Time for a New Car so it is between a older Porsche 911 or a newer Porsche Cayman

[Desperado]

Time for a New Car so it is between a older Porsche 911 or a newer Porsche Cayman

Time for a New Car so it is between a older Porsche 911 or a newer Porsche Cayman for the same money. I'm thinking a 2001 911 is a better deal than 2007 or 2008 Porsche Cayman for the same money. I would like to hear other opinions.

 

[Underhill]

My experience does not come from a Cayman but from the Boxster (essentially the same under the skin). I owned a 2005 Boxster for a few years. Bought it used from a doctor in town for what I thought was a song (19,500 4 years ago). They don't sell for much less than that now.

Personally I think the 2007 Cayman is leaps and bounds better than the 2001 911.

It all depends on what you want. If you want a drag car, buy a Corvette. Neither is particularly fast in a straight line, but the 911 is faster. But if you are looking for handling, in the real world the cayman/boxster handles better than the 911. Being mid engined, they are more balanced and more flickable. Technically the limits of the 911 are higher, but it's also much scarier to drive fast.

If you can find a Cayman S that would be my ideal Porsche on a budget. Roughly the same power as a base 911 and the handling is even better than the base Cayman. I've never driven one but most magazines I've read start questioning the sense of the 911 after driving the Cayman/Boxster S.

The only problem is, S models definitely bring a premium price.

I know I've missed my Boxster from the day I sold it. Someday I will pick up another.

 

[percysunshine]

Always go for the older Porsche;


Porsche's First Car Found After Being Left In A Shed For 112 Years

.

 

[DGS49]

A used Porsche is like a boat: The happiest days of your life are (a) they day you get it, and (b) the day you get rid of it.

Buy a used 350Z roadster. You really don't want to be on a first name basis with the service advisor at the Porche store.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Always go for the older Porsche;


Porsche's First Car Found After Being Left In A Shed For 112 Years

.

Hard to believe that morphed into this -

 

[Moonglow]

I prefer trucks.

 

[Jarlaxle]

A used Porsche is like a boat: The happiest days of your life are (a) they day you get it, and (b) the day you get rid of it.

Buy a used 350Z roadster. You really don't want to be on a first name basis with the service advisor at the Porche store.

Anyone seriously trying to compare a 350Z with any Porsche has conclusively proven himself utterly clueless and can be safely ignored!

 

[Desperado]

Always go for the older Porsche;


Porsche's First Car Found After Being Left In A Shed For 112 Years

.

Hard to believe that morphed into this -

Which Evolved into this:

[/url] Porsche 935 by Desperado8, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[RandomVariable]

A used Porsche is like a boat: The happiest days of your life are (a) they day you get it, and (b) the day you get rid of it.

Buy a used 350Z roadster. You really don't want to be on a first name basis with the service advisor at the Porche store.

I agree with DGS49. If you want an technically accurate car get a Japanese. You want weighty horsepower go for Benz comfort side or BMW sporty side. English if you want refinement. American if you want G-force power. And Porshe just isn't the best of all worlds. I would love to hear reasons otherwise.

 

[DGS49]

Well, Jaraxle, I guess you've deemed every fucking car magazine on the planet as being "clueless," so your opinion is valued accordingly.

After doing 5 minutes of checking, one can confirm that an '04 Boxter and an '06 350Z roadster are "comparable" in every conceivable way. They are almost exactly the same size, have about the same retail value, but with the Nissan being faster, better equipped, and having far more standard equipment. Not to mention having an engine that annually is rated as one of the best in the industry, and having typical Japanese reliability.

To anyone who is more concerned with the actual car than the nameplate on the hood, the Nissan is clearly the better choice. But regardless, they are "comparable," as is the Honda S2000 - also cheaper and in many ways better than the 2.7L Boxter.

 

[Desperado]

First off, Im looking at a Cayman S not a Boxster.

page 3 - 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 Porsche Cayman S - Road & Track

motivemagazine.com - Motive Versus: Nissan 370Z vs. Porsche Cayman S

 

[RandomVariable]

First off, Im looking at a Cayman S not a Boxster.

page 3 - 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 Porsche Cayman S - Road & Track

motivemagazine.com - Motive Versus: Nissan 370Z vs. Porsche Cayman S

Have you had earlier models of either of these cars or owned something of the same class, two-seater roadster I think it is?

