If you really want to race the Vettes why not enter a driving event like Texas Mile or Miami Mile ? It's a one mile all out run for time on a completely open airstrip .

 

I would pick the Cayman S over an 03 C4S . The 03 car faces potential RMS leak issues which can be very expensive to repair on a car out of warranty. The AWD in the car won't corner as nicely as the Cayman despite the power difference . The interior also is inferior in the 996 car (03 model) . The cost to maintain would not be cheap and if you are stretching to get into the car placing the most down first woild be the way to go . If you had 50-60K to spend then finding a 911 woild not be as difficult . You'd still have to search because pricing on the used market has been strong and well maintained , reliable, damage free cars, with ideal options , in close proximity , are not that easy to find .. but at those prices .. it's doable.

 

What year CS would it take to choose it over an 07 Cayman?

 

2006 and 2007 would be as close to your price and still have good reliability history . When I recommended the Cayman S it sincerely was meant to place you in a great car and keep you out of financial trouble with repairs . Fixing an out of warranty Porsche can be very expensive and all the cars look pretty on a used car lot .

To place you in an 06 or 07S it will run you from 50-60K . You may break 50 on an 06 with a few more miles , no CP0 , a painted panel, and some risk .

I;m trying to keep you from spending 40K and then finding yourself spending another 10K over 2 years in repairs as the car sits in the shop.
It's one thing if you know the car or the owner , and the vehicle history and quite another when you are searching , trying to save money, and facing cars 4 and 5 years old with unknown history .

 

Excellent advice!

 

Thanks, I think Ill check out a Cayman S this weekend, I just hope being 6' tall and 215 isnt too big for that little car.
Other cars Im thinking about are an BMW 335i maybe an Audi S5 but I hate the interior.

One thing about a used Porsche, couldnt I just pay for a 3/36,000 mile warranty? I usually only keep a vehicle 2 years anyways

 

I agree that it's excellent advice. But the missing addition is that the Cayman is an outstanding car. Yes, less power. So if it's running with Corvette's that you seek, then a Cayman may not be the way to go. But as a pure, road feeling mid-engine sports car, the Cayman is an incredible experience.

 

What could a Cayman S pull in the 1/4? An 07/08

 

The seats are comfortable and 6 ft tall is within top end parameters . You just have see and decide. It's going to feel tighter than a 997 but it's a fun car to drive and is very well made . The car comes with 4 year 50K warranty but if it is CPO there is additional warranty . In fact you ought to have some change back on your 40K too .

I don't know about the Audi . It's never appealed to me but I do have an M3 and have owned many BMW's . Avoid the 07 335i . There are some issues with overheating and the engine going into limp mode . 08 -09 are better. BTW --even though the 328i is not as fast it is a more reliable car . BMW's normally aspirated cars on the 3 series have been extremely reliable and if you load a 328 with sport package with a nice handling car too.

The key is to keep on on the road , out of the shop, with financial peace of mind , in a car that you can still enjoy within those price ranges.

 

I'm not the President but I will do in a pinch since I can stay an execution or implement one if necessary...threads like these always force a statement on behalf of 6speedonline and Internet Brands that we do not condone street racing of any kind under any circumstances

 

On a road, we have no corner workers, no cleared run-off areas, no ambulance with paramedics sitting in the infield. Public roads are not the place to go fast.

Go take driving lessons of the serious type, held on a race track with instructors who know serious driving. Your local SCCA club holds them, and if you do buy a Porsche, the local PCA club has DE days also. DE=Drivers Education. The serious kind. If you pass that course, you'll never again wonder if you're faster than the guy in the Corvette, you'll know you are. (If he was any damn good, he wouldn't be offering to race on a public road.) And if you don't pass... Well, you damn sure better be keeping it under the speed limit until your skills improve.

But you will pass. And next time someone pulls alongside and revs his engine, just smile and wave. Then shrug, chuckle and pull off for a Coke instead of getting somebody hurt. Buy him one if he follows you. You know you're fast, and eventually Corvette guy will figure it out.

 

I agree fully. Never stretch yourself to buy a car like this. Pick the model you can afford to enjoy.

 

Spank

 

I like your guys thinking and I agree with you

Im still wanting a 911 over a Cayman, but I will be checking out a Cayman today.

IF I were to get an 996 what years had issues?

I noticed someone said to stay away from an 03 because of some leak?

 

Both 996 (M96 engine) and 997.1 (M97 engine) share essentially the same engine with the same issues in all configurations (including Boxsters and Caymans) - RMS (Rear main Seal) leak and (Intermediate Shaft) IMS problems. All 996s are the same. Starting with the '07 MY (late 06) the M97 engine was improved with a new RMS and reinforced IMS bearings. Therefore the better M97 engines are after that year.

The occurrence of those issues is relatively small. What is reported on the Web I'm sure amplifies the problem. A well cared for M96/M97 engine that is not abused should last 200k miles. Abused engines will not.

The 997.2 has a totally redesigned engine (A91) and those issues do not apply.