Cayman 981 vs Nissan 370z Nismo vs Audi TTS (Used £30k Max)

[Made In Machines]

I'm looking for a daily driver which I can also have fun with on the track. I've test driven both and I can't decide between the Cayman 981 13/14 or 370z Nismo 15/16 or even an Audi mk3 TTS. I love the look of all of them really and found both the Cayman and 370z a blast to drive. My favourite test drive was in the Base 370z but I think that may be because they let me have more fun / speed in it. Overtaking and ripping down a dual carriageway at 120 with all cars indicating to get out of the way was immense fun. It felt genuinely scary and on edge. I feel like the Cayman might be more composed but without the exciting feeling of danger I tend to like. The Porsche is stunning and timeless on the exterior and sounds superb as did the 370z. I test drove the highest spec TT not the TTS but it to have instant power on tap and didn't need to be worked as hard as the other two. I can't really comment on anything else because I spent all of 5 minutes in the car on straight dual carriage ways! Really poor test drive and it was hard to get one in the first place.

The Audi's interior and exterior is stunning but it might lack the excitement and drama of the other 2 as it's only 4 cylinder fwd, quiet, smooth and refined in a business sort of way. It id seem a lot more powerful than I expected perhaps due to the quick changes of the DSG and the torque and wide power band of the turbo. You don't need to work hard for the power at all. It didn't sound that great or loud though compared to the Porsche or Nissan perhaps partly owing to a very insulated cabin. The Nissan is a more powerful beast but heavier than the cayman and many say the cayman handles much better and would be superior around any track. I also read that the Nissan doesn't like to be pushed or doesn't sound or perform well at 10/10ths like the Cayman would. Steering on all of the cars felt lighter than i'm used to being very modern but I'd say the 370z felt the best in an old hydraulic way.

Depreciation - Caymans seem to hold their value incredibly well. TTS are pretty good too. Nissans probably not so much although i'm already saving around 1/4 of the new purchase price. All seem to have pretty bad maintenance and repair costs. The Nissan is newer though so hopefully less would go wrong but Porsche fairs extremely well in JD Power Dependability.

I worry about the Caymans potential lack of power at 270bhp vs the Nismo's 340bhp. Of course I would love a Cayman S which is more comparable but it's too much money when i'm stretching my budget as it is. I've kind of accepted that a test drive isn't going to tell me a great deal about a car because it's too short, there's often too much traffic, they pick boring main roads, the salesmen often keep harassing you to slow down before you've had the chance to have any real fun.

Any thoughts?

Summary of My Thoughts Simplified:

Looks - All 3 Look Great - Cayman > TTS > Nismo

Interior - TTS > Cayman > Nismo

Raw Exciting Sports Car Feeling - Nismo > Cayman > TTS

Power - Nismo > TTS > Cayman

Engine - Nismo > Cayman > TTS

Sound - Cayman > Nismo > TTS

Prestige - Cayman > TTS > Nismo

Technology (for the money) - TTS > Nismo > Cayman

Price - Nismo > TTS > Cayman 26k vs 28k vs 30k (more like 33k)

Depreciation - Porsche > TTS > Nismo

RWD - Nismo > Cayman > TTS (Porsche doesn't really have much oversteer excitement)

Steering Weight - Nismo > Cayman > TTS

Rarity - Nismo > Cayman > TTS

Age - Nismo > TTS > Cayman

Reliability - Cayman > TTS > Nissan (JD Power) Not sure on this one

Maintenance Cost - Audi > Nismo > Cayman - Porsche has horrific unscheduled maintenance costs and will be a few years older - It also has expensive regular maintenance costs, I believe the Nismo is very expensive for tax, fuel and servicing and I'm not sure replacement parts are as cheap as one would imagine. Audi I would imagine is similar to the Nismo but better on fuel and tax.

Edited by Made In Machines on Sunday 10th September 21:24

Edited by Made In Machines on Sunday 10th September 21:31

Edited by Made In Machines on Sunday 10th September 21:33

Edited by Made In Machines on Sunday 10th September 21:38

Edited by Made In Machines on Sunday 10th September 21:39

Edited by Made In Machines on Monday 11th September 04:37

Edited by Made In Machines on Monday 11th September 04:43

[Gareth1974]

I thought this deal is pretty good on the bog standard 370Z http://offers.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/car-deals/sportsc... don't know if they're doing deals on the NISMO too.

