Top Gear 370Z v. Cayman article

355890 · 05-20-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cab83_750

Buy a Porsche. In the first few days, you will most likely say,

1. "What is the big deal about the Porsches?"
2. "I paid what for this car?"
3. "This car is just too hyped up!"
4. "What have I done with my $$?"
5. "Did I just pay tend of thousands for the the badge? ......

Let me Answer these questions individually:

1. Lots
2. Experience
3. No hype required, sorry.
4. Please
5. No, you paid for it's History as a superb automobile.

alan93rsa · 05-21-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

They are remarkable cars, but putting it all on the table, the $$ premium and inability to Mod the car kept me from going the Cayman route. The Z is quite good out of the box, and will be outstanding when I get done with it..

Oh you can mod the Cayman but the cost is exponential compared to the Z! Headers and sport cats = $2500 and up. Add another $3200 for a tune and cat back.

Have you seen the TPC turbo system? For $10K you get a kit at your doorstep. It is reported to put 415 on the rear wheels.

I'm really trying not to do something stupid.

Bad370z · 06-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Was this a fair and balanced test? or is it biased?

[I]"The traction control was blinking away in a straight line all afternoon on our test, the driver of the 370Z always sweating to keep up with the serenely composed Cayman.",[I] We all know that traction control when active, will reduce your speed. This is unclear but would suggest it was engaged during the test. Would the driver of the Z be faster with it off?

[B][I][/One other point,[I][B] is the auto faster or slower then the manual in the 370z?--they should test the manual Cayman with the manual 370z, and PDK with the Auto/paddle shifter 370z--the out comes might be different.

kannibul · 06-10-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

I sold a Boxster (face it, it's a Cayman convertible), bought an '08 Corvette and modded it nicely. Suspension, tune, intake and exhaust to 470HP. Sold the Vette to buy the Z. I like the Z better. Suits my personality, drives better around town and at the limit. The Corvette is a Long wheelbase, Fat tired car that feels far heavier than it's 3200 lbs. It was great when pushed, but you had to be at 8-9/10ths to make it really work well which will put your license in serious jeapardy. The Boxster was like a Ballet dancer in comparison to the WWF wrestler that the Vette was. The Z fits nicely in the middle. It's a little rorty, but light on it's feet. I've had 8 Porsche's. They are remarkable cars, but putting it all on the table, the $$ premium and inability to Mod the car kept me from going the Cayman route. The Z is quite good out of the box, and will be outstanding when I get done with it..

Vette - George Foreman
Boxster / Cayman - Ali
370z - Mike Tyson

355890 · 06-10-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

Vette - George Foreman
Boxster / Cayman - Ali
370z - Mike Tyson

Why would you want to put the Z in the same ring as that looser.

imag · 06-10-2009, 10:50 AM

One thing that none of the bench racing ever addresses - fit and feel.

I sat in, and drove, everything from a Miata to a Z06. The Z fit me the best. I expected I would like the Cayman S, but it just didn't work for me. For one thing, the cockpit didn't feel nearly as expensive as I would have expected - the dials and plastic wheels feel surprisingly Japanese - not a bad thing, but not really awe inspiring either.

The Z06 surprised me because, while it was technically impressive and clearly fast, it just didn't put a grin on my face, the way I thought it would. I drove a 308 once and I just had that grin plastered across my face the whole time, despite the low speed. Too bad about the maintainance ; ).

What surprised me is that I actually liked the old Viper GTS a lot. It's brawny, absurd, and just flat out awesome, even if it is kind of a cobbled-together heap. The massive center column, that unreal motor, the sound with Corsa exhausts... it's like something from another planet, and it's a good planet. However, I don't have a garage, and it just didn't seem to make sense to have a car like that on the street, not to mention trying to daily drive it.

My brother has an NSX, which is an amazing car. I've spend a ton of time in S2000s, and I have a soft spot for them too. But the NSX is another car that just doesn't fit me right - I'm too leggy. And the s2000 would have required a hard top almost all the time in Oakland, which just kind of sucks.

