Where do I go from my fantastic Cayman S?

[Deanos CaymanS]

Coming up to 3 fantastic yrs in my Cayman S and nothing has ever lasted this long in the garage.
The only problem is where do I eventually go from here?
Too much money to get a newer example of what I've already got (as in not worth the extra IMHO).
Don't want a 911 Carrera or S (happier in the Cayman).
So we're in GT3 and Turbo territory. I get the feeling a GT3 would be too much as a daily hack (c. 12k a year daily usage). Been looking at Turbos recently and this one caught my eye. If I was to venture beyond the Cayman is this a decent example? Anyone know the car or been to see it? Any wider thoughts on my (admittedly nice to have) problem of where to go from here? (doesn't have to be Pork but realise where I'm posting). At this rate I'll be running my current car til it cannot be run any more.

http://www.hagleycar.com/cars/car766.html

[mrdemon]

It's hard to fault a Cayman.
Not much comes close to a great daily hack.

Evora s
The new jag f-type
Cayman gen 2 s or R
The 2013 Cayman

Depends if you want hyper performance or not which means some sort of turbo car if that's a yes.

1m chipped
Audi TTRS chipped both faster than a gen 1 turbo. ( but you can also chip a 911 turbo )

I miss my TTRS some times on the performance A to B front.

Cayman R out of all those is just one of today's best cars though imo

[FisiP1]

Sold my Cayman a few months ago and regret it, if I could change back now I would in a heartbeat.

The 'something different' itch has a lot to answer for!

[jackwood]

I had the same dilemma. Kept the Cayman for 5.5 years which was about 4 years longer than I've ever kept any other car.
In the end the only option for me was a GT3 as it needed to be a great track car as well as a daily driver. Mine will be doing about 12k miles a year the same as you. I don't find it any wore hardworking than the Cayman to use as a daily driver. If anything, it's even better as every journey is an even bigger occasion. Fantastic car.
Jack

[Asterix]

Exactly the same for me - I put mine up for sale yesterday after nearly five years of very, very happy ownership. If I was looking at the next step in sports cars the only option would be a GT3. I had one for a few weeks a while back and as said above, it's no more hassle as a daily drive than the CS and a very special car - I had a Turbo (both were 997.1s) for 2 days and while it was very fast, I found it a bit dull compared to the GT3.

[DS240]

I was bored with my Cayman S. Yes, lovely car, drives really well.... just no character.

Admittedly mine doesn't fulfil a daily driver role, so overall comfort on top of ability probably matters to you a bit more.

I appreciated it, just never loved it.

Changed to boxster spyder on seeing the first pictures. Night and day difference. So much fun and so much character. I know it isn't for everyone though with practicality issues.

Like you, I would bypass the lower carrera range and love the look of the turbo 997.

Only worry will be that it has hyper performance and great day to day abilities, but it will be all too much performance to be able to enjoy on restricted roads.

[Deanos CaymanS]

Thanks all. Very comforting, at least I'm not on my own.
Mrdemon - Evora, TTRS and 1M all on the list and I need to drive them. Evora might be a competitor but worry about the fragility based on nothing more than reading. TTRS and 1M probably more down the daily driver end of the scale and less fun.
Understand what you all mean about the performance of the turbo. On the road the CS is more than quick enough but it's accessible. Worried the turbo is too point and squirt and a couple of guys at work have had to get rid of theirs as part of their plea and mitigation for speeding offences.
GT3 seems the car but worried about usability with that front splitter.

Keep the thoughts coming. Thanks so far. Decisions decisions.....

[adamb]

M3 CSL?

[Asterix]

Most GT3 owners I know look at the rubber lip on the splitter as a consumable .

[nickfrog]

mrdemon said:

Audi TTRS chipped both faster than a gen 1 turbo. ( but you can also chip a 911 turbo )

In a straight line yes maybe.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Audi R8?

I actually think more of them now I've driven one, lovely cars though a bit short on luggage space

Honda NSX

I love them but they are hard to find. Zero depreciation from here in in though.

Boxster Spyder

Only question being how often would you go through the faff of taking the roof off, apart from that brilliant cars & just different enough from the cayman.

GT3

You know all about them I guess...

