shssssh don't tell the Cayman Register

[dereksharpuk]

Just back from having my Boxster 981 safety check after 1000 miles. Had a chance to try the Boxster 2.7 PDK against the new Cayman 3.4 PDK. Chalk n cheese? An unfair comparison? You might be surprised.

Bottom line is that I much prefer the Boxster!

Why?

1. It's a whole lot cheaper.
2. For this ancient Porsche driver, there is no significant performance difference, neither is there any difference in road holding. In fact the Boxster feels sharper, but that might be because my Boxster is a lighter 2.7 with no PASM.
3. The Boxster has the distinct advantage of being able to go al fresco, but it is also as snug as a bug in a rug if the weather is inclement.
4. The Boxster looks better (my biased view I admit).
5. With the fat tires on my Boxster, the ride is perfect.
6. Floppy paddles are a million times better than the standard PDK buttons. Paddles should be standard!

But for goodness sake don't tell the Cayman chaps... shsssssh!

Incidently, touch wood, no faults were found on the safety check and the Boxster 981 seems very well screwed together.

 

[Robin M]

Derek, I have to disagree. I do think the Cayman looks better but I also take the point about Al Fresco..... whoever he may be! I miss seeing the sky in my Cayman.

 

[Dylan1]

i agree with derek!!again!!

i would seriously consider another cayman as i did like mine-but only with a huge sunroof/targa arrangement-we get so little sun i refuse to miss a moment of it[]

 

[Motorhead]

Haven't you rather shot yourself in the foot Dylan by admitting that we get so little sun? Surely the whole point of a roadster is that you drive with the top down 95% of the time rather than vice-versa. I always find convertibles rather claustrophobic when the top is up.

I was considering a Boxster before purchasing my Cayman until I saw a bloke about my age - wearing the ubiquitous baseball cap - and driving his Boxster on the sunny day of that year. Looked a complete and utter prat and that confirmed, I suppose, that really I'm a tin-top sort of bloke. Mind you, I am thinking of buying a Caterham..!

Each to their own I suppose.

Jeff

 

[Dylan1]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead


Haven't you rather shot yourself in the foot Dylan by admitting that we get so little sun? Surely the whole point of a roadster is that you drive with the top down 95% of the time rather than vice-versa. I always find convertibles rather claustrophobic when the top is up.

I was considering a Boxster before purchasing my Cayman until I saw a bloke about my age - wearing the ubiquitous baseball cap - and driving his Boxster on the sunny day of that year. Looked a complete and utter prat and that confirmed, I suppose, that really I'm a tin-top sort of bloke. Mind you, I am thinking of buying a Caterham..!

Each to their own I suppose.

Jeff

Your assume that we only drive with the roof down when it is sunny!!


Not the case at all actually - I only drive with the roof up when it's raining heavily which is luckily only relatively rare so prob 95 % of time the roof IS down


Oh and provided its a proper porsche club cap (like mine) purchased from cornbury - house- then that is perfectly ok []

 

[flat6]

Hi Derek. I guess the main thing is you're happy with your choice. Although the post will stimulate debate, so here goes[]

Many of the reasons aren't 'Cayman vs Boxster' so there's little to prick the Cayman crew[]

2. The Boxster also comes in 3.4S (and for the lead footed among us, there's a very significant difference between S and base Porsche).
5.) Fat tyres can be had on the 2.7 Cayman too.
6.) Paddle shift can be had on the Cayman too.

Cayman vs Boxster

1.) There's only ~£1400 between the 2.7 Cayman & Boxster. Any die-hard coupe man will get over that[]
3.) You'll never convince a die-hard coupe man that a roadster will fit his bill because the Cayman has no sunroof. (unless they are like me & may give a Spyder a try because the roof has been removed completely - no half measures - we have to have a driving benefit[] (weight saving). Didn't miss not having a sunroof in the Cayman whereas, I accept & make the most of no roof on the Spyder for the lower centre of gravity & reduced weight[]).

Raises an interesting point that maybe Porsche wont produce a 981 Boxster hard top because the rag top is now so robust. Then those who can't do without a hard top for their roadster in winter will have to go Cayman. (Only joking, I know the new rag top is up to it[] )

 

[Buddy]

Obviously Derek I disagree on most points even the flappy paddles, I've driven both the new Cayman and the S there is a marked difference and using the buttons to be able to change gear with either hand takes a little getting used to but I like it that way.

My son this week turned up with a Boxster 987S, well kids can disappoint one can't they? His excuse being he couldn't afford one with a roof, so now he'll be looking for a hardtop[][]

 

[Dylan1]

You should be very proud of him kevan !!

 

[fbr]

Dear Derek

Sorry to hear that you needed a safety check on your Boxster at only 1K miles. The saving grace I suppose is that you got to try out a 981 Cayman S whilst they inspected your Boxster.

How much heavier are the PASM equipped 981 variants? You've got me a little worried that the excessive weight of the PASM might compromise the handling. I do have the standard 19 inch S wheels with Continental winter tyres and was much relieved to discover that my summer 20 inch Carrera wheels with P-Zeros are a little lighter. Do you think that the reduction in the unsprung weight will compensate a little for the weight penalty of the PASM. Maybe the wallet weight reduction could offset some of this penalty?

On the +/- PASM comparision front, I did find that all the 981 non-PASM variants were not as comfortable when travelling over choppy road surfaces especially in urban areas. The handling of the PASM equipped 981 did appear more composed when making progress over the undulating and twisty rural roads North of the Highland line. Maybe the sedate progress in the Cotswolds evens out the differences in the suspension setups.

