2 months in a Cayman

[sars]

In my view the older 986 and 987 were let down by their interiors, the Z3 and Z4's of the same era are much nicer places to be. So you've scratched that itch now and time to move on, though I would strongly recommend that if you are going down the SL route, go for the face lift as that 9 speed auto makes for a much more enjoyable driving experience.

 

[GasheadIan]

Mines a year just gone in the cayman
The original owner plan was swap it over at the end of the year but the cayman is under my skin now and not sure what to do, original plan in bucket car list was xk8 jag
I still have the E85 but not had the issue of space you have found as E85 smaller than E89. But the cayman engine makes you want to chase the red line for that noise
Spring time decision

 

[Scubaregs]

I find the G29 cabin far roomier than my 718 boxster was.

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's an interesting comparison OP.

From what I have read the Boxsters/Caymans are far more capable than Z4s, but like Ed said I love my MC because it is a bit edgy!

Hopefully your Cayman will grow on you.

 

[Pondy]

Steve;
Just admit it, mate, you are getting old and a Merc is a far better proposition than a Porker.
It happens to us all. In our heads we are still 18, but in the cold light of day we are bloody old! :lol:
Or buy a Jag, just make sure you have fully comp breakdown cover and big coat, and an umbrella! :lol:

 

[mr.tourette]

Steve;
Just admit it, mate, you are getting old and a Merc is a far better proposition than a Porker.
It happens to us all. In our heads we are still 18, but in the cold light of day we are bloody old! :lol:
Or buy a Jag, just make sure you have fully comp breakdown cover and big coat, and an umbrella! :lol:

I know mate, I am slowly coming round to admitting to myself that I probably enjoy refinement rather than rawness and a quick comfortable car over a fast, well handling sports car.. I already drive a merc as my daily and I bloody love it and that might be part of the problem as its quick, comfy and quiet with all the tech and I'm dead happy driving it 3 years into owning it, unless the sun was cracking the flags I always picked the e class over the e89... that said i only did 2k miles a year in the e89 and Ive done 1200 already in the Cayman in 2 months so it does call out to me to be driven, In some ways I'm thinking maybe I need to flip a few until I find something I can settle in.. i tend to keep cars for quite a while once Im happy in them but sometimes you don't know until you've lived with them for a while.
When I test drove a couple of Caymans I came back grinning both times and not many cars have done that for me so I was convinced I was going to love it and in many ways I do, maybe I just need to live with it a bit longer but two things are beginning to bother me and thats the feeling of how small it is and the lack of a drop top, Id get used to the lack of drop top Im sure as I went into that with my eyes open but the feeling of driving a tiny car is the one thats beginning to get at me a bit, plus as a bit of a petrol head there are so many cars out there Id like to try.. if I can afford to

 

[LeeZ4MR]

They are great cars but I found the Boxster and Cayman a bit dull. They handle like no tomorrow and do everything right and that for me is the issue.

That is my perception of them too, but I haven't driven one to be fair. I think that I would prefer the more playful nature of a front engined/RWD car in comparison overall.

 

[mr.tourette]

They are great cars but I found the Boxster and Cayman a bit dull. They handle like no tomorrow and do everything right and that for me is the issue.

That is my perception of them too, but I haven't driven one to be fair. I think that I would prefer the more playful nature of a front engined/RWD car in comparison overall.

I think dull is a very harsh assessment, I find it a hoot to drive on a good section of road, but then opinions always differ.. I remember a new fireblade coming out once.. 2008 maybe? and all the press journos were saying its amazing 180 bhp, best handling bike ever etc but then saying in the same review that was its downfall.. it just does everything too well.. and I just don't get that, i test rode one and it was bloody marvellous, an amazing piece of kit, I dont get that its just too good at something thing bring a downside :?

 

[LeeZ4MR]

They are great cars but I found the Boxster and Cayman a bit dull. They handle like no tomorrow and do everything right and that for me is the issue.

That is my perception of them too, but I haven't driven one to be fair. I think that I would prefer the more playful nature of a front engined/RWD car in comparison overall.

I think dull is a very harsh assessment, I find it a hoot to drive on a good section of road, but then opinions always differ.. I remember a new fireblade coming out once.. 2008 maybe? and all the press journos were saying its amazing 180 bhp, best handling bike ever etc but then saying in the same review that was its downfall.. it just does everything too well.. and I just don't get that, i test rode one and it was bloody marvellous, an amazing piece of kit, I dont get that its just too good at something thing bring a downside :?

I'd love a go in one to see what they are like. I always read about how nice it is listening to the engine behind your ears, and I'd imagine that adding a lot to the sense of occasion with them.

