Planet 9

Hey guys. So Ive been a BMW fan for a few years, having a 335I and then getting into an M roadster. Just about every car I have gotten, it has had more power than the previous. My lease will be up on my M roadster soon and I am looking into a Cayman S. I am nervous that it wont have the power that my M roadster has and Ill get bored with it fast. Just looking for a bit of input here. Im sure Ill get the response of get a 911, but I cant justify having a car payment within a few hundred dollars of my morgage, so thats pretty much out. The only other cars I was thinking of was a slightly pre owned Lotus Exige S, however I fear it wont like that due to the lack of comfort and ammenties. Considering a used M6 but I am all set with stopping for gas every 2 days, especially with gas the way it is. I guess I just dont know what to do at this point...

It's not about power alone. It's about the sum of the parts....

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2007 Porsche Cayman
2002 Audi S6
2002 Audi S4
1983 Mercedes 240D

wait and get a used m3 if you want horsepower, but if you liked the way your m roadster handled then a cayman is going to be even more nimble with the same get up and go

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-06 Cayman S Guards Red
Thank you to the old people who put no miles on their porsches and trade them in.

Sounds like you have not even driven one yet. There is more to a car than a HP figure. Drive and find out if its for you, only you can decide if a CS is for you. On the drive don't forget the curvy road.

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Red 06 Cayman S
White 01 Ford Ranger
Blue 73 914
Did not try, just happened

Different animal entirely. Drive a Cayman S with sport chrono and enjoy.

Agreed. Go drive one, then you can better decide. You can't make a decision like this based on printed performance numbers.

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Gator Bite
PCA Cayman Register Advocate

First off, most comparison tests of the Cayman S and Mcoupes had them within a tick of each other in all acceleration tests. Every test I read favored the Cayman for handling, utility, and fun to drive ratio. Every day I am moving closer to the mantra of "light is right." The Cayman is several hundred pounds lighter than the M Roadster, probably half a ton less than the M6 and 335's. And you're right the Exige would be punishing as a daily driver. If your biggest requirement is lots of ooomph when you hit the pedal you're probably shopping in the wrong place.

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Scott
2009 MINI JCW Coupe

You know, I've always associated the big HP numbers to raw, straight line power. What's the fun of going in a straight line? As others have stated if you're looking for raw HP numbers, keep looking some place else. The Cayman is about the total package; styling, performance, and driveability. The Cayman is a great track car and an excellent daily driver. Do yourself a favor and test drive each car and see what you like.

You might also look through the cayman Comparison section for some member feedback of the Cayman vs. BMW models. Here are a few to get you started.

http://www.planet-9.com/automotive...est-drive.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-com...4-m-coupe.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-com...08-bmw-m3.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-com...35i-coupe.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-com...versus-m3.html

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Meet my Mistress...

My Pictures My Cayman S

My Porsche Cars

2008 Carrera 4 Cab
2007 Cayman S
2006 Cayenne S Titanium Edition (gone )
1982 944 (Amoung first shipment to come to US; number 6 off the boat)

I traded in my 2002 M5 for my CS. And while it doesn't quite snap your neck off, The CS doesn't disappoint. I honestly thought that I would miss the extra hundred horsepower a lot more than I do. But the way this thing takes corners and handles in general, more than makes up for the brute force grunt.

Try this:
Take a well used one out on a test drive. One that they won't mind you revving up. Now find an empty road, get into second gear, and floor it. when you pass about 5000 rpm and the second cam is kicked in. I guarantee you will end up looking like this:

Give it a try. let us know how it works out.

We have more HorsePower than many of our boyhood Formula 1 Heroes had (albeit in a heavier vehicle) together with better brakes, stability control etc.

Are we getting too 'Picky'...........?

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Cheers Karel



'Power is Nothing - Without Control..........'

Ira S,

What part of the world are you writing from?

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Gator Bite
PCA Cayman Register Advocate

USA.... New England to be exact.


I guess whats really holding me back is everytime I get a new "fun" car (I have a company car by the way) I always get something thats a scale up from my last. In this situation comparing the Cayman S to the Z4M I have now I dont see it being a real "upgrade". I drove a cayman S about 6 months ago along with a base carrera cab. When your with a salesperson its very hard to feel at home behind the wheel and really get a feel for it though.

