I thought the Cayman drives better and looks better. Carrerra back seats are useless and I liked the cayman truck better. And the hips!!

 

DITTO. I also don't like the 996 body style.

 

I could turn the question around and ask why would anyone pay $55K - $65K for a used car when you could buy a new Cayman for the same money. Personally I don't like buying used cars and that is doubly true for used sports cars. I'm not saying that you can't find exceptional values out there, especially with the 996, but when I pay $60K for a car I don't want to have to be concerned that the car may have been abused by a former owner.

 

1) I don't like to buy used cars.

2) I like the Cayman . . . a lot!

3) I wanted a sports car and not a GT car.

911s are fantastic cars. Maybe one of these days I will be lucky enough to have another one but right now I just wanted a Cayman.

 

C looks better and also can fit 2 bags of golf clubs in the trunk. Try that on a 911 :banana:

 

2 bags of golf clubs? I cant even get one full set of clubs in my trunk. I can get a small bag at best, but my set goes in the passenger seat Tell me how pleaseeeeee

 

I chose my CS over a new 997. I just liked the styling and handling 0ver the Carrera. At one point my wife told me to get the Carrera because it had back seats and it might be more "practical". I looked at her and told her there is nothing "practical" about a 997 or any of the current Porsche models. If you love to drive. If you love the feel and feedback that you get from driving, then there is only one choice; the Cayman. It delivers more of the Driving Experience then the 997 I drove and the bonus was that my CS was cheaper.

 

Looks and Layout.

I have never been tempted by a 911 because rear drive seems to be a legacy rather than a solution. Now it can be effectively argued that the 911 is a winning platform in the past and present, but I still feel that way. Only when the Boxster came out (with a mid engine and a terrestial price) did Porsche entice me to their stable at all. By the time I felt I wanted to splurge the Cayman S was the only Porsche contender in terms of looks and layout.

 

I had a 997 on order and cancelled it. I test drove the CS and knew by the end of the drive that I liked it better. Better handling feel, great design, and the $40k difference didn't hurt (but it wasn't the main factor). I don't buy used cars either.

 

I did both - bought a Cayman and bought it used.

I paid $51k for my Cayman S which retailed for $66k new (list before discounts).

I test drove the 911s. I loved the engineering elegance of the Targa roof. I thought the Turbo was scary fast. I hated the retro-interior (especially the orange leather (flame suit on)) in the pre-2005 models.

Most of all though - I didn't like the backwards pendulum effect in the 911. It was too much car with too specialized driving dynamics for me.

So I bought the Cayman S, used.

DF.

 

Ditto. I had been looking and test driving 911's for awhile - biding my time. I'm not a Cabrio person - love coupes. When the Cayman S came out I went to see it at the dealer .. with my wife. WOW!. It hit every note I wanted to play and my wife loved it. Still bided my time and was looking to order an 2007 but started looking at lightly used 06's from dealers. I felt there was more value ...for me. I know some might say Porsche and value don't really go together but I felt this was a great deal, getting 95% of what I wanted in a Cayman for 80% of new price.Buying any Porsche is such a personal cexperience, there really isn't a best way - just your way. Keep an open mind and be honest with what you really want. The smile will still be there!

 

Keep an open mind and be honest with what you really want. The smile will still be there!

sound advice...
people always say, "if you're gonna get a Porsche, it's the 911 or nothing". I grew up hearing that so much, I started believing it. When the CS first came out, I thought that it looked amazing…yet subconsciously, I was still dead set on a 997 S.

It took a back to back test drive on a cool Saturday morning for me to decide that the Cayman S is IT. I’ve never looked back since. Price is somewhat irrelevant, as a used 997 is indeed in the same territory as a new CS…the Cayman simply drives better for me. However, a GT3 on the other hand....

 

My wife said if I can find a 2006 911 S for around $65,000 and with low mileage, I can get it today.

I did some research on Edmunds, and used 2006 911 S dealers' buy back is around $63,500. So I figure I can locate a few choices for around $65,000, but have had no luck. If anyone else comes across any, please let this old chap know. :cheers:

 

Simple for me. Buying a used sports car is a risk unless you really know the history and the owner. (Heck, even buying a "new" demonstrator is too big a risk for me.)

I wanted the best handling car. That made it easy to pick the CS.

