Planet 9

First post here - have been browsing the board for a couple of weeks and I must say this is a great site.

Anyway, after driving an SUV for a couple of years, I'm itching to get back into a sports cars. Previously owned a 2002 BMW M3, so the current M3 was my first inclination, along with the likes of the BMW M6, Mercedes C63 AMG, or Lexus IS-F. I have to admit that Porsche was barely on my radar screen initially. However, I've read glowing reviews for the Cayman and we recently visited a dealer and looked at a 2009 and sat in it - I was very impressed with the "feel" and it looks great ! Two-seaters tend to feel rather cramped to me, but the Cayman didn't. After reading more and reviewing this site (and noting how Cayman owners seem to universally love it), I'm very tempted !!

OK - the Cayman has moved near the top of my list (and is the preference of my better half). I haven't driven one yet - I'm afraid that if I drive it, I will want it immediately - and my timing is probably going to work out more for the fall or winter (are better deals available then?)

Anyway, I wanted to say Hi - hopefully will be posting more in the future.

Robot78

I just placed an order. It didn't take much tempting.

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Softronic

Hi Robot78. Welcome to our forum.

Put the mouse down and step away from the computer. It is quite obvious that your subconscious has already decided that you WILL get a cayman. Now you just need to bring the aware you into the light. So go, go now and drive one. Drive two...what the heck drive several variants to see how the different options work. Then read and read some more on this site about what a lovely, magical car the Cayman is (I know, I am biased)

Okay, in all seriousness. Do read all about the pluses and minuses about this car. To me the negatives are so minimal, that when I turn the key and step on the loud pedal all is forgiven.

We have a great group of incredibly knowledgeable people here really know this car inside out. Any questions, do a search first and if you do not find the answer, ask away.

Colin

We spent almost a year researching and driving the Cayman and 911 before buying a Cayman. Your timeline is perfect to research and order a car. You might pay a bit extra than choosing one off of the lot, but there is really nothing like taking delivery of your car outfitted exactly like you want with no compromises, seeing that odometer say less than 10 miles, and knowing that know one else has sat in your car save the folks who built it and accepted it at the dealership. Good luck!

Run fast to your local dealer if you want a car by Fall. If you want to build your car do it now. I built mine in late May and the completion date is Sept 3rd. So if you want your car by Fall you need to do it soon. Also as you will learn Porsche only produces so many cars and not many Caymans. I tried for an 09' and missed the boat. No pun intended... There will be stock cars on the lot however each dealer has only so much time for cars they are receiving to make any changes on before they get locked out. That is what happened to me for 09' So if you want a 2010 I say it again, run to you dealership today and start the process and the fun of building your new dream car. Good luck!

Welcome to the site, and yes GO DRIVE one and you'll be hooked...

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K-Man S

+10 on that one....I test drove mine in early october and didn't bite the bullet until Jan 15th....ordered it and had it by the end of April. That test drive haunted me the entire time...oh the wait...it seemed like forever but so worth it.

Go to the dealer. Go directly to the dealer. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. ....

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Thanks for the replies and (subtle) encouragement

A question on ordering - Do you negotiate the price with the dealer and then place your order? I ordered my M3 when I purchased it and paid sticker, but would hope to negotiate at least some discount if I go with the Cayman.

Thanks,
Robot78

My pleasure. Yes I would go in and negotiate the deal on the spot. When I placed my order we wrote up the deal and then starting discussing the finances. Now more than ever you can say you do not want to play games but get a fair deal. In the past from what I have read you did not get deals on special order cars. Times are different as we all know. I have read where some people have gotten 10% or $1,000 over invoice. In my case I got around 7% off and a signature confirming this on the order. I am fine with 7%. Would I have liked 10%? For sure but I am o.k. with my deal. Just be ready to walk and I do not think any dealership even Porsche will let you go in this crazy market. I have paid sticker for high end cars before when the market was different. I guess I would say go in and ask for what you think is a big discount and see what happens. I know in HI where there is only one dealer jman is not getting very far with breaks because they do not need to since they are the only game in town. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Also be prepared for a very different experience from your M3. I'm coming from an STi and also almost bought the last M3. When I first test drove the cayman S I was really disappointed. I read all the reviews and expected a Porsche to just blow my socks off. But initially it didn't.

First off it's not going to have the shove in the back that many straight line racers do. It isn't about straight line speed or HP/torque but more about the total package. It's how the whole package works together with the suspension perfectly tuned for the chassis and engine. This is also the reason that many overlook the CS based on numbers or even a quick drive.

