Hey guys,

I've been perusing the forum for awhile now, and I'm curious to know what y'all would do in my situation. I'm cognizant that this is a TT forum, so I'm expecting a somewhat biased response.

I recently test drove a '01 TT that had a few modifications, and I was pretty impressed. When I purchased my Cayman about 2.5 years ago, I test drove a stock TT and felt that the car was below my expectations from a handling and driving dynamics perspective. It seems like a few modifications like coilovers, swaybars, control links, etc. really transform the characteristics of the car.

I really do enjoy driving my CS, which is fairly quick in its own right, but I'm hesitant on taking the car to the track knowing that there are oil ingestion/scavenging issues with the M97 block.

Just wanted to get other P-car owners input as to what helped them make their decision about purchasing a 6TT.

Thanks,
Jon

 

i loved everything about it ... i drove a turbo S back in the day and i loved it , i liked the look the way it drove, the build quality , handling and thought it was plenty fast back then.

 

A turbo Cayman sounds like it would probably be more fun than a stock 996 Turbo. I say this without even driving a stock Cayman... I imagine I would like the driving experience more. What would push me toward the 911 is the stoutness of the car, and especially the engine. In stock form it is also closer to where I want it than the Cayman in stock form. I don't know if it matters to you but the interior quality of the 911 with full leather is a bit nicer than the Cayman.

 

I've never driven a Cayman but have heard folks at the track comment about what an excellent handling car it is, just no match for even my stock TT in the straights (and the stock TT is no slouch in the corners, at least at Thunderhill & Sears Point here in northern Cali).

That said, I'm really surprised by what you said about the interior. Almost everyone I talk to loves the 996 TT but rags on the interior. Honestly, I like the more open airy interior than even the somewhat overdone constrictive and complicated interior of the 991. I actually think the best interior is the 997 but thats my opinion. The only thing I really miss is built in Bluetooth for the phone but am looking forward to a new 2013 Alpine headunit to fix that.

You can't go wrong with either Porsche and since its a Porsche you should track it (or autocross, lots of fun too).

 

The 996TT is a heavy car, and unless you want to strip out the interior and many other things, there is no way to change that fact. A turbo Cayman has a lot going for it. Why don't you buy the oil pan baffles{X51?} made for the Cayman and track it. You could also invest in bigger turbos and probably surpass the 996TT. The Cayman engine has proven itself, and I have never heard of one blowing up. If I were you, I would think long and hard before switching cars.

 

Mmmmm... Turbo Cayman sounds like a really fun car. I drove a new CS recently to consider for a new daily driver. I was really impressed with the overall "fun" factor the car offers. I can imagine that dialing up the wick with a turbo setup just makes it a silly fun car.

As others have mentioned, you may consider this decision heavily; I'm not sure the money you spend to get out of your CS and into a 996TT would yield a car that is much more fun and/or track worthy. - Personally I think I'd stick with your CS turbo and upgrade it to make it more dependable on the track.

Chris.

 

Also - and I could be wrong but I think most tracks are requiring the 996tt's have their coolant pipes welded/pinned before they are allowed on track which is a very expensive process if you're going to be doing the upgrade specifically for tracking.

 

I think that a track required this, and now it become an internet "fact" that most tracks require this.... Mid-Ohio and Nelson's have never mentioned it.

Tom

 

Thanks for the responses, guys. After some more deliberation, I think I'm going with the route that most of you suggested and will keep the Cayman, add an extended volume oil pan with baffles and some other oiling mods and try a few DEs. Unless the perfect opportunity comes up, I'll save my pennies until I can upgrade.

Thanks,
Jon

 

Tom - good to know. I will stop propagating internet rumor.

 

I've had both - and prior to owning the turbo, someone told me that my cayman is like going in a urinal while standing next to a horse. Doesn't compare on the track, or the street for that matter, especially after a few mods.

 

Buy the turbo you will never regret it, add strut braces, drop links, sway bars and PSS9's or 10's, 235-40-18 front tyres and a proper sport alignment and it will handle as well as the Cayman but with twice the power and torque.