996 shopping, also considering CaymanS

Last week was a sad week, I finally sold my 968 that I had for 8 years. At least the good news is I sold it to my mechanic's other client who is also a Porsche lover, wish her a good life after me Now the fun of looking for my next Porsche starts. I test drove a few Cayman S and found the car very very easy to drive fast, I could easily double any highway ramp speed limit. In a straight line, I did however want a bit more power. I also tried a 996 3.4L, on paper it has almost the same hp but it felt stronger and the power felt more direct. The car I test drove was quite nervous on highway (120-160km/h) but I suspect it had worn suspension and the salesman also said the alignment was off. The 3rd car I tried was a 996 MKII Targa, the 3.6 engine is definitely more powerful and it is very use-able power at low end. Cornering is not as easy as a Cayman but it is more communicative, I really like it that you have to drive the car to go fast in a curve. I think it is a more fun car to drive and because you feel some much in the process of driving that you don't have to go crazy fast to have lots of fun. The Cayman S is so easy it is almost boring ... Based on these test drive, I have narrow down my search to MKII 996 and Cayman S, but quite obvious that I am leaning way towards the 996 at this time. Anyone has experience with both cars? How do you feel about them? Btw, the targa rattles so I will only consider a coupe. I also tried a 996C4S, it is too big, I always like my sports car compact.' Thanks

Sounds like you're having fun! The C4S isn't really "bigger" than a C2 or C4, it's just wider in the rear. It has upgraded brakes, suspension, etc. Many people consider it a fantastic driver because it has the same power as the C2, but it has the brakes and suspension of the turbo. Have fun with your search. BTW - The Cayman S is a fantastic car also. You can't go wrong either way.

Rear seats in 911 are huge plus for me ...cayman as you say is more balanced in the corners .. But it is not a 911 ! My targa doesn't rattle unless it gets really bumpy .. Convenience of hatch plus glass roof is a big plus ....

Why did you sell the 968? Just curious. I owned a Cayman S for awhile then bought a 996 (Turbo) after the Cayman was destroyed in an accident. I still own and drive my Boxster which I have owned since 2002. Both the Cayman (slash Boxster) and the 996 are very nice cars. But they are to state the obvious different cars. I can't tell you which one you should get. You have to decide. The 996 has better visibility and has a larger cabin so I do not feel quite so cluster-phobic with someone in the car. The Cayman/Boxster has more cargo space. The 996 is hampered in this area because being AWD the fuel tank and front diff take up front trunk space which has the 996 front trunk considerably smaller than its counterpart in the other cars. While the 996 has the back seats for "cargo" it is not the same. As an aside, were I to buy another 911 car I would probably avoid an AWD version as I do not require that feature and would like to eliminate the extra cost associated with it along with the weight and complexity. I frankly think I could like the Turbo with just rear wheel drive but I'm not about to butcher the car to remove the front drive feature as some have done. The Boxster is less costly to operate (as would have been the case with the Cayman). While the 996 -- if I'm careful -- gets 26mpg fuel economy on the road under the same conditions the Boxster gets nearly 30mpg without much effort on my part. On a long drive it is the difference between stopping at 250 miles to fill up vs. stopping at 300 miles. In a full day of driving that can be one maybe two stops less. That makes a difference in making good time not to mention the fuel bill at the end of the trip. The 996 has one real important "feature" I like and that is the ability to move the driver's seat way back and recline it so I can stretch out and take a nap while on a long drive. Since I use my cars for long road trips this is a safety feature that has me pulling over to rest rather than pressing on when I'm dangerously tired and sleepy. The Cayman/Boxster is a much more nimble car around town and with higher ground clearance driveways and such that I can navigate with no problem require kid glove handing to get the 996 into and out of without dragging and damaging that every expensive (approx. $400) front air dam. The Boxster (and Cayman the short time I had with it) were just fine out on the highway too. The Boxster has covered 270K miles and much of that on the open highway and it is a GT car with a soft top. The 996 being a Turbo is plenty powerful but frankly it has more power than can be put to use safely on the road. I mean the acceleration is intoxicating and impressive but where one can really "use" this and safely is another thing entirely. Now on the open road it makes cruising at highway speeds even in mountainous terrain effortless. The engine never struggles even at altitude. Passing speed is available at the slight dip of my right foot. Ballistic passing speed available with a downshift to 5th. 4th gear would have the car in orbit and then having to come back down to earth to refuel... Drive examples of both cars. Then think about what is really important to you.

