on the backroads and be able to keep up on the track. I definitely don’t plan to drag race, especially when most of the people here are driving jailbreak hellcats with built blocks that get 900+ hp😂