Used 996 GT2/GT3 Or A New Cayman?
Discussion
Ok, I doubt anyone here will have driven a Cayman yet, but what are people thoughts on this.
I'm hearing great things about it, so do I order a new one or go for a used 996 GT2 or GT3?
I've never had a Porsche and was thinking of a new TVR, but I have decided I'm not brave
enough to risk a speed six, with or without the 3 year warranty.
I need a car I can rely on, so will the Cayman come out ready to run or is it likely to
have some teething problems?
Any thoughts appreciated.
I'm hearing great things about it, so do I order a new one or go for a used 996 GT2 or GT3?
I've never had a Porsche and was thinking of a new TVR, but I have decided I'm not brave
enough to risk a speed six, with or without the 3 year warranty.
I need a car I can rely on, so will the Cayman come out ready to run or is it likely to
have some teething problems?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Ive gone for a Cayman over a used GT3 at presumably similar money. Think it should be a sweeter drive on the (bumpy uk) road. Also think it should depreciate less short term if I decide Ive made the wrong choice. Hopefully not too many teething problems being largely boxster based?!
Simon
Simon
I'd opt for a Cayman over a std. 997, or 996 C2/4, but never over a GT2/3.
The Cayman will no doubt be more forgiving, economical, practical and civilised (hence a better everyday prospect for most people), but the hardcore 996 cars are always going to be more involving and require more skill to exploit...and if you get it right the 996 GT cars will be considerably quicker.
Ultimately, a Cayman (however good it turns out to be) is always going to be a more mainstream car...the GT2/3's have that bit of Le Mans DNA and make you feel SOOOOO special everytime you drop into the recaros and fire up.
The Cayman will no doubt be more forgiving, economical, practical and civilised (hence a better everyday prospect for most people), but the hardcore 996 cars are always going to be more involving and require more skill to exploit...and if you get it right the 996 GT cars will be considerably quicker.
Ultimately, a Cayman (however good it turns out to be) is always going to be a more mainstream car...the GT2/3's have that bit of Le Mans DNA and make you feel SOOOOO special everytime you drop into the recaros and fire up.
When I read the title I thought to myself, wow they´ll come really hard on this chap... But then I realised that there´s actually more then 1 person in the world how might consider a "Cayman" or whatever that "wannabe" thing is called instead of a real 911 Turbo or even worse a GT2!!! It must be a joke....
kiko said:Well I'm glad everyone is being easy on me.
When I read the title I thought to myself, wow they´ll come really hard on this chap... But then I realised that there´s actually more then 1 person in the world how might consider a "Cayman".
I know they are very different cars and it depends on how it is to be driven.
I'd want the best of both worlds. A good tourer and something I can play on the track with.
From what I have read the Cayman will be equally at home on the track as the road.
Naturally it won't have the playfulness of the GT cars and this is one of the dilemmas.
Quite an odd choice it has to be said.
Cayman over a vanilla 996- yeh understandable, but vs GT2/3 is rather a diference!
Something like Mx5 vs Z M roadster would be a similar odd pairing.
The Clubsport Cayman- if they ever make it & if they do- depending how raw they make it, may indeed be a closer comparison to the GT3- tho not the GT2 (however unfortunatly it will be unlikely to share the GT3s near bullet proof engine, but will no doubt use the more problematic 996 regular lump)
Cayman over a vanilla 996- yeh understandable, but vs GT2/3 is rather a diference!
Something like Mx5 vs Z M roadster would be a similar odd pairing.
The Clubsport Cayman- if they ever make it & if they do- depending how raw they make it, may indeed be a closer comparison to the GT3- tho not the GT2 (however unfortunatly it will be unlikely to share the GT3s near bullet proof engine, but will no doubt use the more problematic 996 regular lump)
Why not try a boxster and a GT3 and see what you think. They cayman will be sharper than the box, but still of that ilk.
If you are buying a GT3 at cayman money, the worst of the depreciation should be over. Cayman may appreciate for a bit though, although given the state of the car market and how late it will be before you get one as you haven't already ordered, I wouldn't bet on it.
FWIW I've discounted the Cayman. Its now GT3 RS or GT2.
if u arent looking to loose a lot of money then id go for the gt3,by the time u speck the cayman up, it will cost u 48k,and by the time u come to sell it they will be ten a penny like the boxster,i reckon after a year ul be doing well to get 35k back.and unlike the boxster u wont have the upsurge of demand in the summer.my call would be if u need a useable car ,wait the eight months u are going to wait anyway, save up and get a 997.its a gorgeous car with pasm it drives like a gt3, and will make u want to look back at it again,and again.thats what il be getting next.
I appreciate people's concerns that they may appear an odd pairing, but it's based
on new vs old and like for like money in terms of outlay, i.e. around 50k.
I know people's tastes are all different, but it seems odd that so many seem to dislike
the Cayman before it's even been seen beyond the pages of a magazine?
The reviews in EVO and CAR are stunning and suggest it would be only 15 seconds behind
a GT3 around the Ring, so on the tracks I'd use, that would be around only a two second
gap - which seems pretty impressive to me.
