Article Comments - Sports Coupe Shoot-Out

21 messages, Last post on May 30, 2007 at 10:03 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW M3, Porsche Cayman, Coupe, Convertible

Article comments for 2006 Sport Coupe Shootout: BMW M Coupe vs. Porsche Cayman S - In stark contrast to the BMW's cerebral design is the Porsche's corporeal inspiration. Perhaps it's because the Porsche "bathtub" shape has been around for decades, and thus it's so familiar. (more)

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#8 of 21 Price to Fun ratio by m3guy Oct 16, 2006 (3:54 pm)
I can understand why cayman S won over the m coupe but come on now, we're comparing a 70k car to a 54.5k car! lets try to keep it within 10k range at least. im sure if BMW spent more money in research in developing a lighter chassis/materials, use a new engine (instead of the 2001 s54 engine)....and charge the car for like 65k then i bet the BMW M coupe will win Replies to this message: jmaroun (Oct 16, 2006 9:21 pm) m3guy (Oct 17, 2006 2:58 pm)
#10 of 21 power-to-weight ratio by stromile Oct 16, 2006 (4:01 pm)
ambientflier is right on the money. Check out the November Car & Driver and read the article that they are calling their new performance benchmark. It's interesting to see how well the Cayman S performed against cars with much more horsepower. They say that they will begin testing all of their performance oriented cars with this method which should make for some interesting discussions.
#11 of 21 Re: Price to Fun ratio [m3guy] by jmaroun Oct 16, 2006 (9:21 pm)
Replying to: m3guy (Oct 16, 2006 3:54 pm) BTW, According to carsdirect.com..the M is more expensive? 2007 Porsche Cayman 2dr Rear-wheel Drive Coupe Base+Sports Package: $52,875 http://www.carsdirect.com/build/options?zipcode=92128&acode=USB70PRC071A0&restor- e=false 2006 BMW M 2dr Roadster Base Target Price: $52,995 http://www.carsdirect.com/build/options?zipcode=92128&acode=USB60BMC131A0&restor- e=false just my 2 cents, Joseph San Diego, CA Replies to this message: m3guy (Oct 17, 2006 2:58 pm)
#12 of 21 Re: Price to Fun ratio [jmaroun] by m3guy Oct 17, 2006 (2:58 pm)
Replying to: jmaroun (Oct 16, 2006 9:21 pm) you are absolutely right! but in the original article they were comparing the Porsche Cayman S and the BMW M Coupe. just comparing the msrp pricing..... BMW M coupe is $49,300 where as the Porsche Cayman S is $58,900 the regular cayman was $49,400 also you can't really compare the regular cayman and M coupe... because they're really two different animals. The M coupe will smoke the cayman cayman S is more similar to the M coupe
#13 of 21 Re: Just wrong... [mpowerf1] by blsjr Oct 28, 2006 (6:42 am)
Replying to: mpowerf1 (Oct 10, 2006 12:06 pm) When you talk about performance sport coupes there is only one thing to judge, who wins on the track. If you justifying, defending, or explaining why the BMW is more fun to lose in, then you must already own one. Sorry for you, if you want the best you have to pay the price, or be content with coming in second where it counts. Being more involved is code word for fighting for control and rubbing off speed when it matters. Buy the Porsche Cayman S and enjoy, it's the most precise road course machine which out performs anything out there in class. So please don't try to push the winner to second by explaining how it's more fun to fight a car than drive a machine. Replies to this message: perunest (Nov 10, 2006 4:56 am)
#14 of 21 BMW should stick to sedans by habitat1 Nov 08, 2006 (11:00 am)
I have tremendous respect for BMW in the mid to high end sport coupe and sedan segment (check out my positive posts in those forums). The previous model M5 was, and still is, IMO the pinnacle of what a sports sedan should shoot for. The new V10 model took a big step forward with the engine, but a couple back with i-Drive, larger size and less driver/sports oriented cockpit. Still, the M5 is the king of its category. The M3 is up there as tops in its sports coupe category as well, as long as you don't call a 911 a coupe. But, IMO, BMW is way off track when it comes to "sports cars". Too heavy, below average handling, borrowed engines.... The Z3/Z4 were inferior to a $32k Honda S2000 the day they were introduced. I'd rather be driving an M5 on a winding country road that a "Z". At least I'd have the pinnacle of 5 passenger handling rather than the lower end of two passenger handling. I never considered (or drove) the M Coupe when sports car shopping last year. My previous test drive experiences with the Z4 were just too dissapointing to overcome. If I'm not mistaken, the new 2007 Acura MDX was tested at around 0.85g's by Edmunds. The same they got for the M Coupe. "Sporty" was how they described it. Not exactly what I'd want my best effort as a sports car tagged as. Replies to this message: fedlawman (Nov 12, 2006 1:29 pm) perunest (Nov 12, 2006 3:12 pm) jesawyer (Jan 07, 2007 6:13 pm) fedlawman (Jan 07, 2007 8:42 pm)
