Regret the switch? Cayman to 911

I've had my second Cayman S now for a little over a year and 6000 miles, it is a 2011 987.2 S with PDK , only 31000 miles, and I am already looking for a 911 for next year. I want to sell my car and look at a 997.2 . I am just wondering if anyone had made the switch and regretted doing so? Anything you miss about the Cayman that the 911 does not give you? I want a nice color, and maybe even a convertible. It just has to be the right one.. I'd prefer an S, but if the right cabriolet came along in base I'd entertain that.. Decisions decisions.

Good question, I'd like to know too.

I've gone the other way: 997S to 981S . I don't miss the 997S. If you love Porsches and 911s however, I'd recommend that you purchase one. If nothing else, just to satisfy the 911 "mystery". I had my 997S for about six years, and really loved the car. My intention was to replace my 997 with a 991, but I just couldn't justify the $35K 911 premium. Other than the added price, I doubt that you'll regret buying a 997S. I prefer the handling of a 981S to a 997S, but again every Porsche lover should own at least one 911 in their lifetime.

911 compared to Cayman / Boxster has been discussed and debated since 986 / 996. but I agree with above by fast1 you should own a 911 at least once. I went from a 997 to a 987 and no regrets. Although eventually got back to a 911 and kept a 987. I like both.

I have a question that is somewhat related to this thread, but don't want to start another one. All things being equal, an entry level 911 S is roughly $35,000 more than an entry level Cayman S . What accounts for the difference? Is there a higher quality of materials in the 911 ?

I drove our 987.2 Cayman S on Saturday, then switched Sunday to our 997.2 Carrera GTS . No regrets. Puttering around town, the two vehicles don't actually feel a whole lot different...only when driven with verve is the additional power of the GTS noticeable, and on the street at at less than 6/10ths I'd challenge anyone to discern any handling differences between the mid- and rear-engine configurations. The Cayman steering is a bit heavier at low speed, however. Inside, the materials and design are very similar, with a slight edge going to the GTS for its additional gauges and better-designed door pulls. The Bose also sounds better to my ears in the 911 with the subs in the rear rather than in the passenger footwell. Day-to-day, the Cayman is a bit more utilitarian having a trunk and a frunk, but you can get bigger stuff in the 911 rear seat/parcel area. The 911 has a sunroof (which I have never opened) that isn't an option on any Cayman . I much prefer the solid roof in the Cayman . When driven hard, I like the way the 911 steering lightens up, especially powering out pf corners. The Cayman feels a bit more predictable in the mountain twisties, but that's where the power deficit compared to the 911 is noticeable...and frankly I like that the GTS requires a bit more attention to drive smoothly when pushed. The notion that the Cayman "handles better" on the street than a 911 is rather humorous to me; it merely has a different feel due to the different f/r balance. On the track at 8/10 or more, there are differences...what one thinks is better will largely depend (in my view) on personal preference, track history and experience. Outside, both a 987.2 CS and a 997.2 S/ GTS are iconic shapes. With Aerokit Cup wing and lip, I think a 997 trumps the 987.2 . My wife disagrees, though...she prefers the lithe, athletic look of the 987.2 compared to the 911 , which she says looks like a cockroach. With a wing, she thinks it looks like a cockroach with a wing. The 987.2 CS s her DD; the 997.2 GTS is my DD.

