Hello, time to lurk out I maybe in the position to decide between a Cayman S or an Exige 240S in the very near future... if some stars align.

A quick profile, the car won't be a daily driver in the sense that I won't use to be stuck in traffic or for boring commutes (I got a diesel shed for that), but it will be used for some long delayed massive European driving trips and every-chance-I-got drives on any given weekday! It will not be exclusively a tracktoy (in fact I can see only the occasional trackday outing) as I intend to use it for long trips and hope to cover every great driving road in Europe for the next few years! As you may have guessed I'm a total petrolhead and cars are really my life's great passion. I also don’t care about "brands", I love cars not badges or the way people look at me (to busy enjoying driving).

I understand perfectly the differences between the two, but only have tested the Lotus Elise so far. IMHO there's nothing the Cayman can do to replicate the fantastic inertia free handling and (un-assisted) steering of the Loti, being much heavier, the Exige also being cheaper. On the other hand the Exige can't touch the Cayman's fantastic engine (oh, that sound) and drivetrain and it's Jekyl and Hyde capabilities. Both of them tick the 3 essential boxes for me, handling, performance and looks albeit in different ways, but in a way that ends up putting them so close.

I will only test the Cayman if the aforementioned stars align, so meanwhile nothing wrong in getting your vision on this, especially from people with experience in both cars, experience that only comes with ownership.

Here go some questions:

Does the Cayman really feel like a tub-of-lard, fat car compared to the Exige/Elise or just a heavier grown-up version but also with great steering feel and zippy chassis reactions? Some people state the difference is massive.

Does it become boring with time or is it a continuous learning experience to own and drive?

I've been reading great things on the CS steering and brake feel, are they put to shame by the Loti?

I’m more inclined to the razor sharp handling side than to the comfort side, so does PASM in sport mode really keeps the car sharp with low inertia and little body roll? Yes, I’ve read everything about PASM and yes although I will probability keep it in sport most of the time I can see various scenarios where the softer mode will come handy. I am however expecting very little inertia and body-roll from the Cayman in it's sport mode setting (in street driving) so I hope I’m not going to be disappointed in this.

Suspension durability? How does it degrade with use, is the car still taut after say, two years of use (sporty road use, not track-days)?

How do you say it compares, chassis reaction time wise, to other sport saloons like the M3? Pretty taut?

Any recent faults that may have arised from longer ownership/mileage? Steering pump?


I already eliminated all other possible competitors (Z4 coupe, 350Z) and before you mention the Boxster I realize it's better value for money but I'm a coupe man all the way!

For the record I'm 34 and owned a Mini Cooper S for the past 5 years that I love but I think I'm finally going to be able to realize my dream and buy a mid-engined driver's car.

Sorry for the long post!

I've owned both an Elise and now the Cayman S. I think you will be happier with the Cayman. There is no better steering feel than the lotus, period. That said there is no better brake feel than the porsche, unless you count Ferrari's ceramics. The way I look at it, if it were mainly track I'd get the 240S, if mainly street get the Porsche. Long continent cruising is not the strength of the Lotus but plays to the Porsche quite well. The Porsche can do 95% of what the Lotus can on the track, minus the running costs, but the Lotus is probably only 80% of what the Porsche is on the street. Get the Porsche for the street and a 211 for the track!

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FOR SALE: 2008 Cayman S, Black, Floormats

Have owned both, and prefer the CS in almost every way, if you only want a track car then yes, get the Lotus if its going to be used every day then no contest, buy the Cayman.

By the way, you do know what Lotus Stands for don't you; Loads Of Trouble, Usually Serious

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Esse is percipi

Sad but true!

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Please, forgive my english, I'm italian
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Cayman S Porsche Design edition 1 proud owner.


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Yeah, I know about the quirks of Lotus ownership, touch your clam and pay €45 billion in damages, etc but now with the toyota drivetrain things are different, for the better, I would never buy the K series one. It would be a nice dilemma to be in, but a very tough call I'll tell you... And I'm not rich, if I could get a 2/11 also I would buy the Exige, problem solved

For my track car, I was stuck between the Exige S and a second Cayman S. A friend picked the Lotus, I picked the CaymanS. I don't have any regrets.

For each day on the track, he has spend 1 day in the shop.
My car has had only 1 issue, the slave cylinder recall.

He spend $70K (MSRP), I spent $56K ($8k off MSRP). But to make my car out perform an ExigeS on the track I have put a few mods on it.

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Motons; Eibachs; monoball suspension; solid bushings; GT3/Tarret swaybars; GT3 LCAs & trailing arms; Tarret toe links; 997GT3 Calipers & APR rotors; Tubi Exhaust; LW flywheel; Quaife TBD; MotorSport VOS; Heigo roll bar and Lots more.
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I too have owned both (elise & cayman S). The Elise was more adrenalin popping. It was the most fun car I've ever owned... and still is. I never had a problem with it in any way. The CS was as close to it as I could get for handling and feel, but it is much more mature... as you said, a grown up version.

Now the Exige 240S is a different animal than the elise. It has far more power. And while I like it, it doesn't have the refinement of the CS. You say you are going to use it for long trips... get the CS. You will have to ship your clothes ahead otherwise.

Don't pay too much attention to comments concerning getting in and out of the Exige. You learn how to do it quickly and efficiently and it becomes second nature.

You may think the following minor, but it isn't. The CS has much better nose clearance. The Exige 240S' nose height will limit where you can drive without requiring substantial and expensive repair.

Al-in-all, for the use you describe, the CS is the better fit.

Bill

I haven't owned a Lotus, but I've read a lot of threads around here written by people who do, and the general consensus reinforces what you are reading in this thread.

If you're primary purpose for this car was track events, I'd say go with the Lotus. But as soon as you mentioned long road trips across Europe, the Cayman became the better choice.

I did a 2 week Tourist Delivery and drove my Cayman S all over Germany, to the Netherlands, France and the Nurburgring. The Cayman easily carried two weeks worth of luggage for two and the PASM suspension ate up everything from smooth German twisties to cobble stone country roads with no loss of comfort. We conducted a couple of 6-8 hour rides and stepped out of the car only to eat, sleep, use a rest area or take on some gasoline - always fresh and ready for more. On one of our rides we drove 4 hours from North Germany to the Nurburgring, hitting speeds of 265 km/h (165 mph), maintaining a cruising speed of about 240 km/h (150 mph). I worked the car for 3 semi-hard laps around the ring, then hopped back on the autobahn and drove another 4 hours to France. There aren't many cars that can do that without exploding.

I've driven Caymans both with and without PASM. For long road trips, I strongly recommend PASM. The softer side makes spending long hours in the car very comfortable. When I found open strips of autobahn that allowed me to exceed 200 km/h (125 mph) I found the Normal mode to be a little bit floaty, but the Sport mode was perfect. Yes, Sport mode makes a very noticeable difference in both ride quality and body roll. It's one of the features that adds to the 'Jekyll and Hyde' personality of the Cayman.

It sounds like you haven't driven one yet. I strongly recommend that you go for a test drive.

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