Well put! I also agree!

And Tyson was a MONSTER in his prime time!

Boxster as a Cayman convertible???? Hmmmm......a lot would probably disagree with you. This statement is like (to me anyway) saying...... a 240Z is a 370Z. IMHO.


BTW, I saw a funny thread once posted by someone in one of the Porsche forums who said, "I do not like the Porsche Gayman or the Porsche Cockster........" What an uproar the thread started!!!! :)

not to sound defensive, but I had a boxster too... set up for the track... did about 30 track weekends in the car and I was never passed by a cayman, and passed plenty... so if you're trying to suggest that somehow a boxster is a lesser car, well... the two share most of their parts, have the same wheelsbase and track length, etc... your entitled to your impression, of course

as for the 'snobby stigma'... i just don't get that - at all... the porsche club i run with is about as middle class and down to earth as it gets... engineers, police officers, normal people... i think the stigma is purely something that comes from people being po'd that they don't have the means or discipline to set aside the money, not b/c of the people that drive porsches

all that being said, I chose this car over 911 cup cars and caymans... pretty much for the same reason as modshack, nissans are cheaper to mod with a better aftermarket, and I think cheaper to operate as a track car over the long-term... also looks better than the cayman IMO... giving the nod to the mid-engined cayman only on handling and OIL COOLING

good post....

Well, it'd be more accurate to say the Cayman is a Boxster hardtop. I don't know why this would be controversial or disagreeable. When Porsche introduced the Cayman they were very clear that it was essentially a hardtop Boxster. There was a market segment gap that they were trying to fill. The Boxster was/is their less expensive model targeted to those who want a Porsche, but can't quite afford a 911 (yet). But not everyone in that segment wants a convertible either. Enter the Cayman, for those who want a Porsche, can't afford a 911, but want a hardtop.

From what I've seen most of the snobbery comes from other Porsche owners against the Boxster. They look down on it as a illegitimate step child, even though it is a superior car to their 911 in many ways.

I would take a Cayman, it's a great car. But like Travis already said, beyond the initial purchase cost it is expensive to maintain and modify for track.

... there is definitely some of that, but I think it is more the general population of 911 owners than it is the guys/gals that take their porsche to the track.... 911 owners that go to the track routinely get their asses kicked by boxsters, caymans, and especially 914s... it was always a special thrill to get by a 911 in my boxster... same will be true when we get by GTRs in our 370s ! ;)

The new '09' Cayman S with PDK, PASM and the Sport Chrono package is an interesting car. I drove one last week at a local dealer while I had them check an item on my '08' S. It's the first car I have driven in a long time that I'd take to the track and not mod for a time.

But no matter how you slice it the 370 is still the most bang for the buck in today's market.

Have any of you ever walked into your garage and not smiled when you looked at your Z? That was never an issue for me.

BTW, in a perfect world I'd want the feel of the Cayman S transmission with the rev match of the Z. I think that would be better than PDK.

Body lean =0
 

Just a word to the wise, the NISMO shocks, springs and sway bar, on my Z, have pretty much removed the body lean. No dips, no lean. Worth the money. Still 20K less than Cayman.

The new Boxster S with PDK is putting up some amazing numbers considering its specs

From R&T
0-60: 4.1 seconds
0-100: 10.3 seconds
1/4 mile: 12.6 seconds @ 110.2

C&D also pulled a 4.3 to 60 not sure on the 1/4 or traps

PDK is awesome for performance. Not to start a trannie debate (no, please, no!:)), but if it is lap times and 1/4 mile times you're looking for, any porsche buyer has to be compelled by PDK.

I drove a new PDK and PASM equipped 997S a few months back and I was seriously impressed. As Alan said about the Cayman PDK, same with the 997 PDK... It would be so easy to track that car stock, you could almost lease one, slap on some sticky tires and return it 3 years later with Porsche none the wiser... not that I'm recommending that or anything! ;)

Was the power difference noticeable?

The salesman was with me and the car only had 30 miles on it so I wasn't going to push it too hard. However, it feels like it has more pull in the mid-range.

For more noticeable power you could twin turbo the Z. If you blew it up you could put a new engine in it and still be below the price of an S with PDK;)<!-- / message -->

One of my first track prepped cars was a 1975 914 I purchased in 1979. It was a handling monster. To this day I don't think I have owned a better handling, or more smiles per miles car that that 914.

