Hendraw72

Hi All

I am new to the forum and just wanted to hear opinion from people that own 2011-2012 Porsche Cayman R.

I took a test drive for 2012 used Cayman R with manual gearbox and I enjoy it, really such a fun and fast car to drive but I never own a Porsche before and knowing it is a high performance car that can be expensive to maintain.

I went and check what the insurance cost difference and the Cayman R is about $20 more expensive than my current car.
What are the typical problems for this car? Is it expensive to maintain? How reliable it is as a daily driver? I don't track my car, but just enjoying driving. My current daily driver is 2009 E92 BMW M3 which seem really heavy compare to the Cayman R. Is it worth to trade the M3 to the Cayman R?

Any opinions is greatly appreciated

Thanks

DBH

I cannot answer directly as I have a 2015 Cayman GTS which is very similar to "R" both in performance and handling. However my previous car was a E92 M3.


My observations:
1) cost to maintain is similar to M3,
2) cost to insure was actually less,
3) straight line performance similar,
4) handling - Porsche is MUCH superior,
5) daily driving about the same (my cars manual trany) except the Porsche is a lot more fun!!!

Hendraw72

Thanks for your help.

I think the insurance is more expensive because the cayman R is newer 2012 compare to my 2009 M3 which is older.

Did you trade in the M3 to the GTS? The one thing I really did like on the M3 is the sound of the V8 engine, but you are right, the cayman is much more exciting to drive

DBH

The price of insurance is dependent on too many variables. As long as you shop around, you'll find the lowest price for you.


Yes, I traded the M3 for the CGTS. Got a very good deal and ordered it just as I wanted it. One of the options included in the GTS model is the sport exhaust. Not sure if the R has this, but it is awesome!!


I recently received my copy of Excellence (Nov. '15) which includes an article comparing the R vs. GTS. I haven't read it yet, but it might give you some insight into the R.


Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Hendraw72

No sport exhaust and no light weight bucket seat on the Cayman R that I test drive, but it has AC, sound system and Sport Chrono thing.

I could live without sound system but I think the bucket seat looks damn cool unfortunately this one doesn't have it.

Let me know what you find in the article, although I am not sure I can afford the GTS

I'll think it over and see what I want, so damn tempting lol

RDCR

The LWBs are not the best setup for a daily driver. I wouldn't pass on a CR because it didn't have those unless you're going to the track with it occasionally.

Hendraw72

Thanks for the info. Still haven't decided to be honest. I really want one but I can't afford to have both

number 9

I just sold my R to make room for a new gt4 due any day now. I strongly suggest you buy an R now with prices as they are! Get the sport exhaust but don't sweat the bucket seats unless you'll be tracking the car. You can always get back into an M3 but you'll probably never go back.

Hendraw72

Thanks. I think the dealer is putting the price to be high knowing it is a "collector item" not sure how much I can get it lower, but I got a sense that people say it might be an investment car that might go up in value in the long term?

masti99

Go trade and enjoy the heck out of it!

number 9

Look for a good used example from a private buyer! Why pay dealer markup when you could save a ton of money and help a fellow enthusiast sell their car?

Hendraw72

Well one issue is that I live in Vancouver, Canada and we don't have that many stock of Cayman R available. I look around in Craigslist and that's the only one available. One option might be importing from US, but the exchange is so damn high right now .

Hendraw72

I notice something which I think it's kinda peculiar comparing Cayman R and the newer Cayman GTS.

Seem like based on the spec from Porsche itself, the Cayman R is slighty faster in term of 0-60 in 4.7 in manual compare to 4.9 in GTS also in manual. GTS has more horsepower 340 compare to 330 to the Cayman R. I assume that GTS is heavier than Cayman R?

zedcat

Porsche USA's spec for GTS is 0-60 in 4.6 sec. They are very close. I have a 12 R and a track buddy has a 15 GTS x73. Both 6MT. We are pretty close in lap times but he will pull on me a little on long straights. He also has the auto blip. I have to rev match on my own. The GTS interior is nicer but I like the feel of the R. Both great cars.

golfnutintib

c r has substantially more sporty feel and far far superior handling than e92 m3

both cars engines feel soft at low rpms, come on strong about 4K

m3 is a practical, everyday car with a silky, sporty feel - but relatively speaking it is heavy, softly sprung and ponderous

c r is a true sports car that is much less practical but much more exciting and has substantially higher fun to drive factor and cornering limits

don't know if a football analogy makes sense - m3 is an outside linebacker c r is a cover corner yeah both athletic one much more mass one changes direction alot better... both may get from a to b in same time but their nature is very different

c r has greater collector value even if driven - just too many e92 m3's out there