Cayman R Chat

[fridaypassion]

Crikey thats a good heads up. Always get before photos on Cat cars of course. No photos = no sale.

[squirdan]

Slippydiff said:

So just lightly keyed then ?

It takes more than keying (pretty much irrespective of how many panels) to make a car such as an R uneconomic to repair .....
The truth will always out, and it looks to all intents and purposes as if you've outed the truth in fairly short order in this instance

thanks. one of many signs I should start my new job sooner rather than later!

[s3 akr]

...and they sell it "on behalf of the owner" so that as a trader they cannot be held to account in the same way as a private seller when you discover the hard way that Gorilla tape and some paint doesn't hold cars together too well.

Good spot on the ebay listing too!!

[CaymANTH]

fridaypassion said:

Crikey thats a good heads up. Always get before photos on Cat cars of course. No photos = no sale.

That's a really good point - never understood why you don't see more 'before' photos on Cat cars - surely you'd want to take photos to show the world that the stolen and recovered was just lock damage etc. I'm guessing such claims without photographic evidence are generally rubbish then ?? God there's some dodgy people out there.....😡

[Ron98]

Hello,

Right..... I been saving up like mad to get a new toy and had my hart set on an 997 Guards Red Gen2 C2/C2s. There is myself my wife and my little boy in are house so was hoping the 911 would be the best option the family man's sports car. I am an Ex Lotus Exige / TVR T350 lad, I started looking at the R and am thinking its more the car for ME but have to try and juggle my priority's.

Is the R simile to the Lotus????? and have any of you had the same requirments for more that 2 seats?

[fridaypassion]

You wont get an objective view on here about that. I'm a Lotus guy and I foiund the R to be too hard on the road, numb steering and just not really an enjoyable steer and went back to a PASM equipped S. Dont expect it to handle anything like a Lotus though its a different thing really. Get a drive in one and make your own mind up.

[Sunnypatel]

fridaypassion said:

You wont get an objective view on here about that. I'm a Lotus guy and I foiund the R to be too hard on the road, numb steering and just not really an enjoyable steer and went back to a PASM equipped S. Dont expect it to handle anything like a Lotus though its a different thing really. Get a drive in one and make your own mind up.

Horsest:

EVO reports:
"First impressions are that despite the stiffer springs and dampers the R rides beautifully. This isn't a coccyx-cracking race-rep in any way.

The engine performance feels identical to an S, which means free revving and punchy.
On road or track the R's handing balance is typically Cayman – i.e. superb. The stiffer suspension and recalibrated anti-roll bars improve body control while steering accuracy and feel is improved."


Auto car report as it was drivers car of the year 2011:
"Editor-at-large Steve Sutcliffe described the winning Cayman R’s steering as “about as sweet as it gets,” while its ride is “150 times better than it has any right to be considering how little body movement there is when you’re really going for it”."

Harris vid
https://youtu.be/YJPJxOndCXQ

There is not one single bad review on the R .

[boxsey]

You won't get an objective view from Friday Passion as he doesn't like the R at all! But he's right that no one can make your mind up for you on a forum, driving one yourself is the only way. For me the R is a more focussed sports car than the S and have found it to be a really nice balance between road and occasional track. Can't help with your comparison to an elise or exige as have never owned one. I've always liked them but don't regard them as being practical enough. And friends who have owned them tell me that they are really tiresome on long journeys (e.g. to Spa and back). Especially the exige.

[andy.yeow]

Ron98 said:

Hello,

Right..... I been saving up like mad to get a new toy and had my hart set on an 997 Guards Red Gen2 C2/C2s. There is myself my wife and my little boy in are house so was hoping the 911 would be the best option the family man's sports car. I am an Ex Lotus Exige / TVR T350 lad, I started looking at the R and am thinking its more the car for ME but have to try and juggle my priority's.

Is the R simile to the Lotus????? and have any of you had the same requirments for more that 2 seats?

As everyone is saying you need to drive one! If interested in PDK mines up for sale and more than welcome to have a go!

[Ron98]

Im 6ft4 but found the Exige a nice seating position, the R looks like a great grown up sports car with that little edge that I'm looking for. Its the back seat's that are the great thing for me on the 911 to take every one to Spa. Even a GT3 is a 2 seat option plus i don't have the cash for one of them. Engine power I think you dont need any more than 330-350 for a British B road. I did have a TVR T350 but the down turn in the oil game made me sell it to pay the house off got to look after the family 1st. If any one's off to Preston Supercar meet I would love to know just for a look round one. Cheers every one.