I guess I'm saying that the intangibles matter, as do simple things like the shifter position and steering wheel size/location. The Z is absolutely perfect for me right now - I'm happy with it every time I drive it. I also love the fact that relatively cheap mods will make it even better...

Nice article though...

kannibul · 06-10-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 355890

Why would you want to put the Z in the same ring as that looser.

I'm speaking from when they (each) were at the top of their game, and their styles.

Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time...

Sub Tyson for Fraiser or Robinson, if that suits you...

Mostly I'm saying the Vette is big and mean (Foreman), Porsche is light on it's feet (Ali)...and the Z is like a blend of the two.

355890 · 06-11-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

I'm speaking from when they (each) were at the top of their game, and their styles.

Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time...

Sub Tyson for Fraiser or Robinson, if that suits you...

Mostly I'm saying the Vette is big and mean (Foreman), Porsche is light on it's feet (Ali)...and the Z is like a blend of the two.

Agreed !

Modshack · 06-11-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 355890

Agreed !

Kinda what I said! (without the complicated wrestling analogies!!)

"The Boxster was like a Ballet dancer in comparison to the WWF wrestler that the Vette was. The Z fits nicely in the middle. It's a little rorty, but light on it's feet. I've had 8 Porsche's. "

FricFrac · 06-11-2009, 06:03 PM

"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....

Endgame · 06-11-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

I'm speaking from when they (each) were at the top of their game, and their styles.

Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time...

Sub Tyson for Fraiser or Robinson, if that suits you...

Mostly I'm saying the Vette is big and mean (Foreman), Porsche is light on it's feet (Ali)...and the Z is like a blend of the two.

Well put! I also agree!

And Tyson was a MONSTER in his prime time!

cab83_750 · 06-11-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

I sold a Boxster (face it, it's a Cayman convertible), .......

Boxster as a Cayman convertible???? Hmmmm......a lot would probably disagree with you. This statement is like (to me anyway) saying...... a 240Z is a 370Z. IMHO.

BTW, I saw a funny thread once posted by someone in one of the Porsche forums who said, "I do not like the Porsche Gayman or the Porsche Cockster........" What an uproar the thread started!!!!

travisjb · 06-11-2009, 11:14 PM

not to sound defensive, but I had a boxster too... set up for the track... did about 30 track weekends in the car and I was never passed by a cayman, and passed plenty... so if you're trying to suggest that somehow a boxster is a lesser car, well... the two share most of their parts, have the same wheelsbase and track length, etc... your entitled to your impression, of course

as for the 'snobby stigma'... i just don't get that - at all... the porsche club i run with is about as middle class and down to earth as it gets... engineers, police officers, normal people... i think the stigma is purely something that comes from people being po'd that they don't have the means or discipline to set aside the money, not b/c of the people that drive porsches

all that being said, I chose this car over 911 cup cars and caymans... pretty much for the same reason as modshack, nissans are cheaper to mod with a better aftermarket, and I think cheaper to operate as a track car over the long-term... also looks better than the cayman IMO... giving the nod to the mid-engined cayman only on handling and OIL COOLING

Endgame · 06-12-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

not to sound defensive, but I had a boxster too... set up for the track... did about 30 track weekends in the car and I was never passed by a cayman, and passed plenty... so if you're trying to suggest that somehow a boxster is a lesser car, well... the two share most of their parts, have the same wheelsbase and track length, etc... your entitled to your impression, of course

as for the 'snobby stigma'... i just don't get that - at all... the porsche club i run with is about as middle class and down to earth as it gets... engineers, police officers, normal people... i think the stigma is purely something that comes from people being po'd that they don't have the means or discipline to set aside the money, not b/c of the people that drive porsches

all that being said, I chose this car over 911 cup cars and caymans... pretty much for the same reason as modshack, nissans are cheaper to mod with a better aftermarket, and I think cheaper to operate as a track car over the long-term... also looks better than the cayman IMO... giving the nod to the mid-engined cayman only on handling and OIL COOLING

good post....

semtex · 06-12-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cab83_750

Boxster as a Cayman convertible???? Hmmmm......a lot would probably disagree with you.

