_rocket

My dream car is a Cayman with a Mezger GT3 engine and I'm still frustrated that Porsche doesn't want to build it. I understand that they don't want to hurt their 911 sales but do you remember the 914-6 and 916? Those cars had Mezger engines and they didn't hurt the 911 sales so why would the Cayman?

JohnnyBahamas

My dream car would be a Cayman with a street version of the RS Spyder's 3.4l V8.

400bhp, 400 ft. lbs. torque, in a mid-engine Porsche.

But then I wake up.

GrantG

The 914-6 had the least powerful 911 motor available (110hp from the 1969 911T 2.0) - it was hardly analogous to a Cayman with a GT3 motor (more comparable to a Cayman with a base 997 3.6 motor). A 914 with the 2.7RS or 2.8 RSR motor would have been a closer comparison. The 916 was canceled after only 11 prototypes were built. I think Porsche may have been worried about canabilizing sales back then too.

C.J. Ichiban

if you really want a hot motor in the cayman- just get the 3.8 x51 installed. that should be plenty.

Carrera GT

So your dream car is also qualified by the condition that it's factory built?

Numerous cars around the planet have a lot of power in a Cayman. If you want a specific combination, you have to pay the going rate. If you just want a lot more oomph in the Cayman, that's not such a big deal. Porsche, as you clearly understand, would rather not create the problem.

All that said, you've raised a question that existed since the Boxster first saw light of day on a platform in Geneva last century.

Porsche finally answered that question with the Boxster Spider.

MarekN

I think it has to do with the fact that the Boxster/Cayman line is currently the introductory Porsche, if you will. There is some sort of mental block in place that a Cayman cannot cost more than a 911. The RS Cayman, which we can all imagine to be a great thing, would cost close to 100 000 EUR, which is too much for too little of a market.
One thing that would bother me in that car is that I don´t fit properly. The 911 is much spacier inside lengthwise. And I am no basketball player, just 190 cm tall.

The 918 Spyder sans electronic nonsense is more like it in terms of mid-engine dreaming.

Nizer

Because it would embarrass the 911 GT3.

Easy enough to do yourself if it's your dream car. Find a wrecked GT3 and a used Cayman then breed them. It'd be one fast mutt.

ir_fuel

Easy enough you say, but wont the cooling of that engine be quite a challenge?

ZSA Motorsport

saw CM's Cayman GTR At monticello last weekend.
thing hauls!

aussie jimmy

there is a boxter in sydney with a gt1 from a mk1. wasn't an easy job, but can be done.

MJSpeed

Actually that's not that simple. My understanding is that you would have to invert the position of the gearbox.

CJ and I have disscussed this at length and the easiest thing to do as well as biggest bang for the buck is to install a 3.8 X51.

At which point you would have to upgrade gearbox, suspension, tires and brakes. You would also want to reinforce/stiffen the chassis. This is not a simple conversion but it can be done.

ir_fuel

There are companies offering that package: Cayman with 3.8 X51 engine installed.

dertub

Development costs vs. Marketability. In time, maybe. Too successful exploiting the 911 platform at present.

MM3.9GT3

I would pay GT3 money for a Factory Cayman GT3.

C.J. Ichiban

I wouldn't- I don't really like the look of the cayman- although I think the best idea would just be a lightweight cayman with a 911 engine. the main issue as was raised by mjspeed is that there isn't proper geometric clearance inside the engine bay for the dry sump system of the engine (too tall) and the tough as nails gearbox of the gt3.

I find the cayman to be too small on the inside.

the newer gen caymans have more engine bay space, and the 997 engines literally mount right up. RAC performance in texas has done a bunch of boxster and cayman engine swaps- the engine itself is not that expensive (about the price of a bbs set of centerlocks + MPSC tires) but the labor is a bit intense.

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