Planet 9

**K-Man S** · #1 02-13-2009, 10:40 AM

Previously we had a poll asking about the influence of this website on a purchase decision for a Cayman, whether or not this site influenced you to buy or influenced you to pick certain options, etc. in some way influenced the sale of the Cayman.

See: http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-cha...influence.html (You can still vote in this poll if you want!)

I was recently asked "Well how does the influence of the planet-9.com website compare to the influence of other sources?"

Since I don't know the influential capabilities of other resources I thought I would put up a poll and ask our members to choose all of the sources that substantially influenced their purchase decision, both to actually make the purchase as well as to how they configured their Cayman.

So let me try to define "substantially influenced". If your friend or neighbor said "hey you want a new sports car go check out the Cayman" I would NOT rank that as a substantial influence. If that same person went with you to the dealership, helped you select options and brought you various sources of information about the car and convinced you to buy it, then I WOULD list them as a substantial influence.

Dealership - did you walk in pretty much already knowing what you wanted and left the minor details up to the dealer such as order date, finance rate, etc. in which case I would say NOT substantial influence to buy, or did you walk into the dealership with no clue about what you wanted and the dealership sat down and showed you all the options, spent time on multiple test drives, etc. in which case I WOULD say that the dealership is a substantial influence on your purchase decision.

Obviously what is and what is not substantial influence is going to vary by each person answering this poll, but I only ask that you take the time to try to think through whether or not a particular source was a substantial influence in your buying or configuration decision. If you purchased multiple Caymans then please rank only your most recent Cayman purchase.

Any questions? Ok let's get to the poll choices! You may choose more than one!

**K-Man S** · #2 02-13-2009, 10:50 AM

I will also reply with some clarification of my answers. Obviously this website and all the info I gathered for it early on was my primary influencer, but I had 2 other sources, one I listed as friend/family and that was actually a past Porsche employee that had driven a pre-launch Cayman for awhile and shared his experiences with me (and no that's not why he is a past employee)

and finally the "other" choice I put down was because of 2 prior Boxsters that I owned, I would chalk up some of my influence to buy the Cayman as having come from owning those Boxsters and knowing first hand how good of a platform the mid-engine Porsche could be.

Looking forward to hearing/seeing everyone else's choices.

fmarshall · #3 02-13-2009, 11:26 AM

In my case, previous Porsche ownership, coupled with the reports of auto journalists worldwide made me order the CS. I knew it would restore the visceral feel of driving - something that IMO, the newer 911s weren't providing.

I know for a fact that, as stated by the local dealership, that at least 1-2 people were influenced by the club site.

Daytona · #4 02-13-2009, 12:00 PM

The main reason I purchased the CS is that I like the mid engine cars but do not care for convertibles. The moment I saw the first drawings of the Cayman I decided to sell my Pantera (mid engine car) and purchase a Cayman. I ordered the car with all the sporty/driver options ( PASM, Sport Chrono, Sport seats, Sport steering wheel, Short shifter, Bi-zenons, 19" wheels) except for the ceramic brakes which I could not justify the cost/benefit ratio. I ordered all these options because I felt it would enhance the driving experience and it has. Although the CS is generally accepted as my car, my wife had great influence with the chosen exterior color and interior (Atlas Gray/Terracota). This web site and Excellecnce magazine were a great sourse of information regarding the options and performance of the options. The Porsche web site was invalueable in determining the final configuaration.

**AJK** · #5 02-13-2009, 12:43 PM

A substantial influence on my decision was the expertise available on this site which allows an owner to do all his own maintenance. That and being able to be up on all the latest issues/mods/updates/etc.

echoboy · #6 02-13-2009, 01:04 PM

Like Daytona, I knew it instantly when I saw the Cayman that I wanted one, but it was browsing through the forum once I was ready to buy that I learned about reliability, maintenance costs, purchase costs, and the finer points of owning the Cayman. So my fellow owners were instrumental in my decision making process.

**Chris S** · #7 02-13-2009, 01:21 PM

I just wanted to look/drool at one b/c they looked so cool in the mags, but I had no intention of trading my S2000 for anything. The salesman was really cool, and talked me into taking a test drive even though I said I was just looking. I fell in love, but still had a hard time stomaching the going price for a new one, so I decided I'd settle for an '08 C6 Z51 when they became available for order around April '07. I never totally let go of the dream of getting the CS though, and in January '07 I found a used one w/ under 1,000 miles for a great deal (at the time) in the Cayman Club classifieds.

CC wasn't a great influencer (other than to reinforce my pre-existing thoughts on the car), but it was the source of my car!