John

Let me put it this way.

I had a 350Z with coil overs, sways, headers, exhaust, intake, tune, and just about everything under the sun I can throw at it, including massive 19" super-light forged rims (19 lbs), fat R-comp rubber (245/275), and an oversized brake kit...

And my MZ4 Coupe was faster than the 350Z fresh out of the box. Bone stock. And not just a little bit faster. SIGNIFICANTLY faster. And the Cayman S I drove were every bit the equal to my MZ4 Coupe.

Yes, you pay a lot more for Porsche. But there's a good reason. And trust me, I'm no Porsche fanboi. I hate Porsche with a passion. I'd sooner commit ritual suicide by slicing open my stomach, than BUY a Porsche.

As much as I love the 370;

I just purchased a Certified preowned Cayman S this weekend... 2006, 15,500 miles, PASM, Sport Chrono Plus, Package, NAV and warranty that will run three months and 48,500 miles longer. Clean history, dealer maintained, single owner.

I paid only a couple $K more than a 370 touring +Sport & Nav... I just couldn't pass it up for that price... it just fit me like a glove!

This article was the biggest crock o sh!t I ever read. Look, we know there's a refinement
In porsche that's unmistakable. But the avg lateral g for porsche is .95g where the
Nissan 370 w sport package is .98g. So yeah the porsche might feel better in the twisties but the
Z is holding harder.
And funny how all of a sudden body roll is a good thing. The corvette zr1 gets highest
Praise for its 1.01g and lack of body roll. It always seems that when a car is from a certain race or country they always find a way to give kudos. The corporate anglo U.S. and the Aryan masters
Always make the perfect car. Oh yeah not to mention the brits who's cars spend the most time in the shop. But when the asian car market breaks through. Its always praised in stand alone tests. Then
When its time for the comparo. Its always some kind of condescending compliments yet highly critical
In a negative way.
The asian sports car is always great till it stacks against the american ponies or
German snob mobiles. N no I'm not Asian. Its just my extensive reading of various car mags.
Its insulting to me as a human.
The only reason camry civic and accord aren't beat so hard is because we build those cars here and hold a big stake in the profits. N though performance of those cars have become generic and hum drum.
These cars still receive high praise. Why cuz america makes money off those models. These cars honestly haven't been anything special since 2002.
I can buy a chevy malibu n save money by comparison. The nissan and mazda marks have been giving uncompomised performance and handling in its price range without question.
Hyundai is following suit. But having owned 4 american cars. N 3 japanese cars.
There's no substitute in the price range.
All this is corporate bribes with a subculture of racial superiority.
I have no gripes with any race. But its just an obervation I been noticing for years
When it comes to japanese and asian cars.
Lin the end porsche is a porsche. There will be thingz about it a less expensive car
Won't match. But my observation driving the Z tells me that this car can hang a lot harder
Than they r leading u 2 believe. Don't believe the hype. Test drive both.
That will be my next test drive.

I agree. Who here does not think they can make a car equal or superior in acceleration, handling, etc, out of the 370Z compared to the Porsche for $20-$30K?? Maybe even half that.

Yeh, it seems I remember in some other comparisons the numbers were close.

"to bring the Cayman along to the new Z's European launch. Bringing a gun to a knife fight as it were." This quote right here shows how much they are exaggerating.

But I think the 370Z is coming closer, that is why you are beginning to see comparisons. The 350Z, in the past, would not have been considered to be quite of a match.

Drove a Boxter S for 4 years. While my 370Z is still too new to push real hard or on a track I estimate I have 80% of the S for less than 1/2 the price. I think that is great value

Both nice car's but if I could afford the caymen, i may get that instead or GTR.

^^ I agree..for the price of a Cayman S..I would much rather buy an e92 M3 or a Grand Sport/Z06 Corvette

bang for the buck you cant beat a vette, which is always compared to cars 2 or 3 times as much $$.. the new Z is no different, drawing comparison to cars more expensive because it poops on anything close to its base price :-)

definitely...maintenance is low unlike a Porsche, they are economical, good looking, powerful...you really cant go wrong with a Vette except for the fact that most owners are larger white middle aged men...sort of cliched...The new grand sport really appeals to me a lot more (Z06 Brakes, Suspension, Wide Body look without Z06 price)..but for the price range the Z is perfect for me...

