[dharo1]

Originally Posted by W///

You'll miss the torque and the space if you are a bigger guy. You'll gain better handling and general build quality. Both great cars though.

Don't forget, you'll miss a lower payments, better lease rate (easier opportunity to replace in 3 years), 50,000 mile service/warranty, faster acceleration in a day-to-day drive (passing the jerks that want to race you in the highway), quieter ride, back seat to throw a couple more bags or a kiddo......yes, Base Cayman has better handling and it could beat the 235i by an astronomical 1 second...if you're into tracking the car, by all means get the Cayman.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Reid

Please don't be that guy who drives around with the spoiler always up.

Wait, is that a dbag thing? I just like the way it looks!

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by vantagesc

Congrats. No worries on not having PASM since now if you want more, it's a bit easier to just upgrade to X73.

I am sure that there will be things I wish I had or whatnot over the course of the ownership experience, but so far I am loving it the way that it is.

I haven't even used the stereo yet - I just love the noise of the engine and the exhaust.

Originally Posted by bimmerbuff

This is actually true. The BMWFS lease residuals are almost always inflated, so at the end of the lease you say "screw it, take it back" and get another one. It's a lease treadmill.

Congratulations on your new ride!

Thank you sir.

And yes, I hadn't looked at it from that perspective before, but I was on my 5th straight BMWFS lease. So they were doing something right.

And the cost associated with the P car is much higher than where I was with the 235, so it should be a much better experience. That's part of the deal as you go up the scale. I am just excited to have the prospect of owning a car for the first time too...

[buumer]

Originally Posted by dharo1

Don't forget, you'll miss a lower payments, better lease rate (easier opportunity to replace in 3 years), 50,000 mile service/warranty, faster acceleration in a day-to-day drive (passing the jerks that want to race you in the highway), quieter ride, back seat to throw a couple more bags or a kiddo......yes, Base Cayman has better handling and it could beat the 235i by an astronomical 1 second...if you're into tracking the car, by all means get the Cayman.

Depending on the track, the Cayman can do way more damage than 1 second. And I dont really track my cars, but I do enjoy the driving dynamics and a quality product. Don't really lease anything either, so that would be a mute point.

The back seat and the trunk are the biggest hesitations. I throw my mountain bike in the back of a 235 all the time with the wheel off, but will have to figure out something else with a cayman. The parts(tires) do cost a bit more as well, but its all probably marginal over the life of the vehicle.

I do think that the base cayman is way more of an experience to drive than a 2 series, or even a proper M car. What it lacks in torque it more than makes up for in feel. It wont be as special as an M2 that will probably garner more attention than the cayman, but Id be hesitant to call a cayman a mass produced vehicle either.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by dharo1

Don't forget, you'll miss a lower payments, better lease rate (easier opportunity to replace in 3 years), 50,000 mile service/warranty, faster acceleration in a day-to-day drive (passing the jerks that want to race you in the highway), quieter ride, back seat to throw a couple more bags or a kiddo......yes, Base Cayman has better handling and it could beat the 235i by an astronomical 1 second...if you're into tracking the car, by all means get the Cayman.

Originally Posted by buumer

Depending on the track, the Cayman can do way more damage than 1 second. And I dont really track my cars, but I do enjoy the driving dynamics and a quality product. Don't really lease anything either, so that would be a mute point.

The back seat and the trunk are the biggest hesitations. I throw my mountain bike in the back of a 235 all the time with the wheel off, but will have to figure out something else with a cayman. The parts(tires) do cost a bit more as well, but its all probably marginal over the life of the vehicle.

I do think that the base cayman is way more of an experience to drive than a 2 series, or even a proper M car. What it lacks in torque it more than makes up for in feel. It wont be as special as an M2 that will probably garner more attention than the cayman, but Id be hesitant to call a cayman a mass produced vehicle either.

I tend to agree with buumer here - the Cayman to me is much more of a thrill than the 235 was. Now I have the S, and didn't drive the base, so I can't speak to the differences there...

