Dilemma - TTS or Cayman S

mfspen said:
Question for the mods :-

Is there a good reason why a thread discussing the relative merits of the tiTTy and a porka is not moved to the 'Other makes' forum ?

This is an A3 forum after all, or am I missing something ?
Click to expand...

It started off in here as the owner currently has an 8p, I guess it could be moved but it seems to be quite at home here :)

Bowfers right tho a lot of the other forums don't get the same sort of traffic as here.

But your points been noted.

J.
 
I still can't understand how you went through 9 tires in one year.... How many miles, can you tell us more?? CJP80!!

Pedro
 
Well,

I've had 3 punctures. The latest of which I am suing the council over! The two previously were screws too close to the tyre wall to be vulcanised. I replaced my NSR tyre and the next day checked it to see if it was ok, only to see a screw sticking out of it! Best 21 miles and £160 I've spent!:puke2:

The Conti SP2's I had from the factory were down to 3mm at 7000 miles (honeymoon period) :wub: so I had them replaced with SP3's. These lasted 14000 and I replaced them with GEF1's. The rears lasted 21,000 miles and I'm now trying FK452's on the back.

All of my tyres are new now, but that's still 9 so far!
 
What CJP fails to mention is the monster truck mods he's had done. He doesn't need to race M5s - he drives over them!!



It's more fun, but you go through more tyres!!
 
On the subject of tyres...
I went through 2 full sets on my S3 in 3 1/3 years, and a good few 1000 on a 3rd set (wore the standard Bridgestone 17s out, plus a full set of Avon 18s and a good few 1000s on a set of Pirelli P-Zero Neros) all in about 15000 miles.

On the 911 (different wear rates to the Cayman accepted...but giving an example) over 3 1/4 years and 13500 miles...1 set of rears (mostly wear from the 'ring trip) and the fronts are getting to the point where they'll need to go in the next couple of thousand miles.

Driven the same way...by the same driver...only even braking harder and overall, going a bit faster in the 911.

S3s are not good on tyres...
 
yeah, i found 4WD cars worse than RWD on tyres too, my Impreza refused to get more than 12k out of a set of 4 tyres, even if you drovel ike Miss Daisy

Mind you, I've done 13 tyres in 60k on my A3 too (one tyre per wheel bearing, interesting...............)
 
Good to know that the 911 is easy on tires, maybe the Cayman is similar...

I think I will need a new set of tires in my S3 every 13k miles which is not great but I can live with it... I have currently 9.5k and tires are still a good 3mm before wear markings. I drive it fast but maybe because I do more motorway here my tires suffer less...

Pedro
 
Ess_Three said:
On the 911 (different wear rates to the Cayman accepted...but giving an example) over 3 1/4 years and 13500 miles...1 set of rears (mostly wear from the 'ring trip) and the fronts are getting to the point where they'll need to go in the next couple of thousand miles.
Click to expand...

13.5k from a set of rear boots??

I'm lucky if I see 6k, fronts last double that

Pirelli (rosso and nero), Conti and Bridgestone all have pretty much the same wear rate
 
Ha ha some interesting views in this thread!!!

I'm sure the TTS will be a good car, but the engine is in the wrong place and it will never sound like that Porsche flat-6 :)

The Cayman was originally what I wanted, but I could not really justify around 8k extra over the Bosxter (on the used market) - for the only difference is a tin-top!!!

Boxster has the same chassis, engine, brakes, interior - its the same car for a lot less. 'Real' drivers (I'm talking race drivers) will report slightly sharper handling on the Cayman but hey, I'm never going to notice that every day am I?

If you think you can live without the tin-top I'd recommend giving the 3.4 Boxster S a go and pocketing a healthy £££ saving. And it sounds even better with the hood down.

As for the grip and everyday handling I'd say I'm actually more confident in the corners than I ever was in any A3/S3. There is just so much grip and feedback. Of course you have to remember its RWD so dont go flooring it mid-corner, the tactic is to carry the pace into the corner and let the chassis do the work to pull you through. Pulling out of corners quickly in the wet/damp is where I miss quattro the most. That usually means some tail-out action in the Porka :)

I've had mine for approaching a year and it still thrills me every day. The chassis, steering, balance and noise is just a pleasure. The TTS will need to be very, very special to come close IMO.

