[meyouand987.2]

Well since I now have both, I would recommend the Porsche, but NOT a 2008. You want a 987.2 so you can avoid the IMS issue. All I will say at this point is there is a reason the P car cost $90k.....You put my 6 year old Cayman R next to my new Camaro and it is quite obvious which one was built better. The difference in paint quality alone is almost enough to make Al O turn his head in shame. From there we move to under the hood where paint is mysteriously missing and you get this really neat gold like shine from the areas missing paint. Then there is the really cool rattle from the front end, good thing as it almost drowns out the rattle from the door speakers and the steering wheel creaking. Inside we have the misaligned HUD unit and door mirror controls that work on a french work week i.e. they are on vacation quite often. Then the headliner....oh well you get the picture. Oh and the 1LE is only 2 weeks old.

[HyperBlue]

Originally Posted by Provoste

I sold my '03 986S to buy the 1LE, I have a prepped 964, my brother has a prepped 997S and my dad has a GT4. I've spent time in all of them on street and on track. The SS 1LE is the real deal.

Now THAT'S an endorsement!

[TrackClub]

Originally Posted by meyouand987.2

Well since I now have both, I would recommend the Porsche, but NOT a 2008. You want a 987.2 so you can avoid the IMS issue. All I will say at this point is there is a reason the P car cost $90k.....You put my 6 year old Cayman R next to my new Camaro and it is quite obvious which one was built better. The difference in paint quality alone is almost enough to make Al O turn his head in shame. From there we move to under the hood where paint is mysteriously missing and you get this really neat gold like shine from the areas missing paint. Then there is the really cool rattle from the front end, good thing as it almost drowns out the rattle from the door speakers and the steering wheel creaking. Inside we have the misaligned HUD unit and door mirror controls that work on a french work week i.e. they are on vacation quite often. Then the headliner....oh well you get the picture. Oh and the 1LE is only 2 weeks old.

Those things would surely piss me off, no question, but clearly should be fixed under 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. OTOH $50Gs can buy a spectacular paint job and then some. I admit Pcars are like art and I respect Porsche DNA tremendously, but they cost just as much as fine art.
And they are fast, but they are not THAT fast, unless one parts with a lot more than $90Gs.

[mjk3888]

Originally Posted by Electric

Just as the title says, trying to make up my mind what I will enjoy more. A brand new SS 1LE or 2006 - 2008 Cayman S. Cost, reliability, and interior space NOT being an object.

The car will be used for spirited driving, autocross, possibly road course, but also as a daily driver.

I've driven both, tried doing side by side logical comparisons, and it's still a toss up. So I figured it might be a good idea to ask for an advice here.

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by Provoste

You've driven side by side and you're still questioning? I'm a Porsche enthusiast with my SS 1LE being my first GM car ever. If you're looking at $40k+ for a new SS1LE, you should be cross shopping 987.2 DFI cars. Similar $ to the 1LE and hugely improved over the 06-08 987.1. No IMS or crank failure concerns common on 987.1 3.4. The 1LE is more comparable to a GT4 than a 10 year old Cayman S. BTW, being from a Porsche enthusiast family I can report this first hand. I sold my '03 986S to buy the 1LE, I have a prepped 964, my brother has a prepped 997S and my dad has a GT4. I've spent time in all of them on street and on track. The SS 1LE is the real deal.

Proof is in the results! Myself as a Novice ran faster at the Auto X than a 2010 Cayman S with an experienced driver who is through 4 events in 2nd place in A-Street points.

Although I'm far less skilled of a driver than Provoste I agree 100%, the SS 1LE is much more comparable to the Cayman GT4 than the Old Cayman S!

Below is the photo of the results and a youtube videos of my mistake riddled lap that was faster than the Cayman S, and myself chasing a GT4 and GT350 through the mountains on my 3rd day of ownership!

[FLO-RS]

Originally Posted by Electric

Just as the title says, trying to make up my mind what I will enjoy more. A brand new SS 1LE or 2006 - 2008 Cayman S. Cost, reliability, and interior space NOT being an object.

The car will be used for spirited driving, autocross, possibly road course, but also as a daily driver.

I've driven both, tried doing side by side logical comparisons, and it's still a toss up. So I figured it might be a good idea to ask for an advice here.

Thanks in advance!

You say that reliability is not an object, and yet you'd like to use this vehicle as a daily driver. These goals seem diametrically opposed. If you want something that won't let you down as a daily driver, that you can also have fun with at the track, the answer seems pretty clear to me.

[DenverTaco07]

You should sleep on it for another....10 years.