#15 of 21 Re: Just wrong... [blsjr] by perunest Nov 10, 2006 (4:56 am)
Replying to: blsjr (Oct 28, 2006 6:42 am) Two recent professional driver comparison tests show the M Roadster and M Coupe to be quicker on a track than the Cayman S. I love Porsches and I test drove three 911's, two Boxster S, and a Cayman S, before buying my M Roadster. I love the M Coupe, but I need to be able to get the top down in the summer, so I opted for the Roadster. The Porsches that have been so successful on the track are 911s. The Cayman has no racing history. In fact, the Porsche 911s that have been most successful are the "cup" cars, which are not intended for the street. Let's look at how the street versions compare. The November 6 Autoweek compared the M Coupe to the Boxster S. It gave the $70,505 Cayman S a narrow all around victory over the $57,595 M Coupe. The Cayman S had every performance option, including sports chrono, active suspension management, and 19 inch carerra wheels. On the track at Willow Springs the reviewers were unanimous in voting for the BMW. Here are some quotes from several of the test drivers. "On the short, tight streets of Willow the difference between the two was huge". "The M Coupe was much, much better. Suddenly the power difference showed itself as I entered the first turn, down to the apex,and easing on the gas, the thing just ran". "The M Coupe felt way better on the racetrack" A second comparison can be seen in videos from the British TV show "Top Gear". While adding humor and arguing with each other, the staff consists of professional drivers. They ultimately take each car to the same track and have the same professional test driver get his best time. I've attached two links because the Cayman S was tested alone and the M Roadster was tested against the Boxster S. Track times are posted for each car. There are times for many supercars, some of which are beaten by the M Roadster. The Cayman S time was posted before the M Roadster had been tested. When you view the second video you will see that the M Roadster beats both the Boxster S and the Cayman S. Both Autoweek and Top Gear agree that the Porsches are easier to drive. The BMW is more difficult to handle, Interestingly, difficult handling was one of the hallmarks of air cooled 911s that made 911 owners sneer at other Porsche drivers with lesser skills. Don't get me wrong. I love the Porsche too. I just needed to respond to the "quicker on the track" comment you made. Here are the links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzKhW5zJU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAphQpbm4JA&search=Top%20Gear%20Porsche%20Cayman
#16 of 21 Re: BMW should stick to sedans [habitat1] by fedlawman Nov 12, 2006 (1:29 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Nov 08, 2006 11:00 am) I don't think there is a winner or loser here. In my opinion: The Porsche has a more luxurious/upscale cabin. It has higher quality materials, has higher cache/prestige, and sexier looks. The biggest difference though is how it drives. The Cayman S is quick, responsive, and very capable, but compared to the BMW, I think that, to repeat the words of an earlier post, it is a little on the "clinical" side of the fun meter. The BMW, on the other hand, has great seats and a terrific small/fat steering wheel, but the cockpit feels claustrophobic compared to the airy-feeling Porsche, and the plastic trim pieces are downright cheap. I like the way the M Coupe looks, but it's clumsy next to the Cayman. Most importantly, the BMW is a rip-snorting good time behind the wheel. The 3.2 I-6 is a hand-built race engine and it feels/sounds like it. Compared to the BMW, the Porsche drives kind of like a very, very good Honda - smooth, refined, effortless. The Cayman is a surgeons scalpel and the BMW is a KA-BAR. Personally, I love them both equally (for different reasons), but if I were buying today, my wallet and driving style would lead me towards the BMW.
#17 of 21 Re: BMW should stick to sedans [habitat1] by perunest Nov 12, 2006 (3:12 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Nov 08, 2006 11:00 am) Borrowed engines in the BMW? What does that signify? The M54 engine has won more prestigious awards than any other 6 cylinder. Just because it was used in the M3 for a few years doesn't make it inferior. It still produces the most horsepower per liter. The Porsche uses the same boxer engine in the Boxster, Boxster s, Cayman, Cayman S, Carerra, and Carrera S. They just vary the displacement from 2.7 liters to 3.6 liters. Note that the 3.2 liter BMW in line six makes 330 hp in the M Roadster and M Coupe. The Cayman only manages 295 HP from a larger 3.4 liter engine. Even the Carerra only makes 325 HP with a 3.6 liter displacement. The Carerra S get to 345 HP by using a 3.8 liter engine. I'd say BMW technology gets an edge here.