Alternatives to the 718 Cayman/Boxster

[Daveotto]

The 718 is very Marmite but I see very little in way of alternatives at the price point for a new car so would be interested in members views on what would be their alternative choice to a Cayman, against the following criteria and why it would be better

Budget: £50 - 65K for a new car

Btw...I love Marmite

Before I settled on my 718 Cayman S I considered the following but none could come close IMHO,

AUDI TTRS
BMW M2 comp pack
BMW M4 Coupe
Mercedes SLC43

 

[Fudgie]

Alpine A110 gets rave reviews, my main concern would be residual value...

 

[Daveotto]

Alpine A110 gets rave reviews, my main concern would be residual value...

9 month lead time and no chance of getting anywhere close to a demo took it off my list

 

[Brian_Innes]

The 718 is very Marmite but I see very little in way of alternatives at the price point for a new car so would be interested in members views on what would be their alternative choice to a Cayman, against the following criteria and why it would be better

Budget: £50 - 65K for a new car

Btw...I love Marmite

Before I settled on my 718 Cayman S I considered the following but none could come close IMHO,

AUDI TTRS

BMW M2 comp pack

BMW M4 Coupe

Mercedes SLC43

I've grown to like Marmite..........

Of current new sports coupes under £65k., no other car has the poise, precision, and handling prowess of the Cayman.

The Alpine A110 doesn't have the build quality or the residual value of the Porsche brand. Also you are dependent on the servicing and after care qualities of Renault dealerships.

Need I say more......

Brian

 

[Motorhead]

I have to agree with the above comments Dave.

Mind you, £65k would buy you something like a used V-10 Audi R8...tempting??

Jeff

 

[Daveotto]

I have to agree with the above comments Dave.

Mind you, £65k would buy you something like a used V-10 Audi R8...tempting??

Jeff

Lots of very good second hand cars for £65k but if you are looking new for some reassurance in what you are buying you are somewhat limited, which is why I set the “new” constraint.

BTW R8 V10+ is an amazing beast,was lucky enough to be given the keys to one and told to have some fun at an Audi Sport launch event for the V10+ a couple of years back

 

[OliR]

The new Supra perhaps? Though not everyone's cup of tea.

There's a bit of a glut in the market in the 50-65k sports car section. The Cayman/Boxster stands out in my opinion, as the only one really being designed from the ground up as a sports car.

ETA, come to think of it, Lotus Exige, Alfa 4C?

 

[Daveotto]

The new Supra perhaps? Though not everyone's cup of tea.

There's a bit of a glut in the market in the 50-65k sports car section. The Cayman/Boxster stands out in my opinion, as the only one really being designed from the ground up as a sports car.

ETA, come to think of it, Lotus Exige, Alfa 4C?

Most are saloons/hatchbacks with big engines rather than bespoke sports cars. From a fun to drive perspective the new MX5 gets some pretty decent reviews but does not have the Porsche Kudos

Having come from the Audi saloon with a big engine to get here it’s interesting to read the comments from some on various forums.

Some S3 owners expect Cayman/Boxster performance for the price of an S3 and some Boxster/cayman owners expect 911 Performance and cayman/Boxster prices

 

[Twinfan]

I'd go for a BMW M2 Comp if I was buying a new car in that price range []

 

[Daveotto]

I'd go for a BMW M2 Comp if I was buying a new car in that price range []

M2 was in my final three with the TTRS

 

[paul08]

Go into your local BMW dealer. Ours, in Chester, is awash with pre-regged and demo M3, M4 and M5 Compertion packs. Not sure if I saw any M2's.

Clearly, BMW are having problems shifting cars

 

[Daveotto]

Was being offered 20%+ discounts across the M range before Xmas but did not tempt me

 

[geoff lane]

Just bought a M2 Comp as my daily, currently running a 718BGTS as weekend / summer car and pinching the wifes JCW when allowed.

Hoping for a new GT4 lets wait and see.

The M2 is a great car but its different to a Cayman / Boxster despite the press comparison reviews they are so different in how they drive and handle. Both very good just different. A well driven Boxster / Cayman will leave an M2, but as an M car its just really nice I went to a recent BMW M day and much preferred the M2C to a M4C or M5C it is the nice M car IMO . Generally saloon cars do not compare to sports cars.

 

[Daveotto]

Geoff,

you’ve nailed the difference between the two and it was the handling (and the badge) that clinched the Cayman S for me.

Thinking of replacing my wife’s current Mini with a JCW in the next year

 

[Daveotto]

Alpine A110 gets rave reviews, my main concern would be residual value...

Saw one in the flesh for the first time a week or so ago and was not impressed, looks a bit like a cheap kit car upgrade based on a VW beetle

 

[AndrewCS]

Just bought a M2 Comp as my daily

How is the driving position in the Competition ?

I tried a manual M2 six months ago, an awful fit for my frame ... (manual) seat too high and armrest impeding gear-changes. Impressive engine, ride and handling.

 

[Daveotto]

Alpine A110 gets rave reviews, my main concern would be residual value...

Saw one in the flesh for the first time a week or so ago and was not impressed, looks a bit like a cheap kit car upgrade based on a VW beetle

 

[Brian_Innes]

My twopence worth on this topic..........

Having owned 5 Caymans, including 2 - 718 models, the present 718 Cayman chassis provides fluidity of handing dynamics which are simply in a different league from anything BMW can offer, regardless of the bhp figures on paper.

For starters, the mid-engine/transaxle layout of the current Cayman, provides a low centre of gravity and low polar inertia, which translates into a sweetness of road and track handling behaviour which is peerless in its class. Provided you only need two seats, the 718 Cayman provides both practicality and performance.

Under track driving conditions, the Cayman will out perform a BMW M series in every department. A recent comparison of the 718 Cayman GTS v BMW M4 Competition by the TV "Driven" team showed the GTS to be more than 2 seconds a lap faster than the BMW.

The engine exhaust sound of the BMW M cars, together with the 4 - seater accommodation may be the decider for some. Not forgetting the substantial price premium of the Cayman may clinch it in favour of the BMW. As for residual values, the Cayman wins again.

Depending on individual priorities, and the available budget, the choice is yours to make.

Brian