Next Pcar...CaymanS

[porsche986spyder]

Why not just get the 987 Boxster and add the hard top. That way you can still have the look and feel of both cars. Here is an image of a 987 with the longer extended hardtop now availible. Makes it look just like the Cayman. Only made in Europe, but you can have it shipped here to the U.S.

[super66]

I am not a 911 fan and would want a new boxster s just for the power...no cayman interest. I would likely go with the 911 because it would be nice to take the kid and wife in a convertible at the same time....like I said though, not really a 911 fan....I could always get a turbo vw bettle like T.O.

[Perfectlap]

I highly doubt I would ever trade in a roadster for a Coupe.
THis is my second and I can't begin to tell you how much I HATED being in hardtop sports car when I was on vacation last year in Florida.

I think having a CaymanS and A BoxsterS would be novel but kind of excessive since they are so similar. Heck even Porsche lumps their sales numbers into the same boat.

The 996 prices droping like an anchor lately have surprised me and gotten my attention. This week a guy on Rennlist took home an 02 C4S with barely 25K miles for ......drum roll......$43K and a CPO to boot!!! Car was absoultely MINT.
Porsche has simply produced more cars in the last 7 years than ever before in its history and the demmand is just not there to keep those 911 prices prop'd up.
The deals will be even sweeter 12 months from now. Back a few months ago I even saw an 02 996 Turbo 30K miles with BBS, spotless all around, go without a single bid on Ebay for $55K.

Similarly the Caymans are a crashing. 06 CaymanS leftovers going for $50K is not unheard of. The guys who paid $70K are eating $20K in depreciation in barely 18 months....OUCH. But aestheically I doubt I would buy one for even $40K because I know I would end up spending $10K on exterior cosmetics, wheels, GT3 seats, etc.

I dunno I would never consider a 911 or Cayman a replacement for a benchmark roadster but if room and $$$ allows, its a fine addition to the collection.
Right now I think the 996 Turbo dry sump engine (far superior to the lower 911 engines) is the best value going. GT3 also has this engine but that's not a car I particularly enjoyed being a passenger in on one very wet drive. If its mis-aligned its down right dangerous. The Turbo is like the Oprah Winfrey of Porsches: Powerful, expensive and heavy.

[racer_d]

Until 996 GT3 prices drop dramatically, I will go back to an Aircooled Porsche

[Perfectlap]

how much lower do they have to go? A less than three year old $100K 996 GT3 with low miles can be snatched up in the mid $60K range. Man...talk about a hit.
$30,000-$40,000 gone in less than three years.
bad for Mr. Rich Guy good for you...

[drburton]

Now that it has come up, I am also interested in the 996 Turbo given the prices. One of my issues is I'm not a big fan of the interior, especially the seats. What's up with Porsche seats wearing so badly too. Some of the Turbos on E-bay look mint but the leather seats looks like hell.

Yes, I realize there is the opportunity to add aftermarket seats, which brings up my questions. Do 997 seats fit in a 996? I see used 997 sports seats available once in awhile and I think they are very cool looking.

[cfos]

I think I'm in RN's camp, but for different reasons.

1a) The wife has long hair. Translation: top stays up.

1b) Screw the difference between "dry" heat and humidity. When over 95 degrees with a blazing sun, hot is just plain hot.

2) Backseats.

I don't know that I'd go with the cayman, though. I'm thinking more towards a 911 c4 or a Maz. Grandsport.

[Dr. Kill]

Will have to see what makes financial sense when it comes time to replace the Box. Ideally, the replacement will be a new C4, but we will see...

[rule1]

I would like a cayman s plus keep my boxster.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

Why not just get the 987 Boxster and add the hard top. That way you can still have the look and feel of both cars. Here is an image of a 987 with the longer extended hardtop now availible. Makes it look just like the Cayman. Only made in Europe, but you can have it shipped here to the U.S.

Here's the problem... there's still a convertible top under it to maintain and keep in good condition should the car ever be sold.

Moreover, anyone who's got a hard top of any kind on their boxster had better take notice that leaving it down and covered year after year stretches out the cables in the sides of the top and makes it really loose fitting and hard to close properly. I know this from personal experience. My car had a hard top on it for a number of years before I bought it and my top looks great, but fits like crap.

