Pick one -- 370Z vs Porsche Cayman
 

I'm 85% sure a 370Z is my next car, but I also like the Porsche Cayman, and it seems like they're about the same price(used) give or take a few bucks.
I'm assuming a lot of people here had that same decission.
I'm curious why you picked the Z. If anyone did cost analysis between the cars, etc?

The first obvious reason to me is reliabality and cost of ownership, although I haven't run any numbers yet.

My assumption is the Porsche will cost more to own (As you already stated). Would it be a DD or a weekend car?

Also in terms of used cars, the Cayman you'd have to go a few years older than the Z to get it for the same price.

I like the mod-ability of the Z, which is why I am siding for the 370.

It would be a DD.
And good point, same price would be around a 2006-2007 Cayman vs a 2011-2012 370Z.
So yeah, probably 5 years older....

Maybe winnre will post in here shortly, I think he's had both and IIRC he said the Cayman was cheaper to maintain although I don't remember the context.

I had the same dilemma when I was in the market for a new car. Cost of ownership and the lack of a warranty was why I chose the Z. You wont go wrong with either choice in the end, they are both great cars.

May also want to get insurance quotes on both cars.

I think it depends on if youre gonna leave it stock or have plans to modify it. This Porsche
will undoubtedly be more expensive to modify and probably even harder to find a shop that will do custom work. The Z on the other hand is rather easy to modify and the aftermarket sector is steadily growing. Also the Cayman's 0-60 time on the base model is about 5.8 seconds and only about 5 flat on the S model. The Z on the other hand has a 0-60 of about 4.7 seconds. So the Z is faster. If I had to do it all over again I would still by the Z!!!!!

Both great cars

Price wise you'd be looking at an 06-07 Cayman as someone mentioned above. That year Cayman is not as attractive as the newer Cayman, which I think is a beautiful ride.

Looks, modification ability and maintenance, I'd have to pick the 370Z

A big reason I also picked the 370Z (especially the 40th) is that they are not that many in this area....you are more likely to run into Caymans and 911's here than a 370Z and I like that.

If that year range I would say get the Cayman S but if not then the Z. I would pass on regular Cayman of those years just based on straightline speed.

Or just keep hustling and get the 13 Cayman, the updates have made that car so much nicer.

370z is faster than Cayman. Plus the Z doesn't require dealership service/maintenance at all. I owned my daily driven Z for well over 3 years and I never had to take it to the dealership or shop for a problem. Z is such a reliable and low cost maintenance car. Porsche tends to deteriorate and break down after 50k.

Cayman is smaller on the inside, I am 6'4" and do not fit in it. I fit in the Z however.

Not really. Porsche are actually very reliable. In fact I think they are rated higher than Lexus. Other than parts being expensive, then maintenance on it isn't that bad.

One thing for sure though, it would have to be a cayman s.

I went with the Z. Do to I looked myself in the mirror and asked myelf am I a 370z or a Gayman. I told myself yup Im straight.

they are 2 VERY different cars.

post wisely. :icon08:

How so?
It seems like almost idential performance, same price(with 4-5 year difference), both 2 seaters.

Piggy Backing off this, Porsche is not like BMW. Their cars are built to last and can take a beating, more so than the Z even.

There won't be as many cheap mods for the Cayman, but the Cayman will require less performance mods (at least in terms of handling).

I put a fair amount of money into my 370z' suspension and while it was killer it still didn't give me the same feeling of control and preciseness that the Cayman did when I drove it. That sort of feeling is impossible to get in the Z even after heavily modding it.

I think the Z looks more aggressive than the old Cayman and is a bit quicker, but I would probably go by a one owner, used Cayman S with not too many miles for $30k if I were you.

When I sold my Z I almost bought a Cayman S but decided I'd rather have a power boost and bought a Z06. Couldn't be happier but still, the Cayman is a fantastic handling car. It's so fun to drive!. Definitely test drive both. I'll always miss my Z for many reasons but I think you'll have more fun in a little Cayman S.

$30k will get you a nice example if you shop smart.

you're right. they have 4 tires too. they must be the exact same car!

:icon17:

I pick 370Z so I can stay in this forum :tup:

Cayman - a Boxter with a roof. Not just no, but oh (ultimate hot place) no.

Insurance and maintenance cost made the z a no brainer for my purse. coach purse that it, had I chose the Porsche i would be carrying a plastic bag as my purse.

I would pick the new Boxster over a new Nismo or vert. The redesign is sex on wheels.

Yea I always like the base look over the nismos, but the '14 nismos are changing my mind. Edit: Woops thought you were talkin about nismos.