**debwolfe** · #8 02-13-2009, 01:29 PM

I didn't find this website until after I'd purchased my CS, so it wasn't an influence during my decision process. Driving the car is what made me choose it over the BMW 135i and the Infiniti G37s coupe. Reading reviews and comparison tests helped me narrow my list down to those three candidates. Oddly enough, it was the Fifth Gear "dog fight" between the Cayman and the BMW 135i that got the Cayman on my radar in the first place.

The car itself was far and away the primary influence in my decision, though.

**ralarcon** · #9 02-13-2009, 01:42 PM

Previously owning a Boxster S.

Cheers.

IMADreamer · #10 02-13-2009, 02:16 PM

CC has actually made my decision a little harder because my initial impression of the typical Cayman owner wasn't so favorable. I worried that others might see me as I was seeing other owners, however the more time I've spent here I realized that the threads I were reading lead me to believe that Cayman owners were a little insecure and well honestly kind of annoying were an exception to the rule. I realized after some time there were some pretty cool guys and some real car guys here. So I guess I'm back to where I was when I first joined.

**K-Man S** · #11 02-13-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Chris S

I just wanted to look/drool at one b/c they looked so cool in the mags, but I had no intention of trading my S2000 for anything. The salesman was really cool, and talked me into taking a test drive even though I said I was just looking. I fell in love, but still had a hard time stomaching the going price for a new one, so I decided I'd settle for an '08 C6 Z51 when they became available for order around April '07. I never totally let go of the dream of getting the CS though, and in January '07 I found a used one w/ under 1,000 miles for a great deal (at the time) in the Cayman Club classifieds.

CC wasn't a great influencer (other than to reinforce my pre-existing thoughts on the car), but it was the source of my car!

Chris,
In your example I would actually say CC.Net was a substantial influence because without the website you wouldn't have found the "deal" listed in the Classifieds and purchased your car.

Again people may differ on how they rate "substantial" but in your car even though you knew you liked the car, it was the deal you found here that pushed you over the edge, so if I were you I would have at least checked CC.net in addition to whatever else you might have checked off from the list, and maybe you did that I don't know, just giving you my opinion while I sit and wait for my new Dell laptop... hope they don't ask me for my substantial influencers for that purchase!

**rsfdoc** · #12 02-13-2009, 04:15 PM

As a car fanatic for many years, have owned many great cars including a FIAT 850 Racer (first car), Porsche 944, Porsche 944 turbo, 2 Trans Am's, Camaro Z 28, gen lll Corvette, Porsche 911 and SRT8 Magnum (my current "suv"). Must say I loved each one, but could not wait for the technology to advance so I could move up. Knew about/read voraciously about the new Cayman in all the usual car nut mags. including of course Excellence. Having lurked behind the scenes on this forum, tried to absorb everything that was said. This site has definitely majorly influenced my choice. I sit here in anticipation of the delivery from Intercity of my next love on Monday. Bought a new to me '06 Cayman S. Could not have done it without the assistance of this Forum and you guys. A special thanks to Mike (aka Gator Bite), Porsche Inspector Extraordinaire.

(I've already ordered mods from one of the site vendors Suncoast, and it's not even here yet! I must need mental health counselling

)

**madcow** · #13 02-13-2009, 06:17 PM

I always liked the looks of the Boxster. Personally i felt that the appearance of the car was more balanced than the newer 911's,but i also prefer a coupe So when i first started my search for "The Car" i was looking at 1982-1988 911's I prefered the overall appearance of this era vehicle.Then the Cayman appeared.Heaven. it not only looks fantastic but it runs and handles like a little bastard...

markstudy · #14 02-13-2009, 07:32 PM

I was influenced when I went to a IRL race in St Pete

Bert Smith is the local dealer, and they had a Black Cayman on display.... I walked up to it (not knowing what it was) and just guessed this must be the new expensive 911.... expecting to see a price tag north of $120k .... I was shocked when I saw that it was the Cayman. (The low sexy back of the car looked more exotic than any 911 I'd ever seen)

I've been hooked ever since. I had never been a Porsche fan before. Cayman Club helped give me a group of guys to learn about the car.

NSXprime.com was important to me when I had a NSX

FerrariChat was important to me when I had a 308

And now Cayman Club is important to me.

I'm the new kind of car costumer...
When I walk into the showroom I want to know more about the car than the salesman, and I don't like reading Marketing material from any company... I want real stories from people who already own the cars, before I buy

**Rpryan55** · #15 02-13-2009, 07:56 PM

Walked into a dealership to buy a 911. Had seen the Cayman before, but really, really wanted the iconic Porsche.

