Cayman or 996?
Discussion
An acquaintance of mine (no, not me) has wanted a 911 since he was old enough to have posters on his walls.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
Anything 911 - sounds like it needs to be a 997.
A nice used 997 Carrera S with upgraded alloys and nice interior bits and pieces.
He will regret buying the Cayman within about a month of ownership.
I am not dissing the car - I like them
its just not a 911 and too similar to the boxster.
If he had drempt of owning a 911 since before puberty then he needs to be steered towards the 997 (using violence if necessary)
A nice used 997 Carrera S with upgraded alloys and nice interior bits and pieces.
He will regret buying the Cayman within about a month of ownership.
I am not dissing the car - I like them
its just not a 911 and too similar to the boxster. If he had drempt of owning a 911 since before puberty then he needs to be steered towards the 997 (using violence if necessary)
The two options that stand out in my mind are the 996GT2 or 996 Turbo as they seem to be going for extremely good money at the moment. There will also be a massive difference between his Boxster and either of the above in terms of performance. The other plus point is that someone else has taken most of the hit on depreciation.
He should be able to get a good turbo for early 50's and a GT2 for early to mid 50's...
Steve
He should be able to get a good turbo for early 50's and a GT2 for early to mid 50's...
Steve
I wonder how you can find a 997S underwhelming but everybody to their own...
Why is he changing his car. The Cayman will not offer a dramatically different experience to the Boxster. There surely is quite a bit more punch and an even crisper handling which is great but not really that different from the Boxster experience (excluding the open roof experience, of course).
I would argue that a standard 996 is not the better but a quite different car to the Cayman S. If you prefer buying new then a 996 does not really offer you that, not least for the slightly dated interior.
Sounds like your friend is happy with the Boxster, not excited by the 911 experience, so a Caymans S sounds like the perfect solution...
Why is he changing his car. The Cayman will not offer a dramatically different experience to the Boxster. There surely is quite a bit more punch and an even crisper handling which is great but not really that different from the Boxster experience (excluding the open roof experience, of course).
I would argue that a standard 996 is not the better but a quite different car to the Cayman S. If you prefer buying new then a 996 does not really offer you that, not least for the slightly dated interior.
Sounds like your friend is happy with the Boxster, not excited by the 911 experience, so a Caymans S sounds like the perfect solution...
nickf said:
An acquaintance of mine (no, not me) has wanted a 911 since he was old enough to have posters on his walls.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
Lets assume he likes new cars means it has to be new, does he want to spend £65-70k on decent spec 997? If he doesn't need the rear seats why pay for them. If he wasn't intoxicated with the 911 power increase my view is upgrade to a Boxster S 3.4, if he enjoys the roof down experinece of his current car why pay a premium for the over-priced but excellent Cayman S?
Is here near London? Ask him to contact me and I will let him test a 345bhp 996 Anniversary, a 996 C4S and he can try the Cayman for a day as it is our demo. The other two will be accopanied drives and all of the cars are under £50K.
The 997 is very smooth after the 996, but I too am surprised that he was underwhelmed.
Mind you even a decent used 997 C2S will cost him upwards of £58K at the moment.
The 997 is very smooth after the 996, but I too am surprised that he was underwhelmed.
Mind you even a decent used 997 C2S will cost him upwards of £58K at the moment.
This is a similar thread that might be worth a read: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=48&t=320288&p=2
There's a load of mixed views on the forum, and many (not all) from people who've read an article / had a 30 min drive / saw one in the high street / want Clarkson's babies.
I think it's down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Personally we wanted new, didn't want the Boxster and didn't want to spend an extra £25k on a 997. We got what we want. It might not be right that it doesn't have 400bhp and a limited slip diff, but so what? I know I don't care because if I did I'd probably have a GT3!
There's a load of mixed views on the forum, and many (not all) from people who've read an article / had a 30 min drive / saw one in the high street / want Clarkson's babies.
I think it's down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Personally we wanted new, didn't want the Boxster and didn't want to spend an extra £25k on a 997. We got what we want. It might not be right that it doesn't have 400bhp and a limited slip diff, but so what? I know I don't care because if I did I'd probably have a GT3!
To be honest, I'm a Boxster owner and having driven 997s and a Cayman, I'd have the Cayman as the next purchase. It all depends on what you want from a car, but I found the Cayman quite different to the 987 than I expected from a handling point of view and obviously in the power. For me, it offered a better driving experience than the 911. Neither car deserves criticism. I get tired of reading how the Cayman isn't a true Porsche because it isn't a 911. Well, no, but then in that sense, neither is anything else from Stuttgart, but I don't see 968 Clubsports being slated for the same reason.
This is almost like accusing a 246 Dino as not being a Ferrari. Who cares? Your friend should buy what he wants and likes. I would imagine from reading the first post that a 996 isn't even on the radar.
This is almost like accusing a 246 Dino as not being a Ferrari. Who cares? Your friend should buy what he wants and likes. I would imagine from reading the first post that a 996 isn't even on the radar.
nickf said:
An acquaintance of mine (no, not me) has wanted a 911 since he was old enough to have posters on his walls.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
He's currently driving a Boxter 3.2, and is looking to change it, but having driven several 997s finds them ever so slightly underwhelming, and is thus considering a Cayman. I think he's nuts, to be honest.
Considerations
* only driven on the road
* no kids, no need for massive practicality
* said acquaintance likes new cars, so if s/h would have to be OPC or at least Porsche warranty.
* finance is needed - currently the Boxter's on a lease through the OPC
I'd probably go for a 996 C4S, but all thoughts welcomed.
Drug him and get him to get a 997. The cayman in comparrison to a 997 2s is a shopping trolley.
This is my first post on here so please be gentle with me...
I am in a similar position currently as I have a 987 Boxster S which will be two years old next year and being partial to a new car every couple of years I have been having a look round to see what I could replace it with.
I tried a Cayman S and a 997C2 and actually have had great difficulty in deciding which one to go for. After looking at the posts in this thread perhaps a C2S test drive is in order.
Not sure I could go for a 996 having had a 987 though. Don't think I could live with the interior for one thing.
I am in a similar position currently as I have a 987 Boxster S which will be two years old next year and being partial to a new car every couple of years I have been having a look round to see what I could replace it with.
I tried a Cayman S and a 997C2 and actually have had great difficulty in deciding which one to go for. After looking at the posts in this thread perhaps a C2S test drive is in order.
Not sure I could go for a 996 having had a 987 though. Don't think I could live with the interior for one thing.
Edited by villaboy on Friday 3rd November 08:30
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