Dear Unregistered, the permission changes should be complete, if you notice any issues with your access on the site please let us know and we will check into it.
Hey Unregistered it seems that you haven't posted a message in our forums yet. Please join in on the fun and post a message!
Dear Unregistered,
We've noticed that you are not yet a member of our Cayman Insiders group. This group provides a number of additional value-add services via this website for a very low annual fee. You can find out more about this group here:
Insider Announcement
You can join the Cayman Insiders Group here:
Insider Enrollment Form
We hope to see you "Inside" soon!
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.
Your Donation Will Be Used To Pay For our ever increasing bandwidth costs, our hosting Service, domain registration, software licensing fees, maintenance costs and product evaluations Only!
Please enter your donation amount above, and then click on the donate button below.
I had a 2002 M3 and thought it was the best car I had owned at the time. I still have fond memories of it but the Cayman S is far better in every way. The Cayman S is more versatile. It is a better sports car but it is also a more comfortable GT. As Car and Driver said, the M3 never lets you forget its sporting nature no matter what position the sport button is in. The Cayman S, on the other hand, has more varied talents.
I just turned in my 2003 M3 and expect my Cayman to be delivered in a couple of weeks. For the longest time I thought that I would have to buy my M3 at lease end because I could not find another car I liked as well. Nothing seemed to have the combination of speed and handling that the M3 had. I tried the Lotus Elise and many other cars. I really didn't want to start looking at $100k plus cars - it just seemed crazy. Imagine my delight when I test drove the Cayman! In 10 minutes I learned that for $70k I could have a car that was as fast as the M3 and handled even better. I didn't think that was possible, and before the Cayman it wasn't. I'm with you, the M3 is a great car. I expect the Cayman to be even better.
I did the M3 to a Boxster S - I had an 04 M3 w/SMG. It handled great, lots of power, a lot of fun. Then I got an AMG C55 as a daily driver, which I really love - a lot more torque from that engine. Also found I really liked how the Mercedes dealer was, esp the service dept (and how infrequently I had the car in compared to the M3). Got really tired of the BMW dealerships, so I started looking to replace the M3. Test drove a Boxster S and realized that my M3 didn't handle all that well after all - OK, too harsh, but in comparison... Also realized that the 'lack'' of horsepower in the Boxster wasn't noticable at all, and that the engine actually felt much more usable. The M3 had no low end, and then almost felt like a 2 stroke engine coming on the pipe - not nearly as user friendly.
Long story short, I don't miss the M3 having made the switch. Now that I've had the Bosxster S for several months I've realized that it is much easier to drive fast than the M3 was, and so is the AMG. Oddly the M3 was the most difficult of those cars to go fast in.
M3 was great, though felt like an SUV compared to Cayman S. I miss the convertible occasionaly, but never have I wished I was driving the Me over the Cayman. Don't get me wrong the M3 was great and I really really liked it, but I love the Cayman.
I had an M3 Convert. too much body flex. Its such a large car compared to the Cayman, I am much happier. When I was looking at getting my next car I looked at the New M3 and all the stats say that BMW is sticking to its Bigger is better way of business as of late. I wanted a smaller lighter more tossible car, and BOY did I find it.
I sold an M3 to get into my Cayman. I think that mine was a lemon. I have a long list of things that went wrong, all in 16,000 miles. I enjoy driving the Cayman a lot more. The ride is actually not as harsh, in my opinion way better looking and the performance nod goes to Cayman. I also had a convertible and there was body shake and imperfections that were really annoying with the roof. That's my two cents.
I sold an M3 to get into my Cayman. I think that mine was a lemon. I have a long list of things that went wrong, all in 16,000 miles. I enjoy driving the Cayman a lot more. The ride is actually not as harsh, in my opinion way better looking and the performance nod goes to Cayman. I also had a convertible and there was body shake and imperfections that were really annoying with the roof. That's my two cents.