[boxsey]

Ron98 said:

Im 6ft4 but found the Exige a nice seating position, the R looks like a great grown up sports car with that little edge that I'm looking for.

By 'tiresome on long journeys' owner friends were referring to the cabin noise and vibration in an exige rather than the seating position. Noise and vibration are less intrusive with a Cayman. BTW some people say that the Caymans are a little cramped for tall people like yourself which is even more reason for you to try one out.

[fridaypassion]

Sunnypatel said:

Horsest:

EVO reports:
"First impressions are that despite the stiffer springs and dampers the R rides beautifully. This isn't a coccyx-cracking race-rep in any way.

The engine performance feels identical to an S, which means free revving and punchy.
On road or track the R's handing balance is typically Cayman – i.e. superb. The stiffer suspension and recalibrated anti-roll bars improve body control while steering accuracy and feel is improved."


Auto car report as it was drivers car of the year 2011:
"Editor-at-large Steve Sutcliffe described the winning Cayman R’s steering as “about as sweet as it gets,” while its ride is “150 times better than it has any right to be considering how little body movement there is when you’re really going for it”."

Harris vid
https://youtu.be/YJPJxOndCXQ

There is not one single bad review on the R .

There is a bad review. Mine. It was pretty average and got sold within a few weeks of owning it

I dont have a car just because Chris Harris enjoyed driving it round Anglsey for 2 hours or because Evo said I should like it. If you own one whoopee doo its a great financial decision for the moment but I need to have stuff I enjoy driving even it even though its stored most of the time. I've poo poo'd the R many many times on this thread and privately several owners and ex owners have shared my views on it. The R is one of those things that secretly we all know is a bit rubbish but because its been so overhyped its almost blasphemous to criticise it. Well it is what it is. There is a good reason why they only sold 200 in the first place. Its a desirable car but then so is a clio V6 and thats a bit pants to drive as well but limited numbers make them very appealing. Not enough for me I'm afraid.

[Ron98]

well once i have the cash, a test drive will be book. 6 month to go i hope

[ian964]

If the +2 matters, have you considered a Lotus Evora? when I was looking for my CR, the Evora was the other serious consideration. I tested both an S and a 400 and thoroughly enjoyed both. I think the chassis is better than the CR, it feels a little more precise and delicate, whereas the Porsche has the better engine. In the end, it just came down to which suitable spec car came up first.

[Sunnypatel]

fridaypassion said:

There is a bad review. Mine. It was pretty average and got sold within a few weeks of owning it

I dont have a car just because Chris Harris enjoyed driving it round Anglsey for 2 hours or because Evo said I should like it. If you own one whoopee doo its a great financial decision for the moment but I need to have stuff I enjoy driving even it even though its stored most of the time. I've poo poo'd the R many many times on this thread and privately several owners and ex owners have shared my views on it. The R is one of those things that secretly we all know is a bit rubbish but because its been so overhyped its almost blasphemous to criticise it. Well it is what it is. There is a good reason why they only sold 200 in the first place. Its a desirable car but then so is a clio V6 and thats a bit pants to drive as well but limited numbers make them very appealing. Not enough for me I'm afraid.

But you love the Cayman S, and the R is better to drive, you also love PASM and PDK where most drivers hate both in a driving machine and prefer more basic tech.

The R you had must have been a cat D stter with worn shocks, cracked p zero and a poor geo. :-) it is after all just a Cayman which you love.

Porsche geo on the R is better reducing under steer, the wheels have a wider track aiding turn in and were at the time the lightest they made, it has a real diff, the passive are set betweem the PASM settings, the ARB are stiffer helping body roll and giving the car more rear bias. Then of course it shed a bit of weight with GT3 alloy doors and a few other items, and last a bespoke exhaust which was a larger dia and sounds better than an S item and flows more air.

Every thing you love about your Cayman S and more. So you need to revisit the R .

How you can say an R is rubbish while loving an S proves your R was a snotter.

What tyres has your S got on ? Because thats the only thing I can think of really which would make he R feel so bad over your S.

I pointed out the reviews not for drifting , but to point out things like it has the sweetest steering, and total handling perfection. Etc etc.

The 200 selling point was in the rescission in 2011 where car sales were at their lowest in 10 years ! .

Edited by Sunnypatel on Thursday 12th January 09:19

[Ron98]

The one thing with the Lotus I had was the materials it was made from, the TVR was stunning to look at but when I came to replace the battery finding the Positive and negative cabling running and rubbing next to each other past sharp heat shields an no no. So I was hopping swooping to a German mass built car would be a little better. The R to me looks and feels like a mini GT3???? please correct me if I am wrong. Its as close to a GT3 as I can get for the cash.

