New Cayman S vs. Pre-owned NSX

[Hugh]

Here's all you need to do. Go back to the Porsche showroom and take a hard look at the Cayman again and try to tell yourself that it doesn't look like the result of what would happen if a Boxster and a Chrysler Crossfire had sex. :smile:

Enjoy your NSX.

 

[NSX-GUY]

New rule:

No consecutive posts by guys with blue cars. :biggrin:

Check ! :wink:

 

[WingZ]

Well someone has to buy them new for everyone else to get it used RIGHT!. So be nice to those of us who seem dumb enough to buy a new one

When I buy an F-Car used (I can't afford new), I will be very greatful that someone before me had the money to pay over list so that I can get it for a price that I can afford. Thank you to the folks that have money, so that the less wealthy (Me) have a chance to have big fun when you are done putting a few pampered miles on my F-Car :biggrin: .....Steve

Yeah it would be more honest if guys just said they couldn't afford a new NSX rather than act like people who can and do are stupid , because they could've bought a used one for less. Notice how much a value/money a one year old Cayman S ( which is a new model ..well basically ) loses in it's first year vs a one year old NSX. Heck a used 06 Cayman S is selling for less than an used 04 NSX a car that is essentially three model years old.

Most people don't sell a car after one year of ownership so a car losing almost $15k ( Cayman S ) in the first year probably doesn't mean much to them. Of course this same car ( Cayman S ) loses another $6k in it's second year. These are based off paying sticker and because it's a new model it takes a while for dealers to give a steep discount ( I mean invoice or lower not $4k off MSRP ) This value decrease doesn't include the fact that you have to pay all maintenance costs for this car while you enjoy it.

Oh and Steve think about it this way most of these used NSX owners are talking about paying $40k+ for a "used" car. You can say that "it's basically the same and all that other jazz ,but your still driving around in a almost if not ten year old car if your talking 97+:biggrin:

 

[AU_NSX]

Here's all you need to do. Go back to the Porsche showroom and take a hard look at the Cayman again and try to tell yourself that it doesn't look like the result of what would happen if a Boxster and a Chrysler Crossfire had sex. :smile:

Enjoy your NSX.

Hugh,

I can see from the NSXPO photos that there is nothing wrong with your colour co-ordination...

However, if you think any part on the Cayman looks anything like that on a Chrysler Crossfire...
Then I recommend that you check you glasses prescription!

You need new ones mate! :biggrin:

Okay yes... The Cayman looks like bit like the Boxster... But I think it is the best Porsche they have ever made! (excluding the CGT :wink: )

 

[WingZ]

Dang! so that's what it takes to get Hugh out of his Black Sabbath T shirts. Oh and Hugh I hope your straight ,because you make an ugly woman..LoL

 

[TURBO2GO]

OMG Hugh is right... the back end is a crossfire's!

 

[BioBanker]

Sorry - all I see is purple in that sand dune shot.

 

[needspeed]

Yeah it would be more honest if guys just said they couldn't afford a new NSX rather than act like people who can and do are stupid , because they could've bought a used one for less. Notice how much a value/money a one year old Cayman S ( which is a new model ..well basically ) loses in it's first year vs a one year old NSX. Heck a used 06 Cayman S is selling for less than an used 04 NSX a car that is essentially three model years old.

Most people don't sell a car after one year of ownership so a car losing almost $15k ( Cayman S ) in the first year probably doesn't mean much to them. Of course this same car ( Cayman S ) loses another $6k in it's second year. These are based off paying sticker and because it's a new model it takes a while for dealers to give a steep discount ( I mean invoice or lower not $4k off MSRP ) This value decrease doesn't include the fact that you have to pay all maintenance costs for this car while you enjoy it.

Oh and Steve think about it this way most of these used NSX owners are talking about paying $40k+ for a "used" car. You can say that "it's basically the same and all that other jazz ,but your still driving around in a almost if not ten year old car if your talking 97+:biggrin:

You hit the nail on the head and I don't consider myself stupid for buying new since that is what I prefer and am truly blessed that I can. Saving money is great, but remember we are talking about a pure toy here that has no place in a practical persons home or life.

With the NSX I can buy new and take the hit and I am OK with it. When it comes to getting an F-Car, then I will be one of the unwashed masses that has an F-Car but has stretched to really own and drive one. I will be very grateful when this day comes. Just as anyone who is driving any year NSX should be. Now I truly have stolen this thread to serve my own evil purpose :tongue: ......Sorry all, but the devil made me do it ......Steve :biggrin:

 

[WingZ]

OMG Hugh is right... the back end is a crossfire's!

Maybe so ,but notice how the Porsche gets the hot chick. You ever see what kinda woman you get in a Chrysler???

 

[AU_NSX]

OMG Hugh is right... the back end is a crossfire's!

Oh please... Now your just been silly!

 

[Ski_Banker]

Maybe so ,but notice how the Porsche gets the hot chick.

It's her Cayman and she's looking for her keys. :biggrin:

 

[WingZ]

It's her Cayman and she's looking for her keys. :biggrin:

Ah ha! notice I said "Porsche" ( as in car company ) gets the hot chick I didn't specify owner:wink:

Would it be shallow of me to suggest she get on all fours and look under the car for her keys?

 

[needspeed]

Ah ha! notice I said "Porsche" ( as in car company ) gets the hot chick I didn't specify owner:wink:

Would it be shallow of me to suggest she get on all fours and look under the car for her keys?

I am working on visualizing that right now and I like what I see :biggrin:

 

[TURBO2GO]

Oh please... Now your just been silly!

Au, you gotta admit there is some resemblence. Usually Hugh just talks out his ass but when he said its mommy may have been a crossfire I can see it! :biggrin:

Its like the good looking child of an ugly mother. It happens....

