Sorry to post this in the Porsche section but the M Power section of this site pretty much a ghost town.

What are the general feelings of those Porsche drivers that have driven the BMW 1M Coupe?

Do you find it a well rounded machine or maybe a little unbalanced and less of an adventure?

I'm trying to make a decision (eventually!) between a Cayman R and 1M and whilst I've had a Cayman R for 24 hour test, I've not yet driven a 1M, let alone seen one in real life!!!

I'm very much a fan of straight line speed and solid cornering, which puts me in a difficult position between the 1M (I'd imagine) is a demon at straight line performance, yet the Cayman R is no doubt the most planted, which I'm more a fan of than going around every corner sideways!

They both price themselves around the same mark too, although I have to admit being a little concerned by the lack of movement on Cayman stock recently which suggests they are priced too high (sorry owners) but equally 1M's are still priced on or around new but hard to find, despite there being approx. double the amount in the UK than Cayman R's.

I know I've been tyre kicking for a few months now, but I have medical tests at the end of the month which will essentially decide my fate, so if all goes well, one of them will be a nice present to myself.

The Cayman looks better - but the 1M is quicker (especially at overtaking and especially with all that mid range torque). Both sound great, despite the BMW's engine coming from a Z4. However, after several BMW's, I just find the Porsches more "special" and certain things just grow on your over time in a way that the BMW's never did for me. Before my 911, I was looking at V8 M3's - but after an afternoon in a 911 - well it was all over ......

Anyway - such an emotional choice - I bet you'll end up with some very divided opinions ....

MM.

Cayman r out drags a 1m standard.

If you do corners though, buy a Cayman!

Just recently drove my friend's 1M on a euro blast through France down to Verbier. I was really impressed with the car. It is quick no question. Brakes are good when on the road but not sure about track work if you got them too hot.

We crossed the mountains from France into Switzerland rather than autoroute it. Admittedly I didnt switch the traction control off but I found the car positively enticing. It is extremely communicative, telegraphing its feelings and letting you know how much grip was available. I really enjoyed myself.

I was very honestly surprised by how much I liked the car. It is an extremely civilized place to be, with a fair amount of load carrying space, that can provide great entertainment when you want

I haven't driven a Cayman so I cannot compare but I would seriously consider one. Indeed after having spent some time in my mate's 1M I started looking in to the price of them.

Nice choice to have.

Ben

Great cars

Thanks for the thoughts so far, keep 'em coming.

There are no plans to take either car on the track, just isn't my thing, I lack some confidence in the bends, but do like a tightly sprung car with plenty of go. Testing a 1M definately has to come next (not sure BMW do extended test drives, tight gits!) but the buzz I got from borrowing a Cayman R was the most I've felt in any car ever, such a sense of occasion.

Unless you need rear seats, Cayman R is the better car. 1M is more lairy / tail happy, but CR more planted and easier to make fast, confident ground. I've driven the 1M and loved it, but seriously, unless you need the rear seats, there's better cars out there. Cayman being 1 of them.

Best of luck with the medical tests Ian.

nice cars both, i had a cayman R for 4 days & loved it. performance & handling are superb.

pjivens off here has recently sold his 997.1RS & bought a 1M, i had a few passenger laps in it around spa & it's a lovely thing. his is remapped & on the straights it just walked away from the Z4M that i was in, & that cars no slouch! paul has cups on the 1M so we never got a chance to keep up through the bends, i was seriously impressed! they were very popular in the ring car park as well, getting a lot of attention.

for the road it would be a tough call i think. the caymanR looks more special to the untrained eye i guess, where the ///M just looks like "another bmw" to the man in the street, but i'd love it for that reason alone.

the cayman will always be the better handling car, ///M cars always have a lairy side that porsches just don't do & if you like the ability to paint big fat 11's & go everywhere sideways a bmw is all the car you'll need. for genereal road hoonage the turbo motor will always feel so much stronger what with the torque as well.

but if you enjoy the precision side of driving, i don't think the 1 series will compare with the porsche, it sort of has that feeling of being a bigger, faster elise compared to bmw's big power blunt instrument way of doing things, if that makes sense?

the bmw is obviously way more practical as a daily driver, no bucket seats (though the standard bmw seats hold you pretty tight as they're adjustable), rear seats & a huge boot.

i honestly think as as long as the bmw were cheaper, i'd probably have one of them, but at the same price? difficult choice.

as others have said, i think the cayman may feel more special, it's a mid engined porsche after all, but it'd be difficult to overlook the fantastic package that the 1M presents.

just don't through a boxster spyder into the equation, you'll never decide!

Judging by the comments, my inability to make a decision between the two is well founded, as they both have their pro's and con's.

haha, that was in the mix a few months ago after taking one for a 24 hour test...but alas, the car is the best looking, but I couldn't live with the roof as it would be parked outside.

My missus would love that, it would be her mk1 TT that goes in part-ex towards a new car...not a favoured decision by her so replacing with a mk2 would suit her, but not me...the mk1 has been a pain from the moment we got it!