Why the ultimate, of course.

Great thread, Milt. FWIW, I do think the 997 is a better looking car than the Cayman, but still, both are very nice. The new Boxster is nice too.

Decisions, decisions, though I'm not deciding anything at the moment.

Touche.

"Next, we have to overhaul the front grilles a little. Get rid of the silly lights in the bars."

"Pull that rear window back just a wee bit more"

Here you go Milt -
I vote for you to pick one up and work your magic. There has to be wrecked Cayman around your parts to put in line for the next Skunkworks project!:D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1190977406.jpg

I would raise the top of the windshield for better foreward visibility in an upward direction. The slightly Audi TT look of the windshield and foreward roof looks like it could be really strong for role over protection. But I'll bet that it was a pure style decision. And a bad style decision in my opinion!

My biggest complaint with the Cayman is not having one in my garage. I thinks it's pretty gorgeous, as is. However, I agree with the comments on the Boxster being a much better value for street driving (and my choice, if it actual dollars were to change hands). But as long as milt's perfecting the look of the Cayman, in addition to getting rid of the fussy foglamps in the front fascia, how about doing something about the busy strakes in the midship air intakes?

Well, maybe I misused the word. Penultimate to the next generation of new, improved Cayman designs, I guess. Or, ........

Darisc, you ought to work for the Porsche guys... The top one looks fantastic. My favorite on the whole thread. Reminds me a bit of the old old Datsun Z.

If they looked like that, I might want to own one when I'm too old to maintain the needy 911....as it stands currently, not so much.

Thanks! FWIW, I only modified the greenhouse, beginning at the mid point of the side light to try to reestablish the Porsche "airfoil" profile (and traditional small side light shape).

I like the basic shape of the Cayman but always felt that the greenhouse looks "dinky" - kinda' like it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a fastback or a notchback and falling lumpily somewhere inbetween the two.

I still think my old SC is more fun to drive, though :)!

It's true. From a purely two-dimensional side-on picture, the car roof looks a bit too bulbous. However, when the car is viewed from a slightly different angle, it looks a lot better.

As far as my wife and I are concerned, the Cayman is a better value because it actually has some useable space inside. The Boxsters we sat in felt claustraphobic with the tops up.

Slightly off of a direct side-on view and looking down on it from a "normal" height (not from a three year olds perspective). It looks significantly better than in the picture Milt posted:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1190999242.jpg

I agree Scott - also note that the rear haunches are nicely emphasised by the existing greenhouse shape and consider that the direct side view isn't the most often seen view. However, it has given rise to a number of observations such as Milt's.

My thoughts tend toward what I Photoshopped, along with a "wide body" option that would emphasise the rear haunches in the same way that Turbo flares on a 911 set it apart from a standard SC or Carrera.

Nice color!

David

Like this? ;)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1191001220.jpg

Mmmmm - yeah. No need for no steenkin' flares! I guess then, mod the slope of the greanhouse and the small side light and....it's soup!

I really like your hips, Scott...uh..Oh! NO, NO! I mean I really like your WIFE'S hips... OH, NO,NO, NO, NOOO.....Never mind :(.

Starting to look like a 911!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1190942853.jpg

Love that one! Easy to park too. Might be a little "nervous" at higher speeds with that wheelbase however......

I've scanned this thread with some interest and maybe it's just me but after having spent the last couple of weekends around several Caymans, Boxsters and 997's my personal take is that the Cayman is the best looking from the majority of angles. The bulbous roof is hard to notice from real world angles as Scott said and the rear styling is by far the most aggressive IMHO.

Actually, dare I say it but I think it's one of the best looking Porsches of all time fog lights included.

You guys (myself included) are all getting too old... I mean really is the 240Z a styling benchmark for the 21st century???

Now if I was in the market for another Porsche and looking to drop $60K plus it probably still wouldn't top my list but it would be up there....

Let the flaming begin...but before you do I'm getting in my '73 and rolling up the windows ;)

I agree. It's the best looking Porsche made after 1989.

I may be terribly misguided but when I see the Cayman's roof I'm often reminded of the 356B Carrera Abarth or the LeMans 550 Coupe:

http://www.forum-auto.com/uploads/20...he_abarth2.jpg

http://www.motorsportscenter.com/upl...e_2_jpeg_b.jpg

Not at all, and the above is not an early Z to me.

I've seen the drawings, clay models and finished models of the future, if you will, at Art Center School. There are craggy looking things, angry ones, comical designs and bodies that flow seamlessly and beautifully. Cleaning up a car's design is a fair sport. The car gurus like Chip Foose do it all the time. He redid a new Thunderbird and it looked great. Somehow, I think Foose could get more out of the new GT 40 thing they made. Now that WOULD be something!

One doesn't have to be young to appreciate good, classic lines. If I had a new Jaguar anything, the first impulse I would have is too rub the thing bare of all the trinkets. Underneath all the goo gah are some great cars, even to this day.

Someone said let's delete the "spoilerette" (good term) on the Cayman. Exactly. And, why stop there? Hey, if the thing looks good from almost any angle, it has flaws, IMO.