 

[WingZ]

Au, you gotta admit there is some resemblence. Usually Hugh just talks out his ass but when he said its mommy may have been a crossfire I can see it! :biggrin:

Its like the good looking child of an ugly mother. It happens....

Yeah ,but then you just get ugly baby's from the gene skip..LoL

 

[TURBO2GO]

Sorry - all I see is purple in that sand dune shot.

Guy sees it and thinks "yeah... if I get that car, I will get that kinda chick".... woman sees it and thinks "yeah, I can see myself as the owner just like that woman".

Appeals to both sexes. This is good marketing.

 

[GlowNSX]

My 2 cents is to go with the NSX.

Save some money and supercharge it. 400hp+ in a 3.0 Honda...what could be better?

The Caymans will be everywhere in a couple of years. If I owned a 911 I would be upset with Porsche for coming out with that design.

It just depends what you want but 911 owners will always look down on you (even the people that own older ones) for having an economy Porsche. My friends that have 911's look down to Boxster owners at all the shows.

NSX is Hondas flagship. It was great in 1991 and it still in the running 15 years later.

If you want a daily driver and you dont want to stand out in the crowd I think the Cayman is the right choice.

Just my 2 cents

 

[WingZ]

Guy sees it and thinks "yeah... if I get that car, I will get that kinda chick".... woman sees it and thinks "yeah, I can see myself as the owner just like that woman".

Appeals to both sexes. This is good marketing.

Dude...that is soooo deep! your on another level man

 

[my1stnsx]

Dude...that is soooo deep! your on another level man

I know huh..LOL

 

[pierceman]

I swapped cars with a friend of mine. My 2002 sc'd nsx and his Caym -s. It was nice as it was new but IMO it does not have 1/2 the appeal the nsx does. It was ho hum on power IMO, but very nimble. interior was great and modern. But just not the car a nsx is. Where I live it is mostly women in the porsche.
MAtt

 

[TURBO2GO]

I know huh..LOL

Are you guys making fun of my ultra keen observations? :biggrin: hey its not often you see ads that appeal to both sexes.

 

[gene]

Which one puts the biggest grin on your face? BUY IT!

 

[NRG]

Here's a true story that happened about several weeks ago...

One of my buddy drove his NSX and the other his new Cayman to a BMW dealership. The Cayman parked near the front entrance door while the NSX had no choice to park on the street because they ran out of empty slot. When they came out, several customers and salesmen were surrounding the NSX, while they left the Cayman alone LOL.

 

[Hrant]

I haven't read all the posts but have followed on/off. Here is my observation from two track events, two different Cayman S/drivers; one at Infineon and one at Thunderhill. Both times the Cayman were faster than my mostly stock 98-T and both times I was hooked and not holding anything back; even on the front straights with full WOT they were pulling away.

And finally I resolved my overheating problem at Thunderhill when even the ambient temp yesterday was below 90F! Tells you I was pushing the car. Solution: turned the heater dial on to full 90F on auto as I wasn't going to lift since I was having way too much fun with an M3 on my tail and a 911 in front :biggrin:

YMMV

 

[Poison_S]

Well, I finally made the decision and bought a 2006 Cayman S.

Love the car, definitely the right car for me at this time.

Review I posted on S2ki...
Initial thoughts...

POWER:
The car has great power, contrary to all the bench racing that has taken place on the Car Talk forum. The powerband is flexible and the motor strong, pulling harder and harder the more you let the RPMs fly (sound familar?). Not to say it's like VTEC, it builds more progressively. And when the time arrives, where I get used to the power and need a nudge or two more, there is potential in the chip tuning available, the cat-back exhausts, and the intakes, now out. A new power-producing header design is due by the new year. Altogether, the mods would put the car in the 340+ Crank-HP range, according to some initial tuning I have seen posted in "other" car forums. Keep in mind this car weighs only 100 lbs more than the S2000!

HANDLING:
In a word, OUTSTANDING!
Poised and confident, the car takes to turns so well, even novice drivers, like myself, don't hesitate. The normal speeds may bore some drivers, but that's because the car's capability envelope goes so high. With the weight distribution of the mid-engine, rear mounted transmission, the car has a well-planted and balanced sense with no signs of understeer! To give you an idea, I did not think the AP2 S2000 was a car that would understeer, but compared to the Cayman it does. Surprisingly, the car does have a noticeable amout of roll to it with the stock springs. Something I plan to address with springs or coilovers in the near future.


REFINEMENT:
Tying into handling capability, the car exhibits the best of German refinement that is all the more edgy than it is luxurious. Some have posted comments that, to me, have equated to Cayman refinement taking away from the pure driving experience, and I can understand what they mean from one point of view. Going back and forth between the Cayman S and the S2000, I did notice this too. The S2000 driving experiece benefits from its raw execution that many drivers appreciate (more noise, more vibration and harshness transmitted to the cabin that can translate to "feel" and provide the driver more information about what the car is doing and the conditions on its chosen path). However, this is not to say the Cayman S is boring to drive. I characterize the difference as Porsche's different execution of a sports car experience (there is a reason for the $25k price difference). The Cayman S is extremely capable and exiciting to drive, but it does so with refinement that exuberates total driver confidence from behind the wheel.

STEERING:
Precise and properly weighted, although I'm still getting used to its calibration as well as it coupling to the rear-biased weight distribution. I never had any complaints about the S2000 steering, but I can tell a difference with the Cayman S; a difference that I like.

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That's what comes to mind so far from the 330 miles I put on the car during my two extended test drives.

I am absolutely loving this car and am looking forward to the great driving experiences that I am sure will result from ownership.

Thanks again everyone!
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Here are some pics.