M235i/M240i or 981 Cayman
Discussion
I have been looking at M lites for a while now, everything has increased but these in particular are very strong money. Last night I started browsing Caymans. It seems you can get a nice 2.7 for £25-£30k, I would imagine these would hold their value quite well.
Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
I went through a very similar quandary in 2020 and ended up buying an M240i I was torn between a 987.2 Cayman and the BMW also considered an older 987 911 but I considered that too much of a gamble as a daily car.
Ultimately I bought the BMW because it is my daily car and I have two kids and whilst the wife drives the main family car I still needed some sort of practicality to get both kids in occasionally and the BMW gives me that, I do love my 240i, it's a superb daily drive and hard to imagine what I would trade it for currently, I drove it from Yorkshire to the Nurburg Ring in Germany last year and back and it chewed up the miles no problem and was still a fun car to have when I got there.
I should caveat this post by saying though that I recently also bought a 986 Boxster as a toy/ weekend car and the Boxster is undoubtedly the better fun car out of the two and is a better car for driver involvement and feel, I am a big fan of the baby Porsches, i'm taking mine to Germany in May so will see how it gets on.
If you can live with the impracticality of the Porsche I would say go for that but if you do need a bit more of a practical car the BMW's are still brilliant cars in their own right.
Ultimately I bought the BMW because it is my daily car and I have two kids and whilst the wife drives the main family car I still needed some sort of practicality to get both kids in occasionally and the BMW gives me that, I do love my 240i, it's a superb daily drive and hard to imagine what I would trade it for currently, I drove it from Yorkshire to the Nurburg Ring in Germany last year and back and it chewed up the miles no problem and was still a fun car to have when I got there.
I should caveat this post by saying though that I recently also bought a 986 Boxster as a toy/ weekend car and the Boxster is undoubtedly the better fun car out of the two and is a better car for driver involvement and feel, I am a big fan of the baby Porsches, i'm taking mine to Germany in May so will see how it gets on.
If you can live with the impracticality of the Porsche I would say go for that but if you do need a bit more of a practical car the BMW's are still brilliant cars in their own right.
Hippea said:
I have been looking at M lites for a while now, everything has increased but these in particular are very strong money. Last night I started browsing Caymans. It seems you can get a nice 2.7 for £25-£30k, I would imagine these would hold their value quite well.
Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
981 just isn't really that fun to drive on the roads, at anything below 8/10ths, at which point it only really comes alive and shows competence. Costs are much bigger than BMW if anything goes wrong, or if you want to stay on warranty (which I recommend for either) then BMW's warranty extensions are much cheaper.Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
BMW isn't as much of a sports car but somehow much more lively and responsive to drive at lower effort, when just doing normal driving you'd do on public roads. Really nice day to day too. Cayman is a lot more special, but especially after owning one and getting that out of my system I really don't have any desire for one, rather a more proper sports car or then a nicer daily road car like the BMW. And I don't like giving my money to the Volkswagen corporation or its owners either.
In 2020 I was thinking about changing my 981 Boxster S for an M2. Test drove the M2 and while it was a good deal more powerful, it wasn't nearly as engaging a drive and I say this as a massive BMW fan, having had a string of BMWs and still own two. Since I don't need four seats, I'd go Cayman every time. If we're talking M240i then the difference would be even starker.
I've owned a 987.2 Cayman and a m240i. As a sports car, there is no comparison. The Cayman has sharper steering, better handling, more sophisticated suspension, a nicer noise and feels more of an event.
The only benefits the m240i provides over it are straight line pace, torque and space. If you don't need the space, get the Cayman.
The only benefits the m240i provides over it are straight line pace, torque and space. If you don't need the space, get the Cayman.
Hippea said:
I have been looking at M lites for a while now, everything has increased but these in particular are very strong money. Last night I started browsing Caymans. It seems you can get a nice 2.7 for £25-£30k, I would imagine these would hold their value quite well.
Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
The Cayman is a better drivers car than the M lites but it will be slower in a straight line & you'll have to work the engine a bit, for me the 2.7 is a good car but at your price point I'd be buying the 370Z Nismo it's a cracking drivers car although there aren't many for sale they're worth seeking out.Any thoughts from people with experience of both?
They feel special when you drive them & the extra grunt over the Cayman is noticeable.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110108...
Some great replies thank you, going to be honest though hasn’t made my decision any easier. Practicality isn’t an issue and I will be doing no more than 8k a year, 95% B roads.
Maintenance costs are a factor, big bills are not something I’d like and a dealer warranty is something I’d like. My thinking with this is I know the Porsche will be more to run but is likely to hold its value more?
From what I’ve read the 981 doesn’t have the problems of earlier models, are there any major things I should be aware of? I have seen a few advertised that state they have had replacement engines which surprise me
Maintenance costs are a factor, big bills are not something I’d like and a dealer warranty is something I’d like. My thinking with this is I know the Porsche will be more to run but is likely to hold its value more?
From what I’ve read the 981 doesn’t have the problems of earlier models, are there any major things I should be aware of? I have seen a few advertised that state they have had replacement engines which surprise me
Edited by Hippea on Friday 4th February 20:40
ZX10R NIN said:
The Cayman is a better drivers car than the M lites but it will be slower in a straight line & you'll have to work the engine a bit, for me the 2.7 is a good car but at your price point I'd be buying the 370Z Nismo it's a cracking drivers car although there aren't many for sale they're worth seeking out.
