FR-S vs Cayman

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Talking about Caymans...

Here an amazing project:
http://www.teamspeed.com/forums/boxs...-new-post.html

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by colganc

I like the Miata. I don't want to have to worry about many autocross and DE sessions requiring a roll bar, I know that sounds dumb, but its one of my main hangups on convertibles. It has kept me from buying a used Boxster, Miata, or MR2.

If I didn't need 4 seats and was going to get serious about racing, I'd keep my MX5 and get a roll bar: http://flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept=92.

Originally Posted by jonnyozero3

My current shopping list to check out next year:

Porsche Cayman S,
Subaru BRZ,
Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.

Interesting. Though I'm not surprised to see the Cayman and FT86 being cross-shopped (even though one's a two seater and one's a four seater), the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca is a race-prepped track car. It's very fast and impressive (according to reviews, grip is ridiculous and handling is quite neutral), but I wouldn't want one for a daily driver. If I was looking to drop $50k on a dedicated track toy, I'd probably get an Atom.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

How much is the Boss in the US? On Evo it got a real spanking from all the german rivals (C63, M3, RS5) on both the track and the road, but I guess in the UK it's almost as expensive, when in the US it's much cheaper.

From the European point of view any american muscle car bar the Corvette is rubbish: too few MPG, too high taxes (right now in Italy we pay like 3000 euros a year for a car over 400 hp...), poor handling on broken surfaces, too big for the town roads... so a car like the 86 makes much more sense than over there!
They just introduced a new tax: for new cars, every kw over 175 is 20€ plus the existend "standard" tax....crazy, I know.

200-280 hp is becoming the limit, over that you are either rich or very poor in financial planning...

[Levi]

Yes, Italy taxes are just too high so as insurances also.

@Colganc: +1

I am really not interested in tracking convertible however light they might be. The talking about the GT86, the only car in the price range I can think of is the RX-8, but it is no more available. The other cars, 370 Z, TT-RS are just not the same. Only the Cayman is next to it, but you have top ay the price. 1 Series still goes on compromise. If money is not an issue, I do see crosshopping between GT86 and Cayman. One thing that is not possible with the Cayman however is drifting.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Both 1 M and Cayman (any model) are superior to the NA 86. Maybe when the turbo will come out we can talk about it.

The 86 is the alternative to hot hatches (Mini, Clio, Golf GTI, S3) and pure sport cars (Lotus).

[iff2mastamatt]

Originally Posted by Zaku

Subaru used a cayman for a Brz which then tickled down to the
86 which was running with a supra then it got to the Frs whoes according to reviews has diff suspension tuning. Give Subaru the credit for choosing to try and make a great car on par with cayman.

I remember some of the prototype photos were on the 405 near the Toyota head quarters. I know the suspension will be different in both cars, but I don't really know which company deserves more credit than the other. I feel like it's more of a preference.

[jonnyozero3]

Originally Posted by JDLM

just because it states STi doesn't mean it will have a turbo attached to it

Yup, that's why I put "STi" in quotes. I'd prefer NA, next supercharged, then some type of turbo to get higher power. Basically all I meant is if they make a high performance version, I'm seriously interested.

Originally Posted by colganc

@jonnyozerozero3
What gets you looking at the Boss vs the Cayman and BRZ?

One day on a road course track in my G37S . Sorry I didn't respond earlier, didn't have notifcations turned on yet. I also drove a '10 Corvette Grand Sport on a track for a whole afternoon, and had the opportunity to rip a Ferrari 458 Italia and a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggara LP-570-4 down back country roads for 20 minutes. After doing all that, I can't help but want a more driver-focused car.

Originally Posted by Deslock

Interesting. Though I'm not surprised to see the Cayman and FT86 being cross-shopped (even though one's a two seater and one's a four seater), the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca is a race-prepped track car. It's very fast and impressive (according to reviews, grip is ridiculous and handling is quite neutral), but I wouldn't want one for a daily driver. If I was looking to drop $50k on a dedicated track toy, I'd probably get an Atom.

Sounds like you guys are curious, so I'll throw down what my weird brain is thinking for my next car:

Required: 2 door coupe, RWD, manual tranny, 26+ highway mpg, sexy non-ricer look. Need a summer-only daily driver that I can track a few times a year.
Also Preferred: 4 seats, 28+ highway mpg, 0-60 in 5 seconds or less (don't want to be within a bumper of the soccer moms on the track), low polar moment of inertia w/good front-to-rear weight balance, non-muscle car look, low track day costs, relatively low repair/maintenance costs.

The Cayman S seems great, except its only got two seats and is fairly costly all around. The Boss 302 LS has garnered such great reviews I can't help but be interested...that said, I'm not a huge fan of how it looks. Not sure I would realistically buy it. I've thought about BMWs as well, but that just get's me a car very similar to my G37. I don't like the look of the 370Z much and feel it isn't different enough to warrant trading. Things like the Genesis, etc, are too underpowered for my tastes.

There are prob some other factors I'm not thinking of, but the list gets pretty short once I start adding the "preferred" options. I love my G37S, but she's a bit portly (3700lbs) in the turns and isn't as fuel efficient as I'd like. I would sacrifice a bit of that luxury for something that is better being thrown around corners on the track. I think a ~300hp-flavored BRZ looks like it would fit almost all of my criteria.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I *really* hope Subaru builds it. I'd bet they can do it within a mere mortal's price range, and it'd be killer. I can't but think this platform is too much like the Cayman's....I hope Subaru isn't like Porsche and gives it the power it needs and watch it be incredible.

But that's my selfish thought

[rio7]

there are a lot of news about Subaru coming out with a tubocharged brz. in that case, i would get it in a heart beat

Originally Posted by JDLM

just because it states STi doesn't mean it will have a turbo attached to it

[quik1987]

A Scion with an STI engine swap will still be cheaper than a Cayman.

[Khyron686]

Originally Posted by jonnyozero3

Well, even if they are in two classes of cars, they are attracting more than one cross-shopper. My current shopping list to check out next year:

Porsche Cayman S,
Subaru BRZ,
Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.


Intended competitors or not...if subaru makes an "STi" BRZ, it's very possible that's what I'll choose. We'll see. Just wanted to chime in to point out I'm on the list of folks cross-shopping such cars...I think there may be more of us out there.

I'll bite even though people are going to howl, but a used 997.1 911 is on my list, as is the Boss 302, and the GT86. If I can get 90% of the fun out of a GT86, and afford to take more risks with it, that's a huge plus. Also waiting for the new 12 GC with the new v6. Backseat for little kids is required or I'd snatch a Cayman yesterday.

It's not always a $$ range, it's how much extra do you get for spending the extra $$ and as you go up the chain it gets less and less.

[miata]

I test drove a Cayman S and I didn't like the drivability on city streets. On the track maybe it is a different story. I wouldn't know.

[Caliban]

Cayman S has drivability issue on city streets??

[jonnyozero3]

Originally Posted by miata

I test drove a Cayman S and I didn't like the drivability on city streets. On the track maybe it is a different story. I wouldn't know.

Interesting...that's not a common opinion (one I've read often, I mean). Care to elaborate?

[Caliban]

probably got buns of steel lol