Planet 9

Current owner of an '05 E46 M3. Seriously considering a Cayman. What I'd like to know...
*what do you like more about the Cayman?
*what do you miss?

I previously owned an E46 M3 and I don't miss anything about it. Didn't like it nearly as much as the E36 M3 I had also owned. I didn't get much enjoyment from the E46 unless it was at the top of the rev range and going at a pace that was completely irrational on the street. I'm certain it would have been more enjoyable on track, but I'm only speaking to street use. The M3 feels as if it may have slightly better acceleration, but published numbers I've seen don't substantiate it. The Cayman is a far more enjoyable car to drive on the street. It has much more feedback in every respect; steering, brakes, shifting, and auditory. For a car that is usable every day, it is more of a sensory pleasure to drive than any car I can think of. Having owned both, I really don't even think it's worth comparing the two.

I owned two E46 M3's before the Cayman S. If you need the utility of a sedan, the M3 is great. But it's not a sports car, and that's the difference in a nutshell. All aspects of driver cummunication are better in the Cayman. Its handling balance is much more neutral than the M3. After spending $3K on a suspension for the M3, it still did not handle as well as the stock Cayman. The only thing lacking in the Cayman is horsepower. I tracked a couple of ZO6's for several seasons (C5 and C6), so I guess I was spoiled by their power level. But for an all around sports car, I think the Cayman is hard to beat.

After I test drove an e36 m3 I told myself that I would never drive a car that wasn't able to get immediately after. Loved how that car drove and always wanted one since. By the time I could get one, most had too many miles for my comfort. One day I test drove a cayman and took that same one home a few days later. Certainly a bit low on power but it's a true driving pleasure.

For Dadyscar, I really enjoy your avatar. Enjoy your son while you can, they grow up. Ed

I've instructed students in both cars at DE events and in my opinion the Cayman is a much better track car stock vs. stock. I don't know if you plan to track or not, but if you do I think you'll find the Cayman more rewarding.

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K-Man S

I agree. Seemed like, even though they gave it more power, the E46 was dumbed down in some respects. Certainly in the steering response. The Cayman betters both generations of M3. As was said earlier, it's a comparison of a sports car to a sedan, albeit a great sedan.

Thanks for the feedback folks. Use is a fun weekend driver...maybe the occasional track day or AutoX.
Speaking of kids... do any of you let your young ones ride in it? I have two kids < 8yo's and it's one of the reasons I bought the M... it had four seats. But I rarely have more than one of them in the car at any given time. Both kids are in backless booster seats now.

If you're willing to do some looking around, this question is probably one of the top-5 "comparisons" asked... Here's one to get you started, with 3 pages of posts:

http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-box...e46-m3-cs.html

Go to search/advanced search - put M3 into the search field... then change the drop-down box to "search titles only" then on the right of the page narrow it to the "cayman and boxster comparisons" forum, and you'll get a whole lot of reading... there's much more here than meets the eye, if you're willing to do some looking around and searching.

brad

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22-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Thanks Ed. That's my 5yr old in the pic. Seeing the 5th graders when we were touring his kindergarten schools are a really reminder of how fast they grow. -ivan

My 5 and 3 yr old kids ride up front all the time on booster chairs. They love riding right next to me and ask all kinds of questions they never asked riding in the rear. My 5yr old is especially curious about the shifter and all the dials along with the nav screen. Most modern cars automatically deactivate the airbag when it senses something on it below a certain weight. In CA it's legal to have a child up front so long as all rear seats are occupied by children.

That is like asking what you miss about steak when you are eating lobster. (Assuming you like both)

They are both great cars.

Get the one you haven't had yet. You can always go back.

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

I have to agree. The pure passion of a Cayman mixed with pure innocence, curiousity and desire to help of your little boy. Priceless avatar....!

Just wait until your boy is in the 5th grade. He'll be begging you to pick him up from school in the Cayman.

My son has been shifting for me since he was 8. He's 11 now, and still grabs the stick from time to time. I handle the rest. Gas, clutch, and I call out, "3rd" and he does the shift. You need to be very careful, watch very closely, do not rev the engine very high and disengage the clutch slowly because from time to time they will select the wrong gear.

It's been fun for me, teaching him how to find the 3rd/4th gate without trying. It's also fun to say 'shift' and not call out the gear, let him figure out which one is next.

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Gator Bite
PCA Cayman Register Advocate

Those are memories your son will carry with him and talk about for the rest of his life. Priceless!