Acquiring Cayman S (first Porsche experience)

[NMWilliams]

Hi everyone

I have recently placed a deposit on a new Cayman S.
The expected delivery date is in October (06).
This will be my first Porsche and I am looking forward to joining you all enjoying these machines.

The very helpful salesman has sent Me off to determine the 'personalisation' I require fitted from the factory and dealership.
And now I can see this is where it gets interesting.
(The 2 days of test drives was the easy part....)

I am currently driving a BMW 323ci (Mar 2000, 84k) which has served Me well and has helped define a baseline of equipment fit; Audio, cruise control.

I have been reading the forum with interest about setting a £50k limit etc and this has raised issues in my mind so if anyone has any suggestions on my options I would appreciate them.

Having looked at the options this is my current shopping list -
Artic Silver Metallic (avoiding dark colours but might consider Paintshield)
19-inch Carrera Sport Wheels
Partial Leather in Black
Top tinted windscreen
ParkAssist (to avoid those costly reversing mistakes)
Cruise Control (motorway cruising)
Fully automatic climate control
PCM
Telephone Module (part time mobile office)
BOSE
Three-spoke multi-function steering wheel (telephone, audio & PCM interaction)

Regarding the colour, my preference would be for a darker blue perhaps (lapis) but it would be time consuming activity to keep the stone chips and scratches under control. Then I see in the forum about Paintshield so there are options there.

Then there are the comments about PASM, so where do you draw the line....

I would appreciate your comments and advice on this matter

[mag1caltrev0r]

Hi,

I've just been looking at buying a Cayman (Non-S!) and my current spec is looking like:
Seal Grey (I'm interested in the Paintshield that you refer to)
18" Cayman S Alloys (17" just don't look right imho)
Park Assist (for exactly your reasons!)
Cruise Control (again, for your reasons)
Sports Seats in partial leather (I preferred the support of the Sport seats)
Sports Steering Wheel (I prefer the look)
Auto Climate Control (might as well as it's only a couple of hundred)

So it's not much different from your spec. For my budget it's looking like the most sensible options.

Out of interest I was concerned about the cost of tyres so I asked my dealer (they have Porsche specific Michelins):
17"
Fr £147+vat
Rr £165+vat

18"
Fr £194+vat
Rr £218+vat

[fieldl]

I wouldn't bother about the wheels. I would however go for the sport-chrono and PASM as an essential.
Cruise and parkassist are good choices. Sport seats too probably.

Auto climate and the sports wheel too, good point

Edited by fieldl on Monday 10th July 16:17

[kayc]

mag1caltrev0r said:

Hi,

I've just been looking at buying a Cayman (Non-S!) and my current spec is looking like:
Seal Grey (I'm interested in the Paintshield that you refer to)
18" Cayman S Alloys (17" just don't look right imho)
Park Assist (for exactly your reasons!)
Cruise Control (again, for your reasons)
Sports Seats in partial leather (I preferred the support of the Sport seats)
Sports Steering Wheel (I prefer the look)
Auto Climate Control (might as well as it's only a couple of hundred)

So it's not much different from your spec. For my budget it's looking like the most sensible options.

Out of interest I was concerned about the cost of tyres so I asked my dealer (they have Porsche specific Michelins):
17"
Fr £147+vat
Rr £165+vat

18"
Fr £194+vat
Rr £218+vat

If you are even thinking about the cost of tyres i wouldnt buy the car coz it will lose 20% of its value in 6 months anyway, imho of course

[X15 JEB]

NMWilliams said:

Hi everyone

I have recently placed a deposit on a new Cayman S.
The expected delivery date is in October (06).
This will be my first Porsche and I am looking forward to joining you all enjoying these machines.

The very helpful salesman has sent Me off to determine the 'personalisation' I require fitted from the factory and dealership.
And now I can see this is where it gets interesting.
(The 2 days of test drives was the easy part....)

I am currently driving a BMW 323ci (Mar 2000, 84k) which has served Me well and has helped define a baseline of equipment fit; Audio, cruise control.

