cayman vs 993 vs 996

[1971 911T]

hi Caymaners

what are the different opinions on a used cayman($40k) vs 993($20-30k) and 996 ($25-30k), as a regular, if not daily driver ?

other than initial cost to get the older 993 and 996 back to smooth reliable operation, i'm wondering how much 'more modern' or bigger fun factor is the mid-engined/lighter Cayman?

don't need brute power or speed, so happy with the cayman, don't need the 'S'. Although the 0-60 for the Cayman at 5.3 is not significantly slower than the 993 or 996

oh..(cover your ears)...am also thinking of choosing the tiptronic(traffic)

Thanks

[racer]

As a daily driver, the 993 would be my last choice. While improved over older 911s, the HVAC is not as good as the 996/987 cars. Not sure how hot/cold it is where you live, but consider it.

Size - how tall are you? Sit in a Cayman first. You may find the mid-engine placement limits your room. (Then again, it may be fine) you may also find that just "knowing" the engine is right there may make it feel a bit claustophobic compared to a car with a rear seat.

Determine if you want a rear seat. I had a boxster for a year or so, coming from an early 911. One thing I liked about the 911 was the conveniece of the rear seats. Open one door and drop in some things (coat, bags etc). A hatch is a close second, but not quite the same.

Tip? The best car I've ever autocrossed was a well suspended Tip S. If you need to drive everyday in stop and go, go for the Tip.

To me, the 996 would be the best combo of the 911 practicality and performance and modern features. The Caymans are still dropping in resale, the 996s are close to the bottom of that curve.

[Doug&Julie]

I'll second all of racer's thoughts. (..other than the usability of the 911...I've never needed the back seats and actually like the two trunks in the Boxster / Cayman line..)

A couple of advantages to the Cayman...MUCH better interior, aesthetically and tactilly. Also, the Cayman is more likely to still be under warranty.

I've not driven a 996, but my brother has a Cayman S I've driven. (For sale, actually.... http://www.lumpocole.com/Porsche_Cayman_S/For_Sale.html ) Most experts will tell you that the Cayman has a more involving feel where the 996 is more "GT". Realistically, both are brilliant handlers. Different, but brilliant. I prefer the middies.

Hope that helps..

[justs4l]

How tall are you? How far do you commute?

[hytem]

Read up on the 996 and the RMS issues with the 3.4 engine. The 3.6 engine might be better.

[993.986.]

are you still out there? I would drive them all first, preferably on a section of road/traffic you know well. For me, my Boxster was much better/more fun to drive daily compared to my 993. Something about the gearbox I think, much better ratio's in the 5-speed boxster than the 6-speed 993. First gear couldn't even get you all the way through a left turn in a big intersection and I hardly ever used 6th gear at all in the 993. The 993 LOOKED better though. The 993 also has a pain-in-the-butt ignition interlock that you can't bypass. I found the AC fine on both (hottest days here 90's with 90+ humidity). The only thing I didn't like about the Boxster was the lack of torque off idle; to move a little in the 993 all you had to do is let out the clutch and feather it a little without even giving it any gas, if you try that in the Boxster you'd kill the engine. That should be better now as I had the 2.5 liter. Happy hunting

[450knotOffice]

Off-idle torque, even in the Cayman's base 2.7 (what we have) is still nothing to write home about. Once the engine is above 1500 RPM or so, however, it wakes right up. Above 3500 RPM, it's got PLENTY of power and torque (relatively speaking).

[993.986.]

Scot, have you driven the 3.4 liter S? Is it better torque-wise just off idle or the same as the 2.7?

[450knotOffice]

I haven't, but my 2000 996 has a very, very similar 3.4 with essentially the same power and torque as the Cayman S. The Cayman S and my 2000 996 probably weigh about the same too. With that comparison established, my 996 has a much better off-idle torque than my wife's base Cayman.

However, it's not really an issue for me or my wife because the 245 HP that her Cayman has feels like plenty once the RPM is up a bit. Her car feels about as quick as my '84 Carrera, actually.

[993.986.]

hmmm... sounds like I'd probably prefer the 996 to the Cayman + or - the 'S'. Does anybody know when Porsche added side impact air bags? I recently was in an accident where the other driver ran a red light and T-boned my Escalade on the driver's side. I think the side air bags really saved us, nobody even had a scratch despite the vehicle being rendered undriveable. Now my wife wants the 87 Targa gone..... she doesn't quite know about the plans to replace it with a 'safer', 'more modern' Cayman/Boxster/996.

[450knotOffice]

My 2000 996 has side airbags and so does the Cayman (of course). My guess is that the side airbags were standard on 996's from the very beginning.

[Doug&Julie]

Side airbags hit the Boxster from 1998, so I'd guess all 996s and up have them as well.