30k budget? 987 cayman s, 981 boxster or A45 amg?

30k budget? 987 cayman s, 981 boxster or A45 amg?

Author
Discussion

jjlnl

157 posts

126 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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For info my 987.2 Cayman S is now at 911V. A car I was sad to see go, but I couldn't afford that and the one I replaced it with.
What they didn't mention was that it had a full detail last November.
If you want more info pm or speak to 911V. I would still like to see it go to a good home.

GT4P

5,188 posts

184 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Klippie said:
but when I got back in 987.2 it just felt so right it's hard to explain
this^

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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...and I felt exactly the same getting back into my 981 Cayman after testing the 718 Cayman S on track and road last month.

You have to try them all to find your own favourite.

bcr5784

7,102 posts

144 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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bcr5784 said:
Very difficult to resist at that price - I'm amazed that the spec is so good. I can't see it hanging around for long.
I would add that at the price you would have to wonder what the catch is - is it a damaged repaired Cat C or D car? The other thing is it's a Porsche demonstrator. You know that means it hasn't been carefully run in - but you may be able to accept that. BUT it may be an ex PEC (Porsche Experience Centre) car which you know hasn't been carefully run in and has had a very hard life round the track for thousands of miles. I'd personally take a lot of convincing to buy a an ex PEC car.

gozzy

239 posts

199 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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There is this black edition at Porsche Cambridge for £37k, is that a realistic price?. Its £2k more than I paid for one with 5000 miles on this time last year

http://locator.porsche.com/ipl-customer/ipl/detail...

starshots

51 posts

93 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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gozzy said:
There is this black edition at Porsche Cambridge for £37k, is that a realistic price?. Its £2k more than I paid for one with 5000 miles on this time last year

http://locator.porsche.com/ipl-customer/ipl/detail...
It's about 10k more than a few sold for privately in the last 2 months. Porsche are buying lots of private sale cars to keep the market prices high. Silly people pay silly money.

g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Not surprising really the 987.2 are the value models in the Porsche range. OPC can buy and slap on a warranty and make a profit.

You get a 6 cylinder engine unlike the new 718 models.

j8bbk

Original Poster:

95 posts

95 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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starshots said:
It's about 10k more than a few sold for privately in the last 2 months. Porsche are buying lots of private sale cars to keep the market prices high. Silly people pay silly money.
For 37k I would want a 981 Boxster/cayman S! strangely the Boxster's seem cheaper than Cayman's.

HighwayStar

4,216 posts

143 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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j8bbk said:
starshots said:
It's about 10k more than a few sold for privately in the last 2 months. Porsche are buying lots of private sale cars to keep the market prices high. Silly people pay silly money.
For 37k I would want a 981 Boxster/cayman S! strangely the Boxster's seem cheaper than Cayman's.
That's how Porsche played it, against the usual convention the coupé is more expense than the convertible.
They've righted that wrong with the 718. The Boxster is more expensive than the Cayman.

bcr5784

7,102 posts

144 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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HighwayStar said:
That's how Porsche played it, against the usual convention the coupé is more expense than the convertible.
They've righted that wrong with the 718. The Boxster is more expensive than the Cayman.
What you say is true, but the secondhand prices of Caymans seem to be more than Boxsters by a few thousands while the new price was only hundreds different. No obvious reason other than the laws of supply and demand.

HighwayStar

4,216 posts

143 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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bcr5784 said:
HighwayStar said:
That's how Porsche played it, against the usual convention the coupé is more expense than the convertible.
They've righted that wrong with the 718. The Boxster is more expensive than the Cayman.
What you say is true, but the secondhand prices of Caymans seem to be more than Boxsters by a few thousands while the new price was only hundreds different. No obvious reason other than the laws of supply and demand.
Ah yes, I see what the OP means. Porsche sell more Boxsters than Caymans so you're right re supply and demand. The preference has been for the roadster, I rarely see another Cayman when out and about.

Slight off topic. It remains unknown to a lot of people. When I told friends I was getting a Cayman some thought I meant a Cayenne!! Once the car was on the drive one neighbour presumed it was a 911, saying he thought everything as a 911 and it was all Porsche!!


gadgit

971 posts

266 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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Hi j8bbk,
I have spent the last few months tralling through which model to get and its a bit of a nightmare in many ways. You are in the same place as me concerning price, and naturally owners who love their cars will recommended what they like and some will think that newer is not always the best model, understandable.
Having driven all the Boxters and Caymans possible, I can offer you some comfort.
Firstly, all the cars are brilliant, but I found some are of course are better than others.
So, firstly don't buy anything unless its a gen 2.
If you buy a pre gen2 there is a risk which for me was to great. If you are happy to risk around 10k for another engine thats fine, you could be lucky? It just might never happen.
Models you should consider should only be the one you thought gave you that special feeling that you should get when you buy your first porsche.

After driving some early models I was a bit dissapointed and the other day I drove an 981 Cayman, nothing special model wise. Manual.
This car enchanted me beyound belief. If you go drive a 981 I challenge you to get in the previous model and think its better. The 981 Cayman is a massive leap forward for Porsche and worth every penny you can muster to get one.
To date, I can't find any problems with the engines, gearbox, nothing that I can find anywhere, unbelievable!!!
Just to finish, I hope you find the car of your dreams by driving them.
There are plenty of nice people on here to help you with technical matters.
Good luck

Gadgit


Edited by gadgit on Saturday 27th August 20:15

j8bbk

Original Poster:

95 posts

95 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
gadgit said:
Hi j8bbk,
I have spent the last few months tralling through which model to get and its a bit of a nightmare in many ways. You are in the same place as me concerning price, and naturally owners who love their cars will recommended what they like and some will think that newer is not always the best model, understandable.
Having driven all the Boxters and Caymans possible, I can offer you some comfort.
Firstly, all the cars are brilliant, but I found some are of course are better than others.
So, firstly don't buy anything unless its a gen 2.
If you buy a pre gen2 there is a risk which for me was to great. If you are happy to risk around 10k for another engine thats fine, you could be lucky? It just might never happen.
Models you should consider should only be the one you thought gave you that special feeling that you should get when you buy your first porsche.

