996 GT3 is the best car I've ever driven.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

I'm not sure why you keep telling me to trust you. I've driven past iterations of the GT3. Have you driven the GT4? I'm not arguing either is better as I have not driven both, I just think some people will choose a new GT4 over a several year old GT3. The article/poll I provided is consistent with this expectation. That's all.

 

Just to give another opinion, as someone who isn't going to sell their 3.8L Car anytime soon.

The beauty of a 3.8L Conversion is you get to spec everything and also do it in phases. Mine is a full track car (PDK - not manual), so has full race exhaust system, JRZ suspension, larger wing, much larger splitter, full cage, fire suppression, window nets, AiM system, etc.

It would have been much more expensive to start with a GT4 and get it to where I wanted it as it's just more things to throw away. It's a good project if you want to phase into it as well - buy a used low millage base Cayman, do engine swap only, go back and do a little bit more. You get a true bespoke solution, rather than a solution with compromises or value engineering. You trade this for a Porsche warranty vs component supplier warranty.

That said, I'm still probably going to pick up a GT4, but I'll keep it 100% stock, drive it for a year or 2 and sell it for something else.

 

White 993 C2S or C4S.

 

NateOZ: While your modified car is obviously going to offer higher levels of performance than a GT4 on the track, your car can't be driven on public roads. That's a big difference. If you are simply looking for the highest performing Cayman at the race track, starting with a GT4 is probably not the best option. But if you are looking for a DUAL-PURPOSE car that offers fantastic performance on the track and on public roads, it's hard to beat the GT4 for the money and for the warranty.

I have a full 987 race car with all the goodies you have in yours except the 3.8 conversion. And I'm still buying a GT4. Not because I want to go faster on the track. I'm buying it because I think it's going to be a very FUN car to drive both on the track and on the road. And unlike my race car, if and when I decide to sell it, I expect to get most of my money back.

 

how are ya, matt!
currently i have 6gt3, 7.1rs, 72rs, 4.0, 991. some say one is more raw than the other, drive my dad's cherry orig one owner 73s. that POS is raw and seems to be very valuable. i hate it.

cayman vs gt, you are right. very different. one doesn't replace another and one isn't better than the other.

fun on street: if it's really tight, the cayman is more fun as i can't make the turns in 911's unless i let the rear hang. sometimes i take out motorcyclist and cyclist that way....... so i try to behave. on cayman, you steer it points the right way. you steer it from the front, the 911 thing, you steer from the rear like a fork lift...

as always some like it from the front. others come in the rear door, ymmv.

 

Being a Porsche employee, I am fully expecting not to even have the opportunity to buy a GT4, so this question applies to me directly.

Currently I'm waiting for the GT4 parts pricing to hit the systems. Depending on what I can get for a reasonable cost, I'm looking at getting either a Cayman S or GTS, and seeing how far I can go without breaking the bank. Here is what my current plans are, which will vary by budget

Cayman S or GTS, x73, GT3/GT4 Front Control Arms, 18" wheels, and possibly a Guard LSD if I can afford it.

 

None of the other cars, other than a Turbo/Monster Miata, you mentioned will provide even a similar experience to the CR! They're all huge, front engine, fat hogs that can lap quickly. One other option, BRZ supercharged or Turbo, although I think a Monster Miata would be more fun with the V8!

 

mooty has a way of explaining things in a way that I can understand.

 

That cracked me up. They are almost the same thing just like M3 nd M4

 

So funny and true on many levels.

 

Get a cayman gts with ptv/sport suspension/and pdk (for gearing and LC) some 18" wheels and spend the rest on rubber. Probably faster for most people (myself included) around a track or at stoplights if that is your thing. And you can order it with a better stereo and other creature comforts as well.

Or go get an $85k (real selling price) GTR.

 

I was lucky and have an allocation for a July/August build with August/September delivery. My build decisions are in part to please my wife and to comfortably get me to and back from the track which is 320 miles round trip.

Carrara white metallic
Silver wheels
Black wing supports
Bi-xenon headlights in black inc. PDLS
Red belts
CWM interior trim
Leather interior with platinum grey stitching
Red belts
18 way seats
Lighting package
Cargo net
Leather wheel and shifter
Self dimming mirrors
Smoking package
2 way auto air
Seat heaters
I'll have a second set of black track wheels to change the look whenever desired.

 

Lots of good suggestions here but I would break the decision down by first asking whether OP is serious about tracking something significantly heavier/larger than his now-gone 987 Cayman R for a track toy...

If yes, then options are many... many have been mentioned... M3/M4 (current or E9X), C7 Stingray, Z28, Mustang GT500 and so on...all good values and good performers but they are nosy-heavy (and/or just plain heavy) and thus certainly not ballerinas in any way shape or form...

But the list is smaller if OP wants to stay with the same lightweight, shrink-wrapped, very nimble nature of the CR... then I think a 996 GT3 would be great fun, or a current Cayman S, or a Lotus Elise/Exige SC. As for the Alfa 4C - OP should drive it and see if he can stand that turbo 4 -- I could not... Scion/baru w turbo kit? hmmmmm....

My point being... the driving experiences in Group A vs Group B could not be more different...and thus this is OP's first fork in the road, so to speak...

...then again, if his GT4 came through it is all moot...