To me, I never thought if it as "buying a Porsche". I love nice cars, regardless of manufacturer. First and foremost, I like cars because of the way they LOOK. Of course, the other factors come into play: performance, price, exclusivity, overall experience, etc -- but ususally it's the looks that do it for me (and my tastes do change over the years). I try not to get cars that "feel" the same, or offer the same drive characteristics. We have a 600 hp Vette, stock Camaro z28, beater Mazda 626, stock Celica -- each serves different purposes for my gf and I.

The Cayman was a great addition -- mid engine, great handling, sexy looks, price... err... let's not get ahead of ourselves ... but still well worth it to us, obviously.

I almost went with a 350Z, as I like the looks and the price is great, but the Cayman's curves won me over.

 

This is a good question.

Answer? It's personal of course. To me there is an equation here which leads to any buying decision, each factor (which may vary) is personbally weighted/10. Mine is as follows:

Performance (9) + handling (10) + image (7) + build quality (8) + style (8) - practicality (2) - cost (5) = buy Cayman S

 

So I ask, why did you buy a Porsche? Be Honest...

I bought a Porsche (987 Boxster) because the first time I EVER drove one -- which was a year ago February -- it put a smile on my face that has not gone away. It's a car that gave me a thrill -- something I've always had on bikes but never before in a car -- and I just wanted to have that. A clergy friend of mine who drove Porsches for 26 years earlier in his life told me that every time he drove his car was like taking a mini-vacation. I'd have to say that that's been my experience exactly.

 

I bought a Porsche (987 Boxster) because the first time I EVER drove one -- which was a year ago February -- it put a smile on my face that has not gone away. It's a car that gave me a thrill --

Exactly... that is what I tried to explain. It's not the badge on the front it is the thrill I get when I sit behind the wheel and hit the gas. No words do it justice. And as otheres have pointed out here, the Cayman is damn sexy!!!

 

Because my wife told me to

Dude ... my personal opinion, you don't have to justify or validate what you buy to anyone other than your spouse and yourself. I don't give a crap what my "friends" think about what cars I buy - unless I choose to tell them, its none of their business.

Life is too short to worry about the small ... stuff.

 

Agreed, life is too short to sweat the small stuff and it was my wife that pointed out their envy, but I was just wondering other's opinions, especially the ones I get here.

 

Well to be honest, I had saved up X amount of money by the time I had to buy a car because I had already sold my last one and I couldn't keep hitching rides to the car dealership; I hadn't even considered a Cayman as the BMW M Coupe had just come out and if I used my connections with the local BMW dealer, I could've gottenmy hands on one for invoice.

In fact, I had never even seen a Cayman in real life at that point, and I felt the design was just too wierd, what with the rear hatch being so wierdly angeled and going under the back hips. Then one weekend while I was in Tampa, having dinner at my favorite Greek restaurant in Ybor City, I saw a black Cayman S pass by and my jaw just dropped; , the pictures just didn't do the car justice!

Clearly, the car was more of a looker than the M coupe, but I didn't want a car for just looks, I wanted speed and performance!!! My local dealer had no M coupes to drive, but I did drive the roadster and then the Cayman S. And it was obvious that the CS had the advantage, but the numbers on the M Coupe were killing it! Then MotorTrend did the back to back road test...and the CAYMAN S WON!!!

Well at that point the car was still out of my price range, which had strict cap at right under $50k. The 2.7 hadn't been announced yet. So it seemed like I would have to just settle for the M Coupe and suck it up everytime a Cayman driver pulled up to me... Then one day, I searched Cayman S on ebay just for the heck of it and came accross a WHITE (oh my favorite car color of all time!) Cayman S in Georgia with NO options; we all know you can't find them at the dealer that way! And the auction had closed at 45k, no reserve met. That gave me hope and I started researching the car more and more... and started telling my family that I was. At first, they kept saying, "oh your just want it because it's a Porsche." But, really... I had worked incredibly hard, especially at my age to save up that kind of money, and I wanted the best car I could get. If the M coupe had been that car, I would be equally as happy.

Eventually I ventured on this forum a month later and saw the same car listed for 51k and entered the negotiation process and ended up purchasing the car within my price limit.

So being completely honest, I didn't get the car because I had a desire to show off...but the fact that it is a Porsche means a whole lot to me because of the Porsche heritage. Growing up, playing Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, reading everything I could on Porsches, and even designing a 911 GT2 enthusiast website for my first technology class, I had always dreamed of owning a Porsche coupe, but I would never have imagined it would be this early!

