Driver's Republic - Mission Impossible 370Z vs Porsche Cayman S 04.09.09

MannyLJr

Here's another that came out a week or so ago. It's from drivers-republic.com, a very nice magazine style site from the UK. This article compares a new Z with a 2006 Cayman S (about the same price range) and a new Cayman S.

Driver's Republic - Mission Impossible? 045

AK370Z

Thanks for sharing!

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SoCal 370Z

Love the Cayman S, and 911, but feel the Cayman is edging out the 911 in areas. But have you ever tried to work on a Cayman? Try adding oil and other small ancillary items. They do not mention this in their article, but it's a big thing when you are an enthusiast who likes to work on your car.

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kevr6

I thought the Caymen S was 65k???

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alan93rsa

I just configured one with the basic same items that come on a Z with touring/sport/6MT. The total was $68570.00. See below:



Wheels XRR 19" Carrera Sport Wheel

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16 Cayman GT4, Carmine Red, Buckets, PCCB etc.

355890

Hence you then ask the question.....is an extra 30K worth that sublime feeling coming out of the curve with no hints of oversteer.

I have a horse and need a pick-up to haul bails of hay...so in my case NO. But there is no denying I absolutley love the Cayman S.

I love my Z as well.

355890

And by the way...thanks for the article. cheers.

spearfish25

Thanks for the great article. Being a Z owner, I cringe and want to defend the Z while I'm reading about their opinion of the Cayman S. If the Z cost $65k, I'd say Nissan had work to do and missed the mark. However, when you realize that the Cayman S is nearly double the price, the Z is a downright amazing sportscar.

When you compare the Z to cars in its price bracket, it beats the pants off of them (Mustang GT, Solstice, RX-8, etc). I'd buy my Z again in a heartbeat, even if I could afford the Cayman S.

alan93rsa

On the used Cayman S vs. the Z issue I shopped a used Cayman S. The best deal, mileage/cost, I found was $42 K for an 06 when I purchased my Z. As of today an 06 with 18k miles with a Porsche Certified warranty can be found for $38k. It's 3 years old and depending on in service date it might have 3 years left on the warranty.

The catch is you need to find the color/combo you want with the right miles and hope it didn't have the crap run out of it. Let's say half the miles were on the track.

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16 Cayman GT4, Carmine Red, Buckets, PCCB etc.

FairmanZ

Folks, 2 things you guys talking price need to consider:

1) This is a UK article, the prices are in pounds, not USD.
2) The 370Z pricing is much more expensive in other markets, US MSRP is a deal in comparison.

MannyLJr

I've shopped Porsche Caymans for months and recorded it on my blog.

Lizard's Lair: Porsche Cayman Best-in-Price

I've since have leaned toward the new Z. I've driven both base Caymans and Cayman S's. I had test driven a lot of cars during my shopping. The Cayman S is the best driving car I have ever experienced. My current cars are an '04 Mazda RX-8 GT and a 1985 RX-7 GSL-SE, which I both bought new and still drive.

I test drove an '08 350Z last summer. I thought it handled heavy, it's drive train seemed unrefined, and it's interior cheap. I dismissed it as an alternative to a used Cayman. Then the '09 370Z came out. I listened and read all the news and hype as it was introduced and slowly came to dealers. I finally got to drive one, then another. I have two dealers that I frequent, one near my work, the other near my house.

I've driven 4 different 370Z's now. My favorite was a Nismo body enhanced, plus a Stillen Exhuast, Red Touring MT with Sport Package. The new Z drives so much better than the '08 model. The new Z has so much better feel in corners and it's interior looks almost luxury. It's only weakness in my early drives had been the engine and the exhaust note. Both felt and sounded strained. The Stillen exhaust made a huge difference for me.

Now, I am almost ready to get a new car. I've chosen a new Z, totally loaded, Touring, Sport, Nav, Persimmon interior (I'm waiting, though I saw 2 cars recently at dealers in the LA area), and the added Stillen exhaust. I plan to offer $1000 under sticker and the exhaust included without additional cost. Otherwise, I'd offer $2500 under sticker + muffler.

Though the Cayman felt like the best driving car ever, even after the new Z, the fact of paying $40K for a new car with more options, than a 2 or 3 year old used Porsche Cayman S for around the same price, plus the added maintenance cost of owning a Porsche, it has been an easy argument for myself that the 370Z will be my next car.

sensi09

Thanks for the article.

Even though the 370Z is improved over the 350Z, comparisons to the Cayman seem to have same overall sentiment as they did in the past.