964 vs Cayman

[Simon964]

Hi all

Not posted here before but have been a 964 owner for 4 years and have enjoyed every mile.

Earlier this week I had an opportunity to test a standard Cayman on loan from Porsche in London for 24 hours and explored some of my favourite roads in the Home Counties. The following day I drove the same route in by 964 C4 cab and here are my thoughts:

Cayman:
>Balanced, predictable, easy to drive quickly, good sound above 4000 revs and very tight feel.
>A bit 'clinical'. Also felt like it was goading me to press on to explore it's limits at speeds which were becomming a bit 'anti-social'.
> Overall a fantastic tribute to modern Porsche technology but lacking in, let's say, charisma.


964:
>Cabin suddenly feels so retro by comparison but equal in quality. Quicker to 60 but not by as much as you would think and the power is delivered so differently.
>Better sound at all levels of the rev range including idle.
>To match the Cayman speeds I got to revel in managing really driving the thing. The challenge, as always, is to find that window between lift-off oversteer and plough-on understeer and, knowing the car well, this proved so much more absorbing.
>Braking into the corners, coming off the gas towards the apex and then hard on the gas for the exit proved utterly addictive and speeds were kept high.

In conclusion, the Cayman is the balanced car I have driven, but it doesn't make a strong enough case for a 964 replacement!

Cheers

Simon

 

[pirellipete]

totally agree !!

I had a one, new Cayman S, for three weeks whilst 964in at OPC.

cockpit and cabin very nice.

A 'nice' refined easy drive,

But soon as I got back in my 964, the feel, the feedback through seat and steering wheel, Great,

And, I thought the wind noise from the Cayman was louder than my Cabrio.

 

[polar964]

Not suprised you weren't converted Simon ;o)
Still amazes me that these 15+ year old cars can still stand up to these modern variants. Wonder how they would compare against a modern air cooled version!! awesome i bet!!

 

[Porker993]

Well said Simon. Excellent analysis of what makes these cars great.

 

[John H]

Interesting post, as I swopped my 964 for a Cayman. I understand all of what you say, and agree with it mostly, but came to quite a different conclusion.

Much as I enjoyed my 964, I consider the Cayman a vastly superior road car, and do not regret for one moment my decision. The Cayman feels like it is totally and 100% on my side, whereas the 964 always felt like it was harbouring it's own agenda. This may be fine if you are in the mood for it, or off road, but under modern road conditions I'd take the Cayman every time.

I'm not knocking the 964, but remember to drive it without the rose tinted specs.

[]

 

[turbo jonny]

Not a bad agenda - it just wants to dance with you to the sweet music of an aircooled flat six !

 

[piperboxster]

Among other Porsche models I used to own a 964 and really do miss it at times.

I can see what JohnH and Simon have to say, both have merit.

The best way I would put it, the 964 needed respect, but you also had to show it a firm hand.

Lifting off in fear could result in getting a hiding, so sometimes you had to grab it by the scruff of the neck, especially if you overcooked a corner already, you had to stay committed. It was like team work between the car and I.

With the Boxsters and Cayman, you can drive them any way and not get into trouble.. Which is great, but isnt the same somehow.

The 964 is like a sultry mistress, mindblowing fun, but get on their bad side and it could all turn ugly.. The Cayman is like a wife, gets the kids to school and is dependable.



PS: In case the wife ever reads this, NO! when do I have time for a mistress! lol

 

[sawood12]

Mid engined cars are not exactly forgiving on or beyond the limit. That low polar moment of inertia requires lightning quick reflexes once you're truly on the limit and will spin you 180 degrees far faster than a 911 will. Don't forget about the electronic aids on the modern cars working in the background flattering you - i.e. the sense that the car is almost egging you on to drive faster. Drive a Lotus Elise in the wet to understand just how tricky mid engined cars can be when they haven't got the modern electronic safety nets.

But for some the driving challenge is the appeal. A work colleague of mine, who was a keen mk1 Escort rally driver so could handle a car better than the average Joe, got a 911 SC purely for the driving challenge. He was the only person I know who headed out in his SC when it was wet!! He always said it was a tricky car to drive fast, but once you got it right it was very capable and mastering its idiosyncrasies was the appeal for him. No doubt the Cayman is an easier car to drive fast, and a faster car, but the older Porsches will always be more involving to drive. It depends what type of driving you're after.

Personally both modern and old Porsches appeal to me. Ideally a modern Porsche for the daily drive - all the comfort and refinements of a modern car when stuck in the jams, but with good capability once you're out of them and on the B roads. But an older Porsche for the weekend blast and trackdays will win hands down. I've got the older Porsche and am still working on the new one!

 

[Gary C]

Modern cars are so much more capable, so much quicker but not necessarily more fun.

My EVO IV was so easy to drive fast in poor conditions that my 3.2 would be left for dead. For an everyday driver to cover ground as quickly as possible the modern route is great but !

The 3.2 (and I'm sure a 964) feels special. The 'own agenda' comment is probably spot on, you don't quite feel that your totally in charge and its waiting for you to relax before it bites, but as an experience its amazing and it does reward more than the EVO which felt so balanced and clinical even in a 80mph 4 wheel drift.

Would like to add a Cayman as a daily driver though []