I read all those reviews, I'm still

Sounds like you may want a Viper or Corvette.

Dang, I wish my lease payment was within a few hundred $ of my mortgage payment...I'd be driving a Bugatti Veyron

I agree with the others here - you really need to drive a Cayman S for yourself and decide.

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// Interpol / 2009 Cayman S / Carrara White
// PDK / Sport Chrono Plus / PCM 3.0 w/ UAI / Full Leather / Bi-Xenon
// Champion RG5 Monolite 18" / Borla prototype catback exhuast / Eibach Pro-Kit springs
// Rennline drilled pedals / Rennline aluminum track mats / Sirius Stiletto 2 / Escort Passport 9500ix
// 2006 Cayman S / Speed Yellow / 6MT / traded in 08.2009

Porsche dealers want to move you "up" to a 911. That's the money car for Porsche, my salesperson had a hard time containing his disappointment when I decided on the CS.

Also, if you are looking to drag race people, go elsewhere. In fact, it's very easy to make a car go fast in a straight line, it's the corners, braking, ride, feeling of confidence that set my CS apart from my E36 M3 or any other car I have driven.

Cheers!

PS: I agree that the CS makes Porsche a lot as well, but they make a lot more on a 911!

If you like going straight fast, there are other cars that can do this better. New M3?
If you like gadgets, there are other cars that have more. New M3?

If you like a good sports car that does well around corners, then I'd take the Cayman S for a spin again. It's not the ONLY car out there, but it does it pretty well. IMO

I have not driven the Mcoupe, but I have driven both the new M3 and the last model.... And I just went and test drove a Cayman S last week, and all I can say is I was IMPRESSED.

I drove a 997 S and 4S first... and frankly, they felt , well, BORING. They had enough power, but they felt big and heavy and overly luxurious... nothing fun about them.

Then took the Cayman S out (with the dealer) and in 30 seconds realized this car was the REAL deal. Its the Porsche that Porsche used to make... a lightweight, well balanced, precise handling car. Its fast. No, its not balls-out fast, but its fast enough to keep your heart pumping between corners.

I loved it. absolulutely loved it. I was thinking I would by a new 997S, but after driving the Cayman S, NO WAY... there just is not comparison, the Cayman is the BETTER car if you want a sports car.

If what you want is raw HP, then yeah, maybe a Z06 or even the new M3 is really what you want... but at least go drive the Cayman S first to make sure. It feels NOTHING like a 997. You will either love it, or know that something else is a better fit for you...

With a few bolt ons, you will actually have a better power to weight ratio than the new M3. To me, Porsches rarely are about 0-60's. They have long legs that need to be stretched. My old STi was a monster off of the line, but it was just a big motor stuffed in a sedan that hit a aerodynamic wall at 100. A M3 follows the same formula but it is more refined and has a lot more leather. I saw my first one this last weekend in the flesh and it truely looked mundane.

The CS is a complete package. It is amazing how each component compliments each other. With a few bolt ons the car becomes really quick!

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Nov 16, 2007 build:
'08 CS Midnight blue metallic--6 spd
Black sport seats, Delete model designation
Fire extinguisher,Floor mats, Sport steering wheel

You need a Nissan.

GT-R

I had a supercharged E36 M3. It was a sub 13 second 1/4 mile car. I honestly don't miss the power in my CS. I drove an R8 at Infineon and it didn't feel so much quicker that I was left with a hunger for more power.

I say Viper, Z06, GT-R is what I need to feel quick in a straight line.

But I have a handicap. A brother with a 700HP 997TT that makes time slow down.

Take the above advice. Drive a CS to the red line before you make your decision.

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2007 Speed Yellow Cayman GT 2.7 (retired)
2008 Guards Red Cayman GT 3.4
"Carpe Cayman"

One Cayman S test drive got me out of the mood to buy an Z4M coupe. Drive both and make up your own mind. If you are expecting a dragster, the Cayman S is not the car you want. I get bored with heavy cars with big 0-60 numbers that handle like pigs (former BMW owner). The Cayman S is nothing short of electrifying in the corners at semi-scary speeds.. Think of it as a Lotus that you can live with. I will admit that that after a year I am starting to look at mods for more HP.