Would the Cayman 2.7 be a fun track day car?
Discussion
I am looking at a Cayman as a company car and to minimise tax the 2.7 fits the bill much better than the more powerful (and expensive) 3.2S. I don't do a great mileage and enjoy doing 2-3 track days a year. I have owned TVR's and most recently a 996, both of which were good fun on track. My question is whether I would be disappointed with the performance of the 2.7 Cayman or if the chassis balance and driveability make up for the short fall in power so it is still a fun car. I would spec. the car with sports package and sports exhaust but I don't want to end up with a sheep in a wolfgangs clothing!
TGJR said:
I am looking at a Cayman as a company car and to minimise tax the 2.7 fits the bill much better than the more powerful (and expensive) 3.2S. I don't do a great mileage and enjoy doing 2-3 track days a year. I have owned TVR's and most recently a 996, both of which were good fun on track. My question is whether I would be disappointed with the performance of the 2.7 Cayman or if the chassis balance and driveability make up for the short fall in power so it is still a fun car. I would spec. the car with sports package and sports exhaust but I don't want to end up with a sheep in a wolfgangs clothing!
As long as there are no hills you should be fine
TGJR said:
I would spec. the car with sports package and sports exhaust
that's half the difference between an S and a non-S right there.. same problem as me though!! I could afford a new Cayman, a fully specced base Boxster, or a stripped Boxster S, which is the only one I'd go for, invariably. I am now in the process of choosing a 996, but that's an another story..Kay
TGJR said:
I am looking at a Cayman as a company car and to minimise tax the 2.7 fits the bill much better than the more powerful (and expensive) 3.2S. I don't do a great mileage and enjoy doing 2-3 track days a year. I have owned TVR's and most recently a 996, both of which were good fun on track. My question is whether I would be disappointed with the performance of the 2.7 Cayman or if the chassis balance and driveability make up for the short fall in power so it is still a fun car. I would spec. the car with sports package and sports exhaust but I don't want to end up with a sheep in a wolfgangs clothing!
A word of warning; the Sports package (PASM plus 6 speeds) takes the 2.7 into the 'gas guzzler' road tax band G. It kills the planet no faster than a 5 speed, but the rolling road based CO2 test run uses 3rd gear, which is lower in the 6 'speed box. More revs = more CO2, just enough to tip it over the threshold. SS7
PS I love mine (2.7, Sport, S/C, 18"'s), and can't wait to get it on a track
Edited by shoestring7 on Wednesday 20th June 18:13
TGJR said:
Roll on the Cayman RS! Mind, I bet that they will wack those out at £50k even with no carpets and wind-up windows!
It will never happen; the 'RS' is used by Porsche to homologate(?) their race cars, and they'll race 911 derivatives until hell freezes over. Best chance is a Club Sport.
SS7
Edited by shoestring7 on Wednesday 20th June 18:11
i do lots of track days in my cayman 27.
its on 18" rims with sport package / 6 speed (guards red)
i think its great , and around the twisty stuff as good as a gt3.
will loose out on the straights though , but not much.
i was at the porsche day at brands earlier in the year, where there were members of this forum , and i dont think it embaressed itself.
(it was the little circuit though).
i think anycar that does 60 in 6 and 165 mph is quick enough for me.
you do have to work the box to get the best from it , and six speed box is a must for the track as is p.a.s.m.
brake pads last about two track days though and its a good idea to dial in as much negative camber as the stock strut mounts allow.
great little car !
its on 18" rims with sport package / 6 speed (guards red)
i think its great , and around the twisty stuff as good as a gt3.
will loose out on the straights though , but not much.
i was at the porsche day at brands earlier in the year, where there were members of this forum , and i dont think it embaressed itself.
(it was the little circuit though).
i think anycar that does 60 in 6 and 165 mph is quick enough for me.
you do have to work the box to get the best from it , and six speed box is a must for the track as is p.a.s.m.
brake pads last about two track days though and its a good idea to dial in as much negative camber as the stock strut mounts allow.
great little car !
130R said:
I am pretty sure only the 5-speed Cayman goes into band F the rest are G.
If you don't mind LHD you might consider the new Corvette Z06 which is also band F I think. You won't go faster for the money and with brakes and better tyres you won't go faster at all short of a Carrera GT.
How on earth does a Z06 ge in band F tax bracket?????If you don't mind LHD you might consider the new Corvette Z06 which is also band F I think. You won't go faster for the money and with brakes and better tyres you won't go faster at all short of a Carrera GT.
jackwood said:
130R said:
I am pretty sure only the 5-speed Cayman goes into band F the rest are G.
