Hello,
This is my first post on the Cayman club boards. I'm 47, a nurse practitioner and would like your opinion in regards to my topic.

I have always had a sports car in the past from a Triumph GT6 plus, Fiat X-19, 1979 Trans Am, 1968 Firebird, 2000 Miata, and currently own a 2004 Honda S2000. My professional career is such (finally) that I can consider moving up to either a C6 Vette or a Cayman.

My wife and I enjoy top down summers (Miatia, S2000)....but I long for a true sports coupe. I understand the stigma of the Corvette as being for "older guys with gold chains and a open shirt"...ie True Lies. I have read many thoughts about the perception of a Corvette buyer from many boards online. Overall, with 400hp and the overall improvements in the C6 with the option of open air or closed top, this seems like a good option.

However, in my eyes.....nothing beats a Porsche. I have researched both models to death, ultimately I am asking opinions from this board regarding the choice that lead most of you to actually making the purchase of your Porsche.

Thank you,
Ken Smith

I think you answered your own question!

I traded my 2003 S2000 for a CS. I never had second thoughts. I never missed anything from the S2000. The CS is both a BMW + and a S2000 + combined. Do a search on S2000. There are several S2000 ex-owners who bought a CS.

I and a few others here owned C6 Corvettes before buying our Caymans. Forget the gold chain image and drive both cars then buy the one you like best. If you do a search you will find a few threads and some detailed posts. In a nutshell the Corvette is fast and a great bargain. The Porsche feels better and is generally more fun and satisfying to drive at both slow and fast speeds. Porsche has always been defined by lightness, stability and agility. Corvettes by performance, style and value. You have to decide which are more important to you. Drop me an e-mail or PM if you have any specific questions.

Alan

Van:

I've always wanted three cars: Jag XKE, 59' Vette and a Porsche 911. Almost bought the XKE about 9 mo's ago (71, series 2, BRG, Tan interior, 4.2), but my wife and I felt that, while still the most beautiful car ever, it would require more care and maintenance that I could give it. So, I started looking at the Chevy's.

Most of the folks on the Corvette forum indicated that the one thing they felt was lacking in the vette was having to have the car serviced at the Chevy dealer. My experience was that the salesmen don't know much about the car, just that they get a big commission when it sells.

The Porsche folks here and at most dealers are really nice, helpful and mindful that you are buying a 65K car and treat you that way. The GM folks are used to selling and servicing Cavaliers and Malibu's, not your 65K vette.

Besides, IMHO, the Porsche has just a sexier look.

YMMV

Ole Joe

Clearly Vanwolfenstein came here to have us reassure him that the decision he's already made in his own mind is the right one. The reputation of the board precedes it surely.

Anyway, Vanwolfenstein: poke around for some comments on the fit and finish, look and feel, of the C6, compared to nearly any latter day high endish German car. I haven't been in a C6, but from what I hear, it's pretty plasticky. Then there's also the fact that its engine is in the wrong place. If you're not in love with either car, the Cayman is the better one but you probably shouldn't be spending that much money on a car you're not in love with. If you're in love with one of them, buy that one and to hell with reason.

Well you can expect what kind of answer you're going to get posting in the Cayman forum. That said I'd much rather to be seen in a Cayman than in a Vette. For me the decision was made when I (and wife) decided we could afford the CS. It was on the very top of the list of the few cars we were considering by a pretty large margin. The list includes BMW M coupe, M3/i335, waiting for the new Lexus IS-F or M3 and the one I've been waiting for the longest time- an upgraded S2?00 but it does not look like going to happen anyway. The Corvette was never even on the list. Bought my last GM car 25 years ago. Even a Corvette is not going to change that.

Alan kind of stole my thunder and I agree with his insights. As for image, it's BS IMO. When I was a teenager or even in my 20s, the car that I drove was very impotant to my self esteem. Hence one of the first cars that I ever owned was a 911 because of the image it projected and I needed that positive reenforcement from my car. As I got older it finally dawned on me that 99.99% of the public couldn't care less what kind of car that I drove. Sure my friends would gather around to check out my car when it was new, but then it became an after thought.

So IMO forget what others may think of your purchase. Anyone who believes in sterotypes isn't worth worrying about anyway. Test drive both cars and make your decision based on how you feel and not what you read in a magazine or what your friends might think.

As far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong with either car. If you are into high powered engines at a very reasonable cost and you like having an open roof, how can you go wrong with the C6? On the other hand if you want the ultimate in handling and German engineering and can afford the $60K outlay, then the CS is a great choice.

The C6 is an excellent car, and probably none better for the money. BTW, you can get one for a lot less than 65K, fully equipped. Still, it is a great performance car, feels good and looks good (with or without gold chains).
I drove both extensively, and bought the one that made me grin.
Once I made that decision, and drove my CS for a couple of months, I swapped cars with a friend who owns a new C6 convertible.
After a week, I wanted my CS back, and he wanted his vette.
Different strokes.......

Why not get the best of both worlds? Performance and the Porsche badge. Just wait for the Cayman to get more horsepower and then buy it. That's what I and a lot of other people are doing.

Then you will be perpetually waiting. When the Cayman is upped to 320, the C6 will have 420. The stock Cayman(S) will never have more horsepower than a C6. It isn't all about horsepower. If that is what you want, get a rail with 1000+ hp. While you wait, I'll enjoy mine. Live for today, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

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"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

Wushuhsu,
I think you may be alone on this, people who want more HP are buying the Cayman and then adding more, not waiting to buy...

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You'd rather be seen in a particular car?

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