![]() 11/05/2014 at 17:42 • Filed to: Porsche | ![]() | ![]() |
You feel the fatigue on your shoulders after a long enduring day. The sweat of your hands has created half a dozen blisters that ache like bites from an angry rat. Your hair is compacted so tightly its as if a solid woolly sphere would cover your cranium. At a distance, you can smell and feel the heat that the 8 Thousand dollar Carbon Ceramic brakes expel from your Carrera 2S. As the sun still glistens on your 911's Guards Red painted hips besides your white helmet you think that it was an amazing run. Your fifth track day on the gorgeous Richmond raceway, where you have learned about grip, braking and balance to really make your car work around those curves. Each practice has been an improvement and each improvement is going to result into that stopwatch stating your time. As you see the stopwatch you read 2:13. 2 Seconds quicker than last time, and oh boy are you excited. And just as you start congratulating yourself comes that guy Chad in the Cayman who does a 2:10. And you know what?
You won't give a damn about it.
Porsche is currently in a situation where they have so many excellent products that they have to literally make some of them a bit worse in order for others to continue striving. Im not talking about how they are straining themselves from making the Macan perform better than the Boxster (Although it could) but with their most iconic sports car and the over-achieving little sod it has as a brother. The Cayman's mid engine configuration and the balance it brings with it has made it into such a brilliant machine Porsche has always toned it down for fear of uncrowning the king. From the first generation its flat six has always had just enough horsepower to be slower than the base 911 and just enough grunt to never be able to catch it either. With this second generation of the Cayman and the 991 911 its business as usual and Porsche should stop doing this because it wont make a difference if the 911 is the slower car.
Do you know how many people see the Camaro Z/28 and know it will pull more lateral G than both the Nissan GTR and the 911 Turbo S? Do you know how many people that bought a 2014 Mercedes Benz S65 AMG know that their car does 0-60 0.1 seconds slower than the $140K less expensive CLA45 AMG? And I am not even introducing a Viper VS. Hellcat comparison. What is the most surprising fact though is how the Cayman R is already faster than a 991 Carrera 2 and 4. Surprise surprise Porsche, you already did it. All these facts affirm that the effort in keeping the Cayman in the shadow of the 911 has been pointless. Its seated in each car for hours behind the wheel on different roads where you'll notice the difference. The numbers don't matter anymore, its about how the mid-engined car feels compared to what the rear-engined car feels and that is much more comparable. So what if the new Cayman gets to the chicane faster, or if the 911 gets the quicker time in its chronometer, these 2 cars feel completely different and offer their own unique driving styles. It's that knowledge Porsche has to make a car behave that will give both the Cayman and the 911 a good opportunity in the eyes of its potential buyer. Think of it this way, each car will make a case for itself with each of their personalities.
Let's also not forget how many cars have used power to lure buyers from Porsches. F-Type Coupe R, Corvette, GTR and many others that offer up to 100+ HP more than the 911 and guess what. The 911 still sells, still wins comparisons and still offers the driver feedback that the other cars may lack. Same story with the Cayman which could be pitted against the C7 or the M4 and is still praised by the people who road-tests it. Porsche has always been more than just brute force, and it shows in pretty much every car they make. Or, if you do want a Porsche that gives the brutal force, there is the Turbo S that I have a pretty good guess won't be slower than whatever Cayman that Porsche may later build.
Then, we get to a word that PR people love to use almost as much as Emotional. Heritage. Heritage is still the #1 reason the 911 will soldier on with its impeccable reputation. Ask any adult what Porsche would they want and they will likely say 911. Cayman 4S PDK GTS Chrono-Pack? No. The 911 will always be the go-to Porsche for everyone, and the one that has kept the companies' tradition the most. Its as if the 911 is a classic brief underwear. Its the underwear everyone knows and many men prefer. The Cayman is a Boxer Brief. Its the new thing, that may even perform better at its intended purpose than the classic brief. And, it will have its cult of followers who want the newest, trendiest product offered. But in the end, Porsche has based itself on the classic brief and a large number of its buyers want just that. Even if in the end, the Boxer Briefs are the better bet. The name Porsche will always be associated with 911, no matter how better or worse it is than its competitors or even its siblings and it will always have a buyer.
