The 2019 or 20 Audi TT is a bad *** car. It is much faster than the Cayman and handles almost as well.

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Agree 100%. I’m not a fan of the new 718 turbo 4’s with fake engine sounds and all.


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I agree on the sound front - the Porsche flat 6 in the 981 Cayman is a special engine. With the sport exhaust, the noise is thrilling.

Which is fine as far as it goes. But performance-wise, the 718 with turbo 4 cylinder literally runs rings around it's older sibling.

Comparison at this link:
http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel4516-6344.htm

Hilights (981 first, then 718) - both are the "S" PDK variants:
0-100Km/hr times 4.7 vs 4.1 seconds
0-200Km.hr times 16.9 vs 14.3 seconds
60-100Km/hr times 5.0 vs 3.5 seconds
80=160Km/hr times in 4th 11.8 vs 8.1 seconds
" " " in 5th 15.0 vs 10.3 seconds
Nordschleife times 7:55 vs 7:46
Laguna Seca times 1:41.26 vs 1:40.05
Braking distances are in some cases better on the older model, but that could be attributable to test conditions.


I'd like a car that sounded nice AND performed, but hey, if I had to choose between sound and fury, then fury wins every time for me. YMMV.

The TT maybe faster but it is one hideous and fugly car. Never was a fan of those cars they remind me of an upside down bathtub.

They new look way better now than the older ones. I am just providing options and as someone stated before I will choose function over form pretty much every time. That said it has to be sexy as well and that is why the Z is in the sweet spot.

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Guys I genuinely appreciate the suggestions, and I didn’t want to discourage any, but I agree, the TT is just fugly (to each their own I get, but not to this guy). Plus again, I’m buying as primarily a DD with the intent of holding on long term if not forever. I know the Audi is going to fall apart waaaaay before that.


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Just to throw another obvious two seater out there is the Supra or M4. The Supra seems to be a nice tweener but a little over rated
I have seen one in person and they look way better in person.

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Keep it forever. In that case, I won’t suggest an F-Type Jag! :rofl2:

I think that you are on the right track with the Cayman.
It’s expensive, but rewarding to drive.
Just have to settle on the model trim, and find the deal.

I’m good at spending your money! :-D

In the past I test drove the Porsche Cayman and Porsche Cayman S before I purchased one of my previous Z’s. The Porsche Cayman base version was under powered to me and was not what I thought it would be. The Porsche Cayman S was faster and is a nice vehicle to own but I don’t think the car justified paying the price tag not worth it at all to me. The maintenance schedule costs that of a glorified trust fund baby. Hope you have the funds when you get problems with it good luck. Parts and labor is expensive. Trading in your Z will be a mistake you will get royalty screwed on the trade even though Japanese sports cars have good resale value overall. If you are considering selling your Z sell it out right so you can get what your Nissan 370Z is actually worth don’t screw yourself. I would never purchase the Porsche Cayman or any Porsche for that matter. Knowing people how owned Audi’s in the past their dependability/reliability leaves a lot to be desired. If I were considering another vehicle I would wait until 2021 or 2022 for Nissan to unveil the 400Z or purchase a used GTR. I support Nissan and keep it real.

:bowrofl::rofl2::bowrofl:

:icon18: You’re right in the money Sir! And yeah I’m slowly taking myself into it. Just don’t know what to do as an alternative if I don’t. Hey 14 more years and my Z is officially a classic :driving:


Supra—no. Looks a bit too fast too furious. I would have been all over that 10 years ago, but sadly, we all grow up :( I did see one briefly pulling into a dealership recently; looked better in real life—agree—but I wouldn’t trade my Z for it on looks alone.

M4–has been my dream car for over 20 years (back when they used to call it M3 ;). But I dunno, it’s just not calling my name anymore, or at least right now. I haven’t looked up the numbers on an M4 recently, and I’m sure they’re crazy off-the-charts, but as I said I’m just not being drawn to it anymore. I can totally see owning something like this in the future (it will probably be EV by then); feel like this is my last chance for “are you f’in crazy for buying this?” [which btw is exactly what my ex-gf told me 11 yrs ago] hoorah. More seriously though, I’ve always valued good handling way higher than more power; and with even just Toyota Camry sedans making like 300ish HP nowadays, it’s just gotten silly. At the end of the day, unless you’re on the track, how much is too much?

As I said, I’m slowly talking myself into the Cayman. But as I am not in a rush, you guys are reminding me that I shouldn’t have so much tunnel-vision and should at least go and check out some of these other options. Man...the next few weeks/months may actually be fun! :stirthepot::driving:

Yup, it!s fun to kick the tires on a few sport cars, and this is a great time to be shopping for that sort of thing. As you say, we’re at the peak of the petrol-fuelled horsepower age. Future gains will almost certainly be from hybrid or electric powertrains. Nothing wrong with that, but this is likely the best time in the history of the automobile to buy a high quality new or nearly new internal combustion performance sports car (especially if you lust after a clutch pedal).

So go out and try a few. At worst, you will have fun and make your decision a little more complex for a while. At best, you will know with certainty the route that you should take.

As long as you are doing so, try a few of the outliers listed here. They won’t likely sway you from the Cayman, but after you have purchased, you will be less inclined to cheat on it with another hot car! ;-). Life’s about the experiences you have and the memories that you make. Not about stressing over things that should / could be fun!

Enjoy the process. I’ll bet you still come home with a Cayman of some description. But at least you can say you’ve driven an AMG, Alfa, //M, high-performance Audi, GT-R, or whatever else tickles your fancy!

:iagree: I have gone through this same process in my head so many times as I wait for my motor to be built for the Z. I generally end up at the same place. My Z will be faster than any production car and cost me less if nothing else in insurance, monthly payments, registration and maintenance. It doesn't get me any luxury or modern tech. Speaking of dream cars, I drove past a Lexus FLA that was pulling out of gas station today. What a beautiful car. Speaking of which, Lexus F-Sport is in the league as the M4. The more I see them I like them even more.

So a bit of an update...it’s been a busy weekend. Test drove a few more Caymans yesterday. Drove a ‘16 Cayman with a flat 6. Man, I now know what everyone is talking about, that engine sounds like god himself singing (and I’m not even that religious)! I mean just wow! But that was about it, nothing else about the “older” Cayman, other than the engine sound, is better. Drove a few 718s to try to see if I can tell the difference between the base and the S and the GTS. On the road at least, the difference is minimal, like really minimal. Side note: this other dealership I went to, has some of the best back roads around them, just great!

Anyways, taking my time exploring. The Lexus F-Sport mentioned by @Hotrotdz for example, is something to consider. But all goes back to all these cars M3/4, R/S5, F-Sport, looking the same...just mean [upgraded] versions of what everyone else is driving in their daily slug-fest...errr....commute.

On that note hanging out with someone tomorrow who has two older 911s and an M3 as a DD. Let’s see where that goes...

I've been doing the same. I tested a 2018 Cayman with 500 miles on it. Dealership offered me 14.5 for my Nismo. I'm having a serious heart to heart with the wife tonight.