I have an '06 Cayman S (6MT) and an '01 Carrera C4 Cabrio (Tiptronic), so I can give you my opinion about the differences between those two. I agree with MACSTER on most things, but my Cayman actually is the lower car for driveway approaches and such. The Cayman is quicker and sharper in terms of acceleration, directional changes, and speed into a corner. Part of that would be the 19" wheels on the Cayman and the Tiptronic hampering the C4. I am more confident throwing the Cayman around than the C4, but I have not driven the C4 as much yet. The interior room is less in the Cayman, but the luggage space is much better as there is a larger frunk and also a good size space in the back below the hatch. The interior materials and interior design of the Cayman is better IMO than the older 996 design. The 996 is a better "GT" car and long distance cruiser. It is more quiet, has a less stiff ride (probably because of 18" vs 19" wheels in the Cayman), It tracks with less wander into grooves, and it has that legendary 911 feel in the way it takes the curves, especially the way it powers out of the curve. Its not that the C4 is not sporty, but the Cayman S is more sporty. I love them both.

Well, none of us grew up dreaming of having a Cayman someday :-). But it's a hell of a car and a lot of fun on the track if that's an interest for you. Dennis is right re: the C4S ... I think you'll find its suspension and brakes superior and it's about 2" lower than a standard Carrera. Adds up to a pretty incredible package for the money. AWD isn't for everyone (esp at the track ... haters gonna hate) but I love it myself.

i have driven both and your right about the 996. It is more involving in corner entry and mid corner. It responds to throttle steering better than the Cayman. More fun and control. It sounds like driver involvement is important to you. I can't speak for a C4S. It may be less toss able than the C2. My 993 C4S doesn't respond like a C2. But, the Cayman is great also and more modern interior.

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I sold it because I did not get to drive it that often. I put 4000KM to the car every year. The drive is very direct for the driver (me) but passanger (mostly my wife) calls it harsh. As a result, I only used it for short trips and on smooth roads. I still had great fun driving it until the last day, and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed when the buyer agreed with my asking price. It was a mixed feeling. On the other hand, I also want to try something different, want to experience newer generation Porsche. I drove a few and it did not help. One day I want a Cayman for the superior handling, newer design and interior; next day I want a 911 for the low end power and legendary handling characteristic. I like both of them!! Today I spent some time on other threads researching the idea of a lightly modified Cayman (plenum, TB and necessary software for the change). May be this will give the Cayman a bit more mid range that the 911 has. At the end, I know both are great cars. In the perfect world, I would keep my 968, and have both 911 and Cayman.

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This, in fact, is the correct answer Unfortunately, not always doable. I would recommend against buying anything that you feel is going to need immediate mods to get it where you want power wise. While you are in the purchasing phase the world is your oyster, so find the car you want at a price you can deal with. If you really need the juice, you can pick up a 996 turbo for right around the price of an (admittedly 5 year newer) Cayman S. Given that a Cayman S is demonically faster than your 968 are you sure it's missing something? For what it's worth I think the Cayman is the most beautiful car made (currently) and the handling is, well, it's all been said. And yet I ALWAYS take the 996 over the 986. ALWAYS. I don't know why. It's like the freakin one ring of power. Once you put it on, YOU DON'T TAKE IT OFF. Call me Frodo.

I'm with LordViscous: I would not buy a car that I thought required mods to bring it to where it would please me.

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Yeah I was just throwing idea about. LordViscous, either car is more powerful than my 968 and probably faster than I need in street driving.

Just want to give a update on my car purchase. I just picked up a 99' 996 C2 last week, it has only 59,000km on it and in perfect condition both interior/exterior. I drove it around all weekend long just to try to know her a bit more. 2 very fix-able complaints so far. The car sounds a bit whimpy unless you rev it above 4000rpm, a sports exhaust should fix this. The car also floats a bit more than I want (compare to my old 968 and Cayman), I may want to update the suspension later.

Thanks for the update. Enjoy your "new" 996.

Congrats on you purchase...plenty of options for those fixes locally. I went with H&R springs from SCB, cured the float and stance, Then Pfaff Tuning for a muffler mod, then....

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Keep in mind that the RWD conversion takes all of 2 hours and costs $0.

My mk 1 Aero is sexier than a Cayman will ever be. For the sheer standing-in-the-garage-at-night-staring factor, the 911 is hard to beat, and the driving is so much more dramatic than the mid-engine platform. Note that "dramatic" and "fast" are not necessarily synonyms...sliding through a corner with the tail out, tires smoking, may not be the fastest way around the track, regardless of what Clarkson says. Looking at this through the car-for-the-money lens, it's a tossup. The 996 is so undervalued, it's hard to touch. However, CPO can be a huge factor for some - the peace of mind alone may make a "certified pre-owned" Cayman more attractive than a "you're on your own" 996.

Congrats on the purchase. Post a few pictures when you can

Crap, I'm an idiot. Congrats.

We can definetly help you out with all your needs for your 996! We can also help prep your car for winter . Feel free to message me for any more info!