2014 Porsche Cayman S PDK Sports Chrono

[MR_Y]

A mild rant...

Since my next scheduled service is in December and I want to take the car on a long road trip before then, I asked the dealership if they can do a multipoint safety check on the car just to check that all is good before I embark on a long trip in July. Probably Lesotho or Mpumalanga (depending on weather and other mates preference).

I assumed they would perform this check at no cost, given that I extended the maintenance plan this year at a not insubstantial cost.

Well, they charge for a safety check and it is R2,250 excl VAT, regardless of Plan or no Plan. If they pick up any issues, then those are covered under Plan.

Volvo, as an example, had no issue perfoming a comprehensive multipoint check at ZERO cost to me while the car was under Plan and it was between scheduled services.

Anyway, I will do the checks myself and go to a TWT to check the battery voltage, condition of tyres and brakes, and other basic checks. Luckily the fluids are easily accessible to check. If there are issues, then I will milk that maintenance plan at Porsche. Also, putting the car on a ramp will be good to assess under undercarriage issues.

Anyway, just a mild rant.

I am also thinking whether I should let the Plan lapse next year and just do aftermarket maintenance at one of the reputable independents. Will reassess next year.

 

[MR_Y]

As posted elsewhere, I have decided to start looking for a GT type crusier. I am not going to pay more than a new base Golf GTI, so my scope is limited to pre 2018 performance Coupe models. Not looking for full fat M or AMG, just something with decent power and comfort. Sadly, the 440i was too refined for me. C43 Coupe may be better (I drove the sedan and fell in love with the sound and grunt and stability, though not with its sedan looks). Sadly, C43 coupes are not easy to find at my price point.

A 911 would be great, but the ones I would go for are way over buget for now.

However, I still have a nice drive or two planned for my Cayman in the meanwhile.

 

[MR_Y]

A bit of a rambling update....

So, I ended up test driving a 2017 C43 AMG Coupe, 38,000km and in mint condition. The car was comfortable and quick. Sounded great and handled decently for a mild AMG. Much quicker and a bit louder than the 2017 440i GC I tested earlier. Exhaust pops and bangs were very addictive and the car balances comfort and sportiness really well - a proper sporty Grand Tourer. Torque on tap, from low down, made it effortless to drive quickly.

The trade in on the Cayman was not great at MB, so I called up Porsche and they offered me exactly what I paid for my car back in Jan 2021(these cars are in high demand). I haggled MB a bit and got a deal that made sense.

The numbers worked out and I was going to finalise the paper work next week.

But when I saw a C200 AMG Line Coupe in the parking lot that looked the same as the C43, I realised that I was making a mistake...

The C43 is brilliant, but it is still a C Class underneath. I was trading in my Cayman for a C Class. Also, it dawned upon me that my Cayman is keeping its resale value. If I had bought a C43 a year ago, it would have depreciated. Why would I trade in an asset, that keeps its nominal value, for one that loses its value and does not look that much different from lesser models in its range?

This what I call the Porsche dilemma. Once you own one, it is very difficult to give it up and go to another car brand. After dating a supermodel, you are really spoiled for life...

Yes, I am finding it difficult to enjoy the Cayman on our poorly maintained roads. Also, as I get older I am yearning for more Grand Touring comfort. Also, it is not a car that you can enjoy with your family, which minimises the time you can really spend with the car.

So, this is a very first world dilemma.

There are other used contenders that I thought about:
- A TTRS (while having some space for kids and having basically a low hatchback seating position) is just too raw. Though, it will hold its resale well.
- a 6 series is too luxury-oriented and quite large to be fun to drive.
- An RS5 is a good compromise, but is still a fancy A4 underneath and will not hold any solid resale value. A brilliant car though, just not a good investment.
- A Mustang Mach 1 may fit the bill, but that is more muscle car GT than a fine handling European GT car. A used one, at a decent price, may hold its value well enough though.

It can be argued that a proper M or AMG car may be the answer. An M4 or C63S Coupe is more comfortable and properly usable over a variety of road surfaces than a Cayman. They also have okay resale values (if you buy one used at s good price) and have enough mechanical and cosmetic details to differentiate them from their lesser 3 series and C Class siblings. But, proper M and AMG cars, at least those with low mileage and in decent condition, are quite expensive and are overlapping 991 911 prices. And that is the light bulb moment...