They feel special when you drive them & the extra grunt over the Cayman is noticeable.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110108...
I want to like the 370z but I just couldn’t live with it, I’m sure they are great cars but it’s not for meThey feel special when you drive them & the extra grunt over the Cayman is noticeable.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110309...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110108...
Hippea said:
Maintenance costs are a factor, big bills are not something I’d like and a dealer warranty is something I’d like. My thinking with this is I know the Porsche will be more to run but is likely to hold its value more?
The Porsche will without doubt holds its value better, however the BMW insured warranty is rather good and very reasonable. Edited by Hippea on Friday 4th February 20:40
I have had both and still have the cayman
M235i I had for around 3.5 years and so far about 18 months with the cayman.
I would say straight line speed goes to the bmw. Handling the cayman wins by a mile as the bmw gets a bit overwhelmed by its power in corners and the standard suspension isn’t great. Practicality believe it or not isn’t much in it for daily use. The Porsche has 2 boots so can store a lot more than you would think, but obviously not the large bulky items.
Running costs for servicing are around double with the Porsche at main dealers but probably less at independent garages. Extended warranty is more with the Porsche by a couple of hundred quid a year. Fuel is about the same with both and tyres fairly similar depending on wheel size. The Porsche feels a bit more special to drive having the engine just behind your head.
I think overall I would have either car again and I think you would be happy with either. I would just budget for a decent suspension setup on the bmw as this was its only real weakness in my view.
M235i I had for around 3.5 years and so far about 18 months with the cayman.
I would say straight line speed goes to the bmw. Handling the cayman wins by a mile as the bmw gets a bit overwhelmed by its power in corners and the standard suspension isn’t great. Practicality believe it or not isn’t much in it for daily use. The Porsche has 2 boots so can store a lot more than you would think, but obviously not the large bulky items.
Running costs for servicing are around double with the Porsche at main dealers but probably less at independent garages. Extended warranty is more with the Porsche by a couple of hundred quid a year. Fuel is about the same with both and tyres fairly similar depending on wheel size. The Porsche feels a bit more special to drive having the engine just behind your head.
I think overall I would have either car again and I think you would be happy with either. I would just budget for a decent suspension setup on the bmw as this was its only real weakness in my view.
Between these 2 then Cayman every time but it should really be compared to the M2.
And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
nickfrog said:
Between these 2 then Cayman every time but it should really be compared to the M2.
And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
I own a particularly well-specified 981 Boxster S, and when I test drove an M2 I didn't find it a patch on the Boxster dynamically. Yes, it had quite a bit more go, a more aggressive look and more modern gizmos, but it felt like any other decent BMW I've ever driven - fast, competent and sure-footed, but not especially interesting. The 981 isn't noted for its steering feel (both the 987 which came before and the 718/982 were noticeably more communicative) but it was still better than the M2's. For aesthetics, the M2 wins for me though!And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
nickfrog said:
Between these 2 then Cayman every time but it should really be compared to the M2.
And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
I haven't driven a Cayman or a Boxster, but this is how I'd imagine them to be. I also personally prefer front engined RWD because they are generally more playful I would've thought. And then the question would probably be down to whether you prefer mid engine or front engine.
I liked my Boxsters but I found them a little sterile whereas the M2 puts a smile on my face more often, particularly in winter.
Would I be right in thinking that the Cayman/Boxster are a bit too competent on the road to be all that exciting. However I have read about a few people smashing them up in the wet, so I presume that they aren't too competent in tricky conditions though.
cerb4.5lee said:
I haven't driven a Cayman or a Boxster, but this is how I'd imagine them to be. I also personally prefer front engined RWD because they are generally more playful I would've thought.
Would I be right in thinking that the Cayman/Boxster are a bit too competent on the road to be all that exciting. However I have read about a few people smashing them up in the wet, so I presume that they aren't too competent in tricky conditions though.
The low polar moment of inertia (big words for me) makes them grip and change direction in a way that our cars can't quite achieve but conversely when they have (finally) lost friction it can be quite sudden indeed (think of a spinning top with all its weight in the middle). They're often over tyred for their weight too which at lower speed makes them feel a little inert IME. The gap between "proper" sports cars like the Cayman and the (more humbly underpinned) M2 has shrunk in terms of fun and purity but it's delivered in quite a different manner. Would I be right in thinking that the Cayman/Boxster are a bit too competent on the road to be all that exciting. However I have read about a few people smashing them up in the wet, so I presume that they aren't too competent in tricky conditions though.
nickfrog said:
The low polar moment of inertia (big words for me) makes them grip and change direction in a way that our cars can't quite achieve but conversely when they have (finally) lost friction it can be quite sudden indeed (think of a spinning top with all its weight in the middle). They're often over tyred for their weight too which at lower speed makes them feel a little inert IME. The gap between "proper" sports cars like the Cayman and the (more humbly underpinned) M2 has shrunk in terms of fun and purity but it's delivered in quite a different manner.
Thanks for that Nick. 
Mirinjawbro said:
i've gone from a stage 2 + 240i to a 987 boxster.
apart from straight line speed and a slightly dated interior i miss nothing.
i do get that itch for speed still though.
You make it sound like the Boxster is slow. In S guise it's a 5.2 second (0-62mph) 170mph car, those are supercar numbers not so long ago, and the base car is still sub-6-second. Hardly lethargicapart from straight line speed and a slightly dated interior i miss nothing.
i do get that itch for speed still though.
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