PCM is PCM . Leather is Leather. Windows are Windows. There are common components across the entire PAG model lineup. You don't get a different PCM than a Panny Turbo S owner or a Macan Turbo owner. 1. Primary differences lie in the Value Based pricing. They charge what the market will pay. Despite the 911 being higher, they sell MORE units in the US and worldwide than the Boxster and Cayman combined. There is a message there that consumers are willing to pay the price. Besides that. 2. Technology trickles down from the top to the bottom. For example, LED headlights will available for the MY12 991. Not available for the 981 . Now just becoming available for the 718 . For a performance option, SPASM was available in 2012 for the 911 , only now becoming available for the 718 . 3. The suspension is more sophisticated with the rear suspension being multi linked (i.e. more money). 4. The wheels and tires cost more. Typical rears for a 991 are 295/305, for the 987/ 981 were 265. 5. Of course the engines were different. From S to S they were 3.8 vs 3.4L (until the Spyder / GT4 ) 6. Some options still reserved solely for the 911 (e.g., PDDC, RAS, Axle lift) 7. Some options are standard (e.g., PCM is now standard on the 991.2. You pay for the Cayman , Power seats for the 911 , manual for the 718 ). There are probably more options, you need to read the configs. 8. Back Seat, nothing for the 718 9. Brakes were different. Bottom line, more things standard, different engine, different suspension, different brakes, bigger wheels, bigger tires , more power, etc. etc. etc

You can't get an AWD Cayman nor can you get a Targa. I have a 981B and 991.2 C4S. Different vehicles, performance of any of them can't be used on the road, so if not a Track guy and want a Cabriolet, Boxster is the best bet. If a Track guy, I would get a GT4 if it had PDK . Current GT4 's corner very well but are hindered on Track by the lack of the PDK . GT3 or RS is nice but really Track focused vehicles. But if you just want to drive and do a lot of highway driving, the 991.2 is more satisfying with all the bells and whistles. Weekend driver, Boxster or Cayman . Snow, got to go AWD.-Richard

I believe that this is a very accurate assessment, particularly "The notion that the Cayman "handles better" on the street than a 911 is rather humorous to me; it merely has a different feel due to the different f/r balance. On the track at 8/10 or more, there are differences...what one thinks is better will largely depend (in my view) on personal preference, track history and experience."

I added a poll to the thread for statistics purposes and voted already.

Owning a 07 Cayman S back in 07 and 4 months ago bought a 991.2 c2s, id personally prefer the 911 its just such a well balanced car and to top that its what porsche has been perfecting for the last 50 years. Both outstanding cars but like people said you have got to own a 911 to feel what a 911 is then coming back and forth is going to be easy. PS: loved the 911 so much i sold it and got a 15' gt3 just unbelievable car

I switched from a 14 981 Cayman S I bought new, to a CPO 14 991S. The 911 feels bigger inside and I am aware of the extra 75HP. If Porsche made the GT4 truly available to it's customers I would have had a tough time deciding. I have always thought that visually the Cayman / Boxster was more attractive, but underpowered. If Porsche made a GTS with 3.8L and some wider tires , I think they would have a big seller.

I'm lovin every minute of ownership of my 2015 991 C2S Coupe with sunroof in Black Glass. I stole it with CPO at 3000 miles for $88.9k. MSRP was $124.2k. A comparable 718S Cayman iss $1500 more that I paid for my 2015 911 C2S. The only thing I miss about my 981 CS is the Racing Yellow exterior and interior tidbits. Guards Red is a great color, but Řacing Yellow is that much better.

Congrats, 911 is a great car. Nice spec and deal, enjoy.

My first Porsche was a 987 Cayman S which my wife basically "stole" once I got it home. But I've tracked it, AutoXed it, and taken it on long drives and it is a wonderfully balanced car, very easy to drive slow or at its limit on the track. Great - and I mean really great - steering. Weak points - the 3.4 was underpowered back in 2006 and the shift is mushy, mis-shifts are very possible at both low speeds (no big deal) and high speeds (BIG DEAL!):drivingskid: For four months I have owned a 2009 911C4S with PDK . This car is much faster than the 987, obviously, and came with PASM which is a smoother ride at slow speeds. The car is a " launch edition" with carbon fiber racing seats - very comfortable except when getting out of them - full leather and sport, sport chrono , etc. The C4S is basically a Porsche Turbo without the turbo. It's all wheel drive, very well planted and offers amazing grip when braking or accelerating. The engine sounds wonderful and the car is very, very comfortable. The steering is excellent, no possibility of missed shifts at any speed. The steering is wonderful but I actually think the steering on the CaymanS feels better, probably due to the mid-engine design and that fact that the 987 has hydraulic steering. Frankly I love both cars and having a wife that loves the CaymanS means we will always have at least two Porsche 's in the garage :cheers:

I'm just wondering if the 911 is less of a sports car and more of a GT car, especially when compared to the Cayman ?

