Top Gear 370Z v. Cayman article

wstar · 05-19-2009, 04:36 PM

Forrest, personally I like mid/rear-engine designs (mid moreso than rear). When properly built, they tend to have a real handling advantage because it's easier to get a neutral weight balance, and you've got the heaviest part of the car (the engine) sitting much closer to the driving wheels, which lends them more grip.

The Cayman is a great car. If I could afford to buy (and insure, and trick out, etc...) a Cayman I probably would have taken it. The base sticker difference alone doesn't really tell the whole story though, and I'm not the kind of guy that can quite afford to be a Cayman enthusiast without making me financially uncomfortable over it. I think the magazine article was reasonably fair really. Where I differ with them is in the final analysis of the ratio of dollars to performance/fun. I think the Z really wins there, there's no way the Cayman really makes up for the extra total costs to anyone for whom that kind of money means anything.

2bits · 05-19-2009, 05:10 PM

"Both cars are fast in a straight line. Equally so in real terms. But introduce a few corners and the Cayman quickly, and literally, leaves the Z behind."

Granted the Cayman had a PDK, I still find this hard to believe. The Z even beats a Cayman S around a track in early testing. Are we to believe a base Cayman with PDK is quicker than a stick Cayman S? Skeptical.

jginnane · 05-20-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bits

"Both cars are fast in a straight line. Equally so in real terms. But introduce a few corners and the Cayman quickly, and literally, leaves the Z behind."

The photos in this thread indicate a base 370Z with an aero kit.

I think having the Sport package's 1" wider rubber and LSD would have made the driving results significantly different.

(Even though I didn't choose Sport, myself.)

semtex · 05-20-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jginnane

The photos in this thread indicate a base 370Z with an aero kit.

I think having the Sport package's 1" wider rubber and LSD would have made the driving results significantly different.

(Even though I didn't choose Sport, myself.)

I believe you're mistaken. I don't think you can get a Base with Nav. And it has the Sport Pkg -- you can tell by the fact that their test model has SRM. Also, those look like the 19" wheels to me.

jginnane · 05-20-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I believe you're mistaken. I don't think you can get a Base with Nav. And it has the Sport Pkg -- you can tell by the fact that their test model has SRM. Also, those look like the 19" wheels to me.

Whoops -- my bad. Earlier I was looking at this Porsche vs Z review --

iMotor : Page 12

-- and thought it was the same as "Top Gear". After all, all red Caymans look alike, right?

05-19-2009, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3596	Forrest, personally I like mid/rear-engine designs (mid moreso than rear). When properly built, they tend to have a real handling advantage because it's easier to get a neutral weight balance, and you've got the heaviest part of the car (the engine) sitting much closer to the driving wheels, which lends them more grip. The Cayman is a great car. If I could afford to buy (and insure, and trick out, etc...) a Cayman I probably would have taken it. The base sticker difference alone doesn't really tell the whole story though, and I'm not the kind of guy that can quite afford to be a Cayman enthusiast without making me financially uncomfortable over it. I think the magazine article was reasonably fair really. Where I differ with them is in the final analysis of the ratio of dollars to performance/fun. I think the Z really wins there, there's no way the Cayman really makes up for the extra total costs to anyone for whom that kind of money means anything. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

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05-19-2009, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
2bits Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 118 Drives: 09 370Z Blk Sp 7AT Rep Power: 18	"Both cars are fast in a straight line. Equally so in real terms. But introduce a few corners and the Cayman quickly, and literally, leaves the Z behind." Granted the Cayman had a PDK, I still find this hard to believe. The Z even beats a Cayman S around a track in early testing. Are we to believe a base Cayman with PDK is quicker than a stick Cayman S? Skeptical.