And one more thing... why would I pay big bucks for a new 987 and then pay a whopping $8k for this top just to get a Cayman S style boxster? It makes no financial sense to me...and I do not care about the top down experience any longer.

[Brucelee]

I supposed as long as I live in SOCAL, the roadster is the deal.

[FrayAdjacent]

Actually my next car will be something more practical, something to be used as a commuter....

Something like the Chevrolet/GM Volt.

[Thumper]

I'd probably opt for a used 996TT or a GT3. I'm continually amazed at the depreciation these seem to be experiencing. I like the Caymen VERY MUCH, but it would have to be a steal of a deal at this point. I plan on keeping my 986 around for a very long time and any other P car would be an addition rather than a substitution. I'm having too much fun modifying the Boxster.

Although I'm still intrigued by the Targa.........

[porsche986spyder]

And one more thing... why would I pay big bucks for a new 987 and then pay a whopping $8k for this top just to get a Cayman S style boxster? It makes no financial sense to me...and I do not care about the top down experience any longer.[/QUOTE]

Wow! It was just a sugestion. I thought you were torn between the 2 and could not decide and I was only offering an alternative option that worked in both situations. It's only $5K plus shipping, not 8. Good luck on your decision.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

And one more thing... why would I pay big bucks for a new 987 and then pay a whopping $8k for this top just to get a Cayman S style boxster? It makes no financial sense to me...and I do not care about the top down experience any longer.

Wow! It was just a sugestion. I thought you were torn between the 2 and could not decide and I was only offering an alternative option that worked in both situations. It's only $5K plus shipping, not 8. Good luck on your decision. [/QUOTE]

porsche986spyder, sorry... that came out a too strong and I didn't mean to be abrasive. Sometimes I hate the way forum threads read when you can't see I'm smiling while I type enthusiastically.

I've often considered buying a hard top for my 986, but I really don't like the looks of the "inexpensive" one. The fastback one that makes the 986 look like a cayman is nice, but it's up there in the 5-6k price range too... I'd hate to spend this much on a car that's only worth 12k and sink more unrecoverable cash into it.

Hence, my current decision to just buy a "boxster coupe" next time around.

[denverpete]

Wow - tough call.

I'm with Randall in that I really love the look of my Boxster with the top down (so-so with it up) - of course I have a beautiful red interior that looks SOOOOOO good with the silver!

I've thought about the Elise/Exige but I'm getting too old to drive a go-cart as a daily driver. The Z4 is just too strange looking both in convertible and hard-top. The S2000 and Miata too bland. The 350Z too ricer (and fat). I'm iffy on the looks of the RX8 (although I loved the last RX7).

I've always wanted a 911 and came extremely close to trading for a '00 C4 last year. But, the more I look at the Cayman and then the 997 I'm just drawn more to the looks of the Cayman - the 997 just has such fat buttocks. Of course a 996TT/997TT would give me pause for both the looks and the power. But really, if the Cayman was available as a TT this wouldn't even be a discussion for me. As to the lack of rear seats, well, that's actually how I like my sports cars!

[RandallNeighbour]

Pete, if I'm not mistaken, they're making TT kits for the Cayman S now.

ooooh that would be one wicked little ride, wouldn't it?

[denverpete]

I actually shivered as I read that.....

[porsche986spyder]

porsche986spyder, sorry... that came out a too strong and I didn't mean to be abrasive. Sometimes I hate the way forum threads read when you can't see I'm smiling while I type enthusiastically.

I've often considered buying a hard top for my 986, but I really don't like the looks of the "inexpensive" one. The fastback one that makes the 986 look like a cayman is nice, but it's up there in the 5-6k price range too... I'd hate to spend this much on a car that's only worth 12k and sink more unrecoverable cash into it.

Hence, my current decision to just buy a "boxster coupe" next time around.[/QUOTE]

No problem, that's what I thought.

[JP-s-in st. louis]

If anyone want's to buy my boxster for 33K there would be a 997GT3 in my garage the next day. That and a 930 are the only P car I want to own. With that said my car is for sale if anyone is interested.