I think I've got the Benz sold. The marina owner where we keep the boat complimented me on it today and it went from there...one step closer to a 911 or I'm still open to a Cayman S. I need to drive one I guess. I found an 08 Cayman S with 26XXX, Certified used from a Porsche dealer for $39,900 asking.

I've looked up info on them and it seems the reviews and owner comments are very positive. Maybe I should ask about them on the Cayman section though.

 

If I recall correctly, the Cayman had a major engine design change in 09. Go for the newer model since you might be the keeper type.

Cayman is mid-engine. You might like it. Had I found a black 09 S, I would have bought it.


Old saying: "Buy the newest Porsche your pocket could afford."

 

A 997 and 987 share a lot of parts and have many similarities within given model years. For $40K you can find a very nice Boxster S, or a quite nice Cayman S, or a pretty well used 997 S. I've had two 997 S (.1 and .2), and two Caymans (987 R and 981 S), and one Boxster (RS60). I kept the Boxster RS60 and Cayman R. My Boxster won't lose any value (zero) over the next few years, and I paid under $40K for it several months ago (7 years old with 5,500 miles and mint). All these cars are fun to drive. For that cash and if I didn't want a ragtop, I'd look for the best and newest 987 Cayman S I could find.

 

All 987s and 997s were upgraded in 09 to DFI engines and there's the option of PDK if equipped. They are considered more reliable cars due to the DFI engine, and had a power bump as well as enhanced electronics. With 08 and earlier, you might be able to find cars with PSE and PCCB in that price range, which would be very nice. Full leather too. They're out there if you look long and hard enough.

 

I've heard that...it's interesting that the 87-97 cars are as much as the 997.1 cars are.

Are those older cars on a price bubble? Seems like just 12 months ago they were in the 20's for a nice car.

 

Congrats on the Boxster RS60, they had one at the dealer the other day but it was listed for $60K. I didn't even notice the year as it was out of my range, but the salesman thought it was a rare enough car that I should see it first hand.

It's looking like the 08' Cayman S is about the top of my range. I'm not in a hurry though. And I haven't ruled out a 87-97 911. I've got to find one or two to drive...for that matter I need to go drive a Cayman too.

 

Have you looked at the air-cooled 911 Turbo recently? The prices have just skyrocketed!!!


Yeah, the air-cooled 911s seem to have increased in value. I haven't researched why, but they have increased.

IMO, they are easier to work on and less mtce than my 997 (no power steering, x water pump, x radiator, x coolant, less hoses, less fans, etc.)

One thing I can tell you: though I love my 997, my older 911s have their own way of making sure that the road, the car and the driver are "all together as one!"

 

Back to your original question. I have an 05 base with 32 k miles. Owned for a little over 2 years. Going to put on a new set of tires and I do all my oil changes. Nothing has broken on the car. Not one little thing. Knock on wood.
The oil change will be the easiest you will ever do. Takes 45 minutes and 42 is waiting for all the oil to drain out.
No question drive a 911 and a cayman but there was question for me. 911 all day long. And BTW I have a 14 and 16 year old girls and though it is tight they absolutely fit in the back seat of the car for short drives up to about 2 hours. I am 5'10 and 180 so it's not like I am 5'5". The will fit in the car and trust me when you take them to school or pick them up your kids will love it as their friends will love your car.

 

Thanks. The Boxster S "RS60" was only made in 2008. 1,960 were made. About 800 came to the US. Most are manual gearbox cars but some are automatics. They commemorate Porsche's victories in 1960 by the type 718 RS60 Spyder. All 2008 RS60s are GT silver with black windshield frame, which was a $3,000 option that year for a normal Boxster S. Most have full leather carrera red interiors and some dark gray. Some red tops and some black tops. All have PSE, Sport Design 19" wheels, wider fender flares and front splitters, 5mm wheel spacers, unique billet/leather shift ****, textured leather seating and door panels, and a power bump to 303hp, making it the first Boxster with over 300hp.

 

If you can find a nice air cooled 911, that's a definite option. I would love to have one but I wouldn't expect the shear performance to impress me greatly, but those cars are more about a visceral experience than all out performance. Skip the 996 and any early 997 for IMS reasons alone. But definitely drive the 987 Cayman S, especially with the DFI engine. If you prioritize cornering and agility over power as I do, you'll be very impressed. You might find below interesting, especially in the price range you're looking for.

