Gen 2 Cayman S v 997.1 Cabriolet
Discussion
I'm after your collective learned opinion here if I may? Forgive the waffle below but i am trying to get my thoughts straight
Right, so I have a fairly gorgeous Gen 2 Cayman S on a late (August) 09 plate. It has the DFI engine which i firmly believe is a fantastic improvement over the previous model (I had one of those also), sports chrono, lot's of over trimmings and only has 24k miles on the clock. I love the car if I'm honest, everything about it is better quality than my Gen 1 (with the same options).
I used to do a lot of miles each day to work (120 per day 5 days a week) so I had a '58 John Cooper Works for the DD, the wife used the Porsche if i was out otherwise she'd use the Mini. It was practical and had 4 seats so she could go see her friends, pick them up, go see our nieces and nephews and take them out.
Anyway, I changed jobs as did she so, as parking is a nightmare where we are we sold the JCW and now only have the Porsche. We went to Goodwood on Sunday where she had a go in my mates 997.2 Cab and now she simply won't stop going on about how it has the best of all worlds (soft-top and room for the kids).
I've always wanted a cab if i'm honest, but in reality this year i cannot afford to go past 40-42k if i was to get one. That puts me firmly in the second hand 997.1 market so now i am torn as to what to do?
Is it a step down? step up? uncomparable? What do you good people think?
I could probably get an 07 or 08 997.1 with anywhere between 30-40k miles on it, but should i really go that extra 10k and get a 997.2?
Arrgh!
Right, so I have a fairly gorgeous Gen 2 Cayman S on a late (August) 09 plate. It has the DFI engine which i firmly believe is a fantastic improvement over the previous model (I had one of those also), sports chrono, lot's of over trimmings and only has 24k miles on the clock. I love the car if I'm honest, everything about it is better quality than my Gen 1 (with the same options).
I used to do a lot of miles each day to work (120 per day 5 days a week) so I had a '58 John Cooper Works for the DD, the wife used the Porsche if i was out otherwise she'd use the Mini. It was practical and had 4 seats so she could go see her friends, pick them up, go see our nieces and nephews and take them out.
Anyway, I changed jobs as did she so, as parking is a nightmare where we are we sold the JCW and now only have the Porsche. We went to Goodwood on Sunday where she had a go in my mates 997.2 Cab and now she simply won't stop going on about how it has the best of all worlds (soft-top and room for the kids).
I've always wanted a cab if i'm honest, but in reality this year i cannot afford to go past 40-42k if i was to get one. That puts me firmly in the second hand 997.1 market so now i am torn as to what to do?
Is it a step down? step up? uncomparable? What do you good people think?
I could probably get an 07 or 08 997.1 with anywhere between 30-40k miles on it, but should i really go that extra 10k and get a 997.2?
Arrgh!
Thats what i am worried about. Obviously talking to my carrera driving friends they think i'm mad to have a 'boxster with a roof' when there are so many good second hand carerra's out there.
It's also back to the argument of do i really want another 5-6 year old Porsche, two models behind the current versus my bad side of me that says 'f*ck it, just do it'
It's also back to the argument of do i really want another 5-6 year old Porsche, two models behind the current versus my bad side of me that says 'f*ck it, just do it'
AML said:
Several points-
Have you driven the cab (gen1 and gen2) yourself yet?
How did you feel they compared to the cayman?
Also if parking is such a problem would a cab be secure?
These Boxsters with roofs are quite good though
Gen 2 yes but not a Gen 1. There is one down at the local Aston showroom near me so i think i'll pop in there tomorrow and see if i can wangle a test drive. Have you driven the cab (gen1 and gen2) yourself yet?
How did you feel they compared to the cayman?
Also if parking is such a problem would a cab be secure?
These Boxsters with roofs are quite good though
Gen 2 drive was a bit pointless as it was from Islington to Putney so i think we averaged 18MPH. Yes the ride felt nice, the odd time i stuck on a bit of gas was lovely but i haven't had a proper drive. Again, you're right i need to do this.
Parking is a problem only because i live in an apartment complex where we have allocated parking, 1 space each. They helpfully have a private firm that comes round and clamps your car if you're not in the correct spot.
I love the drive on mine, still it wasn't a cayman i wanted when i was a kid so you can't help but wonder.
Anwyay, thank you - you have given me a plan of action.
mountainreef said:
Gen 2 yes but not a Gen 1. There is one down at the local Aston showroom near me so i think i'll pop in there tomorrow and see if i can wangle a test drive.
Gen 2 drive was a bit pointless as it was from Islington to Putney so i think we averaged 18MPH. Yes the ride felt nice, the odd time i stuck on a bit of gas was lovely but i haven't had a proper drive. Again, you're right i need to do this.
Parking is a problem only because i live in an apartment complex where we have allocated parking, 1 space each. They helpfully have a private firm that comes round and clamps your car if you're not in the correct spot.
