Will Porsche Cayman GT4 interest F355 or 360 owners?..

Well I am a huge fan of the F355... Having three in the family.

That being said, there are quite a few similarities with the new Porsche Cayman GT4 (now that Porsche has taken the leash off a bit and beaten up their marketers) with engine layout, specs, weight, manual gearbox, even looks, etc. even pricing is similar to a nice F355 or 360...

I'm just curious if the group thinks this car will compete for buyers that would consider an F355 or 360.

I know the GT4 is late to the party by 20 years and will be depreciating like a rock, but there is something to be said for its reliability, warranty, and driving feel. Even though it will always be thought of as the red-headed step child to the 911 family.

Do you think it offers interesting competition for the driving enjoyment we all seek. I know the ownership experience is different, and they will make more than 11,000...

But I would love to hear some thoughts on comparisons without starting a food fight.

The gt4 looks to be quite fast - especially around the ring. it has all the underpinnings of the GT3RS right?

I'll ask another question, will the GT4 compete for buyers considering a Ferrari 360?

Robb
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Specs

Robb
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More specs

Robb
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And more specs

Robb
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Maybe a final question, what cars do you think compete with current buyers of F355 and 360 and their wallets if not this Porsche?

Thanks for your fun thoughts. Happy hump day!

Robb

 

Personally I think it's the best looking Porsche I've ever seen (discounting the 918 and GTC).

Especially in the red below.

But, would I buy one over a 355? No way.

Over a 360? Can't really answer that as I'd buy a 355 over a 360, or even a 430.
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Owning 2 Ferraris and a Porsche I guess I'm not biased to either brand, but at $85k base for the GT4 I'd be looking seriously at a Corvette Z06 with base of $79k and which will perform on a level of the 458 and the GT3. One of the regulars at our CC went from 360 to 911 to Z06 and to say he is please would be an understatement.

But whether the GT4 or Z06 would detract from the 355, I don't think so. People buy 355s because they want a 355, not so much the performance. I don't know why people buy 360s.

 

I cant answer weather it will compete with 355 or 360 buyers I kind of doubt it but I do think it is a heck of a car I think it will compete with 911 buyers it is great looking and priced fairly .. I like it . I am glad to see Porsche giving their mid engine car the performance it should get. I believe this is only the beginning of the HP Porsche versions of the cayman.

 

the Gayman still has the hairdresser image IMHO.

 

I would buy the Cayman over a 360. Not a F355, but definitely a 360.

 

I agree.

 

Well, if it's all about performance a 355 / 360 wouldn't even come into the equation.

In Oz terms, a Corvette is much like a HSV Commodore. (To you guys, I think it's sold as a Pontiac of some sort?)
Sure, the performance might be the same or better, but to compare the two is utterly laughable. Chalk and cheese.

Frankly anyone who is shopping an old Ferrari against a newish bogan-mobile is missing the point by miles and should definitely buy the Corvette.

 

Lol, I spec'd one out the day Porsche sent me the email. When it went past $90k, I thought...I'll stick with the 911's. Sweet car though, may be a good buy second hand.

 

Strangely if I were ever to buy a Porsche I'd buy one of these over a Beetle (sorry, 911).

I think the Cayman is the superior car, dynamically.

Of course, in any case I'd never buy a Porsche unless I was buying one for my wife....

 

Very nice Cayman, but I already have a 6-GT3. No contest.

 

What makes you think it will "depreciate like a rock"?. Porsche GT cars hold their value well and some like the 997 GT3 RS have increased considerably with the 4.0 version selling above MSRP.

 

I wouldn't really cross shop the two, but the specs are amazingly similar. Same HP, within 100lbs in weight, same top speed (meaning similar aero drag/gearing) etc. I like the looks as well.

As to depreciation, I think they'll make a ton more of these than the 911 GT variants, a ton more. So I'd expect more depreciation, though not like a standard Cayman.

That said, I'd never get one over a 355 for similar money, no way, even though mine just tried to immolate itself. If I had 85k lying around, I'd be doing everything I could to get a 355 challenge or a 550 maranello, not a new Porsche.

