Decisions, decisions....

[Jimbo1959]

I have been working up to aquiring a Porsche Cayman as my final retirement car, I've always wanted one, however, I am now seriously considering keeping my Coupé and fine tuning it after considerable thought and head scratching.

I think I have finally cured the vibration issue with the brakes which will in turn allow me to get a GAD remap done, it didn't make sense to spend money making her go faster when stopping was a problem, now I can stop her safely from autobahn speeds. The only other thing to do, will be a slight lowering of the ride height, something in the region of 25/30mm for a more aethetically pleasing stance. I may also change the alloys, there are so many options possible, Tony's (Smart Amg) silver 5 spoke alloys look stunning and would look sublime on my Coupé, that would just finish the look nicely once she's been lowered.

Ok, after the remap it will only be around 300BHP, but the torque??? Ooo... the torque figure will be an awesome 720Nm and the Porsche will be less than half of that, 340Nm I think? It'll be a little lighter in weight, approx 500 kilos I believe but, that's not enough to make up the difference in the get up and go in the mid range, where most overtaking is done.

In it's favour, the Coupé's almost immaculate, low milage for her age, I know the car and I can still do most of the work on the servicing side of things plus, she's very comfortable. Downsides, she is getting on a bit at eleven years old and doesn't handle as well as the Cayman will, hmm....

The mods are things that can be done on the Coupé as a w.i.p. which will not dent the bank balance as much, rather than trying to do it all at once. Not that Swmbo would let me anyway!

Decision, decisions....

Thoughts folks???

 

[robin.large]

There comes an age / time when some sensible thinking has to kick in. Cayman is nice but....wherever you buy it's someone else's history that's in there. I would stick with Coupe but put money aside for things like bushes, shocks, and 'refinements' ....
Same reason I sold my Maserati and now very happy with AMG C63 Shooting Brake.
Sure there's cars that handle better on a track. (I don't ever drive on track), there's a small number that are quicker 0-60 (but not many) and a few that are faster (but I think 155 is plenty!)
If you have already made a case for keeping the coupe then the Cayman is not for you..

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[Wighty]

Porsche’s can have some eye watering repair costs , every story you read , they are engine out jobs

 

[Wighty]

Or get a CL500

 

[axelcls]

Your coupé + GAD = 300+ bhp, @720 nm and 100% satisfaction


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[Srdl]

Have you driven a Cayman? It might put you off. I tested a couple of Macan S before I chose the GLC43 and the Macan was boring and unremarkable compared to the AMG.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Or get a CL500

No one ever went wrong with this ^^^

 

[Jimbo1959]

There comes an age / time when some sensible thinking has to kick in. Cayman is nice but....wherever you buy it's someone else's history that's in there. I would stick with Coupe but put money aside for things like bushes, shocks, and 'refinements' ....
Same reason I sold my Maserati and now very happy with AMG C63 Shooting Brake.
Sure there's cars that handle better on a track. (I don't ever drive on track), there's a small number that are quicker 0-60 (but not many) and a few that are faster (but I think 155 is plenty!)
If you have already made a case for keeping the coupe then the Cayman is not for you..

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

The bit you mentioned about "someone else's history" is the bit that sticks in my craw Robin, I live in a small town out in the countryside and most of my motoring is done on 'B' roads to be honest, hence the main attraction to the Cayman, as it has a reputation for sublime handling and general drivability.

Now don't get me wrong, my Coupé can still be hustled down the lanes quite well but one needs to remember that it is two tons of barge in comparison to the Cayman.

I've had the Coupé for just over two years and I've put the bulk of the 40K miles it's done on the clock, I've also renewed almost the complete front end, hubs, wheel bearings, discs, pads, calipers, brake hoses, brake fluid and rear brakes during my time and effort to eradicate the braking judder it had. It feels like I am being cheated out of my long term dream, the Cayman, after a fashion, however, as you said "There comes an age / time when some sensible thinking has to kick in," and parts prices as Wighty mentioned are not cheap for the Porsche. By the same measure neither are the parts for the Mercedes, however, at the moment it would appear to be more sensible to keep the Merc, but, you only live once, and I'd hate to suffer a bad case of the "if only's" later.

As I mentioned, decisions ,decisions....

 

[bembo449]

I was working my way upto a Carrera a few years ago until I spoke to a Porsche dealer who highlighted a few of the possible failures and repair costs , been a V8 man ever since wether it be BMW or MB , I think to get the most enjoyment out of a car like a cayman you have to drive it harder than is practical on our roads OR do track days , just a bit sterile under normal use imo

 

[vtaylor78]

You obviously like the look of the Coupé Jimbo , what about updating to a E400 ?
3 Litre petrol , the new shape that came out in 2017 .