And there's people out there that automatically assume things when they see the Porsche badge. In fact, a girl I dated shortly after getting the car, couldn't stand it because she thought it was too ostentacious. We still talk... but I went out and found a girl to date who grins from ear to ear when I take her out in the Cayman and floor it in first gear. It's that thrill I get when I fling it into a turn, not the badge on the front of the car.

- Suneet

 

I always grew up loving P-cars. I remember a night in out for dinner with my parents where there was a poster of all of the Porsche cars made up until like 1985 or something, it kind of showed the evolution, etc, etc, of the company...I remember telling my parents that night that if Porsche continued to make such awesome cars (awesome was the word I used according to my parents), I would buy one when I was old enough.

While I was growing up I became more and more of a "car guy." I friend of mine's dad had a 1966 Shelby Mustang that I fell in love with. From that point on I was (and still am) a Mustang guy. I had a Mustang before my Cayman and still love the cars for what they are. When I went out to purchase a new car I was certain I wanted a Shelby GT-500. But in the process of trying to get someone to take my money (I would not pay 1 cent over MSRP) and getting bent over by dealers I decided to keep my money and wait.

Then my wife and I took a trip to Italy and spent a lot of time in Northern Italy. While there I saw several Caymans and Cayman S. At that point I did not know that the 2.7 Cayman was out yet, so when I got home the first thing I did was see if they were out in the U.S. And sure enough, they had just reached our shores.

So one day while my wife was doing something more important than what I had going on, I drove my Mustang to the local Porsche dealership to drive a 2.7 Cayman. It blew me away. Everything about the car blew me away. When I left to drive home in my Mustang, it felt like such a beater.... I could not sleep that night, literally. All I could think about was the smile I had on my face and the feeling I had when I was behind the wheel of the Cayman.

So (long story, sorry) I bought one, and sure enough the smile and feeling I had during that first drive are still with me today...man, now I wanna go out and drive the thing, thanks a lot TX-Kman S...

 

So (long story, sorry) I bought one, and sure enough the smile and feeling I had during that first drive are still with me today...man, now I wanna go out and drive the thing, thanks a lot TX-Kman S...

HAHAHAHAHAH!! Glad I could reaffirm your decision. Having said that, I'm going to pack up and drive my CS. I did something unusual today and I drove it to work.

 

Honestly Honest

All BS-ing aside........I have ALWAYS wanted a Porsche.

I thought that I was going to have to live with a used 911. (didn't want a ragtop)

When the CS came out, I realized I had a chance to fulfill my life long dream.

Then the 2.7 was released and I considered going that route.........That is until I drove both. The CS in my garage tell "the rest of the story".

I really do feel as though I have acomplished one of my goals in life.

:cheers:

 

Porsche - there is no substitute.

That's why I drive one.

 

Buying a Porsche was in the back of my mind for several years. Boxster didn't really interested me, primarily because there are so many of them and the design is getting a little stale. Probably would have purchased the newest 911 I could afford until I saw the Cayman. The Cayman S is exactly what a sports car should be and it fit my driving and style needs exactly. it is hard to ignore the badge on the car, because you can't separate the marque from the car.

Rod

 

Buying a Porsche Cayman, a Cayman S or any other 'special car' should not be based on technical specifications, resale value or the approval of others. These values are transient and will fade over time. The true value of any car lies in the way it makes you feel. Now here is the reason for my choice of Porsche, and it has nothing to do with horsepower, resale of the car or what others believe about me…

When I was seventeen, I went with my girlfriend (now wife of 36 years) to visit a family friend. Here I was, bored stiff, surrounded by five chatty girls, one mother and an equally bored father. Ten minutes into the visit, he gave me a knowing nod and asked "Do you want to see my new toy?" He took me out into the garage to show me his newly acquired, ten year old 1958 Porsche 356. Now, at that age, I didn't know a Porsche from a Pontiac but I recognized the gleam in his eye and the excitement in his voice as we inspected his prize possession together and it is something that I have never forgotten…that car was special.

Do you think this man cared about horsepower? Do you think he ever even considered its resale value? Do you think he cared what others thought of his Porsche or his reason for buying it? NO, but in that brief bit of time we spent together, I knew why he owned that car and that's why thirty-eight years later I chose this Porsche over all other makes and models.

I guess I just have a different understanding with regards to my Cayman…all the threads about "When is it time to sell, what's you next car going to be?" leaves me a bit bewildered and to those who are already contemplating these things, I would simply answer…"Sell it now and let someone else appreciate what you don't really value with all of your heart." I become emotionally attached to my vehicles. I owned a 1973 CJ5 Jeep for 17 years and 14 years later I'm still driving my 1993 MR2, but I just away my very first car, a 1966 Mustang that I bought back in 1968…It now belongs to my daughter.

I remember all of the happy memories of associated with each of those cars and as I wash my Cayman, I think to myself…what a lucky man I am.

