Talk Me Out Of or Into a Cayman

[redstrosekNic]

If you want to be talked out of one, watch the BBC Top Gear when they tested the first one. While Top Gear is still my favorite show, they don't give Porsche much respect at times...

I love the looks and sounds of a Cayman

[dad911]

I'm looking for a cayman "S" also......

[HardDrive]

Why would I talk you out of buying one of the best sports cars ever? A certified used S model will actually be less money than a new Camry.

[Spud]

Bought a 2006 Cayman S in October (19k mi., CPO $34K). I've owned 911(s) for twenty years, been tracking them for eleven years. After instructing in a students Cayman S at Laguna I was sold. Incredible cars, much quicker than my 993 was.

If you plan on doing a lot of track work (especially with sticky tires) then the genI cars will need some mods. However, the genII cars do not seem to have any of the same weaknesses. The Cayman Interseries uses 2009 and 2010 cars and are ran very hard, they use a stock motor and gearbox. From what I've heard those cars have been bullitproof on the track.

I'm planning some minor tweaks to my car before it gets on the track next spring.

Llike others have said, these cars are outstanding when the road is twisty.

[intakexhaust]

On my radar too.. 09 Cayman. Could it be Porsche reserved the power plant and almost made too good vs. a 911? I know its not in the same regards but my other thoughts are a Beck 904 with a nicely tuned 3.2 and 915 box for in the mid $50's.

[s_wilwerding]

I would recommend, if the budget allows, to buy a 2009+ Cayman S. They have the DFI engine, no IMS issues, much more robust (as mentioned above). Heck, if I could afford it, that's the route I'd go.

[Dottore]

The very best sports car bang for the buck there currently is.

[vash]

CON:

they wont fit!!

[R K T]

Another CON.....
If you are 6'4" like me, there's not much adjustment in the seat. You are all the way back and not much leg room. I'd get one for my wife, but she works downtown and has to park in a cramped parking lot.

[RWebb]

you made a mistake in the way you approached the wife -- you shold have told her you want an F-car and let her know the going prices

THEN, let her talk you down to a Cayman


for now, just tell her the red one matches her hair

[M.D. Holloway]

Vash - I will keep the Pilot for family transport! I will let the favorite one ride with me from time to time....

RWebb - her fav color is red but sadly she can't see color anymore. I could easily swing it if I got rid of the Targa but our Son would kill me!

In two to three years it will not be an issue. It takes her that long to digest certain ideas...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I have a date on Friday with a woman who tracks her Boxster and is looking into getting a Cayman Interseries.

Cayman Interseries

I like Caymans, could almost see selling the 73 and getting one.

[Spud]

Having 2 rugrats that love Porsches I too struggled with the "no backseat" issue. However, I was able to rationalize that in another year my oldest would not fit in the back of a 911 anyhow, that may ring true for you as well.

As for you tall guys, headroom is great, leg room not so much.

[Dan J]

I raced one in Grand Am this year with very good reliabilty. Took a licking and kept on ticking
Like Steve said I'd definitely by a gen 2 (09 up) 911's handle better though

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by R K T

Another CON.....
If you are 6'4" like me, there's not much adjustment in the seat. You are all the way back and not much leg room. I'd get one for my wife, but she works downtown and has to park in a cramped parking lot.

Plus one on that...didn't fit in a Boxster, so didn't even try a Cayman...well, not quite true..by the time the Cayman arrived, I was done with P-cars...

But hey...whatever floats Mike's boat..right? He's a little guy...he'll fit.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Talk you out of it.....why? I owned a 986 Boxster for close to a year, it was a fantastic car and dead reliable. I love the 911 but there's no substitute for mid engine balance, the feeling of the car pivoting around your hips is tough to beat. Having the engine intake just over your left shoulder is pretty cool too. It was also surprisingly practical with the two trunks, I took a long weekend trip with my son to a rally race in MO and didn't even use half of the storage. I can't speak for the Cayman, but the Boxster is also actually pretty easy to work on. As a bonus, I managed to get nearly 30 MPG on the highway.

Frankly I wouldn't worry too much about the IMS/RMS issues, they are real problems but seriously overblown (IMHO), particularly on forums. There's a very small percentage of cars that suffer from the issue, and if you're really worried there are upgraded parts available. I'm on my 4th 986/996 and have owned them for over two years (cumulative), overall they've all been fantastically reliable cars. Porsche also made improvements over the years, making the issues more and more rare the newer the car.

BTW, I'm 6'1" and about 225, in the Boxster I had plenty of room.

[livi]

You have earned a Cayman, Lube. Go get one. Personally I will start with a Boxster.

[fred cook]

My son has a 2006 Cayman S in silver w/black interior. It is a fantastic driving machine, gets reasonable gas mileage and a comfortable road machine. The only thing that I would call a negative is that the interior feels a bit claustrophobic to me. I have had a 911 for 14 years and like having the extra space behind the seats, not for anything in particular, just for the space. If I were to sell the 911, I might go for a Cayman as a replacement car. I would find a way to put a real spare tire in one of the trunks "just in case".

[red-beard]

I'm buying an X5 for the wife today. Next year, we get back into a Porsche. And like Herr Doktor, it will probably be a used Boxster.

[s_morrison57]

Originally Posted by vash

CON:

they wont fit!!

Vash - to me thats a PRO and thats what babysitters are all about , go for it. Buddy just bought a 2010 PDK "S" and loves the heck outta it, plans on moving up in 3-4 years, I have first dibs and can't wait, Like it said in the Jim Russell ad "if not now, when", signed up that day and I'd sign up for a Cayman if I could swing it - in a heart beat
Finn