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Comments
Technically, you're right. Although I would never call the 911 a family car. On the other hand, the M3 is basically a 2-door sedan and it has the back seat and trunk space to serve that function. Of course you pay for that utility with a high curb weight and all the performance penalties that go along with it. The upcoming E92 M3 will only be worse.
You did make me remember one car that I overlooked earlier. The only "real sports car" with a "real back seat." The Mazda RX-8.
No, but I haven't pushed the car to its limits. yet. I'm going to take the Porsche advanced driving school next spring before I take the car to a track. From what my dealer tells me, corroborated by a friend who was formerly with Porsche's racing team, the 997's are a further improvement over the 996 and far less tail happy than the early 911's. Suspension advances and massive rubber (295/30 19") in the rear takes quite a bit of effort to break loose - and then only when the PSM (Porsche Stability Management) is turned off.
On the other hand, I hear nothing but praise for the handling of the perfectly balanced Cayman S (and Boxster S). Back when I bought in September 2005, I fully expected to get a Speed Yellow Boxster S that I had been eyeing. But a couple of test drives of a base 911 convinced me that, in addition to carrying my kids, it had the overall performance and solid feel I was looking for. Then a 911 "S" became available at the right price and I've never looked back.
One thing I will offer is that the 997 is fine for everyday driving. In the last 11 months, I've put 8,800 miles on it and only 2,900 miles on my "everyday" sedan (TL). That is not something I expected, but, thanks to the PASM, even the 19" wheels and tires are not incompatible with the Washington DC area.
All three cars you are looking at are exceptional at what they do. Picking the one that's right for you is the key.
Then recover some of the Cayman's "GO" by adding a SuperCharger driven by an A/C motor using a variable frequency drive powered by the 270 volt hybrid battery.
What do yawl think...?
That's kind of like asking the question of what I would think about putting vinyl or aluminum siding on Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater to make it more maintenance free.
I think you missed your daily dose of Prozac.
Worth paying for the 50bhp and 0.7 sec(0-100km/h)difference?
Thanks a million.
Worth paying for the 50bhp and 0.7 sec(0-100km/h)difference?
Equipment for equipment, what is the actual difference in $'s you're looking at?
If you would be happy with a basic base model Cayman without loading up on other options, I can see that being a prudent choice. But if you start adding options, I would be tempted to go for the S. Before getting the 911, I had been considering the Boxster and the difference between the 280 hp "S" and 240 hp base was definitely noticable. I would imagine the 50 hp difference between the base and S Caymans would be even more so. But test drive them both yourself and don't just go by 0-60 times.
So is it worth the while to take the jump S$40k jump from a cayman to a cayman S? Is 50bhp a big diff in performance, when considering the max torque for both only kicks in after 4000rpm. I am just worried after buying the 2.7lcayman, I might outgrow it and find it sluggish after a while knowing that there is a S out there and given the slew of pretty tempting deals coming in next year.
Tks!
PASM, in my opinion, is a must for enjoying the car as a daily driver. I can handle the streets of DC with my 911S without losing my fillings in normal mode, but on a smooth highway or two lane country road, the sport setting is perfect for "spirited" driving.
I would not order a Cayman with 19" wheels without also getting the PASM. As a matter of fact, I'd order PASM with 18" wheels and have both a better handling, and more comfortable riding Cayman than one with 19" wheels but no PASM.
I'm sitting down ... so tell me what the actual base price of a Cayman S is in Singapore. From the sounds of it, probably the equivalent of what you would pay for a 911 Turbo in the U.S. Now I know why Porsche had me sign an agreement that I would not sell or transport my 911 out of the United States after purchase.
In any event, a Cayman with 18" wheels and sport chrono wouldn't be a bad choice. Of all of the "performance" options, I think sport chrono, with the faster throttle and braking response, is perhaps the best bang or the buck.
The base suspension is very good. I thought I would really want the PASM; but after having lived with the standard suspension for 3k miles, I'm completely happy.
The 2.7 engine is an absolute gem. There have been very few times when I have actually wanted more horsepower, although this may change when I take it to the track.
I think the base Cayman is all about balance between the engine, suspension and brakes. It is absolutely the most satisfying car I have ever driven, and gets better every day.
Foibles: Rear hatch thunk, cheap interior bits (e.g., gear shift knob), and ridiculously bad sound system.
I got 13% off MSRP, so I also think the "true" price difference between the base and "S" is actually greater.
I know you cannot name any sales people, but could you post which dealership gave you 13% off MSRP. Thanks a bunch.
The stereo is indeed pretty awful. Reception is bad, sound quality is tinny and weak, and you can only lock-in stations with a strong signal. I would make sure to try it out before buying it. I'm not an audiophile, but even NPR sounds bad.
