jaholmes

Maybe it's me, but the 993TT looks like a TurboS. It looks like a clone, but they don't mention it. It does have the air scoops on the rear fenders. Why would they pick a clone for this when i'm sure there are plenty of TT's to choose from for this article.

What got me is it's a $60k shootout. If I could get a 993 TurboS for $60k i'm in.

AX993

I have that issue also. IIRC they do mention that the cars has Turbo S body parts but is "just" a standard 993 Turbo. The premise for the article was what would they buy for aprox $60,000. Thus just a regular 993 Turbo Vs a Cayman S.

RallyJon

Testing stock and new vs modified and older is a classic road test conundrum.

I wonder if the Cayman would do better with aftermarket suspension and choice of tires? I wonder if the 993 would do better with all new suspension rubber?

Of course, how many times have new cars done poorly on road tests when a simple tire, damper or chip upgrade would transform them?

ilko

I read the article as well, I didn't think it was unfair. The Cayman S is an exceptional car and IIRC, the author gave it his preference at the end because it would be the better daily driver. I agree with that. As a weekend warrior I'd take the 993TT.

jaholmes

I agree that it's a fair comparison, but i'm sure they could have found a stock TT to do the comparison test. All of the clone mods are a distraction.

The $60k number is very interesting. I have been looking at what you get for $60k in a Porsche, and there are a lot of 996TT's in that range now, The GT3's are getting close. I think Total 911 has a comparison this one now. I wonder how the 993TT's are going to hold up to that price.

aron in toronto

Not to mention the part of the comparison is the $60k entry fee involved, The Cayman, as a new car, will lose value faster in depreciation than the TT costs to maintain. So the TT could be said to be the better value. Its all in how you twist the issues to support your desired results.

George from MD

I thought it was fair but didn't agree with his criticism of the 993 interior. It may not be as ergonomically correct as a Cayman but the dash converys a lot more information and the materials are far higher in quality. Does the Cayman even have an oil pressure gauge?

Stealth 993

A $60k Caymen is stripped! When I built mien online it just over $100,000! I paid close to $60k for my C4S with tax. Obviously I prefer it to a new Cayman.

5 year down the line values aside, I would much rather have a older 911, then a roofed Boxter.
Yes, the Caymen is fast, handles awesome, & is a awesome car, but I want a drivers car, & for me it's the older 911's, that's why I have my C4S, & lead to the purchase of my DD 95 C4, there just AWESOME cars, that I want to drive every day. You can't put a price tag on that.

mikestash

How did you get a Cayman S to $100k? Paint to sample, interior to sample, green leather vents? You can get a well equipped Cayman S for $55k with dealer discounts. I have two friends who recently bought them new in low 50's because of the slowing economy.

They are fun cars.

jimhsu

Mayne mentioned the following as reasons he liked Cayman better:

1. Cayman has a "less antiquated", more updated interior
2. Cayman is less "white knuckled"
3. Cayman is more "refined" while going around a road course

I think anyone who values the above three things more would not be buying a 993 anyways.

People usually have their minds pretty well made up whether going all new and updated or going for a classic.

travanx

low 50's for a new cayman S?? thats the car i drove that made me like porsches. I would take my 95 with 64k miles car over a new cayman though. I could easily see getting a cayman to over $100k with how expensive each addon is. i think the cayman and the z4 m coupe were some of the most fun cars i have ever driven.

Davies

If I had 600 $100 bills in my hand, I know which one I would feel wiser exchanging them for.

Stealth 993

Got to porscheusa.com & build one, it's really not hard, add sport stuff, nav, PCCB's some CF & leather, & it's there.

Around here they are not discounting a Cayman's at all.

Landmule

I agree, the 993 TT is most certainly the wiser purchase from a strictly $$ point of view. The Cayman is really fun, but in a few years it will just be a mass produced used car and the Turbo will be...well it will still be a 993TT.

I think I'll spend my 60 x $100.00 bills on the Turbo today and buy a depreciated Cayman S later. That way I can have both. I always have trouble with too many choices anyway.

pedsurg

the article does mention that the tt is not a "real" S

jack