Boxster v Cayman

I went through the same comparison exercise as to which Porsche gives the best value.
Boxster seems to win out for the convertable top and lower price.
Unless you want a street racer.
Then get the 996TT as posted before. Incredible value.

Wife told me "No Porsche". It was to be "her" car. I was deluding myself with visions of 996GT3s or X50 TT's

 

I've driven a base Cayman, unfortunately with a power-sapping Tiptronic gearbox. I've also driven the 986 version Boxster S, manual. I didn't have them on a track, but in some fairly vigorous street driving I couldn't tell much difference. You'd have to be pushing it pretty hard to unstick either of them (unlike the 996, which I've also driven, and which felt like it could bite you if you got stupid in the corners.)

I hate to admit it, but one reason I may go for a Cayman in the near future is that it has a decent amount of space for carrying stuff -- you could use it everyday. Not for moving pianos, but for driving to work and on errands. It's a clever package - basically you get back all the space used by the Boxster folding top.

The engine is mounted low so there's good visibility straight back, and it forms a sort of deck for smaller items, dry cleaning, etc. Considering how useless the 997 rear seats are, it's not a bad tradeoff.

Everything else about the Cayman is deja vu. Same instruments, same seats, etc., as the 987 Boxster.

 

Actually the Cayman is louder. The engine noise is trapped inside the cabin vs. outside the cabin in the Boxster. I am a bit biased as I just got an 03 986 Boxster S, but I find that even though I didn't think I would, I use it 80% of the time. And it is my daily driver. Nothing is better than leaving a long day at the capitol and putting the top down on the way home.

 

What about chassis stiffness? Typically a car with a roof is stiffer than a car without, of course it also adds weight on a higher center of gravity.

 

I did a B2B test and the Cayman S won hands down on handling compared to the Boxster S - even my better half commented on the stability of the Cayman.

We went Cayman and I drive it day to day.

 

Are you a convertible guy or aren't ya? I prefer the Boxster.

 

I have owned the Boxster S... did nothing for me... felt slow with the tip...

Having said that, you can get another boxster s for 15-20k, or less. A cayman will run 2-3x that... Boxster seems like a no brainer. They are so cheap now, why not get one, mod the heck out of it (996 motor, etc)... lower it, etc. Would be a killer daily driver for peanuts...

 

The Boxster Spec Rules are making for an increasing popular series...

http://www.boxsterspecracing.org/home/index.php?location=home

 

I find the cayman alot prettier, but I would opt for the Boxster with my money. Lower in cost, dropping the top is a treat even if you only use it once in a while, and I'm kind of partial to the 986, which doesn't have a Cayman as an option.

 

It just felt way more planted ...... and seemed more involved than the Boxster.

 

I owned 2 996tt, in my opinion without mods, including conversion to RWD it is not very exciting, though the mods are pretty inexpensive on that car. The caymanS is an amazing ride, and TPC just came out with a TT kit that will push it to around 500hp. That would be the way I'd go.

 

Can you fit a set of golf clubs in the back of a cayman?

 

Yes. And you can put them in the rear trunk of a boxster as well. At least that's what one individual on 986forum.com had said. I have no idea how he was able to do it.

 

I owned a 2005 Boxster S and found it to be quite fun - as much fun, in fact, as my '85 308. I love convertibles and found the Boxster S to be very comfortable to drive with the top down. If I was currently in the market for either the Boxster S or the newest Cayman S, I would go with the Cayman S based on the shear number of reviews claiming it to be one of the greatest sports cars ever, from the performance/driving standpoint (not necessarily looks, though it is by no means ugly). Personally, I think the Boxster/Cayman series of cars are fantastic and, quite honestly, more engaging and fun than their bigger brothers.

 

Cayman seems like a lot of fun
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A look at both
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i had a 99 base model and loved it as daily driver. it was a lightly optioned one and felt a little like a rental car but was very dependable.

only bargin p ever offered is a convt for less than a coupe with boxt/cayman. a new s model in dark green with tan interior and big wheels has a nice british retro feel to it. have to watch option $ as $90k is not hard to reach which is nuts.

have to consider 370z also.

 

That is kkkrazy. 90K for a loaded entry level P car ? whoa. The additional options bring zero additional value, at the time of sale.

90K, will buy you a really nice problem free low miles 996 GT2. The 90K Cayman S, will be worth 20/30K+ in four years ? + if you finance ? ($$$).



A 996GT2 problem-free driver purchased for 75K, will bring about the same money, at the time of resale - if the additional mileage is reasonable.

Solution. Use the 996GT2 as an alternative dd. Buy a Corolla automatic, with a desire to try and drive it into the ground.

 

Porsche claims the coupe is 2x stiffer than the convertible (in torsion I believe). It's a pretty tight convertible to start with.

 

It's cool to hear you folks speaking so positively of the Boxster/Cayman. There are plenty of Porsche owners who don't give it the kind of respect (or any other p-car without the engine in back) that you guys have.

 

I have a Boxster and I love it! I like the Cayman also though and what sold me on the Boxster was when I test drove it and put the top down.

 

They are bloody good cars, no question.....

I also have a 356, 911 and Cayenne so I might be a shade biased though !