Making the Cayman quicker than the 911 also gives Porsche the chance to do something they just love. Charging more money! It really surprises me that, with the way Porsche manages their lineup, they haven't come out with an even faster Cayman that would force buyers to give more outlay. In the end, a car brand is a business and this is a great strategy to keep the business as successful as it is.
We are probably not realizing what a more powerful, better performing Porsche Cayman could and would be.
The most Liveable Mid Engined Car?
One of the Best Performing Sports Cars?
The closest thing to a modern stick-shift Ferrari?
A reliable, manual, quality brimmed supercar?
Don't be afraid of the best Cayman yet. The 911 will keep its own character, will still be the esteemed Porsche by everyone, and will sell as effectively as it does today. Numbers aren't everything, and the smile on your face will be the perfect evidence of that.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 17:46 |
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1. But,
"I paid more for this, so it must be faster than the cheaper model"
-everyone who actually buys 911s
2. The Cayman is not, and never will be, a Ferrari.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 17:46 |
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My point exactly. Put the GT2 RS motor into a Cayman, and it would be the first Porsche I'd ever want.
The Cayman is just so much better looking as well.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 17:50 |
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This is spot on. I don't think most Porsche owners know or care whether their car is the fastest or the slowest in the lineup. Nor do they care that there might (at some point) be, say, a Boxster that you can spec out to be faster than a Carrera 4. They want the car they want - the numbers are secondary. If cost were no object, I'd get a Boxster with everything. Love the dynamics. If only the 911 were on the menu, I'd get a Targa. If there was some version of some lesser model that was .2 faster in the 1/4 mile, so what?
![]() 11/05/2014 at 17:52 |
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You're right in order to be a Ferrari, the Cayman would have to be (even more) outrageously overpriced, lose consistently to a much cheaper american car and it would have to spontaneously self immolate.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:14 |
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1. I don't think people who think that way will do something to prove that their car is faster (track days, drag strips). They will own the car with that thought.
People who do know will know that the Cayman can be faster than the 911.
2. Alright I took it too far, but it does share qualities of a "supercar"
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:15 |
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1. You're generalizing
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:15 |
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Looks are subjective, but people who HATE Porsche because of the 911 will adore this faster Cayman.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:17 |
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Exactly! Numbers do need to exist because we like the cold facts. Also, it gives carmakers the opportunity to make headlines. But, a Porsche is more than numbers and also why for some people the Cayman is a better Porsche than a 911 Convertible Turbo.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:20 |
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Well yes, because, it would mean that the person only based their purchase on price. Sometimes, higher price doesn't mean a better product.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:26 |
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And slower cars can sometimes be fun to drive because you can get them nearer the limit - Scion/Subaru twins for instance. I think ultimately the feel of the thing is what does it. The one (admittedly mid-90s) 911 I drove did not compare, in my mind, to an early 2000s Boxster - it just felt so planted. I think that bromide about "people who drive Boxsters can't afford 911s" is rubbish. Knew a law partner who loved his late 90s Boxster - he was clearing more than a million a year and drove everything in the range. He chose what he wanted, not what he thought he needed to be seen in ....
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:27 |
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But not all people think the same way.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 18:43 |
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Not all people think the same way? Quite the profound conclusion to have reached, ya dingleberry. Give the guy a break, he wrote a really nice article.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:27 |
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Don't spread this opinion to the masses just yet... Used values on Cayman's are still tantalizingly low and I would like to pick up a used example in a year or so.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:34 |
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That is a perfect example of the point I am making, and I only have been driven a new model Boxster. The owner had a 911 before it (991) and felt it wasn't being used enough, then drove the Boxster and fell in love.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:35 |
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Haha thanks. But we are all free to say what we want. And I probably went to far to calling the Cayman something close to a Ferrari. Either way, discussion is good.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:36 |
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Excuse me, "everyone"? -_-
Biotche, you don't talk for me lol. At least if I ever buy a 911. ;)
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:39 |
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You can use either car every day, but the Boxster seems more like something you'd rather drive regularly. And I want to say the 911 I drove was the last air-cooled year, but I can't be sure - it was a noisy car.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:41 |
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THIS IS ALL YES!
What people don't understand about Porsche, is that you don't need some 500hp straight-line POWER HUNGRY car to have fun. These cars are fun when they're slow and when they're fast, and they're even more fun in the twisties.
That being said, Porsche technically dug themselves a whole of a situation when they came out with the Boxster, but to be fair, no one would have known the mid-engine cars would reach this point in such a high manner.
That being said, even if the Cayman was more powerful and more faster, I'd still take a 911. :)
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:41 |
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YOU CAN'T TALK UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY BUY ONE THOUGH
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:46 |
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I tried to find about the cheapest Cayman you could buy.
18K.
Hmmmmm, that or a new Accent?
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:49 |
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YOU CAN'T GENERALIZE ABOUT ALL 911 BUYERS THEN BECAUSE NOT ALL PEOPLE GET 911s FOR THAT REASON. NOT ALL PEOPLE THINK THE SAME WAY.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:53 |
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I'm the one that's arguing against generalization. Did you even read the conversation between me and the author?!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 19:56 |
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Yeppp.. To be honest i may end up ordering a new Cayman S or suitable Cayman R/Boxster Spyder alternative.
Depends what the used market has to offer in stick shift.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:00 |
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You are? I saw this and thought you were the one generalizing:
1. But,
"I paid more for this, so it must be faster than the cheaper model"
-everyone who actually buys 911s
I read the entire thing, but this one comment stuck with me.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:04 |
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Discussion is good, and you brought up many points worthy of discussion. I enjoyed your writing. But saying 'the cayman is not a Ferrari' isn't discussion its saying 'nuh uh, you're wrong!!' in a pretty juvenile way. Throw a GT3 RS motor in the back of a Cayman and it would probably be an interesting match up against a 458, probably for a whole lot cheaper. And there are a lot of us out there still fixated on choosing which gear we are in ourselves, and for us a manual being available in a Cayman is a big selling point. What would stop a Cayman GT3 RS from competing with a Ferrari? It'd go about as fast, sound incredible, corner just as hard, and create near-Ferrari level boners in young man of boning age. Good day, sirs! Silvestro, you wear the dunce cap for the rest of class!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:05 |
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Yeah at first. But that was a clear exaggeration.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:25 |
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Yeah, but I wasn't sure if you were being serious about that.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:26 |
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The owner BARELY used it. Less than 1,000 miles in a year of ownership. I talked to him, and he is a very cool person. He told me he bought a 911 because he dreamt as a kid he would once own a Porsche. Went into the dealership, and BING 911 please! Then, he realized it was too much car and sold it to someone who would use it as intended. He still wanted the Porsche magic, drove the little bugger and thought it was a perfect fit.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:28 |
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This is the answer that proves my point perfectly!
You prefer classic brief underwear! (And so do I honestly). BUT, do I care if I get overtaken by a Cayman GT4? Nope! Because both he and I will enjoy the driving bliss that a Porsche brings.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:30 |
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Oh man, you are living the dream! I recommend doing european delivery as well.
I really want to work for Porsche someday, its an amazing company.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:33 |
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This is exactly what my argument was behind that sentence. I do feel that it can be a comparable alternative to a Ferrari, much like the Lotus Evora, which Jeremy Clarkson do called Supercar Worthy. Thanks for the Support!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:36 |
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But I actually prefer wearing boxers... (0_0)
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:38 |
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Macan?!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:40 |
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I would like to have a Macan, yes.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:44 |
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Internet talk is hard to interpret sometimes, even I can't understand myself sometimes
![]() 11/05/2014 at 20:49 |
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So true, I guess that's why we've got L33t Speak. :P
![]() 11/05/2014 at 21:55 |
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I would as well.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 22:37 |
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Thanks! (Buying Cayman R cuz why not)
![]() 11/05/2014 at 22:38 |
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Awesome!!
![]() 11/05/2014 at 23:06 |
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So give the Cayman a 4.2 liter Flat 8 already, with 7 speed.
![]() 11/05/2014 at 23:32 |
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550hp? I like this idea.
![]() 11/06/2014 at 09:45 |
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The cars are different enough it warrants owning both.. and I can afford both but there's just not enough motivation to own the 911. There are plenty of Cayman owners who have strapped turbos on and taken it up to 622hp so the power argument ends pretty quickly.
The new variants (981 and 991) feature electric steering and electric ebrake, so for that I would prefer to stay with a 987. Once you get used to mid engine it's pretty hard to "upgrade" to a rear-engined platform.
![]() 11/06/2014 at 11:50 |
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I landed a first round phone call interview at Porsche, unfortunately there were not many openings with my skillset in mind.
The Cayman is still a pipe dream at this point in time, although I have started a savings fund for it!
![]() 11/06/2014 at 17:33 |
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The 987 Cayman is a very very good drivers car, and one of the last "pure" "red-blooded" sports cars that go back to basics. My preference is still with the 911, even if it isn't that much better performance-wise. But obviously, my thoughts can change the time comes I drive them both.
![]() 11/06/2014 at 17:39 |
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YES! Porsche Money Jar.
![]() 11/06/2014 at 18:05 |
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Is it odd that I semi celebrate even that act? I heard somewhere it is good to visualize and be reminded of long term goals on a daily/weekly basis. Step 1 was dreaming, step 2 was setting a timeline and building tangible savings.
Porsche by age 27 plan is still in effect, a little under 1.5 years to go.
![]() 11/06/2014 at 18:17 |
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Having Life-Long Dreams is what we always do because its healthy.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:29 |
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When I do eventually buy a Cayman... do I have to change my name to Chad?
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:33 |
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Yup, Cayman S's easily available at $30k or less. I almost bought one....
But I bought a 911 and I don't regret it at all. It may not be as "good" objectively but....it's so much better.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:35 |
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ooo burn! Literally lol
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:36 |
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I really wonder how mind bendingly fast the Turbo Cayman (GT4?) ends up being. That chassis with a 450 hp TT flat 6 would be the ultimate track weapon. Even a GT3 would struggle in comparison.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:36 |
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1. That's just your perception (or is it just an assumption) and it's in line with the rampant "people with money are douchebags" philosophy of many Jalopnik's commenters.
2. True
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:38 |
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Number one is a gross exaggeration, but there are some people out there that will say that.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:39 |
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"Do you know how many people that bought a 2014 Mercedes Benz S65 AMG know that their car does 0-60 0.1 seconds slower than the $140K less expensive CLA45 AMG?"
I agree with your general post, rich people aren't going to care that their status symbol isn't as fast as someone else's more affordable status symbol, but this is incorrect. Depending on your source, CLA45 AMG is 4.5 to as low as 4.2 to 60. S65 AMG is ~4.0.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:40 |
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It's so so so so so so far from being "a modern stick shift Ferrari."
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:42 |
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Dumb/cocky/insecure people are found in every layer of the society, not just among rich with male buying German cars.
That stereotype is getting really annoying.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 12:59 |
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I don't see why porsche doesn't listen to the masses on this one. Although they have come pretty close with the base carrera and cayman gts putting down similar numbers. Hopefully this happens with the new gt4 too. For 100k(starting price) you can choose a comfortable sports car(911 s) or an all out performance car(gt4). No harm done. But one thing I doubt will happen is that the cayman will get into gt3 or turbo category. Although that would be a game changing model if they did..
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:03 |
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I'm new to the track scene, my first "real" car being a 2013 GT500. I was taught by PCA instructors in the N.E (Watkins/LRP/Pocono/NJMP) in a outrageously over horse powered car (662hp). She was a beast to drive, scaring me on more than one occasion but eventually, i learned to tame her. I ran in the white group, having fun blasting out of apexes, catching up to all those 911's and Caymans that would annihilate me in the corners. During a PCA event at Watkins this summer, a friend of mine invited me to drive his Cayman R, to see what I've been missing. I completed about 7-8 laps and shaved about 3 seconds off my Shelby's best time, mind you it wasn't my car so I was taking it easy. It was so easy to drive, not like the workout the GT500 could be. Everything flowed. Everything was easy. This is what those Porsche fanatics have been raving about all these years. That was the moment of clarity that persuaded me to sell the Shelby and purchase a 2014 Cayman S. Why not a 911? The consensus seemed to be the Cayman was a better car overall, cheaper (i had a set budget) and honestly, I like the way it looked compared to a 911. I've upgraded the brakes (Pagid/SRF/lines), added an FVD exhaust and a few other goodies and can happily say that i don't miss the Shelby at all. It's an amazing car, gets tons of attention, even from old school 911 guys and I have a shit eating grin every time I plop into the driver's seat (6 speed of course).
I wholeheartedly agree with 911 and heritage. I've always wanted some sort of 911 growing up, adoring the wide hips on the turbos. But there's just something about the Cayman that got me to yell "shut up and take my money".
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:07 |
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this is been my thought for sometime. There is a huge market for a rangetoping Cayman that is faster than a base 911. It would be the hard-core track car for select few who can't quite reach the GT3's $150k price point. whereas the base 911's is a GT car for old men who just want to get to the country club quickly and without ruining their back.
Chevy knows this: How many people buy base C7's instead of upper level camero's because they had the Vette on their wall growing up?
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:13 |
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Maybe we need to stop thinking of cars as specific models, but more along the lines of the new "modular phone" that is supposedly coming out.
Maybe in the future you'll be able to specify which body you want, which engine, what suspension setup, and what interior you want. That way you can just have whatever combo you like best!
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:40 |
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I read the headline as "It Won't Make Any Difference If the Camry is Faster Than The 911" multiple times. And I agreed with it! My 40+ year old 911 is slower than damn near everything now, and there is nothing that would make me give it up.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:41 |
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1. True, but it also comes down to the driver. An average driver in a 911 Turbo S could lose to a Base Cayman driven by a professional. 0-60 times are only a part of the equation on the race track.
2. Yeah but Porsche isn't trying to be Ferrari. They know that even if they try, they can't be. Also, Ferrari is not always a good thing lol.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:43 |
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I'm looking at the used Caymans too. But I want a 981 with options that no one seems to go for. Well no one who's selling their 981 right now...
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:47 |
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It's not about being the "tighty whiteys" of Porsche, it's about money . If there is a cheaper Cayman that is more powerful and faster than a 911, then it will undercut 911 sales and cause many buyers to choose the cheaper car. Porsche doesn't care about putting the 911 on a pedestal, they care about extracting the most money from your wallet.
Now if they want to make a Cayman S with 5 more horsepower than a Carrera S for $100,000, then sure it might work out, but it would be a difficult sell if they still intended to offer the base Cayman for $50,000.
Also the 911 serves as the premier car of Porsche at the will of Porsche . For awhile the 928 was the king at Stuttgart and was actually intended to replace the 911 altogether.
Finally your analogy is a little off... who wears briefs anymore? I'm sure there's a handful of young guys who do, but it's pretty much just old guys now who will one day be dead, survived by everyone else who prefers different undergarments.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:47 |
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Call Tavarish!
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:49 |
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Give it time my friend. I'm patiently waiting for now
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:49 |
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Have you driven the previous gen yet? Certainly not as pretty....but man is it more raw feeling to drive. Check it out if you haven't...there's no shame in driving an older Porsche.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:55 |
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I haven't driven the previous gen. I've heard that is stunning.
But looking at the 981, it is such a leap in terms of design that I'd rather go for that.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 13:55 |
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I should lol
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:00 |
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You really should. I drove the previous gen and loved it, drove the 981 and was honestly bored. It's way more comfortable inside, much more nicely appointed, prettier, and probably better in every way....but I just didn't find it to be very engaging. Even in the passenger seat my wife was "meh" on it despite loving the way it looked.
I had a similar experience with the 991, but not as pronounced. Ended up surprising myself and buying a 997...which was the last thing I expected. Find a dealer that will let you drive them all and you'll know pretty quickly what suits you best.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:00 |
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yeah it would make it a lot easier to parse out the dentists and lawyers from actual drivers.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:06 |
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Really? Thats good :)
I would go for a 997 too!
Unfortunately, the dealer I visited to was only interested in
a. Selling me a car they had in stock (2015 or some 2014s for invoice)
Or b. Letting me configure and order the car I want at MRSP.
He did nothing to search for the car with the options/color I want from other dealers or their own network.
But even more unfortunately, I discovered that I have some immigration issues which might force me to leave the country. So I have put off on buying a new car :/
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:09 |
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Haha, what a crappy dealer. The one I went to let me drive everything on the lot, and I ended up not even buying from them. They literally tossed me the keys and told me to drive it around and bring it back, didn't even go on the ride with me.
I haven't decided if that's because they were cool and trusted me, or they assumed based on my age I couldn't afford it and didn't want to waste their precious time.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:12 |
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Accent has a better warranty and cheaper oil changes. Just sayin'.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:19 |
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That's cool :) That's how dealers should be.
Problem is I look like I'm a teenager when I shave lol
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:23 |
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911 still has brand value. The performance value of the Cayman will appeal primarily to car nerds but when it comes to MOST buyers of a new Porsche (wealthy professionals who desire a status sports car) they will likely lean towards the 911 because they wish to impress their girlfriends, coworkers and douchebag friends who aren't car savvy. Trying to impress car nerds is probably a lower priority unless they have no shallow women or douchebag peers in their lives, which in that case they may go for thr superior performance Cayman.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:24 |
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Brian:
1. No. If all 911 buyers cared about was 'this must be faster than X for the money' they'd all buy Z06 Vettes. Note the point-by below at COTA regardless of the 150 hp deficit.
Being a 911 owner, I can tell you that you buy a 911 because it has soul... heritage... and how it makes you feel. Having also owned a 2005 Boxster S, I know that I'd enjoy driving a Cayman, but I never considered a Cayman when I was shopping for the 911.
2. Yes.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:26 |
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Right there with you, man. 25 and baby faced.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:29 |
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So I think you're missing a massive reason people choose 911s over Caymans and Boxsters - kids.
Let's be honest, when you get to the point where you can afford a 911, you're probably in your mid-30s. You know what else happens in your mid-30s? Kids. Now, the reality is that you'll probably have the kids in your car a total of about 4 times throughout the entire lease, but there's no way your wife will let you go out and buy a 100k car that is only a 2 seater. So, even though it's almost useless as a kid-carrier, it still CAN do it, and that makes it palatable to the wives of the world.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:35 |
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Buy a used Cayman.
Biturbo it
Update suspension and brakes.
Get fun with less money
ps: I constantly look for used caymans here but with the price I would pay for it I could buy a new apartment lol.. even so better used than new
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:46 |
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Meh, I don't buy it. If all they wanted to do was impress people, they would buy an older 911 and nobody would know the difference, or they would just buy any "porsh" in the lineup.
Rarely have I met a non-gearhead who referred to a 911 as anything other than a Porsche. "911" =/= "Corvette"
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:48 |
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That's one pretty car. Is that the 50th anniversary edition?
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:49 |
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Cayman GT4.
2750 lbs, 420 hp-420 ib/ft 3.6l turbo flat six. Manual and RWD, of course.
Fuck yesh.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 14:51 |
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You're right, they don't burst into flames nearly often enough for that honor.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:00 |
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Trust me, i live LA where Porsche owners are as numerous as Honda owners and have a pretty good sample size over the years. Most 911 owners who fit in the mold i described earlier are pretty much the opposite of most jalopnik readers and don't know much about their cars beyond what they read in the brochures and never track them. About a quarter of the owners happen to be women as well.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:01 |
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This mindset might work in the beginning (as it has now with the Cayman R) but once the PERCEPTION that the Cheaper Cayman is faster than the 911 gets out the market for 911 buyers will only be for nostalgia. And as those legacy buyers move on or die off the Cayman will be the "Halo car" for the next generation. In essence killing off the 911 legacy. Short term YES most buyers won't care and will go to the default 911. But once on paper the Cayman proves to be a BETTER car than the 911 the NEW buyers will flock to it instead and the 911 will only have its heritage to depend on. Look at how the younger generation gravitates toward Audi and is abandoning once proven brands like Mercedes and BMW for it. In the 80s Audi was all but dead in relation to BMW and Mercedes but by making better cars they have not only gained market share but attracted a new generation of buyers who know value and performance. (AWD, Turbo etc)
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:05 |
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I'm going to back you up on number one - I've owned two Porsches and get some of that and saw more of it with the 911 owners (I had a Boxster and have a Cayman now). Plenty of times I've seen people give less sympathy or understanding owners of high dollar cars or act like they have bought membership into being a "car guy". Granted, I also saw guys buying 911s that were doing it for the status... funny how you can just tell. And then I saw someone talking possession of a GT3 RS with the radio and AC delete options. Hardcore - that guy gave two shits what you think of his purchase.