It's more of a GT car indeed, but absolutely not less of a sports car in any sense. It has to do with the driver mood how to drive it that day.

My 991 C2S feels bigger inside than my 981 CS. But it is faster on the track and pulls higher G forces than the CS. Brings lots of smiles and the music from the PSE has more gravitas. I love driving with the sunroof tilted open. 23% more Hp, 20% more torque, with 8% more weight. Cost? At about a year old with about the same mileage, my 911 C2S cost me $24k more than the 981 CS did, but the MSRP was $48k more, with 5 years warranty remaining (CPO) instead of 3. But don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed my Racing Yellow CS.

I think this is an excellent summary and my impressions are very similar. I will also say I have multiple family members who say "let me know when you want to get rid of the Porsche ."

We went from a 99 Guards Red Boxster to a 09 Cab S. Haven't looked back since. Daily driving? Not so much of a difference, but when pushed hard, easily tell. Of course, there is a whole decade of technology that I jumped from, but still.

I changed this year from a GT4 to a 997 GT3 RS 4.0. Hardly a fair comparison given the power, price and generational difference but they are both ultimate examples of the breed and Evo Car of the Year winners. For the GT4 motor to sound interesting you had to have the exhaust button switched on and the windows down. Then it was excitingly loud and aggressive (more so than a 997.1 RS) but without the GT3 music and at high revs in third the acceleration felt a little flat. T he RS 4.0 takes off at 4,000 rpm as if turbocharged but with a mid-tone harmonic howl that builds to a bloodcurdling crescendo. It becomes so loud it’s amazing it’s legal. The 4.0 does a wonderful squirrelly squirm for some distance exiting second gear corners. The GT4 could hint at that and it was delicious but because of the lower power (385ps vs 500ps) and taller gearing (107mph at 7000rpm in 3rd vs 87mph) you needed to be near the limit in the corner to experience it rather than keeping a little more in reserve through the apex and unleashing on exit. Despite always feeling more alive, the 4.0 is just as confidence inspiring as the GT4. What it loses in natural balance it makes up with increased steering feel, and the imbalance adds so much character and makes the front inertia-free. With stability and traction control on, the imbalance is kept in check and you can get some nice little slides that are less sudden and smoother than in the GT4. Setting the GT4's rear ARB to stiff neutralised its whiff of understeer and provided extraordinary front end grip but in the 4.0 the light front end and greater need to manage weight transfer provide more enduring interest. The ride of the 4.0 is a little firmer but I prefer that extra sense of connection. The structure is so solid that there is no crashiness and the dampers round off the sharp edges beautifully. The electric steering of the GT4 was quite heavy and slightly artificial feeling though this was improved by setting the rear ARB to stiff. On dry roads it had enough feel but in the wet I couldn’t sense the grip of the front tyres. The hydraulic steering of the 4.0 feels more an extension of your thoughts and transmits more road texture. I've yet to try it in the wet. The gearbox of the GT4 was much more slick but once run in it was so short and easy that it almost started to feel like a paddle shift. The challenge of making good shifts in the 4.0 (quick and precise if you get it right, slow and baulky if you don ’ t) also provides more enduring interest. The 997 interior looks a higher quality design. The trim strips in the 981 appear more superficial and I prefer the traditional 911 dash sculpting. The Carrera GT buckets in the 4.0 have fractionally less shoulder support than the 918 Spyder ones in the GT4 but the earlier buckets are noticeably tighter everywhere else - a sign of the times. The only thing I miss is the excellent luggage space of the 981. If the GT4 had a wide body rear I think it would look as good as the 4.0 but it just looks a little effeminate from the rear quarter. My 4.0 has the advantage of front axle lift, which works brilliantly. In summary, the Cayman - and Boxster - is brilliant and more logical but the 911’s handling character and involvement remains unmatched. The ultimate Cayman will also be handicapped until it gets a GT3 engine.