It was only when I really worked the CS that I realized what all the fuss was about and how I've never driven a car so polished and well sorted. It's not about how fast you can take a corner but also what happens when you hit a bump mid-corner and the car just absorbs it and keeps on it's line. Also it's about driving involvement and interaction with the car. I also test drove the current M3 coupe and really thought about it but there was no sense of occasion driving it. It was fast but somehow I didn't feel a part of it all.

Everyone on here was right. Go out and drive a CS in as many configurations as possible and really drive it hard but keep in mind what the car is about, and maybe you'll see the light on your first test drive rather than your third.

Just to second this, I had a '99 M Coupe w/ a supercharger, lightweight fw/m5 clutch, suspension, and etc. The CS reminds me a lot of that car actually. On the other hand, I couldn't even drive the E46 M3 because I thought it was too big and too heavy. My CS (2007) is not straight line fast, but is a lightweight, well-balanced car. While the CS is an awesome car in my opinion, I've been used to short wheelbase <3,000lb cars, that are behind on amenities for the past decade. Every other car you list is pretty much in the heavy w/ big engine class with seats and way more gizmos. I think your decision with the CS is really do you want to spend basically the same amount of money for less creature comforts/ engine yet an awesome chassis. If the answer is yes, then you have only the CS among your options. If the answer is no, then the CS is off your list. I had a friend ride along today coming from a E46 M3 cab, and he told me he couldn't imagine driving something with such a short wheelbase. I couldn't imagine driving the E46 M3 so to each their own.

I still have an S52 M Coupe for track use, not quite ready to make the Cayman really ready for DE's. I really appreciate the light weight of the Cayman, lighter than an E36 M3 but of course more power. You will feel more connected to the Cayman, and the short wheelbase and mid-engine layout are just what a sports car should be.

The E92 M3 has too much power for the street, and too much weight for the track. A Cayman S: just right. If you want a cruiser or a GT, go for the M3. I really resent BMW's incessant move towards more electronics, taking you further away from the connectedness I've always felt with the older models.

If you want a driver's car, the Cayman is it.

John

Robot:

I had an E30 M3. It was fun on the track but I had to modify it to get it to be even competent on the street (no torque). Traded for a 911SC which was a mistake. The thing shifted like a tractor and needed the timing tensioner update and new shocks and other things just to be a real 911. I had to install a short shifter in it just to get reverse to stop hitting the driver's seat.

I never did provide all the things it needed, apparently because I never got to a point where the car was more fun and less ego and worry. I traded it for a new E36 M3 after less than a year. I felt the whole Porsche mystique was an overpriced and over-hyped fantasy. I guess I just never "got" the rear engine thing because the suspension never really worked right. Just seemed to me to be an arrow pointing the wrong way at the track.

I had my E36 for 15 years. I tracked it a lot, put a roll bar in it, chipped it, braced and stiffened the supension and played with the camber and put lots of different race tires on it. I always felt the car was a little heavy. I went through race tires and brake pads like candy. I could have gone to an E46 but I didn't like the extra weight. The new one is even heavier.

I looked pretty seriously at Lotus Elise and Exige, but the local dealer went under and these are cars pretty likely to need things. Add that the street behavior is a different sort of deal.

The only problem I'm having with my CS is that it's so nice, I'm just not ready to track it yet. I'm driving it around town and having a ball. It's enough right now. I've never had a better looking car or one that's such a nice thing to drive and ride in. It sounds and feels so good.

Recently, I got a good drive in a Merc AMG C63. That is a very sweet car and is nicer looking than any BMW. Performance is exceptional and the handling and feel of the thing really surprised me...just excellent. The bad thing is that it's a total guzzler. 15mpg on premium? That's kind of a deal breaker for me. I want to put some miles on my car, so I'm not really looking for anything this thirsty. And the car weighs a lot. It has huge brakes so the pads might last longer but it will surely eat tires like crazy if it is tracked. I don't know the technical weaknesses of it under track conditions and wouldn't buy one until I knew them, but I really like these cars.

I would not have bought the CS were it not for this site and all it's information. Who wants to find out the hard way about a car's weaknesses? Maybe you want a big V-8. Maybe there is an AMG site somewhere with track rats talking about kits for fixing oil starvation or beefing up suspension mounts. I don't need a 4 door sedan with a trunk. I have one of those. The CS is a good fit for me but this Merc really rocks for what it is.

-Six

drive it, buy it, never look back ....

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