For the cost of the Bose upgrade and 6-CD changer in the trunk, I'm wholly unimpressed. I didn't buy the 911 as a concert hall cruiser, but even the measly 2 speaker system on my former Honda S2000 wasn't much worse. And when I added rear speakers to it, it was at least as good. That said, I think an aftermarket system can look like a cheap add-on to a very attractive interior. I had an XMSR "commander" receiver installed in the lower open splot in the 911 center stack and it looks acceptable, thanks to the reciever's finish which matches the center stack trim. But when I look at the typical aftermarket systems sold by Best Buy and see all these crazy LED lights and wild colors, it makes my skin crawl to think of one of those in a Porsche.
In any event, the Bose is a total waste of money in my opinion also. They key is to find good speakers. As far as I am concerned you can’t do worse than the sound equipment Porsche provides, the only thing I would be most vigilant about is the person who actually does the installation. Of course you don’t want any hack touching your car. When I was younger and less busy I would have done it myself. The last sound system I installed included the very first Panasonic 8-track tape deck. The car was my first also, a 65 red Impala SS coupe. The tape deck got stolen at school and eventually the car met the same fate. I fondly remember it sounding like Carnegie Hall, the Village Gate and the Fillmore East but I'm sure my memory is exaggerating a bit.
;-)
It really is a travesty for a $50K vehicle to have a much worse stereo than the last three Subaru's I've owned.
It really is a travesty for a $50K vehicle to have a much worse stereo than the last three Subaru's I've owned.
LMAO! I know you speak the truth because I also have a Subie. The good news is that these P-cars are awesome drivers and good lookers. I'm willing to make the compromise with the sound. Heck, every car these days comes with some sort of compromise. Enjoy your Cayman. It's probably the best pure driver's car around.
The Cayman is right up there as "the best pure driver's car" with my old '95 Miata R package, which actually had a worse stereo than the Cayman. I see and confirm your correlation.
All very appealing cars, but in very different ways.
Cross shopping a 2-seat sports car with a 4,000 lb 5- passenger sport sedan and a AWD compact sedan. Any reason you didn't throw in any of the other 200 or so sports cars, coupes, sedans and crossovers?
Seriously, there is no comparison. The 550i 6-speed would be on the top of my list if my Acura TL got hit by a bus. The Cayman S could be on the top of my list is 8-10 years when my kids are in college and it's time to replace my 911. The S4 is not on any of my lists - I'd take the RWD lighter, nimbler M3 if I were looking in that segment, but I'm not.
I will say I have no idea what a CS is, but I suspect it fits in with this group about as well as the other three. You need to do some needs/preferences assessments before you pull out your checkbook. Or try to test drive the other 197 cars that fall within the segments you identified.
CS = Cayman S
I'm certainly not "pure" enough to be offended and had you phrased your question with that qualifier (use as a daily driver) I would have withheld the Prozac comment.
In the past 14 months, I've put 11,500 miles on my 911S and under 3,000 miles on my Acura TL. And most of the Acura miles were out of feeling guilty seeing it sit there. Thanks to PASM, the 911S on "normal" suspension setting is pretty street friendly. If you have to deal with snow, that will require winter wheels/tires. I think the Cayman would make a great commuter car.
The Cayman S is an exceptional handling car, It is intuitive - even a relative novice can get one around a track reasonably quickly after a few tries. Also, I liked the light weight - making it feel quicker in transition than it actually is. (Same is true for the Boxster S).
However, after driving both at a track, the 911 C2S became my choice. It is not as "intuitive" as the Cayman, but once you learn how to drive it, I found it to be quite a bit quicker around the track. The 911 and Cayman are almost neck and neck in the turns, but the 911's power difference is a significant advantage on the straights.
I don't think you can go wrong with either car. However, I do think the Cayman S interest has peaked. A lot of the initial interest from the press and reviewers was from the camp that has had "issues" with the 911 for decades. They thought the Boxster S was the best handling Porsche ever a couple of years ago. I'm here to claim the 911 is a great handling car - and with the 997 models standard PASM & PSM, Porsche has evolved it tremendously from what it was just 10 years ago, let alone its early days 30+/- years ago.
P.S. I also recommend you test the C2S rather than the C4S as a better comparison to the Cayman s. The "4" is nearly 200 lbs heavier and has approximately 3-5% less drivetrain efficiency (wheel horsepower) than the "2". The C2S is noticably quicker and IMO, feels more nimble. I've heard it claimed that in actual tests (not Porsche published numbers), the C4S and the base C2 are neck and neck in acceleration, with the C2 being better in handling on dry pavement. The C2S is a notch or two up from both. Maybe it just runs in the family. My brother, a former Porsche racing team member, prefers the RWD 997 GT3 to the AWD Turbo, at least on a track. If you are planning a lot of rain or light snow use, the "4" would make a good choice, but it wasn't mine and I live in New England.
Makes me smile every time I am in the car. I think we are on 3400 miles in 8 weeks and its so pleasurable to drive. Regarding the 911 I have no doubt that within a couple of years the Caymen will be the 911 replacement as a racer. It is already awesome around the Nurburgring and adding the LSD and upping the power will see it beating 911's no problem.