After driving some early models I was a bit dissapointed and the other day I drove an 981 Cayman, nothing special model wise. Manual.
This car enchanted me beyound belief. If you go drive a 981 I challenge you to get in the previous model and think its better. The 981 Cayman is a massive leap forward for Porsche and worth every penny you can muster to get one.
To date, I can't find any problems with the engines, gearbox, nothing that I can find anywhere, unbelievable!!!
Just to finish, I hope you find the car of your dreams by driving them.
There are plenty of nice people on here to help you with technical matters.
Good luck

Gadgit


Edited by gadgit on Saturday 27th August 20:15
Thanks Gadgit. Totally agree regarding gen 1 - wouldn't touch it with a barge pole to be honest for that very reason. Having not driven a 981 yet I can only judge it on looks, interior quality (having sat in one) and specs - which as you say is a massive leap forward. Hope the test drive confirms these things for me, as a 981 2.7 is a strong favourite at the moment.

Onedesi

91 posts

145 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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Hi, I faced the exact dilemma you're having and it concluded in me buying a 987.2 at the weekend.

I really wanted a 911 but having driven a couple I realised the manual I wanted was going to be an awful daily driver for me as the clutch was so heavy and I couldn't stretch to a Gen 2 PDK (I didn't want the tiptronic).

Ever since the 981 came out I was smitten by the looks and a few weekends ago I went out in a 2.7 boxster and it looked the part had all the gadgets but I just found it underwhelming compared to my 2.0 TT.

Now let me caveat that by saying I don't drive on the edge so I can understand that on a B road with just me and the hills I bet the 2.7 is a peach but in MY real world I have a long commute and I might enjoy the odd blast now and again or on my way home and for that moment I didn't think the 2.7 sounded or felt special enough - no kick in the guts like I got with the 911.

The more I looked at it the more I realised PDK was what I needed if not what I wanted and the S was the only choice to make me feel special (and this is the critical factor, I wanted to feel good).

A recent holiday in Portugal and I saw a lot of 987's and I began to appreciate the more classic understated look of the shape so much so that my family actually said they preferred it to the 981!

The hunt was on and having test driven my 987.2S I knew straight away it was the one for me, it's well priced, makes me feel special and has that drama when I give it the beans - I can't recommend the 987.2 enough.

The key thing is to go drive all the variants and make an informed decision - I started out knowing exactly what I want and bought something completely different smile

I hope you have as much fun in the chase as I did and someone said to me the worst thing you can do is buy the wrong car - you lose money either way but it's not even making you smile - just by owning a Porsche and having said I've done it once is a great feeling so if you can get one just go for it, the Merc's will always be there smile

Edited by Onedesi on Tuesday 30th August 13:56

gadgit

971 posts

266 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
quotequote all
Well done onedse.
The heart is where the decision should come from....
For me today, on modern roads I've partly given in the chase down the country back road and still understand the rush you get when you need it.
For me now, the little bits matter a bit more?

Something silly like the cheap plastic door handle on the older model grinds at me, 981 has metal door handles cold to the touch, which pleases me no end.
I must be getting a sad old git?

Enjoy your car and good luck

Gadgit

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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@Onedesi I guess your mistake was driving a 911?

That said, my 981 2.7 PDK fills me with 10000% more joy than my '62 plate TTS, and I drove my brother-in-law's 997 once, but that was long ago and forgotten (although I didn't lust after one at the time).

Mine's a 15k a year DD and excites me far, far more than the Audi, my BMW's and Merc ever could. Oh...and the Aston - that would come LAST!

Onedesi

91 posts

145 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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@DJMC I think you're partly right that driving the 911 didn't help but I still think the lack of immediate gratification in power terms was also a large put off, i never thought be able To get a Porsche so I didn't want to think "what if" if that makes sense, no regrets. Don't get me wrong I could clearly see how it was better than my TT but in the end in a straight line my TT was as quick which just wasn't enough for me, it was at this point I seriously thought about the new MX5 and I ever have to sell the Porsche I'd probably get the MX5.

@Gadgit, I totally understand your view and it's one I share but the place I wasn't willing to compromise was on the engine and gearbox.

If I'm ever lucky enough I WILL get a 981 S but if it never happens I doubt I will regret it which I think I might have if I had bought the 2.7 981.

I hope you find what it is you want smile

Edited by Onedesi on Tuesday 30th August 23:56

DJMC

3,431 posts

102 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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Fiat 124 seems a better version than the MX5 now?

Onedesi

91 posts

145 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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DJMC said:
Fiat 124 seems a better version than the MX5 now?
I have to admit I thought it looked ugly in the pics I've seen but then I saw an abarth version at Carfest and am totally sold on the look and it's probably more of a tourer if the reviews are to be believed.

Hopefully I wont have to go there but it's nice to know there are options smile

bcr5784

7,102 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st August 2016
quotequote all
DJMC said:
Fiat 124 seems a better version than the MX5 now?
Car and driver thought the opposite - but I suspect it's a turbo thing. Haven't driven either personally.