What if . . . - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

SoCal · 08-07-2005, 09:19 PM

you could afford a new Carrera Coupe with just a couple options, like PASM, Xenon lights, and the Bose stereo upgrade, . . .

or you could get a Cayman with a bit more options (but nothing that would push the MSRP over $75K), . . .

or you could order a new 987S loaded with every option and upgrade you could possibly want.

What would you do?

thepress83 · 08-08-2005, 05:48 AM

I'd take a 987S loaded with PCCB etc. over a 911 or even a cayman. If you're looking for a drivers car rather than prestige of a 911 it's definitely between the cayman and the boxster and I just prefer the convertible considering it's cheaper than cayman but that's totally your call.

Brucelee · 08-08-2005, 05:56 AM

I don't like the back end of the Cayman at all.

Sorry, I like the ragtop and think the motor of the Cayman belongs in the Boxster S.

limoncello · 08-08-2005, 06:21 AM

I'll take Boxster S set up like I want it.

RandallNeighbour · 08-08-2005, 06:37 AM

This would be a great thread with a poll, by the way.

This is a hard decision, but I'd probably get the 987S due to the soft top. That's what would determine it for me... The 3.2 is fast enough considering I now have a 2.5, so it would be a huge kick in the pants to upgrade to it.

The Cayman's roof is too curved and looks "bubbled" to me. But I bet they'll sell a ton of them! What does this mean? It means that LA Dismantlers will have Cayman engines, trannys, brains and wiring harnesses for sale within 24 months as idiots wrap their cars around telephone poles.

Richard, then you'll start to see 986's & 987's with upgraded engines in them

Perfectlap · 08-08-2005, 07:45 AM

I tend to think that if you are in the market for a high performance roadster you are only considering cars like the Boxster, Corvette, SLK, S2000, Z4 etc.

The Carrera is totaly different car.
Its kind of like saying would you rather have an M3 or and X5?

Now Carrera vs. Cayman that's another story altogether. Both tin tops.

From a financial point of view I think a low mileage standard Carrera is an excellent deal, a few mods and you have an amazing head turner and eveyone thinks you spent $80,000. A brand spanking new CaymanS is bound to be an enourmous bleeding of money. A real luxury that some guy down the line is going to reap big rewards for when he buys it second hand.

natecooper · 12-30-2005, 02:19 PM

I'd put 65k into the Boxster S, then put the left over 10k into performance upgrades. I'm sure it could be pushed into a 911 range car, with the added benefit of the mid engine layout and the fun of being a bit of an 'under cover' bad ass.

12-31-2005, 06:14 AM

The Boxster for sure! Top down driving...can't beat it.

The Cayman looks great though!

For $10K in mods, I don't think you can approach the 911's HP rating, natecooper.

wild1poet2 · 12-31-2005, 06:46 AM

Being a lifelong motorhead this is a tempting choice. But also being a motorcycle enthusiast I need the open air experience. Hence, any variant of the Boxster will come out tops for me. Open air motoring puts you into the environment and the experience as opposed to being insulated from it. Being enclosed in a coupe or sedan reduces driving to a bit like watching TV. The passing environment framed by the glass windshield flickering passed us while we sit watching, insulated from air currents, sun, scents, sounds and vistas. IMHO

I must admit (despite Robert Pirsig philosophosizing), I have never had the luck to drive a Carrera coupe. Perhaps the experience is so awesome, I'd become a convert.

Brucelee · 12-31-2005, 07:26 AM

The Carrera coupe is a nice ride. But, it IS just a ride!

The Box is superb in its own right. Comparing a Box to a Carrera coupe is really apples to oranges. They don't feel at all like the same car.

I have a 911 Turbo coupe right now. Frankly, I am not blown away.

Such is life!

PS-nothing like jumping on the Buell and hitting the twisties!

natecooper · 12-31-2005, 10:02 AM

"For $10K in mods, I don't think you can approach the 911's HP rating, natecooper."

Maybe not right now, but after a few years when there are a few more performance upgrades available I'd be suprised if you couldn't. A 06 Boxster S is 280 hp, a 06 Carrera is 325 hp. That is only a 45 hp difference. With 10 grand you're looking at a bit under $225 per horsie, not a crazy request at all.

Then again, I'm a computer guy and really don't know...