Funny, I got rid of my M3 at around 16,000 miles, too, and it also spent a lot of time in the shop. Nothing major, just lots of little annoying things. I had an 04 325 coupe that also spent a lot of time in the shop, too.... Neither my Boxster S nor my AMG have been in other than for service.
If an M3 is anything like an M1, its too heavy, hard to pack around, and hard to keep clean; but, it shoots straight!!!
__________________
*******************************
The search tool is your friend. It is very
likely that your question has already been
answered countless times.Very,very likely.
*******************************
*******************************
Cayman S - a portable amusement park
Have hadthem both. M3 is an awesome sports sedan. Cayman is an awesome sports coupe.
M3 has better low end grunt (low revs in first gear primarily). Cayman has outstanding feel and balance and sounds great. I don't miss the M3's ride quality - it really was bone jarring and its amazing that a 2 seat coupe has so much better ride (18s, no PASM). I feel like I can throw around the Cayman much more without getting burned and I think its overall a better package if you don't need a back seat. It also looks so much better (the old M was definitely getting long in the tooth).
One thing I find is that the there is a little lag at 3200 RPM or so on the Cayman and I wish that would go away.
Net/net, the Cayman is a better car for me as I feel better in a sports coupe. If it had lower end grunt, we would have nothing to talk about!
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I'm driving a 2003 M3 right now and haven't had a chance to drive a Cayman yet. I've been considering a Cayman or 997S and figure the Cayman is more suited for track duty.
The M3 has been a monster at the track. Though heavy, turning incredibly quick laps. So, I'm very interested in candid track reports from M3 to Cayman owners.
I suppose my plan would be to get the basic Cayman and drive it for a while as is to learn it's nuances. I would guess I'd need a bar / cage right away as I'm not going on the track without a harness like I have in the M3. Then upgrade the brake pads, though I would expect the brakes themselves would be plenty for a good long time. Next would probably be coil overs and Sparco seats - and that should hold me for a while.
I own an '04 M3,currently with 28k milesand I am thinking about the Cayman.
I owned a '99 - 996 prior to buying my M3. I purchased the 996 used with about 18k miles and sold it about a year later with 28K miles- it was one problem after another -given my experience with the 996 first model year I have some concerns about getting a first model year Cayman. BMW also had engine issues early on with the M3.Has Porsche done a good jobtesting, quality controland and in initial manufacturing?
When I test drove the Cayman I did not drive it hard, but I was a bit disappointed with acceleration from 1st to 2nd gear. Perhaps it takes getting the hang of the best shift points. I did like the short throws going through the gears compared to the M3 - I felt I couldshift faster and it felt more precise.
The Cayman felt like it was glued to the road with an excellent 'feel', Icould only get the Cayman up to about 80 mph on the freeway due to traffic and I don't know what happens after that,in my M3 - to me -the car gives me the best road feel between 100 mphand 125 mph and feels,solid, in control and wanting morespeed. On the track going fastthrough turns I get more body roll and understeerthan I would like in the M3, no modifications.I liked going through the turns better in the 996, even with the rear engine,than the M3, but I felt more confidence at speeds over 100 in the M3 than the 996. I am hoping the Cayman will give even better high speed stability than the M3, I already know it will handle the turns better.
Other issues I am considering relate to the cost of ownership. I got my M3 below list with what I wanted for $52k, the car currently has a whosale value of about 40k and retails in the mid-$40's. Warranty and all maint. is covered to 50k miles. I get about 15k miles on rear tires and the fronts are about ready to be replace now with 28k miles. When I had my 996 I remember long waits for service appointments and in a few cases long waits for parts.
If I get a Caymanthe list pricecame to about 71kwith options. I think that's about 10k too much, my local dealer thinks they can sell every car they get at list.I think I want to see what the used car market is going to think. My problem is - I always say I going to keep a car a long time and always end up selling in about 2 years, I would hate taketoobig of a depreciation hit when I could get a used 997S at a price where deprciation has stabalized to predictable levels.
Its a tough choice, but so far I am going to wait at least another 6 months.
