Well said. There was a remark in one of the Porsche Forums where the Porsche factory driver drove the Cayman faster around the Ring than the 997 and apparantly could not believe the car was so fast. Came with a few seconds of the 997S times ... which bring up the issue that Porsche has a problem. Give the Cayman 50 more HP and the 997 series goes away and, of course, they cant do that ... that is their top of the line but it might bring pressure to bear to realize its time to stop fighting physics with engineering and just make the entire lineup of sports cars mid-engined.

 

I had Porsches for 20 years. I thought over the past couple of years that it was time for change. Not only to get a car I have wanted for many years but also because of a couple things affected me personally with our the PCA region and it took some of the fun away from owning the Porsche. (The PCA has a saying that says, "It's not the cars, it's the people." Well for me it was the people.) This all helped in my decision to buy my MINI.

I sold my cherry 911 last fall, with some regret for a couple weeks, sellers remorse, but then I ordered the car I have wanted for many years. I almost immediately totally forget about the Porsche and have become obsessed with the MINI. I guess I liked the MINI like I did with the Porsche in that it too had a great racing heritage and family history of car design. Now I'm having just as much fun with my MCS as I had when I owned a Porsche. I'm actually enjoying my MINI more than any Porsche I've ever owned. And I'm making some great new friends. And because of all this, I really can't see myself owning another Porsche anytime soon.

 

it was a joke
Being a former Prelude owner, every Civicers dream was to take my engine and slap it in their car Automatic 200HP right there

 

Don't get ne wrong.. I am a big Honda fan.. I have owned them for many years.... and we currently have a 05 V6 accord. Honda cars are excellent values and well engineered. They make some of the finest engines on the planet... I just don't find them very exciting. Too cookie cutter and lacking quirks that give it personality..
My son owned a prelude for a few years before he bought his M3. He liked it..
I drove it a few times and it felt like I was sitting on the floor... not for me...

 

hahaha believe me, once you go German, you never go back. I was going to go from a prelude to an M3 myself but found the prices too high and I didnt wanna get a 98 M3 for $25k with decent miles, hence my 03 Cooper. Japanese cars are amazing but no soul imho. Im never leaving my German love Viva Douchland!

 

Ok guys... I just drove a Cayman S today at our local Porsche dealer, The Automaster in Shelburne, VT. Perfect weather, small autocross course set up and loads of test driving. I flogged it up and down through the gears (had only 621 mi on it - HA!) and asked the sales manager, after I showed him how I properly go up and down the gears, what the max break-in revs are supposed to be. Well, I exceeded the 4k suggested limit, but he was entertained by my driving it was all good. I told him that a car like this should be sold for the track only.

The Cayman is really nice. Unfortunately, I can't afford one. However, I jumped right into my Cooper S and left the event and was equally impressed. Somehow the fun came back fast. Our MINI's little de-accelleration burble way takes the cake over any car. My MINI got more looks and questions asked by all Porsche owners. It was very entertaining.

 

I think I've heard that argument made before about something else on this fourm...

*cough* JCW *cough*

 

If you ever think the remarks about MINIs get you upset, for example Clown Car, Girlie Car, etc. read a Porsche Forum sometime. How would you like to drop $75K for a Cayman only to be told its not a "real" Porsche? or your a Poser.

Also look at what those people own in their sigs ... some people have 10 - 15 cars, I wonder where they put them all, all toys... a track car GT3, Boxster for the daughter, 997S cab for the wife, TT for dad, Must be nice

 

Like most Porsche owners, I have had several and still have three in the stable. The Pooper get the most rides, because it great for short trips, but the Porsche get the emotional nod every time. I drove the new Cayman and was in awe of its power, grace and style. I'm not a water cooled fan for Porsche but that car almost made me a convert. It really was a lot of fun to drive and the fit-finish was terrific. Great car for the bucks - still up there but worth it.

