06 Z06 VS 06 Cayman S?
 

I know someone looking at these two cars early next year. Which one would you buy? Why would you pick the car and have you drove ether car before?

James

Never drove either.

I would take the Z06. Parts and service for Porsches in Canada sucks ass.

plus 505hp doesn't hurt.

The HP of the Z06 excites him but he would also love to own a Porsche. I told him to have fun with it and test drive a shit load of cars in that price range (about $40000) and have fun with it. Even if those are the only two on his list.

He said if it had a better interior the Z06 would be the one without question. He also said if the Cayman S had at least 400 hp that would be his car.

He needs to test drive them. Him and I both drove Vettes but not a Z06. And we both drove the same older Porsche (I miss my detail shop at times) but not the Cayman.

James

Z06. It is only a few hundred lbs heavier and has a few hundred more horsepower. Ultimately for me though it comes down to the experience. If I am buying a car like this I want a thrilling experience. I think I would get more of that with the power of the Z06 that I can sometimes use vs. the handling of the Cayman which I will hardly be able to use on the street.

Disagreed. If a car is setup right, you can feel it in the steering regardless of how slow you're going. You don't need to be on a race track to experience a car's good handling.

I knew the Corvette wasn't all that much heavier but I didn't know how close it was until a week or two ago. Its nuts.

He has always been a huge fan of Vettes. But he loves what he hears about the Cayman. I said he needs to drive them both and see which one excites him more behind the wheel.

He did say he loves the interior of the Cayman.

This is a problem I like to have at some point.

James

Motor Trend or Car and Driver just had a comparison on the magazine stand this month. The Cayman won.

Yeah I read that the other day while doing some searches. I think the Vette was 5th. He didn't like that the MX5 was I think 3rd.

James

It's all about what you value. If you're a rather simplistic person who can only get off by pressing the go pedal, then buy the fastest car. If on the other hand you want something that actually reads the road and feels like an extension of you, then get either a Miata or anything made by Porsche or Lotus.

IMO, the Cayman's total performance envelope is much more usable on the street. The power and handling strike a great balance and you can have plenty of fun w/o driving TOO irresponsibly on public streets.

I've only ridden in, not driven, a C6 Z06, but it was an exciting ride. I've driven plenty of C6 Z51's, and while they offer great performance, they just feel numb, esp. the streering. The '08+ models are improved, but still not up to German standards. Plus the CS interior just feels a lot more special.

I loved my Cayman S, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend one. The C6 (any variant) is a great car, but I would only consider an '08+ for the improved steering/shifter feel.

The Cayman was a pleasure to drive at any speed, as the feedback through the steering wheel is awesome, and the other controls felt great as well. I've heard from more than one Vette owner that they're a bit dull @ normal speeds, and you really have to drive 'em hard to make them come alive.

PS I'll take my modded NC Miata over a Vette. It's one of the funnest, if not fastest, cars I've ever driven...right up there w/ the CS, if not even more fun.

Wanna buy the premium brand then be prepared for premium maintenance costs.

I vote Z06.

29MPG highway
505hp
Looks that get the chicks

There is no compromise...General Motors

Take that with a grain of salt. In Motor Trend's previous opinion the ZR1 is better than a 911 GT2, Nissan GT-R, and Ferarri 599 (twice). Would you rather be driving any of those or a Cayman S? Do you think Motor Trend would choose the Cayman S in that company?

I do agree with not needing to be on a racetrack to feel a difference in handling, but the Z06 is supposed to handle decently. I think it would make more of a difference if a Viper was in the mix rather than the Z06.

Thanks for posting first hand knowledge. I figured this thread would be pretty much all speculation (including me of course).

Maybe. Their reasons for picking the Cayman this time were mostly because of "soft stuff" like ease of use, predictability, accuracy, steering feel, outward vision, etc. I can't see any of those other cars being better in those areas. Only power and styling maybe.

This is the Motor Trend article.

2009 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car

http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...car/index.html

James

The Caymen was number 1, but it was also 8 fucking seconds slower around the track than the Z06! It's like yeah...Stoner is the better rider, but Rossi can go faster around the track. LOL

Still gotta factor in the fact that service for any porsche sucks in Canada(excpt for probably Montreal and Toronto)

We have a porsche dealer.. I don't see how service would be bad.

We have one too. And I can see how service is bad.
Maybe out east it is different, but the Porsche dealer here is terrible.

I would rather drive the 2 hours to Montreal for service if I had one. My brother takes his to a hole in the wall place for service.

"Let's face it Harry, it's the vette that gets em wet!"

The question is whether he's buying a car to enjoy as a sports car, or if he's going wheel to wheel racing. There are many, many factors that go into ownership satisfaction beyond lap times. If that was all that mattered, I'd just suggest he buy a shifter kart. How many naive Z06 owners bought into that train of though only to drive it into a ditch? It's performance is well beyond what can sensibly be used on most public streets, and I've seen very few @ DE's.

BTW, maint. came up, and I have to dispel the Myth of Porsche maint. It took one $200-$230 oil change per year, and that's it. Tire wear was great since the car is so well balanced. I'm convinced that maint., tire/brake wear, etc. will be more on the Z06.

Z06 hands down for me BUT the Cayman S is a hot little car. It handles great...is pretty quick and of course yes it's a Porsche.

The Z06 is a badazz...the interior isn't as nice but not that big of a deal and has more space inside.

I like both but if I must pick one...Z06.

I hope they did more than change the oil for that amount of bread.

They used a ZR1 in that test, not the Z06.

No kidding.

Car wash? :rockwoot:

It takes 9 qts. of Mobil 1. Yes, I could have done it much cheaper myself.

The upside is that maint. intervals were 20K miles, I just did it once a year to err on the side of conservatism.

Chris did you get rid of that caymen?

Whats the NC part of your miata mean?

NC refers to the generation of Miata. NA is 1st gen, NB is 2nd gen, NC is 3rd gen.

Thanks for clearing that up

No Cawks, since they are a chick car and all.:skep:

Just noticed I missed Troy's first question. I traded my CS for an '08 M3 sedan in March, the extra seats come in handy now that I have a kid. Got the Miata 2 wks later.

a friend of my has the 06 Z06 black on black, it's always been my dream car.

Yeah that's all cool and stuff as long as you understand that you're car is not king. LOL

Besides, they liked the R8 chassis better than the Porsche, granted it's the same company.

Why is there 9 qts of motor oil? That motor is not air cooled which would def. need an oil cooler. Prolly has an oil cooler, but in order to get all that oil up to the front you need 9qts.

I never said or implied the CS is king. I loved mine for what it was, that's all. I def. knew better than to go picking fights w/ Z06's, but I'm not into street racing anyway nor do I feel the need to pound my chest over having the fastest car around (I would have kept my old Supra Turbo had that been the case).

I'd rather have an R8 myself, but it's out of reach financially w/o being stupid w/ my money. The CS, OTOH, isn't.

Re: the 9 qts. of oil, it's just typical Porsche over-engineering, and helps the oil last longer. I believe the Z06 also takes a lot of oil IIRC.

9 qts of oil = 20k oil change intervals (or one year, which most people hit first).