Cancelled Cayman

[Guest]

Having been one of the very first on the waiting list for a Cayman it was a very difficult decision to recently cancel my order. However, like all emotional purchases it is not until you make such a decision that you can objectively understand if it was the right decision.

My reason for cancelling is the appearance of the car and for those of you who don't care about this, so long as it drives well, then read no further.

The problem with the Cayman is the lack any organic design integrity. This is a car designed by a marketing department from the Porsche parts bin. The 911 and Boxter are truly organic "" i.e. a child with a pencil, a sheet of paper and a dream could sketch the basic concept. This is why these cars have such classic longevity.

The Cayman is ugly, a mongrel and expensive. The only reason you would buy one is because no one else has one (for a while). That's how marketing works "" look at the Cayenne.

Be true to you heart and don't let these marketing men win. In my opinion Porsche is close to loosing its reputation as an engineering led company in favour of capturing the mass market opportunity for its brand If you want a great handling car that looks fantastic and is less than £50K why would you not buy a used 996 or, if not Porsche, an M3.

I am sure despite my thoughts Porsche will sell loads of these cars, after all look at what marketing men did to BMW and they still sell more than ever. Still you don't have to succumb there is always something else out there.

If you spend every day looking at the pictures of the Cayman, trying to convince yourself you have made the right decision; I hope this is of some use.

Did, I make the right decision, absolutely, but then I did also get an early deposit down on an AMV8. Now that's what I call organic.

 

[john holmes]

I agree that Porsche is catering for the mass market and have lost the actual quality build of the old 911 - a unique car for its time. If you want a coupe, you must go for the 997 model - everybody to their taste. needs and wallet.

 

[thboxster]

ORIGINAL: aloasby

I did also get an early deposit down on an AMV8. Now that's what I call organic.

Given the choice, I would go for the AMV8 aswell, but then I've only really just taken delivery of my new Box-S so I can't think that far ahead. And besides the price of the V8 is still unknown isn't it?

 

[Black80XSA]

ORIGINAL: john holmes

I agree that Porsche is catering for the mass market and have lost the actual quality build of the old 911 - a unique car for its time. If you want a coupe, you must go for the 997 model - everybody to their taste. needs and wallet.

True, but if you equated the cost of the 964/993 with other price indexes through to todays car market youd be paying £100k - in which case Porsche would build them to the old standard.

Agree the Cayman is a lot of hype - less complex and cheaper (not expensive roof mechanism) to make than the Boxster, same spec as the S and £5k more - a lot to pay for 15bhp

 

[tripe]

You know, I think you're spot on. I've just been studying the pics on the 'Naked Cayman' post and whilst originally I thought the car was a winner (especially the RS mock up) the more I look at them the more I think that both you and the jokers on Top Gear have hit the nail on the head.

It would appear that we're at the mercy of the accountants now...

 

[THX911]

I see what you mean aloasby, but once you see enough of Caymans on the road in a couple of years they will become so called 'organic' (IMHO). I felt the same about the Cayenne at first but now they are okay...

 

[JCB..]

The Cayman is ugly, a mongrel and expensive.

Don't loose sight of reality guys!

It's ugly and expensive but it's pedigree Boxster and it would also appear to be capable of wiping the floor with a 997! The only part of the Cayman that the marketing department is responsible for is the price tag (and possibly the looks [&:]).

JCB..

 

[Delbox]

Hardly 'wiping the floor'! If all you seek is a few more HP and a tenth of a second or so of the 0-60 time - then, perhaps, it's an improvement (at a cost). But as it is a coupe rather than a roadster and marketed as such, it's not a true competitor for the Boxster - despite its roots!

 

[Helen Goff]

its not ment to compete with the Boxster or the 997 for that matter, it an addition to the family, another choice for Porsche customers.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: aloasby

The problem with the Cayman is the lack [of] any organic design integrity. This is a car designed by a marketing department from the Porsche parts bin. The 911 and Boxter are truly organic "" i.e. a child with a pencil, a sheet of paper and a dream could sketch the basic concept. This is why these cars have such classic longevity.

