I've been shopping around and have come down to these two models. The C6 is brand new well equipped at $49,500 MSRP is $56k The Cayman S is lightly used '06 model with 4900 miles can be bought for $45,000 which seems like a great deal on a like new Cayman S. I like the Vette its got comfort and loads of power, but I dont like the idea of the depreciation hit it is going to take as soon as I drive it off, looking at used prices I'll probably loose around $6 to $8k the first year alone. It seems like they loose a noticable amount more value compared to other sports cars. I would like to find a nice lightly used 07 vette to avoid this, but I cant find one with the options I am interested in. Mainly 6speed and either Z51 package or a their variable suspension. Most are autos without the suspension/brakes. The Cayman doesnt have the power, but it's got the handling. And I am pretty sure at that price that I am going to dodge some depreciation, immediate depreciation anyways. Seems like it is a little nicer made than the C6 as well. I noticed on the C6 the belt molding on the passenger door was turned in about 6", easy fix, but you have to wonder how they missed that. And when I popped the hood on the C6 the trim around the hood latch fell off. Again minor, but I wonder what else is waiting to come loose or not quite installed right. Any advice you guys can give would be appreciated, I've spent too much time tossing and turning at night this week...
Get the Vette. My friend works for Porsche here in FL and servicing the Cayman is a pain from what he tells me.
C6. But maybe a used 911 instead of the Cayman? Or if you are a afraid of the depreciation of a C6, why not buy a used C6?
As mentioned in another thread, I recently purchased a c6 z51 with NPP exhaust and this thing rocks! Reported performance statistics for the C6: Top speed 190mph.. Zero to 60mph in 4.1 seconds. The handling precision is awesome. The brakes are excellent. Best way to decide.. Drive both cars and then decide.. I'm sure you won't be tracking either car very much but if you do? Realize the c6 Z51 will according to car and driver track faster than the Audi R8, Porsche Twin Turbo......Thats pretty impressive Can you say the same about the cayman S? Its a great car but by Porsches iniative (SP) they do not want the Cayman S to exceed the 911's performance... I think that is a great failing in the cayman s.. Porsche held it back from being the best it could be.. (changing the gearing so it didn't accelerate as quickly as a 911 even during a test drive at a dealership) Thats the downfall of the cayman S .. IMO .. Porsche specifically put forth the effort to keep it less than a 911.. I personally find that disappointing. and a mistake for the brand. .. (JMO) Your buying a sports car so you need to decide for yourself which car better suits your interests.. It sounds to me as if your leaning towards the porsche and if so...Its a great sports car too... The porsche mystique is well deserved. With that said.. Check road and tracks comparision of the Ferrari F430, Aston Martin AMV8, the Corvette Z51 and the Audi R8. Best engine according to road and track was the corvette LS3.. ..They loved the car. There's a reason. Its an amazing powerplant, an amazing chassis at an amazing price.. Add all these things up and decide which way you want to go. Good luck and both are excellent sports cars.. One of them gives you supercar performance. The 5 year /100 thousand mile drivetrain warranty is pretty cool too. No wrong answer with either car.. Have fun! JB
I was never a 'vette fan but when I read the base '08 Vette beat the 997TT in terms of lap times at VIR (Car & Driver) I was shocked...to Chevy's credit they've been racing the car and winning...yes you'll take a huge deprciation but as someone else said in that price range you may want to check out a nice 328 that will go up in value while you drive it... If you want the best bang/buck/supercar performance then the the Vette it is.... If you value refinement, excellent build quality then the Cayman is your choice but I'd look at some used 99Xs; someone told me 996TTs are coming down in quickly but still may be more $$$$ than your budget... If you want a car that has timeless styling, weekend fun and will be worth more than you paid for it the 328 is the way to go.... Not a mutt in the bunch......
Yes many many times... I'm kind of shooting for performance numbers with this purchase. An F car that can hang with the C6 is a little more than I want to shell out right now. I like the power of the C6 a little better and the feel of the Cayman a little better. Worst part about the vette is the depreciation, but I shouldnt be so hung up on that I guess. It's not like this is a wise financial decision either way...
Can't argue with the power of a C6 vette for the $$$. Can't throw a rock without hitting one, either. But then you can't argue with Excellence (Porsche only mag) calling the Cayman the best handling Porsche that doesn't wear a "GT" badge either, which has pretty much been backed up by every other car mag out there. And the Cayman is easily the best looking car Porsche makes right now, IMO. (No, I don't have one. I have the roofless, but RUF-yes version.) Why would you worry about service access on a car with a 4 year warranty? Oil is easy enough to change, brake fluid/pads are easy. As the guy said...drive them and decide. The Cayman will surely feel lacking in power compared to the vette, but if power per $$$ was your only concern, you would have decided already.
