Bye, bye, S3

hallster

hallster

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I've just said goodbye to my wonderful S3. :blownose:

A good friend of mine convinced me to test drive a Porsche Cayman S (you may remember the thread TT or Cayman S - he ended up with a Boxter S). Not too surprisingly I fell in love.

I loved the S3, but... the CS is just amazing! I've had much more fun driving at slow speeds in the CS than I ever had driving at high speed in the S3. Also, even though the performance figures aren't that drastically different, the CS feels way faster. And you feel so connected to what's happening all the time! Plus that engine! The smile gets wider and wider...

So I ended up getting a 55 plate CS. :yahoo:

image_1.jpg


As I said, I've loved having my S3. Got a track day next month where they teach you in a 997 Carrera S. I'll get to learn a bit about over and under steer which will hopefully help me keep the new toy on the island. Can't wait!!

The King is dead. Long live the King.
 
nice... I think I too one day would like to own a porsche.... the TVR is coming first tho.. ;)
 
You've summed up the reason why I've never driven a Cayman - I'd buy one straight away if I did. So happy living in ignorance - for the time being!
 
Can't say i blame you at all. I love porsches, just so rock solid and useable for everyday... The black Cayman looks a bit tasty with the carrera wheels. I've got the option to buy my uncles carrera 4S (custom order ice blue with anthracite wheels) in 2 years time but to be honest theres more chance of sh***ing on the moon. So i've been looking at Caymans as well and they do seem to make a cracking second hand buy (by porsche standards!!)

Congratulations and enjoy it mate.
 
there is something about the design of the Cayman that I don't really buy.... But I think if I drive one I will end up ordering one... so I am staying put... lolol

Pedro
 
I mean... it can only drive great! mid mounted engine, stiffer than Boxster, lighter than 911.... I can't really drive one...lololo

Pedro
 
I have driven both a Cayman S and a Carrera 4S and the whole presence of the car is very different. Be under no illusion.... are porsche going to give away a better car for much less money? No. It's a GREAT car but it's not a Carrera. I think the Cayman is the prettier car and doesn't quite suffer from that 'dickhead' stereotype....Yet. It is much more 'sporty' feeling than the Carrera though and to be honest its probably a little more stable through the corners being mid-engined.
All in all, if (like me) you can't quite run to a 911 and think the boxter is a tad girly, it is a fantastic car in every sense. I'd own one in a heartbeat. I'd take one over an M3 ANY day.
 
PNH80 said:
I have driven both a Cayman S and a Carrera 4S and the whole presence of the car is very different. Be under no illusion.... are porsche going to give away a better car for much less money? No. It's a GREAT car but it's not a Carrera.
Click to expand...

That's a big difference in price (RS4 vs R8) and also 4 wheel drive vs 2. I don't think the budget will ever stretch that far! :drool:

The CS is more car than I can handle at the moment anyway. :racer:
 
mitch78 said:
Apart from the day you need to put your kids in the back!
Click to expand...

I hear they do a transport system that you can attach to the roof. I'm pretty sure you could fit a couple of the nipper in there!

:whistle2:
 
I will take the M3 if it is the new V8 thanks... red is OK!! I don't mind the estate agent thingy...

Pedro
 
great drivers car, gratz, not practical enough for me though
 
newbiecrg said:
I will take the M3 if it is the new V8 thanks... red is OK!! I don't mind the estate agent thingy...

Pedro
Click to expand...

The more i think about it, i may have been a little quick to decide... If i was driving it every day as my only car, i think the Cayman could be a little too harsh and minimal in the interior.

Hallster: How do you find the quality and feel of the interior compared to the S3?
 
PNH80 said:
The more i think about it, i may have been a little quick to decide... If i was driving it every day as my only car, i think the Cayman could be a little too harsh and minimal in the interior.

Hallster: How do you find the quality and feel of the interior compared to the S3?
Click to expand...

I think the interior is every bit as good as the S3, which I thought very highly of. It feels surprisingly spacious. The leather seems to be of a better quality. I had the standard seats in the S3 (a decision I sorely regretted) and the leather had sagged a little. The CS is 2 years old and the leather looks brand new (and better than the S3's ever did). The seats are more comfortable (standard seats) and plastics are high quality as well. The stereo sounds the same (when I'm not drowning it out above 5000 rpm), which you would expect with them both being Bose.

All in all I think it's a nice place to be. If anything it feels a little less clinical than the S3.

image_3.jpg
 
hallster said:
I think the interior is every bit as good as the S3, which I thought very highly of. It feels surprisingly spacious. The leather seems to be of a better quality. I had the standard seats in the S3 (a decision I sorely regretted) and the leather had sagged a little. The CS is 2 years old and the leather looks brand new (and better than the S3's ever did). The seats are more comfortable (standard seats) and plastics are high quality as well. The stereo sounds the same (when I'm not drowning it out above 5000 rpm), which you would expect with them both being Bose.

All in all I think it's a nice place to be. If anything it feels a little less clinical than the S3.
Click to expand...

I'll be the first to admit, the interior of my 996 isn't as good to look at as my S3.
The 997/987 Boxster/Cayman is better...that is more modern, but possibly still not as 'nice' to look at as the black Leather / Blue Alcantara of the S3.

But, the seats are better in the 996. They look nothing...standard Porsche seats...but they support better and are more comfortable than the 8Ls Recaros - which surprised me.

The steering wheel is nicer to twirl...
The pedals nicer to use...

Sure it doesn't look as good, have illuminated vents, constantly lit up needles on the instruments, 5 stages of heated seats (I make do with warm & hot), over-engineered cupholders or any of that stuff...and you know what?
I don't care...and I don't miss it.

The 996 interior looks poor...but works well, it feels intimate, well honed even...and when I'm driving I couldn't care if I was sat on a park bench...it just doesn't matter.
A lovely interior does not a great car make.
 
...could be worse...he could have bought a 911...

Then he's be a fat, balding, middle aged man with a small penis, going through a mid life crisis.
Ahh well...3 out of 5 isn't bad! :laugh:
Ok...maybe 4.:whistle2:
 
Come on guys...enough of the stereotyping already!

Better get going now anyway....got a few more cuts to do before my tanning session tonight! :laugh:
 
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