Cayman or 911????
05-27-2016, 09:57 AM
#16
when you ask a first time buyer how they are going to use the car and get "week-end toy" more than not it usually means "i just want to have a po in my garage to show off" .nothing wrong with that ,it is their money so i say get a gen 2 base cay. if they go into a little more detail i say get an s .now if they say they wanna beat up on ALL the cars in their neighborhood for much less money i tell them to get a corvette. if he just wanted to drive a car [and sleep with it] i would tell him to buy a tinkerbell honda
05-27-2016, 04:44 PM
#17
I have a 981 Cayman S and a 991 Carrera S, both with the sport suspension (X73 and SPASM/PDCC). Both are great cars, but very different driving experiences. Which is 'better' depends on what you intend to do with it and what you prefer in a driving experience, so it's hard to really get much out of other people's opinions on the topic.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
I find myself grabbing the keys to the Cayman far more often for its go karty, fun factor, but if my life depended upon getting down a twisty road the fastest, I would definitely choose the Carrera. I also have a Spyder, which gets closer due to the 3.8 engine, but it still can't match the Carrera for pure performance. The Carrera chassis is simply epic.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
I find myself grabbing the keys to the Cayman far more often for its go karty, fun factor, but if my life depended upon getting down a twisty road the fastest, I would definitely choose the Carrera. I also have a Spyder, which gets closer due to the 3.8 engine, but it still can't match the Carrera for pure performance. The Carrera chassis is simply epic.
05-28-2016, 12:59 AM
#18
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I have a 981 Cayman S and a 991 Carrera S, both with the sport suspension (X73 and SPASM/PDCC). Both are great cars, but very different driving experiences. Which is 'better' depends on what you intend to do with it and what you prefer in a driving experience, so it's hard to really get much out of other people's opinions on the topic.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
I find myself grabbing the keys to the Cayman far more often for its go karty, fun factor, but if my life depended upon getting down a twisty road the fastest, I would definitely choose the Carrera. I also have a Spyder, which gets closer due to the 3.8 engine, but it still can't match the Carrera for pure performance. The Carrera chassis is simply epic.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
I find myself grabbing the keys to the Cayman far more often for its go karty, fun factor, but if my life depended upon getting down a twisty road the fastest, I would definitely choose the Carrera. I also have a Spyder, which gets closer due to the 3.8 engine, but it still can't match the Carrera for pure performance. The Carrera chassis is simply epic.
05-28-2016, 03:37 PM
#19
There's a great comparison video on YouTube between a base 991 Carrera with no performance options against a 981 Boxster S, on a short tight track that one would expect would favor the mid engine car. Not only did the base Carrera smoke it by over a second on a short, sub 1 minute lap time track, it did so with so much more composure. Watching the video, it's easy to see how much more refined the Carrera chassis is and how well it works.
05-31-2016, 07:30 AM
#20
Cayman has both a front AND rear trunk! How can anyone resist that? 
05-31-2016, 09:52 AM
#21
There's a great comparison video on YouTube between a base 991 Carrera with no performance options against a 981 Boxster S, on a short tight track that one would expect would favor the mid engine car. Not only did the base Carrera smoke it by over a second on a short, sub 1 minute lap time track, it did so with so much more composure. Watching the video, it's easy to see how much more refined the Carrera chassis is and how well it works.
Like I explained before (and in a different thread) - they are two VERY different cars.
05-31-2016, 11:43 AM
#22
Rennlist Member
I have the same conundrum.
Had a 996. Got a C63. Want to get back in Porsche.
997.2 or Cayman S (2009-).
Both can be had in the $40's. I loved the 996 and have only driven a friend's '03 Boxster.
I need to find a new gen Cayman to get a taste.
TC
Had a 996. Got a C63. Want to get back in Porsche.
997.2 or Cayman S (2009-).
Both can be had in the $40's. I loved the 996 and have only driven a friend's '03 Boxster.
I need to find a new gen Cayman to get a taste.
TC
05-31-2016, 01:46 PM
#23
Burning Brakes
I have a 981 Cayman S and a 991 Carrera S, both with the sport suspension (X73 and SPASM/PDCC). Both are great cars, but very different driving experiences. Which is 'better' depends on what you intend to do with it and what you prefer in a driving experience, so it's hard to really get much out of other people's opinions on the topic.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
The only thing that makes me chuckle is when I hear my fellow Cayman owners say that the 981 platform handles better and or is easier to drive fast than the 991 Carrera. Both cars are awesome to drive, and the 981 definitely offers more of a go karty fun feel to it, but, make no mistake, a similarly suspended Carrera S stomps the Cayman S in terms of out-and-out performance, in every dimension. It is goes faster, stops better, corners better with higher entry speeds and comes off the corners much quicker. And the immense rear grip evokes more confidence.
1. the OP asked about a 997 vs. a 981. Archimedes is basing his perspective on a 991 vs. 981. The 997 and 991 are both 911s but very, very different from a chassis development and drivability perspective. A longer wheelbase, less rear biased engine, and a substantially more advanced chassis can and does make a big difference. I loved my 997.1 Carrera S but other than steering feel, it doesn't hold a candle to a 991.
2. Archimedes argument doesn't leave any room for personal preferences. For him, the 911 corners better but there are a lot of very good drivers out there that will disagree. The way the front loads up in a 911 is very different than a Cayman and some, but not all, prefer that. On the other hand, some, but not all, prefer the inherently better balance of the mid-engine Cayman
The only real answer to the OP's questions is again... drive them both. You won't go wrong either way (unless you need rear seats... then it's a no brainer). They're both great cars.
05-31-2016, 03:27 PM
#24
Agreed, I didn't realize he was talking 997 until after I posted my comment. Figured I'd just leave it up.
06-02-2016, 10:16 AM
#25
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I just got my first CaymanS a few weeks ago. It's still under the 2000 mile break in period, but it's real clear this car wants to go fast. I've owned 911's and will always have a spot for one, but so far..I am really impressed with the Cayman.