Weirdly I've never actually owned a well regarded handling car like what the Cayman/Boxster are, and all the performance cars I've had have been flawed in comparison. Arguably the best handling car that I've had was the E92 M3 with the EDC(electronic damper control), however the car was really flawed in other areas though(poor manual gearbox/poor brakes/heavy/lacked fizz at low revs etc).

 

[Pondy]

plus as a bit of a petrol head there are so many cars out there Id like to try.. if I can afford to

That has become a problem again too. Car values are going down now, so it can become a VERY expensive hobby keep changing cars.
Ask me how I know..

 

[LeeZ4MR]

plus as a bit of a petrol head there are so many cars out there Id like to try.. if I can afford to

That has become a problem again too. Car values are going down now, so it can become a VERY expensive hobby keep changing cars.
Ask me how I know..

I usually like to hang onto my cars(I've had the 370Z 4 years in April/the M4 2 years in March). However I didn't keep the Z4M long(5 months) or the E92 M3 long(10 months/10k miles), and I remember losing £4k on both of them as you say. My record was losing £10k on the X5 4.8iS in 17 months/15k miles though! I only got rid of the X5 because I was struggling to keep up with the 12mpg that it offered me on my commute, and I loved that car.

I do think that life is too short to stick with a car that you aren't very happy with though, so it can be a tricky situation I reckon.

 

[mr.tourette]

plus as a bit of a petrol head there are so many cars out there Id like to try.. if I can afford to

That has become a problem again too. Car values are going down now, so it can become a VERY expensive hobby keep changing cars.
Ask me how I know..

I usually like to hang onto my cars(I've had the 370Z 4 years in April/the M4 2 years in March). However I didn't keep the Z4M long(5 months) or the E92 M3 long(10 months/10k miles), and I remember losing £4k on both of them as you say. My record was losing £10k on the X5 4.8iS in 17 months/15k miles though! I only got rid of the X5 because I was struggling to keep up with the 12mpg that it offered me on my commute, and I loved that car.

I do think that life is too short to stick with a car that you aren't very happy with though, so it can be a tricky situation I reckon.

Thats a good point Lee, my issue atm I wouldn't say I'm not happy with the car, it's a lovely thing, just can't get past the feeling its not quite the perfect 2nd car for me and there's something else out there that might be, i kept my e85 4 years and my e89 for 2 and didn't get the feeling a few months in that either wasn't the right car for me, I saw myself in them for a couple of years going forward and I don't quite get that same feeling in the Cayman despite the fact is probably the most capable car I've ever owned

 

[pvr]

Lee - 12 mpg??? My X5M is doing 21-25 mpg :lol:

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Lee - 12 mpg??? My X5M is doing 21-25 mpg :lol:

I just loved the noise that it made so much, so I used to rag it around a lot and that ruined the mpg. In saying that I never saw over 20mpg from it even going really steady though!

21-25mpg is ace from yours Paul when you consider the performance that it offers for sure. 8)

 

[Pondy]

My X5M is doing 21-25 mpg

You are getting confused with Miles and Kilometres, again, Paul. :roll:
I know it must be confusing for you 'Europeans'.

 

[pvr]

 

[tomscott]

They are great cars but I found the Boxster and Cayman a bit dull. They handle like no tomorrow and do everything right and that for me is the issue.

That is my perception of them too, but I haven't driven one to be fair. I think that I would prefer the more playful nature of a front engined/RWD car in comparison overall.

I think dull is a very harsh assessment, I find it a hoot to drive on a good section of road, but then opinions always differ.. I remember a new fireblade coming out once.. 2008 maybe? and all the press journos were saying its amazing 180 bhp, best handling bike ever etc but then saying in the same review that was its downfall.. it just does everything too well.. and I just don't get that, i test rode one and it was bloody marvellous, an amazing piece of kit, I dont get that its just too good at something thing bring a downside :?

The Boxster I had as a 987 3.2 and was underpowered imo really didn't gel with it at all. I only had it a two weeks did 1000 miles before it started ticking and was diagnosed with bore score so thankfully managed to get my money back.

The 981 Boxster GTS tbh I've not had much wheel time but similar experience, also don't like the way the car revs like 4.5k before it gets going, the PDK helps the gearing is also super long. Looks beautiful but the platform just isn't my cup of tea.

Think my dad paid 55k for it, immaculate with only 12k on it but I wouldn't pay 40k more for one over my Z4M. The Z just stirs something in me that the box/cay platform doesn't. It might be that anyone that jumps in them makes them feel like a driving god as point it in the right direction and it just does with no complaint. Ive mentioned quite a few times but the flaws in the Z are the reason I like it so much keeps me on my toes.

