I currently have a 2004 997 C2S a manual in dark blue (can't remember the exact colour) with a sand interior, sport classic wheels and passive sports suspension. It's done 70k, 20 of which I have done.
It's my first Porsche and while I love it I originally fancied a cayman but on realising I could afford a 996 or 997 I decided to go for it. Three years on I've fitted RSS engine mounts and a BMC filter and induction mod and enjoyed some amazing drives in what still feels such a special car. I can't help looking at it as I walk away or past it to my other car which I use to commute most days (it's a T-sport Yaris).
I've only ever kept a car longer than 3 years once (1.9 205 GTI I brought nearly 20 years ago, would have another in a heartbeat), so I was starting to get itchy feet about 6 months ago. I looked at both an E92 M3 and AMG C class as want to scratch the V8 itch at some point as it's the last engine configuration I haven't owned (with the exception of a V12 which I can't ever see happening). Both where nice but dominated by their fantastic engines. I enjoyed both but there's only me and my partner so I don't need the practicality and neither could hold a candle to the 911 for fun, handling or that feeling of being such a honed package.
So I started to think about a cayman again and whether I should swap the 997. As luck would have it a work colleague had brought a 28k, 2.9 gen 2 in guards red with a sand interior, 18's and the standard passive suspension. After a year was now considering moving into a 997 as it was his dream car. It seemed like a great idea to swap cars and see if we both fancied making the change.
First impressions of the interior was just how similar they were but on closer inspection it's clear Porsche had upped the quality of the switch gear. For some inexplicable reason though it's changed the the beautifully clear, classical font on the dials for something that looks like it was designed by a Disney cartoonist.
I was also surprised just how much higher you sit in the standard seats compared to the basic sports seats in my car even at their lowest setting. Not the best start but things improved as I set off.
PDK made it so easy and the extra ground clearance and more compliant suspension took the speed bumps and potholed roads in town like any boggo hatchback/saloon. No crawling along to avoid scraping the front end, no swerving round pot holes to avoid jiggling your insides. The engines smooth and feels smoother and more refined, NVH was significantly improved. PDK is brilliant in auto mode feeling smooth and responsive. I was starting to think it might be would be a good move to swap due how much more usable the car was. I know my other half would enjoy not having to wear her most supportive bra when we go out.
As we came out of town engines at operating temperature I moved to manual mode and sport ready for some great A roads. As we came to the first national speed limit sign I dropped to second in anticipation. As I saw my car squat in front I floored the throttle and watched my car pull away. No real surprise and nut wow did the 2.9 spin smoothly at the top end. The lack of interruption as you changed up was so impressive. As the first bend came up I hit the brakes hard and nearly wet myself, the pedal had so much travel completely lacked feel compared to my 997 which bites with next to no travel and feels like your foot is directly connected to the discs. You can tell exactly when you're about to hit the abs threshold. Even 30 miles of hard driving later I knew stopping power was there but the consistency of feel never was. This was the biggest disappointment, my colleague confirmed that the discs pads and fluid were only a couple of thousand miles old and had always been this way.
Over the course of the drive I started to notice other areas where the cayman didn't have the connection I look for. The steering was lighter and smoother but had less feel, body control wasn't as tight. The engine while very smooth and Rev happy didn't have the gritty mechanical feel. PDK was smooth and quick and made driving quickly easier particularly under hard breaking into corners but reduced interaction. I began to wonder if this was something I really was looking for.
The cayman breezed lumps and bumps, turned in better but couldn't take power as early or hard at the exit.
It's handling felt much more intuitive and didn't seem to have any real vices, but there didn't seem to be any secrets to learn. You just jumped in and up to my version of 7/10 it felt comfortable.
I was often having to push harder though to keep up with my 997 and this is where the lack of feedback became an issue for me. It felt like a leap of faith to push on and if it wasn't for PSM I would have slowed down. I definitely wouldn't feel as comfortable turning everything off as in my 997.
My car by contrast felt slightly alien to start with but over time It taught me what it likes to go fast, get weight over the front end as you turn in before using the traction to slingshot out. You don't get it right every time but the car communicates how close you get to perfection. The hard ride smoother at speed but still it can be deflected, the car tells you what to do to deal with it though and this all increases your interaction and bond with the car.
After a couple of days to digest things and have a good drive in my 997 I think a cayman is a great car compared to most and is definitely a much more usable car all round. It's easy to jump straight into and go quickly while enjoying yourself a lot. If I hadn't driven a 997 I would be much more effusive. I could definitely enjoy a cayman and would use it a lot more but only around my town but is that a good reason to swap into one. I don't think so, while a far worse car in town and not as relaxing or quiet while cruising a 997 is a great car to go on a road trip in and when you get to great roads it makes you work harder for it's highs but the rewards are so worth it.
It's made me realise that as a car enthusiast swapping usability for communication and fun is worth it and that I prefer bigger highs less often than regular lower ones.