 

You make a great point. When I was 8 and my dad showed me his 944 I had no idea what a Porsche was. But from that moment on, I always wanted one of my own. Gets in your blood and stays. All about the feeling. I whole heartedly agree.

 

I really like my Nissan 300ZX a lot, but it's 16 years old and is going to die on me one of these days. So I've been considering a new car for the last year or two, but just couldn't quite get myself to buy a new 350Z. Wanting a 2-seat coupe, there aren't many choices for under $100K. I went ga-ga when I first saw a picture of the Cayman S, but decided to wait for the Cayman to come out: the HP difference doesn't affect my driving around the suburbs and coasting along the Interstate, and the price difference is significant for me. My order finally got entered yesterday, and my '08 Cayman should be here in August.
I don't give a damn that it's a Porsche; in fact, that's a negative factor, because the price is so high. But - other than Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins - I think the Cayman is light-years better looking than any other car around. Styling is my number one priority, so I gritted my teeth and paid (what I consider) an outlandish price for the most beautiful car available. As I said in a similar thread several months ago: I'm getting a fabulous looking automobile, and it comes with a world-class sports car as a bonus.

 

One reason I think of all the time is that when I'm in traffic and people are tailgating me and driving like jerks I think this to myself... "If I drove a car like yours I'd want to get out of it as soon as possible too." When I'm driving home from work I'm in a happy place while everyone else seems miserable.

When I was single people used to accuse me of buying nice cars to attract girls. Now that I've been happily married for 10 years without the slightest inclination towards changing that, they will have to come up with a new reason. I think they just can't stand to see someone else that's happy. They have to think that you are compensating for something to make them feel better about themselves.

 

is been a dream for me to own a sports car, and as for right now, the Cayman S is the most realistic sports car i wanted to purchase. i didnt want to be trap by a 150K sport car price tag. however porsche has always been something that i wanted. when i became financially independent, after purchasing my home, my porsche was the next items on the to do list. haha

 

Very well.

When it first came out 2 years ago at the auto show, it won "Best in Show"award and I absolutely felt in love with the car. Next year? Cayman S went on and won the "Car of the year" and declared 2006 world performance car. Not to mention it also received JD Power and Associates Disclaimer.
Why did I buy a porsche? I think the question is way too broad to me to answer precisely.

 

I was not planning on buying a CS. I drove about 20 cars planning on replacing my pickup truck. Then I drove a CS. It was the most fun of any cars that I drove doing 20 mph or 100 mph. I wound up selling my 63 splitwindow corvette (1 car garage). This will be my 4th Porsche.

 

I bought a Porsche because it was a Porsche, and that I'm fortunate enough to even consider it. Porsche stands for all the stuff people posted already, performance, reliability (most of the time), racing heritage, exclusitivity and so much more. But for me, it was also because it is a Porsche which means I'm buying something that a marketer dreamed up, packaged and sold. It's that something special.

I want a Ferrari aswell. And if the marketing people there convince their accountants to mass market Ferrari's it at the same price point as a Porsche, I would buy one to :banana: . I'm not one to buy car and keep it until the end of time. I'm one that realizes that my time will come to an end one day, and I will enjoy as many cars as I can. God willing. My $.0.02

 

I've always had one for the last 27 years... I grew up in the "car culture" of the 1950s and 60's in LA - we always went to either the races at Riverside or the drags at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington - both lamentably gone, almost every weekend. All my older brother's friends were car and motorcycle nuts... the guy across the street was building a '57 Chevy Nomad wagon with a Chrysler hemi with dual quads the size of toilets... in 1966 went and saw the movie "Grand Prix." I knew racing was for me. In 1971, saw "Le Mans" in CinemaScope - wow, amazing... as was that little 1970 911S Steve McQueen drives in the opening sequence of the movie... had to have one. In 1972, I attended the Bob Bondurant school of high performance driving at Riverside - my first racing school - the five-day Grand Prix course was all that was offered then - you got your SCCA license if you graduated... I graduated - most fun I've ever had with my clothes on. One of the cars in the lot was a '72 911S, brand new. I just stood and stared at it for 15 minutes, I think. In 1980, after I stopped traveling around the world as a photojournalist (I actually didn't own a car for more than two years) I bought my first Porsche, a 1968 911L soft-window targa, and I've always had a Porsche of some sort (all 911s until the CS) ever since. The Cayman S is #7 since 1980.

