Planet 9

Hi All,

I'm new here and I apologize in advance if this question has already been answered in another thread.

I'm interested in buying my first porsche, specificaly a cayman. At this point, I'm not sure if I will try to find a used cayman or possibly try to find a 2009 (Base model) that has most of the options I am looking for.

My current car is an Audi A4 1.8T so I know this will be a major upgrade. I have never owned a high performance sports car before and I had some questions regarding the Cayman Base and S models:

1. The car I buy will be my primary car and used as an everyday car for me. Is the Base or S more comfortable to drive as a daily driver or would they be the same? I'm assuming if equiped with the same options they would be pretty identical.
2. I will not be racing or going to the track (see #1). Does it make sense to go for the Base Cayman or will I definitely miss the extra horsepower in the S. Is it really worth the extra $$ for the S?
3. In terms of resale value and depreciation, would the Base and S models be the same or is it much better with the Cayman S?
4. Would a 2009 Base Model (Gen II) be better than a used Cayman S (2006-2008) or am I trying to compare apples with oranges?

Thanks for your help.

Many questions. Many opinions! No wrong answers.

First, I just joined the Cayman ranks....took delivery May 1 of a (base) '09 Cayman with PDK. Gave up my BMW 330xi. never looked back. I love this car so much that actually wash and wax it MYSELF! I haven't done that since high school.

Short answer...whether you get the C or the CS, you will not be disappointed. Comfort-wise, they should be the same....provided we're talking about the same wheel size. I have the CS 18" wheels on my C, so I'm pretty sure the ride would be identical. 19" are less forgiving for daily driving. There are other "ride" options (eg. PASM) but, for all intents and purposes, the main diff is the engine.

Mine is a daily driver as well. I chose the "base" because I don't intend to track this car and it's plenty fast for my daily commute and weekend errands. That said, after experiencing how great this car is for a month, I can't help but wonder if the CS is even greater. I plan on test driving a CS soon to see. Which is what I recommend you do. Try 'em both. I can't imagine ever "needing" the extra HP.

Whether or not you should buy "new" is a complex choice. One thing's for sure...the depreciation will be huge. I chose the '09 because I wanted the PDK (daily commute in NYC traffic)...and for a variety of reasons, leasing it made the most sense.

Knowing what I know now....

If you don't need PDK, I'd look for a great deal on an 08 CS still on a dealer lot and buy it outright. I bought 15k miles on my lease and, at the rate I'm driving, I'm going to go WAY over...

Enjoy!

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2009 Cayman
Carrara White
PDK
Sand Leather
Carpets in deviating color (black)

Just curious-approximately how much a month after tax do you pay on your lease? 36 months or 24? Yours is a beauty!

Thank you.

[QUOTE=tko;369053]2. I will not be racing or going to the track (see #1). Does it make sense to go for the Base Cayman or will I definitely miss the extra horsepower in the S. Is it really worth the extra $$ for the S?
QUOTE]

Here is the diffferent hourse power 2008 vs 2009. Test drive them both.

2006 - 2008 Cayman S - 295 HP
Cayman - 245 HP

2009 Cayman S - 320 HP
Cayman - 265 HP

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Cayman 2007
Boxster 2005
Boxster 2001

Correct greycroc: the 30HP is not that much of a difference. PDK would make that up in acceleration times.

BUT, tko, that compares the 2009 base to the 2006-2008 'S'. The 2009 'S' will definitely distance itself from the base car; but the pre-'09s don't have PDK if your looking for auto.

A 2006 'S' can be had for ~$30K under list, with decent miles; you just have to figure out whether a given car has had 'decent miles'.

And I believe the 'S' cars will always command higher prices. Just don't know if those 'higher prices' will be the actual difference in the purchase price!

When I was looking, the difference between an '08 C 2.7 with 5-speed and an '06 CS with 6-speed was huge. The '09 C with PDK throws a whole new wrinkle into the equation. I think it works.