[JRL1LE]

Originally Posted by meyouand987.2

Well since I now have both, I would recommend the Porsche, but NOT a 2008. You want a 987.2 so you can avoid the IMS issue. All I will say at this point is there is a reason the P car cost $90k.....You put my 6 year old Cayman R next to my new Camaro and it is quite obvious which one was built better. The difference in paint quality alone is almost enough to make Al O turn his head in shame. From there we move to under the hood where paint is mysteriously missing and you get this really neat gold like shine from the areas missing paint. Then there is the really cool rattle from the front end, good thing as it almost drowns out the rattle from the door speakers and the steering wheel creaking. Inside we have the misaligned HUD unit and door mirror controls that work on a french work week i.e. they are on vacation quite often. Then the headliner....oh well you get the picture. Oh and the 1LE is only 2 weeks old.

I love when people complain about a car that costs half as much as the beloved P car

Read Post 15

Sorry to hear about the problems you've had. I have had no issues after 4 track days, 6 autoxes and 3500 miles. The car is awesome.

To the OP, if a daily driver, probably go P car, if track work is more important, go 1LE.

[DenverTaco07]

Originally Posted by JRL1LE

I love when people complain about a car that costs half as much as the beloved P car

Sorry to hear about the problems you've had. I have had no issues after 4 track days, 6 autoxes and 3500 miles. The car is awesome.

To the OP, if a daily driver, probably go P car, if track work is more important, go 1LE.

Porsches are great, but I do believe you are paying a hefty premium for the badge alone. Not that it isn't worth it for all that own one.

I find the the SS 1LE very easy on the road for DD.

[dezau]

If you are remotely thinking about tracking the car... It's not even close... I was in a rental SS with shite brakes and stock runflat tires.... and I smoked every Cayman on track last weekend.

Plus... P car comes with P car tax when it comes to parts, mods and everything else.

[Chub2000]

I own both a camaro 1le and a porsche 997 gt3. Both are great cars , but i have to say the camaro is more fun to drive than my gt3. i would assume the gt3 is much faster and more fun than a cayman s. That being said it should be a pretty easy decision to make...

[mjk3888]

MRLS Lap Times! One of these cars is not like the others.

2016 GT4 = 1:37.42 (With Carbon Ceramics)
2017 SS 1LE = 1:37.78
2014 Z/28 = 1:37.82
2014 Cayman S = 1:41.26

[Electric]

Here’s the main thing that makes me want a Cayman. When you watch a mid engine car driven at 10/10 – 11/10 of it’s traction limits, you see how it rotates around the center, tucking the nose in and tightening up the corner. Watching Motor Trend tossing 1LE around, it does not rotate the way a mid engine car does.

Personally, I’ve never had that experience, having the car rotate around its center, and I just want to experience this level of car control, made possible in a Cayman S. Plus the lightness, and the outward visibility. Of course, just like all of you guys are saying, Camaro is much faster. Camaro offers much higher levels of body control with its modern suspension. It also feels sharper… sharper steering, shaper gear shifter, perhaps even throttle responses are sharper on the Camaro.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Edit: Can any of you who have experienced that mid-engine car rotation, comment if it worth the trouble of getting a mid-engine car? Again, I’m not necessarily looking for going as fast as possible or turning as tight as possible, it’s more about the experience; the car just has to be fast enough.

[TrackClub]

Given you currently drive a last gen 1LE...and keep trying to justify an older Cayman notwithstanding all the feedback: buy the Cayman already

[mjk3888]

Originally Posted by Electric

Here’s the main thing that makes me want a Cayman. When you watch a mid engine car driven at 10/10 – 11/10 of it’s traction limits, you see how it rotates around the center, tucking the nose in and tightening up the corner. Watching Motor Trend tossing 1LE around, it does not rotate the way a mid engine car does.

Personally, I’ve never had that experience, having the car rotate around its center, and I just want to experience this level of car control, made possible in a Cayman S. Plus the lightness, and the outward visibility. Of course, just like all of you guys are saying, Camaro is much faster. Camaro offers much higher levels of body control with its modern suspension. It also feels sharper… sharper steering, shaper gear shifter, perhaps even throttle responses are sharper on the Camaro.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Edit: Can any of you who have experienced that mid-engine car rotation, comment if it worth the trouble of getting a mid-engine car? Again, I’m not necessarily looking for going as fast as possible or turning as tight as possible, it’s more about the experience; the car just has to be fast enough.

You seem to be trying to convince a 1LE subforum that it makes sense for you to buy and older slower car and claim its because of how the car rotates. Clearly you haven't watched the videos I posted as Randy Pobst clearly complains of how much the front of the GT4 pushed, then he raved about the front end grip on the 1LE.

I would agree. It seems like you have already made up your mind and your only reasoning is because you want to feel the dynamics of a mid engine car.