And on that note I'm off to start saving for some à–hlins Road and track.
It's my first Porsche and while I love it I originally fancied a cayman but on realising I could afford a 996 or 997 I decided to go for it. Three years on I've fitted RSS engine mounts and a BMC filter and induction mod and enjoyed some amazing drives in what still feels such a special car. I can't help looking at it as I walk away or past it to my other car which I use to commute most days (it's a T-sport Yaris).
I've only ever kept a car longer than 3 years once (1.9 205 GTI I brought nearly 20 years ago, would have another in a heartbeat), so I was starting to get itchy feet about 6 months ago. I looked at both an E92 M3 and AMG C class as want to scratch the V8 itch at some point as it's the last engine configuration I haven't owned (with the exception of a V12 which I can't ever see happening). Both where nice but dominated by their fantastic engines. I enjoyed both but there's only me and my partner so I don't need the practicality and neither could hold a candle to the 911 for fun, handling or that feeling of being such a honed package.
So I started to think about a cayman again and whether I should swap the 997. As luck would have it a work colleague had brought a 28k, 2.9 gen 2 in guards red with a sand interior, 18's and the standard passive suspension. After a year was now considering moving into a 997 as it was his dream car. It seemed like a great idea to swap cars and see if we both fancied making the change.
First impressions of the interior was just how similar they were but on closer inspection it's clear Porsche had upped the quality of the switch gear. For some inexplicable reason though it's changed the the beautifully clear, classical font on the dials for something that looks like it was designed by a Disney cartoonist.
I was also surprised just how much higher you sit in the standard seats compared to the basic sports seats in my car even at their lowest setting. Not the best start but things improved as I set off.
PDK made it so easy and the extra ground clearance and more compliant suspension took the speed bumps and potholed roads in town like any boggo hatchback/saloon. No crawling along to avoid scraping the front end, no swerving round pot holes to avoid jiggling your insides. The engines smooth and feels smoother and more refined, NVH was significantly improved. PDK is brilliant in auto mode feeling smooth and responsive. I was starting to think it might be would be a good move to swap due how much more usable the car was. I know my other half would enjoy not having to wear her most supportive bra when we go out.
As we came out of town engines at operating temperature I moved to manual mode and sport ready for some great A roads. As we came to the first national speed limit sign I dropped to second in anticipation. As I saw my car squat in front I floored the throttle and watched my car pull away. No real surprise and nut wow did the 2.9 spin smoothly at the top end. The lack of interruption as you changed up was so impressive. As the first bend came up I hit the brakes hard and nearly wet myself, the pedal had so much travel completely lacked feel compared to my 997 which bites with next to no travel and feels like your foot is directly connected to the discs. You can tell exactly when you're about to hit the abs threshold. Even 30 miles of hard driving later I knew stopping power was there but the consistency of feel never was. This was the biggest disappointment, my colleague confirmed that the discs pads and fluid were only a couple of thousand miles old and had always been this way.
Over the course of the drive I started to notice other areas where the cayman didn't have the connection I look for. The steering was lighter and smoother but had less feel, body control wasn't as tight. The engine while very smooth and Rev happy didn't have the gritty mechanical feel. PDK was smooth and quick and made driving quickly easier particularly under hard breaking into corners but reduced interaction. I began to wonder if this was something I really was looking for.
The cayman breezed lumps and bumps, turned in better but couldn't take power as early or hard at the exit.
It's handling felt much more intuitive and didn't seem to have any real vices, but there didn't seem to be any secrets to learn. You just jumped in and up to my version of 7/10 it felt comfortable.
I was often having to push harder though to keep up with my 997 and this is where the lack of feedback became an issue for me. It felt like a leap of faith to push on and if it wasn't for PSM I would have slowed down. I definitely wouldn't feel as comfortable turning everything off as in my 997.
My car by contrast felt slightly alien to start with but over time It taught me what it likes to go fast, get weight over the front end as you turn in before using the traction to slingshot out. You don't get it right every time but the car communicates how close you get to perfection. The hard ride smoother at speed but still it can be deflected, the car tells you what to do to deal with it though and this all increases your interaction and bond with the car.
After a couple of days to digest things and have a good drive in my 997 I think a cayman is a great car compared to most and is definitely a much more usable car all round. It's easy to jump straight into and go quickly while enjoying yourself a lot. If I hadn't driven a 997 I would be much more effusive. I could definitely enjoy a cayman and would use it a lot more but only around my town but is that a good reason to swap into one. I don't think so, while a far worse car in town and not as relaxing or quiet while cruising a 997 is a great car to go on a road trip in and when you get to great roads it makes you work harder for it's highs but the rewards are so worth it.
It's made me realise that as a car enthusiast swapping usability for communication and fun is worth it and that I prefer bigger highs less often than regular lower ones.
And on that note I'm off to start saving for some à–hlins Road and track.