And to think its got 20 year build quality : ) Incidentally the Valmet factory is laying off workers this week so Porsche may be taking a view that it will preserve price and cachet by building less of them.
Since we are among friends here who share a passion for Porsche, I won't fault you for your prediction. But I will suggest you don't hold your breath. The 911 is, after all, only 40 years old and has variants that run from $70k to the $200k GT2. No matter how many physics professors have suggested to Porsche that they stop breaking the laws and come up with a mid engine design for their flagship, they have been stubbornly hanging in there with the 911 and making more profit per car than any other manufacturer, period.
When I was at the plant in September, I asked the very question of whether or not the Cayman was destined to be, in a more powerful form, the 911 racer replacement. Thankfully, my Turbo was already in production, or they would have kicked me out of the waiting line. I'm not defending the rear engine vs. mid engine layout. Personally, if that was the only question, I'd prefer the latter. But purely from a financial perspective, the Cayman is, so far, only a footnote to the 911 in sales and profitability. My dealer sold out his first allocation of Cayman S's 6 months in advance. He's now sitting with an "uncomfortably high" inventory of both base and S models. So I would have to agree with redsoxgirl, the initial infatuation has worn off rather quickly. That doesn't diminish the fact that it is a very nice car, but if the reaction I got in Stuttgart was any indication, the 911 will remain the Porsche flagship (racing and otherwise) until all I can drive is a wheelchair.
For the record, the Carerra GT was the most expensive road legal Porsche. From Wikipedia:
Originally, a production run of 1,500 cars was slated. But Porsche announced in August, 2005 that it would not continue production of the Carrera GT throughout 2006. Porsche announced that this discontinuation was due to changing airbag regulations in the US. However, reports of diminishing sales volumes, relatively high dealer inventory levels, and dealer discounts below MSRP were reported by the automotive press as being the true factors driving an early end to the production run.
So if you are using price as a surrogate for "flagship", it is currently the 911 Turbo. But I think most people would look at the Carerra GT as more of an interesting experiment than a company flagship. You need more than Jay Leno and a few hundred other near billionares to be waving a flagship for it to be seen by the poor masses like us.
Second Item - While the Cayman S did set a sales record for any Porsche sports car at any time ever built in its first month of release demand has dropped from the initial spike but has held steady for the last 6 months. Meanwhile the demand for both the Cayenne and the 997 has fallen off (exception being the recently released turbo and GT3). The Cayman's monthly sales figures are publicly available for your review - source CaymanClub.Net
Will the Cayman replace the 911 as the factory race car? No - not accordingly to Wolfgang Porsche who said that while the engineers at Porsche recognize that it would be superior race car on the track and would beat the 911, Porsche management will not allow that to happen. He went on to suggest that if the Cayman were raced in an event where they did not compete head to head with the 911 that Porsche would consider backing such an event but he suspected that it would have to be a grass roots effort initially. - source CaymanClub.Net
As I said in a previous post if you are deciding between a Cayman and a 997, choose the one that best fits your style and preferences but have no preconceived notions that just because you pay more for something that it is in some way a superior car. Deciding between those two is like deciding between two supermodels to take to dinner, is there really a wrong choice?
I didn't know the Carerra GT is no longer in production, so I stand corrected. It was the flagship.
MSRP is $55,795
Money Factor is .00310.
Lease terms 36 MONTHS 12k miles per year
Intial money out of pocket $3,988
Monthly Payments is $737
Is this a good deal?
MSRP: $54,350
Gross Cap: $47,650
Cap Cost Reduction: $ 2,174
Residual: $40,0185.70
License: $359
Doc Prep: $790 (!)
Monthly before Tax: $498.82
Drive-off with 1st month: $4,038
MF: I belive it works out to about 7.5%
Thank you the information you provided. What really is Cap Cost Reduction? Do dealers disclose that information?
And by the way, what dealership did you get you car from?
MSRP $50,965
39 month, 10k miles per year ($.30 per mile over)
Intitial total out of pocket due $4,639
Payments: $399/month
By my simple math, if you amortized 100% of the entire additional cost of your options $4,800 ($123/month) over the lease term and added 2,000 miles a year @$0.30 to the payment ($50/month) and added the difference in intial payment to the lease ($651 = 17/month), it would appear that the equivalent 39 month lease from Princeton on the car you want at 12k miles per year and with a $3998 initial payment would only be about $589 per month.
$4,000 up front and $737 for a base Caymen seems like an extraordinary amount. I know it's not a fair comparison, but I could sell my fully loaded 2005 911S Cabriolet at 15 months and 11.5k miles for about $10-12k less than I paid for it (new, cash sale). I did get a great discount up front ($10k), but the current discounts on a Cayman S are even greater in percentage terms.
Much appreciate it. Thanks!