The Cayman is ugly, a mongrel and expensive.......

Did, I make the right decision, absolutely, but then I did also get an early deposit down on an AMV8. Now that's what I call organic.

Well, aloasby, here's to human variety. I'm going to buy a Cayman as my first Porsche and the looks are a key component of that. I loved the original 911 looks (and am of an age where that's associated with schoolboy enthusiasm); I loved the Boxster concept looks. The Cayman (with the caveat of not yet seeing it in the flesh, which I presume you also have not) appeals to me in a way the slightly anodyne 997 does not.

We won't get on to mid- versus rear-engine, though that's another key for me.

I will agree that pricing and positioning of the Cayman are pure marketing decisions and that it is expensive compared to the Boxster S. I also agree the AMV8 looks beautiful, but it's considerably more expensive and those of us who aren't on the waiting list can forget it. (By the way, I note you wait until this is obvious to everyone and the place in the queue is worth something valuable before telling us about it!)

However, if I look at the Cayman on its own merits against competition, including the 997 and AMV8, it's priced attractively. I'm glad we don't all want the same thing, life would be boring, wouldn't it?

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Delbox

But as it is a coupe rather than a roadster and marketed as such, it's not a true competitor for the Boxster - despite its roots!

[8D] Totally agree with you hence it has zero appeal to me personally as a drop top nutter, but there are plenty of people out there that would only be interested in a fixed head coupe but how many are prepared to be ripped-off with the pricing structure for what is essentially a 3.4L 295bhp Boxster! and how often will anyone actually be able to use those extra 15 horses costing £333.33 each

 

[lazza]

Each to their own guys.

I think it looks great! [8D]

Until we see it in the flesh and know all the features that make it different from the Boxster and 911, it's difficult to judge either way. For instance I would be surprised if it sounds the same as a Boxster, and not a bit more sporty from the off.

Lazza

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I really like the Cayman, but I won't be buying one until they do a convertible version []

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Helen Goff

its not ment to compete with the Boxster or the 997 for that matter, it an addition to the family, another choice for Porsche customers.

Agree with Helen fully; I read a review of Cayman in one of the car magazine (or was it online?), anyway, it claimed that the Cayman is aimed at the Audi TT enthusiast who bought them when it first came out; have now grown by a couple of years and will have a bit more money to spend. Same goes with the Panamera, it is all about attracting new customers to keep expanding the market share and retaining exisiting customers who for definite grow older year by year and want to move on...

Worth reading the following thread too: what next for the Boxster

 

[Michael Downing]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett
I really like the Cayman, but I won't be buying one until they do a convertible version []

[][][][]

 

[JCB..]

I really like the Cayman, but I won't be buying one until they do a convertible version []

So would that be a Soft-Croc?[8D]

 

[JCB..]

Hardly 'wiping the floor'! If all you seek is a few more HP and a tenth of a second or so of the 0-60 time - then, perhaps, it's an improvement (at a cost). But as it is a coupe rather than a roadster and marketed as such, it's not a true competitor for the Boxster - despite its roots!

It's not the HP it's the chassis check out the Ring times!

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: JCB..

It's not the HP it's the chassis check out the Ring times!

[] M25 is "ring like" but I can't see Cayman getting from A-B any quicker than my 280 BHP drop top

 

[JCB..]

[] M25 is "ring like" but I can't see Cayman getting from A-B any quicker than my 280 BHP drop top

Robert

It has to be a magic ring! []

 

[oliver]

The performance difference is likely to be academic on UK roads, but the drop top advantage of the roadster is a very real consideration for many owners.

Whilst the majority of Caymans ([] name) will be bought by the style conscious, for the track day enthusiast, it's the 'lightweight' Club Sport/RS variants that are going to be the most interesting.