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Cayman ComparisonsThis sub forum is for messages specifically about comparing the Cayman to other cars. For example how the Cayman compares to the 350Z or S2000 or SLK, etc.
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Hello ladies and gents. I've been eyeing this message board for over a year now and think it's excellent. I posted a review of my first Cayman S test drive many months ago. I gave an honest opinion of the car at the time..... basically in summary I thought it was good, not great // Fun to drive but overpriced. I was disappointed because I went to the dealership with the intention of being blown away and ready to slap down a deposit. So, I put my new car desires on hold; until today.....
I've owned 2 different M3's (1999, 2003) and I currently have a 325 daily driver and a Honda s2000. My wife drives a BMW x3. So, the guys at BMW know me pretty well. The general manager called yesterday and said they just got a new m3 in and that I could drive it... he's probably thinking "easy sale." Anyways, my wife and I went to take it for a spin and I thought it was pretty impressive. Typical modern-day ///M car.... power blended with luxury. More refined (possibly "softer") than the last generation. Very solid feel to the car. I would consider owning this car.
Despite my "disappointing" test drive of the Cayman S several months ago, I never stopped loving the Cayman. I think it's the best looking car for sale on the market (some ultra exotics excluded). So, since the Porsche dealer is only 2 miles away from BMW, I thought what a perfect time to re-test the Cayman S. Long story short, I drove it again and felt much more impressed with the overall package. It wasn't as fast as the m3 but certainly very quick...faster than I remember. The engine sounds really great when pushed hard (above 5000 rpms). It seemed to have a bit of a whine when just cruising and not accelerating hard...??... The disappointment to me this time was not in the performance but the overall fit and finish of the car. The m3 felt much as though it was much more solid. I don't know if that makes sense. The interior of the Porsche felt cheap in comparison. There were a couple squeaks and rattles here and there in the Porsche and the feel of the interior was not on par with BMW. For a car that costs much more (when optioned out) this was a disheartening. I enjoyed driving the Porsche more than the M for the 20 minutes or so that I was testing them. No doubt it's a blast to fly through the bends and wind the car out on the straights. But, I don't think I could live with the cayman as a daily driver. The shifting in the Porsche was superior to BMW. I took both cars in excess of 100 mph and the BMW felt more planted to the road, less wind noise, etc.
I'm just a bit torn as to my decision. I want to make a change to my car lineup and if I get the M3, it will be my only car. If I were to get the Cayman S, I would trade in the s2000 and keep the 325 as my daily driver. The M is more solid and more practical; faster on the straights. The Cayman is a true sports car, much lower to the ground and more fun to drive, you can tell that it is a much, much lighter car. Unfortunately, seems "cheap" on the inside (not what you'd expect for 65 grand) and I still say is "over priced." Funny though, I felt like I was driving a van when I got back in my 325 after driving the porsche.
My wife is pushing me to get the M mainly because she likes the thought of me only having one car. She says I'll never drive the Cayman just like I never drive the S2000 (only has 14000 miles in 8 years). I totally disagree with that statement because the cayman is much more user friendly and practical than the s2000... not to mention a much better car.
Sorry guys for rambling. I'm just don't know what to do.
I came from an E46 and a E36 M3 both of which I traded in and moved to the Porsche Cayman S.
The Cayman is a daily driver in summers. It is also my track car. If you dont plan to track it, the M3 might be a better fit. I also agree that the interior of the Cayman is not that special. Better than the 996/986 but I remember not being impressed with it compared to my E46.
The Cayman has excellent steering. Precise, great feedback and while the E46 M3 wasnt bad it was never as good as the steering in the E36 which was heavier than the Porsche but didnt give more feedback than it does.
The shifter in the CS seems better than the E46 which always ws a bit of a bastard when cold in the 1st to 2nd gear change (especially upper midwest winter cold!).
The Cayman could do with more power and a limited slip. The E46 M3 was a wild animal above 4000rpm. For thrills it was always fun to wind it up.
I expect the new M3 to have some of that feel also.
You cant go wrong with any of those cars. The M3 is more GT, the Porsche is more sports car.
I had an 01 E46 that was modded for the track. If you plan on tracking the new M3 make sure you budget another $5 to $8k in mods if you drive hard. The brakes are horrendous and you need much more camber than is possible on the stock suspension. You will eat tires and melt the brakes in short order. As far as the interior goes I think the BMW interiors look cheap for a luxury car. I like the design of the cayman's interior and as mentioned you can spice it up as needed. As far as build quality, porsches are in another league as compared to BMWs. Period. If you want a sporty car with a nice interior check out the new RS4 coupe. I would consider that, the GTR or the new M3 if it's a street only car.
Believe me, I have heard many of my friends say (once they learned I got a Porsche), "Please dont start wearing Porsche clothes, gold chains and unbuttoning your shirt!"
So it seems Porsche owners can give off the same karma!
I personally would love to own a new M3 (never owned one but did get an m-optioned 330i (2004) and loved it (wish I could have kept it). But I would only do so in this stage of my life if I could own both. Until then a CS is is! Besides, consider how much more unique the CS is on the road next to all those BMW's!
Eeehh.....I'm not so sure about that. M3-s are renowned for the hairy chest and gold chains thing. I know there are far more M3 drivers that don't sport either but perception is reality. Now, if it's a convertible, that's a London realtor car for sure. Trust me on this, I'm big into image.
