Top Gear 370Z v. Cayman article

nicknick · 10-27-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonBoy

Cayman S with PDK does 0-60 in 4.1s and the 1/4 mile in 12.5s at 110 mph. It sticks at 0.99g on the skidpad and does 72.5 mph through the slalom. Those numbers blow away a 370Z by a wide margin.

Good luck with beating that. The Cayman S with 6MT is virtually identical to the 370Z in a straight line but the PDK tranny puts it WAY ahead.

I'm guessing you haven't driven a Cayman yet? It's so much better to drive than an M3 (any year, including the E30) that it's not funny. It doesn't have the grunt and punch of the current M3 with it's big V8 but it's still a way better car to drive (ie, it's much more of a driver's car).

The 997S is generally quicker and torquier but it's actually not as fun to drive, either. Yes, I'd pick a used 997S over a new Cayman S purely because I prefer the extra two seats, extra power, and better looks and because I won't ever take a 997S to a track because I can't afford to wreck it. However, from a pure driving point of view, you'll have to get a 997 GT3 to get a purer driving experience than the Cayman. The Cayman is really that good.

It may be good but it is too overpriced.

alan93rsa · 05-21-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

They are remarkable cars, but putting it all on the table, the $$ premium and inability to Mod the car kept me from going the Cayman route. The Z is quite good out of the box, and will be outstanding when I get done with it..

Oh you can mod the Cayman but the cost is exponential compared to the Z! Headers and sport cats = $2500 and up. Add another $3200 for a tune and cat back.

Have you seen the TPC turbo system? For $10K you get a kit at your doorstep. It is reported to put 415 on the rear wheels.

I'm really trying not to do something stupid.

Bad370z · 06-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Was this a fair and balanced test? or is it biased?

[I]"The traction control was blinking away in a straight line all afternoon on our test, the driver of the 370Z always sweating to keep up with the serenely composed Cayman.",[I] We all know that traction control when active, will reduce your speed. This is unclear but would suggest it was engaged during the test. Would the driver of the Z be faster with it off?

[B][I][/One other point,[I][B] is the auto faster or slower then the manual in the 370z?--they should test the manual Cayman with the manual 370z, and PDK with the Auto/paddle shifter 370z--the out comes might be different.

imag · 06-10-2009, 10:50 AM

One thing that none of the bench racing ever addresses - fit and feel.

I sat in, and drove, everything from a Miata to a Z06. The Z fit me the best. I expected I would like the Cayman S, but it just didn't work for me. For one thing, the cockpit didn't feel nearly as expensive as I would have expected - the dials and plastic wheels feel surprisingly Japanese - not a bad thing, but not really awe inspiring either.

The Z06 surprised me because, while it was technically impressive and clearly fast, it just didn't put a grin on my face, the way I thought it would. I drove a 308 once and I just had that grin plastered across my face the whole time, despite the low speed. Too bad about the maintainance ; ).

What surprised me is that I actually liked the old Viper GTS a lot. It's brawny, absurd, and just flat out awesome, even if it is kind of a cobbled-together heap. The massive center column, that unreal motor, the sound with Corsa exhausts... it's like something from another planet, and it's a good planet. However, I don't have a garage, and it just didn't seem to make sense to have a car like that on the street, not to mention trying to daily drive it.

My brother has an NSX, which is an amazing car. I've spend a ton of time in S2000s, and I have a soft spot for them too. But the NSX is another car that just doesn't fit me right - I'm too leggy. And the s2000 would have required a hard top almost all the time in Oakland, which just kind of sucks.

I guess I'm saying that the intangibles matter, as do simple things like the shifter position and steering wheel size/location. The Z is absolutely perfect for me right now - I'm happy with it every time I drive it. I also love the fact that relatively cheap mods will make it even better...

Nice article though...

FricFrac · 06-11-2009, 06:03 PM

"Faddish though these lines may prove, right now it looks fantastic"...

Too funny - and its the Porshe that everyone says the 370Z looks like so I guess that maked the Porshe faddish, etc....

I absolutely love my Z and although I'm a bit of a fan boy I do appreciate amazing engineering like the Cayman. I know if I had the money for a fourth car it would be a GT-R instead of a Cayman... but to each his own. I guess its hard for me to get over the snobby stigma of the Porshe brand....

nicknick · 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

"Faddish though these lines may prove, right now it looks fantastic"...

Too funny - and its the Porshe that everyone says the 370Z looks like so I guess that maked the Porshe faddish, etc....

I absolutely love my Z and although I'm a bit of a fan boy I do appreciate amazing engineering like the Cayman. I know if I had the money for a fourth car it would be a GT-R instead of a Cayman... but to each his own. I guess its hard for me to get over the snobby stigma of the Porshe brand....

what is so amzing about the bloody cayman? Here it costs $150,000 and for that price you can get a Nissan GTR. now that is amazing. how come Nissan make a car that is so much better than a ayman yet price it about the same. Is Porsche ripping people off? i think so.

travisjb · 06-11-2009, 11:14 PM

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

Endgame · 06-12-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

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....

