OK
so i'm a bit torn.
I'm actively searching for a 993 era C2 because i've been seduced by the sounds and appearance of the 95 - 97 coupes, ('specially in speed yellow).
but
as you can see in my sig, i have the good fortune of being married to someone who in addition to her other sterling qualities, ordered / bought / and lets me drive her 06 Cayman S.

So far i'm leaning to believing that the Cayman is going to outperform the 993 in most every performance benchmark for stock-to-stock comparisons. My brain tells me that a mid-engined platform is superior for MY primary performance interest = handling like a go-cart on rails.

I have a good idea on price differential, nice 993 + $10K = Cayman S.

It kinda boils down to, i'm also very interested in doing maintenance, hobby type stuff, ( suspension mods, oil changes, polishing, exhaust upgrades, waxing, aerokit upgrades, general fiddling under the hood, yet more polishing...............................).

the $64?

How much does the fact that the Cayman's engine is mostly inaccessable diminish the ownership experience for those of you that wrench on your own car?
If at all?

thanks

Craig

 

Craig,
Not a Cayman owner, but I can tell you that I absolutely love to wrench on my '95 993. The car is in pristine condition with 43,000 miles, but I always find something to unbolt, investigate, clean, etc. If you enjoy fiddling with machines, the 993 will not disappoint. In 1.5 years of ownership, I've replaced the shocks/springs, replaced tranny oil, flushed brakes/clutch, replaced brakes, replaced spark plugs, etc, etc, etc. And the car ran fine before all of my 'baseline' seeking activities Just don't tell the wife....

Andreas

 

caymens engine is way way way more accessible then a 993

 

The 993 is a great car (so is speed yellow), in fact I owned a 96 speed yellow 993 for about 2 1/2 years. I did all the things you mentioned (suspension to PSS9, installed HID lighthing, did all the maintenance, changed the both front and back hood shocks, oil changes, brakes, spark plugs, etc.). Don't let the 993 fool you, while it can be worked on there are some things that are RPITA to do. Oil changes are much simplier on a Cayman so are spark plugs. In fact of all the things I done on my former 993, former Boxster and current 996, the spark plug change on the 993 was the worst. It was even worse than changing the coolant tank on my 996. The Boxster was not all that difficult to work on and it appears the Cayman is a little easier since you don't have the stupid top parts, etc. in the way. That being said I have read that if the coolant tank needs replaced watch out. Both cars are great. Get what you enjoy. I would never really discourage someone from getting a 993.

 

Craig
Your belief is absolutely correct. In fact, my Cayman S easily outperforms (by any measure) the well modded '96 993 it replaced, on both the street & track. It's also got great A/C, better seats, more legroom & headroom, etc.

However, if tinkering, maintenance & repairing is your thing you'll have much less to do with a CS that's maybe a year old vs a decade or so old 993. As said, oil changes on the CS are much easier, although brake, suspension, exhaust, etc. work is about the same. Air filter changes in the CS are more involved, 'though most other scheduled maintenance items are easier & intervals are longer. I'll need to replace the CS' serpentine belt in maybe 6+ years, but that's about a 1 hour easy job. The CS' engine is accessible from below, above & in front (see pics & note the underside view is w/o headers), but there's not much to do there. During the 6+ years I owned my 993 I almost always had something on my list that could or needed to be done. Sometimes that was fun, and sometimes a pita.

There are far more electronics/computers in the CS making some seemingly simple tasks problematic. E.g., changing a bulb to other than oem spec may trigger a warning light if the resistence is different. Installing an aftermarket radio can be a big deal. Interior trim pieces in the CS are not as obviously affixed as in the 993 making it look more "put together," but complicating disassembly.

Your choice, as most in life, involves compromises which only you can make. That said, the best car I've ever owned for tinkering was my Triumph TR-6. I always had stuff to fix. Always.

 

thanks for your replies.
i appreciate your input.

craig

ps. Dan, as much as i do like to tinker, a triumph is not on my list, what about an alfa :-) ?