I hope this helps, but you should certainly be wanting to drive both until you are sure you make the correct decision for you. Cayman/Boxster vs TTS will be very different drives.
 
Haven't really considered the Boxster S as i didn't really think they were any cheaper.

I now see you can add a hardtop. Can you buy these retrospectively?
 
Yeah you can buy a hardtop but I dont think they look quite right if I'm being honest.

If you have a garage to put the car in at night I wouldn't bother, the hood is nice and warm anyway!
 
Will be out on the drive, so I'd like the security when on holidays etc.

You've got me thinking now matey...any Boxster specific options or must haves you can advise of?
 
sleep envy said:
13.5k from a set of rear boots??

I'm lucky if I see 6k, fronts last double that

Pirelli (rosso and nero), Conti and Bridgestone all have pretty much the same wear rate
Click to expand...

Should have made that clearer...one set of rears replaced, at 8000ish miles...
Fronts still original but requiring changing soon..
Replacement rears still fine at around half worn.

Michelin Pilot Sport 2s...rears were £540 the pair...

Still much cheaper than 2 full sets on the S3 in the same time.


Brakes too...
S3 killed 2 sets of standard sized discs (one standard, one grooved) 2 sets of pads (Standard and Greenstuffs - which fell apart) and once the Brembos were on, they were well past their best when I sold it (they needed replacing, to be honest)

911 - one full set in 3 years. OK...it was an £1100 job to replace all discs and pads...but no worse than the S3 cost wise over 3 years...and less, if I were paying for the labour to do it!


The service costs at Porsche were around the same as at Audi too...
 
CJP80 said:
Will be out on the drive, so I'd like the security when on holidays etc.

You've got me thinking now matey...any Boxster specific options or must haves you can advise of?
Click to expand...

19" Carrera S alloys
Xenons (not standard!)
Sound package plus or Bose - the standard speakers are real bad
Heated Seats
Switchable sports exhaust - makes it sound even better
Sports seats are nice to have but standard ones are really good anyway
I hear PASM on the Boxster is good too but I can't give any first-hand experience
Sat-Nav unit is good but I wouldn't pay the premium unless you have money to burn and really want it
Oh, and park assist cos its a bitch to judge the rear when parking!

Hope this helps :thumbsup:
 
sleep envy said:
do you use an OPC or Indy?
Click to expand...

OPC.
I keep up the extended wattanty too.

Sadly, there aren't too many decent specialists near me...and the OPC is good (I know a lot of the lads too...so gert reasonable discounts and can get help when doing some jobs myself) so I'm happy to stick with them.
 
C_Audiboy said:
19" Carrera S alloys
Xenons (not standard!)
Sound package plus or Bose - the standard speakers are real bad
Heated Seats
Switchable sports exhaust - makes it sound even better
Sports seats are nice to have but standard ones are really good anyway
I hear PASM on the Boxster is good too but I can't give any first-hand experience
Sat-Nav unit is good but I wouldn't pay the premium unless you have money to burn and really want it
Oh, and park assist cos its a bitch to judge the rear when parking!

Hope this helps :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Is PSM standard?
If not, it should be...it's brilliant.


I've driven 997 Ss on PASM and wasn't too impressed...sure you could stiffen it up, but it was then too hard for normal roads. The standard setting is fine...but without selecting 'Sport' you don't get the sharper throttle map or the sports Exhaust...
So, it's 'Sport', then manually select the dampers to 'Normal'
A bit of a faff, to be honest.

Not sure if the Boxster is the same or not.


As for options:
The Carbon stuff is nice to look at...but silly expensive to buy new...and worth nothing extra when you sell it...same with all the pimp-daddy leather everywhere.
 
you can use and indy and still maintain the warranty - EU consumer law now - but if there's no one near you I s'pose it's not much help

you're lucky you've got a good OPC - I've no faith in mine, besides I doubt they've seen an air cooled car in the last few years
 
Ess_Three said:
I find it hard to believe a heavier 8P/TT would be any different.
Click to expand...