Given the inherent differences between the winter and summer tyres I would say that the 20 inch wheels weren't any less comfortable but they handle better under warmer (we've not had hot yet!) and drier conditions.

By definition style comparisons between the Boxster & Cayman are very subjective, but the real advantage, as I'm sure that you fully appreciate, is the top down motoring. As someone else has pointed out it doesn't need to be sunny and, provided you keep moving, the Boxster cabin is surprisingly comfortable in adverse weather. A soft southern gentlemen can scrimp on the seat heating but it's a essential for crisp bright winter days in Northern winters. You don't really get to experience the Scottish 'Big Sky' effects in a FHC.

On your final point you are correct, the paddles are preferable to the buttons. However I've found that all the paddles are quite stiff - maybe the balmy Southern climate makes them floppy!!

best wishes

FBR

 

[Dylan1]

You don't really get to experience the Scottish 'Big Sky' effects in a FHC.



agree with lots here-especially the driving with roof down at night-i particularly enjoy driving with the roof down at night with a starry sky and only the resonating chat of that lovely boxer engine surrounding you[]

 

[flat6]

The differentiation has filtered down to open vs closed roof, which is a personal preference pre-dating 981 and older than Porsche itself[]

 

[fbr]

Roof down in the 981 gives a better sound insulation from the rear tyre roar which is quite marked in the Cayman. The reduction in the tyre roar can make the Boxster interior actually quieter, topdown, when pottering along and gives a more pleasing balance to the to the mechanical harmonics when pressing on.

On a different note, are the spring rates/damping frequencies different on the Cayman? The Boxster feels a little 'softer' and in daily use I cant think that this difference can be attributed to the increased torsional stiffness of the Cayman body shell? Using the (albeit crude) digit on the door jambs method, I've not detected any flex in the Boxster so far.

 

[Motorhead]

Frank,

The torsional and bending stiffnesses of the Cayman bodyshell inevitably are higher than those of the equivalent Boxster (open shoebox versus closed shoebox). Porsche presumably will have taken advantage of this to revise the stiffness and damping rates (and possibly the ARB rates) of the Cayman in order to sharpen the handling. However, the Boxster bodyshell is commendably stiff for an open car, as you've noted.

For production economies, the Cayman uses the same platform as the Boxster (slightly modified I think on the 981). It could therefore be argued that it is over-designed and that weight savings could have been made with little or no detriment to body stiffness if a unique bodyshell had been designed for the coupe.

Jeff

 

[dereksharpuk]

As you can see from bellow, I have had 3 Boxsters and 2 Caymen. I have had 3 Porsches with PDK and 4 with PASM. So I should (note the word 'should' []) know what I am talking about.

PDK is a very acquired taste. Try it for 1000 miles and you will never go back.

PASM is not worth having. I feel little difference between sport and normal. It costs more, does little, more to go wrong, expensive to repair and is heavy..... Anybody disagree?

A 981 Boxster on steel springs handles like a dream.

 

[fbr]

> ... A 981 Boxster on steel springs handles like a dream....

Dear Derek

In my dreams you can't beat an original VW type I on lowered torsion bars and nice balloon Michelin Xs with a proper profile!!

Now that is back to Porsche basics .

best wishes

FBR

 

[Buddy]

This time I do agree with Derek and as some have said it's a debate on the open/closed theme and at times let's be honest, we all like both and if possible would have them side by side in the garage! I did to some extent go off open tops when I realised I'd left most of my hair up and down the country. As Dylian says, I am proud of my son he's back in the Porsche fold following a dalliance with a VX220turbo for the past three years ruddy two seat go kart! I don't think it's a case of needing a thousand miles to convert, I've done a few hundred and had a Cayman around the handling circuit two cars std and S on the buttons and that does take a bit of getting used to but my preference would go to the buttons due to changing up or down with either hand.

All personal preference but we do need opinions to have discussions.[][]

 

[dereksharpuk]

I would expect nothing less from the Cayman Register Secretary.

Or is he really saying that Boxster is best? []

 

[fbr]

Dear Derek,

Deploying the wisdom, gravitas & experience, sufficient to defy Solomon, the upshot of this discussion appears to be that...

1.Despite the repeated operation of the sport/normal switch PASM simultaneously doesn't work and is unreliable. Furthermore it's very expensive and heavy.

2. Simple steel springs, combined with a cliff-like tyre profile, convey a dream like state of semi-elliptical nirvana.

3. PDK is heavier and even more expensive. These drawbacks can be offset by aquiring it over the period of 1000 miles. At which point it becomes very tasty.

4. Those that are duped into the purchase a 981S Cayman, with very big wheels and unreliable components, should not be disabused of their deficiencies. There misguided preference is confound by the inability to drop the top of a FHC.

I'll get my coat....

FBR

 

[dereksharpuk]

Very wise comments.

Of course it is all horses for courses. None of us are the same.

However, I have found it very interesting that I actually prefer my 'little' 2.7 Boxster to my mighty Ferrari 430 Spider. One cost £40K, the other cost £160K.

Explain that! []

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk

Very wise comments.

Of course it is all horses for courses. None of us are the same.

However, I have found it very interesting that I actually prefer my 'little' 2.7 Boxster to my mighty Ferrari 430 Spider. One cost £40K, the other cost £160K.

Explain that! []

If I recall correctly the reason you went Italian was due to being fed up with dropping a pile of cash every time you sold your mass produced Porsche and something like the reverse when selling your prancing horses[]

The fact the Porsche is a better driver was never in doubt in my minds eye []