Dealer talked me into a test drive. Didn't see test drive as an option in the poll, but, really.......the test drive was the biggest influence on my decision. I'd never driven a car that was this much fun. Bought it as soon as I got out of the test vehicle.

bglz42@yahoo.com · #16 02-13-2009, 08:09 PM

Same here! Went to buy 911. Drove 911's. Drove Cayman. Bought Cayman...

**LA Boy** · #17 02-13-2009, 08:48 PM

I had decided before this website was created that I had to have the Cayman. I've worshipped Porsches for over 40 years and owned three prior to the Cayman purchase, so I was emersed in the world of Porsche long before the Cayman was thought about. However, when I heard that they were going to put a hard top on the Boxster, I knew then and there I had to have the car when it became available.

That said, you won't find a better source of Cayman info than this website, nothing comes close. This site has influenced my future plans with respect to Porsche ownership. I know that I want to stay with the Cayman model, and from reading threads on this website, I have concluded that what most excites me is to do the TPC turbo upgrade (as soon as I can swing it!) as opposed to buying the facelift.

**shakeypics** · #18 02-13-2009, 09:25 PM

My BIL in Cali. definately influenced me by pointing them out to me and filling me in on them, so much so that after I/We ordered it he found out my color combo, he drove around L.A. to find that combo and talked me into making the change to what is now in my garage AS/CR with 19' Carerra Classics. I tell him it's basically his car. I listened to him cuz he is fairly knowledgeable as his dad was a mechanic in the 60's and raced at different tracks in So. Cali, taught him about cars and racing. He seemed to know a ton about the Cayman, which appears to be true from what I know now with himself not even driven one.

Don't know if dealership counts but I voted for it. On vacation in Oct 07 my wife was shopping at Santana Row and I found Stevens Creek. Just wanted to look. Sales guy offered to let me drive one and he was fully aware that were I was from and my intention of purchasing in the US. but told him a California purchase would cost me extra for trucking and I would probably be shopping east coast so I could drive and pick it up, and was he still cool enough to let me drive my first Porsche, he actually talked me into it.. done!!

And this site was very influential, when I came home from vacation I stumbled on here and read about a lot of folks and their time with other cars but they just kept on ranting about the performance and all else of the car, I was finished. Also the options that my BIL left for me chose from, I found here. I tried to make even more changes from pics posted here but was too late, all in all 3 balanced pulls lead me to the purchase, the test drive was the push over the edge tho.

**Chris S** · #19 02-13-2009, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by K-Man S

Chris,
In your example I would actually say CC.Net was a substantial influence because without the website you wouldn't have found the "deal" listed in the Classifieds and purchased your car.

Again people may differ on how they rate "substantial" but in your car even though you knew you liked the car, it was the deal you found here that pushed you over the edge, so if I were you I would have at least checked CC.net in addition to whatever else you might have checked off from the list, and maybe you did that I don't know, just giving you my opinion while I sit and wait for my new Dell laptop... hope they don't ask me for my substantial influencers for that purchase!

Ken, I checked cc.net, the dealer, and mag reviews on the poll.

Simon · #20 02-14-2009, 05:52 AM

Thinking back, it was probably comments on Elisetalk that lead me to the Cayman. I'd never previously been a fan of Porsche, probably because I dislike big wings on cars and the whaletails sported by 911s in the 80s and 90s were always the biggest, baddest wings out there (of course, to offset having the engine in the wrong place

). I guess the popular image of the typical Porsche driver put me off too.

Fast forward to couple of years ago, I turned 40 so naturally started thinking about a sports car. The Lotus was what attracted me most and I loved my test drive, but I had doubts about its practicality that were reinforced by my lurking on Elisetalk. I definitely wanted a sportscar, but I also definitely wanted a car that was not just a garage queen. Elisetalk threads are full of comments about the tradeoffs to that car, but their comments on the Cayman suggested it was close in handling, but more usable and addressed a lot of typical driver concerns.

A test drive confirmed that impression for me. It's not as raw as the elise, but still handles very well. The styling is not as extreme, but still turns heads. It's a Porsche, but different from a 911, which around here is the standard sports GT. It's a sportscar, but its cavernous two trunks - unlike the elise's "rear glove compartment" - make it easy for me to find excuses to drive it even for mundane shopping trips. I bought it just under a year ago as a weekend driver. 12000 weekend miles later, I think I made the right choice - thanks, ironically, to a Lotus site.