 

I had the choice of a 9000 miles driven 996 C4S with the X51 engine package and suspension upgrades as well as aero kit. It probably was the best looking 996 I have ever laid eyes on.

It drove well. Actually very GT like. It had the RMS issue. The 4WD didnt excite me that much (especially when I track a car I imagine 4DW will rob one of some of the handling in teh corners. Plus I guess the car would be a bit more involved to maintain.

Other cars: I cant afford a 997 C2s (which is the one I would really like) or a GT3 (996/997) which I cant for an even longer period.

The plain C2 doesnt interest me. In 997 form at least, and the 996 with the exception of the one I mentioned above or the GT3 didnt seem like too much of a gain over my E46 M3.

I had eyed an Elise/Exige but couldnt use it daily (well for more than a few months at most), the MZ4 ment driving 3.5 hours for service (which is why I decided to leave the BMW brand - dont have a dealer in town plus the post E46 cars are just plain hideous in my eyes), it seemed the Cayman was the answer.

Mid engined, light, no sunroof, comfortable enough as a daily driver. And as I get to knw it, it really feels like a mix between my E36 M3 and the Elise I had test driven. Best of both worlds really.

The Cayman is like the 944s of the past. Well engineered cars, respected by drivers, but somewhat ignored by the parent company, with enthusiats keeping them running with cottage industry support.

To me at least anyways.

I am a certified Cayman nut now.

If I got a big wad of cash right now, would I say no to a GT3? Nah! I would get it, but keep the Cayman too.

 

I actually chose the 911. Last year I was test driving a new Cayman S or a used 911. I bought an 02 911 C4S. When my 05 Audi S4 lease is up next spring, I will add a used CS as a daily driver.

At that time there were no discounts on the Cayman S, so a used C4S was actually cheaper. I would not buy any used used car with all the service records. I bought my C4S from the original owner who had serveral 911's and he had every single service record.

The differences between the 911 C4S and the Cayman S:

911 C4S
more power
back seats (for kids, I have a 3yr old)

Cayman S
better handling

If you value handling, get the CS, if you want power get the 911. I was coming from a Z06 corvette so power was very important to me and I also needed a back seat.

I still love the Cayman S and will definitely be buying one next year.

 

I was at the dealer to buy a used 2006 911s when I test drove the CS. The 911 s was sold a couple of hours before I got there. A salesman threw me the keys to a Silver CS and told me to take it out and drive the s%#* out of it. Bring it back before closing time. As he predicted, I forgot all about the 911. I am not an expert. I have only limited track time. At the limit, I feel like Michael Schumacher in the CS. The 911 scares the heck out of me with the oversteer. The car requires practice and driving expertise beyond my present ability. After driving both cars except from 0-40 mph- the CS feels faster and responds to driver inputs much better than the standard 997. I have not driven the 997 S.

 

996 was never even considered in my decision. I don't like the way it looks and certain I don't like the way it handles.

My decision was between the Cayman S and a 993 C2S. I love the looks of a 993 C2S and the 993 is built on a much much better quality than the 996.

I also like to track my car and although the CAyman S may lag behind a 997 in acceleration, but it will make up in handling. The Cayman S is almost as good in handling my Lotus Elise on the track.

 

2 reasons:
1. I always buy new cause not many people look after their cars like me and I
don't have to worried about any mishap or abuse from the previous owner.
2. Bar straightline speed, this is the best handling Porsche that my salary
can buy. Next step up is a Gallardo or F430 which I cannot afford!
However, if the R8 rear end look a bit better, I would have trade-in my CS!

 

samwY
Your question includes an assumption that a 996/997 is more desireable or better than a CS. I, for one, don't accept it.

As I've posted several time in a few of the many prior similar threads, I replaced a very nicely modded '96 993 which I'd had for many years w/my CS. For several reasons, not the least of which is that I track my car, I will not buy a cabriolet or Targa. I never considered owning a 996 & still wouldn't. I considered a new 997S, but after a test drive found it to be less attractive for me as a sports car than my 993, although it's a wonderful GT. Up to that point I had decided to keep my 993.

Then I test drove CS' on the street & on the track & was smitten. The 993 is gone & after a year I have had no regrets. After 40 years of sports cars, this is without question the best street/track, daily driver I've driven. IMHO. So, in short, I bought a CS instead of a new 997S because the CS was my 1st choice. I didn't "settle" for it.

