I would love to get some advice regarding these two cars. I am torn. I have a good deal on a new C Design edition, but am waivering b/t it and a 03 911 turbo for the same cost (maybe a pinch more).

I love the C, and it gets me emotionally excited. I love its looks (especially the Design edition) and its handling. However, I do have a hesitation about its lack of HP and sub-5 zero to 60 capabilities.

So the other option I am considering is a used 911 Turbo (03). The cost is about the same. THe con is 1) it is used, 2) older car, 3) no warranty, 4) I don't think it is as good looking, 5) probably less refined appointments, and 6) you don't know what problems you might be inheriting. But the pro is 415 horses and tons of speed. The Cayman speaks to me more emotionally, but have been warned by a respected car buff that after a little bit, I may be dissapointed in its lack of power. Furthmore, there doesn't appear to be any low hanging fruit to increase HP with minimal $ and w/o violating the warranty.

Thoughts?? Has anyone else struggled with this decision? Do you regrett the lack of power?

Some background on me: This will be my first sports car, but I have grown up the son of a car buff (66 Shelby Cobra, Bently GT, Ford GT, etc.) so I am no stranger to fast cars and the addrenaline they can deliver. I am not sure if I will be taking the car on a track, but will look into it after I purchase the car. This will be a second car for me that I anticipate driving 20% of the time (but who knows once I own it, that may increase if I can't resist). I would say I get my kicks equal parts b/t 1) handling, 2) sexy looks and nice finishes that feel like a refined sports car, and 3) pure power.

Personnaly I like the balance of the Cayman and Boxster. It is clearly a better engineering solution that Porsche is extremely reluctant to give more power and LSD cuz it would highlite the superiority of the midengine design.

And I have not much need to get to 60 under 5.

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2004 Boxster S Basalt/Savanna
1970 914-6 Black 'n Tan

I agree. There seems to be an elegance to the Cayman, and especially the Design edition that the 911 doesn't match. My concern is when the buzz of the new car wears off (if it wears off), having driven sub 4 sec cars and liking it, will it nag me in the back of my head. I just wish there was an easy way to add 40 HP. But the turbo doesn't feel like an everyday driver. I think I would feel ackward pulling up to a meeting in that.

To me this a no brainer; I'd go with the Cayman design edition; most magazines have reported a sub-5 second 0-60 for the Cayman, and if you really do want more speed it's easy to get.. exhaust, intake, plenum, you name it. Heck for like 5-7 grand you can take the car to TPC and get the Cayman up to 415 hp with 5.5 hp of boost and it would smoke the 996 Turbo.

While I like the shape of the 996, the interior, electronics, shifter and clutch feel, etc. all seem outdated and clunky to me. And I'd never own a 996 Turbo out of warranty, so if you do go that route do yourself a favor and get some coverage.

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- Suneet


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Listen to Suneet, exactly what I would have said!

If you are a power nut, then get the Turbo. I owned a 97 Turbo and a Cayman S at the same time a few years ago. After the newness of the Cayman wore off, I mostly drove the Turbo and the Cayman sat in the garage. So, I sold it and still have the Turbo.

There is nothing like a Porsche Turbo's power And it is so easy to make the produce a lot more than stock...

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97 Turbo | 06 Boxster S | 06 Cayman S (sold)

I was confronted with virtually the same choice: used 996TT (this one an X50) or a new Cayman S. Once I test drove the Cayman, however, it was a no-brainer for me. Yes, the 996TTX50 was much faster in a straight line, but to me it didn't provide the same feeling of being connected to the road. And you feel that extra weight that it carries around. The Cayman S is much more nimble and light on its feet, and has superb steering.

The power of the Cayman S is enough to be entertaining although not overwhelming like the 996TT can be. At some point, I will probably swap in a 3.8 X51 engine in my Cayman but I'm in no hurry for now.

And one more thing: the 996TT has very noticeable turbo lag below 3000 rpm (at least the X50 version did). I have come to really like the instantaneous throttle response of the Cayman S.

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John
'07 Cayman S
'89 944 Turbo - sold
'05 Saab 9-5 Aero

Pick up a nice, clean Cayman S 06/07 in the high-40's to 50's, why fork over all that for the design edition? Or just get a regular cayman S. Des. ed. looks nice but the real beauty of the cayman is the performance you get for your price point. They are all classics.

+1 on Suneet's message. Read up on the TPC turbo kit for the Cayman. That way you get the lighter, more tossable car combined with gobs of power by adding the turbo kit. Sounds like the perfect combo to me.

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2006 Arctic Silver CS, Bi-Xenons, PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport Steering Wheel, Bose, PCM Navigation, Lobster Claws, Remus Exhaust

I'm like you in that the design edition's extra touches (especially the interior look and feel options featured in the PDE1) excite my passion far more than the standard cayman/S. to me, the center console/armrest thing in plain plastic is just too much "plymouth neon" for my $70k, but to each his own. In one strong sense, the previous poster is correct: if you want the performance feel, why spend extra on a PDE1 when you can save the money on a plain-jane cayman s; these kinds of "special edition" appearance packages do nothing for resale, so you'd better really love it and plan to keep it for awhile to get the value of the extra $$$ you pay for it.

that said, taking your 3 "equal parts" of driving pleasure, the PDE1 certainly has 1 and 2 in spades, and 3 probably goes to the turbo... although horsepower isn't everything: the cayman S is an extraordinarily light car for that much horsepower, so it feels a lot more exciting than its numbers may indicate it has a right to.

finally, having said yourself that you like the appointments that enhance the look/feel and so forth, can you seriously argue that the 996's interior is anything but awful with all the french-curviness and excessive "ovality" in the door panels, etc.? it's totally at odds with the generally clean-lined and rather "German-feeling" interior design of the cayman, 997, and all the pre-996 911's going back to the 60's. with the interior package of the PDE1, there's no contest, is there?

the only thing i'd like the PDE1 to have differently would be if the stripes were solid matte black rather than emblazoned with "porsche design -- edition 1", which to me is both pretentious and mildly ridiculous at the same time.

as one who feels your pain (PDE1 v. 996 turbo v. 997 C2S), i wish you happy hunting!

For me, that exact choice came down cost. My Cayman S is right near the top of what I am willing to spend on a fun car. So I just couldn't justify getting the 996TT. I plan to keep my car for 5 to 7 years, and my best guess at the cost of ownership for a TT that would be 11 -13 years old at the end...and that I would no doubt sink $20k in mods to get the 550HP it deserves out of it...it was just too expensive.

I don't think it is an apples to apples cost comparison. The 996TT will cost you more even if the car has no problems. No warranty and a bad synchro= $8k, though.

If I had the wiggle room to not stress over major unforseen repairs, I would have gone Turbo.

But...I had fallen in love with the Cayman already, so I am not the least bit disappointed.

Have fun. May this be the biggest challenge you face. LOL.

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2007 Speed Yellow Cayman GT 2.7 (retired)
2008 Guards Red Cayman GT 3.4
"Carpe Cayman"