 

Looks nice but doesn't interest me. If I were to spend that kind of money on a Porsche right now I would be looking for a high mile 993. (just love the look).

Not sure about others but I wasn't cross shopping anything new.

 

It's all speculation right now, but many are throwing around a number of 600 for 2016 with no confirmation of a 2017 MY. I think this number is almost certainly wrong and way on the low side, but the factory does not have capacity to pump out their GT cars like it does their non GT ones. The demand right now for this car seems to far outweigh the potential supply and I bet it will hold its value very well. Only time will tell. What I can say is that a mid engined Cayman with a 911 engine and a GT3 suspension is going to be an amazing car. I've heard that a dealer is CA is asking $45K over list for one. :crazy:

 

Great points for the group. I guess future values will be tied to how many they make. Like similar limited runs on their 911's.

It seems like they just came out with the cayman GTS so I was a little surprised at this on its heels. The cayman will always have a bit of an image issue - but I think once driven, it will win over a lot of buyers, like the z06.

I do think the mindset is different to buying the F355 or 360 over this GT4 but I chalk that up more to the Ferrari vs Porsche thought process and not the car specs which are very similar.

I'm not going to choose a modern minivan even if its faster than our aging cars, but I do think there are many out there with 85k in their pocket shopping that will go for this car with it's new qualities, warranty, and reputed trouble free ownership.

I'll be at the Porsche factory just before hitting Maranello in early April so will have to see what the Germans have been up to.

I did drive a new boxster that we were considering for my wife and thought it was a great experience. Not quite the event of a Ferrari but definitely a lot of fun. My wife for some reason chose a Mercedes slk convertible, which while comfortable, is not a great driving experience...

I think it was the looks that she was not as excited about with the Porsche.

I would echo Steve that I would not be swayed over what the F355 offers but if I was thinking 360, I really think I would be a PCA member again... I guess I need to drive more 360's to give them a fairer shake.

Robb

 

I think this is one of the best looking Porsche's ever. I simply don't spend that kind of money on anything that depreciates like a new Porsche does. I need about 2-3x of my current net worth before buying new Porsche's would even be something I consider.

It is very similar to the F355 in specs. Very, very close.

 

The car looks good but I don't think it's nearly as gorgeous as a 355.

Other than that, will anything else sound this good? I know some here don't seem to care about that but it's what I love the most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm8jhklTPys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhg2SzmCdi4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0OusN1y1Yc

 

Ohhh Robb, you may not want to start a food fight, but you have thrown a dead cow in a coliseum full of hungry tigers.

"It's the people", when I talk with friends, that statement keeps coming up. And most of us agree that P-car and F-car clubs/groups are the only ones worth joining. However, I don't think most of us would 'either/or' a new 'almost supercar' vs. an older 'almost supercar'.

johnk, Please tell us what you really think. Didn't your mother teach you to be kind to inferiors?

 

Very interesting comparison here. I really feel like these cars are attacking 2 different target markets - if you will. While the pricing may be fairly in the same bracket, these are 2 different cars in every sense of the word. From a personal stand point, if I was looking for a 355 - or any F car, I would not even consider the GT4. Yet, if I was looking for an out of the box track car, the 355 wouldn't even be on my radar and the GT4 would be at the top of my list. Both extraordinary vehicles, but I don't think they will be sharing any of the same market segment.

 

Good post Richard.

Please accept my apology on the cow. (LOL) I promise I'm not trolling it up!

I like the responses so far. I think most cars have their cool pluses and I see a bunch with the GT4. I also see many with the alfa 4c - but that does not have a manual gearbox - sigh. The GT4 ONLY offers the manual which is nice.

So I think the consensus makes sense on exotic vs track toy. and the GT4 would be an addition not substitution.

The cow is now gone, but I like the good back in forth on good options that we have in the modern world that are not the google or apple self driving variety. Hope is alive with this GT4 and some others...

Robb