When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Want S coupe to go with my 997.2 S cab. Started looking, buddy trying to convince me to try Cayman S. Anyone had both and preference/input?
I haven’t yet spent time on that forum to get their biased, menial input since we all know 911’s are the only true P car (don’t flame tongue in cheek).
Thanks
Scott
Like many people, I always dreamed of buying a Porsche, which meant, of course, a 911. Four years ago, when I first started getting into Porsches, after never having had a sports car, I started out with a Cayman S. And then, still believing the 911 to be the top of the heap, I bought a stunning 991 C4S. I still have the Cayman. I would like to sell the 911 and drive only the Cayman. The Cayman feels (and drives!) like I believed a sports car should feel and drive. The 911, at least in 991 form, is too big for me to feel like a real sports car.
I am 100% certain there are many on RL who would have my head for speaking such blasphemy ... and then there are the people who drive Caymans and know.
Drive them both and decide with your feelings about the drive more than the idea of which you "should" buy.
Our first Porsche was a brand new 77 924. At the time we could get a three or four year old 911 or a new 924 and went with the 924 since it was such a new model and design for Porsche. Drove that for 150K and after that got a 90 C4. Had that for about 5 years until it helped us build a new house. We are back in a Porsche finally in a 987.2 base Cayman. We’ve only had it for about 6 months,but it is a blast to drive. I’m sure an S would be noticeably quicker but our base is plenty fast on the back roads and drives a lot like our C4. Very nimble and balanced. Like help me said you need to drive one to see what it’s like. The Cayman being a bit smaller and lighter than your S cab would feel quite different. Have fun with the hunt.
If 911, want 997.2S. So that’s the price range. After 3 yrs mine still generates lust. Every. Time. If Cayman, thinking second generation, maybe early 3rd. Just want lust driving experience and a second car to split miles so have two cars putting 3-4K/yr on each, and they last me until I trade them in for old people used Crown Vic and accept being old. Really old.
Told my wife need airport car so looking for coupe. She said buy a used Honda. She was serious. I didn’t laugh.
Interesting on Ferrari, think that’s high maintenance anti-thesis of my wife (she’s wonderful and low maintenance except for Honda view), if I’m wrong educate me. Friends with boxsters/caymans love them, but they’ve not had 911, so appreciate the input that have had both long term.
Guess I’ll drive a few Cayman’s and ponder.
I have a 997.2 cab, I have friend with a Boxster S. The Boxster feels lighter and very nimble, but lacks the power. Honestly, the differences are slight and are far outweighed by the similarities. I'd look for a an Audi R8.
I had a 2010 Cayman S for a few years. In some ways it was superior to a 911. I think they are quite different especially when pushed. You feel more connected to the car in a Cayman. You are sitting with the engine practically touching your back and all of the wonderful mechanical noises of the Porsche engine fill your senses. It is a visceral experience. If you appreciate a sports car for more than just how fast it is, you owe yourself at least a test drive in a Cayman (preferably on a tight twisty road or track). I wouldn't hesitate to own both.
Last edited by BrakingBad; 04-18-2019 at 01:53 AM.
2 997s is probably too similar to me. If you want to stay in the Porsche family, I think one of the best looking mid-engine offerings is the 2nd generation 987.2 Boxster Spyder where it has the larger air intakes, speedster humped rear deck, etc.
Or if this is going to be an extra car, try something completely different, like a 928 - big v8 like a German Corvette, but one that handles. Throw a supercharger on one of the 32v ones and it's a rocket. If you think the guys on the 997 forum really know that car, you won't believe the information and knowledge base on the 928 over there.
Cars are not in the same league. The Cayman might be superior in some ways, but it is far from having the aura or panache that the 911 has. 911's have always made my head turn to catch a glimpse while the Boxsters or Caymans are to me like a Nissan 370Z that I hardly notice. They are nice, well built cars I am sure, but lack that historical glamour and emotional trigger factor that the 911s have.
It's like comparing a Hummer H1 to an H3..... Sure the H3 is more comfortable and user friendly, but the difference in testosterone triggering is not comparable.
I've got both, a .1TT and a 981Cs, and as others have said they are different cars. I love the turbo, but I just did a 500 mile trip to the Texas Hill country this past weekend, and guess which car I took? The Cayman.. the more I drive it the more I appreciate it for what it is.
I see you are in FTW, send me a PM and we can hook up (I'm near downtown FTW) and you can drive the Cayman for an extended test drive and see for yourself..
Imho 911 is more capable and fun performance driving.
Boxster „could“ feel more balanced for some but it isnt faster or better than 911 in anything.
if you think Boxster is better sports car drive your 911 harder.
The world awaits a fixed wing less Cayman with a 3.8 or 4.0 NA or turbo with street friendly gear ratios. If and when this happens it will beat every 911 past present and future.
Interesting responses in this thread. I wonder how many people opining have performance seat time in both? Y'all do know that the current GT3 RSR is mid-engined, right?
Comparing 991-981 variants, The GT3 "looks" more aggro, but it features more expensive bodywork. It is faster, as it has 90 more horses and a lot more torque. The GT4 hits a lower price point, but if that GT4 stickered at $140k and had the build to match, you can bet your bottom dollar it would be faster around a track than the GT3.
The 911 is currently more special because Porsche wants it that way; they are more expensive cars with bigger engines, and can therefore go faster in most situations. If a car's worth (and the driver's) is judged by the sticker price of the car, then sure, the 911 is better than a Cayman. If one needs an ego-boost, drive the 911 I suppose, although nobody has ever made fun of my wife in her ghetto GT4. To say that the 911 is the better car in terms of driving dynamics, well, you should get some seat time in both. If a GT4 RS comes out with a detuned 4.0 making 450hp, a whole lot of GT3s will find themselves up for sale on this board.
911 is likely the better tourer, due to it's larger size and back seat space. If I could have one car to do everything (commute, drive hard on weekends), didn't care about back seats, and was limited on budget, I would buy a 987.2 Cayman S 6MT. They drive better than any 911 I have recently been in; it is a sublime chassis with perfect feedback. You can't do better for under $40k.
04-17-2019, 09:20 PM
911 vs cayman s
