Please indulgemy long rant while I describe my driving background and try to organize my thoughts on what my next car should be.
OK, here I am seven years into the ownership of an Audi A4 that continues to serve me well. It was my first car, first new car, and first manual car. Didn't know anyone with a manual transmission in NYC so I learned the basics by reading about it on the Internet then took it off the dealer lot and into bumper to bumper city traffic.It took a good 2 years or more of driving (about 10000 miles) beforeshifting and driving itself became comfortable.
I take public transportation for work and really only get to use the car once a week. So on my 1998 Audi, I just broke 32,000 miles.
Being a single person with a house (6 years remaining on mortgage), some rental income, 401K funded, savings, blah, blah, I begin to obsess about another car. What else was I going to do, settle down and get married?
My plan is to keep the Audi since it's been reliable and I need 4-doors, Quattro w/snow tires for the winter. plus I don't feel like giving away such a low milege car for about $10K book value.
The current M3 seemed like the ideal addition but this is the last model year. Nothing else looked promising to me currently. So, I thought, I might as well wait until the V8 M3 comes out, hopefully it'll fit my $60K max budget.
Now Porsche thowsme this curveball call the Cayman. What to do? I never really considered the Boxster since I'm not a convertible person. The Carrera @ $85K + spec'ed the way I wanted was out of my comfort zone pricewise. I considered a used 911 @ $60K, but it didn't feel right to spend so much for something used. I know it makes the most financial sense, but it wasn't for me.
I've signed up a DE event in November with the Audi and planned to do at least 6 track days next year in order to improve the driver. I'd figure $$$ would be better spent on this than a full carbon fiber interior or 19' wheel upgrade on whatever car I get next.
So, an apples to oranges comparision of two cars that no one has even driven yet. Which car would I be happier with? M3 with a V8 or a Cayman? Anyone whose has the current M3 or Boxster care to share their thoughts?
The Cayman would require me to increase my budget to $70 with tax, but whose to say the new M3 wouldn't be in that range too?
Am I putting too much stock on 400HP? I'm not a stoplight to stoplight racer and I'm the happiest when doing smooth lane changes and double-clutch downshifts while avoiding cabbies.
I dunno, I'm beginning to sound incoherent now, but I think you get the gist of my dilema.
Any advice on what else to think about or look for?
-Pete
I've owned several BMWs and they are nice cars, the engines being the particularly strong aspect. I'm a little surprised by the BMW/Porsche direct comparison that is often discussed on the bulletin boards since the philosophy behind the design of Boxster vs. M3 is very different. Mercedes and BMW are now in a horsepower war and I guess the sheer number of ponies offered makes them attractive in terms of straight line acceleration, but there's not much beyond their usual sport sedan chasis/brakes to compliment the horsepower.Even though you don't want a ragtop (I didn't want another one) you should drive a 987S and a current M3 back to back. I was very impressed with the 05 987S in comparison with my 986. My wife had a 330ci for a couple of years and I felt the engine was willing and able but the car leaned in turns (sport suspension)and the steering was vague, even compared to previous BMWsI owned. Based on my 987S drive I think the Cayman will be terrific. I think the HP is more than enough to give the car competent acceleration and let the chasis shine. I think the Cayman has a more balanced and entertaining package to offer than the M3 once you get beyond the bragging rights of 400HP (which is a lot to brag about!).
peter,
I think it depends on what you really want out of the car. It sounds like you have the Audi for regular day to day driving and bad weather driving and if that's true you can be a little more frivolous if you want on the other car. For example if you had to have a back seat well then only the M3 would work, not the Cayman.
Your quandry seems to be more around performance, so let me try to shed some light there. First, horsepower isn't everything, you have to consider weight. Pick up a C&D and look at their 0-60 tests for the current M3 and the new 987S, they are identical, quarter mile the Boxster S is faster by a 1/10 of a second. Now look at handling, and braking, the Boxster wins hands down. So what does that mean on the track? Well, in equal hands, the Boxster can brake later (better brakes and it weighs less) and carry more speed in the turns, and be just about on par on the straights meaning overall much faster lap times. Car magazines bear this out, as well as my own personal experience at the track. My old 2000 Boxster S was an even match on the track with the existing M3, mostly because it lacked enough HP to make up time in the straights, my new 987S is more than a match for the M3 despite giving up almost 50hp!
