Photos of new Cayman at Pioneer

[Jad]

Tom,

I have to agree with Kim. I bet I could get a SS Cayman into the top ten. IF someone would give me the Cayman, I would take it to Dieters for a full AX alignment, then pay about 20 other drivers a $1k not to run and I would have a Cayman and a top ten time for $20k. Seems like everyone would win

Otherwise, I think you need at least an S class car to really get into the top ten under normal circumstances. The braking ability of street tires is so bad compared to R compound, no amount of balance could really overcome it in the corners, again limited to the grip of street tires, and the Cayman isn't that powerful to make up for it on the straights. Plus, in my experience with a Boxster S, you can't get the power down without R compound tires which is why I think the std Boxster is just as fast at an AX in SS form. The Cayman would really benefit from a few mods, even more than most cars, but still needs those mods to have any chance at an AX.

It is kinda cool to see a new Porsche model that is liked, instead of hated like the last several, ie 986, 996, Cayenne & Panamerica.

[Bob Gagnon]

If Porsche ever drops the GT3 engine and gearbox into a Cayman, lightens and simplifies it and prices it around $100K my checkbook will open for a new Porsche for the first time since 1992.

Mine Over Motorsports has an X51 3.8 Carrera engine waiting at their shop for installation into a Cayman this January. This would give the car 381 HP. These engines cost $34,484 list price from the parts department (PCA 10% discount available?).

Interesting that the 911 Carrera S costs $81,400 base + X51 option at $16,900= $98,300

Cayman S Base is $58,900 + X51 engine from parts department at $34,454= $93,354

This leaves you $4946 (not considering discounts and you have a new Cayman S engine to sell some Boxster owner) to do the Cayman S/ X51 conversion if you subtract the two sums- probably enough since it should be a relative bolt in, but I don't know for sure; at least Mind Over Motorsports will know soon about difficulty.

I would rather have the Cayman S with the X51 than the Carrera S with X51.

But then you still have a car with an engine which comes from the 996 design family which has questionable reliability, particularly for track use.

[Otto]

Bob wrote:

But then you still have a car with an engine which comes from the 996 design family which has questionable reliability, particularly for track use.

I think this says it all about that planned conversion. Any idea how much a GT3 "crate" engine would cost?

[Bob Gagnon]

This is really interesting.

Part number 996.100.979.00 a GT3 engine is $46,154.00, only 12 grand more than the X51. Not bad for Titanium rods, dry sump and Nikasil replacable cylinders.

The problem though is that the GT3 engine has the old air-cooled bellhousing pattern and won't bolt up to the Cayman gearbox which has the water cooled 996 pattern.

One could use the GT3 gearbox if (and only if) the ring gear can be flipped to the opposite side of the gearbox, otherwise one would have 6 gears going backward and 1 forward. Modification of the shift linkage, clutch plumbing and mounting would also be required.

Flipping the ring gear is how Porsche did things to use a 901 gearbox in the 914/6, even the 915 gearbox was designed for this for the still-born 916, so maybe they have planned ahead this time too....

Part number 996.300.020.96, a GT3 gearbox is $15,099 if you want to look to see if it's possible.

The cool thing about the Cayman is with the engine hidden as it is, it would probably pass the visual inspection at smog time. As long as the exhaust system were done correctly, it would pass the sniffer test and your smog issues would be solved.

[ttweed]

IF someone would give me the Cayman, I would take it to Dieters for a full AX alignment, then pay about 20 other drivers a $1k not to run and I would have a Cayman and a top ten time for $20k.

I would be happy to not run my top-10-capable AM car for $1K, when you get this all lined up, Jad!

Part number 996.300.020.96, a GT3 gearbox is $15,099 if you want to look to see if it's possible.

If we're going big with a custom Cayman, here, we might as well look into seeing if the ring gear can be flipped in one of the Holinger Engineering GT3RSR sequential transmissions. Maybe we could get a used one from Alex Job Racing for $30K or so?

TT

[Bob Gagnon]

Actually Porsche has already built a mid-engined coupe for both street and racing.

It was called a GT1 and was the last Porsche to win Le Mans outright in 1999.

The GT1 used the same basic engine as the GT3 (GT2 and Turbo) and I think the gear cluster was even the same.

Porsche called it a "911" it now looks like they should have called it a Cayman prototype....

[MikeD]

Any idea what a used GT1 would run Bob? Don't think I've ever seen one listed in a classified.

[martinreinhardt]

Here is the TopGear Show with the Cayman S.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1074607058184130165&q=top+gear

Get ready for some strong words against the car, it's fast but without LSD and dry sump it's not worth the $$$.

The cup holder, gps, comfort,sunroof (thank god not offered) and other gadgets isn't what Porsche drivers are looking for

[David J Marguglio]

Bob: Do you have a part number and price on that 3.8 X51? I was told that they had not released a price as of yet.

[RickK]

Any idea what a used GT1 would run Bob? Don't think I've ever seen one listed in a classified.

This is actually the losy one, 1 1996 GT1 based on the 993. The later cars were called 996's, had 996 style headlights, more power and won Le Mans.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-POR ... dZViewItem

[Bob Gagnon]

Bob: Do you have a part number and price on that 3.8 X51? I was told that they had not released a price as of yet.

Dave- I called Hoehn and I am not sure who I talked to. We discussed the part number 996.100.96.20 a 2004 X51 and I asked for the 3.8 X51 997 equivalent and the price I was quoted is what I posted.

There may have been a misunderstanding as to which part I was looking for.

[Bob Gagnon]

Any idea what a used GT1 would run Bob? Don't think I've ever seen one listed in a classified.

GT1 Chassis #: WPOZZZ992WS396005

This road-going GT1 sold at the Bonhams Europe Monte Carlo auction on May 26, 2003, for $755,790, including buyer's premium

Original price was $912,000 from Porsche.

Just another data point for you GT1 shoppers.

[rss996]

I'de love to see the faces of Porsche if you brought the Cayman in for service with that engine in it....

All things Porsche are all over priced in my opinion.....

[David J Marguglio]

All things Porsche are all over priced in my opinion.....

Compared to what? Chevy? Perhaps. Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, or Maser? No chance.

So just like incest...it's all relative.

[Bob Gagnon]

Here is a Topgear test of the Ferrari versions of the Cayman and Boxster.

Interesting comparison of Coupe and Roadster which surprised me.

Look in the end for the car just above the Ferrari in the track time totem pole.

Bridgestone has to love the ending of this video as much as they loved the end of the F1 season.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-313980543127255601&q=bbc+top+gear&pr=goog-sl