99711mike82

Hey guys...

Was pretty set on getting a 997.1/.2 911.... However, after poking around about the Cayman, the pricing for a 2nd generation Cayman are comparable to the 997... What are your suggestions? Pros and Cons of the Cayman?? How are the reliability of the 2nd gen Caymans?? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

-Mike in So Cal

zedcat

test drive them as near back to back as you can and that will answer a lot as to which you prefer. Very different cars. The 911 is faster on street or track. It feels bigger to me. The rear seats are not practical for adult passengers but is sometimes more convenient to be able to toss gear in the back vs opening the frunk. That said a Cayman can carry a lot with the 2 spaces. The 987.2 is quite reliable. The Cayman feels more nimble to me. For a long highway trip I'd probably take a 997. For a weekend spirited drive or a DE I'd take a 987.2. There's also the 911 heritage and mystique if that matters to you. Or the underdog that punches above it's weight with the Cayman. No right or wrong answer. Just my opinion and experience from owning both.

extanker

depends on how you are going to use the car

99711mike82

Will be my weekend toy. Currently driving a BMW 5 series as my "daily beater". Lol!

extanker

a base gen2 cay

Da Hapa

I owned and loved a 997S and currently own a GT4. Both are fantastic sports cars.

Frankly, you need to drive both and make up your mind. I'm not sure (as zedcat suggests above) that the 911 is faster on every track and for every driver. It has better traction but its not as balanced and not as easy to drive fast (for most drivers) as the Cayman is.

If you need rear seats (I'm a dad to a young boy) then the 911 becomes the much more logical choice.

Pro's of the Cayman are the mid engine layout. Con's are the lack or rear seats, less power and frankly there are some in the Pcar community who still foolishly think the Cayman isn't a real Porsche or its a Coxster as Clarkson once famously quipped. I think they're wrong but I also don't give two pieces of feces what anyone thinks about what I drive.

Gen II Caymans (esp. with DFI motors) are very reliable.

eddielasvegas

All 987.2's are reliable, not just DFIs. Cayman Base=SMFI; Cayman S=DFI.


Eddie

f22c

Was in the exact same boat 3 weeks ago. I pulled the trigger on a 981 '14 Cayman S instead of a 2011 Carrera S. Same price.

Many people are saying, "it depends on what you're using it for..." I would say, "I'm using it for driving. 99% of the people debating between a 911 and a Cayman are not looking for utility. They're looking for a driving experience. That said, the hardest thing for me to decide between was: the 911's presence, heritage, resale value, and "911 aura" vs a newer, better designed (mid engine), more visceral "little brother," to the 911. I hate the nickname, but it will never cease and it is what it is. In the end, for me, the Cayman won. Why? It's simply more fun than a 911.

To me, the Cayman is just more raw, not just more balanced. Though I agree with the 911"not as balanced and not as easy to drive fast (for most drivers) as the Cayman is." this statement can almost sound like, "for a beginner" a Cayman is better, which makes the Cayman seem, "entry level." More balanced doesn't just mean easier to drive, it means more fun too. Why do you think a Go-Kart is so fun? because of it's lap times? 0-60 times? top speed? No. It's fun because it's small, quick, agile, low to the ground, etc.

I want to want to drive my car, I want to be entertained every time I sit behind the wheel. The sound of the side vents sucking in air, the sound of that flat six screaming to near 8000 is intoxicating. The connectivity that I feel just wasn't nearly as pronounced with a 997 Carrera S. That 997 911 to me, was just too refined for my taste. If I had a choice of 997 GT3, I would take it. but a 997 Carrera S is just a bit to polished for me. If you never try a cayman s, you might think the 997 is great, fantastic, fun car....and it is in its own right. however, if you test drive them back to back, I'd be willing to bet a quarter you'd pick the Cayman.

I HIGHLY recommend watching these two reviews:

extanker

^^^^ i think some one is sleeping with their car. dude

f22c

+1

TexasRider

Wow RL is really getting bad these days.


The complete and only answer is Both.

cretinx

This.

They're two very different cars.

zirrah

Drive them. Only you can decide the answer to this question.

joey c

You can't go wrong with any of them..I have had 4 911's and 3 caymans..They are different cars and both are fun and great to own..I had a 997s and a 991s..the 997 felt like a better sports car while the 991 was a better daily driver..
I had a 981CS and now have a 987.1CS ..same scenario..The 987 sounds better and feels like a more raw sports car..the 981 feels softer and more luxury oriented but also handles great..you really need to think about what it is you want..good luck

MSHii

I agree with zed cat about test driving both cars, but doing so at your local dealer probably won't provide much usable data for you to make a decision. That said, why not go to the Porsche Experience Center and opt for a mid vs. rear program? This would give you a chance to really lean on both cars in an environment where you wouldn't have to worry about tickets or other (street) drivers.

It will be some time before the L.A. PEC is completed, but the facility in Atlanta is open and will take great care of you.

As most of the other posters have said, you can't go wrong either way. It really is a matter of preference, and what better way to find out what you prefer?