RJMDAD996

For the first time in a long time, seeing the Cayman in person has me debating to sell my black beauty and go for the Cayman. The performance are very close, but the style of the Cayman is simply perfect (for me that is) I really haven't used the rear jump seats in some time now, so the 4 seat factor is out the door . What do you gents think ?

Paul Marangoni

I agree, but I don't think it's worth taking the depreciation hit on your current car. I say keep your car for a few more years and then see what has become of the Cayman. Perhaps we'll see a GT version eventually.

TTHFXR

Well, Porsche has stated that a 911 person is a 911 person and the Cayman simply will not take sales away from 911 people. So as tempted as I am and as much as I like the styling (not to mention pricing) I have to walk away from that beautiful car and do what I'm told. Besides my 130lb dog fits in the back seat for week-end getaways.

LVDell

I am keeping my current 996 when I pick up another car in the spring and my very short list includes the CaymanS. Just need to drive one and see it in person first before I decide. But it does have my attention!

ericdee

Keeping my 996 for now, but I have to say their preeeety cool.

bet

I too am also seriously considering the Cayman. I do not use the rear seats at all and the versatility of the hatch would be great for my uses. It sounds like you have seen one in person. Is it true what all the magazines indicated…that the car is more aggressive looking in person? I really want to drive one. On paper the performance of the Cayman is very similar to my 996. I just want to drive one to see what the driving dynamics are like. I really like the nimble feeling of my former Boxster but there was something about the 911 dynamics that drew me in for daily driving duties. As much maligned as the rear engine design of the 911 is, it is quite satisfying to get on the accelerator out of corner (something the Boxster lacked). I am not sure whether that feeling was a result of the different weight distributions or the power advantage the 911 has over the Boxster. Hence the reason I want to drive a similar powered car with completely different weight distributions to see how it feels.

The Porsche website now has more info regarding the Cayman including torque and HP curves. The torque curve is rather interesting in that it has a dip about 3000 rpm then proceeds up to the peak and this is dead flat through the rest of the rpm range.

As for Porsche’s contention that the Cayman will not take away from sales of the 911, I think they are correct. First, the 911 cabs and C4’s make up a large percentage of the 911 sales, and the Cayman does not compete with these. Also figure the S versions of the 911 are significantly more powerful and more expensive and the Turbo and GT3 are not even in the same league performance or price wise. The Base coupe is the only car the Cayman really competes with and there are just too many new 911 buyers that buy for the 911 name and pedigree, not to mention those that actually use the rear seat. Buyers that want the 911 because it is a 911 are not going to care that the Cayman may handle better and be very close to the performance of the Carrera. If any sales will be hurt it will be the Boxster or the Boxster S in my opinion, and Porsche was smart enough to price the Cayman S above both. The Boxster is fantastic car, but there is no denying the fact that some people buy the car because of the Porsche crest and it is cheaper than the 911, and not because it is a great roadster.

The used prices of the Cayman will be the interesting thing to watch and its effect or noneffect on the used prices of the 996 and 997. Used buyers are less likely to be buying the car for the latest and greatest and more for what the car is or isn’t.

bet

I just discovered that RUF offers a 997s 3.8 engine as a crate kit for the 987s. Considering how much is shared with the Boxster it would not surprise me to see such a kit for the Cayman. The Cayman chassis with the 3.8 would a wicked NA machine. If only I had the money.

arenared

RJMDAD996, you have a gorgeous car with a nice set of mods. The early magazine reviews on the Cayman are pretty much ho-hum saying it's basically the Boxster, and the braking/handling are on par at best.

I am with Paul in keeping what you've got. Maybe Porsche will realize the Cayman S is not an S and should be a base model. 15 BFD HP also doesn't turn my crank although I think the mid-engine platform with supposedly 2.5X torsional stiffness over the 987 has the makings of a great car. Ruf has a 3.8L 987, but it's not factory and not cheap either.

I think a 2nd generation Cayman with a factory 3.8L (or maybe a 3.6L X51) would switch a lot of Corvette buyers. Porsche just needs to push the 911 further up the price curve by offering highly-advanced TT, 4WD, GT* versions while letting the Boxster/Cayman play at the low end a little harder. This also might appeal to a lot of existing P-car owners where a new 911 is out of budget.

Well, that's my hope anyway...

Res Ips

I'm thinking along the same lines. I like what I see. I left my name and phone number with my local Porsche salesperson for a test drive when that little beauty comes in.

Eli at Pelican

Sorry, it's got me thinking to..... Thinking of sticking to what I have "that is".....

Thanks, but no thanks,

-Eli

mtb968

I absolutely LOVE my 996, but I must admit I am avoiding the dealership and will try my hardest to not drive a Cayman. I can see one in my future if it lives up to it's potential, and I am really enjoying the C4cab, so I think avoidance is the best answer.

gota911

Jim, You won't like the Cayman.... they ALL come standard with a clear bra! Just Kidding!!

LVDell

SANDOVAL

I too am in love with the design and Idea of the cayman. However after I configured the car on the Porsche website the Cayman S I came up with had an MSRP of $85K your in 997, GT3 and Turbo price range. A skate Cayman at 58K does not do it for me. Give the car a year and pick up a 10-18 month old car and let the other guy take the hit.

Bob in NY

I was thinking the same thing until I used the configuator on the Porsche web site. I would rather have a new 997 for almost the same dough.