I have been reading the forum with interest about setting a £50k limit etc and this has raised issues in my mind so if anyone has any suggestions on my options I would appreciate them.

Having looked at the options this is my current shopping list -
Artic Silver Metallic (avoiding dark colours but might consider Paintshield)
19-inch Carrera Sport Wheels
Partial Leather in Black
Top tinted windscreen
ParkAssist (to avoid those costly reversing mistakes)
Cruise Control (motorway cruising)
Fully automatic climate control
PCM
Telephone Module (part time mobile office)
BOSE
Three-spoke multi-function steering wheel (telephone, audio & PCM interaction)

Regarding the colour, my preference would be for a darker blue perhaps (lapis) but it would be time consuming activity to keep the stone chips and scratches under control. Then I see in the forum about Paintshield so there are options there.

Then there are the comments about PASM, so where do you draw the line....

I would appreciate your comments and advice on this matter

Looks a good spec. Based on my experience (997 but a lot of time in Caymans), I'd add PASM. On the colour, my 997 is Lapis Blue and I love it. Seems that all Porsches on the roads nowadays are various shades of grey/silver so makes you stand out. Also, simply makes the car look great (just stay away from Cobalt Blue...!!).

Had no prbs with stone chips, etc. and very happy with my choice.

[pikey]

NMWilliams said:

Having looked at the options this is my current shopping list -
Artic Silver Metallic (avoiding dark colours but might consider Paintshield)
19-inch Carrera Sport Wheels
Partial Leather in Black
Top tinted windscreen
ParkAssist (to avoid those costly reversing mistakes)
Cruise Control (motorway cruising)
Fully automatic climate control
PCM
Telephone Module (part time mobile office)
BOSE
Three-spoke multi-function steering wheel (telephone, audio & PCM interaction)

I chose against the park assist because I found I got used to it, causing a problem when I was in a car without - bad habits and all that!

PCM with telephone - it's such an overpriced and functionally limited option. I would question it. Did the dealer give you any lines about the resale value of a car without?

Apart from that have you thought about PASM? It's really quite an option. Allows you to switch from fun, teeth-jarring ride to cushy luxo-barge. If I was allowed just £1000 in options I would have the PASM.

I would also recommend the Bi-Xeon lights, but there again I had to have them becuase my last car did. If you've never seen them, you probably won't miss them!

These are the ones I chose: clicky. 4 Months on the only thing I regret is not having cruise control.

Don't worry, it'll be great what ever you choose

Pikey

KayC - You had a very valid point about the cost of the tyres

[mikeyboy]

Cayman is a lovely car but the options push up the price by way too much.
If I were speccing I would do the ones that make you feel more comfortable rather than the ones that you think will help the resale.

PASM is a great feature on the bigger wheels and will probably hold its value. PCM probably won't and so on. leather and Metallic paint are essential (and should be free)

I decided in the end to get a car that has all the bells and whistles as standard and if I was getting a Cayman I'd hold on until the residuals become clearer or go for a very basic spec especially now that the Boxster has the same engines and is 4k cheaper on average.

[T.Green]

Having test driven an S for a week last week. I'd suggest that Slate grey is a super colour and when configuring it with the sales manager in Swindon isn't a special colour, in fact it's become a standard colour!(with paint sheild). I'd also suggest that cruse control really won't get used that much and the saving there could IMHO be better spent elsewhere. I'd seriously think about the 19"sport design spoked alloys - the spokes really suit the car (in the flesh) as they match and make sense of the cooling vents on the side of the car and fill the otherwise fairly large wheel arches.

Also, paying the extra for bose IMHO really isn't worth it as the Porsche upgrade package really is good enough when combined with the CD changer, besides the best soundtrack of all comes from just behind your head anyway!!!

Anyway, you've chosen what I consider a true back to basics Porsche sports car and will be joining you in the que for one very shortly. Regards Tim (PS can't preview this text before I post, so hope it reads OK?)