You need to get past the depreciation deal on a Corvette, they hold their value very well. The Cayman S you are quoting hasn't done so well, however. A 2006 Cayman S probably stickered for 58K, stripped (they are $59,100 + destination now). I have never seen a Cayman S for less than $65K new around here so simple math tells us this 2 year old Cayman S at $45K probably took a $20K hit. Conversly, I traded my 2005 Corvette Convertible last September (3 model years old) for a 2008 convertible. My 2005 stickered at 58K and I was given $41K for it on trade (and $4K off the new car). Jimmy
Porsche is a better daily driver I think. A little more supportive and comfortable. It is also after all a P-Car. The Corvette is so fast and slick. Just as fun as a daily driver. Much faster and more useful for the money. As long as the Vette is Z51 and 6-speed I say that is one hell of a choice. I love Porsche's, but, have grown up with Corvette's all around... The Porsche will hold up better to more use, while it will hold better value. Especially since the Cayman S is viewed more as an enthusiast buy. Where as with the Corvette you have a lot of the same car on the roads, and even worse you have a lot of stupid people that buy them! Porsche vs. Corvette... Will it ever end? hahaha NOPE!
two years I was in your shoes. I drive a 06 c6 with the z51 kit (zo6 rear sway bar added) The che'vette was rated as one of the best for resale! mine has 35k miles on it, 20 to 30 people have driven it (car buds) two track days, two canyon runs the only cash spent is oil and tires so far (tires are 2k for the goodyear supercars)
The C6 wins hands down on performance numbers. The Cayman S is more about feel and balance. What matters more to you?
DO you like performance or cruising? That's the question. Does it matter what the neighbors think? Will you hit the track any?
I have only driven one of the cars so I cannot give you a good evaluation, but then Cayman S is one fun car on a twisty track. Like others have said, it is down on power and there are definitely times when I would have liked more power on the track, but the Cayman really put a huge smile on my face after a few laps. It really is balanced very well and feels incredible on the track. Mark
Cayman S is the 'smarter' buy here. As you found, and others have said, GM cars still aren't built like a Porsche, and you'll be paying steep depreciation on a very common car (C6s are everywhere.) Depending on how you plan to drive it, I also think the Porsche's quality and balanced performance are going to matter more on a day-to-day basis. If you want a Corvette after a couple of years (after two faster versions have made the current one yesterday's news anyway...), there will be a larger population of used ones around with the options you want and maybe Chevy will have debugged it better by then.
Bullfighter, If you look @ the resale factor, I don't think that there's much differance. If you look at the cost of maintance, The Che'vette rules. have you driven both cars? yes the finish is nicer on the P car's interior. but it's missing a ****load of this fine thing that a truck engine can provide, TORQUE 405 foot pounds of torque. it changes the way you drive the car. I do recomend the z-51 package, plus upgrading the rear sway bar to the z-06 bar to get around the lawyer mode of let the people crash front-end first bit. the bad part of owning the che'vette is the zaino corvette people and the midlife crisis jokes. I looked at buying a nice vintage ferrari in my price range, I could afford to buy it but the service cost was to great for wanting to drive it like I would
The Corvette is a great car, don't get me wrong. The only problem is that you said the resale factor, that there isn't much difference. There is and always will be a huge difference between the two. The average 06-07 Corvette sells for low to high 30's depending on mileage and options (most have good miles). The Cayman S will always sell better and at a higher price for 06-07 since they are the first years of the car. Currently they are selling in the low 40's to high 60's. It is just like the first years of the Corvette, they will always be higher priced. These are 2 cars hell bent on the top performance. I have had so many Corvette's in my family, i love them all. The Z51 C6 is the best Corvette ever! Hands down. My father has had one, and I loved it. But, with that said, I think that the Cayman S may be the better buy depending on what it will be used for.
show me the error of my ways. show me purchase price of both and resale of both and the percentage of loss?
The vette is just a "vette"- the cayman a porsche....just remember the type of public opinion of these two cars if it means anything... I have noticed the C6 gets a lot more attention than previous vettes. The Cayman will go un-noticed for the most part, however thrown on some rims and a drop and it becomes a looker as well, maybe even more than a 911, just cause it looks "different". I think both cars have ample enough power , obvioulsy the vette has more , but although the Cayman is the low-end , its far from a slouch in every day driving.
I don't know what it is but I just don't see that many vettes in Chicago, and even fewer C6's. Porsches are everywhere.
Here it is from edmunds.com true cost to own over 5 years. They don't have it for the Porsche though. Corvette 08 $56,000 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 5-yr Total Depreciation $8,953 $5,067 $4,455 $3,950 $3,546 $25,971 Financing $3,702 $2,996 $2,232 $1,405 $511 $10,846 Insurance $4,377 $4,530 $4,689 $4,853 $4,925 $23,374 Taxes& Fees $3,974 $62 $64 $64 $54 $4,218 Fuel $2,203 $2,269 $2,337 $2,407 $2,479 $11,695 Maintenance $154 $636 $372 $1,115 $2,331 $4,608 Repairs $0 $0 $215 $512 $743 $1,470 YearlyTotals $23,363 $15,560 $14,364 $14,306 $14,589 $82,182
