New Porsche: Cayman

[strother]

I hate to say it, Gerry, but you make a very good point.

[KobaltBlau]

Originally posted by gerry100
Kobalt blue-

What's changed form the 928 days is that they can now see the end of development. The overall peformance difference between a $50K Corvette and a $90K Carrera from a is getting smaller. Much smaller that that between an early 80s Vette and a 928 0r 911.

I don't think there's very much overlap between new corvette buyers and new 997 buyers, even if the performance numbers are the same.

Originally posted by gerry100
0-60 times are getting to point where people can't notice the difference. If they get much lower, people will be blacking out like fighter pilots. What is left is feel , handling and the balance that allows use of the power. The mid engine platform is probably the way to take it to the next level.

I agree that feel and handling are important to the porsche buyer. But I don't think the mid-engined layout is the key to this. 911 race cars have done quite well over the years even when competitors used mid-engined models. In point of fact, I personally prefer the handling and feel of the rear-engined configuration compared to the mid-engined configuration. In my opinion the rear-engined configuration rewards a good driver.

[pwd72s]

"cayman, from the native Guiana name. Any of several large alligators common to tropical America." -Webster's Deluxe Unabridged Dictionary, second edition.
Note
large alligators... so much for ad agency hype.

[304065]

Ha ha ha! Cayman! Ha ha ha!

That is without a doubt one of the SILLIEST names for a car to EVER see the light of day! I almost thought the website had been hacked!

Man, first the SUV, now the CAYMAN! Look out! Here comes the Cayman! The Cayman, comin' to get you!

Ha ha ha!

[banjomike]

Cayenne
Carrerra
Cayman...

I'll save the Porsche market dept some work...

Cache
Caesarean
Cabbage
Cacaphony
Cacao
Caballo
Calamity
Calculus
Calamari
Calliope
Calibre
Camel
Canard
Cannibal
Capitalist
Carburator
Cappuccino
Capacitor
Caribu
Carnage
Carnivore
Carpetmuncher
Cartoon
Carsick

Introducing the new Porsche Caribu S!

[no substitute]

Originally posted by gerry100

0-60 times are getting to point where people can't notice the difference. If they get much lower, people will be blacking out like fighter pilots.

Built in pressure suits, and detachable wings are the wave of the future.

[chuckw951]

Porsche is way off. The need to look at what VW did with the Beatle and what BMW did with the mini.

An updated version of the classic early 911S for $40K would meet my needs.

*** German Version in case the Porsche marketing types/engineers are lurking ***
Porsche ist Weise aus. Die Notwendigkeit, welches VW zu betrachten mit dem Beatle tat und welcher BMW mit dem Mini tat. Eine aktualisierte Version des Klassikers frühes 911S für $40K würde meine Bedürfnisse erfüllen.

[Wil Ferch]

Except....Beetle...not Beatle....or maybe "Kaefer" in the German text....



Wil

[creaturecat]

LOL - Banjomike - as in "I've got 2 brand new carpetmunchers in the garage". "Want to see them"? Traded in a 1 cayman - he wasn't happy!

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by creaturecat
LOL - Banjomike - as in "I've got 2 brand new carpetmunchers in the garage". "Want to see them"? Traded in a 1 cayman - he wasn't happy!

You have two lesbians in your garage?

[RarlyL8]

I had a pet spectacled caiman as a pet for 20 years. Nasy tempered little beasty. If this car has that spirit it'll be a handfull.

[1fastredsc]

I think cannibal would be a good name

[cactusdtd]

Cayman..hmmmmmmm. A student of the brand would recognize that it is the water cooled version of the Karmann. It's a language thing. The Karmann S ??????? If it was fast, tight, cheap, under $40k and with headroom for a 6'3" frame it might be worth considering.

[CarreraS2]

Will the inevitable VW Golf powered version be the Cayman-Ghia?

[JCR]

Cayman?? Oh... I thought they said...

[frencjas]

Originally posted by banjomike
Cayenne
Carrerra
Cayman...

I'll save the Porsche market dept some work...

Cache
Caesarean
Cabbage
Cacaphony
Cacao
Caballo
Calamity
Calculus
Calamari
Calliope
Calibre
Camel
Canard
Cannibal
Capitalist
Carburator
Cappuccino
Capacitor
Caribu
Carnage
Carnivore
Carpetmuncher
Cartoon
Carsick

Introducing the new Porsche Caribu S!

+1 for Carpetmuncher

[ljonespwc]

I could care less what Porsche calls this new model. If it performs well and is true to the marque, I would consider buying it.

(BTW, that movie Caveman is a classic. I am sure Dennis Quaid doesn't speak of the film, but it's some of Ringo's best work!)

[nexium]

Cayman hmmm I guess it'll have to do.

[dagwood928]

I distinctly remember reading but not in which publication, an interview with some higher up at porsche hinting at moving the motor forward in coming generations.....as I remember he was talking rear-mid engine.......or was it mid-rear??? Even moving a motor a few inches forward would be an improvement right? Anyway, it was Panorama or Excellence.

[Paul Franssen]

Originally posted by chuckw951
Porsche is way off. The need to look at what VW did with the Beatle and what BMW did with the mini.

An updated version of the classic early 911S for $40K would meet my needs.

Yes, meanwhile they're trying to sell the micro "Smart" 2-person car at over $10thousand, whilst 40 years ago there was the simple Fiat 500, a 4-seater micro, which I'd like to see coming back...

But that is not the way things go...and no way will we ever see a 911S remake. The cars of today are ...laden..., not "lightweight".

A few months ago, the German magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" showed some impressions of a sports car Volkswagen is working on, should be there by 2009 or so. It will get crowded in the TT world...
Don't like the looks of the Elise very much, but you gotta hand it to Lotus: they are a true "niche".

BTW, on-topic, the response to the announcement of the Cayman is strong. Of course the mid-engine water-cooled concept is slowly replacing the rear air-cooled concept. Logical. No one said we have to like it. The 911 is ... already in automobile museums all over the world (they deserve to be).