Got a 350z, want a Cayman
Discussion
Hi folks
My first post; I'd really appreciate any thoughts.
Two years ago I bought a 2009 350z GT. It was my first proper performance car and I love it. It's an excellent example and I find it enormous fun to drive.
But I'm getting the itch for a new (used) car. I'm sure you know the feeling
I've always loved the look, sound and prestige of the Cayman, but couldn't stretch to a good one two years ago. Now I'm actively looking. The man who fixes my cars suggested I wouldn't get much from a Cayman that I don't already get from the Z, and that it will cost a great deal more to run and maintain.
I've never driven one, but I read nothing but wonderful reviews, and the sound of the engine is like music to my ears.
The final consideration is that I own the Z outright, and would need to go into fairly substantial debt to buy a Cayman.
I'd be very grateful for any thoughts, particularly from those of you who may have owned or driven both cars.
All the best
Damian
My first post; I'd really appreciate any thoughts.
Two years ago I bought a 2009 350z GT. It was my first proper performance car and I love it. It's an excellent example and I find it enormous fun to drive.
But I'm getting the itch for a new (used) car. I'm sure you know the feeling
I've always loved the look, sound and prestige of the Cayman, but couldn't stretch to a good one two years ago. Now I'm actively looking. The man who fixes my cars suggested I wouldn't get much from a Cayman that I don't already get from the Z, and that it will cost a great deal more to run and maintain.
I've never driven one, but I read nothing but wonderful reviews, and the sound of the engine is like music to my ears.
The final consideration is that I own the Z outright, and would need to go into fairly substantial debt to buy a Cayman.
I'd be very grateful for any thoughts, particularly from those of you who may have owned or driven both cars.
All the best
Damian
Edited by CaineIsCarter on Wednesday 7th February 18:19
hi I have had 5 Caymans and love them
but I also had a 350Z and hated it, kept it 1 month, it's very heavy and feels it.
I think you might like a Cayman of some sort, 1st you need to work out what you can spend and then people can give advice from there.
I would be looking at a Tesco 5 year loan plus the money from your car, the Cayman will not drop in price much so a 5 year loan is the cheapest way to get into a car imo and not be left in neg equity like most PCP. I am not saying keep the car for 5 years but as you are paying off the loan the Cayman will not drop as much as you are paying , so if you sell in 2 years you will have more money than you have now so can upgrade and renew that 5 year loan.
it's very easy to work up the ladder on low wages or spare money if you do it right.
tyre will be the same price, tax should be cheaper as will mpg you get and service is only every 2 years, they are ok to run.
but I also had a 350Z and hated it, kept it 1 month, it's very heavy and feels it.
I think you might like a Cayman of some sort, 1st you need to work out what you can spend and then people can give advice from there.
I would be looking at a Tesco 5 year loan plus the money from your car, the Cayman will not drop in price much so a 5 year loan is the cheapest way to get into a car imo and not be left in neg equity like most PCP. I am not saying keep the car for 5 years but as you are paying off the loan the Cayman will not drop as much as you are paying , so if you sell in 2 years you will have more money than you have now so can upgrade and renew that 5 year loan.
it's very easy to work up the ladder on low wages or spare money if you do it right.
tyre will be the same price, tax should be cheaper as will mpg you get and service is only every 2 years, they are ok to run.
What's the Z worth? £6k? I just bought a really nice 3.2 Boxster S for £10.5k. Cayman S is quite a lot more money, fair enough if you really love the looks or are a very good driver & prefer the slightly more ridged chassis but you pay a lot or what is really almost the same car.