Having spoken to a number of dealers, they are saying go for the Cayman. Sure they'll make
a bigger margin, but they have been quick to say the GT cars are better suited to track
and not everyday life - trouble is I want both!
Certainly don't want to diss either the Cayman or the GT’s, but as odd as my choices
may seem, they do seem to make sense to me especially given I want a car I can take
into Europe several times a year and then put on track as I travel around?
Certainly be interested to hear of any GT owners who paid 50-60k for their's to see what
problems or comments they have.
Cheers everyone.
>> Edited by go-cart Mozart on Friday 22 July 09:59
on new vs old and like for like money in terms of outlay, i.e. around 50k.
I know people's tastes are all different, but it seems odd that so many seem to dislike
the Cayman before it's even been seen beyond the pages of a magazine?
The reviews in EVO and CAR are stunning and suggest it would be only 15 seconds behind
a GT3 around the Ring, so on the tracks I'd use, that would be around only a two second
gap - which seems pretty impressive to me.
Having spoken to a number of dealers, they are saying go for the Cayman. Sure they'll make
a bigger margin, but they have been quick to say the GT cars are better suited to track
and not everyday life - trouble is I want both!
Certainly don't want to diss either the Cayman or the GT’s, but as odd as my choices
may seem, they do seem to make sense to me especially given I want a car I can take
into Europe several times a year and then put on track as I travel around?
Certainly be interested to hear of any GT owners who paid 50-60k for their's to see what
problems or comments they have.
Cheers everyone.
>> Edited by go-cart Mozart on Friday 22 July 09:59
The chasis of the cayman will be stiffer than the boxter and will give a better platform. For road driving where speeds are limited and 10/10ths driving is not an option I think that the car will be hard to beat. For trackwork it will not be comparible to a GT3 and to a lesser extent a GT2. It's drive train and chasis will not be track focussed and simply not be practically upgradable to give anywhere near the track performance of the GT3 - a car specifically developed for track use -it's engine internals will not be nearly as strong, there will be no dry sump, the gearbox will be weaker and the geometry will be compromised.
If you are looking at a cayman over a GT3 and planning on tracking your car, you will be making a big mistake in buying one.
I looked a developing one with Parr to compete with GT3's in terms or performance. It was not a realistic excercise.
Steve R
If you are looking at a cayman over a GT3 and planning on tracking your car, you will be making a big mistake in buying one.
I looked a developing one with Parr to compete with GT3's in terms or performance. It was not a realistic excercise.
Steve R
A 996 GT2/3 is going to be better value for money than the Cayman, but is that the main criteria?
I'm sure the Cayman will drive very differently to either GT2/3. It's likely to be much more neutral and progressive but not as sharp and feel nowhere near as powerful. There is almost no common point of reference between GT2 and Cayman from a mechanical perspective. However, I'm guessing though that it will be easier to drive the Cayman fast on both road and track - if you only do a few trackdays a year and don't have the skill of Rohl then the Cayman could easily be a quicker option. And that might end up being more satisfying...
At least that was my reasoning for ordering a Cayman
I'm sure the Cayman will drive very differently to either GT2/3. It's likely to be much more neutral and progressive but not as sharp and feel nowhere near as powerful. There is almost no common point of reference between GT2 and Cayman from a mechanical perspective. However, I'm guessing though that it will be easier to drive the Cayman fast on both road and track - if you only do a few trackdays a year and don't have the skill of Rohl then the Cayman could easily be a quicker option. And that might end up being more satisfying...
At least that was my reasoning for ordering a Cayman
Excellent comments from Steve and willr.
I'd be looking at 3 - 4 track days at best a year and perhaps with the Chrono Plus etc, it seems
the Cayman would be, to quote CAR, at the "push of a button" a well set up track car?
I hear and respect your comments Steve, but how compromised do you think the Cayman
will be if used as a track car?
Would warranties by invalid for example should there be a component failure?
It seems a LOT of testing has been done with track use in mind?
I'd be looking at 3 - 4 track days at best a year and perhaps with the Chrono Plus etc, it seems
the Cayman would be, to quote CAR, at the "push of a button" a well set up track car?
I hear and respect your comments Steve, but how compromised do you think the Cayman
will be if used as a track car?
Would warranties by invalid for example should there be a component failure?
It seems a LOT of testing has been done with track use in mind?
go-cart Mozart said:
Excellent comments from Steve and willr.
I'd be looking at 3 - 4 track days at best a year and perhaps with the Chrono Plus etc, it seems
the Cayman would be, to quote CAR, at the "push of a button" a well set up track car?
I hear and respect your comments Steve, but how compromised do you think the Cayman
will be if used as a track car?
Would warranties by invalid for example should there be a component failure?
It seems a LOT of testing has been done with track use in mind?
3-4 trackdays per year should not stretch any Porsche, IMHO. I have seen plenty of Boxsters on track, all doing fine.
The GT3 has had much more track testing than the Cayman (or GT2) and as Steve says is certainly a better/quicker track car for those who can extract 10/10ths out of it. Not everyone can...
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