Want a 911? Why?
- Thread starter Onikaze
- 79 comments
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- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I'm a Cayman fan, but I think if it were to come down to it, I would rather have a 911. Why? Well, for one, it is indeed a 911, and thus gets the respect that it deserves (not to say the Cayman isnt respected). Other than that, the 2+2 capacity is better for luggage, small children, etc.
But, I digress. They are both great cars, and the only thing that would ever stop me from shopping at the Porsche dealer would be a Corvette.
But, I digress. They are both great cars, and the only thing that would ever stop me from shopping at the Porsche dealer would be a Corvette.
Heritage, history, visual appeal (IMO), a bit more braking and acceleration performance, a slight edge in practicality...I think that's about it.
The Cayman is an excellent car, but I'd definitely rather have a 911 -- preferably the 997 Turbo, or a 930.
The Cayman is an excellent car, but I'd definitely rather have a 911 -- preferably the 997 Turbo, or a 930.
- 23,800
- Philippines
In response to the thread question. No. Because I'd likely kill myself. 
I'd like a Cayman, though... with those awesome split-spoke wheels on the Boxster-S. It appeals to me a little more as being in the spirit of the original 911 than the current one is. It's small, tight, and perfectly proportioned. The 911's bubble butt may be smoother and something of an automotive icon, but after seeing the rear end of the Cayman in person, I have absolutely no problems with the rear end... it's full of character, and, as my companion at the time commented, it'd look great even as the front end of another vehicle. It's as perfect a Porsche as I've seen in a long time.
And the engine is in the right place.
I'd like a Cayman, though... with those awesome split-spoke wheels on the Boxster-S. It appeals to me a little more as being in the spirit of the original 911 than the current one is. It's small, tight, and perfectly proportioned. The 911's bubble butt may be smoother and something of an automotive icon, but after seeing the rear end of the Cayman in person, I have absolutely no problems with the rear end... it's full of character, and, as my companion at the time commented, it'd look great even as the front end of another vehicle. It's as perfect a Porsche as I've seen in a long time.
And the engine is in the right place.
- 30,022
- Cuddington, Cheshire
- JDA1982
The Cayman look's like Donkey scrotum imo. The design doesn't work once you get towards the back, yes I've seen plenty irl on the roads, yes I do think they're ugly. No I wouldn't want a Cayman, nor would I want a 911 though either. If I had to pick one, I'd buy a second hand 993 generation 911.
- 2,321
Right at this moment a Cayman GTR sounds wicked but if I thought about it for a while I think I'd prefer a 997 or a 997 S. A much prettier car and argueably just as fast over almost all terrain.
But if this question was asked when the 997 Turbo was released for sale I would have that above anything else currently produced by Porsche.
BTW, is the thing below the right hand headlamp in the pics when the GTR is minus a bonnet an oil cooler?
But if this question was asked when the 997 Turbo was released for sale I would have that above anything else currently produced by Porsche.
BTW, is the thing below the right hand headlamp in the pics when the GTR is minus a bonnet an oil cooler?
I love the Cayman, it is pure, light, the engine is in the right place.
Yes Porsche is awesome for working out how to make the car drive so well with the engine in the second worst place (the worst being way over the front wheels) but the Cayman presents a chance to let them take all that expertise and apply it minus the handicap.
I can't wait to see what Ruf does with the Cayman.
Yes Porsche is awesome for working out how to make the car drive so well with the engine in the second worst place (the worst being way over the front wheels) but the Cayman presents a chance to let them take all that expertise and apply it minus the handicap.
I can't wait to see what Ruf does with the Cayman.
- 556
i would much rather have a Noble M15!
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Well, atleast the Cayman looks the part of a classic Porsche. There are still plenty of people who think that Porsche ruined the 911 after the switch from the 993 generation to that of the 996, but I disagree. I've driven a few differnt Porsches in the few years I've been around, and I like most of the newer models because they are easier to drive, and easier to live with on a day-to-day baisis.
Granted, I havent driven the Cayman, nor have I driven a 997 911. But speaking with presumptions based uppon drives I have had in Boxsters and 996 911s, there isnt going to be an outstanding difference between the two.
I look at it this way: If I want to save some money by buying a 911 that isnt a 911, the Cayman is the way to do it. For the $50-60K USD, you are getting a pretty damn-good 911 knock-off, but the problem is is that it is not a 911. It may look the part, but the engine is further forward, smaller, and there are "only" two seats.
Both Car and Driver and Motor Trend attempted to tackle the issue of 911 vs Cayman a few issues back, and both had said that it does come down to how much money you want to spend, and how much "functionality" you would want in your Porsche. On paper, just looking at the performance figures, the differences between a Cayman S and regular-grade 911 are quite minimal, and price differences are quite small.