If you got a decent Boxster S for say £11k, you're talking £5k to change which you can currently borrow from First direct @ 4.9% APR over 7 years for £83 a month
If you get a Cayman you're probably talking £5k more which you can borrow from First Direct at 3.3% APR for £133 a month
No issue borrowing over 7 years because the interest rate is so low that after 1-2 years you have still repaid probably more than the car has lost in depreciation so you are always able to get out of the car without penalty in my experience
You need to be mindful that the cars will cost more to run than a 350Z as the parts are expensive. It's one thing for someone earning £100k to say they aren't too bad but that might not be your situation, they aren't amazingly reliable and you're looking at cars towards the bottom of the market which will be around 10 years old, it isn't realistic to expect to run one of these for a few hundred quid a year, you're looking at anything from £500 if you are very lucky to maybe £1500-£2000 if you have a bad year with a clutch or any of the other myriad suspension / brakes parts need doing
Please don't think I am patronising you but just for example if laying your hands on say £800 for some unexpected work would be a problem for you then I would wait till you have more money to hand, it is stressful otherwise, been there done that.
If you got a decent Boxster S for say £11k, you're talking £5k to change which you can currently borrow from First direct @ 4.9% APR over 7 years for £83 a month
If you get a Cayman you're probably talking £5k more which you can borrow from First Direct at 3.3% APR for £133 a month
No issue borrowing over 7 years because the interest rate is so low that after 1-2 years you have still repaid probably more than the car has lost in depreciation so you are always able to get out of the car without penalty in my experience
You need to be mindful that the cars will cost more to run than a 350Z as the parts are expensive. It's one thing for someone earning £100k to say they aren't too bad but that might not be your situation, they aren't amazingly reliable and you're looking at cars towards the bottom of the market which will be around 10 years old, it isn't realistic to expect to run one of these for a few hundred quid a year, you're looking at anything from £500 if you are very lucky to maybe £1500-£2000 if you have a bad year with a clutch or any of the other myriad suspension / brakes parts need doing
Please don't think I am patronising you but just for example if laying your hands on say £800 for some unexpected work would be a problem for you then I would wait till you have more money to hand, it is stressful otherwise, been there done that.
Thank you for the replies. Jake - I take your point about a Boxster. I’ve been looking around this evening and it’s clear there are far more options compared to the Cayman.
I paid 10.5k for the Z and Autotrader has suggested a value of £7870 (oddly precise number)! but I’m not sure whether that’s part ex or retail.
I certainly don’t earn 100k - not half that, but I could afford to spring about £200 a month on a loan payment. 12k over five years from First Direct at 3.3% is £217 pm.
12k plus whatever I get for the Z should buy a nice Boxster, but as you say, it’s not just the purchase price I need to think about. I’d need to stash another £100 pm for maintenance.
I paid 10.5k for the Z and Autotrader has suggested a value of £7870 (oddly precise number)! but I’m not sure whether that’s part ex or retail.
I certainly don’t earn 100k - not half that, but I could afford to spring about £200 a month on a loan payment. 12k over five years from First Direct at 3.3% is £217 pm.
12k plus whatever I get for the Z should buy a nice Boxster, but as you say, it’s not just the purchase price I need to think about. I’d need to stash another £100 pm for maintenance.
CaineIsCarter said:
Thank you for the replies. Jake - I take your point about a Boxster. I’ve been looking around this evening and it’s clear there are far more options compared to the Cayman.
I paid 10.5k for the Z and Autotrader has suggested a value of £7870 (oddly precise number)! but I’m not sure whether that’s part ex or retail.
I certainly don’t earn 100k - not half that, but I could afford to spring about £200 a month on a loan payment. 12k over five years from First Direct at 3.3% is £217 pm.
12k plus whatever I get for the Z should buy a nice Boxster, but as you say, it’s not just the purchase price I need to think about. I’d need to stash another £100 pm for maintenance.
The Gen 2 cars from 2009 onwards have much more reliable engines too, your budget would get you into one just - worth a lookI paid 10.5k for the Z and Autotrader has suggested a value of £7870 (oddly precise number)! but I’m not sure whether that’s part ex or retail.
I certainly don’t earn 100k - not half that, but I could afford to spring about £200 a month on a loan payment. 12k over five years from First Direct at 3.3% is £217 pm.