I'd rather drive the Cayman (S!), but prefer to own the Z.

The Cayman (yeah, the redesign is MUCH better) just seems telepathic, and almost perfectly balanced in any turn. I had test drove a one-year-old Cayman S while shopping for the Z.

The price tag ($60K+!) and rental-car smell inside from the previous owner made my decision; I drove off my Z with 11miles on it (+new car interior smell :tup:) off the lot for almost half the $$$.

If I can get the kids out of private school; I'd pony up more cash. But for now, Z seems the best bang for the buck.

Man... I couldn't even find a 3-4 year old Cayman S for anywhere near the same $$ as my Z. I shopped pretty hard but nice low mile ones were in the low to mid 40K and I didn't want to spend that much on what would be a third car for me. I "settled" on the Z and I'm glad I did. Less initial investment, cheaper maintenance and insurance, and lots of fun doing mods. I'm happy. Maybe some day on the Porsche. I drove a couple base Caymans and was not all that impressed. I've never driven a Cayman S but I think I'd like that one a lot better.

when you drive a Caveman:

people: oh look... a cheapman porsche :icon18:

dealer: cool.. gold mine is coming back... :happydance:

chic: you got my pu$$y cos you drive a porsche

porsche owner: cheap poor guy who can't afford a 911




when you drive a Z:

people: wow.. nice car.. is it a porsche..? :tup:

dealer: make him happy thus he will come back.

chic: you got my pu$$y cos you are good.

Z buddies: sup buddy? let's meet :tup:

I would have said the Z, but after owning a Cayenne for a year, there is just something different about a porsche. Never thought I would own one, and definitely didn't think I would own a Porsche SUV, but it is hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned as an all around car, and I've owned over 35 vehicles. If the SUV is this good, I can only imagine how nice living with their sports cars would be.

Of course, if I did have a cayman, I probably wouldn't have gutted and turned it into a racecar like I did my Z. And, since I have a racecar, I can't really justify getting another sports car, becuase I would just want to track it, and what would be the point?

Didnt Zgirl get a used Cayman S? Shed be the one to ask. But she has both the 370 and Porsche.

I've owned both and both are really nice cars. If money isn't a big concern I believe the Cayman S is the better car on almost every count. But, it isn't better by a lot and the money difference can be significant. It isn't just the cost of entry (ie an older used Cayman S entry cost is about the same as a newer Z), but rather running costs IF something goes wrong. A Cayman crate motor is about $15k, a replacement PDK tranny is about $18k. Heck the specific transaxle fluid for a Cayman is about $60/qt. I had a motor dynamite on me and that isn't a fun check to write I can tell you.

I've been lucky enough to own multiple Porsches and I don't believe there is anything like them out there. The real test isn't the initial drive in my opinion, but after you've driven one regularly for a week or two and then you get back into something else.....wow you miss the Porsche. This includes the Cayenne.....an ugly SOB in my opinion, but mine was probably the best all around daily driver I've owned.

I think of the Z as 85-90% of the car as the Cayman S for 50% of the cost or less over time. For most, the Z just makes more sense and it is a heck of a nice car in its own right.

Very well stated. Pretty much sums it up. Is that a 993 you got there?

Test drive both and get the one you like more :tup:

:iagree: you'll never really know which one you like more until you actually test drive them. You can do all the research in the world online but experiencing cars in person is a whole different experience.

Like we say in the car business..."the feel of the wheel makes the deal". Drive the cars..

Well said mts. I believe you hit the nail on the head. Initial costs and long term costs on the Cayman S would certainly be higher even though most would concur that the Porsche is overall a better performing car. Maintenance costs and dealer location were also a concern for me. I live in a little rural town and the closest Porsche dealer is about 80 miles from my house. It would be an all day deal just having the oil changed. I have 3 Nissan dealerships with 50 miles of my house and the closest is 12 miles away. That's a lot easier (and cheaper) to deal with. And I can change the oil on the Z myself.

The guy who sold my 370Z to me sold it so he could get the next gen. Porsche CS since "it has a performance gain and is more suited to" his image as a mid 40s guy.

lol

I choose nismo 370z

You almost never see them around and it will give a lot of Porsche drivers a run for their money in the twisties. That and I'm 20, the only Porsche I can afford is the boxer and those are slow POS

Notice that I'm not replying in a Porsche forum !!!!

You're in a Z forum. Results are objectively biased. Buy the Z. Ask the same question on Cayman forum, I know what the results will be. Ask them how much to do an oil change, do an exhaust mod, an ECU upgrade, to lower the car, etc and compare to the Z.

This is the answer for me! I could buy a Cayman but couldn't afford to have fun with it.