 

Porsche has been making mid-engine sports cars forever - 550 Spyder on up, so they know what works and kicks the *** of every other manufacture out there to run an endurance race. Maybe they do go only mid-engine, but doubtful. They have such a powerful lineup of cars that they can make any of them kick *** on any of the stock format cars. You only have to look at the GT2 or GT3 to get a big leap out of performance. Porsche still is the most profitable automobile stock out there and they just broke $1000 per share just this week. Can't knock what works, if its the Cayman or a 997.

I still have people saying my Pooper is "cute", kind of bugs me because I though girls cars were cute.

 

That was exactly the point. Some think the 997 is just too antiquated and only continued engineering is keeping that tail from coming around ... time to modernize and make the 997 mid-engined but the "purists" would have fits. I agree, Porsche isn't going to anger their main fan base.

 

I try...

Indeed, nevertheless, not many of us are up to Walter Rorhl's capabilities when it comes to extracting performance. I certainly agree, the Cayman puts further pressure on the 911, but its really nothing new. There actually are some engineering advantages to a rear engine layout, but certainly the 911 is the only successful rear engine car still in production. Equally there are good design and engineering reasons for it being alone in this catagory. But its also true that mid-engine designs are nothing new to Stuttgart. If we look at Porsche's racing program, they've been producing dominant mid-engine designs from the very early days of the company (550) right through the present (LMP2). Among Porschephiles, the most coveted cars are mid-engined, the 550, 904, 906, 908, 917, 956 and 962. So, when you look at it, they've pretty much been in the mid engined business along with 3 of the 5 road models sporting that layout today.

I have no doubt that you're correct at least to the extent that the Porsche will increasingly makes its crust via mid-engined designs. Nevertheless, I suspect the 911 will soldier on for quite some time. Will it will be forced further upmarket? Who knows? Perhaps in a few years there will only be the GT3 and turbo verions with price increases to match. Or perhaps the models will exist side by side with lower power/lower cost versions of the 911 at the same price point as the Boxster/Cayman. Time will tell, but IMO the 911 will continue because its unique character has produced a rabid following and so much of the soul of Porsche is inextricably tied to it. After all, if the only thing that was important was sheer performance, we'd all be driving F1 cars or dragsters. Long live the 911.

 

I agree 100%. 911 is not going away.

As to power/costs, Its probably doubtful the 997 will have less power. I've read some very recent speculation. If you look at the power increases betwen models, they are about 30 HP apart from Cayman S to 997 to 997S.

Speculation in forums is for 07:

base boxster/cayman to get 5hp increase using the same engine

Boxster S to use Cayman S engine, bump to 300 HP. Big price increase for Boxster S ... BMW M Roadster/Coupe starting at $50k with 330 HP causing competition.

Base 997 and up to get minor bumps up.

 

People don't care if you drop $7500 or $75K on a Porsche, they'll make fun no matter what. To some its just a car. Have you perhaps had someone ask about your Porsche, which I heard MANY times, "How is your your Volkswagon running?" Ohhhhh ouch! To a good percentage of people that drive cars, they really don't care what they drive as long as it has four wheels and gets to where they want to go. Just look around as you drive the streets and highways. Most are just plain boring ordinary cars. Also, those that do poke fun calling your car names, like Clown Car or whatever, are probably just jealous they don't have one.

For $75K I would be happy with two MINI MCS', a fully loaded powerplant in each with extra cash leftover to buy more tires. Now THAT is fun!

Motor on.

 

I agree with all of that too. Long live the 911 and its various changes. Ahh we forgot the best of the worst - the 914. Handles like stink if set up properly. Anyways, when Porsche made the SUV and now the Panamerica, they have really broaden their abilty to reach out to more than us pure sports car fans. So be it, as Spock said "live long and prosper". I guess that goes with car manufacturers as well, otherwise they'd become another Edsel.

 

Bump

 

I agree w/you Stinger
Although I've had a hard way to go over the years, I have known and traveled w/friends who drove very nice sports cars. The Mini's feel and performance "for the money" is the best. It's unfortunate that there isn't an aftermarket super charger that will up the horse power as a turbo would. (what happened to M7's prototype SC [300hp]) I have an 03 "S" soon to be paid for. When that happens I will add the Alta Twurbo (unless a SC comes online) and a big brake kit. At 275hp or better I will laugh at many higher end sport cars. Oh! New rods and pistons included. (gotta do it right.