BTW, a good friend traded his pristine, low mileage, modded '96 993TT for a new CS yesterday instead of keeping it or buying a 997 GT3 or Gallardo. He plans to either do a 3.8l or blower conversion. Anyone interested in a dynamite 993TT?

 

samwY
Your question includes an assumption that a 996/997 is more desireable or better than a CS. I, for one, don't accept it.

Hey STLPCA, that was just the parameter of this thread and I wanted to hear some responses according to it. A lot of great responses! Thanks for sharing guys.

There is definitely a lot of heart for the Cayman S on here.

 

went in to drive a 997 911S first...to me it was okay- nothing spectacular (to me)...i didnt care to look at the cayman, but the sales guy was egging me to drive it, saying it's a totally different car and he knew i'd love it...

drove the cayman s and loved it...it was over from there...had to have it...

 

I don't like buying a used sports car, and the Cayman S I got new was more than 20k cheaper than a C2. If I had the money, I'd get either a new C2S or GT3. Don't care for the C4S or Turbo's AWD / handling. But I prefer the handling of the 911. Cayman is easier to drive for sure (and more forgiving), but if you know how to drive a 911, the 997s are pretty sweet IMO.

 

I like the looks and how the Cayman S drives. Plus I see a lot more 911s than Caymans.

 

I test drove a 2003 996 C2 and a 2005 997 C2 before deciding on the Cayman. The 996 wasn't in the same league as the 997 & Cayman. It didn't feel significantly more powerful than the CS, and the CS handling was FAR superior. And the 996 cabin was too cheap/cheesy for me to bear compared to those of the 997 & 987. Both the 996 and the 997 felt as if I had a linebacker sitting on the rear bumper relative to the Cayman's delicious neutrality. Imagine the mirror image of an Audi S4. The CS did feel down on initial grunt to the 997 C2, but not so much as to dissuade my choice.

I have also driven a 996 turbo and C4s, though not as part of a buying decision. The 4wd makes a significant difference in the handling department, but both cars really felt more as if some of the rear weight bias had been ameliorated rather than that the inherent unbalance issue had been solved. The extra grunt in the 996S or 997S is a big plus in my book, and the turbo was just ridiculous.

 

The only two things I really liked better on a 911 was the way it comes out of corners and the way it 'squats' under braking. I didn't like it's midcorner composure, the fact that you're paying an even higher premium than a CS, solely for the iconic status, and it's got 2 seats in the back for show. I like mid-engine cars more also.

Really, the only*thing that bugs me about the CS is Porsche's total lack of motorsport support for what would be their best car if they put their mind to iit. I really admire the 911 for it's racing support - I guess the 430's have to spank the RS's a little harder.....

 

Cuz its new... and you know the history behind it. Plus the CS looks better

 

If the Cayman S has 355hp, would it be better than Carerra S in every aspect?

 

Hey I'm qualified to answer that since my Cayman S has as much HP as a Carrera S. There are certainly areas in which the Cayman would NOT be better:

1) Cache - some people buy a car for the name, the status, the history, etc. and obviously the "911" has that over the Cayman, if that is important to you then HP equality won't matter much.

2) Backseats - Need to stuff kids in the back of the car or other items? The 911 has 'em the Cayman doesn't, if you need to carry 4 people, advantage 911.

3) Seat Adjustment - the 911's seats will slide further back giving you more leg and reclining room than what you get in the Cayman, if you are an NBA player this may be important to you.

4) All-wheel drive - some 911's have it (C4S, Turbo, etc.) and the Cayman doesn't, if you want to get around in the snow by installing big knobby tires and having all wheel drive then there is a 911 flavor for you, sadly none in the Cayman lineup. The regular C2S doesn't have it though, but a C4S would albeit at a higher price point.

5) Styling - There are those who prefer the 911's dated styling to that of the uber-fresh and sexy Cayman so even with HP equality those folks might still choose the 911. There are styling cues like the headlights and the a/c vents that are different between each car.

6) Sunroof - Can't get it in the Cayman and although 95% of owners with a sunroof say they never actually open it, just having one makes some buyers feel better. If you need a sunroof you need a 911.


Hmmm that's what I can come up with off the top of my head, if there are other advantages let me know...

 

the cayman fit in my garage--the carrera at 3.5" longer did not