Wrist & Wheel, vol. 7: Old Soul vs. New Fury: Driving the 1987 Porsche 924S and the 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
There’s a special kind of joy in driving a Porsche — but it’s not always the same kind of joy. Some cars whisper their story with every mile, while others shout it at redline. At Wrist & Wheel, we’ve been lucky enough to experience both ends of that spectrum: a vintage 1987 Porsche 924S and the brand-new 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS (982).
Two Porsches, nearly four decades apart. Both engaging. Both memorable. But absolutely different in what they ask from you — and what they give back.
The 1987 Porsche 924S — A Sunday Drive in Analog Form
Slip into the 924S and you’re reminded immediately of how much driving has changed. No screens. No drive modes. No adjustable suspension settings. Just a simple leather seat, a thin steering wheel, and VDO gauges staring back at you.
On the road, the 2.5L inline-four isn’t quick by modern standards, but it feels alive. Every input is deliberate. The clutch is mechanical, the steering rack communicates through your fingertips, and you find yourself savoring the balance of a car that weighs little more than 2,700 pounds.
It’s the kind of car you take on a Sunday morning cruise, not to chase lap times, but to reconnect. Windows down, engine humming, you realize leisure driving is about slowing the world down — and in that moment, the 924S feels timeless.
The 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS — The Track Weapon on the Street
Then you get into the Cayman GT4 RS, and everything you thought you knew about driving a Porsche is redefined. From the moment the 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six fires up, the car demands your attention. The engine screams to 9,000 rpm, and the air intakes right behind your ears make sure you never forget it.
The GT4 RS is sharper, harder, louder. Every touch of the steering wheel is met with immediate response, every corner feels like an invitation to push harder. On track, it’s a scalpel; on the street, it’s a sensory overload.
This isn’t a Sunday cruiser. It’s a car that asks, “How much do you want to feel today?” and then delivers in excess. Where the 924S connects you through simplicity, the GT4 RS connects you through intensity.
A Watch That Meets Them in the Middle
On this day, I wore my Omega Speedmaster Automatic 3515.20.00 — a watch that, much like these cars, sits comfortably between eras. To some, it looks brand new; to others, it’s a piece of horological history. Its design is timeless, its utility undeniable.
The Speedmaster has always been about function as much as form, and on this drive it served a very practical role: I used the chronograph to time each experience. Not for lap records, but simply to make sure I didn’t vanish for hours. Because with either Porsche, it’s dangerously easy to lose track of time when you’re having such a good one.
In a way, the Speedmaster felt like the perfect bridge — classic enough to match the 924S, refined enough to sit alongside the GT4 RS. A reminder that true design, whether in cars or watches, transcends the calendar.
Two Porsches, Two Experiences
Here’s the key: expectation matters.
Driving a 1987 Porsche 924S is about savoring the analog past — slow down, enjoy the connection, let the car set the pace. Driving a 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is about embracing the thrill of modern engineering — the raw, high-revving future of what a mid-engine Porsche can be.
Neither is better. Neither cancels out the other. They’re just different chapters of the same story.
The Takeaway
If you’re searching for the perfect “Sunday cruise” car, ask yourself: do you want the calm charm of a vintage Porsche, or the adrenaline rush of the modern track weapon?
At Wrist & Wheel, we believe the answer doesn’t have to be one or the other. It can be both. Because whether you’re holding the leather-worn steering wheel of a 1987 924S, the Alcantara grip of a 2024 GT4 RS, or timing it all with an Omega Speedmaster, the truth is the same: the best machines make you forget about time — until you look down and realize just how much you’ve been enjoying yourself.