On a new one, the road tax is £140 I think. 3 years servicing for £199 looks good.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Nismo the TTS will do track work but won't be at it's happiest doing it but is probably the nicest to be in day to day the Cayman will be a sweet accomplished steer as well as being fun but won't be as raw as the Nismo which by all accounts is just as good as steer you're not likely to see another Nismo & they look great in Silver.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[SCEtoAUX]

I know nothing of these cars but you've picked 15 criteria and rated the Nismo top in 8 of them. Doesn't that tell you all you need to know?

[Made In Machines]

Well it's just a rough guide of thoughts and first impressions. Some are very close or undecided like the sports car feeling. I haven't spent a lot of time with the cars so maybe some are inaccurate or wrong. Feel free to debate them. Also if you take away the TTS the Cayman and Nismo become pretty much even. And then there's the weighting of each point. But yes the Nismo is certainly the best value even though i'd probably like a Porsche more. The Cayman wins on most of the important things apart from power / acceleration and price really I think. Does 0.7 seconds 0-60 matter that much in the real world? Probably not. Does the Cayman feel much slower? I can't remember to be honest. I'm sure it would be faster around a track (or the backroads I drive) though given i saw the m235i with a claimed 0-60 in 4.7 seconds get beat by a base cayman by a second. I think I want the Porsche really but I just don't know if it's worth the expense. Would I be happy with the Nismo or a TT / TTS or still want a Porsche. I'm not sure.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has owned, considered or has driven the Nismo and now owns a Cayman if possible.
Thanks

Edited by Made In Machines on Monday 11th September 18:59

[DaveH23]

Im suprised the TT is even comparible with the other 2.

Of them all I would prefer the 370z although I must agree with the above the OP does sound like a danger on the roads.

Perhaps look at some track days.

[ZX10R NIN]

So OP have you been for any test drives yet?

[Made In Machines]

Yes I'm i'm looking to take whatever I get to the track and do some drift days too (but not in my new car)! It's a sports car, you can't really tell a great deal about them unless your pushing them a bit. They all feel the same at normal everyday speeds. I'm not used to driving fast cars that are capable of that so I took my chance.

So far I test drove a Base 981 Cayman, Manual Base 370z, Audi TT TSFI 2.0 Quattro Auto. I haven't tried the Nismo or TTS. If I could afford a 981 Cayman S that would probably be my choice.

From what I gather the cost of maintainance for a 370z and Porsche is comparable in terms of oil, service, tyres, petrol, tax (the porsche might even be better in some cases). What about the cost difference between them when parts fail? I read porsche are horrifically expensive - I don't really know about the 370z but I know Nissan know how to charge on their premium models.

[Gareth1974]

Made In Machines said:

From what I gather the cost of maintainance for a 370z and Porsche is comparable in terms of oil, service, tyres, petrol, tax (the porsche might even be better in some cases). What about the cost difference between them when parts fail? I read porsche are horrifically expensive - I don't really know about the 370z but I know Nissan know how to charge on their premium models.

Nissan appear to offer a three year 370Z service pack for £199, wonder if they sell you one for a second hand car, provided it hasn't needed its first service at that point?

[Made In Machines]

Is that 2k a year for the Porsche? I wonder what the Nismo is like in terms of that. I won't be buying a new 370z - they're charging £1700 tax to buy it and they shed value horrendously in the first year or two.

I really wish I could get a test drive on my route to work. It's about 10 miles of twisty countyside backroads. I'm currently using a vintage fiesta whilst I saving for my new car and that car really needs to be pushed hard but I get what you're saying about that being the fun of it. You have to corner at 50+ to keep the speed as the acceleration is nothing and keep it revved hard. It is great fun and the body roll is pretty silly! I still have fun in it but would like a nice sounding engine with more power that looks amazing.

For me the best feelings are

1) throwing a car into the corners fast hopefully with a bit of oversteer

2) A loud engine revving and being shoved back into your seat hard and held there when you step on the pedal.

I like a car to feel faster than it is rather than a car to be much quicker than it feels like BMW maybe Audi? I think they might feel a bit too refined and business like - you could be going 100mph and it feels like your doing 40mph.

Edited by Made In Machines on Thursday 14th September 12:30

Edited by Made In Machines on Thursday 14th September 12:31

[Over over under steer]

I have a 981 Boxster in 2.7 variety. Moved from s3 Elise Cup (Supercharged one) and couldn't be happier.