Well, it'd be more accurate to say the Cayman is a Boxster hardtop. I don't know why this would be controversial or disagreeable. When Porsche introduced the Cayman they were very clear that it was essentially a hardtop Boxster. There was a market segment gap that they were trying to fill. The Boxster was/is their less expensive model targeted to those who want a Porsche, but can't quite afford a 911 (yet). But not everyone in that segment wants a convertible either. Enter the Cayman, for those who want a Porsche, can't afford a 911, but want a hardtop.

06-11-2009, 11:14 PM	#43 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	not to sound defensive, but I had a boxster too... set up for the track... did about 30 track weekends in the car and I was never passed by a cayman, and passed plenty... so if you're trying to suggest that somehow a boxster is a lesser car, well... the two share most of their parts, have the same wheelsbase and track length, etc... your entitled to your impression, of course as for the 'snobby stigma'... i just don't get that - at all... the porsche club i run with is about as middle class and down to earth as it gets... engineers, police officers, normal people... i think the stigma is purely something that comes from people being po'd that they don't have the means or discipline to set aside the money, not b/c of the people that drive porsches all that being said, I chose this car over 911 cup cars and caymans... pretty much for the same reason as modshack, nissans are cheaper to mod with a better aftermarket, and I think cheaper to operate as a track car over the long-term... also looks better than the cayman IMO... giving the nod to the mid-engined cayman only on handling and OIL COOLING __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

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06-01-2009, 12:58 PM	#33 (permalink)
Bad370z Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nevada Posts: 3 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z PGtou Rep Power: 16	Was this a fair and balanced test? or is it biased? [I]"The traction control was blinking away in a straight line all afternoon on our test, the driver of the 370Z always sweating to keep up with the serenely composed Cayman.",[I] We all know that traction control when active, will reduce your speed. This is unclear but would suggest it was engaged during the test. Would the driver of the Z be faster with it off? [B][I][/One other point,[I][B] is the auto faster or slower then the manual in the 370z?--they should test the manual Cayman with the manual 370z, and PDK with the Auto/paddle shifter 370z--the out comes might be different.

06-10-2009, 10:50 AM	#36 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 16	One thing that none of the bench racing ever addresses - fit and feel. I sat in, and drove, everything from a Miata to a Z06. The Z fit me the best. I expected I would like the Cayman S, but it just didn't work for me. For one thing, the cockpit didn't feel nearly as expensive as I would have expected - the dials and plastic wheels feel surprisingly Japanese - not a bad thing, but not really awe inspiring either. The Z06 surprised me because, while it was technically impressive and clearly fast, it just didn't put a grin on my face, the way I thought it would. I drove a 308 once and I just had that grin plastered across my face the whole time, despite the low speed. Too bad about the maintainance ; ). What surprised me is that I actually liked the old Viper GTS a lot. It's brawny, absurd, and just flat out awesome, even if it is kind of a cobbled-together heap. The massive center column, that unreal motor, the sound with Corsa exhausts... it's like something from another planet, and it's a good planet. However, I don't have a garage, and it just didn't seem to make sense to have a car like that on the street, not to mention trying to daily drive it. My brother has an NSX, which is an amazing car. I've spend a ton of time in S2000s, and I have a soft spot for them too. But the NSX is another car that just doesn't fit me right - I'm too leggy. And the s2000 would have required a hard top almost all the time in Oakland, which just kind of sucks. I guess I'm saying that the intangibles matter, as do simple things like the shifter position and steering wheel size/location. The Z is absolutely perfect for me right now - I'm happy with it every time I drive it. I also love the fact that relatively cheap mods will make it even better... Nice article though...

06-11-2009, 06:03 PM	#40 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 229	"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....