 

I don't think it's a conspiracy that the Cayman is better at handling...it's just the truth. The question is what you enjoy unless your actually competing for money/wins/etc. (for me at least). I like the feel of adjusting to a rear-engine car and it's so fun to feel the incredible traction, especially on slicks! (Doing my first track day Sunday at COTA, but my R888s have 400 miles on them already hehehe)

If I was insanely rich one day or had a racing team, sure i'd pick a "cup" cayman over a 911 cup if it was offered from factory. But for track day/street fun why not drive a 911? You can get used ones for less than new caymans!

 

I had a 2008 base Cayman, and now have a 2009 C2S cab, both with manual transmission.

Turn-in on the Cayman is telepathic, and as long as you keep the revs up, I never felt like I was lacking power. The additional power of the S would make it even better. I really liked the engine noise in the cabin - like a little sewing machine working away right behind you.

The 911 isn't as balanced, but the handling is still great.

For $40K, I would get a nice Cayman that is in need of nothing and drive the snot out of it. As others have said, these are easy cars to work on. Most of the systems are over-engineered, and as long as you follow the prescribed service schedule they are quite reliable.

 

For $40,000.00, I would also settle on a Cayman. At 40K, it would most likely a newer and lower mileage Porsche compared to a 40K-997 (i.e., bang for the buck!). But it has to be the Gen II S.

Note that you 'might' get feedback that it's a 'lower Porsche', 'poor man Porsche', 'Gayman', etc. You might not even get the respect of other 911 owners, or not get as much attention that the 997 gets. But heck, if it were me, since I don't care about other's opinion, don't care about attention, etc. I would not care.

Heck, the latest Cockster's design is even growing on me now. It's more muscular and no longer feminine. Oops, I meant to spell Boxster. Though, after seeing the pics of the 2016 Miata, I would not mind waiting for it too.


Get the 997S or the Gayman S --- either one, you'll be happy. GL.


Excuse the old humor here. hahahah

 

Where do you live in Texas? With brand new Michelin PSS tires on both my manual 997.1 S and PDK 997.2 S I got lots of wheel spin in 1st and 2nd. No way could I go WOT in those gears without chopping power to get the car to hook up enough to not be embarrassed by a Toyota Camry. San Antonio roads are beyond slick. Also on both cars the front would wash out and then the rear would load up around sharper corners, and never felt planted. I know the roads are most the blame, but seriously? Both my 987s corner substantially better on these same roads. Steering is the same on all 987s and 997s--sublime! My R has the low end grunt of a 997.2 S (and traction), but not the very tip top punch. So it spins the wheels up too, but not as much thanks to the limited slip diff. Cornering of the R is the best of any NA Porsche...period.

Downside of the 981 Cayman S (I know I owned one) is that the motor is soft and totally lacks low end grunt. Don't be fooled by "325" hp. My 330 hp Cayman R motor feels completely different, like the difference between a 3.4 and 3.8. Another downside of the 981 is the steering. Not sublime. You don't feel the road nearly as much either.

I still love 997s (more so than 991s), but really $40K isn't going to get a decent 997.2 S, and truthfully the 987 Cayman S DFI is the best Porsche for the money these days, especially if equipped with sport chrono and PCCB, which are out there if you look long enough.

Another alternative not yet explored is a base 997.1 (3.6). Again, if you can find a well equipped one, that could be a good option too.

 

My driving is between Houston/Austin areas. I live near Austin but I go to Houston almost every weekend.

I'm surprised; I get very little wheelspin in my 997.2 c2S maybe I just don't push it as hard as you do?

I am comparing to owning a GT Mustang, c5 vette, 370Z, and E92 M3 (All FR vehicles). I've driven them on comparable rubber. This car has tremendous traction coming out of corners compared to those. It's a fun new feel for me to drive. I can't compare a Cayman as far as being pushed hard because i've never driven one in anger, though I want to!

I guess my point was, we aren't racing professionally for the most part, so pick what driving "feel" you want best? Like, for example, you prefer a cayman feel because it is admittedly superior in handling, where as I do prefer the 911 feel just because it is unique and I find that cool and fun to learn.

If we wanted most performance for the money wouldn't we all just buy modded vettes (I know, OP said he doesn't like them but i'm just tossing out food for thought).

The cayman is a steal though; the problem is once porsche decides the cayman is the "new 911" ie. a mid-engined 911 evolution occurs, the cayman will just be an underpowered miniature 911, and the 911 will be a mid-engine hedgemon costing $120k. So price wise I see what your getting at for sure. But I think a porsche 911 becoming a Mid-Engine car will kind of ruin how special the cayman is?

I am rambling but I just love this car, cannot go wrong with porsche.

Bottom Line (in my opinion): OP NEEDS to drive both a cayman and 911 as hard as possible before purchase ! (I drove a cayman at a dealership but I've never driven one hard yet).