I fitted PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust) to the 981 as soon as I got it (around £2k) and the car is easily the loudest most antisocial 'nice' car I have ever driven/been in. The power leaves the right level for use on the road as I can, within reason, ring it out and enjoy the engine without moving at too much of an antisocial pace.

I actively chose the 2.7 over the 3.4 due to 1) exhaust note sounding a bit raspier in the smaller displacement and, 2) right amount of power for the road.

I don't miss the more visceral nature of the Elise at all really, the 981 is such a well balanced car and easier to live with. If you have a very strong aspiration to start going on track days I really would consider a two car solution, as none of these will be anywhere near as fun (and relaxing) to drive on track as a cheap stripped out car that you don't particularly have to worry about banging up and driving home, and leave the nice car for the road.

Porsche will hold its value well.

Here ends by hugely biased review

[Gareth1974]

Made In Machines said:

I won't be buying a new 370z - they're charging £1700 tax to buy it and they shed value horrendously in the first year or two.]

Are you sure about the depreciation? Nissan will sell you a brand new 370Z on the road (so including that initial tax, then you only pay £140 each year after) for £25000, that's without any haggling, yet the cheapest 2 year old 370Z on Autotrader is £22950 for a 2015 car '65' car.

[Made In Machines]

From what i've seen the 370z starts at £30,000. The Nismo in particular is £40,000 new but after a year a 2016 with 5000 / 10000 miles can cost as little as £26,000 - £27,000

Edited by Made In Machines on Thursday 14th September 20:26

[Gareth1974]

Made In Machines said:

From what i've seen the 370z starts at £30,000. The Nismo in particular is £40,000 new but after a year a 2016 with 5000 / 10000 miles can cost as little as £26,000 - £27,000

Edited by Made In Machines on Thursday 14th September 20:26

I've already posted a link to a Nissan deal offering one from £25000inc first road tax. It's the base model in that example, if they're offering £5000 off the base model prior to any negotiations, it might be worth seeing what's on offer on the NISMO.

[Made In Machines]

From what I can gather the deposit contribution is £4000 but the total amount payable by me in that example is £27,565.58

[Gareth1974]

Made In Machines said:

From what I can gather the deposit contribution is £4000 but the total amount payable by me in that example is £27,565.58

The on the road price is £25185, the figure you quote would be the total payable if you took the finance over 4 years - the difference is the interest payable.

[ZX10R NIN]

Just one thing a base 370Z is a very different car to the Nismo.

[Made In Machines]

You only get the deposit contribution if you take out the finance. It's a bit of a trick.

Yes the Nismo apparently has much more bracing and rigidity as well as the exhaust, racaro seats, an awesome body kit and 19 inch rims. Maybe a bit more alcantara. I'm not sure if anything else.

Am I really going to notice the extra bhp and half second to 60 or will the difference feel minimal anyway.

[Gareth1974]

Made In Machines said:

You only get the deposit contribution if you take out the finance. It's a bit of a trick.

Yes the Nismo apparently has much more bracing and rigidity as well as the exhaust, racaro seats, an awesome body kit and 19 inch rims. Maybe a bit more alcantara. I'm not sure if anything else.

Am I really going to notice the extra bhp and half second to 60 or will the difference feel minimal anyway.

It's not that much of a trick. If you don't want their finance - which to be fair, is fairly competitive anyway - just pay it off straight away and you won't incur the interest.

[Made In Machines]

md4776 said:

Then i retract my previous statement. Buy a 2.7 manual and youll love it.

Was that 2K for consumables like tyres, oil and routine servicing or did it include any unplanned repairs of things going wrong?

I did wonder whether some cars might be too powerful for the road resulting in you always feel like your cruising because the engine never has to work that hard and you spend most of your time holding back on the power or breaking. You want a car where it's fun to go fast and you feel like your pushing it, but you also want one that gives you the thrills of fast acceleration. I'm not sure where the balance is. I did find the GT86 seemed a lot faster than it is but I think that one is probably too slow for me. I do like thrills at the traffic lights.

I did read this somewhere and thought it had some truth to it: "It's much more fun driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow". Having said that I also like the thrill of acceleration. The more thrills and excitement the better really

Edited by Made In Machines on Friday 15th September 20:28

Edited by Made In Machines on Friday 15th September 22:33