Just got back from HK where I picked up a european copy of EVO. on the 17th page it reviewed the Cayman S and it sz

" ....at the Nurburgring, where Walter Rohrl has already bettered the 997's 8min 15sec lap time. "

Peter

 

You would dhave to know whether the Cayman was in final production trim. You would also need to know if both times were set under identical conditions (weather, track temp, wind direction, atrmospheric pressure etc.)

Otherwise it's another example of senationalist journalism...

 

kinda doubt Rohrl would have made that comment if the tests weren't comparable. further, of course the cayman isn't in final production trim (or it'd be rolled out much faster). lastly, 'ring times dropped consistently and considerably on the CGT from varios pre-production models to fully production models. iow, the cayman will probably get considerably faster as they continue the R&D.

 

oh btw: it was the Cayman S

Peter

 

I agree Ben. Walter Rohrl knows which side his bread is buttered. He would not be quoted as saying the Cayman was faster than the 911, even if it was.

Evo of course don't quote Walter - just the heresay of a track time he supposedly achieved with the Cayman - as I said a nice example of sensationalist journalism.

 

The latest article in C&D states that the Cayman will be faster than the Carrera.

 

Weather it's true or not. Personally I believe the gap between the Cayman and Carrera is just tooo small. Wonder if Porsche is planning on an update on the Carrera's engine in a year or two to widen the gap

Peter

 

I think the Cayman will *become* the new 911...

 

You may have something there Dock. The Cayman may become what the 911 was before the 964 was introduced in 1989.
And the 911 may have to be moved a bit more upmarket in performance but more importantly in interior quality compared to cars like AM Vantage V8, Audi LeMans, certain AMGs and M6, perhaps rumored Dino, etc. We can draw the line easily between fast sedans , fast sporty cars, and fast purer sports cars down to the feel in the fingertips and the seat , but to many buyers in that price range , it becomes " fashion " more than passion.
Look at the SUV mrkt - Range Rover S/C at a Cayenne Turbo like $90k too , but I guess in a few years that means one couldn't afford the rumored VWAG's $200K Bentley SUV that will be the 4th SUV built off the same platform ( Cayenne/Toureg/Q7).

 

I will have to agree with Dock too. I recently heard a very well-respected service manager talk about his conversations with the Porsche mothership. According to them, the 911 was going to become the "executive" model while "other models would be assume the 'performance' slot."

TVN

 

RUMORED DINO!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!???!??!?!?!

 

The reason why 911 will always be preferred to a Cayman is the same reason why the 911 is still around today- because its engine is at the rear of the car !!

The Cayman probably IS faster around the track when given a similar engine, brakes and suspension because it will be better balanced due to it being mid-engined.

But, the 911 is harder to drive at its maximum cornering speeds and it is this aspect / challenge to the driving Porsches that will always make the 911 feel more involving and rewarding.