12k plus whatever I get for the Z should buy a nice Boxster, but as you say, it’s not just the purchase price I need to think about. I’d need to stash another £100 pm for maintenance.
Worth saving,borrowing the extra cash to get into a gen 2 car with low miles and the extra you pay you will save in maintenance and no engine issues of the gen1 car to worry about which could end up costing! I would even look at a 2.9 gen2 over a 3.4 gen1!Plus gen2 cars manual of course will be more sort after over the long term thus being worth the same you paid if not more all IMHO
Porsche911R said:
the Cayman will not drop in price much so a 5 year loan is the cheapest way to get into a car imo and not be left in neg equity like most PCP. I am not saying keep the car for 5 years but as you are paying off the loan the Cayman will not drop as much as you are paying , so if you sell in 2 years you will have more money than you have now so can upgrade and renew that 5 year loan.
.
hmmm slight oversight, you are not calculating maintenance. Any pcp car, would give you trouble-free motoring, and many comes with at least 3 year warranty + 2 year service plan. Any second hand porsche with that pricing, would not come with warranty and it would cost quite a lot to run. So yes, at the end, the car might not depreciate but the servicing fees for a daily run porsche might be more than the purchase price, hence the super-negative equity .
ooid said:
hmmm slight oversight, you are not calculating maintenance. Any pcp car, would give you trouble-free motoring, and many comes with at least 3 year warranty + 2 year service plan. Any second hand porsche with that pricing, would not come with warranty and it would cost quite a lot to run. So yes, at the end, the car might not depreciate but the servicing fees for a daily run porsche might be more than the purchase price, hence the super-negative equity
not a chance but that's your view. why would it cost a lot to run ? over a PCP on a new car at circa £30k rent over 3 yearsEdited by Porsche911R on Thursday 8th February 08:51
Careful you don't rely on the 111 point check too much. I had my 981 seller take the through it prior to purchase and it passed at OPC Reading.
Subsequently Porsche GB refunded the 111 point check fee (which I had paid) and paid me compensation for ticking the wheels as OK when they weren't as I noticed soon thereafter.
Due to this I think the 111 point check is just the OPC having a quick glance over the car and not really checking anything properly.
Subsequently Porsche GB refunded the 111 point check fee (which I had paid) and paid me compensation for ticking the wheels as OK when they weren't as I noticed soon thereafter.
Due to this I think the 111 point check is just the OPC having a quick glance over the car and not really checking anything properly.
Some very useful responses, thanks very much indeed. I wasn’t aware you could buy a Porsche warranty for a private car. Makes me a lot more willing to consider buying privately.
What about the other issue - do you think it will be a significant step up in terms of driving fun and all the other things like pride of ownership to go from a really excellent 350z to a Boxster?
I need to get out and drive one this weekend.
What about the other issue - do you think it will be a significant step up in terms of driving fun and all the other things like pride of ownership to go from a really excellent 350z to a Boxster?
I need to get out and drive one this weekend.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I think these are very wise words, and I appreciate your perspective on it. I’d be going from a situation where I have a fully paid for 350, which I love, to having perhaps 12k of debt on another car which ostensibly offers much the same thing. But I might love it even more than the Z, perhaps enough to warrant having less money to spend on holidays, trinkets and loose women 😊
I need to find out by driving a few. Thanks.
I drove a mates 350Z a while back...it sounded good but that was all I liked about it, a Cayman is night and day a better car to drive if you can get yourself into a Gen2 (the 3.4 is very nice) that's probably the safer bet long term, that is unless you just want to scratch the Porsche itch then look for a base spec car and enjoy it.
I went from a 350z to a 987.1S Cayman. It depends what you want from each car. To me, the 350z sounds much better and is equal in general comfort terms. It is also much much cheaper to take care of and is bombproof in comparison reliability wise.