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chas

2006 CS Midnight Blue, Bi-Xenon, SportDesign Wheels, Heated Seats, Automatic Climate, Sport Shifter, SS Tailpipe

PS- That means buy the '09 C if you can stand the ~30K hit, or buy the '06-'07 if you can't. OR BUY the '09 CS that kicks everyone's tail!!!

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chas

2006 CS Midnight Blue, Bi-Xenon, SportDesign Wheels, Heated Seats, Automatic Climate, Sport Shifter, SS Tailpipe

I bought the base 09 because I will not be tracking or modding the car. I've had it for 2.5 months and it's my daily driver. It has plenty of power, better low range torque than I expected, and I enjoy it every day. Unless you'll be racing it, I don't think you need the extra HP in a car this light.

Good luck.

I think this ('09 base w/ PDK) is a very good package for an every day car that will not be made into a track machine. Actually, it could be effectively tracked with another set of wheels/tires/brake pads. PDK is really nice that way.

With an older Cayman, you don't get the PDK choice. Tiptronic is a real compromise, in my opinion, but you need it if you have a big slug of stop and go every day, so I'd get (actually, I DID get) an older S with plenty of goodies and a 6-speed with low miles as a weekend type car for under $40K and just drive it to work occasionally.

-Six

i too had an audi 1.8t (2002 b6). i traded it in for a 2007 2.7 and also use it as my daily driver. although its been over two years since i drove a cs (test drives before i made my purchase), my recollection is the comfort level was the same (provided you compare the same seats and wheel and tires).

as for the horsepower, that depends on how you drive the car. if you're an aggressive driver, there is a good chance that you'll miss the additional power. however, the non-s is not underpowered.

on another note, i thought the term "base" when referring to cars meant no optional equipment...just the standard equipment. that means that both the non-s and "s" models have "base" models. which means that because my non-s is lightly optioned (it has a few optional equipment), it should not be considered a "base" model. to distinguish the two, should we be referring to them as "s" and "non-s" or 3.4 and 2.7?

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for everyone's responses. Definitely appreciate all the feedback and advice. I definitely plan on test driving and forming my own opinion.

Sorry if I caused confused anyone with the term BASE. I did mean 2.7 vs 3.4and for 2009, I believe it's 2.9 instead of 2.7 for the previous model years.

Pricing is a factor for me so I may try to find a used Cayman.

A couple of additional questions:

1. I live in Los Angeles with a lot of stop and go traffic. Does it make more sense to have an tiptronic or PDK (2009) instead of a manual.
2. I have looked through the classifieds here. Any other suggestions on how to obtain the best deal on a used Cayman (2.7 or 3.4)? Any dealers you would recommend in Northern or Southern California?
3. Do you feel buying a certified pre-owned is the way to go in order to have factory warranty?

Thanks again!!!

Hi everyone.

tko, i'm new here too and i just bought a used Cayman S (still waiting for it to arrive ).
Honestly, i never considered the non S because i know i would always lust for the S if i had got the base one
If you really can't afford a used S then get the base one, but if you can i would go for the S, no doubt. (i went) At least you won't risk regreting not getting the S in a few months and always be thinking "what if..."

Any of the 8 variants of model years, models, and transmissions are wonderful drivers. I think Cayman-S' comment is spot on though. If you go the used route and can afford the "S" model, you will not regret it.


Best of luck in your search.

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'07 CS Speed Yellow

Both are fantastic cars. You can't go wrong with either, but there are many small differences to be aware of to make the decision that's right for you.

Please see or FAQ: Planet Porsche - FAQ: Miscellaneous

I haven't driven the gen 2 cars yet, but I was able to spend a week in a 2.7L Cayman when my S was in the body shop to have some shipping damage fixed. What did this S owner think of the 2.7? Read this: http://www.planetporsche.net/cayman-...tml#post191253

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Gator Bite
PCA Cayman Register Advocate

2006-2008 Cayman S - Add Softronic ECU, Softronic SPR, Borla Pipes
(40hp on average) Cayman S - 295 base HP + 40HP mods = 335HP, over an 09

Save $$ on the depreciation of an 09 or 10 after you drive it off the lot and add the mods for less than $5000 JMHO

The only way to tell, is to go drive a PDK car, then drive a manual and see which one speaks to you more. When you get out of the car after the test drive, which one puts a bigger smile on your face?

