User 52121

Did this a few weeks ago, been meaning to post about it...

Got an invite to attend a local Porsche dealer's "unveiling" of the new 981 Cayman and Cayman S. They set up a little autocross course, run by Porsche Sport Driving School instructors, and we got to take a couple laps in each car. Not really quite in the market, though the wife keeps nagging that she wants a Porsche of her own so it wasn't a complete waste of the dealership's time.

Really NEAT cars. They LOOK fantastic. Feel good. Interior as you would expect for a modern German car. The "cooled" seats rocked. Power was good, handling very direct. Both cars were PDK with Sports Chrono.

Surprisingly, I found that I preferred the base Cayman over the S. A little less power but it felt smoother and more progressive. It felt a little more willing to rev even though the torque curve wasn't as fat. Both were fun to drive.

The Cayman is no doubt faster around an AX course than my 951 is. Turn in is much sharper, it takes a lot less input on the wheel. It's more comfortable. The gadgets and bells/whistles are much nicer. Heated/cooled seats, Navi, etc. But in direct comparison, it felt kinda numb. All of that subtle feedback I get through the steering wheel in my 951 wasn't there. In fact the driving instructor commented that I didn't need to "work" the wheel so much. Honestly I was trying to "feel" for grip and couldn't feel it. When the front end would start to "let go" the PSM would just kick in... as in, "Hey it kinda feels like it might be starting to pus- oh there's the PSM. I guess it IS pushing." You're basically expected to point the wheel, hold it, and let the PSM sort it all out. Even something as small as the throttle pedal... it's on a much softer spring (it's drive by wire so that's expected) whereas the 951 takes a wee bit more effort to push down.

Still though, after driving the base 981, I was doing the mental math in my head... "Well if I move some money from here to there, and pull this from that, I can probably put together a down payment to get the monthly where I want... a new 981 sure would look sweet in the garage next to the 951...." all the while the wife is chatting up the sales guys asking about colors and options and "what do you have in inventory?" LOL. Though something still wasn't quite sitting right in my head with it.

Then I hopped back in my 951 to leave the event. And it hit me - I still prefer my 951! The 951 requires more involvement but there is also a lot more tactile-ness (?) that really was lost on the Cayman.

I was surprised at how happy I was to hop back into the 951. The old cars really have something that the newer cars don't. I think I'd do a Cayman (or, really more likely a Boxster) as a nice DD but keep the 951 as the toy. It really was comfortable and no doubt fun but when it comes time to push it, the 951 is more involved and entertaining. Or even better (shoot me!)... I drove a Cayenne Diesel they had on hand around the neighborhood and LOVED it. If I were standing at a Porsche dealership with $70k in hand, and could keep my 951... I'd buy a new Cayenne Diesel before I bought a Boxster/Cayman/911.

Anyways... thought I'd share.

s14kev

I have been considering a Cayman S. Out of the box the Cayman is far far superior. My 951 still 'feels' faster although I'm sure it's not. A combination of the big turbo kicking in together with 10 feet of unmuffled 4" exhaust overwhelms the senses and brings a false sense of speed while the Cayman S quietly passes me....

lart951

it all depends of your boost level my friend, a Gayman S, in a straight line would stand NO chance against a 350rwhp 951 ask me how I know.

2014 Gayman S specs,

Fuel Type: Gas
Engine Type: 3.4L Flat 6
Power: 320 hp @ 7200 rpm
Torque: 273 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm

951_RS

Yeah I think a properly set up 951 would take a cayman a on all but the most technical if tracks and even then it would be more a driver's race.

Then again you can turbo the "gayman" for over 400 whp at 5 psi.

Just saying...

86 951 Driver

I do like all Porsche's. Some more than others. I have always loved the 951, but lately it is coming down to if I would like to get something different. Cayman's are nice. You can pick up a couple year old one for a decent amount of money too.

lart951

And that gayman turboing, would it cost exactely how much? just for reference.

User 52121

I think it all comes down to what you hope to accomplish.

I learned a few years ago I'd rather have something that "feels" faster but is slower, than something that is actually faster, but doesn't feel like it. Heck a modern day Camry with a V6 would probably give your average 951 a run for its money from a stoplight.

I have more fun driving something that "feels" fast. Heck my 2nd most favorite car I've ever owned was an '83 BMW 320iS. Factory Recaro seats, BBS, wheels, and 101hp. Slow as hell but it zinged through the 5-speed real quick and was a blast to drive. Felt a lot quicker than it actually was.

catamount

Simply put, our older 951s are a more visceral experience than newer cars.

ilikemy944

I came close, instead I bought more stuff for my 951. Hard choice though.
Warranty would be really nice but I'm sure I'd void that pretty quick.

s14kev

My 951 is close to it. TO4E DBB 50 trim @18psi, straight 4 inch exhaust, M-tune, Bilstein coilovers, all mono ball/polybronze suspension points. It's obnoxiously loud, creaks, squeaks and rattles. For some reason I still think that on equivalent tires, a stock Cayman S would be faster around most DE courses although my 951 would 'feel' faster.

lart951

Pardon my broken English, a gayman S vs a 350rwhp (dyno verified, not butt dyno) 951 from point A to B im straight line (no curves) acceleration would not stand a chance.

Dougs951S

The truth is when it comes down to it, the new cars cant rival the experience of driving an old porsche. You step into a new cayman and its got nav, a nice stereo, nice leather, ect. Thats all well and good but the old cars touch all of your senses. The sound of unmuffled exhaust under your seat, the kick in the *** when it spools up and the subtle rumble of a car with solid mounts, the awesome 80's styling and cheesy retro pop up lights, the smell of uncatalyzed exhaust, and the intimate, visceral feel of a car that is completely mechanical. They will never make a car like the 951 ever again.

User 52121

Sounds like you two are talking about two different things. You are talking about "straight line" and s14 is talking about DE.

I think you're both right. You're just not having the same conversation with each other.

I'm sure my T04E-equipped 951 would give a 981 a good run for the money in a straight line. But the 981 is much faster and easier to drive when the road curves (albeit much less entertaining).

I Auto-X my not-stock 951 and have a REALLY tough time beating stock 987's on some courses. The 981 is a whole step above the 987.

lart951

I agree, there is at least 25 years of technology between the archaic suspension of the 951 and the Gayman

cas951

I explored the Boxster several years ago. After my first drive I had to have one. Now I have two.

However, there is something very special about the 951 which has been my dream car since introduction. The 951 is just too unique.