I realise that I need a 911, preferably a 991 Carrera S. Yes, it has tiny seats in the rear, but that can at least fit a kid. Also, the 991 (non GT3 models) has moved on to being more of a Grand Tourer, with the Cayman taking on the truer sports car mantle.

Unfortunately, I will need a good number of years before I can step up to a 991.

In the meantime, there is nothing out there from another brand, at my price point, that can give me the Porsche positives (solid resale, proper sports car looks and feel) AND be a Grand Tourer.

Yes, resale is not everything, but if you already have an asset that is holding its value, why get rid of it? Rather live with its oddities and save up for a proper upgrade in future.

Anyway, just some Sunday morning ramblings of an old man...

Wikipedia: "A grand tourer (GT) is a type of sports car that is designed for high speed and long-distance driving, due to a combination of performance and luxury attributes."

 

[adamr]

A bit of a rambling update....

So, I ended up test driving a 2017 C43 AMG Coupe, 38,000km and in mint condition. The car was comfortable and quick. Sounded great and handled decently for a mild AMG. Much quicker and a bit louder than the 2017 440i GC I tested earlier. Exhaust pops and bangs were very addictive and the car balances comfort and sportiness really well - a proper sporty Grand Tourer. Torque on tap, from low down, made it effortless to drive quickly.

The trade in on the Cayman was not great at MB, so I called up Porsche and they offered me exactly what I paid for my car back in Jan 2021(these cars are in high demand). I haggled MB a bit and got a deal that made sense.

The numbers worked out and I was going to finalise the paper work next week.

But when I saw a C200 AMG Line Coupe in the parking lot that looked the same as the C43, I realised that I was making a mistake...

The C43 is brilliant, but it is still a C Class underneath. I was trading in my Cayman for a C Class. Also, it dawned upon me that my Cayman is keeping its resale value. If I had bought a C43 a year ago, it would have depreciated. Why would I trade in an asset, that keeps its nominal value, for one that loses its value and does not look that much different from lesser models in its range?

This what I call the Porsche dilemma. Once you own one, it is very difficult to give it up and go to another car brand. After dating a supermodel, you are really spoiled for life...

Yes, I am finding it difficult to enjoy the Cayman on our poorly maintained roads. Also, as I get older I am yearning for more Grand Touring comfort. Also, it is not a car that you can enjoy with your family, which minimises the time you can really spend with the car.

So, this is a very first world dilemma.

There are other used contenders that I thought about:
- A TTRS (while having some space for kids and having basically a low hatchback seating position) is just too raw. Though, it will hold its resale well.
- a 6 series is too luxury-oriented and quite large to be fun to drive.
- An RS5 is a good compromise, but is still a fancy A4 underneath and will not hold any solid resale value. A brilliant car though, just not a good investment.
- A Mustang Mach 1 may fit the bill, but that is more muscle car GT than a fine handling European GT car. A used one, at a decent price, may hold its value well enough though.

It can be argued that a proper M or AMG car may be the answer. An M4 or C63S Coupe is more comfortable and properly usable over a variety of road surfaces than a Cayman. They also have okay resale values (if you buy one used at s good price) and have enough mechanical and cosmetic details to differentiate them from their lesser 3 series and C Class siblings. But, proper M and AMG cars, at least those with low mileage and in decent condition, are quite expensive and are overlapping 991 911 prices. And that is the light bulb moment...

I realise that I need a 911, preferably a 991 Carrera S. Yes, it has tiny seats in the rear, but that can at least fit a kid. Also, the 991 (non GT3 models) has moved on to being more of a Grand Tourer, with the Cayman taking on the truer sports car mantle.

Unfortunately, I will need a good number of years before I can step up to a 991.

In the meantime, there is nothing out there from another brand, at my price point, that can give me the Porsche positives (solid resale, proper sports car looks and feel) AND be a Grand Tourer.

Yes, resale is not everything, but if you already have an asset that is holding its value, why get rid of it? Rather live with its oddities and save up for a proper upgrade in future.

Anyway, just some Sunday morning ramblings of an old man...

Wikipedia: "A grand tourer (GT) is a type of sports car that is designed for high speed and long-distance driving, due to a combination of performance and luxury attributes."

