I think that Clarkson and mostly everyone else believe that the 911 is the better car (even though Clarkson hates them), and Clarkson is a pusher of buy the best you can get, otherwise you will regret it. I think that most people are that way, just look at the current economic conditions in the world.

 

There's always another point of view. Walter Rhorl has admitted that the Cayman is the better driver's car due to its layout, but Porsche have artificially held it back to ensure that the 911 maintains its top dog status. Ruf has shown that he can very easily make the Cayman a better car than the 911.

And in the economy, I beg to differ. What the data shows is people being cautious and trading down, not trading up. Take a look at private label sales...

 

There is no question that a Mid Engine Car is more balanced, but a better drivers car is exactly as you said one person's point of view. Ruf, has built many cars that are better then the factory 911, but they have also built countless cars based on the 911 that are fast, and at what costs? Put a bigger engine with forced induction and sure it will go faster, but then you could start comparing it to a GT2.

I guess Porsche has been wrong for the last 45 years, making the 911 was the biggest mistake that Porsche has even made, it lacks soul and is not fun to drive. The 928 and the 987 are both designed to take the place of the 911 and make the oddly designed 911 a thing of the past and out the mistake behind Porsche forever. Come on, let it go. This topic has been discussed to death, Porsche's bread and butter is the 911. Look at current world wide sales of the 997 versus the 987, last time I saw figures for PCNA, the 997 was out selling the 987 4 to 1. I guess there is only 20% that truely know what a drivers car is really like...I doubt it!

 

I'm pretty new to this forum and to my 997 but I've had many "lesser" cars over the years, mainly Alfa's. When I bought my 997 a good friend asked why I had not looked at a Cayman instead as it was "so much more modern and balanced".

Which made me wonder myself and all I can say is for me a 911 is a Porsche / a Porsche is a 911. That's what defines the breed. It's not rational, it's not sensible, it's purely emotional.

But also having had Alfa's and loving them all the way (I still have a 105 which I will never sell) I've come to realise that in many ways it's actually the flaws and foibles of a car that give it it's character and interest. In that regard even Clarkson agrees.

 

I have a new 997.2 base car that was a replacement for my '05 997. I recently had some work done on it (nothing broken, just asked the dealer to change an interior part) and used a Caymen S (6 spd, 19" wheels) as a loaner car. The difference is night and day. Although the Cayman is mid engined and more balanced, I personally preferred the handling of the 911. The power difference is also very noticable.

I also generally carry at leat one large (10" staff) golf bag and on occasion have my wife's golf bag too. There is absolutely no place to put them in the Cayman. In the 911 there is enough room for both bags as well as luggage.

Go for the 911!!!!!

 

I understood that Clarkson felt that in an effort to "fill a gap" with the 911 price and reputation remaining it the top and the Boxter beiing the entry level car --Porsche had to hold back with the Cayman S to fill that nitche in terms of BOTH performance and price.

It could have been a better Cayman and that's what bothers him .

I felt that way about the 997 Turbo when I set out to modify it but at least it HAD the right engine. Porsche (with the 997tt) could have built a 10 second car and all it takes is a few bolt on parts and software to attain it . In the Turbo case I think Porsche backed away from giving the Turbo all that it could have been because most buyers are doctors . CEO's or regular drivers who might end up crashing them on public roads .

Porsche builds cars as close to perfection as they can but they have boundaries and with the Cayman S they got wedged into a segment which ultimately stalemated the car . He could not live with the disappointment and neither could I . That's why I agre with his point .

 

That is what happened with a lot of 930's when they first sold them!

 

Now that's something we need a picture of!!

 

[QUOTE][But also having had Alfa's and loving them all the way (I still have a 105 which I will never sell/QUOTE]

I had an alfa when I was 19 years old . A 1976 Spyder . It had to be the most beautiful but unreliable car of my life . Sadly , one day after months of going to service I finally got it fixed . I was driving home and I came to a red light . The car in back of me stopped . The car in back of them hit the gas istead of the brake . Everyone else went to the hospital . I was ok .... no more alfa though .

 

[quote=yrralis1;2167036]Reliabilty was never their strength! Many skinned knuckles prove that. Then they went Front Wheel Drive and the passion stopped.

The Germans (Porsche, MB, BMW) all stuck with RWD and gave their buyers what they wanted while Alfa tried to save some bucks and give the buyers what Alfa wanted. If it wasn't for the Italian government sinking vast amounts of money into them as a form of social security they'd have gone under years ago.

 

My point, while I'm the happier owner of my 3rd 911, that you should not close your eyes to the alternatives.

I'm arguing against taking the easy option of picking the 911 because "that's what people do". Pick the 911 because it's the best car for YOU, not because the masses on a website dedicated to the 911, or some fat balding Englishman tell you that's what you should do.

As it happens the Cayman is not a 911 thankfully, but has its own identity, characteristics, and capabilities. It's a cracking good car that Porsche should not be afraid to develop all the way, unfettered by the fear that it might upset the applecart.

 

I didn't think Walter Rhorl was English

I have driven both the 997C2S (which I have owned 2 of them, and bought the second one because I enjoyed the car so much) and I rented a Cayman S in Germany last spring and drove it around Germany including the Ring. I found that the Cayman was fun to drive, but not exciting. The Carrera is an exciting car, and the Cayman is not even close to the Carrera. It is an easy car to drive, and is limited in power. There are a number of kits that make Cayman's faster then a stock 997, but at the same time there are kits that are available that make the 997 faster as well. The reality of it is that the Carrera is Porsche's flag ship, they make more of them then any of there other cars, and people are buying them again and again (like you and I) and we do that regardless of what Walter or Jeremy says.

Enjoy your Carrera!

 

For another perspective, Fifth Gear did timed laps around their test track with a 3.4L 996 (first gen) back-to-back with a 3.4L Cayman S.

The Cayman S is a phenomenal car, but on that track, with that driver, and those two particular cars, the 10 year old 996 was faster.

 

I remember that show, I thought the Cayman would be faster. I was surprised to see the results.

 

If it was your dream car and you can afford it there is no question 911 all the way. In 10 years from now people won't say nice caymen but I bet you they will with a 911.