Comparing Caymans

[mathmos]

I've been looking into getting a cayman and I finally sold my car last night so I am moving into a position ready to buy soon.

What do you guys think of these 2 cars?

Silver -
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Or black -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

The silver has the benefit of PSE, full leather, Bose and cruise over the black one, the black has PASM.

I much prefer the look of the black one....looks like it would steal your lunch money, but the spec and the price makes the silver seem much better value.

[Dreds]

Looks are subjective but you will be looking at your choice for many years. Wait for the right one IMHO. Can you stretch to this one

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[Dreds]

Looks are subjective but you will be looking at your choice for many years. Wait for the right one IMHO. Can you stretch to this one

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[Trev450]

They are relatively plentiful at the moment if you don't mind travelling, and traditionally some good deals to be done in January. Shop around and wait for the one that ticks all your boxes.

[DJMC]

Both overpriced?

PASM is my favourite option on mine - if you like comfort.

Black hides the lines of the car whereas silver shows them off. Both are "boring" run of the mill colours. Silver hides the dirt, black you'll be wanting to wash every time it rains. Classic wheels are good, Carrera S wheels have a poor paint finish or design which makes the paint chip on the forward face of every spoke so be prepared to get them painted very soon.

[mathmos]

Thanks chaps.

I am leaning towards the silver one. That one from Proveeda would be a winner if it was up a bit lower in price, but I suspect there isn't as much movement in that as I would like!

How much of a "must" is PASM? Seems to me that the car is so well balanced and the chassis so sorted that I would have been happy to maybe skip that as an option.

[DJMC]

mathmos said:

Thanks chaps.

I am leaning towards the silver one. That one from Proveeda would be a winner if it was up a bit lower in price, but I suspect there isn't as much movement in that as I would like!

How much of a "must" is PASM? Seems to me that the car is so well balanced and the chassis so sorted that I would have been happy to maybe skip that as an option.

I tried four 981's without PASM and thought the ride a little crashy round town but better than my TTS. Happened upon one with PASM by chance and it's fabulous for ironing out the bumps. I don't think I'd have been too concerned without it, having had firm suspension before, but maybe take an extended test drive and ask for all road surfaces on the route?

[bcr5784]

mathmos said:

Thanks chaps.

I am leaning towards the silver one. That one from Proveeda would be a winner if it was up a bit lower in price, but I suspect there isn't as much movement in that as I would like!

How much of a "must" is PASM? Seems to me that the car is so well balanced and the chassis so sorted that I would have been happy to maybe skip that as an option.

PASM isn't a must - but I was keen to have it and pleased I did - it just makes the car more versatile. It does depend on the roads you travel - some by me are dreadful and PASM in Normal mode does a great job (my wife doesn't like the Cayman overall - but did volunteer that the ride is VERY good). Put it in Sport mode - which you can on most roads - and it tightens things down nicely, sharpens the steering and still rides well most of the time.

[DJMC]

bcr5784 said:

PASM isn't a must - but I was keen to have it and pleased I did - it just makes the car more versatile. It does depend on the roads you travel - some by me are dreadful and PASM in Normal mode does a great job (my wife doesn't like the Cayman overall - but did volunteer that the ride is VERY good). Put it in Sport mode - which you can on most roads - and it tightens things down nicely, sharpens the steering and still rides well most of the time.

It's also true to say it has the ability, as it's supposed to, to adapt to your driving style. If you're bumbling along and then suddenly put your foot down into some bends it will react and stiffen up. And vice versa. Very impressed with it.
I nearly went for a 981 with SC & PSE, but PASM and 14 way seats suit me far better. Getting old, I know...

[bcr5784]

DJMC said:

It's also true to say it has the ability, as it's supposed to, to adapt to your driving style. If you're bumbling along and then suddenly put your foot down into some bends it will react and stiffen up. And vice versa. Very impressed with it.
I nearly went for a 981 with SC & PSE, but PASM and 14 way seats suit me far better. Getting old, I know...

While I (sort of) agree, the trouble - if it's valid to call it that - is that it can't read my mind or the road ahead. To explain, in Normal mode when cruising along a pretty straight road the dampers soften off to give you a very good ride. If you then come across a sharp bend or pull out sharply to overtake, the car feels a bit vague. True, it soon adapts, but not quickly enough for me. I don't regard it as a problem - I have come to understand how it behaves and switch to Sport if I feel it is - or will become - necessary. I feel much the same about PDK (even more so). To get the best out of either system you can't just let it do it's own thing and expect it to get it right all the time.

I have to say that I think that those critical of either system seem to take the view that because if you leave them to their own devices a manual gearbox or passive suspension are better/more engaging at least some of the time. I take the view that if you apply as much effort to getting the best out of PDK and PASM you will get a better result the great majority of the time - and have JUST as an engaging drive - albeit a more cerebral rather than physical one.

[Spartikus]

PASM lowers the car by 10mm and it does improve the stance. Non-PASM look high by comparison, even though its only 10mm. I get the criticism that PASM isn't psychic so can't anticipate the next bend or manouvere, but it does make for a car that can both cruise comfortably or be chucked about. Having had it, I would not be without it.

[bcr5784]

Spartikus said:

Having had it, I would not be without it.

Absolutely agree!

[Krobar]

I went non-PASM just for the extra 10mm clearance (Although appreciate most people wont care about this).

[bcr5784]

Krobar said:

I went non-PASM just for the extra 10mm clearance (Although appreciate most people wont care about this).

Experience on this seems to be very varied - but personally my PASM car is only just on the limit of acceptability for my drive - and wont go up my son's without grounding (and neither are obviously extreme in the slightest), so I can well understand.

[hotpowner]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Great colour combination and good spec
The dealer supplied mine and very highly regarded over at 911uk.com

[mathmos]

I decided on the silver one, came to a good agreement with the dealer and should be collecting next week!

[Fl0pp3r]

Congrats!!