[fridaypassion]

Sunnypatel said:

But you love the Cayman S, and the R is better to drive, you also love PASM and PDK where most drivers hate both in a driving machine and prefer more basic tech.

The R you had must have been a cat D stter with worn shocks, cracked p zero and a poor geo. :-) it is after all just a Cayman which you love.

Porsche geo on the R is better reducing under steer, the wheels have a wider track aiding turn in and were at the time the lightest they made, it has a real diff, the passive are set betweem the PASM settings, the ARB are stiffer helping body roll and giving the car more rear bias. Then of course it shed a bit of weight with GT3 alloy doors and a few other items, and last a bespoke exhaust which was a larger dia and sounds better than an S item and flows more air.

Every thing you love about your Cayman S and more. So you need to revisit the R .

How you can say an R is rubbish while loving an S proves your R was a snotter.

What tyres has your S got on ? Because thats the only thing I can think of really which would make he R feel so bad over your S.

I pointed out the reviews not for drifting , but to point out things like it has the sweetest steering, and total handling perfection. Etc etc.

The 200 selling point was in the rescission in 2011 where car sales were at their lowest in 10 years ! .

Edited by Sunnypatel on Thursday 12th January 09:19

Have you owned and driven both? My R was a well known forum car with all the options bar PCCB and we do know a thing or two here about things like geo too

[n17ves]

olly22n said:

What are the suspension differences between an S and an R?

Is it just dampers or does it go deeper than that?

Dampers/springs, ARB's, LSD and a revised geo. The different wheels are also a contributing factor.

[boxsey]

fridaypassion said:

There is a bad review. Mine. It was pretty average and got sold within a few weeks of owning it

I dont have a car just because Chris Harris enjoyed driving it round Anglsey for 2 hours or because Evo said I should like it. If you own one whoopee doo its a great financial decision for the moment but I need to have stuff I enjoy driving even it even though its stored most of the time. I've poo poo'd the R many many times on this thread and privately several owners and ex owners have shared my views on it. The R is one of those things that secretly we all know is a bit rubbish but because its been so overhyped its almost blasphemous to criticise it. Well it is what it is. There is a good reason why they only sold 200 in the first place. Its a desirable car but then so is a clio V6 and thats a bit pants to drive as well but limited numbers make them very appealing. Not enough for me I'm afraid.

Come on FP you are stretching the truth here because you did not get on with your R. The very reason this 'Cayman R chat' thread exists is because we love and appreciate these cars. We certainly do not secretly think it is rubbish. Only those that may have bought one in the hope that it might make money might hold such a view. The rest of us bought ours because of the way it drives. I bought mine because of extensive experience of an R owned by a friend. Although I dabbled with the idea of spending less on an S, I knew that I would have regretted not buying an R. Nearly a year on I am so pleased that I decided to pay the extra for an R.

There was nothing wrong with the R you owned except for the poor tyres. My buddy owns it now and has driven it back to back with mine. He has an extensive P car owning record and thought the steering on the R was a little numb. He then tried mine and found it to be much more alive in comparison. The only difference being that mine has super sports so he's going to change the tyres.

[Sunnypatel]

fridaypassion said:

Have you owned and driven both? My R was a well known forum car with all the options bar PCCB and we do know a thing or two here about things like geo too

Owned and driven both 50x the miles you have I would guess.
You are very new to Porkers and don't even know the specs of said cars it seems.
Buying a well know car means nothing If it had P zero's on it ! And your S has Goodyears as an example ! They would not feel the same.

All the options don't mean anything or have anything to do with how it drives so a moot comment.

An S and an R are so close to drive (as they are the same car) you cannot call one rubbish and love the other ! I would even say, blindfold a non car person and get them to drive both they would not know which they were in.

You state an R is a bad steer but the S is great , ! It does not add up bar a poor tyre choice.

The points you bring up about poor steering and it rides too hard just don't add up.
There must be 20 odd owners of R's here who cannot work out what you are talking about !

I find PASM on the gen 2 either 2 soft and floaty off and harder and more bouncy than the R when turned on, to a point on is unusable, The S also understeeed far more, and Porsche added more camber to the R and gave it a stiffer rear ARB, that's all they did. Bar that the cars are the same unit with free buckets, Spyder wheels and a diff so good value.

I would really revisit one of Porsche best driving cars with a like for like tyre to your S, because the R is a better drive all be it just as the S is so good anyway.