1st world problems …


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[Salt]

From my point of view - VERY VERY few cars can be considered an investment - very few may pick up resale for a bit but not over the long run. If you can get the same money for your car now as last year Jan - it still depreciated - Rand value plus maintenance costs - I think you mentioned somewhere you paid for a plan extension. So perhaps put that out of your mind.

I think you have an awesome car - enjoy it!

 

[GravityLee]

A proper M car which looks (much) better than its lesser siblings, has usable rear seats, and is easily driveable on our roads is an M2 Comp.

Just throwing that out in case the itch is still there

 

[MR_Y]

From my point of view - VERY VERY few cars can be considered an investment - very few may pick up resale for a bit but not over the long run. If you can get the same money for your car now as last year Jan - it still depreciated - Rand value plus maintenance costs - I think you mentioned somewhere you paid for a plan extension. So perhaps put that out of your mind.

I think you have an awesome car - enjoy it!

Agree. I am not extending the Plan next year and will use RS Motorsport or Cafe9.

 

[MR_Y]

A proper M car which looks (much) better than its lesser siblings, has usable rear seats, and is easily driveable on our roads is an M2 Comp.

Just throwing that out in case the itch is still there

Dude. Totally agree...
The M2 Comp is pure Nirvana.
But, out of my price range

 

[TBP88]

Dude. Totally agree...
The M2 Comp is pure Nirvana.
But, out of my price range

It's extremely painful that the M2 is now "out of the price range" for somebody who owns a Porsche!



Having tested one, and having tested the current gen Caymans (not your gen but anyway), the difference in feel on the interior is light years apart. At that point a kitted M2 was R1.2m and a Cayman GTS was around R1.45m - unless you *HAD* to have a backseat opting for an M2 would be a pretty far out there choice (to me anyway).

 

[TBP88]

As an aside - the 991 prices are coming down pretty fast, right now 991.1 and 997.2 prices are pretty much on top of one another, a mid-mile 991.1 C2S is around the same a low mile 997.2 GTS (both around R850k-1m). Pricey for sure, but a really sweet spot in size/speed/function relative to the newer cars.

 

[npower]

Pretty much agree with the Porsche dilemma. The only acceptable replacement for me would be a 911, but they way out of my price range! Even if I got an acceptable price for my Boxster, what could I replace it with?

 

[MR_Y]

Pretty much agree with the Porsche dilemma. The only acceptable replacement for me would be a 911, but they way out of my price range! Even if I got an acceptable price for my Boxster, what could I replace it with?

Hope your gearbox is treating you well!

 

[npower]

Hope your gearbox is treating you well!

Touch wood, lol! I've moved homes. The Boxster is now nice and snug in a garage.

 

[MR_Y]

A bit of a premature update and a teaser...

I have seen a replacement.
Just need some checks done next week. The car was driven by an ex Simola Hill climb champion, but he did not drive it up that hill. Given the mileage, seems like a semi garage queen.
Not a traditional sports car, but quicker than the Cayman, and a bit bonkers (more crazy than a 340i, but not as hardcore as an M3).
Significantly cheaper than the Cayman, but insurance and maintenance are slightly higher.
Details to follow in the coming weeks.
Even if I don't get it, still worthwhile creating a seperate post on how I ended up going down this bonkers rabbit hole.

 

[zabbo]

What a tease

 

[TBP88]

A bit of a premature update and a teaser...

I have seen a replacement.
Just need some checks done next week. The car was driven by an ex Simola Hill climb champion, but he did not drive it up that hill. Given the mileage, seems like a semi garage queen.
Not a traditional sports car, but quicker than the Cayman, and a bit bonkers (more crazy than a 340i, but not as hardcore as an M3).
Significantly cheaper than the Cayman, but insurance and maintenance are slightly higher.
Details to follow in the coming weeks.
Even if I don't get it, still worthwhile creating a seperate post on how I ended up going down this bonkers rabbit hole.

Haha, at least give us something more to go on - a pic or 17.

 

[MR_Y]

What a tease

that's what she said

 

[CK4LIFE]

Suspense already killing me...🤣

 

[gavsadler]

I’ll put R50 on something from AMG or S/RS stable…

Looking forward to the updates

 

[Spanky]

Merc C63S is my guess 🤞