Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Drove a Porsche Cayman... 1 2

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  July 1, 2011 6:29 a.m. Woody SuperDork

  I drove a Porsche Cayman yesterday, not an "S", just a base car.

  My local Porsche dealer (well, actually, the fourth closest dealer) had a car that came off a three year lease with 12k miles on it. I had been wanting to check one out for a while. There was another one that I had been really interested in, but it sold before I got to it.

  I was really impressed with the car. It felt much lighter than I expected. It's pretty tight inside, but very comfortable. It felt really sanitized compared to the older Porsches that I've driven; not without soul by any stretch, just very modern. The seats, controls and steering were all fantastic. I know that more horsepower and bigger brakes are always nice, but I'd have a hard time spending the extra cash to upgrade to an "S". Performance of the base car was more than adequate.

  I'm not buying it, of course, but for future reference, I know that I'd be perfectly happy with a regular Cayman someday.

  Just thought I'd share that.

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  July 1, 2011 7:41 a.m. bravenrace SuperDork

  Well when you are ready, I'll be glad to take the 911 off your hands!

  If you're young an conservative, you have no heart. If you are old and liberal, you have no brain.

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  July 1, 2011 8:00 a.m. mike Reader

  I had the same thoughts as the OP a few years ago when I drove a Boxter, except that I felt it did need more power.

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  July 1, 2011 8:28 a.m. Woody SuperDork

  bravenrace wrote: Well when you are ready, I'll be glad to take the 911 off your hands!

  I'll keep that in mind, but the previous owner has contacted me more than once indicating that he'd really like to buy the car back. That just reaffirms the notion that I bought a very good car.

  I'm not sure if I'm ready to make the jump from a classic 911 to a Cayman just yet, though. As a car guy, I know that I'm not supposed to think this way, but the 911 is financially stable at this point. The Cayman would be a depreciating entity.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  July 1, 2011 8:48 a.m. Javelin SuperDork

  Any car I touch becomes a depreciating entity!

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  July 1, 2011 9:15 a.m. GregW New Reader

  The cars I get hold of are pre depreciated.

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  July 1, 2011 9:16 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

  GregW wrote: The cars I get hold of are pre depreciated.

  This I am pretty sure I could make the value of my Spitfire go down unless I really really tried.

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  July 1, 2011 10:03 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

  Drove an S once - was amazed at how nice everything was. I want one.

  Asked the dealer to see the engine, he said "no". "Wha?" "I have to get my master mechanic to come remove the engine coverS and it's a hour or so to get everything back together..

  WOW!

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  July 1, 2011 10:11 a.m. Adrian_Thompson HalfDork

  tuna55 wrote: Asked the dealer to see the engine, he said "no". "Wha?" "I have to get my master mechanic to come remove the engine coverS and it's a hour or so to get everything back together.. WOW!

  In reality why is this an issue? What do you need to see or reach the engine for 99.99% of the time. Most of what you need is accesible from the underneath.

  2008 Volvo C30, 2011 Lincoln Mk X

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  July 1, 2011 10:14 a.m. carguy123 SuperDork

  But the times you do need to see the engine it's important.

  How can you even inspect belts?

  "mobilito ergo sum" I drive therefore I am!

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  July 1, 2011 10:34 a.m. Adrian_Thompson HalfDork

  carguy123 wrote: But the times you do need to see the engine it's important. How can you even inspect belts?

  Per the service intervals, just change when needed from below. Really, I think the desperate need to 'see' the engine is overrated. I wont be surprised when someone makes a regular front engined econo box with a non opening hood. Just a small access panel at the base of the screen for checking oil, coolant, washer fluid and brake/clutch fluid. Save on the cost of hinges and hood release. It would have to be removable for major service, but I see no need for 99% of the people in the world to see under the hood of their cars ever.

  2008 Volvo C30, 2011 Lincoln Mk X

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  July 1, 2011 11:02 a.m. carguy123 SuperDork

  So nothing ever breaks between service intervals and service intervals aren't just set up to make the shop money? Many things last much longer than the rated service interval.

  "mobilito ergo sum" I drive therefore I am!

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  July 1, 2011 11:08 a.m. Adrian_Thompson HalfDork

  Yes things break, so what? If it goes into the shop they spend 5 mins removing the 'hood'. I would have no problem with lack of access if I owned a Boxster/Cayman. This forum caters to the 0.01%, actualy make that the 0.0001% of the world that actualy konws, let alone cares what's under the hood. Within the first 5 years of ownership, what % of people/cars actualy need to open the hood other than coolant, washer fluid, oil changes and brake/clutch fluid. All that could be done without a regular full size hood.

  2008 Volvo C30, 2011 Lincoln Mk X

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  July 2, 2011 11:52 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

  It would be an issue for me. I want to be able to know what's going on under there with relative ease for various reasons. Many people prefer the "weld the hood closed" Accord (like the commercial) but not this guy.

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  July 2, 2011 9:56 p.m. loosecannon Reader

  I have had a Boxster for years and the only time I have had to look at the engine was to clean the K&N air filter. Changing the plugs and clutch all took place from under the car.

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  July 3, 2011 5:12 a.m. gjz30075 Reader

  I pull dipsticks, check fluid levels, inspect belts, etc. Says alot about maintenance, especially one "detailed" by the dealer to sell.

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  July 3, 2011 9:04 a.m. JeffHarbert Reader

  12k miles in three years? That's one hell of an expensive rental.

  I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.

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  July 3, 2011 9:06 a.m. Woody SuperDork

  JeffHarbert wrote: 12k miles in three years? That's one hell of an expensive rental.

  I saw another 2008 that had 8500 miles on it. It's not hard to find someone else to take the biggest part of the depreciation hit for you.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  July 3, 2011 12:08 p.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  I just had a friend take his Range Rover to the dealer for a change of spark plugs because it had some sort of cover over the engine. It cost....................wait for it.......................$900.00. Here's the funny part. He bought the plugs somewhere else in an attempt to save money so it was all labor cost. Maybe this way it ensures that people will do less maintenance themselves so the dealer will get more. The same vehicle has no oil pan drain plug and has to have the oil sucked up from the top.

  I am only passing along what he told me and I have no first hand knowledge of Range Rovers.

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  July 3, 2011 12:57 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

  wwwwwwwwwwwhat.

  spending money I don't have to buy parts I don't need to impress people I don't know

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  July 3, 2011 3:24 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  Woody wrote:

  JeffHarbert wrote: 12k miles in three years? That's one hell of an expensive rental.

  I saw another 2008 that had 8500 miles on it. It's not hard to find someone else to take the biggest part of the depreciation hit for you.

  Porsche is one of the few you can do low mileage/low payment leases on. You can do a 5k year lease on one for cheaper than a 10k year lease, etc. Still dumb.

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  July 3, 2011 7:10 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  The dealer threw out a number, either $240 or $270, for annual maintenance on the Cayman. That didn't sound unreasonable.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  July 3, 2011 10:59 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

  Woody wrote: The dealer threw out a number, either $240 or $270, for annual maintenance on the Cayman. That didn't sound unreasonable.

  That is REALLY low. I guess it depends on your mileage accrual.

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

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  July 4, 2011 7:16 a.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

  That sounds like a BS number to me.

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  July 4, 2011 10:49 a.m. Woody SuperDork

  I didn't even ask, he volunteered it.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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