Porsche 911 or Cayman

Stability programs are no substitute for limited slip diffs.

Perhaps the Cayman is for you!

 

am I the only one who sees no point in the "NEW" cayman?
just don't get it. looks like a shrunk yet another porsche

 

yes

 

911. It seems the people have spoken....................hell i like both.

 

Guy's, Porche is in the process of phasing out the old rear engine technology. The Carrera GT and the Boxter/Cayman are the replacement like it or not. German engineering has taken the rear design to heights no one else could, so it is no surprise that Porche will dominate mid-engined design. The Cayman has already bested the 911 around Nurburgring to the tune of four seconds faster with some 40 h.p. less. I guess that speaks enough volume for the worthyness of the chassis package. Oui!

 

This, sir, demonstrates an apparent willingness to buy whatever they're selling (and I don't mean cars):

 

Minority vote - the Cayman...

only if P provides a version with a GT3 engine crammed inside...

 

977 no subsitute ...............

 

Which just goes to show that BMW is going somewhat downhill as well. Don't try to rationalize it out, not putting a LSD in the new 3, or making it available in the sport package is just a way of cutting cost. BMW built cars to a higher caliber in the past than they do now. Probably part of the reason why I prefer the E30 over any of the more recent models.

 

911 for me, I've always liked the shape.

 

As most of the guys here are saying gotta go with the 911. And besides those two extra seats could be used somewhat.. I do like the cayman though and the boxster but if you haven't owned a 911 yet go that route (I intend to as well) then buy other models

 

911, but i'm partial!

 

My vote is the mid-engined model. I applaud Porsche for elevating the mid-engine configuration in their product portfolio - Cayman and Carrera GT. I have owned or raced both rear-engined 911s (6 total from 60's to 90's 911s) and mid-engine cars (328, 914, various open wheel type race cars). It is hard to beat the laws of physics and a mid-engine car beats a rear-engined one with everything else being equal. After all, Porsche's racing history seem to have proven their mid-engine race car prowess in the higher echelons of racing.

Needless to say, I'm a big fan of Ferrari mid-engine cars...

 

cayman

 

355...

er, I mean...

Cayman.

I'm thinking of grabbing a lightly used Cayman after a couple of years (CPO car). If I did another 911 I'd have to back for another 993. IMO, Cayman looks exciting and has a lot of potential - because Porsche doesn't have to devote a whole team to keeping the car's tail in line.

FWIW, the guy who bought my 993 sold his 997 to free up the funds for my car.

I think the 911 has outlived its classic status and needs to bow out gracefully. Porsche can certainly build its uber models (GT3, GT2) on the Cayman platform.

 

I owned an '85 308 and sold it to buy the brand new Boxster S. Quite honestly, guys, the new Boxster S is an infinitely superior car...only the 308's looks are more appealing, but get this...the majority (seriously) of my guy friends and casual observers (mostly my female friends that don't have a clue about cars) say they like the Porsche better. But that's not the point of this thread...the choice between the 911 and the Boxster S/Cayman S was a clear one for me and both were very easily in my budget. Boxster S...or the Cayman S. The cars handle like no other and are known to be better overall performers than their big brother 911. Side-by-side (and this is clearly just personal preference) I think the Cayman looks better than the 911. I'm 6'2 and 210lbs. I fit perfectly in the Cayman (it's actually slightly more comfortable than the Boxster S because you can adjust the seat farther back). For me, the choice was convertible or hard-top...and I love the open air. AUTOMOBILE magazine said in last months issue that if you could own only one sports car for the rest of your life, the Boxster S was the choice. I understand why. And one other note...I never wanted a Boxster before the 2005 model because I was inclined to believe, like many others, that it was very much a chick car. With the new design (including the Cayman in this thought as well) the Boxster is more masculine and has a great sound. Boxster S/Cayman detractors I can almost bet have near zero experience with these cars.

 

Sat4re, that was very well put because I just happen to agree. I was thinking of selling or trading in my Boxter S and getting a Cayman and then I thought I just couldn't bear to part with the Boxter, it drives so nice and I am just so emotionally attached, its just my favorite to drive, so I just decided to keep it and still get the Cayman, but I think I'll wait till next year.

 

Just to support Aureus' assertion that the Cayman/Boxster is a better platform, I recall watching an episode of Top Gear from the most recent British season where they reviewed the Cayman. Clarkson had an interesting chart which showed the specs of the Boxster, Cayman, and 911, and all of the Cayman's specs, the horsepower, size of engine, etc. Here are the numbers:

Car: Engine, Horsepower, Torque, Top Speed

Boxster S: 3.2 L, 276 bhp, 236 lb-ft., 166 mph

Cayman S: 3.4 L, 291 bhp, 251 lb-ft, 171 mph

911 Carrera: 3.6 L, 321 bhp, 273 lb-ft, 177 mph

I think it is interesting how neatly the Cayman's numbers fit between the Boxster and the Carrera, and to me at least it is almost clear that the Cayman was "dumbed down" to fit a certain budget/market. I personally have a Boxster, I think it's simply a blast to drive with the top down (as others have attested to), but if I had to go with a coupe, i'd lean slightly toward the 911 (though I love the Cayman platform). Tough call.

-Jon

 

911!!!!!! I'm also partial to the 911.

 

997S > Cayman S > Boxster S > 997

I drove a Cayman S yesterday, it made my Boxster (99) feel like a dog. They Cayman doesn't have quite as much bite as the 997S, but it is PLENTY fast. And it handles better than the 997S with PASM that I drove. You just can't argue with the mid-engine design, it really makes a difference.

The only problem I had was that it's hard to keep the cost under $70K when you start optioning it out with "the necessities". Gotta love Porsche.

 

Yeah the Porsche option sheet is a scary place to visit... what I found when I looked at used 996's (before deciding on a 993) is that most of the options don't hold their value in the secondary market - i.e., if someone drops a couple grand on color-to-sample seatbelts or something that money is gone.

I think the Cayman is still too new for there to be many CPO cars, but I'm watching. Porsche got it right.

 

Drive both and decide for yourself. I got a 996 turbo S and a Cayman S and to tell you the truth? The Cayman corners and handles so much better. The steering feel is amazing! It feels so light and tossable.

The 911 will always remain an icon. It's tough to overlook it for something that just came out and I might not have baught the Cayman, had I not also owned a 911 at the same time. Saying this, I'm not taking away anything from the Cayman, it's a superb car that begs to be revved and it relishes corners like no other Porsche, save for the CGT ofcourse.