Why doesn't Porsche want to build a Cayman GT3?
05-31-2010, 03:12 PM
#16
Three Wheelin'
Cayman sales, although the Cayman costs less, have never been at the level of the 911. Why would Porsche take a big chance on the Cayman only to cannibalise the 911? What next? Eliminate the 911? when it continues to outsell all other models? Next thing you know Porsche will be racing the Cayman instead of the GT3?
05-31-2010, 03:28 PM
#17
The Rebel
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...it's doable to get 380hp or so VERY RELIABLY from a cayman. start tearing out the foam and carpeting and replace with something light- shave a few pounds here and there and you've got a 80-100k track day toy.
or you could just get a used 997gt3 mk1 and save yourself 2 months of labor and development
or you could just get a used 997gt3 mk1 and save yourself 2 months of labor and development
Otherwise I'm buying a pre-owned GT3/RS.
05-31-2010, 03:29 PM
#18
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The oldest reason in the world: $$$. Why cannibalize more lucrative 997 sales?
05-31-2010, 03:43 PM
#19
05-31-2010, 03:47 PM
#20
05-31-2010, 03:47 PM
#21
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You and I both would, but I'll wager the majority of 987 buyers would not care or more candidly, do not know the difference. The 9A1 motors are pretty good and down the road may prove to be every bit as robust as the GT1 based motors with far less expense.
05-31-2010, 03:49 PM
#22
05-31-2010, 03:54 PM
#23
05-31-2010, 03:56 PM
#24
05-31-2010, 04:16 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
Porsche has been building and racing sports cars for a fairly long time, and they have been doing a very good job at it too. The real reason we don't see a Cayman GT3 is because the 911 platform makes for a better racecar. The 911 takes addtitional skill to drive, however, this does not mean it is slower around a given racetrack (more on this in a moment). Also, it makes for an extremely exciting race series. Why has the Porsche 911 been the focus of many single model race series worldwide for so long (....I'm asking you)?
Anyway, two summers ago I had the opportunity to drive a well sorted 997 S and a well sorted Cayman S with an X51 upgrade back to back. They had equivalent straightline speed with their 3.8 L Carrera flat sixes (confirmed from the Traqmate GPS data), brakes, and nicely set up suspensions with aftermarket nips and tucks, also both were on R-compound tires.
The tail-heavy 997 (911) gained its lap time advantage in being able to get the power down on corner exit. The improved grip is achieved by the combination of additional rear weight, rear-wheel drive, and therefore useful rearward weight transfer. Also, the 997 S also had a larger rear contact patch with 305-width tires (Cayman 265 OEM, and 275 upsize in this case).
Porsche AG has likely know this all along.....long live the 911, slow in, fast out!!!
Cheers!
Doug N.
Anyway, two summers ago I had the opportunity to drive a well sorted 997 S and a well sorted Cayman S with an X51 upgrade back to back. They had equivalent straightline speed with their 3.8 L Carrera flat sixes (confirmed from the Traqmate GPS data), brakes, and nicely set up suspensions with aftermarket nips and tucks, also both were on R-compound tires.
The tail-heavy 997 (911) gained its lap time advantage in being able to get the power down on corner exit. The improved grip is achieved by the combination of additional rear weight, rear-wheel drive, and therefore useful rearward weight transfer. Also, the 997 S also had a larger rear contact patch with 305-width tires (Cayman 265 OEM, and 275 upsize in this case).
Porsche AG has likely know this all along.....long live the 911, slow in, fast out!!!
Cheers!
Doug N.
Last edited by DJN; 05-31-2010 at 04:22 PM. Reason: typo
05-31-2010, 05:59 PM
#27
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Porsche has been building and racing sports cars for a fairly long time, and they have been doing a very good job at it too. The real reason we don't see a Cayman GT3 is because the 911 platform makes for a better racecar. The 911 takes addtitional skill to drive, however, this does not mean it is slower around a given racetrack (more on this in a moment). Also, it makes for an extremely exciting race series. Why has the Porsche 911 been the focus of many single model race series worldwide for so long (....I'm asking you)?
Anyway, two summers ago I had the opportunity to drive a well sorted 997 S and a well sorted Cayman S with an X51 upgrade back to back. They had equivalent straightline speed with their 3.8 L Carrera flat sixes (confirmed from the Traqmate GPS data), brakes, and nicely set up suspensions with aftermarket nips and tucks, also both were on R-compound tires.
The tail-heavy 997 (911) gained its lap time advantage in being able to get the power down on corner exit. The improved grip is achieved by the combination of additional rear weight, rear-wheel drive, and therefore useful rearward weight transfer. Also, the 997 S also had a larger rear contact patch with 305-width tires (Cayman 265 OEM, and 275 upsize in this case).
Porsche AG has likely know this all along.....long live the 911, slow in, fast out!!!
Cheers!
Doug N.
Anyway, two summers ago I had the opportunity to drive a well sorted 997 S and a well sorted Cayman S with an X51 upgrade back to back. They had equivalent straightline speed with their 3.8 L Carrera flat sixes (confirmed from the Traqmate GPS data), brakes, and nicely set up suspensions with aftermarket nips and tucks, also both were on R-compound tires.
The tail-heavy 997 (911) gained its lap time advantage in being able to get the power down on corner exit. The improved grip is achieved by the combination of additional rear weight, rear-wheel drive, and therefore useful rearward weight transfer. Also, the 997 S also had a larger rear contact patch with 305-width tires (Cayman 265 OEM, and 275 upsize in this case).
Porsche AG has likely know this all along.....long live the 911, slow in, fast out!!!
Cheers!
Doug N.
If Porsche could somehow brainwash the world to forget the 911 and maintain its sales they would destroy the rear engined cars in a blink of an eye and replace them with a "modern" mid engine layout..
05-31-2010, 07:26 PM
#28
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Why do all the magazine comparos, with journalist behind the wheel, always eek out lap times that are typically within one second of one another? That is 911CS and CaymanS! Note that the cars are never driven by top tier racers like Walter or Hurley.
05-31-2010, 08:13 PM
#29
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911 Slow - fair enough, but you know where I'm coming from. 
TC - I suggest you read the article more clearly, each of the cars tested were fairly well set up for track day adventures and modded to within 35 hp of each other, so I wasn't surprised by the lap results - furthermore I was not driving for the hot lap testing on this occasion, a former Australian Porsche Cup did the deed for me because I was too familar with one of the subjects.
You should not stand on you
without all of the facts !
Also, while I do write for some magazines, I'm not a "real" Journalist, I'm actually a "mad" scientist who plays with cars and teaches performance driving to anyone who is keen to learn - thanks! Doug N.
TC - I suggest you read the article more clearly, each of the cars tested were fairly well set up for track day adventures and modded to within 35 hp of each other, so I wasn't surprised by the lap results - furthermore I was not driving for the hot lap testing on this occasion, a former Australian Porsche Cup did the deed for me because I was too familar with one of the subjects.
You should not stand on you
without all of the facts !Also, while I do write for some magazines, I'm not a "real" Journalist, I'm actually a "mad" scientist who plays with cars and teaches performance driving to anyone who is keen to learn - thanks! Doug N.
05-31-2010, 09:01 PM
#30
Rennlist Member
either way- it's doable to get 380hp or so VERY RELIABLY from a cayman. start tearing out the foam and carpeting and replace with something light- shave a few pounds here and there and you've got a 80-100k track day toy.
or you could just get a used 997gt3 mk1 and save yourself 2 months of labor and development
or you could just get a used 997gt3 mk1 and save yourself 2 months of labor and development