Hello people, I haven't posted on this forum for a fair few months now, mainly because I couldn't log on, no matter what I tried, but now hey presto it works. During this abstinence I have been regularaly reading posts, grieving, and wishing I could add my two pennies worth.

So anyways last time I was on, I started a little what car £30k thread. I had my heart set on a 911(996) Turbo) But at that price it would either have to be a high mileage or a pre 2001 car.
Other cars I looked at were, the M3 2006 shape,
BMW Z4M coupe, 370z, 911 997 carrera, RS4, and a Cayman.

So I've decided the Cayman is the best car I have driven so far, although it's a measly 295bhp, the chassis seemed so balanced probably because of the near perfect weight distribution.

Please let me know your thought's on the car and any other cars you would also consider.

Thanks,

Dean

I think it's great. And give me a well-balanced car over a more powerful one every time. I've driven a few powerful beasts, including an 8.3 litre Dodge Viper in California, and their power is intoxicating but ultimately frustrating. The joy of throwing a car into a corner or a roundabout is just so good.

I'm probably a bit biased from this point of view as I spend a lot of time developing my race car to handle well.

The Cayman is also less common than most of the others you list

see here

does S1MMA still have the Cayman or has he moved onwards and upwards?

No the Caymen is one of the best drivers cars around for that money and of that year/spec etc. Unless you want something more hardcore with hardcore running costs then you have other options.

Not necessarily if you are not too picky about colours:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.as...p;Submit=Search

Turbo is not as well balanced as the Cayman, no, but nevertheless handles extremely well with masses of grip and is massively quicker. A goodun will cost no more to run in a year than a coop - all the specialists I've asked (JAZ, Northway) say £1500 a year covers servicing/maintenance/repairs on average - I spent more than that on my coupe last year.

Anyway, just because I'm biased, doesn't mean I'm wrong. If you want a test ride to convince you (and it will)...

damm I love the 911 turbo. Can't wait for the ride/shoot Neil.

My only criticism is the interior of the 996 is very dated vs the 997 generation IMO. I didnt even think the 997's interior was that special for a £70k car.

If you want a fast 2 seater coupe then buy a cayman
If you want a fast 4 seater buy a 911 carrera
if you want a very fast 4 seater buy a 911 turbo
If you want a no compromise ultra fast 2/4 seater buy a GT2/GT3/RS
If you want a small 2 seater convertible buy a boxster.

I think that sums up the porsche range.

I like the look of the cayman over the new 911. Also less common than the 911 especially in the docklands area of london !

And if you want an ultra, ultra fast car and don't give a toss how many seats it has - buy a turbo and remap it

Only if the passengers you want to take in the rear seats have got no legs!

Corrected

Agreed! Also with the torso of a small child.

And with that you've hit the nail on the head.

The problem with most new / nearly new cars is that they are a little too sanitised, a little too tame, which is perhaps why I have always favoured older, more raw machinery.

As consumers the choices we have are all a too compromised. A Caterham, as amazing as it is, really isn't an everyday option for most people. Older vehicles, whilst still having the practicality, are likely to lack the reliability and ease of use of newer models.

Even though I have not driven a Cayman / Boxster, I'd have thought that it is unlikely you would end up dissapointed no matter what you bought out of your current shortlist.

Fine cars all of them. Just perhaps IMO all a little too soft and sanitised for what I would personally be looking for. But on saying that, one mans chalk is another mans cheese.

Have you considered a Maserati 4200?

Yes the spyder!... a lovely car.

Funny - that goes straight back to when I test drove a nearly-new Maser 3200 GT. After the drive I pointed to a Porsche that they were also selling (It was a Porsche/Maser/Ferrari dealership - Lancasters) and asked why I shouldn't buy one of those. The salesman said it would be "too good" - meaning too sanitised. It's why I race a classic car - not ultimately as quick/capable as modern stuff but more involving. If my wife didn't need use of it when I've pinched the big Merc as a tow car, I'd have something far more raw as my dat-to-day driver than the 156.

I would use my Caterham every day if I could, for commuting in all weathers too.

The Cayman appears to tick all the right boxes, but doesn't grab my heart like a 911 would.

