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 hear you.. FWIW, I would just continue test-driving both and listening to your heart.. I test drove 997 and Cayman 5 or 6 times before I made a choice. Nothin' wrong with that.

You can't possibly go wrong! The M3 and the Cayman S are 2 fabulous cars. These are cars that most people can only dream of owning. Pinch yourself to make sure this isn't just a dream-like fantasy, drive them both a few more times, and then follow your heart! They are VERY DIFFERENT cars - you'll sort it out if you give yourself enough time in the cars.

S2000 and 325 is beautiful combo.

If I were you, I would use S2000 daily and trade in 325 for M3.
I can really enjoy either of those cars because they will be both stick shift.
Or If I get bored out of S2000, I can make it into a track toy.
You only drove 18k on 8years. You should keep it.

Why can't you use the CS as your daily driver? If you don't drive children to and from school the CS is as competent of a daily driver as the M3. The CS is a much better winter car (depending where you live).

I can't comment on your tastes towards the interior of the car since I've never seen the interior of the M3 in person. I owned the 328i (2007) and the interior wasn't any nicer than the CS. If you option the CS with leather or even better, alcantara, it looks and feels far from cheap.

I respect the M3 very much and there is no doubt that it's an extremely competent car. My only issue with the M3 is the whiff of hairy chests and gold chains.

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Yours trully...The Caymanista

IMO you should do what your wife wants.

I don't have a wife. I drive a Porsche.

I don't have a BMW. I drive a Porsche.

I didn't buy a Cayman S, because it didn't have an interior as plush and fancy as any other car. I bought it because it was the best car in the market at the time. And my choice was reconfirmed by it getting proclamation as World Performance Car of the year.

Be true to yourself. Drive what you want for whatever reason you want.

I drive a Porsche.

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The search tool is your friend. It is very
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Cayman S - a portable amusement park
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- 2006 Cayman S
- 2003 Dakota SXT
- 1963 Studebaker Avanti, R2, 4-Speed
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LL

I really wanted to consider the new M3 but just don't like the look. I think it's the hood buldge that kills it for me. On the other hand the Cayman S is imho the sexiest damn car on the road.

I also am coming from an Audi S4 and wanted to try something different than another sports sedan.

See if you can swing an overnight test drive for both cars. Makes a big difference compared to a quick 30 min test.

-ds

Just my thoughts:

I personally have a real, real hard time with the new M3 costing $20K+ more than a Dinan flashed, KW coilover equipped 335i with the same level of equipment.

There are plenty of 'as new' bargains out there with the CS...use the $$$ difference on a few upgrades including plenty of nice interior options (alcantara, leather, wood, CF, upgraded audio, etc...) since that seems to be one of the major drawbacks for you of the CS.

But, you really are not going to go wrong either way, do you want a GT or a Sports Car? Only you can decide.

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'07 CS, '07 335i

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Absolutely!

My wife told me to buy a Porsche. I always do what she says

She made it simple. She said, if a neighbor up the street had a new BMW and another had a new Porsche, which one would you go look at first?

No contest.

We're brothers from another mother mad4che. I have a 325i daily driver and been waiting for an E90 M3 sedan to be a do it all family and track car. But car guys get inpatient leading to buying a CS as a stopgap car until the M3 arrives and I sell both the 325 and CS.
Unfortunately, I'm having such a great time tracking the CS I don't think I can sell it, hopefully I'll get to keep both and sell the 325i, that would be the dream team. I'm waiting for a M-DKG car to be delivered in July. Good luck, can't go wrong anyway you slice it.

I have a 325ci also and bought the CS thinking to use the bmw as my daily. I drive the CS 40 miles round trip each and everyday to work, in fact i haven't touched the bmw since i bought the porsche. If you dont have a passenger who cares about ride quality. If you plan on tracking the CS is must since I think the M3 comes with single piston brakes in the front. Dont quote me on that though.

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!

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Kevin

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Maybe it's just me, but I associate that stereotype with Corvette drivers not Porsche or BMW.