Base owner regrets???
03-19-2017, 04:46 PM
#49
The timing of this thread could not have been better. The wife was due a new car and she insisted on an SUV. Her 15 year old Lexus RX300 was still running great with only 125K on it. She was thinking of a Cayenne, Macan, BMW or Audi SUV. Her car, her choice. I had suggested she consider a car instead of an SUV. I got the "I don't think so look".
The prior weekend we went to start test driving vehicles to narrow the list down. Went to Porsche first. She fell in love with the Cayman in the show room. We test drove the Macan and she was hooked with new car fever. It was as good as sold. She said she would drive a car so she could eliminate that as a choice. At 5'-0", she was not comfortable trying to see over hood on the 718 in the showroom. They did not have a base model to test drive... she drove a 90K 718 S. I honestly didn't think she would be driving back on the return test drive... thought she would have had the salesman drive it back due to visibility & a complete change from what she was used too. She was driving on the return, and the grin on her face when she got out of the car was priceless.
We ordered the base 718 with plenty of options. We have not drove a base model 718 since they did not have one in stock, but she is not a speed junkie. She loves the handling more than the speed.... at least for now. According to the salesman, she most probably did not push the 718 S hard enough to notice the handling and performance differences once she receives her vehicle.
She will keep this vehicle for a long time. I will need to fill the newly constructed and empty third car garage. I'm thinking Porsche with more power... 718 S, 718 GT4, 911.....Hmmmmm????
The prior weekend we went to start test driving vehicles to narrow the list down. Went to Porsche first. She fell in love with the Cayman in the show room. We test drove the Macan and she was hooked with new car fever. It was as good as sold. She said she would drive a car so she could eliminate that as a choice. At 5'-0", she was not comfortable trying to see over hood on the 718 in the showroom. They did not have a base model to test drive... she drove a 90K 718 S. I honestly didn't think she would be driving back on the return test drive... thought she would have had the salesman drive it back due to visibility & a complete change from what she was used too. She was driving on the return, and the grin on her face when she got out of the car was priceless.
We ordered the base 718 with plenty of options. We have not drove a base model 718 since they did not have one in stock, but she is not a speed junkie. She loves the handling more than the speed.... at least for now. According to the salesman, she most probably did not push the 718 S hard enough to notice the handling and performance differences once she receives her vehicle.
She will keep this vehicle for a long time. I will need to fill the newly constructed and empty third car garage. I'm thinking Porsche with more power... 718 S, 718 GT4, 911.....Hmmmmm????
03-19-2017, 06:06 PM
#50
Be sure to join PCA if you have not already and get your wife to sign up for track or auto cross. One of the shortest members of the opposite sex in our chapter won rookie of the year in club racing a couple years ago. You might be in for a surprise..
03-19-2017, 08:03 PM
#51
Rennlist Member
When I was shopping for my 987.1 Boxster I test drove both base and S models. I ended up with the S for a few reasons.
1) I found the base to be a bit under powered
2) I preferred the 6 speed gearbox in the S
3) I preferred the larger OEM wheels ordered on most S models
1) I found the base to be a bit under powered
2) I preferred the 6 speed gearbox in the S
3) I preferred the larger OEM wheels ordered on most S models
The power thing is obviously subjective. Not sure what "under-powered" means. More is almost always better, but I will take a loaded base over an S, and of course a loaded S over anything. But the latter is hard to find, frankly!
03-23-2017, 11:19 AM
#53
Rennlist Member
I sense a growing interest in these base Caymans / Boxsters as many drivers long for a spirited motoring experience, with lots of noise and drama, but not at jail-time speeds. I for one keep dropping in HP but still loving the Porsche experience. Maybe once I hit the track in a couple of months I may start to lust for that extra HP but for now, as a daily driver, the base is super fun and zero regrets other than I keep reaching for the button to drop the top. 
03-23-2017, 04:05 PM
#54
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Hopefully several events a year after this year - though I'm probably mostly talking about DE. The car will be a daily driver, too.
Probably this first year I'm just going to autocross (been autox'ing 944/951s for ~10 years), to learn the car and lower the risk of smashing it up the first year.
Interested in non-drastic upgrades like you speak of, however I have a CPO car and am concerned about impacts to that. I've seen a number of threads on tunes and even headers and there seems to be some mixed experiences in terms of warranties.
Probably this first year I'm just going to autocross (been autox'ing 944/951s for ~10 years), to learn the car and lower the risk of smashing it up the first year.
Interested in non-drastic upgrades like you speak of, however I have a CPO car and am concerned about impacts to that. I've seen a number of threads on tunes and even headers and there seems to be some mixed experiences in terms of warranties.
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Porsche Performance Specialist
John@Fabspeed.com
215-618-9796
Fabspeed Motorsport USA
155 Commerce Drive Fort Washington, PA 19034
www.Fabspeed.com
03-28-2017, 12:21 PM
#56
Rennlist Member
What did you decide base or "S"? My experience...I test drove a 2016 base Cayman with MT and one with PDK, a 2014 Cayman S with PDK, a 2017 base Cayman and Cayman S both with PDK and a 2017 Carrera 911 with PDK. I was initially leaning toward the base Cayman but was prepared to go the 120K for the 2017 911 Carrera but on the day I test drove the 2017 Cayman S, and 911......the car that was the most fun to drive, hands down, was the 2017 Cayman S with PDK. I decided since we are on the verge of a year change to order the 2018 Cayman S. I placed the order on the 15th of March and it is scheduled to enter the body shop (V260) on the 16th of June......