Again, if I'm buying a Porsche, I'm going to buy the Porsche that has defined the company for the last 40 years, the 911. There is just something about the car, its kinda like saying once again that it has a soul. The car has expirience by comparison to the Cayman, and not to deminish it, but it is still a young-gun in a class of veterans dominated by cars like the 911, Corvette, Z4 M, etc. The 911 is a better buy, simply put, because it has expirience.
Granted, I havent driven the Cayman, nor have I driven a 997 911. But speaking with presumptions based uppon drives I have had in Boxsters and 996 911s, there isnt going to be an outstanding difference between the two.
I look at it this way: If I want to save some money by buying a 911 that isnt a 911, the Cayman is the way to do it. For the $50-60K USD, you are getting a pretty damn-good 911 knock-off, but the problem is is that it is not a 911. It may look the part, but the engine is further forward, smaller, and there are "only" two seats.
Both Car and Driver and Motor Trend attempted to tackle the issue of 911 vs Cayman a few issues back, and both had said that it does come down to how much money you want to spend, and how much "functionality" you would want in your Porsche. On paper, just looking at the performance figures, the differences between a Cayman S and regular-grade 911 are quite minimal, and price differences are quite small.
Again, if I'm buying a Porsche, I'm going to buy the Porsche that has defined the company for the last 40 years, the 911. There is just something about the car, its kinda like saying once again that it has a soul. The car has expirience by comparison to the Cayman, and not to deminish it, but it is still a young-gun in a class of veterans dominated by cars like the 911, Corvette, Z4 M, etc. The 911 is a better buy, simply put, because it has expirience.
Technically, if I was going to get a Porsche, I'd look for a nice 1975-78 model, as I loved the styling.
If I wanted a newer 911, I'd never get anything past the 993 (Aircooled onry prz) but I would cream myself with joy if there was some way to get the old Aircooled Flat 6 into a Cayman.
I was talking to a guy who was on his 3rd Porsche, a 996, and he said it was boring, the car was too good, never broke, too easy to drive, he said he missed the days when the cars required a good driver who could also tinker with the engine.
If I wanted a newer 911, I'd never get anything past the 993 (Aircooled onry prz) but I would cream myself with joy if there was some way to get the old Aircooled Flat 6 into a Cayman.
I was talking to a guy who was on his 3rd Porsche, a 996, and he said it was boring, the car was too good, never broke, too easy to drive, he said he missed the days when the cars required a good driver who could also tinker with the engine.
The whole Cayman vs 911 debate is an interesting one. The Cayman is almost like a "Porsche Elise," because it's a high-performance MR that is much purer than its stablemates, but the 911, as YSSMAN said, has a lot more soul and history. The Cayman was built to be more focused, more performance-orientated, but it also lost the usual Porsche charm and personality in the process, IMO. I don't think I would prefer the Cayman to the 911 even if the Cayman had more horsepower and was simply faster in every way, shape or form (which Porsche had to do by handicapping the Cayman's power output).
To paraphrase Porsche's motto, "There is no substitute...even if that substitute is another Porsche."
TVR's don't require good drivers who can tinker with engines. TVR's require professional drivers -- or good drivers who have death wishes -- who are rich enough to buy enough spare parts to equal another entire car, and are familiar with Murphy's law.
To paraphrase Porsche's motto, "There is no substitute...even if that substitute is another Porsche."
Poverty
TVR's don't require good drivers who can tinker with engines. TVR's require professional drivers -- or good drivers who have death wishes -- who are rich enough to buy enough spare parts to equal another entire car, and are familiar with Murphy's law.
- 30,022
- Cuddington, Cheshire
- JDA1982
This is true, has anyone seen that Martin Blundell's supercar's vid? He basically drives a T440R on a track, he say's performance wise the car is sound, it's got a great engine, great handling, great brakes, but then he says something along the lines of "the problem is, it scares me, and I'm an ex-F1 race driver" .- 354
Why do I want a 911. A short essay by IMADreamer
THE SOUND!
It's the most wonderful noise I have ever heard. I like the Cayman very much, but I would prefer the 911. I can't explain it really.
THE SOUND!
It's the most wonderful noise I have ever heard. I like the Cayman very much, but I would prefer the 911. I can't explain it really.
- 23,800
- Philippines
SageI win over all of you – give me a Boxster!Least expensive, most fun (engine’s in the right spot, who needs more horsepower, and the only ragtop).
I'll have to hand it to you... that's not quite a bad idea... most "purists" discount the Boxster because it was a convertible only, but it's a sweet handling car.
As for the distinction between Cayman/Boxster and 911... if I had my choice between sweet handling or sweet handling but edgy/scary, I'd take the former... landing your car in a ditch just because you went that extra tenth is no joke (just ask me...
), especially if we're talking cars in this price range.
