Among the compact sports cars, the BMW Z4, Porsche Cayman and Porsche Boxster stand out. But which is you? And why did BMW and Porsche wait so long before making the coupes? There is no Boxster coupe, but the Cayman is almost the same thing – but uprated.
It might seem odd that the two German companies, well-known for high-performance and sporty cars, waited to announce their coupes at the same time. The answer lies in why they introduced the roadsters in the first place.
Porsche wanted a new, smaller model to increase its market coverage. Not everyone likes the 911, and not everyone wants a coupe. So it made sense to opt for the mid-engine layout – the 911 is rear-engined – and the better balance that gives in designing the Boxster. At the same time, the addition of an open-top roadster would also increase sales. And both tricks worked.
But what about BMW? Well, BMW wanted to build cars in the USA, and did not want to build the same cars it built in Germany as that would increase costs. So it decided to build a roadster for the US market, although it would be marketed elsewhere.
At that time there was more potential volume for a boulevard cruiser type of two-seater than an out-and-out sports car in the USA, so the BMW Z3 was born. It was a rather tall car for a sports car, and although a hardtop was offered, it looked odd, making the car look even taller than it was.
Z4 more sporty than Z3
The BMW Z3 did not really catch on in Europe, so the Z4 was designed as a more sporty car than the Z3, and with its 3-liter engine which develops 265 bhp, is a good match in performance for the Porsche Boxster. Meanwhile, Porsche decided to fill out its range with an extra model, to be priced between the Boxster and the 911. In fact, the Cayman is based on the Boxster, but has more sporty suspension, and has a larger engine. Now, though you can get a Cayman with a 2.7 liter engine as well as the 3.4 liter job. The Boxster gets 2.7 and 3.2 liters.
Because Porsche makes flat-six engines, it can easily produce engines of different capacities from 2.7 to 3.8 liters, and many parts are common to all of them.
If you are looking for a sporty car, then you will want to look at the Z4 3-liter, which produces 265 bhp, and reaches 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, a time matched by the Boxster 3.2. The Cayman is a fraction quicker, getting to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Mind, if you want maximum performance from these cars, you can get the BMW Z4 M, with over 300 bhp on tap.
Choosing between Z4 and Cayman
But when it comes to the choice between the Z4 and Cayman coupes,you will be influenced by which one looks better. Although the Z4 looks a lot better than the Z3 it does have a few quirky lines, which don’t appeal to everyone, and the coupe is no better.
The Cayman has the usually slick Porsche lines, with a long tail and built-in spoiler which looks pretty good. On the road performance is not much different, and both have super engines and gearboxes, but they don’t do things in quite the same way. The Cayman is a beautifully balanced car that can be driven fast with confidence, but if you want to hang the tail out, the Z4 might be more to your liking.
Both are great sports cars, and will give you a lot of fun. What else should you consider? Nissan’s 350Z is also quite a car, with a lusty V-6, the Mercedes-Benz 350 SLK 350 and new Audi TT are also worth looking at.
John Hartley
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/bmw-z4-coupe-or-porsche-cayman-126722.html
Should I Buy A Corvette Coupe or Porsche Cayman S?
The corvette.
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Buy a british car! So much more class!
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I would take the Cayman S. It is the quintessential sports car. 6 speed, rear engine, rear drive.
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http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/virtual/112_0608_bmw_z4_vs_porsche_cayman_s/
Yes.
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You should totally buy a Porsche Cayman S, better looks, attracts more people, and overall why would you get a American car when you can get a European, A.K.A., porsche, but with that money you should get a Maserati Grandsport.
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The corvette is fast and its looks are ok. The cayman is beautiful, fast and handles well! I think the cayman looks a lot better. I would get the porsche. I’ve been in a cayman and it’s lacking in leg room but the 911 is much more comfortable, but if you’re fine with the cayman, it is your best sports car. The corvette is fine too, but its interior looks too cheap.
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Totally go with the Corvette, my family is deciding that same problem,, VETTE all the way
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depends…there are better porsches! they go boxter, cayman, carrera..etc. and it depends…if you like speed, get the corvette for sure! if you like luxury and is a "business" kind of guy then get the porsche….i would get the corvette though..if you decide to get a porsche..,dont get a cayman…get a carrera 4 or s
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neither.
the correct answer is a 996 911 turbo. Its faster than either car, handles better, is easier to drive fast, more refined, and has a better interior.
the corvettes are fast, dont get me wrong, but every time ive driven one ive been horribly disappointed. The steering and braking feel is just terrible, as is the visibility, and the inside of it just looks cheap. The stats that are on paper are great for the vette (0-60, skidpads, etc etc), but when it comes to the small intangible things, it falls very short. Porsches on the other hand are the best in the world about the small things.
and to the guy up there: The cayman isnt a rear engine. its a mid engine.
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996 GT2 and 930 turbo owner, Porsche club of america member and racer.
We had many muscle cars(including a very fast StingRay….
But after driving a Porsche, getting into a Corvette would be going backwards…
Compare a Big-Mac to Prime Rib…
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I dont know if my opinion is going to help you or even matter much, but here it is anyway….GET THE PORSCHE!! Let me explain…
Corvettes are…how shall I put this…um, they’re CHEESY! I don’t know why they are cheesy, just are. Everytime I see one, know who’s behind the wheel(ok, maybe not EVERY time, but pretty much), a man in his 60′s(ok, late 50′S), driving like he’s in a school zone, probably listening to Best of Tom Jones and totally wanting to kick his own a** cause he didnt BUY THE PORSCHE instead!
GET THE PORSCHE! I personally would spend a little more and get the 911, but definitely would pick the Cayman over the Cheesevette any day!
And on that note, I’m going to find my way out of "Cars and Transportation"..have no idea how I even ended up here.
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you can build your own Porsche @ http://www.porsche.com…mine‘s silver!
Well, I know the Cayman costs more, but Porsche also have fewer problems and alot less depreciation then the Corvette. I prefer the Cayman because if isn’t as big and looks like a perfect 2 seat coupe to me. I’ve never driven the Cayman, but must say the Corvette is a beast and sticks the road amazingly so I wouldn’t mind having the Vette. However, you definitely have to test drive both to really make a decision and then find out which you can afford with insurance/maintanence. Cayman actually gets pretty good mpg for a sports car, of course it has way less power then the Vette. This is a very hard choice…I can’t make it!!!
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Cayman S, anyday…
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Buy the Corvette and send me half of what you save in maintenace costs.
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The Vette, its faster, cheaper to maintain, and more reliable, "whats the difference between a porcupine and a porsche…. the pricks are usually on the outside"
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corvette because the corvettes have more horsepower than the porsches they look better
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Before you buy your next car, watch ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ (a movie by Al Gore) and then decide whether you need to go from 0-60 in 4 seconds (while getting 18 mpg)
You may decide that you would like to support car manufacturers that are investing in hybrid technologies that save the envrionment. Or, if you are hell bent on going fast, why not look into electric cars. You are lucky to be in the US and you can order a Tesla Roadster.
Your dollar is a vote and it matters.
(please note, I am not affliated in any way with any of these sources)
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http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/
http://www.teslamotors.com