ROFL at comment about tracking 997's

I tracked my 997.2 - Was a GREAT CAR.

Never overheats - never had brake fade to extent of any real concern - limiting factor always been the tires and me as a driver .

I've moved on to the 991.1 - Far superior platform all around.

The 997 platform is still good (far more forgiving than a c6 corvette z06).

BS comment about advance track days -
See 997 thread
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...rack-days.html

 

I completely agree with you on that. This was something I discovered early on when I was buying my 996TT. The automatic was very disappointing compared to the later PDK's in the 997.2 turbo's. Although PDK would be nice, I think manual is what I'm looking at for the most part.

BINGO! That's exactly what it boils down to, "sure, the Cayman is a well balanced car, but the 911 is....well, a 911"

Hands down that will be me :/

The 987 platform sure is more balanced, but are the DFI motors really that much more superior/sophisticated? I don't intend on tracking the car, I have a Caterham for track days that works when it feels like it

I agree, that was the whole point of owning an old air-cooled Porsche like my '82 SC. Such a finicky car and I loved that about it. Same with my '02 M5. Something always sets off the SES light and it's a riot trying to go after the culprit...but thats partly why you like the car in the first place.

And no tracking for the Porsche, as mentioned above I have a Caterham I track occasionally, whenever it feels like working properly.

Especially having owned two past 911's, I think you're absolutely correct. Back seats in both my SC and my 996TT were very handy as you could toss your briefcase and coat in there and still not have to access the frunk/take up your front passenger seat.

Pedals over paddles, I like that!! Good luck with your C2

Nope, I agree...the 911 will always be the classic. The Cayman COULD have been a classic if Porsche stuck to a mid-engine layout since the 914.

 

Awesome vid! I've been to Hallet once about a year ago with my buddy's ZR1. Great track. Wish we had something similar closer to me.

Digging the black 997.1 in front of you. Tires are always the limiting factor on any track car. I occasionally take my M4 Competition Package to the track and currently run PS4's on it and so far no complaints. I have carbon brakes on the car so definitely no brake fade, but can't imagine the steelies on the 997 to fade out either.

Thanks for the thread link btw.

 

Either car would be a great choice, but it boils down to this.... Will you be happy with a Cayman or will you always be thinking that what you really wanted was a 911.

You posted this question on a 911 forum so you can probably guess how most people here would answer the question.

 

No one should get a 911 when searching for the best balanced car. Get a mid-engine if you seek that. For the 911 fan it's its quirky dynamics that make it unique; either you understand and like that, or not. Driven properly, the 911 is perfectly balanced - emphasis on properly driven - and do not take my word for it, listen to the 911 master:

 

I bought a 2006 Boxster S in April 2015. I really wanted a 911, but didn't want to spend the money. The 987 was awesome - manual sport seats, sport shifter, sport chrono, PASM, sport steering wheel (basically everything but PSE). Great car.

The problem was is that I bought it because I didn't want to spend the money required to get a 911.

I sold the 987 in April 2016. I bought a 2006 C2S in July 2016 (took awhile to find a good, clean, Guards Red car with the right options).

Long story short, don't buy the 987 if it feels like you're settling. You'll always be disappointed, and that's not a great way to feel about your Porsche.

However, if I could buy my Boxster back I would. I'd love to have a mid-engined roadster and the 911 in the garage. Boxster was an awesome car. I wouldn't say the 911 is better. Different, but not necessarily better.

 

Owned at least 20+, perhaps 30ish, 911s throughout the years of all types and varieties. Even purchased a CGT new, but have never owned a Boxter or a Cayman. Driven plenty of them, but never once purchased one or got serious about purchasing one.

 

Exactly why I posted this on the 997 forum I know they're both great cars, but a 911 is always a 911. And thats why every time I get in it, until I'm able to have both in the garage, I'll be thinking that I really wanted a 911.

This is exactly why I bought my '82 SC over a Boxter and my 996TT over a Cayman S a few years ago. Driving a 911 is an experience like no other.

Very good point. I think the 911 is the first buy, the Cayman will be second, especially when DFI prices will smooth out (maybe?)

I recently checked out an insanely specced 2008 Cayman S with 15k miles, now sold. But it had a $92k sticker price. Every option possible, aero kit, Sport Chrono, PASM, extended seats, guards red dials, chrono gauge, seat belts, painted trim/headlight washers, lobster wheels painted black, etc.. Car was listed at $38k. For that price I could be in a well sorted 997 C2S, not AS highly optioned, but still.

Wow! Take it from a CGT owner! In 2014 I bought an '07 LP640 with the gated manual, maybe 29 in the country if not worldwide...yet the Cayman was still an option

 

Okay okay, so now that that's settled....C2 or C2S?

To be honest that's probably the biggest dilemma for me...I've driven both, they're both great. Any reason to lean towards the non-S over the S? (or vice versa)

Options matter over miles for me. Ideally it would have Sport Chrono, PASM, extended seats, and nicer wheels.

 

Firstly, while your motor may not have dumped its contents on the track, its merely an anecdote compared to the statistics of failure on this terrible design. 29 freaking modes of failure. stupid aos, terrible thermostat location, etc etc. is just crap.

2ndly, the 911 is not more engaging, its just harder to drive well. most people arent good enough to maximize the 987 chassis, much less a 911

 

I am just a 911 guy to the core. Love my Italians as well, but nothing beats a 911 as an all around car.

 

I've had my current 997.1 for just over a year and love it. Prior to this, I had a Cayman S for 1.5 years. Unlike the majority of the people in this forum, I preferred driving the Cayman over the 911.

Drive both and try not to let those "it has to be a 911 or it's not a real Porsche" people influence your decision.

Good luck

 

987 nice. I started looking there but wound up in 997 as it roomier, more interesting to drive and looked better. At 6"4 a cayman was too tight.

911 is a fine track car too.

I

 

Jeff, thanks for your input! Definitely agree - I hate the stigma of "if it's not a 911 it's not a Porsche" myself, which I experienced firsthand with my very first Porsche, a 1974 914...probably the second most knocked on Porsche next to the 924

I'm curious though, why do you say you enjoy the Cayman S over the 997? I've driven countless variants of the 997 as well as both gens of the Cayman (both the 2.7 and 3.4) and can't really get out of the car saying "boy, I'd rather drive this over the other". The 911 definitely has it's legacy and looks, and the Cayman has it's balance and unique mid-engine layout (which I love, I've owned an Elise and an Evora...both of which were nightmares)

Speaking of which....WHY on earth is the Cayman so relatively inexpensive compared to the dinky Elise?? I can call it dinky because I've owned one and experienced the horror of it firsthand

 

Elise? I bought a new Elise for instructing from 2006 through 2009 as my track/cup cars did not have second seats. The Elise was an absolute joy to drive although I did drop another 180 pounds off with lexan window, carbon fibre clam, not cats, titanium Stage II exhaust, super light weight wheels and rotors had Ohlins and ran it on slicks . . .I could run circles around guys in 911s in that thing.

I killed 3 transmissions (2nd gear synchros) and blew the heck out of an engine on the highway. The Lotus rep in Atlanta with the Australian sounding accent, cannot remember his name, hated me.

The 911 has plenty and handles just fine for the street. Cannot imagine most would be approaching or can even drive at or near the limits of either car on track, much less the street. I teethed on club racing 911 SCs back in the mid 80s so the modern day 911s drive like a dream to me as does any car that you don't have to trail brake like a demon to get the fronts to turn in.