Why? Nothing like them - only car you can get groceries with and drive the groceries to the track and flog the car all day, and eat the groceries for lunch. Every car ever made by Porsche is a race car. It's the style, the driving experience and the engineering that does it for me. Like some others have mentioned, I really don't care what others say or think of me - good or bad - for driving one... I just do. It's too bad that some people have to think ill of you for driving one - if they took the time to drive one, and they were into cars, they'd find a way to have one, too.

brad

 

i always wanted a soft window targa... not sure why, rarity i guess.

 

Casey - It was a great car - fun, light, fast, nimble (1968 was the last year before the wheelbase was lengthened) had Weber carbs, and being able to put the back window down was really cool. Unfortunately, you're right they're rare, and made rarer by the count of one when mine was stolen and cut up for parts... it was a cryin' shame.

brad

 

a '68 soft window 912 was almost my first car until i saw the floors were shot... got in to british cars for about 10 years after that. thanks for the story.

cp

 

I don't really know why....

and before you think I'm nuts let me explain.

Ever since I was about 7 or 8 years old, I've been fascinated by Porsches. The performance, the look, the racing heritage, the quality...don't know what the triggers were, but they've always been there. I've "almost" bought one more times that I can count - special love for old Targa's (but not the rattles and maintenance worry). A couple years back I "almost" bought the 986. I decided that I really didn't want a convertible, but the long test drive left a huge impression about the chassis and performance.

Then I started hearing the rumors of the "Hardtop Boxster" and I knew that would be it. I was disappointed when the CS came out because it was just out of reach price-wise. I waited patiently for the C and the rest is history.

To quote one of the other posters above, "The smile has never left my face."

 

I bought a Porsche because it is the only car(so far) that I have found which produces the all of the things I look for in a car. Including speed/agility/safety/prestige/comfort. The CS may not be the best in all of these categories but it sure strikes a wonderful balance.

Oh and of course you get to belong to the Cayman Club

 

I bought a Porsche because I have a tiny Johnson.

Now I feel like a big man.

 

Why did I buy a Porsche?

because i am a driver

 

Re: Because I drive mid-engined sports cars

The first time I bought a Porsche was because I was looking for a Middie and I could not find a Lotus in decent shape. I never even considered a Porsche until some English Can-Am driver came testing out at Willow Springs, in a 917, and broke the all out lap record formally held by a formula car. Later when the PCA came out to the track, I softened up a little to the idea of the 914 being a Porsche.

For about the next twenty years my everyday car has usually been a mid-engined sports car of some kind. German, Italian, American. I never did own a Japanese Middie. Years later as a shareholder in what is now Porsche AG, I came across a study used by Porsche, for a new product Porsche was considering. It had a psychographic profile categorizing Porsche owners into five personality types.

Porsche is merging with VW, so I recently sold off a few shares and am now happily driving a mid-engined Porsche again. Of course it is a great car, but really about average for mid-engined cars, driven on the street daily. I have never driven a Middie that was not great fun. I run the Boxster as a Roadster, with the top down all of the time.

When I read your experiences here, I just do not know where you guys would fit yourselves in these Porsche owner types, so I have included the report here for your comment. I have to fall into the last group, my first Porsche was de-tagged. I am still the same person. A Boxster feels like just any other mid-engined road car to me.

Because i am a driver

Because I am a Middie driver.

 

I, too, have always dreamed of owning a Porsche because of the performance heritage. For some years now, the dream has been a 911 Turbo. My first track car, however, was a mid-engine car ('85 MR2), and I fell in love with the handling of the mid-engine layout. I really don't care for convertibles, so the Boxster didn't do it for me, and if I couldn't afford a 911T then the CGT was definitely out. When I found out that Porsche was going to make a coupe version of the Boxster, I got really excited. The pictures stoked my excitement, and the awards it was receiving didn't hurt, either. When the time came for a new car, I ranked all of the possibilities and narrowed it down to the Corvette, the Z4M coupe, and the Cayman S. Couldn't find a Z4M to drive, the Corvette was awesome but lacked that mid-engine balance; one test drive in the CS sold me. I'm so glad I could now afford such a fine automobile - I'm in performance heaven! I usually keep my cars until they die or become too expensive to maintain, and I sure hope that point will be many, many years away with my CS.

 

I have always wanted a Porsche, ever since the first time I visited a Porsche dealer back in 1975, when i was 12. I saw an Orange 911 S. Took me 31 years and finally buying the Cayman S. I went through practically all european car makers, from British, to French to Sweds & the usual German Brands many VWs, Audis, BMWs, Mercs & now the Porsche Cayman S. Pretty sure this won't be my last Porsche.

 

For my profile in my high school annual, 38 years ago, I wrote that my future was "University and a Porsche".

I had to make the prediction come true... and when I saw the first spy photos of the Cayman, I knew that my time had come to finally own my first P-car.

So... it was a decision made long ago... finally coming to fruition.