Whoa there! Base 911s are similarly powered yet bigger and heavier than a Boxster S or Cayman. So, 911s can get trumped. Unless you have your 370Z modded and putting out over 400whp, I don't think we have a prayer of besting a GTR. But the GTR looks sweet from behind, so I don't mind following it :).

Um, well, I got around a GTR at Phoenix Intl Raceway about 3 months ago after following closely behind it for a few laps... so, YES WE CAN! :) It was DE4 and the GTR driver had plenty of experience at PIR, so hard to pin it on rookie driving

Posted here: http://www.the370z.com/track-autocro...-all-good.html
"... and here's the best part ! I think I got a lot of attention in the fourth and final session when I hung with a GTR for two laps and then PASSED IT ! Corner workers were clearly pleased... I managed to get about 10 car lengths ahead before the session ended..."

My point is that the stock 370z (with an oil cooler!) is really not far off the GTR as a track car. And a prepared 370z IMO is a better track car.

Any video of you passing the GTR? I'm curious what the track is like.

Put the 370Z against a GTR in 'The Ring' and the GTR will smoke it by a long shot. Now a tight, twisty track with short straights may give the 370Z the advantage...

I have to apologize, don't want to come across as bragging... that's probably what it sounded like...

Yes, I agree, the GTR will eat up a near-stock or stock Z on any course with long stretches - assuming equal drivers... PIR road course is a 1.6 mile course based on a short nascar oval... it uses one long nascar straight and two corners, then interior track with many turns. It favors aggressive braking and be daring around concrete and tire walls... Ie GTR was probably driving more conservatively... it was before I installed video... my next PIR event isn't until 9/12-13, and I will have video then and will try to line up with any GTRs that are there... you can see video of my last event from miller motorsports here (http://www.the370z.com/track-autocro...tml#post112816) unfortunately no GTR only a lotus exige on race tires to watch... lotus got around me after 4 laps on my tail, after my engine cut out due to disconnected o2 sensor

I see alot of poeple already modifying their cars. Where are these parts available? I live in NH and am having alot of trouble finding parts.
Help!

call sharif at forged or mike at ddm and they will give you a list of like 20 parts you MUST BUY! lol... :)

Holy crap dude, just look at the homepage and scroll down a little, and there's a big long list of sponsors and vendors.

no they are not "very different" machines. Both a 2 door, 2 seat sports cars, rear drive, 6 cylinder engines, sexy, fast, handle well, brake well etc. It is just that one costs more, cause your paying for a badge and cred snobbery to boast to your mates at golf clubs!!

Cayman isn't rear engined. It's mid engine. Perfect balance.

[QUOTE=gnarf;130766].you really cant go wrong with a Vette except for the fact that most owners are larger white middle aged men...sort of cliched...

Sort of a generalization. People of all races and ages drive vettes. People of all races and ages drive Zs, not just smaller 20 something asian guys.

[QUOTE=maggot head;251089]the Z community is definitely a lot more diverse than the vette community..in my area i see vettes/z06's all the time..at least 1-2 everyday in my commute..i have only seen white middle aged men drive corvettes except for two times..once where i saw a 20 something year old white male in a black c6 z06 and another fellow of similar characteristics in a white twin turbo c5 z06

Personally, I wouldn't even consider "Who else drives my car" when making a car buying decision. I decide on the merits of the car, not how popular or unpopular, how trendy it is, etc. That said, the C06 and the 370Z are the two best bang-for-the-buck cars out there and probably the only two I would consider after looking into what's available. If the Lotus Elise was a tad bit cheaper, it would make my list as well.

[QUOTE=gnarf;251360]Same here in Houston. I have a 25-mile commute and see 2-3 different C6 Vettes every day. They are just too common. I see, on average, 1 370 per week. That will increase, I'm sure, but strangely enough, based on 350Z sightings (about 3-4 per week on my commute), I think the Z is much less an "everyman's car" than the Vette. Strange, considering how difficult a Vette is to live with as a DD and the cost of entry. You'd think it would be the other way around.

[QUOTE=dalparadise;251739]im in central NJ, i've only seen ONE other 370 over the last 6 months.. of course it just HAD to be the same damn color and package, making us both feel not special LOL

[QUOTE=kekermahoney;253893]At my university, in the only parking garage is the same color/package as me. I park near him every now and again, but we get on campus at different times so it rarely happens. We did end up with us two next to us and a random black 370z one day, never saw the black 370z again though. :(