Just to add another to the list, how about an NSX?

Or a Noble...

yah ! Seconded the m12 GTO 3R.

I reckon a cayman will still be cheaper to run long term and more reliable. It would have to be a second car.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1799685.htmd.

Different league running costs, a Caymen is a car you can drive everyday anyday, a Noble really isn't. Also you will kill a raw cars value if you cane the miles on it.

You want a car you can enjoy in 99% of situations. I.e plodding in traffic and blasting a b road. Hence why a Porsche is popular choice. Depends on the driving you do but I personally want something that is both fun to drive when going for it, but also comfy and with toys when I'm not. Other than the ride issue the Z does this very nicely for me.

The father of a girl in my class has an M400 Noble he uses everyday. They are high and comfortable enough to cope with 99% of situations. No storage though.

As for reliability - Carrera/Cayman/Boxster (any modern Porsche with wet-sump lubrication basically) = IMS and RMS issues. I just wouldn't risk it personally. Pick a Porsche forum and start reading if you don't believe me. 997 generation not much better than the 996s were...

The new Gen 2 987s do not have the IMS issue. Also, post 06 987s are significantly reduced.

Porsche will usually help out with an IMS failure, though it needs to be stressed that this is a rare occurance. If you buy from a Porsche dealer, then you are covered, and most warranty plans cover this as well.

To be totally sure, get a Hartech Lifetime Maintenance Plan.

Thanks for the replies, I never picked up on S1MMA's thread.

I did also look into the Noble but thought it would be a little too harsh for "pottering about" as it were. Same reasons for discounting an Exige.



That £1500 figure seems a lot more appealing than what I suspected a 911 TT to cost. I am still really interested in the Turbo, maybe I need to have a test drive of one.

I think I have definately narrowed it down to a Porker, Shame the 997 Carrera's aren't more reasonably priced.


Also what do you guys think the depreciation will be like on a Cayman/Carrera?

911 better than a cayman simply because there is more demand for a 911.

Seeing as you cant buy a decent cayman for less than £22000 I think thats pretty good depreciation for a 3-4 year old performance car.

I would go for the cayman 3.4s every time if I only needed a 2 seater coupe.

You can go utterly mental and buy a 12k turbo kit, as featured in evo magazine.

I also like the lines of the cayman over the 911.

OR If you do not drive many miles then buy a M3 CSL, will NEVER loose money, is meant to be VERY good to drive and is very rare (even if it does look close to the common M3).

Just do not crash it in any situation where you have to buy new panels out your own wallet.....

CSL is lovely. Was the only saloon car I considered for weekend fun (well, that and an old 3 door, big wing Sierra Cossie).

Shame you are so far away from me. Definitely test-drive everything you are interested in, even if it takes months to find everything. All this stuff is academic until you have first hand experience of the cars.

Depreciation on a £30K Porsche probably around 10% per annum - expect about £21-£22Kk back after 3 further years.

Interesting statement Shabba, how come the CSL wont depreciate? I did look at the CSL's but discounted them because of their prices, but it's a different story if they retain their value.

Edited: Just noticed that the car is only available as an Auto, what are the gearboxes like in these? I've never been fond of Auto's.

Becuase its a nailed on classic already. They are only going up, pretty rare and sought after now.

Its like E30 M3's, I bet they are a really good buy now as in 5-10 years they will be VERY rare.

Same with the Z8m which wasnt even that good, they are rare so collectable now, I recall them as low as £40k, and now they are over £100k.....not bad given their age.

That's always been my main criteria I look for in a car. Would be different if using two cars where one is literally for weekend blast only, but if you're only running one car then I'd say this is pretty essential.

I can see why Porsche is a good choice, and as above I was surprised to see £1,500 as annual maintenance costs on a 911 Turbo - I'd heard Porsche servicing was extortionate, whereas that doesn't seem overly unreasonable given the performance you're getting.

What do you guys think of this Cayman?

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What attracts me to this is the high spec.. Can't get much extra than this. Active dampers, Chrono sports pack, Sat nav, 19" alloys.


But it has the ceramic brakes on too, and I'm slightly worried at the costs of replacing discs and pads, can't find any prices anywhere on the net.