 

[Jimbo1959]

Have you driven a Cayman? It might put you off. I tested a couple of Macan S before I chose the GLC43 and the Macan was boring and unremarkable compared to the AMG.

I haven't driven a Cayman, tbh however, I've driven the Boxster S and I am led to believe that the Cayman is very similar in it's attributes, if a little more taut in the handling department than the Boxster due to the roof helping prevent 'float' as little as there is on the Boxster. I thought it was quite good and naturally assumed that the Cayman would be better.

From my research, the dreaded IMS issue, is no longer one, on '07 onward models from a particular chassis number, resulting in me being unconcerned by it , mainly due to wanting a '59 onwards model that I can fit my private plate on. Although if the right car presented itself on an '08 plate for example, mine would just have to go on retention.

I would certainly drive one before purchase, I don't think I would let my heart rule my head, it's one of the reasons why I've never owned an M3 which I think are beautiful, (all models), I just can't get comfortable in BM's

 

[Jimbo1959]

You obviously like the look of the Coupé Jimbo , what about updating to a E400 ?
3 Litre petrol , the new shape that came out in 2017 .

I do like the Coupé Vincente, however, the 3 litre petrol is outside my comfort zone financially. I suspect I will be sticking with my diesel.

 

[Jimbo1959]

I was working my way upto a Carrera a few years ago until I spoke to a Porsche dealer who highlighted a few of the possible failures and repair costs , been a V8 man ever since wether it be BMW or MB , I think to get the most enjoyment out of a car like a cayman you have to drive it harder than is practical on our roads OR do track days , just a bit sterile under normal use imo

Was it the Carrera 4S you lusted after Simon? I like those too, I realised a long time ago that I was never going to be able to afford one though. Shame.

 

[bembo449]

yes jim , it was , I actually don't think I would have liked one in the end , you don't really get a lot for your money especially when a V8 MB can be picked up at such a good price , packed with all the kit you could ever want

 

[Jimbo1959]

yes jim , it was , I actually don't think I would have liked one in the end , you don't really get a lot for your money especially when a V8 MB can be picked up at such a good price , packed with all the kit you could ever want

AND, you get the benefit of that lovely rip from the V8 when it's on full chat, lol. Sadly I will need to stick with my V6 diesel.

 

[bembo449]

oh yeah , nothing like a V8 for noise jim , they rock

 

[SmartAmg]

I'm biased I know, but have to say the C207 E class coupe is a stunning looking car, and with the V6 diesel, well enough said, if you made those mods, you mentioned,
lowering springs (H&R) a nice set of Silver 5 spoke alloys in 19" Cades Apollo like mine or even 20' Veemann FS-8 and a re-map it will be like getting a new motor and all that lot wouldn't cost too much, relatively speaking, compared to swapping your car, and as you've said, it's near immaculate and low milage, better the devil you know and all that. But at the end of the day, Jim, it's your call.

 

[Jimbo1959]

I'm biased I know, but have to say the C207 E class coupe is a stunning looking car, and with the V6 diesel, well enough said, if you made those mods, you mentioned,
lowering springs (H&R) a nice set of Silver 5 spoke alloys in 19" Cades Apollo like mine or even 20' Veemann FS-8 and a re-map it will be like getting a new motor and all that lot wouldn't cost too much, relatively speaking, compared to swapping your car, and as you've said, it's near immaculate and low milage, better the devil you know and all that. But at the end of the day, Jim, it's your call.

Thanks for the info about your wheels and springs Tony, I don't suppose you remember the ET and J numbers for your alloys do you, and what the drop was on your springs?

Well if you don't ask you don't get, do you?

 

[Blobcat]

No one ever went wrong with this ^^^

Hmmm...
I looked at the CL500, the Bentley Coupe and the 911 Carrera S. I bought the 911and it was one of my better decisions.
Depreciation is negative (worth more than I paid for it), very reliable, cheap to maintain (using Porsche specialist), no corrosion, ABC or ignition pack issues.
I’ve always liked the CL’s as you can hide in them which you can’t do in a 911. Having had a 911, I’d never pick a CL over one though

 

[SmartAmg]

Thanks for the info about your wheels and springs Tony, I don't suppose you remember the ET and J numbers for your alloys do you, and what the drop was on your springs?

Well if you don't ask you don't get, do you?

Yep, the H&R springs lower the car approximately 30mm
perfect, IMO. Part number is,
H/R 29076-2
The Cades Apollo alloys are,
8.5 x 19 ET40 with 235/35/19 tyres on the front.
9.5 x 19 ET45 with 265/30/19 tyres on the rear.
Again perfect IMO, they've never rubbed, or anything, just right!