Top Gear 370Z v. Cayman article

gnarf · 10-25-2009, 07:53 AM

[QUOTE=maggot head;251089]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnarf

.you really cant go wrong with a Vette except for the fact that most owners are larger white middle aged men...sort of cliched...

Sort of a generalization. People of all races and ages drive vettes. People of all races and ages drive Zs, not just smaller 20 something asian guys.

the Z community is definitely a lot more diverse than the vette community..in my area i see vettes/z06's all the time..at least 1-2 everyday in my commute..i have only seen white middle aged men drive corvettes except for two times..once where i saw a 20 something year old white male in a black c6 z06 and another fellow of similar characteristics in a white twin turbo c5 z06

Lug · 10-25-2009, 10:08 AM

Personally, I wouldn't even consider "Who else drives my car" when making a car buying decision. I decide on the merits of the car, not how popular or unpopular, how trendy it is, etc. That said, the C06 and the 370Z are the two best bang-for-the-buck cars out there and probably the only two I would consider after looking into what's available. If the Lotus Elise was a tad bit cheaper, it would make my list as well.

dalparadise · 10-25-2009, 02:13 PM

[QUOTE=gnarf;251360]

Quote:

Originally Posted by maggot head

the Z community is definitely a lot more diverse than the vette community..in my area i see vettes/z06's all the time..at least 1-2 everyday in my commute.

Same here in Houston. I have a 25-mile commute and see 2-3 different C6 Vettes every day. They are just too common. I see, on average, 1 370 per week. That will increase, I'm sure, but strangely enough, based on 350Z sightings (about 3-4 per week on my commute), I think the Z is much less an "everyman's car" than the Vette. Strange, considering how difficult a Vette is to live with as a DD and the cost of entry. You'd think it would be the other way around.

kekermahoney · 10-26-2009, 10:34 PM

[QUOTE=dalparadise;251739]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnarf

Same here in Houston. I have a 25-mile commute and see 2-3 different C6 Vettes every day. They are just too common. I see, on average, 1 370 per week. That will increase, I'm sure, but strangely enough, based on 350Z sightings (about 3-4 per week on my commute), I think the Z is much less an "everyman's car" than the Vette. Strange, considering how difficult a Vette is to live with as a DD and the cost of entry. You'd think it would be the other way around.

im in central NJ, i've only seen ONE other 370 over the last 6 months.. of course it just HAD to be the same damn color and package, making us both feel not special LOL

theDreamer · 10-26-2009, 10:36 PM

[QUOTE=kekermahoney;253893]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalparadise

im in central NJ, i've only seen ONE other 370 over the last 6 months.. of course it just HAD to be the same damn color and package, making us both feel not special LOL

At my university, in the only parking garage is the same color/package as me. I park near him every now and again, but we get on campus at different times so it rarely happens. We did end up with us two next to us and a random black 370z one day, never saw the black 370z again though.

JonBoy · 10-27-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sensi09

There's no doubt that the 370Z is the better bargain and in terms of sheer performance, will match or exceed a Cayman S, but in terms of driving dynamics and subjective attributes the Cayman is hard to beat. Oh in case someone missed it, the base Cayman with just 265hp was the car tested.

Cayman S with PDK does 0-60 in 4.1s and the 1/4 mile in 12.5s at 110 mph. It sticks at 0.99g on the skidpad and does 72.5 mph through the slalom. Those numbers blow away a 370Z by a wide margin.

Good luck with beating that. The Cayman S with 6MT is virtually identical to the 370Z in a straight line but the PDK tranny puts it WAY ahead.

Quote:

In terms of dollar amount though, if we're talking about a new Cayman S, I'd rather have a M3 or a used 997 S.

I'm guessing you haven't driven a Cayman yet? It's so much better to drive than an M3 (any year, including the E30) that it's not funny. It doesn't have the grunt and punch of the current M3 with it's big V8 but it's still a way better car to drive (ie, it's much more of a driver's car).

The 997S is generally quicker and torquier but it's actually not as fun to drive, either. Yes, I'd pick a used 997S over a new Cayman S purely because I prefer the extra two seats, extra power, and better looks and because I won't ever take a 997S to a track because I can't afford to wreck it. However, from a pure driving point of view, you'll have to get a 997 GT3 to get a purer driving experience than the Cayman. The Cayman is really that good.

F430Spider · 10-27-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

I never driven a rear engine car but isnt it kind of not worth it?
I have only heard and seen "horror" storys of the car spinning out due to rear engine.

Im thinking the only thing you get when buying that porsche is less weight, But then again less weight is really hard to "buy". Any thing else for the 20k you didnt spend probably could be added and still not breach the cost of it.

