2007 Boxster S vs 2002 911 cab

I didn't start out in sport, but I found the button a few minutes into the drive. It did seem to sharpen the throttle response. I think the rev limiter kicked in 2 or 3 times for me. Do you have much 911 seat time to compare to the Cayman S?

No, I don't. I've driven a friend's 996 GT3 on the track, and that's about it.

Honestly, once I drove the CS, I didn't even test drive or consider a 911, that's how "right" it felt to me. Handling is more important than all-out power to me, and I really didn't see how a 911 or any other production car could handle any better while still providing a decent ride.

Cayman S.

Just got back from driving a 370Z, and my next sports car HAS to be a Porsche. I wrote my below impressions in the 370Z thread.

I just drove a 370Z and hated it. It didn't help, though, that I drove an '07 Cayman S yesterday and fell madly in love with it. The two just do not compare (they probably shouldn't either given the price difference when new). The 370Z is very crude in comparison. Although it is pretty quick, the engine is soulless, rough, and doesn't sound very good. The Cayman S felt every bit as quick, maybe quicker, and its throttle response is much sharper, sound is much better, and feel is much more refined. The 370Z also bounces around and throws the passengers around over rough payment. Our first good corner was a bit rough, and it felt like we were knocked off course a bit. The Cayman S is so much more fluid. It does not get the slightest bit upset by rough payment. It doesn't ride like a Cadillac, but it always stays composed. I would definitely tire of the 370Z very quickly, and my drive to work is less than 10 minutes. It certainly is not a GT; rather, it is a somewhat crude sports car with decent performance for the price. Of course, I would take an '06 or '07 Cayman S any day of the week over the 370Z (and prices are fairly comparable now for flawless, low mile Cayman Ss). I would also take a used C6, S2000, 335i, or G37 over the 370Z in a heartbeat. My $.02 worth.

^nice writeup.

Thanks for removing any doubt that maybe I would have been better off waiting a couple of years and dumping my money on the 370Z instead.

They seem pretty close on paper, but living w/ and driving a car is quite a bit different than reading about it.

IMHO, you shouldn't waste a second on doubting. I was that disappointed. As I said above, I would rather have an S2000 (or even a G37). Also, I went with a co-worker, and she absolutely hated it too.

You hit the nail on the head. You really need to get out and drive these things to make valid comparisons. Magazine racing just doesn't cut it. For the most part, they all suck and churn out the same predictable garbage month after month. I, for one, would like to see more creative comparisons. Why not compare the 370Z to a used Cayman S now that Cayman S prices have come down to comparable levels, instead of doing another comparo of four cars that just all happen to have over 600 h.p.? I think the 370Z/used Cayman S comparo is a lot more relevant than comparing the Viper/Vette to the AMG whatever-you-call-it-SL65-coupe-thingy/Murcielago LP640 (snoooooooooooooooze). The only real difference in the 370Z v. Cayman S debate is maintenance costs, and I can live with them if I am getting the greatness of the Cayman S instead of the mediocrity of the 370Z. On the other hand, there is that somewhat real diffence of 300-plus grand in the Viper v. Murcielago LP640 debate.

This post has been edited by bjohnston on Feb 2 2009, 12:48 PM

While I liked the 370Z a little better than you did, it was still no comparison to the Cayman S. I came VERY close to pulling the trigger on a 370Z, but after driving the Porsche, I changed my mind completely. 2 weeks later, I ended up with an '06 CS in my garage

Congrats on the CS! Did you look at 911s too?

bjohnston,

Some insightful reading for you:

http://www.caymanclub.net/other-porsche-mo...ning-996-a.html

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-boxster-c...-had-911-a.html

You can find many, many more comparisons there w/ the search tool. You'll find some bias of course, but many owners have long histories of prior 911 ownership.

i like hearing the varying opinions esp of those that i actually read like chris S and mdxlover. Jay V is new to me, but he certainly 100% gets the 911. that yellow 911 i would've bought when i was in the market several yrs ago. that is a super awesome look.

i usually pass over the emotionally charged school girl words like "hate" to describe a non-breathing object.

here's my $.50 (in da club).

Boxster S, great car. even the regular boxster nowadays fantastic. but i'd take a well optioned 996 911 over it any day. in fact, the only car i'd upgrade to at this point isn't a 911, it's F-car (Chris you've already heard my spiel here). if i had a cayman or boxster, it'd be the 911.

so without getting too long winded,

there's def more to the numbers as all of us discerning car fans know and there's just an area in 911 land that no cayman/boxster can touch...

It is the third-oldest sports car nameplate still in production (Corvette/Skyline).

i like the heritage and enjoy being a part of this club.. for now. i absolutely am very much enjoying every mile in my dated 996 c4s.

It's funny, a few weeks ago, I would have never considered purchasing a Cayman. I always thought that it was just a "Boxster with a hardtop," and more of a poor-man's 911. That all changed the minute I test drove one. Ironically, three years ago, I had the exact same opinion of the S2000 (dated, under-powered, etc.) until I drove one. I ended up buying the S2000 shortly after.

