Toyota GR86 or Cayman 987S, which is better at same price - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

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I really don't get the love-in for the GR86. It could be the best steer for the money, but the design (inside and out) bores my baps off!

scogins said: I really don't get the love-in for the GR86. It could be the best steer for the money, but the design (inside and out) bores my baps off! You need to see it in the flesh, looks way better than photographs

[quote= __ ] You need to see it in the flesh, looks way better than photographs [/quote] It could look a gazillion times better in the flesh... and it still wouldn't pique my interest.

[quote= __ ] You need to see it in the flesh, looks way better than photographs [/quote] The GT86 and BRZ are nice looking and driving cars, it was that slug of an engine that was the problem, it was just crap. 718 beetle engines vs flat six powered Cayman's, again and engine spoiled a great car.

scogins said: I really don't get the love-in for the GR86. It could be the best steer for the money, but the design (inside and out) bores my baps off! I s'pose it depends whether you buy a sports car to drive, or for people to see you in. Both are fine.

Klippie said: 718 beetle engines vs flat six powered Cayman's, again and engine spoiled a great car. Absolute twaddle, I test drove one of these recently the turbo engine works really well with the chassis if you actually drive it rather than parroting the usual nonsense internet myths.

john41901 said: Absolute twaddle, I test drove one of these recently the turbo engine works really well with the chassis if you actually drive it rather than parroting the usual nonsense internet myths. I dove one extensively...it was that bad I thought something was wrong with it, a total bag of spanners of an engine which never should have been fitted in a Porsche.

At equal cost to buy today I'd go GR86 every time just for the exclusivity with only 450 in the UK, and the 10 year warranty. Very fond memories of my 987S though, it felt special every time I drove it, and would happily have another if the 86 hadn't come along.

Well I’m certainly glad I don’t own an ancient 981. Massively overrated and evidently some owners still have a bit of an inferiority complex about the newer, faster much improved 982 models. 987 at least has the better steering and is a much preferable experience if going that route.

john41901 said: Well I’m certainly glad I don’t own an ancient 981. Massively overrated and evidently some owners still have a bit of an inferiority complex about the newer, faster much improved 982 models. 987 at least has the better steering and is a much preferable experience if going that route. Weird post think you are getting model numbers confused, 981 tremendous car was followed by 718 - which is a mk2 but way more expensive as a gts or gt4 to get the proper flat 6 engine. I had 718 gt4 and felt it too expensive, sold and bought McLaren for same money. 986/7 are both a good steer, make a great noise, but very dated and nothing like as quick as a 981 or 718 point to point. Owned both.

Klippie said: 718 beetle engines vs flat six powered Cayman's, again and engine spoiled a great car. Had a GT86 from new in October 2012 until this time last year, when I PX'd it for my current "Beetle engined" base 718. Had one of the first Beetle engined 718 Caymans shortly after they launched in 2017, but bought a 981 GT4 in 2018, and needed to trade the 718 to keep finances on an even keel. So I have both Porsches at the moment. Would love to get snobby about 6 cylinders vs. 4 cylinders, especially as it seems I'm ending up with a pair of the former next year. But the reality is that the 4 cylinder turbo 718s, much like the 4 cylinder NA GT86, have been absolutely epic cars in their own ways. Most definitely not "great cars spoilt by their engines" in any way whatsoever. I'd love to try a GR86, I bet they are as amazing as the GT86: one of the best cars I ever owned. I really enjoyed watching the road test, as it appreciated both cars for exactly what they are, and without the prejudice of counting cylinders before coming up with a verdict. Liam

I far prefer the styling of the original GT86 over the GR86! Either way I'd far rather have a smoky old £15k Cayman S than a GR86, exclusive or not.... They don't do anything for me whatsoever. I have a GR Supra instead so I am not anti-Toyota!

Llew said: I far prefer the styling of the original GT86 over the GR86! Either way I'd far rather have a smoky old £15k Cayman S than a GR86, exclusive or not.... They don't do anything for me whatsoever. I have a GR Supra instead so I am not anti-Toyota! Be an odd world if we all liked the same things, the GR Supra leaves me cold.

