Almost traded for a Cayman S (second thoughts)

Well- I was not sure what I was thinking but I almost traded my 99 996 for the new Cayman S. I drove the car and it just did not seem as fun as the 996 even a 1999. I've owned 3 Boxsters a 2.5, 2.7 and an S and the Cayman felt too much like the Boxster except it is not a convertible. I'm not sure on the looks as well sometimes I think it looks great and then other times it just looks wierd in an ugly kind of way. If I had to choose I think I would have gone with the Boxster S because I think it looks better. Anyone else have thoughts on the Cayman? Regards Ben

I agree with you on all your points....Sometimes I look at it ad like it and others I just think it looks odd....Its that rear end....I sat in one and I was thinking about how much I liked it...then looked at a 65K sticker and said...no thanks....At 45K, I think they couldnt make them fast enough...at 65K, I'd be looking for a 996 Turbo....

I generally like the Cayman S inside and out, but not enough to be a replacement for my 996. It's probably a no-win situation with me since if I were to get another P-car as a complement, it'd be a cab (Boxster). So it looks like there's no room for a Cayman S in my garage. Still a thrill-ride, nonetheless!

40 years of refinement, if there was a better way it would have been brought up 10 years ago. Enjoy the 911 it is here to stay!!!

I like the cayman, but like the 996 better..and what to do without the backseats?? I never being able to see the engine at all!? But the Cayman supposed to be better in cornering, because of the mid engine than the 996...don't know if this was a sales pitch from the salesman or truth?!!? 996 all the way...especially with my new front!!

the look of the car is personal. cayman DOES corner a lot bettter than 996. it doens't understeer as much. you dont need to trail brake as much to get it to turn. you can enter corner faster, higher mid corner speed. and it's faster then 3.4L 996's for sure on the track. however, 996 will have higher exit speed, you can get on throttle earlier than cayman. as far as it's supposedly "high" price. it depends on the tolerance of your wallet.

The Cayman will be a great track car. For personal use I'd rather pay an extra $10K and get the 997. Like others have posted, sometimes I like the looks of the Cayman and then other times it looks weird, especially from the rear.

If that car was 10K lower, it's a hit. It's just priced way too close to a new 997, and certainly well within the price of a good 996.

I bet the Cayman S would be Porsche's flagship sportscar if the engineers were in charge. When they were free to build the Carrera GT they didn't hang the engine off the rear bumper. I love the car. Luckily for me my girlfriend order one. It should be here just in time for track season. Jim

The Cayman is a great little car, my wife and I took one out and the best way to describe it is "Small GT3" IMO. It does exactly what you tell it to do, when you tell it to do it.

People who have experience with the Boxster and Cayman say it's very unforgiving when it does "let go". My only experience with a Boxster was as a loner car. I was taking a turn going to work, one I've driven hundreds of times in my 996 and I almost lost it completely. Scared me pretty bad.

my low option car cost me 56k+fee/tax. it aint that bad.

I would love to have a Cayman S. In fact, I avoid looking at them just so I will not think about trading. The problem is . . . that I do not need one. I have a dedicated race car, so I do not need it for the track, which is where I think the Cayman S will shine. Specifically, the Cayman S will make an IDEAL dual track/street vehicle . . . far superior to the 911 IMHO. For a street only use vehicle, it is really hard to beat my 996 Targa, which has nearly every available factory option. It is an ideal GT car, and I can take my kids with me, which I could not do in the Cayman S. If I bought a Cayman S, I would buy it stripped, I would install a very closely fit full cage ALA Ruf's integrated cage, and I would install GT3 seats with 6 point harnesses. Then I would have fun picking off 997s and GT3s at the track . . .

I'm sure you'd get used to the Cayman's characteristics pretty quick, and then you'd be flying around that turn (albeit with a different approach).

With the same engines, the Cayman S would spank the 911 S like a red-headed stepchild. Yowza. Wait until RUF gets his hands on the Cayman S . . .

right on. i am almost there. will have a closely fitting oem looking rear roll bar in two weeks. has gt2 seats with harness i have picked ofef 997 and 997s at the track, but GT3.... well. i can always dream, LOL>

Mooty, It is too bad you didn't join the rest of the west coast gang for dinner when I was out at Laguna Seca. Wait a second, on second thought, I am glad we have never met because I think that you would be an extremely evil influence on me. Now, as far as the GT3, I have picked off a few in my n/a 944 I know, I know, you can't be too proud of that feat, but you take them where you can get them, and I am sure that, with time, I could be a gnat to many in a stock Cayman S. If it had a GT3 engine, wow, watch out. I like the idea of not having much more than 50k wrapped up in a car that I am tracking. The more money you potentially could lose by balling a car up, the more cautious you drive, and thus the slower you are (at least for me). I thoroughly enjoy driving the 944 because I am far less worried about balling it up than I am the 996. TD

And a 914 with a V8 would spank them all...but seriously....In my opinion, there is SOOOO much more to a car than tenths of a second and what may or may not spank something else...Yes the Cayman S is a FAST car, but so is ANY modern Porsche (except a Cayenne V6)...That being said a Boxster with a 3.8L would be a faster car...nicer? More fun? All subjective.....My take was, that I LOVE the way my 99 C4 Cab feels....I like the AWD system and for ME, its great. The Cayman S isnt for me...not that it wont make a PERFECT car for someone else.

Of course . . . I didn't even think this topic was in dispute. I mean, if you look at my first post, I point out that my 996 Targa is preferable for a street only car. Personal preference is important. For example, I have zero desire for an AWD car, and don't intend to own one. Likewise, I have zero desire for a Porsche 911 cab, and don't intend to own one. I am glad it makes you happy, but it is the last thing I would want. On the other hand, there are some absolutely crazy and foolish people who do not want a Targa of course I am joking and being sarcastic just to make a point . . .

I think it was Porsche magazine or some magazine to do with only porsche and they compared the cayman s to the 993 Carrera. On the track the 993 barely one, but thats pretty good considering its an older car.

You just wanted the new car experience, I don't blame you... ok, a little.