[c7xlg]

I collect my Gayman S in less than 2 weeks now. My spec is

Boxster S 18" wheels.. (prefer the looks over standard, and don't want to go 19" due to cost and ride compromise)
xenons (must have if you live in the sticks and drive in the winter)
PCM (must have for me...)
basalt black
cruise (I do a fair mileage and use cruise 70% of the time on m-ways)
rain sensors (once you've had a car with them you wonder how you lived without)
Multi function steer wheel
Short shift gear box
Sports Chrono (to get the sports button that reprogrammes traction control)
auto-climate
Sports seats
black partial leather.
bose
park assist (in place of rear wiper)
porsche wheel centres

all came in at a little over 50K. As my current tintop (540) has all those toys (bar chrono & short shift) I would have missed any of them if I hadn't specced them, and if I'm spending this much money I don't want to be regretting not spending another £500 on an option that I'm now really missing....

Edited by c7xlg on Monday 10th July 18:09

[willr]

I would suggest not to bother with BOSE and PCM / telephone. BOSE doesn't provide a real hi-fi experience in the Cayman and you can get by quite adequately with the sound pack plus, saving £500.

If you're getting 19" wheels then PASM might be a good option (set in "normal" mode) for a softer ride.
Try all the different seats - that could make the biggest difference to comfort/pleasure in the car...

[paracetamol]

If you are getting 19" wheels ensure that you have PASM- The Boxster I drove with this combo felt wonderful. My old Boxter with 18" wheels and M030 sports suspesion had the ride quality of a donkey cart...so 19" will be pretty bad

[pikey]

To add confusion to the general comments about the BOSE I would say it IS worth it!!

If I recall correctly there are 2 upgrade options, the Surround Sound Plus at £308 and the BOSE at £790.

Not particularly fussed about extreme quality I heard the surround sound plus and was going to get that one, but the dealer put me in a car with BOSE and it blew my socks off. Absolutely incredible and everytime it's on we comment on how awesome it is.

From having it, I would definitely spend the money again.

I've heard the comment about the engine noise a few times, but for those moments you're not hooning around a glorious, empty B-road and are reluctantly sitting in traffic or bimbling along at a slow speed, a radio is a necessity.

[NMWilliams]

Ok the spec is now finalised, after much thought and pondering.

Artic Silver
Standard 18' Cayman S alloys with centres
Sports Seats
PASM
Sports Chrono
Automatically dipping mirrors
Sound Plus Package
ParkAssist
Cruise Control
Auto Air Con
Sports Steering Wheel

And I have only 6 weeks to wait now.

THank you all for your comments and advice

[CatherineJ]

paracetamol said:

If you are getting 19" wheels ensure that you have PASM- The Boxster I drove with this combo felt wonderful. My old Boxter with 18" wheels and M030 sports suspesion had the ride quality of a donkey cart...so 19" will be pretty bad

Our new Boxster has 19" Carrera S wheels and Sport Package (PASM & 6 Spd). I can't rate it highly enough. If anyone is considering Lapis Blue, please take into account that the colour is now a special colour.

[ledge]

Be careful if you go for Lapis - This is no longer a standard colour - It would be more money and could delay delivery!

[jezzaaa]

ledge said:

Be careful if you go for Lapis - This is no longer a standard colour - It would be more money and could delay delivery!

Also, slightly off topic, have you seen a Lapis coloured car when it's a few years old? It's a nightmare and shows up every mark and chip. My Midnight blue Boxster is almost as bad. I'm going Cobalt for my next one as it's now a standard colour.

J.

[x15 jeb]

jezzaaa said:

ledge said:

Be careful if you go for Lapis - This is no longer a standard colour - It would be more money and could delay delivery!

Also, slightly off topic, have you seen a Lapis coloured car when it's a few years old? It's a nightmare and shows up every mark and chip. My Midnight blue Boxster is almost as bad. I'm going Cobalt for my next one as it's now a standard colour.

J.

Erm... Bollocks!!

Take good care of it and Lapis Blue is a great colour. Every Porsche nowadays seems to be silver/grey so nice to stand out. Cobalt Blue.. now that really is a nasty colour!!