I live in OC, and drive ~40miles to century city and back each day. My current car is a manual, and there are days where the left foot says "you dork, you should have gotten an auto".

But then I go out driving on the weekend, and hit a stretch of twisties, i remember why I got the stick.

I test drove the PDK, and while I loved the split second shifts, it felt sterile to me, much like I was playing one of our sims on the PC.

I ended up ordering the 6 speed. the few times when I would get annoyed stuck in traffic are far out-weighed by the sheer joy I get from those times when I'd find a nice stretch of road to unwind the car, and there's something indescribable about that great feeling you get when you match the revs perfectly on a downshift, or row through the gears as you accelerate.

Maybe my next car will be some type of smg/pdk auto-manual since in about 5 years it'll probably become standard on most cars. But for now, I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream, and back in those dreams from when I was 7, my Porsche had a clutch pedal ...

I think the best piece on this subject is the one by Gator Bite. Unless you are tracking the car, I don't think the base model will disappoint you. And remember, the 09 base (Gator Bite wrote about the 2.7 not the 2.9 l engine) comes with an extra 20 hp over previous models.

Thanks to everyone for all the valuable info. Definitely helps me out!

At this point, I'm going to check out the 2009 cayman (2.9) or try to find a used 2007-2008 Cayman S.

I still haven't made up my mind on an automatic vs manual. I agree the manual would be more fun to drive but the auto would be better for all the stop and go traffic in LA.

I have to agree with SGF's comment! Either way (S, or no S) you are in for a good time. I do not track or modify. Nothing wrong with either situation, it's just not me, I simply drive and baby what I have.

When I bought mine, I was struggling between a 06 CS and a 07 C and I ended up buying a 07 C. I test drive both car and I can easily feel the difference in power between the two. I chose the 07 C mainly because it has lower mileage and one more year of warranty (price difference was only about $3000). If you are not a street or track racer, the base will satisfy you in terms of power and balance and you won't regret it.

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07 Cayman
06 330i
04 325ci

When I bought mine... There was a midnight blue '07 with 18" Cayman standard wheels, which I don't like a lot, and tan interior and all the comfort options...bose, dimming mirrors, climate control. It had only 7K miles and was at a local non Porsche dealer. $43K

Instead, I bought an '06 Arctic Silver w 19" Carrera S wheels, Bose, PASM, Sport Chrono +, PCM2.1, heated seats and sport steering wheel and 16K miles from a non-Porsche dealer in GA. $38K

Wife and I few down on frequent flyer miles and got it. The car was cosmetically and mechanically perfect with all fluids changed and ready to travel. Since I've had it home, I've had time to really take some covers off and look at the innards and it's pristine. It's a nicer car with these options and a better deal. I was not on the fence about CS or S at all. Since the older cars are such a steal, I wanted the best one I could find for under $40K. I think I did well. The silver turns out to be a blessing, very easy to keep nice. Black standard interior with Sport steering wheel is very easy to keep clean and very stylish. Should wear well too. It's a littler hotter inside than a lighter color but this isn't a huge problem for me living in Chicago.

If I were driving it every day, I'd have an '09 standard Cayman with PDK. I don't think Tiptronic suits this car.

I still have a couple years of warranty and I'm not really worried that the car will self-destruct. I'm a pretty good wrench and the car will be treated well. I'm not a guy who likes to hang around at the dealer. I'd rather fix it myself if I have a choice. Last owner of this car was a female member of the Allman Brothers family. She traded for a C4S. Cool!

The ride home with the wife was truly grand. Blue Ridge Parkway Rocks. Make reservations at the Pisgua Inn before you go. It's very special. Fresh trout, Ice box pie, big window overlooking the Smokies in every room. No TV.

-Six