One curve ball, if you like the cayman so much why not keep it? This obviously depends on how much space you have but you could then have a weekend toy to play with whilst running the cayman as a daily? Just a thought...

Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Monday 24th September 10:15

[BubblesNW]

How about uprating the Cayman?
Engine mods, suspension upgrade etc

[SonnyM]

jackwood said:

I had the same dilemma. Kept the Cayman for 5.5 years which was about 4 years longer than I've ever kept any other car.
In the end the only option for me was a GT3 as it needed to be a great track car as well as a daily driver. Mine will be doing about 12k miles a year the same as you. I don't find it any wore hardworking than the Cayman to use as a daily driver. If anything, it's even better as every journey is an even bigger occasion. Fantastic car.
Jack

This is the best option to pursue.

Splitter is a consumable, or get a gen 2 with lift.

[itsybitsy]

DS240 said:

I was bored with my Cayman S. Yes, lovely car, drives really well.... just no character.

Admittedly mine doesn't fulfil a daily driver role, so overall comfort on top of ability probably matters to you a bit more.

I appreciated it, just never loved it.

Changed to boxster spyder

i also had a cs.1 fantastic car and changed too a spyder bypassed the gt3 could have had one but the spyder has an extra dimension with the removable roof,but mine is only a weekend toy if a daily driver go for a caymanR might get a good deal with the 981 cayman coming soon

[911F]

I doubt very much that a Chipped TTS which would give around 400bhp from a 2.5 5 cylinder engine would be quicker than a 480bhp 3.6 6 cylinder engine, cant image there to be much difference in weight.

[Deanos CaymanS]

BubblesNW said:

How about uprating the Cayman?
Engine mods, suspension upgrade etc

Risk averse I'm afraid. Daily driver, extended warranty for peace of mind so no upgrades for me.

jackwood said:

In the end the only option for me was a GT3

I completely understand that. How much did the track use dictate that though? If it were purely a road car do you think you would have made the same decision?

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Honda NSX
Boxster Spyder
GT3
why not keep it? ...weekend toy to play with whilst running the cayman as a daily?

Couldn't justify an NSX as a daily I'm afraid.
Spyder's roof would probably be a pain - not from a take it on and off point of view, more the commuting wind noise and not all that weathertight?
The GT3 comes up again...
I've kept it now well over a year longer than anything else cos I'm unable to make a decision. I don't really have the time for a weekend only car and it wouldn't get used so looking for another all rounder. Maybe a weekend toy when the boy has grown up and I get some time back to myself.

I think I need to try a GT3 for a reasonable amount of time somehow. A test drive will just confirm it's a great driver's car but not necessarily that I could live with it. Anyone want to lend me one for a week to try?
If not I end up where I am today in another year and 12,000 miles time but with a bit more cash.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

it's a tough (but pleasant!) problem isn't it? i'm in the same boat, my problem being that i've had "weekend" cars in the past & they invariably get used less than i'd wished. the beauty of having a daily stunner is that you get every opportunity to use it.

added to the list above i'm also considering an aston V8 vantage.

i know you've mentioned that the cayman isn't worth upgrading to but have you driven a caymanR? i loved the one i had & if you fancied something a little different there is always the option of PDK.

a dealer local to me has one in stock for £45k, white, light weight wheels, buckets & PDK. i went for a look but when i found out it was PDK it wasn't for me, but it might just be "different" enough for you?

[Actus Reus]

981S? Just had one for the weekend (granted £64k so fully loaded), and it was superb. Much much much improved ride and cabin, and the exhaust, even standard, sounded superb. Brilliant car.

[6C4GTS]

Deanos CaymanS said:

The only problem is where do I eventually go from here?

If you are confident in the engine's reliability, I would go here

[rob.kellock]

Deanos CaymanS said:

Spyder's roof would probably be a pain - not from a take it on and off point of view, more the commuting wind noise and not all that weathertight?

Roof is weather tight enough. Mine has only ever let a few drips in when driving through torrential rain with the roof up. With the roof down in heavy rain you can get a bit damp! Has always kept dry when parked.

Commuting wind noise will (obviously) depend on the nature of your commute - roof up it does get noisy at motorway ouside lane speeds that's for sure.