So let's examine the Cayman S then shall we? stiffer chasis, larger engine, better suspension, better aerodynamics than the 987 S which we know from testing at Nurburgring results in times not only faster than the 987S, but faster than the base C2 997. We also know that the engine is being artificially restricted by Porsche so a little tweaking ought to improve those numbers to 997S range and that is on a track like Nurburgring that rewards high horsepower. If you are driving on a typical US road course of 1.8 to 2.5 miles with lot's of turns the Cayman S with its better balanced mid-engine design is really going to shine there likely besting both along with the new M3.
The M3 uses brute force (HP) to overcome its weight and design disadvantages, Porsche uses its design advantages to try and get the most out of their HP, neither is right or wrong, just two different philisophies, two different styles of cars. You should pick whichever better suits what style you are looking for. FWIW I don't think either car would be a 'bad' choice and ultimately you'd be happy with either, and although my preference is for the Cayman, there would be times that I could use the back seat for hauling kids or groceries where the M3 would be more 'practical', but since I'm demanding at the track I prefer the Cayman.
Hope that helps.
I've got a GT3, boxster S and got rid of M3 after 3 years. I've had an Elise, Carrera, evo 8, S2000, 02 Zo6 and a few others. My favorite car in terms of handling is the Boxster S - no question. The M3 was a great car but too heavy and not mid-engined. There is really no comparison as to how a midengined car changes direction compared to front engined car. The Cayman is really going to be a spectacular handling car with more than enough power and the right balance.It will be less than3000lbs. The M3 will be quite a bit heavier. For times when I wan't to scare myself, I'll get into the GT3. If you plan on keeping your A4, then go with the Cayman.
I agree with C7S/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbs_up.gif
I'm in the UK and currently have an E46 M3 Coupe (stick shift) and a Vauxhall VX220 Turbo (= Opel Speedster = basically a S2 Elise Chassis with 197bhp turbocharged engine). I regularly do trackdays in the 'VXT' and just use the M3 on the road.
The M3 is an awesome road car but it's big and heavy and the brakes aren't up to hard use. The VXT is nice if you'rein the rightmoodbut it's not as rounded and deeply satisfying as a Boxster S.
I will be replacing both cars, with a Cayman S (for road and track) and the forthcoming MkV Golf R32 (we get this in the UK from November).I thought about keeping the M3 as well as the Cayman but I'm pretty sure I'm making the right decision. The Cayman will probably feel as fast as the M3on the roadand be much more satisfying to drive. It'll also probaby be quicker and more fun than the VXT on the track.
Mind you, I have got a deposit down on the next M3 just in case.../fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/shades_smile.gif
Hey everyone,
Thanks for all the great info you've provided. It's great to get the opinion of folks with a lot more driving experience under their belts.
I'll definitely try to do a few test drives, but for some reason, unless I spend an extended period of time in the car, I'm very slow to pick up the unique characteristics of the car.
-Pete
Pete,
Please allow me to throw in my 0.02 here.
I currently own a 2002 E46 M3 and enjoy it at every level, but am eagerly anticipating getting my hands on a Cayman S.
I think the 2 cars are really[/quote] quite different. The M3 is more of a GT cruiser, while the Cayman (I hope/believe) will be more of a roadster. Before I bought the M3 I test drove and seriously considered the M Coupe. While I loved the handling and style of the M Coupe, I needed something more practical (backseat) and something that was more liveable on a day-to-day basis. Hence, I ended up with the M3.
Good luck with your decision, and don't let raw numbers (i.e. 400 bhp) sway you one way or the other. It's about performance and overall handling, not pure numbers. I've seen guys lap Ferraris and spec'd out 996s on the track with a Dodge Neon ..
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Actually, I decided to replace my CLK with a E90 M3, but seems there is still a couple years to wait so I would rather get a K-man S now and sell it when the E90 M3 arrive.
