Does a 911 or Cayman have to be an S minimum?

[Cpb1702]

Hi all

I have been given this advise an number of times recently?

As a potential purchaser here, id welcome guidance from.those of you who have gone through this decision making process.

[Jonny08]

981 Cayman S owner here...

During the buying process I considered both the Cayman Base and the Cayman S. I test drove both, and found the Cayman Base made all the right noises, but just didn't have the 'go' that the Cayman S had.

After that, I knew it was a Cayman S as a minimum for me, and would be worth the extra £'s

Ultimately, my advice would be to drive both and you decide! Aesthetically there isn't much different apart from caliper colour, slight front bumper difference and exhaust tip with the cayman. Internally, difference is the 2.7 vs 3.4 engine

[Twinfan]

For me, yes. I've never considered buying the base version. For a cheap track car though, I'd take what I could get in budget.

So it depends what you want it for and what your budget is!

[DavidJG]

Depends on what you want.

996 & 997 - I prefer the narrow bodies (non-S) cars from a driving perspective

986 / 987 - personal preference is definitely for the 'S', as this is significantly uprated compared to the standard car, but doesn't bloat in any way.

[sidicks]

DavidJG said:

Depends on what you want.

996 & 997 - I prefer the narrow bodies (non-S) cars from a driving perspective

For the 997 series, both non-S and S 2WD models are narrow body. It is the 4WD models that are wide body.

[DavidJG]

sidicks said:

DavidJG said:

Depends on what you want.

996 & 997 - I prefer the narrow bodies (non-S) cars from a driving perspective

For the 997 series, both non-S and S 2WD models are narrow body. It is the 4WD models that are wide body.

In that case, either is good I'm firmly of the view that more power = better.

[IknowJoseph]

What car are you going for? The 997 non-S gets great reviews as a driver's car, they're also rarer, I'm told. Certainly I'd want to try both if I was in the market for a 997.

[Adam B]

it would help if we knew what variant of each you are talking about and whether new or used, and what you are coming from (if something unsporty a base car may feel enough of a step up in terms of pace)

[Cpb1702]

Cayman or 911 no more than 3 years old

[ORD]

So 981 and 991?

I think the 991 non-S has a gorgeous engine. I would go for that. The S is faster but not hugely so.

As for the base Cayman, the engine is gorgeous but does not fill the gears (because they are far too long). It's not a fast car, but that might well not bother you.

The 3.4 in the Cayman S isn't the most exciting of the flat 6s by a long chalk, but it's effective and will sound great (because all 6s sound great in the Cayman).

If you go back to the 997, the 3.8 is the pick of the 911 engines, in my view. The 3.6 is similar apart from having a weaker top end, in my experience. I don't really understand what's supposed to be better about the 3.6 as a 'driver's car'. It's just a bit less powerful but otherwise similar! It's not a zingy engine like the 3.4 in the 991non-S.