Hypocracy and "The Numbers"

Let me preface this by asking that you indulge me in a little rant. Recently on another site some test figures showed that the Cayman S has little if any performance edge over the Boxster S and performed more poorly than the base 997. Hence the 'failure' and 'irrelevance' of the 'Boxster coupe'. First let me say that I do not question the numbers, nor do I see them as inconsistent with many positive reviews/tests of the car. However, what I do find objectionable in the postingis the hypocracy behind the use of such numbers to dismiss and denigrate the car itself. My objection is based on the all too familar rejoinder that when such 'peformance' figures, from a Corvette for instance, clearly show the 911 coming up short, the numbers then don't tell the whole story. The immediate response is that the 'numbers' cannot reflect the 'total package' or the 'Porsche experience' which clearly makes the 911 superior overall to any car that may generate better 'numbers' on the track. Thenotion that the driving experience of the Cayman may exceed the sum of its 'numbers' does not enter in the minds of such people. Whateverfund of knowledge such people may possess (which may be considerable), little can be learned from them because despite their protestations to the contrary, they cannot be objective.I have decidedneither to read nor post any longer on that site (not that it would make any difference to them) because, frankly,this islargely a forum for 911 (and 997 in particular) sycophants. They are certainly entitled to their 'club', although evidently ours, being of lesser pedigree, seems of dubious value to them. Although it's clearly not my call, I cannot see any purpose in sharing our information with any of these other sites which have been clearly hostile and denigrating in response. Edited by - DaveC on 10/31/2005 10:18:49 AM

Dave, I agree entirely with your post. After having responded once or twice to that sick thread, I gave up. Just plain morons ....................

i like the boxster, the 911, the cayenne and the cayman, i even like the carrera gt(lol). i would drive any one of those cars, i would love to open my garage and see them all sitting there in uniform colors as pictured on porsche.com. those kind of sites are not very open about cars in general and dont see the bigger picture. i saw a post on there today saying you would be pissed off if you just brought a 911 and then porsche release a car that can do the same for 15k less. posts like that i think are stupid, and so far this website has had nothing but the upmost respect for the 911, lets not put ourselves on their level.

Let's put another twist on this. Would you still consider the Cayman if it had another badge on the hood? Say a Subaru badge? I know the badge means a lot to people, and Porsche's are priced accordingly. I've always cared more about what a car does than what its pedigree is. I'm kind of a Max Balchowsky fan. ; -)

In Porsche's history these types of discussions have always happened, and I do mean always. Going back to the days of 356 to 901 transition, 911 Carerra 2 to 924 to 944 to 968. Then even when the 964 was introduced, 911 Carerra 2 fans thought the 964 was watered down, not the 'real' thing, etc. And then the now-all-famous 993 was just absurd and Porsche was abondoning its roots, year 1993 was a very dark year because of that. Most die-hard Porsche fans initially could not accept the 986, it was not to be, especially water-cooled engine. I am sure the story of the 996 is still fresh. So, it has been this way, currently it happens, and it will continue to happen. 911 fans will be 911 fans, andbecause of historical reasons and some facts, 911 will always be the only car that Porsche should focus on and everything else should be in supporting role to earn the company money so that it can spend on the next 911 development, period. Or so goes the general thought process. In my view, how ever good or bad the Cayman is, Porsche cannot afford to blow this opportunity. It is its ticket to younger buyers, to hook them up to the Porsche philosophy and to be able to sell more 911s. Hence, I suspect, the Cayman will be a very good car slotted exactly where Porsche needs it to be. Edited by - FT on 10/31/2005 1:41:31 PM

Has that thread on that site continuted to go downhill? I haven't looked at it since I defended this site last week. If he wants to take shots at the car that's one thing, but this site, that's something else! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/argue.gif I agree this sort of stuff is always going to happen and I'm glad we've stayed above it here. We aren't being Cayman 'snobs' simply Cayman 'enthusiasts'. If I wanted to open up a Cayman Snob site I would have opened www.caymansnobs.com /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/crazy.gif What I like is what we are doing here, publishing all of the info we possibly can, reviewing and discussing it and letting each person make up their own mind as to whether or not the car is of interest to them. Keep up the good work everyone!!! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thanks.gif

Agreed... I like them all and want the newest addition to the family. I have one more spot in my garage on the left just waiting for a cayman S...

Chuck, please send me your garage door opener code... /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/teeth_smile.gif

DaveC, I wish there was a smiley that had a 'right on, brother', so I could show how much I agree. This inter-Porsche dissing contest has a life of its own. Does anyone know if this goes on in the other marques, or is it unique /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbsup.gifto Porsche???

K-Man S, I'll be happy to oblige as long as you drop off your Cayman S and let me reprogram my garage door opener after taking delivery! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/drive.gifOh, and I will need the keys as well...

Not unique at all - the eight cylinder Ferraris were considered not quite the real thing. Even Ford Mustang owners, at one point, shunned the 1979 and newer Mustangs as not worthy (of what I'm unsure ; -).

i dont see what the big deal is, the first ever porsche had 2 seats and it was not a 911.