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Other Porsche ModelsDiscussion of other Porsche models besides the Cayman
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Last Friday I bought a gorgeous new white Cayman (not the S). I have owned an 87 944 turbo since 1990 and have had an alternating love hate relationship with it ever since. After spending about $15000 in 05 repairing one thing after another, I knew that rationally we had to part, but emotionally I couldn't face it until another repair bill two weeks ago. I also knew that the Cayman would be the car to replace it, but which would it be, the S, or the base model? After reading many of your entries, I had to drive an S and one that was past the break in period to see what that power thrust was all about. The difference in price is important to me. I'm 63. This will probably be my final sports car (it's hard to face that but it's probably true)- particularly if I keep it as long as I've kept the 944 and I suspect that I will. It was an important decision. I managed to locate a dealer, not too far away, that had a Cayman S with 4000 miles. It even had all of the performance options, the sports suspension, the Sport Chrono, 19 inch wheels, and all that sort of thing. I drove it, and I also drove a new base Cayman with only the 18 inch wheels and the Preferred Pack. Plus options. Everyone enjoys power and I'm no exception, and I still get an adrenalin rush when the turbo, with my modifications, kicks in. The Cayman S didn't come close. What both cars had however was so much more in other ways. I really liked the steady power curve of both cars; I also liked the basic suspension; the sports suspension might be important if I were going to race it, but I'm not, and I didn't feel that the car needed it. The six speed as opposed to the five speed meant nothing. I actually found that I liked the spacing of the five speed better. Something like that is so subjective. Finally, for some reason ,the base model seemed more nimble. It is a little lighter. Could I tell the difference? Rationally, I'm sure that I couldn't, but for some reason both my son and I liked the base model a little more. We were both surprised. Price was certainly a factor but not the deciding one. In the end, the base model was just fine. I bought it and have since added about 400 miles in the past couple of weeks. I have never been happier with an auto purchase. The handling is beyond anything I have ever experienced. I don't know how you even approach the handling limits of this car. At my age, comfort for my back is also important. A lot of cars feel comfortable when you first sit in them but then, after a 100 miles or so, aches start to appear- lower back kind of aches. I just drove it over 200 miles yesterday and felt great at the end. I suspect that most of you will think: how could I, a turbo driver, settle for the lessor of the two cars? I did, and I'm very pleased. For anyone who truly enjoys the experience of driving, either is about as good as you can get. I have only one problem: selling the 944. If it just wouldn't keep costing me every time I turn on the ignition, I'd probably keep it around just for a cheap (not really cheap) thrill every once in a while.
Sport Chrono and Chrono Plus
This optional package is a valuable addition for trackday use. Available in conjunction with the CDR-24 CD radio, it includes a swivel-mounted analog and digital timer unit which is centrally located on the dashboard. All functions are easily accessible via the control stalk for the on-board computer. Analog dials measure hours, minutes and seconds, while a separate digital field displays whole seconds, tenths and one hundredths of a second. A second digital display runs in parallel in the instrument cluster. Click this Link to visit the FAQ entry for Sport Chrono.
"Everyone enjoys power and I'm no exception, and I still get an adrenalin rush when the turbo, with my modifications, kicks in. The Cayman S didn't come close. "
That is an interesting comment. I know that my brother, who owns a 500HP V10 M5 felt the same way. And he chose the base Cayman, also. 245 and 295 aren't that different from that perspective.
Welcome LWKess - it's always interesting to me to hear about how other Porsches drive. I toyed with the idea of a 944 Turbo for a hobby car ($$$). It was cheap, but inspection showed the frame to have suffered in an accident. Suspect it would have become a money car. ("How much money does it take to race a old Porsche? All of it.")
Look forward to hearing more about your impressions as the new car grows on you!
Congratulations on your car and thanks for the write up. I love to read about the comparisons between the 2.7 and S. I did not really consider the S as the local pricing (2.7at 79% of S) made a compelling argument for the former.
I to come from a turbo car and well there is a difference in low end torque (the 3.8 Carrera camshaft?) but what the heck, the chassis is so amazing. I was very impressed with the standard suspension setup. It felt very stiff yet soft and quiet (if that is possible) and at speed the car just becomes a very planted and agile tar gobbling croc!
The 6-speed does seem to suit the torque curve of the engine better but then again it does not improve 0-60mph acceleration or top end speed.
Welcome to the site and if you do want to sell your 944 turbo you can list it in our classifieds here in the other Porsche section. If you are a PCA member you can also list it in the national PCA magazine for free and on the PCA.org site as well.
PCA - Porsche Club Of America
The Porsche Club of America - http://www.pca.org
CaymanClub.Net members who are also PCA members should request access to the PCA Member only forum by filling in their PCA Member ID# into their profile and then requesting a group membership addition, both of which can be done in the User Control Panel (User CP)
I know all about emotional attachment to cars. I had a 1960 MGA that I drove for 32 years and still would be if not for a young driver who was ticketed for causing a wreck that totaled the car. I replaced it with a 1959 MGA that took top national honors in its first showing (and I’m not into show cars). The prior MGA was a ‘driver’ car that I spent four years restoring and even though it never won a single award, not that I cared, I would trade my new car for that old one in a heart beat.
I enjoyed reading your impressions. Having tested both, I shared many of the same feelings. I’m still torn between the two cars for a variety of personal reasons.
Welcome and congrats!......always like to hear these types of stories. The Cayman is a great sports car in any model or option form. Sounds like you made some smart decisions......enjoy it to the fullest now!
My Cayman S too is my second Porsche, my first also being a 944 turbo, and I'm 67, so we do have a lot in common. I too put in a racing chip and opened the wategate of by 944 turbo, doubling the boost. As you say, it is quite a performer and I once hit 172 mph at dawn on a straight stretch of I-65 between Birmingham and Nashville. I liked the afterburner feel as the turbo progressively pushed you back in the seat. I kept my 944 turbo for 11 years but, unlike your experience, my 944 turbo was the best and most reliable car I ever owned ... I never spent a dime on it except for regular survice (and a dent removed). I agree that the Cayman is a different beast altogether, quick and aggressive, nimble as a cat. For its size there is a lot of trunk space and the handling is out of this world. I did do the track thing at DE events at Gateway International Speedway and Heartland Park. What a blast ... treat yourself and explore the real driving potential of our cars (ask about track events from your local PCA). I added an aftermarket exhaust/ECU to my Cayman for about 30 more HP. It is quicker than my 944 turbo but I still miss the progressive increase in acceleration as the turbo spins up. Both are great cars and I'm glad to find someone else who has appreciated each of them for their own unique features.
Enjoy your Cayman ... thats the order of the day!!
PCA - Porsche Club Of America
The Porsche Club of America - http://www.pca.org
CaymanClub.Net members who are also PCA members should request access to the PCA Member only forum by filling in their PCA Member ID# into their profile and then requesting a group membership addition, both of which can be done in the User Control Panel (User CP)
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Carrara white pauper's 2.7
Snickers wrapper in the door bin
Flies on the number plate
Church's scuffs on the kickplate
'Goodwood' umbrella in the back
Good to see another happy 2.7 Caymanite. I'm 53 not 63, but have also had transaxle Porsches before which I really loved. A 924, a 924S and a 968 to be precise, all of which I loved for their sense of balance, rather than their ferocious power output. Under-rated cars, all of them. I then moved to a 964, which certainly had the power, but which I felt did not have the balance, and I'm not sure I really gelled with it as a result. Dare I call it an over-rated car?
My Cayman is the best car I've ever driven. It has poise and balance galore, and that is worth more to me than huge bhp I cannot use anyway on today's crowded and over-policed roads.
