USCHANDPOD

From the L.A. times today:

L.A times article

Where's the 911? Who cares?
With Cayman S, Porsche puts the engine dead-center -- right where the 911's should be.
DAN NEIL

LET'S be clear. The rear of the car is no place for an engine.

I know there are a few Porsche 911 moonies now snapping off their rubber gloves and leaping to their keyboards to fire off a strongly worded dissent — "Ginger! Reschedule Mr. Thomas' 9 a.m. root canal!" But the fact is the rear-engine configuration — the hallowed architecture of the Porsche 911, the winningest car in endurance racing — has been rendered finally, utterly, typewriter-ribbon obsolete.

I would not have thought the ultimate 911 slayer would have a Porsche badge on it, but after spending a week in the Porsche Cayman S — the hardtop version of the Boxster S, though it's so much more — I am flummoxed as to why anyone would spend an extra $11,000 (or more likely, a lot more) on a 911 when the exotically fastbacked Cayman S is nearly as quick in a straight line and immeasurably more fun in a crooked one.

CONTINUED AT THE HYPERLINK (ABOVE)

USCHANDPOD

FYI: I love my 997. I just posted this to stimulate discussion.

OCBen

That's an old article. It appeared in Wednesday's December 21, 2005 edition of the LA Times' Highway 1 section.

Vancouver83LTD

911 has more soul

USCHANDPOD

OCBEN:

You are correct. Somehow my google news alert for 997 related material just sent me that today.

By the way there is medication that can help you lose the OC

Leader

I thought that article looked familiar. I was thinking...did this Dan Neil guy plagiarize something I'd read in a car mag?
So, NOT from the L.A. Times today. (Or even yesterday, when the "Highway 1" section runs.)

OCBen

I'm an avid reader of the LA Times and know a few people there including an editor. Not that I needed connections to make that assessment. But like Leader stated, Highway 1 articles run on Wednesdays and so I became suspect of the date.

No thanks, I like my OC connection. If I move to LA I may seek out the help to make the changeover to LABen.

Vancouver83LTD

ben is just proud of his favourite teen soap, give him a break

boolala

I don't think I would choose a Cayman as currently configured but I would take it in a heartbeat if they put the Carrera 3.6 (or 3.8) in it.

SrfCity

Now that the Cayman is hitting the streets, IMO it's nice but will not overtake the 911 in any way. It still seems like a bit of a wannabe and not quite the real deal. P got it right pigeon holing it where it is. No fear the 911 is here.(to stay)

robbonds

problem with the cayman is its not a convertible...the box s is a great car (i had 1) - it might be slightly more fun to drive than the 997s cab - but overall - handsdown the 997s cab is a winner..

i think to really distinguish the lineup - the 997s should have the x51 standard - giving almost 100 extra hp over the cayman.

just me $.02

JFScheck

Why give away the X-51 when you can make money with it and make it "exclusive"...

Riad

What you give up, vis-à-vis the 911, is the vestigial twin rear seats, which in case of national calamity may be used to carry passengers.



Porsche had a slogan years ago:

At Porsche we don't build cars that are something to everyone, we build cars that are everything to someone.

The 911 will never be for the masses, it's one of the things I love about it. I may own other Porsches but I'll always own a 911.

Coochas

Ben, shouldn't it be LEBen - we don't want to confuse out French friends about your identity.

zumaron

I was at the dealer recently getting a few things checked out on the Slate Seductress (more on that later...) and I asked saleguy how the Reptile was selling. He said umm.... not as well as we'd thought. Mostly people new to brand asking if it comes in a convertable.

Last night I saw the Cayman out of captivity. Basalt Black, BIG red brakes with the 18" 5-spoke wheels. It looks quite nice in that color. I wouldn't mind owning one, but I got my priorities straight with the engine in the rear and loving every minute.