The brakes are about the same in terms of performance and there isn't much in a straight line either, with the Cayman edging it but probably less than most people would think. The gearshift is much more mechanical on the 350, it has a more positive action, whereas the Cayman's is a bit softer and not as positive with a less defined shift action. I preferred the 350z.
It's when tackling the open road with bends the mid engine layout comes alive, the balance is excellent. Saying that, the 350z when the geo is set up properly and on good tyres is better than most give it credit for, but it hasn't got the final 2/10ths that the 987.1 has. Where you might enjoy wrestling the 350, the Cayman rewards precision.
Question is, is it worth that much extra money? If I were doing it again I'd probably get a 3.2 Boxster or a 996 911, either for the initial cost or the protection from depreciation. However, it is really really nice to own a Porsche. It just costs a lot more to do so.
The brakes are about the same in terms of performance and there isn't much in a straight line either, with the Cayman edging it but probably less than most people would think. The gearshift is much more mechanical on the 350, it has a more positive action, whereas the Cayman's is a bit softer and not as positive with a less defined shift action. I preferred the 350z.
It's when tackling the open road with bends the mid engine layout comes alive, the balance is excellent. Saying that, the 350z when the geo is set up properly and on good tyres is better than most give it credit for, but it hasn't got the final 2/10ths that the 987.1 has. Where you might enjoy wrestling the 350, the Cayman rewards precision.
Question is, is it worth that much extra money? If I were doing it again I'd probably get a 3.2 Boxster or a 996 911, either for the initial cost or the protection from depreciation. However, it is really really nice to own a Porsche. It just costs a lot more to do so.
roscopervis said:
I went from a 350z to a 987.1S Cayman. It depends what you want from each car. To me, the 350z sounds much better and is equal in general comfort terms. It is also much much cheaper to take care of and is bombproof in comparison reliability wise.
The brakes are about the same in terms of performance and there isn't much in a straight line either, with the Cayman edging it but probably less than most people would think. The gearshift is much more mechanical on the 350, it has a more positive action, whereas the Cayman's is a bit softer and not as positive with a less defined shift action. I preferred the 350z.
It's when tackling the open road with bends the mid engine layout comes alive, the balance is excellent. Saying that, the 350z when the geo is set up properly and on good tyres is better than most give it credit for, but it hasn't got the final 2/10ths that the 987.1 has. Where you might enjoy wrestling the 350, the Cayman rewards precision.
Question is, is it worth that much extra money? If I were doing it again I'd probably get a 3.2 Boxster or a 996 911, either for the initial cost or the protection from depreciation. However, it is really really nice to own a Porsche. It just costs a lot more to do so.
Thank you for this excellent reply. The brakes are about the same in terms of performance and there isn't much in a straight line either, with the Cayman edging it but probably less than most people would think. The gearshift is much more mechanical on the 350, it has a more positive action, whereas the Cayman's is a bit softer and not as positive with a less defined shift action. I preferred the 350z.
It's when tackling the open road with bends the mid engine layout comes alive, the balance is excellent. Saying that, the 350z when the geo is set up properly and on good tyres is better than most give it credit for, but it hasn't got the final 2/10ths that the 987.1 has. Where you might enjoy wrestling the 350, the Cayman rewards precision.
Question is, is it worth that much extra money? If I were doing it again I'd probably get a 3.2 Boxster or a 996 911, either for the initial cost or the protection from depreciation. However, it is really really nice to own a Porsche. It just costs a lot more to do so.
I took a trip to the Porsche dealership today and long story short, a PCP on a 2013/14 plate Boxster is a lot more affordable than I was anticipating.
I’m sitting here waiting on their part ex offer and trying not to get too excited.
Steve Rance said:
I’d go for it. The Cayman is a proper sports car. If you enjoy a rewarding drive, You won’t regret it
Depends... We are all different. After my test drives I was smitten with the 981. After 3 years, less so. Doesn't grip me like either an Elise or Caterham (though much better all-rounder than either, and objectively a terrific car,). Hope the Alpine hits the spot better...Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff