I've been thinking about getting rid of the M3 for a while now and have always lusted after Porsche. I've been hesitant to drive one because I thought I'd get the "must have one now feeling." Today I went and drove a Cayman S. To make a long story short, I was not overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, it was a great drive, but for the price as tested of $67,000....I don't think I could justify it. I like the looks and the mid-engine balance of the car. The engine made a good sound but nothing intoxicating. The big disappointment to me was a lack of power...really just a lack of "throw you back in your seat" torque. I'm not expecting Dodge Viper power here and I know there's more to a P-car than straight line numbers, but...?? I was able to drive for a good while on both the highway and back roads. Got up to 125 mph easily...felt very stable. The car took corners like a pro. I didn't manage to get any power oversteer....you'd really have to push it for that. There were actually a couple rattles in the car at times that were discouraging. I thought the BMW seats were much better. I don't know.....overall a good car....I'm not bashing it by any means. I thought the car was easier to drive fast than the M3, but to me it felt slower than the M3....It felt more like a true sports car in comparison to the M, but that's obvious...much smaller/lighter, no back seat, etc. I was just expecting much more. I think at this point I'll hold out to see what the next M3 brings. I can't think of any car in the price range that I really lust after now. If the Cayman had another 50 to 100 hp or a nice bump in torque it would be totally awesome. That will never happen though....it would kill the 911.

Well, sorry for yapping. I just had to make my opinions known to someone.


I'm sure the 911 (at least the S model) has the type of performance I'm looking for but I'm not crazy about the looks of the car and although I probably could manage the finances, the price seems way too high. Oh well.

M3's are cool man, go with what you are happy with!

Assuming this isn't just baiting, I'll ask if you drove a tip or not. Tips are accel dogs. In any case your test drive has guided you to your destiny, and it isn't this Porsche. Sounds like you definitely are into thrust over handling and interior (the full leather crushes anything from BMW or anyone else). A vette is your best buy.

I also like the M3's alot.

Me too, I'm hoping this first poster is being honest and not trolling. We have our fair share of clever trolls. I've driven the M3 and it is a neat car but not too my tastes but that is why there are cars for me and thee.

Exactomo...if we all lusted after the same car they'd cost $200k and there'd be a 6 year waiting list....oh yeah, kinda like a Ferrari...

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2007 Cayman, midnight/tan
2007 Touareg V8, working man's Cayenne, tow vehicle
2007 Mazda3 hatch, ski car and wifey-mobile
1993 BMW 325is Spec E36 race car

I'm not trying to cause a stir here. I realize I'm being slightly critical of a car everyone here loves. And, I can see why you love it. But, I just wanted to give my opinion on comparing the two cars. I haven't actually ruled out buying the Cayman (drove the 6 speed btw). I still think it's the best looking sports car around. I do feel as though the car is lacking some power....I'm not the only one that feels this way. Look, the car is great....but for 70k it should be "greater." The car is 15k overpriced in my opinion.

I've actually considered buying a used one and then having the ruf conversion done. That would be a dream.

i can see it...i have added upgrades looking for more power. however, living with this car is great in so many ways even with the modest power. the quality and feel of the car trumps everything. to each his/her own for sure.
btw, my wife and i just purchased a used bmw 330i and it is very nice indeed.

I had the same dilemma when I was trying to decide which car to get. Always loved Bimmers but the Cayman S really intrigued me and there are far fewer of them on the road so I made my choice and went for the CS. M3's are great cars in their own right so either way you'd have a great car. Very Personal choice and you won't run into folks here that will give you (much) of a hard time for choosing something else.

I knew I'd want to 'uncork/delimit' my CS as soon as I got it so I planned on immediately making some easy changes to get that 5o HP bump right off the bat... I picked mine up and immediately drove across country to beak it in a bit and then dropped it off with Imagine Auto to have some upgrades done and do my best to reverse some of the limits that Porsche put on the CS to try and protect the 911. New full exhaust, performance filter kit, ECU tuning, limited slip dif... I got my 50HP and improved the sound too. The difference IS noticeable and I LOVE it! Yes, I'd really like to have another 100 on top of that and there are options coming up that seem able to deliver that. YES, its way more money that a new v8 M3 stock and even more so once you start making changes but its a passion. Follow YOUR passion and few will fault you for it...

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Life is a one lap race... Carpe Diem!"

I used to drive an M3, and currently drive an M5 as my daily driver. I just bought a Cayman S a couple of weeks ago, and it's my first Porsche. All I can say is, I absolutely love both my M5 and CS, and I love the differences I can feel driving the two of them. I think most of us wish the CS had more HP/torque, but it's a heck of a lot of fun, even stock, and I don't regret the purchase at all!

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Rex
Cayman S 2006 - Slate Grey, Sand Beige full-leather interior, manual, Preferred Package, Bi-Xenons, Adaptive Sports Seats, PCM2.1, 19" Sport Design with Pilot Sports, PASM, Sport Chrono, Stainless Steel Tailpipes, Short Shifter, 3-Spoke Multifunction Steering Wheel, Colored Seat Backs, Black Floor Mats, 3M clear bra, de-badged, clear sidemarkers, K40 Calibre, de-snorked, mesh grills all around, WeatherTech floor mats.
///M5 E39 2000 - daily driver

You know I think the M3 does a wonderful job of making you "feel" like you are going fast, whereas the Cayman tends to hide it. The test numbers don't lie and my own personal track times don't lie either, stock for stock the Cayman S is as fast or faster than the M3. Check the magazines for some numbers if you want, but I also have real track comparisons where I've gone up against multiple M3's both when I was stock and after my mods. In stock form in straight line acceleration I was always just a hair faster, not much but enough to see me pull on the M3 a little as we went down the main drag straight at HPT. In the corners it was no contest, the Cayman S eats a stock M3 alive in the corners. Ok maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but clearly the Cayman S is better in the corners.

The thing is I would teach some of these guys in M3's (was just with the BMW club this past weekend driving the new config at HPT) and you'd swear you were going really fast, climb into the Cayman and while it didn't "feel" as fast or maybe "sound" as fast, the Cayman was quicker.

Of course either car can be modded but I had a Dinan modified M3 tell me at the track this past weekend that my Capristo exhaust sounded great as I flew by him and he couldn't catch me.

So it may come down to what you are looking for. Nothing wrong with the M3, great car and certainly feels and sounds "fast" regardless of what it is actually doing. I understand the new one is quicker straight line than the outgoing model but BMW fans have been lamenting its continued weight increase and lack of handling and track precision.

It really is sports sedan vs. sports car, two different animals two different approaches. By all means buy the one that best suits YOUR needs. We aren't going to put you down for choosing the M3 if that is what excites you. Get out and drive and have fun and if you get a chance to drive in or ride in a Cayman at the track, take it, and you'll see what was missing from a dealership test drive.

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K-Man S

I agree totaly. My cousin has a 2004 m3 smg and the last time I drove it which was a few months back, felt like ****, really shaky,jerky, lots of vibration all around, just didn't feel solid, for a car thats not even 4 years old I'm sorry but if you think the cayman is over priced think again, the m3 is WAY over priced.