edfishjr

Talking about SCCA's new autocross Street division, A-Street, where it will be against the C5Z06, Viper, 986 Cayman S and (I suspect) the S2000CR.

I'm thinking a 2009 base Cayman will be my next P-car. I'm wondering what options you guys think give it the best chance against this competition. Do you think it is even a better auto-crosser than a 2006 CS?

I'm not trying to win a jacket... just want to be regionally competitive.

Earlydays

I would go with PASM, PTV and Sport Chrono and stick with 18" wheels to get the biggest selection of available tires

edfishjr

Right. I'm thinking I'd want launch control/PDK to get a couple of tenths at the start in regional competition. (Useless on Nationals type courses, though, as they typically don't use a drag race start.) Also, being able to easily/quickly rev-match downshift to 1st would also be an advantage on regional courses that have a 1st gear corner.

No one can comment on whether a 987.2 base is faster or slower than a 987.1 CS? 2011-2012 Parade results don't seem to shed much light.

DOUGLAP1

2009 OR 2006 No matter - it is the same suspension geometry as my 2002 986S. Power difference will not matter much if any in my opinion. The only real advantage of a 2009 Caymanis no IMSB worries.

With equal drivers, the C5Z06 will eat your lunch either way. The C5 has way better tire patch to weight ratio than you will ever be able to fit under any Cayman. Not to mention better camber control in roll.

Good luck.

Earlydays

I don't think you'll ever have to shift to first gear in the Cayman on the typical SCCA autocross course. Also regular autocrosses are not timed from a standing start, only Pro-Solo.

User 52121

I'll argue that this depends on region.

The last couple SCCA events I did (a few years ago now) most definitely used 1st gear for a large portion of the course.

Earlydays

I'll concede the "region" differences, I just haven't experienced it here in Texas or in Northern California SCCA events over the past 14 years of autocrossing my 964.....now in a Miata, it's a whole different story

edfishjr

I agree. The car should really be in B street where it matches up better against the standard C5 (as i have right now) better.

The wild card is street tires. I've driven C5, C5z06, C6Z06 and all have the same issue: when they can't get the power down they aren't much more than big Miatas.

edfishjr

Yes, varies widely, even within a single region with different course designers. "True" SCCA course never has a 1st gear corner, nor a drag race start, most would say. In reality I've been to as many National tours that did have a drag start as ones that did not. At those, the speed at which you crossed the start light was important and a function of your clutch technique.

knfeparty

At the Dixie national tour in a stock the Porsches swept the vettes. Even I beat the vettes and my 996 is not prepped. I was even running stock sway bars. I don't know how the new rules will affect but I would not count the cayman out. I would go for it if the money is no issue.

edfishjr

Yep, I saw you do it. Congrats.

So, what about your car? Does the 996 40thAE have more tire than the CS/standard 996? (Of course, it needs more in the rear.)

NJ-GT

Base 987.2 2.9 Box/Cay and 981 2.7 Box/Cay are slower autoX cars than 987.1S

PDK for autoX is a waste, the weight penalty behind the rear axle hurts on a sport where there is zero shifting.

Finding the 09 with the right options is almost impossible: PCCB+CarbonSeats+LSD+PASM+SportChrono, and if found (I bet it doesn't exist) the price would be in the low $50k, too much compared to a faster 987.1S.

The S2000CR will crush the class anyway.

NJ-GT

Tires are restricted to UTQG-200, Vette is dead (all of them from C6ZR1 down to C5-Base).

knfeparty

The 40AE has 8" wide fronts and 10" rears. 285 square setup with 5mm spacers in the front is about as much as you can do. Right now I have 245 front and 285 rear because I wasn't sure how much clearance I could get. The car is phenomenal on R-comps other than a bit of body roll since I don't have double-adjustable shocks, but it does not brake well on street tires. They lock up very quickly in the front as there just isn't enough weight up front to provide grip.