Compared to the 991 Carrera S and the 997 Carrera S even the 996 C4S vert they just don't really float my boat. As an overall package they are hard to beat, relatively quick, lovely place to be and are good looking cars. Purely as a weekend car ive driven more exciting cars.






Porsche 911's, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr
IMG_0600 by Tom Scott, on Flickr
IMG_0109 by Tom Scott, on Flickr

 

[brillomaster]

i feel i should weigh in here...

i swapped my E85 Z4 3.0i for an early 986 boxster S. the boxster had the better steering feel, and was very planted through the corners. flat 6 made a lovely sound as well with a sport exhaust on. interior of the 986 was seriously dated though - cracked grey leather, seats like sofas, which were set too high, steering wheel set too low for me, radio looked like it was from the 80s.

come the spring i'll be swapping the 986 for a 987 - considered if it would be enough of an upgrade to warrant the extra cost, but i figure, its better looking than the 986 (which had the infamous fried egg headlights), a fraction more power, but more importantly, better seats and interior, seats go lower, steering wheel adjusts for height, gearchange is tighter. its also on larger wheels, which can support larger tyres - so better for track work.

i think i'd get on well with an early cayman s, but 2006MY has the higher road tax, and the 3.4 is far more likely to suffer borescore than the 3.2. plus, it is nice to be able to drop the top on nice days. i'm very much looking forward to getting in a 987 S.

 

[tomscott]

i feel i should weigh in here...

i swapped my E85 Z4 3.0i for an early 986 boxster S. the boxster had the better steering feel, and was very planted through the corners. flat 6 made a lovely sound as well with a sport exhaust on. interior of the 986 was seriously dated though - cracked grey leather, seats like sofas, which were set too high, steering wheel set too low for me, radio looked like it was from the 80s.

come the spring i'll be swapping the 986 for a 987 - considered if it would be enough of an upgrade to warrant the extra cost, but i figure, its better looking than the 986 (which had the infamous fried egg headlights), a fraction more power, but more importantly, better seats and interior, seats go lower, steering wheel adjusts for height, gearchange is tighter. its also on larger wheels, which can support larger tyres - so better for track work.

i think i'd get on well with an early cayman s, but 2006MY has the higher road tax, and the 3.4 is far more likely to suffer borescore than the 3.2. plus, it is nice to be able to drop the top on nice days. i'm very much looking forward to getting in a 987 S.

I had the same thought and bought the 3.2 because of bore score and had that exact issue. It's wouldn't put me off just get an inspection I had mine booked in after I bought it because it was from a dealer, if its private slightly more complicated. The 987 is almost the same car bar the interior updates. I would pass and put some more money into a 981 if im honest better cars in every way and there's not much of an upgrade from the 986-7 in any other way.

The 986/7 are pretty much 90% 911s but are worth much less and people just don't look after them so there are wild differences in price and for good reason. I bought a cheap one hence the issues Good ones that have been well looked after are worth the money.

Bits that are common on these 15-17 year old cars discs and pads, RMS/IMS clutch and flywheel (they seem to go through them much quicker), Condensers.. all will be most the value of the car. Difference between the 3.2 and say a 3.0SI is that the Porsche degradation is higher and costs more for similar performance.

BTW the gear shift should be crisp if not it might be worn bushings.

Reason mine went back is I knew it needed discs and pads all round, but it also had a weep from the RMS and the clutch was slipping, wasn't quite right and it was diagnosed to be that oil had got through so new flywheel and clutch too, condensers were knackered as air con didn't work and to top it off the knock was borescore. I paid £11250 for the car and to fix it I got a quote of £12500 so it went back.

It was nice tho full Porsche service extended leather, chrono and only 65k. Just unlucky but thank god for consumer law.

I would go buy a 996 C4S instead of upgrading to a 987 just fab cars really underrated. I bought one with my dad as a bit of a project. It was a convertible and was still a fab car although the least desirable. Sounded incredible down the country lanes with the sports exhaust. Even made some money on it.

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

 

[mr.tourette]

Not quite true Tom about the 986 and 987 being the same, the 987.2 had all new engines with more power that did away with the bore score and ims issues, the 987.1 obviously did not which is why there is a big price difference between the gen 1 and gen 2 987.

That said the 981 platform especially in boxster format are a much nicer looking car and IF i stay in this cayman for a few years a 981 boxster S will be after that. Or an f type.. or perhaps a g29 z4