Autocar: Toyota GT86 vs Porsche Cayman

[serialk11r]

I guess I'll chime in since I finally got the chance to drive both. Porsche wins definitively for me, as it should for the price they're charging. The Porsche manages to have slightly more sporty feel while being more luxurious. For the "sporty" criteria, it's got a bigger, number steering wheel (-), much better engine sound that you can actually hear it (+), more performance but hard to fully use on public roads (small +, I think a 2.5L would be better for street use), better pedal feel (+), feels less nimble due to lazy steering ratio on center (-).

The biggest thing going for the 86 in my eyes is the "vestigal rear seats". I tried this at the dealer, a big-ish dude can actually get into the back, and the front seat will not be rendered useless. This doesn't work on a Porsche 911. The 86's practicality to looks ratio is quite good and it's performance is not bad.

[Chad11491]

Having had to deal with porsche parts, and everything being special order, even the nuts, bolts, and oil filters, I will never own a porsche again. The parts aren't that expensive, the cars are relatively easy to work on, dead reliable if taken care of. But dang, I don't want to wait a week to get a replacement nut because I dropped one and can't find it. Porsche uses a thread pitch that is nearly impossible to find around me. The cars are excellent, and if you don't mind the parts being a pain in the butt, and the severe lack of reliable mechanics for them (I drive 70 miles each way for a good one), they're good cars. But I will never do it again.

[thill]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I guess I'll chime in since I finally got the chance to drive both. Porsche wins definitively for me, as it should for the price they're charging. The Porsche manages to have slightly more sporty feel while being more luxurious. For the "sporty" criteria, it's got a bigger, number steering wheel (-), much better engine sound that you can actually hear it (+), more performance but hard to fully use on public roads (small +, I think a 2.5L would be better for street use), better pedal feel (+), feels less nimble due to lazy steering ratio on center (-).

The biggest thing going for the 86 in my eyes is the "vestigal rear seats". I tried this at the dealer, a big-ish dude can actually get into the back, and the front seat will not be rendered useless. This doesn't work on a Porsche 911. The 86's practicality to looks ratio is quite good and it's performance is not bad.

Yeah, I am 5'11" and my friend is about 5'10" and the only way he could fit behind me was if the steering wheel was in my stomach and my face was pushed almost into the windshield.

If your expectation is to fit normal seized people in the front and back this is the wrong car for you.

[PHLonomenal]

I both love and hate this debate. I LOVE Porsche and have test driven many while owning my M3 and my current FR-S. I love the debate in terms a $26k car can be compared reasonably to an approximately $60K plus car. I hate the debate for exactly the same reason. The Porsche Cayman/Boxster are worth EVERY penny until you start adding on options. Having said that, the FR-S/BRZ offer a surprising amount of what the Cayman/Boxster offer at nearly half the price. No getting around that. When you factor in OVERALL cost this car is extremely compelling. At this point the only factor that would necessitate a change would be OVERALL refinement. Porsche engines sound better and the cars just seem screwed together tighter. I would and should expect that at that pricepoint. I don't have a problem with anyone picking one car over the other. They both have a shitload of merits but EVERYTHING comes at a price. It's all up to what you can afford.

[thill]

I just cannot imagine buying a brand new Porsche. They depreciate very quickly, and IMHO, that is where the real debate is. Not a new $70K one vs an FR-S/BRZ, but a gently used one for not much more money. I see low mileage Porsches for sale all the time that were babied by some older rich guy with all the service records and they go for half what the owner paid.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by thill

Yeah, I am 5'11" and my friend is about 5'10" and the only way he could fit behind me was if the steering wheel was in my stomach and my face was pushed almost into the windshield.

If your expectation is to fit normal seized people in the front and back this is the wrong car for you.

I'm a hair over 6' and the 5'7" salesman could sit in his normal driving position with me in the back. That said, my legs would probably need to be amputated if I sat like that for more than 10 minutes With me in the driver's seat, I definitely don't expect anyone over 5'2" to fit in the back if I am to be in a comfortable position, as their legs would need to be short enough to tuck neatly into the tiny gap. Maybe a 5'6" female would fit if I pulled the seat a little closer to the wheel than I like. Two average dudes could fit uncomfortably on the passenger side since there's no steering column in your face when you pull the seat forward.

Unless you were talking about the 911.

[Pacific Auto]

Originally Posted by thill

Yeah, I am 5'11" and my friend is about 5'10" and the only way he could fit behind me was if the steering wheel was in my stomach and my face was pushed almost into the windshield.

If your expectation is to fit normal seized people in the front and back this is the wrong car for you.

I done it a couple of times.

Have the people in the back take off their shoes and slide the seat over their feet. Works so much better!!

I only have to more my driver seat up about two notches. (I'm 6'1")

[strmshadow84]

Originally Posted by paros28

Of course, Porsche Cayman is the better car. No one is arguing the contrary. The question is: Is it worth the extra money? That's where opinions will differ because it depends on individual circumstances. I do not track and I can't figure out what the Porsche can do that the 86/BRZ cannot do on public roads - taking into account all the constraints such as traffic, speed limits, over-zealous enforcement, etc. I guess, I can impress my friends and neighbors in my brand new Porsche. But nah... not worth it.

While I agree that buying new is definitely not worth it, buying slightly used is (Which is what I did). In day to day driving I do love the extra torque that the cayman provides. Now if your just saying since your not a track rat it's not worth it, then neither are the twins, you would just be better off getting a old civic .