[quote= __ ] Mind you, the Z4 Supra is a BMW and despite the wherewithall and admiration for the Supra linage it does nothing for me. At least the Subaru / Toyota GR86 is a lightweight sports car with a manual gearbox. [/quote] I get it - I am a big fan of BMW and Toyota so the fact that the "Zupra" is all BMW is quite a nice thing for me. GR86 is only circa 150kgs less, Supra much stiffer and has a shorter wheel base so which one is more "sporting" really depends on how you measure it. I see the Supra as a GT really, which happens to also go rather well and handle excellently. Mine has been a great car and in my opinion they don't deserve the negative press. It's not perfect and there are things I'd change about it. Either way, a decent 987 Cayman/Boxster will be a far better car - 981 even better still - than the '86. And the 86 looks crap. In my opinion of course. That said I do like the GR86 and think it's a great value sportscar, assuming you can actually buy one.

anonymous said: [redacted] I always thought they were great cars for the money, you could get a base model for around £40k I think? I was behind a remapped 718 S at Oulton some time last year. He was rapid. I do wonder if his engine has blown up yet.

scogins said: It could look a gazillion times better in the flesh... and it still wouldn't pique my interest. The design bores you inside and out, but even if it looked better in the flesh you still wouldn't buy it... ? Explain? john41901 said: Klippie said: 718 beetle engines vs flat six powered Cayman's, again and engine spoiled a great car. Absolute twaddle, I test drove one of these recently the turbo engine works really well with the chassis if you actually drive it rather than parroting the usual nonsense internet myths. Same. I've driven both the F6 and the F4T. Superb engines with no real downsides. Each will appeal to different people depending on what they fancy at that particular moment. john41901 said: Well I’m certainly glad I don’t own an ancient 981. Massively overrated and evidently some owners still have a bit of an inferiority complex about the newer, faster much improved 982 models. 987 at least has the better steering and is a much preferable experience if going that route. You're getting the 987 and 981 confused. The 718 is a refresh of the 981. The 987 is the older one, albeit still a superb sports car, with again, its own set of pros and cons. People's tribalism over their cars is kind of tragic.

rawenghey said: scogins said: It could look a gazillion times better in the flesh... and it still wouldn't pique my interest. The design bores you inside and out, but even if it looked better in the flesh you still wouldn't buy it... ? Explain? It's surely not hard to understand - it's merely a flippant way of saying that I find it INCREDIBLY boring. IMO, that design wouldn't have stood out in the 90's or 00's... far less today. It's so typically Japanese - (apparently) technically excellent, but designed by someone (apparently) bereft of flair, excitement or soul. I'm a car guy - I can appreciate all sorts - but I would pass a GR86 in the street and I honestly wouldn't give it a second glance.

scogins said: I'm a car guy - I can appreciate all sorts - but I would pass a GR86 in the street and I honestly wouldn't give it a second glance. I've had quite a few dog walkers comment on mine, I don't think they're car guys lol One was even a very nice lady.

It’s a good looking thing in the flesh, smaller than in photos.

Trevor555 said: I've had quite a few dog walkers comment on mine, I don't think they're car guys lol One was even a very nice lady. And that illustrates my point beautifully - GR86... liked by dog walkers... and a nice old lady! Seriously though - if you like it, then my opinion is irrelevant. Enjoy!

[quote= __ ] john41901 said: Well I’m certainly glad I don’t own an ancient 981. Massively overrated and evidently some owners still have a bit of an inferiority complex about the newer, faster much improved 982 models. 987 at least has the better steering and is a much preferable experience if going that route. Weird post think you are getting model numbers confused, 981 tremendous car was followed by 718 - which is a mk2 but way more expensive as a gts or gt4 to get the proper flat 6 engine. I had 718 gt4 and felt it too expensive, sold and bought McLaren for same money. 986/7 are both a good steer, make a great noise, but very dated and nothing like as quick as a 981 or 718 point to point. Owned both. You might be getting a bit confused yourself about model numbers. The model number 982 is the current version of the model name 718. In the same away that the current version of the model name 911 has the model number 992.

Rojibo said: I always thought they were great cars for the money, you could get a base model for around £40k I think? I was behind a remapped 718 S at Oulton some time last year. He was rapid. I do wonder if his engine has blown up yet. They were/are great value, but guessing you're talking about 987 Cayman. My first base 718 Cayman was about £48k in 2017, and the one I bought last year £52k on the road (some of that was new vehicle tax increases rather than price changes). My "first year" GT86 was £28k on the road in 2012 if I remember right, with every extra aside from the automatic gearbox. Absolute bargain, traded it in for over 1/3 of that a year ago. £2000 a year depreciation for a car I loved? I can live with that. I thought the GR86 looked a bit overbearing. But it's growing on me as I look at more pictures. Liam

Saw one last night on my high street in the colour similar to Porsche Miami Blue. Must admit it really does look much better in the flesh. Compact and taut. Still prefer my 987S though!

Vertus said: Saw one last night on my high street in the colour similar to Porsche Miami Blue. Must admit it really does look much better in the flesh. Compact and taut. Still prefer my 987S though! I saw one a few weeks ago and the photos don't do justice to the more aggressive bodywork (compared to GT86). I saw this photo online this week and best captures what I saw in the flesh.

I had a 987.2 Cayman S, no contest, best sports car for £25k - hands down. Just an unreal value proposition and not a day goes by where I don't miss it.