My main gripe with my 235 was that they made it too soft, too compliant from a ride standpoint, and retracted (again in my opinion) from the overall driving experience. I was too far removed from what I liked about the 135, and that sort of spoiled the whole deal to me.

I expect the M2 to "cure" those ills, but after my multiple test drives on the P car, I was sold and ready to jump. So I did.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I did.

Happy motoring.

And the car offers a fringe benefit.

[csbear]

Even Porsche themselves know how good the Cayman chassis is. Lighter, better weight distribution, and mid-engine, etc. vs the 911s. So enjoy that sucker!

They have been trying to hold it back (in terms of engine hp) so as not to step on the 911's toes obviously. Porsche execs and marketing probably were sweating bullets after Andreas Preuninger released the GT4.

So although the GT4 has 385 hp, they still kept it down from what was really possible. Very curious to see if the ever release a GT4RS.

Maybe one day they will shoehorn a GT3 engine into a Cayman...

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Happy motoring.

And the car offers a fringe benefit.

thank you sir - I am definitely enjoying it big time.

Originally Posted by csbear

Even Porsche themselves know how good the Cayman chassis is. Lighter, better weight distribution, and mid-engine, etc. vs the 911s. So enjoy that sucker!

They have been trying to hold it back (in terms of engine hp) so as not to step on the 911's toes obviously. Porsche execs and marketing probably were sweating bullets after Andreas Preuninger released the GT4.

So although the GT4 has 385 hp, they still kept it down from what was really possible. Very curious to see if the ever release a GT4RS.

Maybe one day they will shoehorn a GT3 engine into a Cayman...

That's the thing - you can tell that they could have put a more insane engine in my S - which they've done in the GTS and GT4 - but I think that the experience is so good with what I have (don't get me wrong, no one would kick more power out of bed ) that I don't miss the extra power or the torque of the N54/55.

The chassis, brakes, engine/exhaust noise, and suspension are all off the charts - it's just an awesome drive each time I get in it...

Can't wait to hear about the GT4.

[csbear]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

... but I think that the experience is so good with what I have (don't get me wrong, no one would kick more power out of bed ) that I don't miss the extra power or the torque of the N54/55.

The chassis, brakes, engine/exhaust noise, and suspension are all off the charts - it's just an awesome drive each time I get in it...

It's nice having a torquey car, but honestly it's the planted feeling around a sharp turn which really brings out the smiles for me.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Can't wait to hear about the GT4.

Also the Dutch guys at Autoblog liked it (test drive of a few days ago). Actually, who doesn't.

[fuddman]

Originally Posted by buumer

The back seat and the trunk are the biggest hesitations. I throw my mountain bike in the back of a 235 all the time with the wheel off, but will have to figure out something else with a cayman.

To get my bike into my '68 'Vette, I used to take off the front and back tire and one pedal, fold the pax seat down and squeeze my bike frame into the back end and over the seat. Wheels fit easily. I was hooked on bikes for a while and was, obviously, determined to take it with me where ever I went.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Also the Dutch guys at Autoblog liked it (test drive of a few days ago). Actually, who doesn't.

My god does that sound awesome...just wow.

[Bemo]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

My god does that sound awesome...just wow.

Another reason to be mad at BMW over their "Active Sound" non-sense. Someone needs to beat the NVH folks at BMW with a stick. Repeatedly!

[alexc93]

Your cayman looks great, congrats!!

I was cross shopping cayman S' when looking for my m235i but the price jump was just too much for me right now. Will have to jump into a P car in the next few years though.

Definitely needs a small drop, they seem to sit quite high?

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Bemo

Another reason to be mad at BMW over their "Active Sound" non-sense. Someone needs to beat the NVH folks at BMW with a stick. Repeatedly!

That's the thing - I "just" have the S and I don't use the radio much the thing seriously sounds like a race car coming from the 235 - and when the windows are down, you end up driving around just to waste gas and hear the thing work.

There's something to be said for NA-goodness, numeric or straight-line performance be damned...