ChrisSlicks · 06-12-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

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

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.

jubei · 03-18-2011, 09:05 PM

I still can't get what Jeremy Clarkson said about the Cayman or "cockster". Porsche did an amazing job making the "cockster" fit inbetween the Boxster and 911 in every category; engine size, horsepower, price, and performance. He was pissed that they took a car that could have been so much more, and made it "enough". BTW am I the only one who things the "cockster" is hideous from the back??

ProfessorDave · 03-19-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubei

I still can't get what Jeremy Clarkson said about the Cayman or "cockster". Porsche did an amazing job making the "cockster" fit inbetween the Boxster and 911 in every category; engine size, horsepower, price, and performance. He was pissed that they took a car that could have been so much more, and made it "enough". BTW am I the only one who things the "cockster" is hideous from the back??

I love Top Gear, and Clarkson can be very funny, but some of his opinions are hard to understand. But, it's those crazy statements that make the show worth watching sometimes.

Oh, and the Cayman rear would look great as the front end of some other car

But otherwise, yeah, it looks a little VW Beetle-ish.

travisjb · 06-12-2009, 11:01 AM

... 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 !

antennahead · 06-13-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

... 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 !

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

spearfish25 · 07-30-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

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 !

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

.

alan93rsa · 06-12-2009, 11:24 AM

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.

06-11-2009, 11:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 190	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 __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-12-2009, 11:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 190	... 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 ! __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-12-2009, 11:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
alan93rsa Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 412 Drives: 16 Cayman GT4 Red Rep Power: 222	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. __________________ 16 Cayman GT4, Carmine Red, Buckets, PCCB etc.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Motivemag: Cayman S vs. 370Z	Endgame	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	47	01-20-2013 05:42 PM
Evo Magazine 370z vs Cayman S comparison 05.05.09	JB1	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	8	06-24-2009 10:20 PM
370z vs Cayman S Review (Does it Hit the Benchmark?)	StevieG	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	4	03-31-2009 02:49 PM
Road & Track: 370Z vs Cayman S	hey32g	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	33	03-18-2009 10:57 AM
Motive Magazine Article: 370Z vs. Cayman S	GhosnFanboy	Nissan 370Z Photos / Spyshots / Video / Media Gallery	3	12-18-2008 03:08 PM

06-01-2009, 12:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bad370z Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nevada Posts: 3 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z PGtou Rep Power: 18	Was this a fair and balanced test? or is it biased? [I]"The traction control was blinking away in a straight line all afternoon on our test, the driver of the 370Z always sweating to keep up with the serenely composed Cayman.",[I] We all know that traction control when active, will reduce your speed. This is unclear but would suggest it was engaged during the test. Would the driver of the Z be faster with it off? [B][I][/One other point,[I][B] is the auto faster or slower then the manual in the 370z?--they should test the manual Cayman with the manual 370z, and PDK with the Auto/paddle shifter 370z--the out comes might be different.

06-10-2009, 10:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 18	One thing that none of the bench racing ever addresses - fit and feel. I sat in, and drove, everything from a Miata to a Z06. The Z fit me the best. I expected I would like the Cayman S, but it just didn't work for me. For one thing, the cockpit didn't feel nearly as expensive as I would have expected - the dials and plastic wheels feel surprisingly Japanese - not a bad thing, but not really awe inspiring either. The Z06 surprised me because, while it was technically impressive and clearly fast, it just didn't put a grin on my face, the way I thought it would. I drove a 308 once and I just had that grin plastered across my face the whole time, despite the low speed. Too bad about the maintainance ; ). What surprised me is that I actually liked the old Viper GTS a lot. It's brawny, absurd, and just flat out awesome, even if it is kind of a cobbled-together heap. The massive center column, that unreal motor, the sound with Corsa exhausts... it's like something from another planet, and it's a good planet. However, I don't have a garage, and it just didn't seem to make sense to have a car like that on the street, not to mention trying to daily drive it. My brother has an NSX, which is an amazing car. I've spend a ton of time in S2000s, and I have a soft spot for them too. But the NSX is another car that just doesn't fit me right - I'm too leggy. And the s2000 would have required a hard top almost all the time in Oakland, which just kind of sucks. I guess I'm saying that the intangibles matter, as do simple things like the shifter position and steering wheel size/location. The Z is absolutely perfect for me right now - I'm happy with it every time I drive it. I also love the fact that relatively cheap mods will make it even better... Nice article though...

06-11-2009, 06:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 230	"Faddish though these lines may prove, right now it looks fantastic"... Too funny - and its the Porshe that everyone says the 370Z looks like so I guess that maked the Porshe faddish, etc.... I absolutely love my Z and although I'm a bit of a fan boy I do appreciate amazing engineering like the Cayman. I know if I had the money for a fourth car it would be a GT-R instead of a Cayman... but to each his own. I guess its hard for me to get over the snobby stigma of the Porshe brand....

03-18-2011, 09:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
jubei Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: north carolina Posts: 19 Drives: 10 370z Nismo MB Rep Power: 16	I still can't get what Jeremy Clarkson said about the Cayman or "cockster". Porsche did an amazing job making the "cockster" fit inbetween the Boxster and 911 in every category; engine size, horsepower, price, and performance. He was pissed that they took a car that could have been so much more, and made it "enough". BTW am I the only one who things the "cockster" is hideous from the back??