If you don't mind LHD you might consider the new Corvette Z06 which is also band F I think. You won't go faster for the money and with brakes and better tyres you won't go faster at all short of a Carrera GT.
How on earth does a Z06 ge in band F tax bracket?????If you don't mind LHD you might consider the new Corvette Z06 which is also band F I think. You won't go faster for the money and with brakes and better tyres you won't go faster at all short of a Carrera GT.
dubkiller said:
i do lots of track days in my cayman 2.7 .............
around the twisty stuff as good as a gt3
Really? around the twisty stuff as good as a gt3
dubkiller said:
will loose out on the straights though , but not much.
You must either be a very good driver and / or have been on track with some very slow GT3's then.dubkiller said:
brake pads last about two track days though
Just lost any remaining credibility I'm afraid. 
I tracked both my 2.5 & 3.2 Boxster's and got many more track days out of the standard pads. If you were as quick as you imply, you would be using the brakes less. You say you do loads of track days, so presumably you know about upgrading the pads, then even without proper braking technique you could get a few more days from a set. Glad you like your car, but really it's hardly in the same league as a GT3 so don't kid yourself & please don't try to kid others
I've driven a 5 speed 2.7 on track and found it very enjoyable - the handling is excellent. If you're sticking to tight, twisty tracks where you seldom, if ever, get beyond 4th gear in a 6 speed, I'd be happy with the broader range of the 5 speed.
You won't keep up with GT3's - then again, you won't have spent more than twice as much money.
Chris Harris, who seems well respected by many on this forum, has been raving about his 2.7 since he got it.
Go for it - you'll love it!
You won't keep up with GT3's - then again, you won't have spent more than twice as much money.
Chris Harris, who seems well respected by many on this forum, has been raving about his 2.7 since he got it.
Go for it - you'll love it!
hi andy.
dont know about being a good driver , i dout it.
just average i think.
and yes perhaps the the gt3s that were there were just warming up when i was out, but they didnt carry any more speed in or out of the bends than the cayman and the straights at brands little circuit didnt really give them the chance to stretch there legs.
as for the brakes , im on ebc yellows and they last two events only before the warning light comes on.
contacted ebc and they said that was about wright for track days.
porker o.e pads last three.
just trying to give the guy a personal veiw.
cheers.
dont know about being a good driver , i dout it.
just average i think.
and yes perhaps the the gt3s that were there were just warming up when i was out, but they didnt carry any more speed in or out of the bends than the cayman and the straights at brands little circuit didnt really give them the chance to stretch there legs.
as for the brakes , im on ebc yellows and they last two events only before the warning light comes on.
contacted ebc and they said that was about wright for track days.
porker o.e pads last three.
just trying to give the guy a personal veiw.
cheers.
Got a 2.7, its pretty good. Father had mkII GT3 and I tracked it quite a bit. Its not in the same league in a straight line. Car handles well, doesnt like curbs or provide that really on edge feel when your really pushing it, that some other cars can. GT3's always had poor turn in, and rear tyres over heat quickly.
Through the corners it is better, so well balanced, would be nice with an LSD though. PASM is really good, I reckon its worth about 1.5secs a lap (donny). Brakes aren't great, over heat quickly, and require a real push to get them to work. Stuff thats easily upgradable.
I did donny in the wet, and bar the race cars it was fastest thing there. Two GT3's no chance. Poorly driven, yes probably, but it still puts a smile on your face going past them.
Through the corners it is better, so well balanced, would be nice with an LSD though. PASM is really good, I reckon its worth about 1.5secs a lap (donny). Brakes aren't great, over heat quickly, and require a real push to get them to work. Stuff thats easily upgradable.
I did donny in the wet, and bar the race cars it was fastest thing there. Two GT3's no chance. Poorly driven, yes probably, but it still puts a smile on your face going past them.
dubkiller said:
as for the brakes , im on ebc yellows and they last two events only before the warning light comes on.
contacted ebc and they said that was about wright for track days.
porker o.e pads last three.
EBC are not really an upgrade. contacted ebc and they said that was about wright for track days.
porker o.e pads last three.
You could try the Pagid fast road (not race) blacks (can't remember the code), or the RS42 blues. The blues should give you at least 10 days in a fairly light car, but even with OE pads 3 days is just plain wrong. Don't necessarily need to change just because the warning light comes on.
I think you've been given some duff advice.
Seiously, glad you like your car. I'm sure they are a lot of fun, but try & get a ride in a decently driven GT3 & you'll want one. MK1's are not much different price wise to a brand new Cayman 2.7 & will almost certainly loose less over the next few years.
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