Cayman GTS Conundrum

Cayman GTS Conundrum

Author
Discussion

Andrew911

Original Poster:

850 posts

108 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
As many of you know I have placed an initial deposit on a CGTS around five weeks ago (seems like a life time) & had a fantastic PEC day last friday which reinforced what an amazing car I'll be getting. This will be my fourth Porsche - last one being a 996 turbo.

Here is a conundrum which I'am sure many of you who already have their CGTS/BGTS or in my situation have placed your deposit & have a long wait. I actually don't mind the wait but with a build cost of around £64K there are some other compelling options:

991 Carrera S - by the time my lock down (Nov) & final delivery (Feb 2016) - prices for some used 991 models will be roughly the same as for a new CGTS

997 GTS - roughly £56-60K+

997 Gen 2 2S PDK - roughly £44-50K

There are no right/wrong decisions, just personal preference. I must admit the one option that appeals is to save £20K & buy a 997 Gen 2 PDK.

I am curious to hear from those who battled with this decision. I still feel though the CGTS is a fantastic car, probably more agile than a 911 & great sound etc etc. At the moment I'am sticking with the CGTS - but i could easily be persuaded.


V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I think in this case, the only thing you can really do to help your decision making process is to take a test drive in all the cars you are looking at.

As a side note, I had a very early deposit down on a GT4 (was going to sell my 997 GT3 to buy it) I test drove a Cayman GTS and I didn't like it. The steering wasn't as direct as my GT3 and the noise was a little .... disingenuous.

I decided to stick with my GT3, much to the surprise of the dealer biggrin

If it was my money I would be spending it on a 997 Gen 2 GTS and put a sharkwerks exhaust on it for a 'proper' engine sound.

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
The 997 GTS.

It will barely depreciate, will be as quick and will drive as well as the CGTS, and it comes with some back seats for free.

To me, the 997 GTS is a very special car indeed. And I would certainly not put up with waiting a YEAR for a newer car.

To be frank, I cannot imagine that I would ever wait a year for a car.


av185

18,434 posts

126 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
The 997 GTS really is the last of the proper analogue 911s, and in 2wd form in particular takes some beating for driver involvement and is far more challenging than the Cayman GTS but probably no quicker point to point on your average UK B road. Whilst the PDK box in the Cayman is better (despite software upgrades for the 911), the synthetic piped farty exhaust note can subjectively be too intrusive but the electric steering is miles behind the perfect hydraulic set up of the 911.

The 911 GTS looks relatively expensive at £55 to £60k, but they have held firm pricewise for nearly three years now, and are likely to remain stable for better spec and mileage cars unlike the 997 C2S which will inevitably follow normal depreciation.Similarly the 991 C2 S, and whilst again the supply of better spec and mileage cars has been down therefore propping up prices, the forthcoming gen 2 will doubtless hit residuals further depending on how well received the new turbo engines are.

New 'synthetic' Cayman to your exact spec......or four year old 'analogue' 911. Difficult choice. confused

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I think the CGTS may well hold its value well, too, but it is pretty much a dead cert with the 997 GTS. It is one of the few cars that I would spend £60k on, for that reason alone - quite apart from it being the best (non-GT) version of probably the best 911.

Andrew911

Original Poster:

850 posts

108 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Ummm. Seems like the 997 GTS is a very compelling option. Decisions, decisions.

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
for £65k there is only 1 car imo a GT4 or even the new 981 Spyder.

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
for £65k there is only 1 car imo a GT4 or even the new 981 Spyder.
Have you driven the GT4?
Have you driven the 981 Spyder?

If not, how are you coming to the conclusion that they are the ones to go for?

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
just my personal opinion, that is the car I have bought and chosen with that money.

Time will tell I guess, but quote likes "best Cayman ever" and "top 10 drivers cars ever"

looks like it might just be OK ;-)

bcr5784

7,103 posts

144 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
for £65k there is only 1 car imo a GT4 or even the new 981 Spyder.
Neither looks like a sensible choice as a DD - depends on how the car is going to be used.

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
just my personal opinion, that is the car I have bought and chosen with that money.

Time will tell I guess, but quote likes "best Cayman ever" and "top 10 drivers cars ever"

looks like it might just be OK ;-)
Yeah but they said "best Cayman ever" about the 981 GTS when that came out and you drove it and didn't like it! wink

Either way, if you DONT like it I am sure you will be able to clear a quick £20k on it if you decide to sell it biggrin

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
£25k :-)

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
for £65k there is only 1 car imo a GT4 or even the new 981 Spyder.
Except you can't buy either of them. So they're not choices at all.

sootyvrs

364 posts

141 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Save £20k and get a base spec Cayman S (the forgotten one)biggrin

All the driving experience without being the latest "in fashion" talked about model wink

rob.kellock

2,213 posts

191 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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I like your style.

You could even find a lightly used one with sports seats plus, leather dash, PDK with flappy paddles and Carrera S wheels then drive it all summer. Like I did.thumbup


nsm3

2,831 posts

195 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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Presactly - the GT4 has shown the GTS to be the cynical, badge engineering excercse it really is. The S is 99% of the car, now unwanted and probably prove to be the used buy of the decade, due to its FU residuals?

Edit to add: Yes, I am bitter and twisted wink

Beanoir

1,327 posts

194 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Having been in nearly your position (potential customer and PEC day with the Cayman GTS) I wouldn't buy one (well I didn't clearly) and would probably go with the 997 GTS as it's a car that feels a little bit special, the Cayman GTS has been produced on mass and aside from the things I didn't like about the car, it's not going to have that something just a little different IMO.


Trotmant

385 posts

113 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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Beanoir said:
997 GTS as it's a car that feels a little bit special, the Cayman GTS has been produced on mass
Am I missing something...997 GTS this was also a mass produced car...? I considered one prior to buying the Cayman GTS, drove b2b same day, picked the cayman....but couldn't fault the 997 though, just felt bigger and I've never liked the 911 stigma, quite enjoy having a poor mans Porsche and being different.

Edited by Trotmant on Friday 27th March 19:41

DMC2

1,828 posts

210 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I've had a CGTS for 4 months and have had a 991 GTS on loan today. That is supposedly the pinnacle of the current NA 911 (except for the GT cars), I much prefer my Cayman. At £64k they are a bargain.

andrewparker

7,905 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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I'm probably not going to help matters here but I'd go for a 997 GTS!