To folks who made the switch, Boxster/Cayman to 911 , are you driving your 911 more? I love my Boxster but six months of the year it sits in a garage and I don't use it to commute. Too much traffic and too much hassle. Is the 911 a better touring car for long highway drives?

No on the regrets and no on driving it more. What u need for nasty commutes is a "beater". Save ur nice Boxster under a cover for sunny day blasts. U will enjoy it so much more when it is clean and driven for pleasure or club events only. i went from a used 981 CS with 2400 miles to a new 2015 Macan Turbo, and then to a used 2015 CPO 991 C2S with 3100 miles. They are all great cars. but i enjoy them most for sunny day blasts. For long mundane and crappy weather drives, i prefer driving a "beater". Unless of course there is a PCA event at the end of that crappy drive !

Your question nailed it. After 6 months and over 8K miles, the 991.2 is a much better GT for Tollway and Expressway. My 981B has a horrible blind spot with the top up. I don't think LCA was avaiable in 2013 when I ordered but even if the 991.2 didn't have LCA, the visibilty to the rear is so much better. The front leg and pedal area looks the same but the 991.2 is more comfortable for my legs for long drives. (I have 18 way in both cars) The new Porsche Connect( PCM ) is great, comes standard so I didn't have a choice but it's really feature full and combined with the new multifunction GT Steering Wheel, I am almost always hands on using the wheel and voice for control, NAV and Station changing. Of course the engine torque makes for better low end but you do lack some of the wail of the NA engine. Of course touring, who cares? I have a C4S, so my winter wheel/tire set is installed and the car is a daily driver. My 918B also sits in winter. Saturday I put over 100 miles on the C4S driving to Arlington Heights and then to Skokie in a mix of Tollway, surface streets and Edens. Quite enjoyable with ABBA providing the music.-Richard

It's currently -15 Celsius, we've had about 3" or more of snow in the past couple of days, and the Cayman is sitting in its heated garage space on the battery tender . The 911 has had its winter boots on since the beginning of November and will be heading out onto the cold, mucky streets in the next hour. From my perspective, both a Cayman and a 911 are usable in even severe winter weather, but the 911 is more stable and easier to throttle steer with precision than a mid-engine car. An AWD 911 with proper winter tires is pretty much the ideal winter performance vehicle: it'll take you anywhere, anytime.

I had three Cayman S before I bought a 2013 991 S. The power of that car was addictive, although the 7-speed manual gearbox was a little clunky when compared to the 6-speed in the Cayman . I traded my 911 in last year when I found an open allocation on a Cayman GTS . I just personally like the smaller feel of the Cayman . That said, I was just at the dealer inquiring about a yellow GT3 they had. I would like to pick one up, but I think I will wait to see if the manual trans from the 911R truly returns in the GT3 . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I loved my 981 CS, especially on the track, but at 72, I wanted something not so fatiguing to drive on long road trips. I found it to be too noisy and rigid when I wanted to just relax. So I bought this car and could I t be happier. Dealer Inventory 2017 991 S WHITE, MANUAL, HOUNDSTOOTH!! - ******** Discussion Forums

Oops this is an old thread.

Not anymore. Thanks for reviving. Congratulations on the 991.2, nice find, and MT, too. What do you think of the PSE ?

It sounds great, and when you turn it off it's much quieter than the CS PSE when switched off. So at 75 mph in 7th gear, the engine rpm is below 2k and with the PSE switch off, you can actually enjoy the sound system.