But number two, I am going to throw out a question. He said "closest thing to a Ferrari". Assuming he means the mid-engine, track variety like the 458, what would you say is closer to a Ferrari than a Cayman? I've not driven a Ferrari but I can't think of something that consistently gets written up as similar (balance, feedback, fun, etc).
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:07 |
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Right now Porsche is developing a mid engine car to position in price between the 911 and the 918. The target for the new car is to be able to humiliate the 458 because Porsche. The Cayman will receive the new Turbo 4 and be properly positioned below the 911 but because of the ability to achieve big gains through tuning the Cayman will be able to become a true beast. Never underestimate the engineering and marketing prowress of Porsche.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:08 |
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Haha I'm a couple of months away from turning 25 too.
I had set a goal that I'd be driving something bad ass by the time I'm 25. I can afford to, but I didn't foresee the immigration bs...
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:15 |
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Hahaha, yeah well that's certainly a different perspective.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:15 |
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Oh yeah also in the shallow moneyed areas like LA, much of the prestige is in having the 'newest & shiniest' models and some of that is lost if they are seen driving around an older model. Plus many of then lease since its oftwn their 2nd or 3rd car anyway and when their lease runs up, they simply reutrn it and get a lease on a newer model thus always staying ahead & looking good.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:24 |
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A while back I went shopping for a Carrera S or a Cayman S. Drove a few examples of each and ended up buying the latter, a cream puff 2011 model. Nothing against the 911s I sampled. I love them both. In fact those minimalist rear seats were somewhat of a draw for me, but in the end, there was simply no arguing with what the Cayman brings to the party.
If you're in the market, do plenty of homework beforehand. Not saying that an inexpensive early example is a bad buy, but I am saying that the 2009 model year brought along some very desirable major changes, along with very low production numbers...
NA Cayman S production numbers...
2006 - 5,651 (5,367 USA / 84 Canada)
2007 - 3,444 (3,361 USA / 83 Canada)
2008 - 2,562 (2,418 USA / 144 Canada)
2009 - 792 (725 USA / 67 Canada)
2010 - 614 (543 USA / 71 Canada)
2011 - 539 (506 USA / 33 Canada)
2012 - 149 (125 USA / 4 Canada)
Planet-9 forums are perhaps the best online resource for Croc shoppers. Wee!
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:26 |
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To be added to the Cayman GTS options list:
The Cayman GTS 911 Victor package: Added 12 horsepower, 1 size wider tire/ wheel package, carbon fiber roof panel- $42K.
Beats the 911, acknowledges it for the forum racer types, and, added bonus, brings the Cayman sticker price higher than a 911 GTS
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:53 |
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I'm a dealer tech for Porsche and I talk to a lot of customer who have a lot of cars. I've turned so many 911 owners on the buying a Cayman as a track toy and leaving their 911 on the street because they are just so much more fun! Even if they are slower it wouldn't bother me but with what appears to be a few hot rod versions coming down the pipe they should do very well. Plus people are starting to do the 981 Carrera S engine swaps again witht the X51 kits so there is that.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 15:58 |
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Yeah... I imagine that's hard to work around.
My goal was a Corvette... And... I think I met or surpassed that goal?
![]() 11/11/2014 at 16:08 |
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I drove a Cayman before bought my 997, and I just liked the 997 better, though they were comparable in performance. I think you are right, it's really all about preference, and Porsche should stop limiting cars for fear of encroaching on the flagship car. They did this a lot in the 90's with the 928 and 968 which both had to die so that the 911 could be king.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 16:16 |
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Ask any adult what Porsche would they want and they will likely say 911.
Not this adult. I would take the current gen. Cayman over any 911, ever.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 16:23 |
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What the hell, who wears briefs?
![]() 11/11/2014 at 16:59 |
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Lots of style guide violations here. But don't be so terrified of misusing "it's" that it doesn't get used where it should.
![]() 11/11/2014 at 17:02 |
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Twiddle-dee, twiddle-dum. Can't go wrong with either.