[DP8]

Hands down Cayman S for mid-engine layout.

[TSM330i]

I recently had a ride in an F430 Scuderia and I had mentioned that I used to have a Boxster to the owner. He lit up when I mentioned the Boxster. He LOVED his Boxster! He wants to get a newer one for sure.
Caymen is a little stiffer chassis and a fantastic all around car.

When I owned my Boxster I really noticed how the car was very engaging at lower speeds. The sound, feel, handling etc were fantastic. It felt very special and a pure joy to drive even when not being pushed. The howl of the engine intake, the sound of the valvetrain working, the exhaust note, the streering feel and feedback, the control feel - everything for me just added to the experience of a pure sports car that really left me feeling good at the end of a drive.

I had a standard 2001 Boxster, nothing special in regards to "performance", but it was a wonderful experience and a pure sportscar.

This is my opinion. Please, go and drive ALL the cars you're interested in. You have our feedback and a ton of us seem to be in favor of the Caymen, but your ultimate decision is up to you.

[freshwhite335]

Originally Posted by Schumacher

Agree completely with the Cayman's assessment, it is just way too accomplished to be fun. Plus, PASM is super hard to find.

Trying to look at the SLK55. Huge fan of AMG Mercedes cars.

Okay... So I just traded my 335 sedan [sport, 19s with good tires etc] for an SLK55 3 months ago. I've driven the M and its a great track car as everyone else has said, but the ride is UNBEARABLE. Plus I've always felt like the M Roadster looked and felt cheap on the inside.

Haven't driven the Cayman but theres just something about that car that makes me laugh. Maybe its just the people around here that drive them. I always see the kid who inherited Brumos Porsche and his friends driving around town, you always know because they have the "59" sticker on them. I'm sitting at the car wash the other day and some like 5 foot 3 in Asain guy pulls in in a white on tan Cayman S. He hops out with his not so hot but tall girlfriend and they're both draped in Ed Hardy and look ridiculous and are acting like the own the joint. Its the same thing when I go to the local mall, wannabes in Caymans looking stupid. I feel like saying "sorry you couldnt afford a 911." I know its a Porsche and drives really well but I just could never be seen driving one. And I cross shopped all 3 cars you're considering.

The AMG just feels special, it goes down the road with a nice solid feel and even though its a couple of hundred lbs lighter than my 3 it feels much heavier. I always hated how my 3 felt at close to triple digit speeds and the SLK does it like its nothing.

I'll admit I'm not the average guy on this board, I'm not all about track-worthyness and all that. I just wanted a nice, fast, fun car. You can beat the soundtrack on this car. I drive with the top down and the windows down even in cold weather just so I can REALLY hear it.

Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions.

[rotaz]

Originally Posted by freshwhite335

Okay... So I just traded my 335 sedan [sport, 19s with good tires etc] for an SLK55 3 months ago. I've driven the M and its a great track car as everyone else has said, but the ride is UNBEARABLE. Plus I've always felt like the M Roadster looked and felt cheap on the inside.

Haven't driven the Cayman but theres just something about that car that makes me laugh. Maybe its just the people around here that drive them. I always see the kid who inherited Brumos Porsche and his friends driving around town, you always know because they have the "59" sticker on them. I'm sitting at the car wash the other day and some like 5 foot 3 in Asain guy pulls in in a white on tan Cayman S. He hops out with his not so hot but tall girlfriend and they're both draped in Ed Hardy and look ridiculous and are acting like the own the joint. Its the same thing when I go to the local mall, wannabes in Caymans looking stupid. I feel like saying "sorry you couldnt afford a 911." I know its a Porsche and drives really well but I just could never be seen driving one. And I cross shopped all 3 cars you're considering.

The AMG just feels special, it goes down the road with a nice solid feel and even though its a couple of hundred lbs lighter than my 3 it feels much heavier. I always hated how my 3 felt at close to triple digit speeds and the SLK does it like its nothing.

