[drives like jehu]

I bought a 2016 Porsche Cayman S to replace the M235i. Naturally I closed the deal in late February, just in time for CV-19. So no track days, and can't sell the BMW. So, for a while I have both.
I've been very happy with the M235. I do about 2-4 track days a year with whatever car I have, but I don't go in for a lot of mods as mostly its just my daily.
I am about to retire so decided to get kind of a dream car to do a lot of track days for the next year or 2. Below is most of what I posted on a Porsche forum; they weren't too happy that I didn't completely love the Cayman.

"After driving the Cayman, and the 235 for a month... well its complicated. I'm not quite loving it, yet. For $50k, I got a $35k car and a $15k badge. ...so far I have a few nits to pick.

It's a sport car (duh!); it's low and loud and has more NVH. The UI is probably the single most jarring difference. I have been spoiled by a couple of generations of BMW's iDrive. I'm not used to looking down and in, trying to hit little buttons and touch points while dodging the shifter. It may have a good (Bose) stereo but I worry about my hearing if loud enough over the engine and road noise.

Both cars have about 320HP, both do 0-60 in about 4.5sec. The BMW has the grunt, 55 ft-lb more torque, but weighs 625 lbs more. The Porsche engine is a delight but different. Though I'm a big fan of BMW turbo six's, the CS makes all the right noises with high revving satisfaction. The PDK transmission is awesome. Brakes seem much stronger; can't wait for the track days."

The Porsche is unexpectedly a little crude. Yeah, I know its a sport car, but for twice the current used value, ~$50k vs ~$25k I expected a bit better.

Cayman hopefully will be a treat on the track, but M235i wins the performance-comfort-sophistication/$ equation.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by drives like jehu

Below is most of what I posted on a Porsche forum; they weren't too happy that I didn't completely love the Cayman.

P-car religionists demand total obedience to their concept of the meaning of the marque. BMW fanbois are atheists compared to that crowd.

On second thought, I may have exaggerated...just a tiny bit!

[Throttlesteer14]

Whenever you move from one car to another, your bias is always going to be comparing what you're used to against the newbie. The M235i is a different car with a different focus. If you were looking for something fun to do track days, you bought the right car. I have a 240 and a Cayman S and there are things I like about both. But, it's not even close to a contest on the track. You'll find out soon enough.

May I suggest getting a performance alignment to start with the Cayman? You'll want to max out the negative camber (usually around -1.5 front and -1.9 in the rear on average).

[KennyFSU]

Thanks for the comparison.

I'm also very happy with the F22 but would like to drive a CS and possibly make it my next car.

[caycep]

This is my beef with Porsche...they couldn't make a "purists'" driving machine like the miata? For an entry level model in $55k, and the one where most people would want to drive at $90k (the Cayman 718 GTS w/ the flat 6 and manual)..."$35k car with a $15k badge" is right

[Throttlesteer14]

Originally Posted by caycep

This is my beef with Porsche...they couldn't make a "purists'" driving machine like the miata? For an entry level model in $55k, and the one where most people would want to drive at $90k (the Cayman 718 GTS w/ the flat 6 and manual)..."$35k car with a $15k badge" is right

Not so much. Drive one and then tell me its a $35k car

[Moflow]

This is just “sports car” vs “sports coupe” imho. All 2-series’ including the M2 are very dual nature in how they go about business. Drive around normally and they honestly feel pretty normal.

A true sports car like the cayman, will have trouble “turning it off” so to speak. You never forget you’re driving something special, but also compromised.

I promise you, drive that thing at 10/10ths on a track and you’ll understand why those compromises have been made. I’m not saying you won’t still prefer the bimmer, because some people prefer the dual nature approach of a nice sports coupe (myself included)

But just because both are performance cars in a similar ballpark, doesn’t mean they’re actually aiming at the same targets.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by Moflow

This is just “sports car” vs “sports coupe” imho. All 2-series’ including the M2 are very dual nature in how they go about business. Drive around normally and they honestly feel pretty normal.

A true sports car like the cayman, will have trouble “turning it off” so to speak. You never forget you’re driving something special, but also compromised.

I promise you, drive that thing at 10/10ths on a track and you’ll understand why those compromises have been made. I’m not saying you won’t still prefer the bimmer, because some people prefer the dual nature approach of a nice sports coupe (myself included)

But just because both are performance cars in a similar ballpark, doesn’t mean they’re actually aiming at the same targets.

This ^^ 100%

[drives like jehu]

I agree with a lot of the comments. I didn't expect the two to be anything like equal.
I just ended up thinking instead of putting the 235 to shame, the Cayman showed how much fun the BMW delivers for the money.
Its been a while since I drove what I consider a real sports car; but it does put a smile on my face. I'll have the Cayman fun then look for a used 2 series, maybe an M2c?

And since its Memorial Day, here's to all my brothers and sisters in arms.

[pikcachu]

The Cayman S will eat the M235 for lunch at the track....

It is what it is...... the BMW is more practical cause you have a decent trunk and reasonable back seat...

For the money the BMW is a pretty good package... but after 50-60k miles things usually go downhill... with oil filter housing, valve cover, oil pan leaks... water pump... plastic charge pipes blowing up....etc

If you plan to track it I would take the Cayman S.... else an M2C which has an engine more designed to take track punishment like a kind of dry sump...

[chattanooga240]

As someone who has owned them both and driven both a ton, your assessment is valid. (The 235 is a little easier to live with day to day, especially if you are not in your 20's anymore or value comfort from time to time.)

Get the Cayman on the track and you will know where the price difference is though, not even in the same stratosphere are these 2.

[USA-RET]

I cross shopped the Cayman, Audi TTS and the BMW M240i. I found both the TTS and Porsche to be beautiful cars, but both lacked the instant punch the BMW delivered.

For my driving (no track or winding canyon roads), I liked the way the BMW seems to be in the right RPM range to deliver gobs of torque and acceleration with nothing more than throttle input. Both the Porsche and Audi needed to be manually dropped to a lower gear to get the same "punch".

From a practicality standpoint, I thought the Audi and BMW were equal. The Porsche was lacking. But if used as a second (fun car) the practicality issue wouldn't be an issue.