Fr3nch

I've been in the market for a 981 Cayman for 6 months now. I fell in love with a white one that a dealer let me take home for 24 hours, only to have it sold to someone else by the time I returned it. Since then, I've watched the prices go up from something reasonable, to essentially what a 911 costs. I've jumped on two great 981 CPOs that got sold to someone else within minutes of coming on the market. This week, the 981GTS at my local dealer just sold for $70k before actually coming on the market. My only choice would have been to buy it before actually seeing it, which isnt a game I am willing to play.

I am an adult, and half of this decision is about money and value for me. So is a 911 going to have as much fun, excitement, and personality in it as a 981 Cayman? From what I can tell, a 991.1 C2S/C4S is A LOT more car. The 991.2s are even more car on top of that. But is it going to have the same magic as a Cayman? Which am I going to be happiest with in a year from now? I've taken all these on test drives, and just didnt fall in love with the 911s the way I did with the Caymans. The 911s seemed much more grown up and less like they were chomping at the bit to go fast all the time. They seemed less fun. The problem is that I know Im in this for the long haul and its impossible to get a sense of livability during a test drive. Is my thing with the Cayman infatuation? Will the 911 grow on me? I am planning on driving this car A LOT, so is the 911 going to be better than the cayman in a year?

For reference, Ive had older fast BMWs before (2003 M5 and 2005 M3). They were amazing, but Im looking for something more out of the Porsche.

Archimedes

I owned a '14 981 Cayman S with X73 at the same time I owned a '14 991.1 Carrera S with SPASM/PDCC/PCCBs. If I had to sell one and keep one, the Cayman would be gone and the Carrera would stay. Which is exactly what happened. The Cayman was great, but the Carrera S was a much better overall package IMO. Options are critical though and my comment assumes that each car is specced exactly as you would like it.

That said, I'm not a fan of any of the 911's since the 991.1, hence, I have a new 718 GT4 coming to my garage in two days.

Fr3nch

Not a fan of turbos either? haha.

Thats why Im shopping the way I am. Can you talk about any of the cayman gripes you had? What were some of the things the 911 did better?

One of the 991s im looking at right now is a 4s with SPASM. I am worried about the ride quality with my plans to drive it a lot. Im guessing you like yours?

garfunkle

Sounds like you've never had a Porsche.... Get a 911. Get THE proverbial Porsche. I have a 991.1 and a 987.2 - both very different but I know for certain that I'd have 911 envy if I didn't have a 911 and only the 987. The 911 is a better first or second car. The Cayman is a better second or third car. The 911 does more of everything and does everything better. The Cayman can feel more fun.

911.

I believe RAS wasnt an option on the .1's so if a .2 is in your budget, try test driving a .2 911 with it and see how you feel it compares to the cayman. Long term I think the 911 would be a much better car to daily imo. Before getting into my 911, I actually was thinking of getting into a first gen GT4 but wife and I agreed the rear seats are a must at this point in my life, even for a weekend toy. So far I havent looked back.

damien996

I moved from a 981GTS to a 991.2T and I don’t miss the GTS. As long as you don’t need the naturally aspirated engine that the 981 is equipped with then you might be happy in a lightly optioned 991.2T. The T feels light and nimble like the 981 but significantly quicker due to the torque availability at low RPM’s. My T has light weight buckets, rear axle steering and a manual transmission. My GTS had a manual transmission, sport suspension, and PTV. You’ll pay a premium for both of these cars with the right options, but so far they tend to hold their value well.

Bob Z.

It sounds like you will not be happy in a 911 so get the Cayman and enjoy yourself: https://rennlist.com/forums/987-981-forum-125/

darylbowden

I think the opposite would be true. If you bought a Cayman, you'd regret not buying the 911 (although I bet people would react the exact opposite in the Cayman forums lol).

MidEngineRules

I’ve owned a 981 Cayman S, 981 Spyder, and 981 GT4 among a 50th Anniversary 911 (991.1) and a Targa 4S (991.2). Did not like the 981S and traded it for a 987 Cayman R which I loved. The Spyder and GT4 are great but a bit fatiguing and cramped comparatively to most 911s. I didn’t much like the turbo lag or general power delivery of the 991.2S and I may be keeping the 50th Anniversary 911, which is the most powerful and most visceral Porsche I’ve owned, until I’m dead. Any X51 911 is going to excite beyond any expectation, as will the GTS. 911s have grip and traction that Caymans only dream of. Having said this, I do think a Carrera T manual is a better car than a GT4, or any 981 Cayman for that matter. It has GT4 power and speed, and all the agility and grip you could want. Just needs to be spec’d right which means no sunroof and AWS. Carrera Ts are decent prices these days and don’t suffer from turbo lag like all the other .2s.

Fr3nch

How did the feel of the transmission in the T compare to the feel of the GTS? I drove a manual 991.1 and it really lacked compared to the manual caymans.

koala

I originally wanted a 981 Cayman but then the reality of two small children factored in to deciding on a 991.1 S. Not sure which I'd have been happier with, but I love my 911 and certainly don't regret the choice.

I think you can't go too far wrong either way. There is an overall formula to these cars that is not really replicated in other vehicles, so to me, it's kind of a 1A 1B situation.

snake eyes

I was on the list for the Cayman GT4.... I have a 991.2 S and got the call for allocation of PDK GT4...
991.2 S with sport package is staying.... Never took the GT4

Why?
For Grand Touring / occasional DE car... 911 is vastly superior.

plus I'll just say it... It is a 911 ( i have the 911 complex)

drcollie

They are both good, I have owned each of them.

The engine and trans is flipped around in the Cayman/Boxster vs the 911, basically the trans is at the rear of the car on the smaller one. As far as "feel" is all done through a mechanical conversion and cables to a modified PDK transmission, there's not usually a lot of difference, perhaps the cables were more slack on the one you drove.

So what's the difference? If you are going to track the car a lot, the Cayman feels better and is less tricky to drive at the near limit. 911's require more work and a higher skill set because that engine is way back there. For street driving the 911 is slightly more comfortable and a whole lot less claustrophobic. There's a few more bells and whistles on a 911, but nothing you would really miss.

Now, the image - if that matters to you - is the 911 is the flagship car. Cayman and Boxster will get you "maybe next time you can afford a 911?" and yes, they are a bit looked down upon. End of the day, buy what puts a smile on your face, that's what matters most.

Explorer16

When people go "hey, look at that Porsche", they're looking at a 911. I'm not saying that people should buy a 911 just to impress other people, but a 911 is THE Porsche. Besides the fact that they're just great cars.

rnl

Yes.