I'll admit I'm not the average guy on this board, I'm not all about track-worthyness and all that. I just wanted a nice, fast, fun car. You can beat the soundtrack on this car. I drive with the top down and the windows down even in cold weather just so I can REALLY hear it.

Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions.

Obviously you have never driven CS, you should go test drive one, you may be surprised on how well balanced and connected it feels.

[freshwhite335]

Originally Posted by rotaz

Obviously you have never driven CS, you should go test drive one, you may be surprised on how well balanced and connected it feels.

I have no doubt that it drives better than the SLK. It's just not the type of drive I wanted, and I think that for what the OP wants [ a fun weekend car he doesn't plan to track] the SLK is the better fit.

[Crimson92]

Originally Posted by freshwhite335

Okay... So I just traded my 335 sedan [sport, 19s with good tires etc] for an SLK55 3 months ago. I've driven the M and its a great track car as everyone else has said, but the ride is UNBEARABLE. .

i just dont understand why people say this, its not bad.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

i just dont understand why people say this, its not bad.

It's not Exige bad, but it's still pretty silly compared to all sorts of more capable cars. I sort of like the Z4 M Coupe ride, as it's certainly more comfortable than the Z3 M Coupe ride, and the suspension is also a little friendlier at the track, if not as amusing. I think the real issue comes from folks that are used to sedans and coupes with longer wheelbases, they're just not accustomed to the relatively flinty ride of the M Coupes. Of course a Cayman and 911 both ride much better with similar wheelbases. My Bilstein Sports and H&R springs ride much softer than the stock Sachs setup, but it's still nice to drive my wife's 135i every now and then.

[graider]

z4m coupe IMO. it's a mean looking car.

second is the cayman s.

not really feeling most slk especially the regular one, but I admit I saw an white amg one last time and it was stunning. It was like a mini SLR.

[photogS]

Before I bought CS I test drove Z4M as dealers tried to get rid of them for peanuts and I could get really good deal on one.

I went with the CS even though it was way more $. For me there was just no comparison.
Cayman S is a seriously fun car - those that say it's not probably never drove one.
The only advantage my M3 has on the CS is more room.

I still miss it, but the new Boxster Spyder looks promising. I'll probably get one.
Go Porsche and don't look back

[mtla4]

Z4M
...I dislkike the SLK55 gearbox
...I hate the fact that the boxster has no LSD and is more money to maintain due to it's engine lay-out.
...I like the fact that the Z4M revs at 8000 rpm...plus it's a drivers car...no frills...(cheaper) to maintain.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by mtla4

...I hate the fact that the boxster has no LSD and is more money to maintain due to it's engine lay-out.

Caymans have a $950 optional limited slip, not sure about Boxsters though, but would guess that they do too. Further, mid engine cars don't usually have as much of a weakness without a limited slip. I've driven Exige/Elise models on the track with and without them (admittingly torqueless cars here) and don't see those lacking them to have the kind of weakness a non-rear weight biased car exhibits without an LSD.

Further, while maintenance is a little more on a Porsche than most BMW's, the S54 requires valve adjustments while the Cayman does not, and the Cayman also has very long oil change intervals due to the large oil volume, which appears to be a holdover from the days of air cooled Porsches, and also due to the front mounted oil heat exchanger requiring more fluid to deal with the long lines.

It's also possible to keep less content out of a Cayman than an M Coupe, as M Coupes came pretty loaded up with Zenons, heated seats and all sorts of little features that aren't standard (and cost a fortune) on Caymans.

[aznw82]

definitely go for the Cayman S, as I have one myself.
it drives so nice, much better than the SLK55. also gets better attention than the Bimmer and Mercedes..

[Nawaaz]

Like most everyone else, I also like the Cayman S.

Haven't test driven one yet, but I've always had the image in my mind that it's one of the very best sports cars out there.

[Multimodal]

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Cayman S simply because I genuinely believe it will finally allow me to tap into the "Porsche Only" pussy pool.