The Cayman is mid-engined...

jookiyaya · 10-27-2009, 03:33 PM

lol come to fullerton, california.
every other house on our block has a Z.
no lie.... we even nicknamed our hood the Z hood.
funny how it used to be all beamers and lexus's.

nicknick · 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

"Faddish though these lines may prove, right now it looks fantastic"...

Too funny - and its the Porshe that everyone says the 370Z looks like so I guess that maked the Porshe faddish, etc....

I absolutely love my Z and although I'm a bit of a fan boy I do appreciate amazing engineering like the Cayman. I know if I had the money for a fourth car it would be a GT-R instead of a Cayman... but to each his own. I guess its hard for me to get over the snobby stigma of the Porshe brand....

what is so amzing about the bloody cayman? Here it costs $150,000 and for that price you can get a Nissan GTR. now that is amazing. how come Nissan make a car that is so much better than a ayman yet price it about the same. Is Porsche ripping people off? i think so.

370Zsteve · 10-27-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

Personally, I wouldn't even consider "Who else drives my car" when making a car buying decision. I decide on the merits of the car, not how popular or unpopular, how trendy it is, etc. That said, the C06 and the 370Z are the two best bang-for-the-buck cars out there and probably the only two I would consider after looking into what's available. If the Lotus Elise was a tad bit cheaper, it would make my list as well.

Since I completely agree, +1 rep for you!

nicknick · 10-27-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonBoy

Cayman S with PDK does 0-60 in 4.1s and the 1/4 mile in 12.5s at 110 mph. It sticks at 0.99g on the skidpad and does 72.5 mph through the slalom. Those numbers blow away a 370Z by a wide margin.

Good luck with beating that. The Cayman S with 6MT is virtually identical to the 370Z in a straight line but the PDK tranny puts it WAY ahead.

I'm guessing you haven't driven a Cayman yet? It's so much better to drive than an M3 (any year, including the E30) that it's not funny. It doesn't have the grunt and punch of the current M3 with it's big V8 but it's still a way better car to drive (ie, it's much more of a driver's car).

The 997S is generally quicker and torquier but it's actually not as fun to drive, either. Yes, I'd pick a used 997S over a new Cayman S purely because I prefer the extra two seats, extra power, and better looks and because I won't ever take a 997S to a track because I can't afford to wreck it. However, from a pure driving point of view, you'll have to get a 997 GT3 to get a purer driving experience than the Cayman. The Cayman is really that good.

It may be good but it is too overpriced.

370Zsteve · 10-27-2009, 07:33 PM

I've probably never mentioned this, but I find the Cayman to be bug-ugly. I think it is the worst-looking Porsche ever sold to the public. The 914 is better looking.

j.arnaldo · 10-28-2009, 02:10 PM

They pit a Cayman against a GT-R in late 2008, and the Cayman won by 2 tenths of a second...The price difference, about $25 thou'! Gimme the GT-R!

Lug · 10-28-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

Since I completely agree, +1 rep for you!

I prefer to get my rep points from my normally inane, ridiculous, intellectually challenged, border-line idiot-tinged posts, not ones that make sense. But times are hard so I guess I have to take rep points wherever I can get them. There is a recession on, you know.

nicknick · 10-28-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arnaldo

They pit a Cayman against a GT-R in late 2008, and the Cayman won by 2 tenths of a second...The price difference, about $25 thou'! Gimme the GT-R!

Obviously the GTR was not trying. The GTR from the stats I have read/seen would beat the Cayman with relative ease.

10-25-2009, 10:08 AM	#77 (permalink)
Lug A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,926 Drives: 2006 350Z Rep Power: 19	Personally, I wouldn't even consider "Who else drives my car" when making a car buying decision. I decide on the merits of the car, not how popular or unpopular, how trendy it is, etc. That said, the C06 and the 370Z are the two best bang-for-the-buck cars out there and probably the only two I would consider after looking into what's available. If the Lotus Elise was a tad bit cheaper, it would make my list as well. __________________ keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs

10-27-2009, 03:33 PM	#83 (permalink)
jookiyaya Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 262 Drives: 2010 40th Z!?!? Rep Power: 16	lol come to fullerton, california. every other house on our block has a Z. no lie.... we even nicknamed our hood the Z hood. funny how it used to be all beamers and lexus's. __________________ "370z gives you wings!! "

10-27-2009, 07:33 PM	#87 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 42	I've probably never mentioned this, but I find the Cayman to be bug-ugly. I think it is the worst-looking Porsche ever sold to the public. The 914 is better looking. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

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10-28-2009, 02:10 PM	#88 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	They pit a Cayman against a GT-R in late 2008, and the Cayman won by 2 tenths of a second...The price difference, about $25 thou'! Gimme the GT-R!