I definitely considered a 911.. but I wasn't too interested in a 996 (RMS issues, costlier maintenance on an older car, among other things), and a used 997S was still way out of my price range. Also, after doing some reading, I was surprised to find out that many former 911 owners (996 and 997 included) had sold their cars for the Cayman, claiming that it was better handling and more fun than the 911. I still haven't test-driven one for myself, but I will once I'm ready. For the moment, I'm perfectly happy with my CS

Bizarre. Can't say I've ever used the word, "hate," to describe a "[]breathing object." Such use of the word actually sounds a bit more like an "emotionally charged school girl."

Cheers,
B

This post has been edited by bjohnston on Feb 2 2009, 04:05 PM

Can't say that I blame you. The Cayman S was so much better than the '02 996 cab that I drove. Hard to believe they came from the same maker just 4 model years apart. I still want to get more seat time in better 911s (996 C4S and 997 Carrera) before making a decision on the Cayman S. I think I will drive an '08+ C6 again too, but as I recall from several months ago, it didn't offer the kind of connection and immediacy I felt with the Cayman S. Gotta get as much seat time in the cars as possible in order to get to the bottom of what's what, IMHO. Sometimes you're pleasantly surprised (Cayman S), sometimes surprisingly disappointed (996 cab and 370Z).

Nice ass! That car has a lot of presence on the road.

I'll consider switching to a 911 when my son is old enough to not need a baby seat, but still small enough to fit in the back.

Here's my story:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...0&#entry9347712

I went in just to look at one, and ended up getting suckered into a $55K test drive! Over 2 years later, I'm still every bit as happy w/ it.

Some people here seem to forget that the Cayman is a Boxster with a fixed roof.

Pretty much same chassis, suspension, steering, braking, shifting, etc...

I know the Cayman is stiffer, but unless you track the car hard there isn't that much of a difference.

Sometimes it seems like people think the Boxster S and Cayman S are totally different cars to drive...It's overhyped...

This post has been edited by Jacques79 on Feb 2 2009, 05:40 PM

Body is twice as stiff, suspension 10% stiffer, more powerful engine (in '06, and again in '09), more storage space/less rattles, more exotic styling IMO. It's a lot safer if you're planning to track it.

The Boxster S is a great car, but the Cayman won my heart. I'd have a Boxster S as a complement to the CS if space and budget allowed.

lol come on man, the Boxster S is to have 310HP and the Cayman S 320HP, do you really think that will translate into a measurable difference when you drive the cars back to back?

It's all marketing so that Cayman S owners don't feel as bad to spend more money on basically the same car.

Funny how BMW didn't charge more for it's M Coupe than its M Roadster...

This post has been edited by Jacques79 on Feb 3 2009, 05:32 AM

Jacques, I don't want to get into a pissing contest on which car is faster or better....just pointed out the differences, which collectively made the CS a clear choice for me. I wouldn't question anyone's choice of the Boxster, either.

Interesting reads.

I share sentiments about the 911's engine placement. Sometimes it felt too far back, like a little midget was chasing me, then would catch up to push me from behind.

This is an interesting thread for me, because I rented a Cayman S for a week last October.

It was a six-speed with nice options including a thick sport steering wheel and PASM..no sport chrono, though.

Bottom line: it was the best sports car I've ever driven. It would do whatever I wanted, and do it with smoothness and precision. Fast, wonderful handling, transparent steering. I was blown away by the refined nature of the car and could at last "see" where the money goes in Porsche engineering.

That said, I wasn't sad to give it up at the end of the week. For me, the best sports cars have some rawness or wildness about them that makes them exciting to drive. The S2K had that in spades. So does our M3 convertible; although it's too heavy, I love the S54 engine.

I can see why you Cayman owners love your cars, though. Like I said, it was the best sports car I've ever had the pleasure of driving. I guess my preferences say more about me than the car.

It is such a personal decision especially when you're into the $30K+ sports car category. They're all good enough to have some feature or performance dynamic that makes it agruably "better" than cars that cost much more. I think the S54 is a great engine, but it was not raucous by any stretch of the imagination. The M3 was a complete GT coupe for me especially coming out of an S2000. Will never buy an M3 again not because it isn't a great car, but because the 911 offers such a superior driving experience.

And a $30K car is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. For most in the middle class it represents half their yearly earning or more! It doesn't count if you're renting from the banks. j/k

Here's a snapshot of Porsche's January sales figures. What was interesting to me is how popular the Turbo Cabriolets are as they are selling more of them than the coupes from what I can read here. What's clear is the Cayenne's strength in the US market and also abroad. It's not a big car at all, but just big enough to fit that very desireable badge and carry four comfortably. Yes, the badge counts. And yes for as lovely as the mid-engine flat6 is, the arse placement somehow lends to the mystique of the 911 however arse backwards that may be.

Romance is in the air.

X2

I absolutely love my old Boxster S and am pretty sure a new Boxster S will be my next car in the next weeks-months, but dammit every time I drive the Z4 M Roadster it leaves a little doubt in my mind.

No doubt that the Boxster S-Cayman S has superior steering feel, balance, and a ''planted feeling'', but reving that S54 engine at 8000RPMs makes me weak in the knees....It's such a violent beast of an animal, I love it! Really reminds me of an AP1 S2000 with just more power everywhere.

I swear some days I try to figure out how to keep my 986 Boxster S, get a Cayman S and a used 2006 M Roadster...