I think this quote sort of tells the whole story, how much you actually know about the new TT, or if you've actually even driven it, I doubt that. You're just taking your old 'TT experience' and converting it to the new model.

They're not the same car. Although old TT was certainly 8L, the new one has quite a lot of difference, including 'magnetic ride' (or whatever the marketing term was) instead of normal springs, body with different structure and materials, less weight..

They're different cars, but apparently that doesn't suit your needs for this discussion, you rather want to have your opinion as the 'truth'.

- Yak
 
yak said:
I think this quote sort of tells the whole story, how much you actually know about the new TT,
Click to expand...

What is there to know, Yak?
It's another off the generic Mk5 Golf platform.
I know enough to know it looks worse than the old TT but drives better.
That's the experience of driving it, you see...


or if you've actually even driven it, I doubt that. You're just taking your old 'TT experience' and converting it to the new model.
Click to expand...

V6 quattro (still nose heavy) and 2.0 TFSI (not as good as a Golf GTI)
So, that would be a yes. Have you?
Have you driven a Cayman?


They're not the same car. Although old TT was certainly 8L, the new one has quite a lot of difference, including 'magnetic ride' (or whatever the marketing term was) instead of normal springs, body with different structure and materials, less weight..
Click to expand...

But they share the same platform...and as such, will always be front engined and front (or front biased 4) WD.
You can't get away from that...the suspension is WAY better at the back...but the same Mcpherson strut type front end with the engines weight up there, gives the same underlying drive, be it a 1.4 Golf, or a TT.

Magnetic Ride is a fine system...and works well...but it can't move the engines position, or make a FWD car feel like a RWD car...can it?


They're different cars, but apparently that doesn't suit your needs for this discussion, you rather want to have your opinion as the 'truth'.
Click to expand...

Aww...dry your eyes.
Got a TT have we?

The TT is a fine car...but it's no ground up Sportscar.
They are indeed different cars...one being the better drive...and as anyone with a hole in their **** and half a brain can tell, the Cayman is a better 'drivers' car than a TT.

That's my opinion...and it seems that of others too.

Perhaps Audi will re-locate the engine in the TTS, make it RWD perhaps?
But I find it hard to believe. So the comment stands...
But time will tell.
 
Ess_Three said:
What is there to know, Yak?
It's another off the generic Mk5 Golf platform.
I know enough to know it looks worse than the old TT but drives better.
That's the experience of driving it, you see...
Click to expand...

Yes, and 911 is a Beetle. You gotta be kidding me with your comments. I'll just ignore rest of your reply, since you haven't apparently even driven it.
 
marriedblonde said:
So do you think a mkII TT is a viable alternative, as a drivers car, to Cayman?
Click to expand...

If this was written to me, then who knows, I haven't driven TT-S. As for Cayman's superior speed, it's not that fast (nor is TT-S, but the difference as I believe won't be that big you're making it).

For example, latest Fifth Gear had what, 135i and Cayman (not the S though), with Plato driving faster in the 135i. Now, this isn't a proper test for that matter, but it clearly shows, that the chassis in the Cayman isn't so out of the world compared to these 'high performance family cars'. It just isn't.

And I sure like Cayman, would probably be my choice, just because it's Porsche. Well, then again, in Finland they don't even compete in the same price range, with Cayman S costing 98 000e, and TT-S will be closer to 55-60k. Even normal Cayman costs (75k) more here than the TT-S, by a big margin.

But this isn't a Lambo vs. Octavia race, both cars are nearly equally fast in track, if that's where you wanted to compare them. What you're mixing with speed is now the feeling of being a Porsche driver or Audi driver, it's the badge mostly.
 
I've driven both variants of the TT hard on the track, with and without Delphi Magnetic Ride...car still understeers at the limit. I doubt the TTS' revised suspension will be that transforming, but I'm sure it will be good.

I'm a big Audi fan and I would love to have a TTS for the looks, build and options available. I'm pretty sure it just will not compete with a Cayman / Boxster in the handling, feedback and poise department. I just can't see it...oh and lets not forget the sound of that flat 6 at 6500rpm! I got bored of the sound of my 4 pot after a few months...

Also, since when is 0-100mph in 11.7s not fast? Faster than an E46 M3, that so many of us on here hail as the be all and end all...
 
