[Perfectlap]

Not surprising.

Boxster and Cayman have become too expensive for the non-enthusiast.
Since I reckon most Pcar buyers aren't really sports car enthusiast (purely unscientific first hand experience) they start thinking along the lines of "why not just get the 911 if I'm going to be paying that much" I bet the average 997 buyer is a first time porsche owner who will never take part in any HP driving instruction during the length of ownership.

Meanwhile the CaymanS seems from I've heard to be doing better than the Boxsters. The high numbers of 986's now available in excellent condition will suffer on pricing because of the slumping 987 sales, but only hurting it to a point. Where that point is remains to be seen, either way its a good time to be buying a 987 and even better time for the 986 buyer. The high volume of well preserved 986's pretty much demanded the '05 redesign otherwise Boxster sales would be in even more trouble. Why spend $50K on "07 986" when I can get into an identical looking "2000 986" for $20-25K less. Meaning New Boxster sales will be limited mostly to "gotta have it" buyers, a small fragment of the roadster target market. I'll bet that the average buyer for the Cayman is in fact an enthusiast who belongs to PCA and has participated in at least one DE/autocross. I also figure the average CaymanS buyer has owned at least one Pcar previously, certainly in higher numbers than the 997. And the average Cayman buyer is also older than the late 40's-50'ish 997 buyer. (Kids are out of the house, no more need for the 997 rear seats to stick a child seat in)

Two very distinct types of buyer both dropping BIG dollars. With a 928 and Panamera in the works its going to get even better for the Porsche dudes. If Porsche can take a beating in SUV sales and still make record profits it tells where the company is.

p.s.
I always get a chuckle when I hear someone say "$70K for the entry level Porsche Cayman". If the Cayman buyer is a repeat customer how is it still an entry level car? and of course the term entry level should never be applied to any non-extoic $ 60-100K car
p.s.s.
Looks like Ferrari are going to seal the deal in FIA GT2 bt spanking Porsche in the Manufacturers cup. Next season will be an all sprint race schedule which will rob the 911 of its big reliability advantage. Time to start contemplating the CaymanRS otherwise the F430 might make it two years in a row.