I love the drive on mine, still it wasn't a cayman i wanted when i was a kid so you can't help but wonder.
Anwyay, thank you - you have given me a plan of action.
The cab is a very different car to a Cayman or Coupe 911. I had a Gen2 C4S cab for a week when my GT3 was getting some work done.Gen 2 drive was a bit pointless as it was from Islington to Putney so i think we averaged 18MPH. Yes the ride felt nice, the odd time i stuck on a bit of gas was lovely but i haven't had a proper drive. Again, you're right i need to do this.
Parking is a problem only because i live in an apartment complex where we have allocated parking, 1 space each. They helpfully have a private firm that comes round and clamps your car if you're not in the correct spot.
I love the drive on mine, still it wasn't a cayman i wanted when i was a kid so you can't help but wonder.
Anwyay, thank you - you have given me a plan of action.
It's nice to have the roof off, and the car was very good, but not very focussed. It was easy to jump in, stick the PDK in drive and make good progress. It was a great everyday car, which I used everyday, then GT3 came back and went back to using 2nd car every day.
For Gen 1, I would keep a warranty on it due to engine probs. Main difference will be PCM, everything else is neither here nor there, they look pretty much the same apart from wheel options.
Dr S said:
Compared to a Gen 2 Cayman a 997 convertible will provide more of a GT experience 95% of the time. It depends on what you want really. If I wanted a Porsche convertible I'd get a Boxster.
This. Plus, if you're even a little fussy, you won't have the new car for a couple of weeks, maybe longer, so summer will be well on its way out. Thus I'd wait until Jan/Feb and try and get a better deal for yourself on a gen.2 if you still fancy a cab.
Tell your wife how many handbags it will cost to fix the engine if the bores score or the IMS goes.
That sounds very sexist but what I'm saying is if you and your wife are comfortable with the potential for BIG bills re engine issues then go for the cab - or warranty it and forget about the issues.
I'd love a 911 but can't justify a Gen 2 until they dip to low 30s and I won't have a Gen 1 beacause of above.
That sounds very sexist but what I'm saying is if you and your wife are comfortable with the potential for BIG bills re engine issues then go for the cab - or warranty it and forget about the issues.
I'd love a 911 but can't justify a Gen 2 until they dip to low 30s and I won't have a Gen 1 beacause of above.
I went from a cayman to a 997 cab. Your missus is right - it is the best of all worlds - convertible, sports, power and seats in the back.
It drives different to the cayman though - it feels more grown up rather than the point to point smiles per mile handling god of metal wheelie stuffs that you get with the cayman.
It suits our needs perfectly and I'm very happy with mine, but it feels more GT than point-and-squirt so you may be disappointed with the feel.
I haven't regretted changing but it depends what you are wanting from the driving experience. I'd say test drive and see of you like it. I did, and I do. :-)
It drives different to the cayman though - it feels more grown up rather than the point to point smiles per mile handling god of metal wheelie stuffs that you get with the cayman.
It suits our needs perfectly and I'm very happy with mine, but it feels more GT than point-and-squirt so you may be disappointed with the feel.
I haven't regretted changing but it depends what you are wanting from the driving experience. I'd say test drive and see of you like it. I did, and I do. :-)
The cayman is the better drive by far but if you really need the extra seats for the kids....
.........go and buy a golf.
The problems with the 911 cab and kids in the summer are that firstly the kids hate the sun in their eyes and secondly the rear crash protection is pretty awful so forget anything other than in-town pootling.
The 911 cab looks great, better than the cayman, I really like it in basalt black.
I have tried to love the 911 cab (gen2 S) more than my boxster but the Gen2 987s are such a good drive, it is hard to go back. When I am in my car with the roof up, I feel cocooned in like a fighter-jet pilot. The 911 is a more like sitting in a nice waiting room, nice and airy.
You will be quicker in the Gen2 Cayman S than in the Gen1 997, if nothing other than you will be more confident in the Cayman to rag it and test the chassis limits - that is why it the more fun drive.
I am saving for a 997 Turbo S coupe and plan to keep the Boxster until the wheels fall off it.
.........go and buy a golf.
The problems with the 911 cab and kids in the summer are that firstly the kids hate the sun in their eyes and secondly the rear crash protection is pretty awful so forget anything other than in-town pootling.
The 911 cab looks great, better than the cayman, I really like it in basalt black.
I have tried to love the 911 cab (gen2 S) more than my boxster but the Gen2 987s are such a good drive, it is hard to go back. When I am in my car with the roof up, I feel cocooned in like a fighter-jet pilot. The 911 is a more like sitting in a nice waiting room, nice and airy.
You will be quicker in the Gen2 Cayman S than in the Gen1 997, if nothing other than you will be more confident in the Cayman to rag it and test the chassis limits - that is why it the more fun drive.
I am saving for a 997 Turbo S coupe and plan to keep the Boxster until the wheels fall off it.
Edited by Carl_Docklands on Thursday 5th July 16:47
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