 

I've owned two Porsches - a 97 Boxster and an 87 911 Carrera Coupe. Loved both cars and will have another someday. In fact I sold the 87 911 to get my 05 S!

The car I really miss is the Boxster. Anyone who calls it a "Porsche with panties" has never driven one. The handling was sublime and the balance was second to none. Mid-engine, rear wheel drive is the way to go. I love my MINI, but front-engine, front wheel drive is not optimum.

A Porsche Cayman S is about the only car I would trade my MINI for. When my son is thru college perhaps. In the meantime I enjoy my MINI and enjoy the MUCH lower maintenance costs.

 

Once you have owned a Porsche, you will never get it out of your system. Wringing one out on the track is the best way to experience a Porsche. Here is my track car: 1991 C2 Turbo 2800lbs 400HP=Tons of Fun (As long as you don't lift).

 

Agreed, the guy I bought my first P car from told me there will always be another one in your future. He was right I just sold my 3rd one last year and now I am looking for my next P car. But after driving a MCS, i am rethinking this. But I will probably have another P car again. Driving the 911 on the track is an absolute blast!! That is what they are built for, speed and precision.

Best bet, have one of each...

 

Saw this on the boxster board yesterday


[SIZE=5]Glad it wasn't for pink slips...[/SIZE]
Date: Monday, 1 May 2006, at 1:04:02 p.m.

 

Thanks to all of you current & former Porsche owners / drivers for your thoughts. Most of you have acknowledged the same thoughts & feelings that I am having. As I said in the original post, and many have echoed, once you own a Porsche you always seem to want another one. It is also refreshing to hear that so many of you feel the same as I do about the MINI. That shouldn't be a big surprise given this is a MINI forum, but it is interesting to note that so many of you find the MINI as much fun (if not more so) than the Porsches you have driven.

Like many of you I would jump into a Cayman in a minute if I could afford one. The notion that some of you have raised about keeping the MCS and getting a Porsche for the track is something I had not given a lot of thought to, but is worth investigating.

Currently I'm leaning toward keeping the MCS and doing a CAI and ECU upgrade to compliment the pulley and maybe looking at an older Porsche for those times when I feel I need it.

 

I'm in exactly the same place. I did the pulley, CAI, colder plugs, and new wires this past weekend. ECU upgrade and rear sway bar are next.

At some point the S will co-exist with a Porsche, just not now.

 

Also voting against the Boxster....hate the looks, performance isn't THAT great, and I've had a guy tell me he bought a HONDA S2000 because he thought it was better than the Boxster. That pretty much sealed the deal for me anyway, that it was crap. When a car can cost 20k less and out perform a car that was built by race car engineers, I mean come on...it's a Honda.

If you do have the urge to buy a new Porsche, I'm gonna agree with a majority and go with the Cayman. It's not a photogenic car, but when you're keeping pace with it at 90mph. and suddenly the driver looks at you downshifts and flies onto the horizon, it certainly looks a heck of a lot nicer.

On a side note, my friend's Dad has a 911 Turbo X50, and he has nothing but the best things to say about the MINI's performance and handling. My Dad has owned three older Porsches and bought a Cooper S for my step mom after I convinced him to test drive it. The look on his face when he took those twisties was priceless. The usual non MINI-owner-on-the-first-drive: "Holy Crap This Little Thing Is Quick AND Handles Awesome" face.

Look into that Cayman, not a Boxster. But if you're looking for a different car, not just a Porsche, as your weekend fun or daily driver, go with the Lotus Elise. That car is something else, if you can wedge yourself into it.

 

One guy chooses an S2000 and that makes a Boxster crap? Have you ever driven both cars? The S2000 is a nice car in its own right, but the Boxster is far from "crap". Wow.

Not liking the looks is one thing, but the stock Boxster handling is waaay more neutral than the S2000. Drive one!