CJP80 said:
Faster than an E46 M3, that so many of us on here hail as the be all and end all...
Click to expand...

had one of them - sold it after 3 weeks

worst M car ever
 
yak said:
Yes, and 911 is a Beetle.
Click to expand...

Of course it is...
Do you honestly expect a reaction from a comment like that?


You gotta be kidding me with your comments. I'll just ignore rest of your reply, since you haven't apparently even driven it.
Click to expand...

So I tell you I've driven the new TT...which kind of ****** on your chips, argument wise...
So you don't want to play any more.
Bravo!

I've driven several...2.0 TFSI, V6q and the Cayman to. Is that clear enough?


Never mind...you keep basing your arguments on 5th gear...and we'll all be OK.
 
Well folks,

Looks like I've got some parts to sell!

Full stainless steel Milltek Resonated Turbo back (Twin 90mm Jet) (Done 7000 miles)
Forge Short Shifter (been on the car 3 weeks)
BMC panel filter (3000 miles)
Carbonio CAI which I will sell with the BMC filter if interested.(10,000 miles)

I'm not sure how you'd transport the exhaust, but I am in Edinburgh if someone was willing to drive.

Any offers, please PM me or feel free to ask questions.
 
d3fy - I do not see why not. Although it may only fit the 2.0T Quattro. I'll check with Milltek and let you know.


Ess Three...


Just need to get a tracker fitted and my insurance sorted out. Best so far is swift cover at £790 a year!
 
CJP80 said:


Just need to get a tracker fitted and my insurance sorted out. Best so far is swift cover at £790 a year!
Click to expand...

Lovely..
I prefer the facelift treatment of the 986-987 Boxster to that of the 996-997.
A lovely car.

Have you tried Heritage Insurance.
They are a broker.

Or 'Performance Insurance' brokers...

Both advertise in the Porsche Club GB magazine.

I was £1150 last year for the C4S...Performance Insurance were only £850 this year...but Heritage came in at £700 with cover by Norwich Union.
Might be worth a couple of phonecalls!
 
Thanks matey, will give them a buzz on Monday.

Here's my spec also:
  • BOSE Surround Sound System
  • Bi-Xenon lighting system
  • CDC-4 six disc CD autochanger
  • Fully automatic climate control
  • Interior surveillance
  • Manual Gearbox
  • Porsche crest embossed on head restraints
  • Short Shifter
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document.write (fea2);
  • Preparation Vehicle Tracking System
  • Sport Chrono package
  • Stainless steel tailpipe, chrome-plated
  • Standard seat - Full Leather
  • Three-spoke sports steering wheel in leather
  • Top tinted windscreen
  • Wind deflector




Struggled to find one with Xenons!

Quick question though...do both these companies require trackers, and if so, any specific category. i.e. Cobra Cat 5, monitor, horizon etc

Cheers,

CJP
 
CJP80 said:
d3fy - I do not see why not. Although it may only fit the 2.0T Quattro. I'll check with Milltek and let you know.



Just need to get a tracker fitted and my insurance sorted out. Best so far is swift cover at £790 a year!
Click to expand...

Let me know, mine is Quattro. You could also try Chris Knott Insurance
 
CJP80 said:
Thanks matey, will give them a buzz on Monday.
Click to expand...

Do that...
Footman James were also good for me for a couple of years...maybe worth giving them a shout too.
Again, they advertise in the PCGB Mag...and have decent Porsche schemes.


Struggled to find one with Xenons!
Click to expand...

Come now...'we' Porsche owners refer to them as Litronics!

They are superb though..I have them on the C4S..was out last night for a blast as it was a nice dry night...so off I went and did 100+ miles in the dark - great!
Dry enough to get the pace up...but cold enough to get the rear moving about a bit.


Quick question though...do both these companies require trackers, and if so, any specific category. i.e. Cobra Cat 5, monitor, horizon etc
Click to expand...

Nope...
I don't have..plenty of insurers who are going away from requiring them now as if your car gets nicked (and possibly wrecked in some way) do you want it back?

Anyway...all the brokers I've mentioned didn't require Trackers, even for £80k values.
 
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