Yes the Scion is THAT good.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/64402414/Wheels-sml.pdf

 

hmm, you'd be an idiot to take the FRS over cayman if price is no object.

FRS should be a fun car. but it wont keep up with modern porsches. it's at par with 944 and early Boxster in performance.

 

In what world is a Cayman $115,100? You couldn't even spec a Cayman R that high!

The article also says that the tested Cayman "Shares just-launched Boxster's Panamera-inspired interior". Where, I don't see it.

I'll remain skeptical until I drive the 86, but I'd still rather have the Cayman based on looks alone.

 

Australia, prices are crazy high there. Scion is high too, I think they will be about 25K here.

 

You do realize that for 99% of the world price IS an object.

The Toyobaru twins look promising, and for the mid to upper $20's offer a great car for the price. I don't see many Cayman vs. Toyobaru cross-shoppers, perhaps some of the early year Caymans vs a new Toyobaru, but not new for new.

All else equal, hell yeah the Cayman is a better car. Reality is, new for new, the Cayman is 2x the price. It damn well be a better car!!

 

I think it is more of a complement to the Cayman because it was Toyota's benchmark. The frs/brz should be fun cars at their price point.

 

For pre-owned potential buyers like me, it is very difficult to get back into a Cayman. When I turned in my base in '08 at the end of the lease, the buy-out was $38K (MSRP was $54K, paid $48K). It had some unresolved issues, so buying it was not an option. So, I looked for another pre-owned. Prices did not drop as Porsche started rationing them in the US. Then all of the issues with the pre- '09's going boom if they even smelled a track, led me to wait until the '09+'s depreciated to the sub $40K price point - still waiting.

The Suby BRZ is definitely going to get a hard look. I have had many Subaru's including a track prepped WRX wagon and OBXT, so like the brand. The only question is whether I have enough head room. If my budget doubled, however, I would get a Cayman without a moments thought.

 

I'd like to resurrect this thread to see if anyone has had the chance to drive both cars and reflect.

I had a quick test drive in an frs and a week later a Cayman '08 base. Without really pushing either, the Cayman's noises were way nicer and the steering felt more communicative (though I would need to try again to be sure; I was frankly blown away by the Cayman's chatty rack). The frs shifter was far better, but the clutch was a bit less communicative.

I loved loved loved the cayman, but with 2 toddlers those back seats are a big help even if they would only be used occasionally. I also found myself at the very back end of the seat's travel, which was surprising to me, as I'm only 6'2" with relatively short legs.

Anyone else had the chance to drive them more in depth back to back? I don't care about panache or track times, just about driving engagement.

 

I test drove a FRS on familiar roads. It was actually a lot of fun for a $25k car. I read reviews that the Cayman was the benchmark when developing the Scion. I drove a leftover new 2011 base Cayman afterwards. The Porsche was in another league. I got a great deal, so I went with the benchmark for twice the money. If I only had 25k to spend, I would try to get a used Cayman first. The FRS is really good though.

 

I own a BRZ. I've driven a few Caymans over the years, mostly later DFI S/R variants. I think one of the guys on NASIOC, the Scooby forum, said it best. The BRZ/FRS is 90% of the car at 50% of the price.

$25-30K Caymans are going to be first gen non-S cars or really high mile '05-'07 S's. To get a Cayman that is substantially better than the Subayota is going to take $40-50K.

 

Well on the Porsche forum I would say the FR-S is 70% of the Cayman at 50% of the price.

 

For those who need a backseat to transport kiddos from time to time it fits the bill and doesn't break the bank either. I'm on delivery list for the scooby version with late September arrival. For those considering also look at a MX-5 Miata power folding hardtop and the Genesis Coupe 2.0T Spec R (has the brembo brake upgrade and firmer suspension). The 2.0T is the BRZ's most direct competition.

 

I'll be test driving both cars very soon and am interested to observe the differences. I won't be ready to buy for a couple of months yet but my budget will be 35k or less so I could either go with a fairly stacked out FRS/BRZ or the best pre-owned Cayman I can find.

Since I'm posting this on a Porsche forum my expectation has always been that I would end up with the Porsche but since I am in the market I might as well drive as many things as I can. I'll post more impressions once I've driven both.

 

 

if your priority is value, FRS isn't it.

look at genesis coupe, mustang. they are better value.

if your decisions are always based on value, you will never have a real car. there will always be knockoffs.