 

[Desperado]

First off, Im looking at a Cayman S not a Boxster.

page 3 - 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 Porsche Cayman S - Road & Track

motivemagazine.com - Motive Versus: Nissan 370Z vs. Porsche Cayman S

Have you had earlier models of either of these cars or owned something of the same class, two-seater roadster I think it is?

I have had a few two-seater roadsters/Coupes. Starting with a Datsun 240Z, followed by a couple Madza RX7's. I have also driven a number of other sports cars including the one in my avatar.
Sportscars are just a blast to drive.

 

[RandomVariable]

911 definitely.

 

[RandomVariable]

I personally recommend Kumho Ecsta 4X from tirerack. I should know. I've had a few sets of them. They will hold the road to throw you out the window.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Well, Jaraxle, I guess you've deemed every fucking car magazine on the planet as being "clueless," so your opinion is valued accordingly.

After doing 5 minutes of checking, one can confirm that an '04 Boxter and an '06 350Z roadster are "comparable" in every conceivable way. They are almost exactly the same size, have about the same retail value, but with the Nissan being faster, better equipped, and having far more standard equipment. Not to mention having an engine that annually is rated as one of the best in the industry, and having typical Japanese reliability.

To anyone who is more concerned with the actual car than the nameplate on the hood, the Nissan is clearly the better choice. But regardless, they are "comparable," as is the Honda S2000 - also cheaper and in many ways better than the 2.7L Boxter.

A track day in a Boxster (or Cayman) is fun. A track day in a 370z can end like this:

...when the brakes totally fail! (That was even the NISMO model, with upgraded brakes!) Newer Z's have upgraded brakes...which are, if anything, WORSE: the regular brakes fade quickly. The upgraded brakes work just fine...until they abruptly fail without warning!

To recap: a Boxster or Cayman (or a Boss 302, or a Corvette Grand Sport, or even a 4100lb Charger SRT8) can hot-lap all day without a problem. A 370z needs major upgrades just to not be a SAFETY HAZARD on the track! Absolutely unacceptable! A Boxster is equally at home commuting or at Laguna Seca. A 370Z is a car that a man having a midlife crisis buys to impress his golfing buddies and pick up his Viagra.

 

[DGS49]

Not to be schizophrenic, but a Cayman is a fabulous car - defnintely a better choice than an older 911 (which would probably have the same engine).

If I were you, I would search autotrader-dot-com and cars-dot-com, stipulate the equipment you want, check ANY DISTANCE, and go from there. If you can find exactly what you want at the right price, it is worth it to transport the car any distance within CONUS to get it. (I've done this with several cars and motorcycles).

Keep us posted. Good luck.

 

[Desperado]

Not to be schizophrenic, but a Cayman is a fabulous car - defnintely a better choice than an older 911 (which would probably have the same engine).

If I were you, I would search autotrader-dot-com and cars-dot-com, stipulate the equipment you want, check ANY DISTANCE, and go from there. If you can find exactly what you want at the right price, it is worth it to transport the car any distance within CONUS to get it. (I've done this with several cars and motorcycles).

Keep us posted. Good luck.

exactly what I an doing, I think I may have found one and will check it out this weekend.
Thanks

 

[RandomVariable]

Not to be schizophrenic, but a Cayman is a fabulous car - defnintely a better choice than an older 911 (which would probably have the same engine).

If I were you, I would search autotrader-dot-com and cars-dot-com, stipulate the equipment you want, check ANY DISTANCE, and go from there. If you can find exactly what you want at the right price, it is worth it to transport the car any distance within CONUS to get it. (I've done this with several cars and motorcycles).

Keep us posted. Good luck.

DGS49 and I can be the two voices inside your head making this choice all the harder. I still say go with the 911. My thinking is this: The Cayman looks a little more tamed, smoothed out. Either one is going to have more power and capabilities than you will ever get close to. If you want to go find a mountain road with the windows full open on an almost hot summer day and clear your mind then it is the 911. If you want to have a really awesome car to drive around the Cayman is more your choice. You really have to drive both cars to find the personality match.
(This is exactly the reason I try not to think about the ideal car too much. )

 

[DGS49]

It's the practical side of me that favors the Cayman S. The 911 is one of those cars that costs a king's ransom to maintain. Anything that breaks or wears out is a four-digit repair bill, and even maintenance is ungodly expensive. While every car is different, I tend think that the Cayman is a better sorted car, and will not be as expensive to keep on the road. The Car Mags pretty much say that a Cayman is better-handling at the limits and it's certainly fast enough for any non-track purpose anyone can imagine.

The only reason to go for the 911 is cachet.