Vette dirvers are ussually older. That's about the only perception they carry arround.
The Cayman sits too low for the driver to be noticed so it's not the best car for gold chains. Porsche and as a result the Cayman, atract a variety of perceptions. From arrogant to geeky (the type of guy that loves BMW motorcycles; guilty as charged on that account).
The March 2008 issue of GT Purely Porsche has a subjective comparison of the CS and the M3 at the Nurburgring. Subjective since cold wet track conditions (snow on the grass in one photo!) did not allow for all-out driving. No times or speeds given but a firm conclusion that the CS was more fun, responsive, balanced, etc. even (especially?) with the PSM off. They described the M3 as more of a muscle car: lots of power but also lots of mass.
PSM - Porsche Stability Management
While it can’t overcome the laws of physics, the revolutionary Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system does lend an added degree of balance and control to the Cayman’s mid-engine driving dynamics, inspiring surefooted confidence in corners and extreme situations.
A standard feature on the Cayman and Cayman S, PSM continuously monitors steering input, road speed, yaw velocity and lateral acceleration to calculate the actual direction of travel. If the car begins to steer off line, PSM instantly intervenes with precision brake inputs on individual wheels to help bring the car back onto the driver’s intended path.
If braking alone isn’t enough to correct the vehicle’s cornering line, PSM then calls on the Cayman’s engine management system, adjusting engine output as needed to help stabilize handling. PSM can also compensate in an instant for mid-corner changes in load resulting from deceleration or braking. When Sport mode is selected with the optional Sport Chrono Package, PSM’s threshold for intervention is raised, allowing for greater driver involvement. If you prefer driving without automatic PSM assistance, the system can be set to standby at any time. In this case, it will only intervene under heavy braking, where both front wheels exceed the ABS threshold.
For all of its technical ability, PSM goes virtually unnoticed in everyday driving situations, preserving the Cayman’s natural agility.
A guy from my office just took delivery of a brand new m3. the car is very muscular looking. According to test figures (my friend is still in break-in so i cant say from first hand knowledge) the car is very fast however I think the interior of all bmw's are boring. its the same dash and gauges from 15 years ago. Pulling up at a light next to him i was astonished at how much lower to the ground i was compared to him. driving around brooklyn i found that there was far better road feel in my car compared to his. The weight difference is very apparent as is the response time in the steering wheel.
I will give bmw credit the car does look much different then a 335 which was always my criticism of the m3. ( i mean it friggin should considering a fully loaded 335 is 49 compared to a fully loaded m3 at around 68? )
I had a 350z which was overweight and i didnt like that feeling while braking and tossing the car around, i felt that in the new m3
__________________
-06 Cayman S Guards Red
Thank you to the old people who put no miles on their porsches and trade them in.
A guy from my office just took delivery of a brand new m3. the car is very muscular looking. According to test figures (my friend is still in break-in so i cant say from first hand knowledge) the car is very fast however I think the interior of all bmw's are boring. its the same dash and gauges from 15 years ago. Pulling up at a light next to him i was astonished at how much lower to the ground i was compared to him. driving around brooklyn i found that there was far better road feel in my car compared to his. The weight difference is very apparent as is the response time in the steering wheel.
I will give bmw credit the car does look much different then a 335 which was always my criticism of the m3. ( i mean it friggin should considering a fully loaded 335 is 49 compared to a fully loaded m3 at around 68? )
I had a 350z which was overweight and i didnt like that feeling while braking and tossing the car around, i felt that in the new m3
Differing opinions are always interesting. I think that the interior of my 330i is virtually perfect to my tastes. I've always thought that the Cayman would be more perfect than it already is if I could put my bimmer's interior into it. Hold your ears and nose now.......... I love idrive!
Everyone definitely has his/her own taste in regards to the interior. I have attached the images for both. IMO, the BMW interior is also cheap and boring.
I faced a similar decision and I chose the CS. You can't hide ~600+ lbs.
__________________ Nov 16, 2007 build:
'08 CS Midnight blue metallic--6 spd
Black sport seats, Delete model designation
Fire extinguisher,Floor mats, Sport steering wheel
Before the Cayman was announced I was just about to pull the trigger on a E46 ZCP M3.....still love the looks of this version even today, very clean and muscular. At the time I could only compare it to a Boxster S,....which I loved, but didn't want a drop-top. Ordered my CS sight unseen and un-driven like a lot of people. Have never regretted it.
I like the concept of the new M3, small powerful V8, decent pricing (well, compared to Porsche), etc.,....however instead of looking clean and muscular, it now looks strange and quirky to me, like a lot of BMWs. I don't know if I could own one or not now.
I feel your pain. It's funny....I was driving to the BMW dealership to find out what items I would put on the pre-ordered M3 that I was going to get. Then I saw the Porsche dealership first. Figured what the hell. Saw the Design Edition 1 just sitting there. 420hp sounded better than 300hp, but the look of the Cayman has always won for me.
Cognitive dissonance and buyers remorse come with any "big" purchase for me, but always melt away when I get in my CS. Good luck in your decision, you can't go wrong either way. For fun count how many BMW's you see on your drive home. It may not be a big purchase decision for you, but I kind of enjoy being part of a smaller group. That's what the overpriced-ness gives you.
So I did.