Originally Posted by alexc93

Your cayman looks great, congrats!!

I was cross shopping cayman S' when looking for my m235i but the price jump was just too much for me right now. Will have to jump into a P car in the next few years though.

Definitely needs a small drop, they seem to sit quite high?

Totally understand the sticker shock - it is part of the reason I had 5 straight BMWs.

And you're right about the drop - that is my only regret on my particular car - it doesn't have PASM, which lowers the car 20mm and looks perfect IMO. I was so excited Tuesday when I took delivery that I didn't let the sales guy go over much with me - I plan to ask him about adding exhaust and what "drop" options are available.

Other than that, it pretty much works perfectly for me.

[juyeop]

If I have money to buy even brand new base Cayman, I would buy it right now because Porsche is switching their NA engines to Turbo for sure in a year or two according to some source.

[alexc93]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

That's the thing - I "just" have the S and I don't use the radio much the thing seriously sounds like a race car coming from the 235 - and when the windows are down, you end up driving around just to waste gas and hear the thing work.

There's something to be said for NA-goodness, numeric or straight-line performance be damned...



Totally understand the sticker shock - it is part of the reason I had 5 straight BMWs.

And you're right about the drop - that is my only regret on my particular car - it doesn't have PASM, which lowers the car 20mm and looks perfect IMO. I was so excited Tuesday when I took delivery that I didn't let the sales guy go over much with me - I plan to ask him about adding exhaust and what "drop" options are available.

Other than that, it pretty much works perfectly for me.

I know techart offers some nice "OEM+" style stuff for porsche, especially their springs, my boss has a Targa4S on techart springs and he hasn't noticed any difference in ride quality, or experienced the bumpiness effect so that may be a good route to check out!

Again, congrats!

[csbear]

This Getawayer video is just now making the rounds. Check out the sounds here... especially at 5:40!

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by csbear

Even Porsche themselves know how good the Cayman chassis is. Lighter, better weight distribution, and mid-engine, etc. vs the 911s. So enjoy that sucker!

They have been trying to hold it back (in terms of engine hp) so as not to step on the 911's toes obviously. Porsche execs and marketing probably were sweating bullets after Andreas Preuninger released the GT4.

So although the GT4 has 385 hp, they still kept it down from what was really possible. Very curious to see if the ever release a GT4RS.

Maybe one day they will shoehorn a GT3 engine into a Cayman...

I believe Porsche GT had said that there was a racing variant coming.

[swagon]

You can also get factory passive sport suspension that lowers the car 20mm as well.

Congrats on the purchase. She's a beaut.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by juyeop

If I have money to buy even brand new base Cayman, I would buy it right now because Porsche is switching their NA engines to Turbo for sure in a year or two according to some source.

I had heard the same thing - some are even saying for the 2016 model year, so that would be around October. I guess I understand from the emissions and CAFE regulations standpoint, but I do love being back in a NA car. The throttle response is just so sharp - it's really fun.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Bemo

Nice thread. I've been avoiding a test drive as it might be the end of ///M anything for me. The wife has been talking about a P car for a while and also wants to test drive Audi and Mercedes.
I guess I'll have to go and report back. We have a "German" row of car dealers 10 min away from our house. Porsche-Audi-Mercedes and BMW is on the other side of town.
The plan is to keep the Gran Turismo so a fun weekend racket makes perfect sense. We are DINKS too so why the hell am I still typing and not out test driving, while BMW is playing cute hiding the M2??
Excuse me for few minutes

LOL. I've got to admit I've never driven a cayman for the same reason. Well the second reason is that the ones I really like are way more expensive than the comparable BMW. All the 1M reviews basically had it coming in above or equal to the S and the Cayman R was the model that really went over the top but so did the price.


Ive Driven many 911s and like the 997 best and they are fun but like the Mustang and M4 the 991 has gotten to be a big big car.


I liked the boxster but my car has to have a roof. A back seat was a priority although it actually isn't now.... Hmmmm I should probably be out test driving myself ! Lol