RX8 = Porsche Cayman @ 1/2 the Price
#77
donno. FL meets have pretty much stopped. I didn't drive my car much in Jan cause of the transmission issue, and I haven't driven my car much this month since I sold the int-x and am waiting for the AP to arrive.
#78
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btw... in a jan 08 AMLS race the #70 RX-8 of the speed source team came in ahead of not 1... not 2 but 3 Porsche 911GT3's ending their domination of this series for the past few years. there was also an 8 in 5 and 10 place respetively.
go get your pistons... i'll keep my rotary.
so don't go bragging about that outside of this board
#79
The RX-8 out handles the Cayman (S), horsepower is an easily improved upon value. Chassis design is not. I guarantee the handling difference isn't because Mazda used more expensive components than Porsche either.
#80
I thought I posted in this thread, but after re reading it I guess I did not. I feel like I am in a very unique spot to make this comparison. You see I own an 8, yet I work as the internet manager for a Porsche dealership.
First off let me say that both cars perform very similar. This was very evident to me the first time I got behind the wheel of a Cayman. The acceleration feels faster in the 8, the braking feels stronger in the Cayman. Cornering feels a bit crisper in the Porsche, but at the limit I like the 8 better, it seems to be easer to handle, but that could just be the fact that I am alot more familar driving my 8 in those situations.
I absolutly LOVE the way the Cayman looks, even more so than I like the looks of the 911. In my opinion it is the best looking car that Porsche builds short of the Carerra GT (which is no longer produced) The RX-8 is also a very sexy looking car with a shape that is uniqly its own, which is something I really like, plus you get a FUNCTIONAL back seat.
With the exception of the backseat, the interior has to go to Porsche. The materials are of the highest quality and hand assembled, but thats just another reason you are paying so much more. And like someone else mentioned earlier, that engine screaming in your ear from behind the seat really makes an impression on you.
One thing I should mention though is even though I am comparing the base Cayman to the RX-8, anyone with half a brain would never buy anything less than the "S" model with 295hp and the manual trans. There is a night and day diffrence in fun factor, but to be really fun the Porsche really needs another 30 hp.
After driving the Cayman for the first time it really made me appreciate my Mazda. Here I have a car that drives and feels like a sports car that costs $20k+ more money. Kudo's to Mazda for pulling off such an achievment. Now if they would only give us another 50 hp
First off let me say that both cars perform very similar. This was very evident to me the first time I got behind the wheel of a Cayman. The acceleration feels faster in the 8, the braking feels stronger in the Cayman. Cornering feels a bit crisper in the Porsche, but at the limit I like the 8 better, it seems to be easer to handle, but that could just be the fact that I am alot more familar driving my 8 in those situations.
I absolutly LOVE the way the Cayman looks, even more so than I like the looks of the 911. In my opinion it is the best looking car that Porsche builds short of the Carerra GT (which is no longer produced) The RX-8 is also a very sexy looking car with a shape that is uniqly its own, which is something I really like, plus you get a FUNCTIONAL back seat.
With the exception of the backseat, the interior has to go to Porsche. The materials are of the highest quality and hand assembled, but thats just another reason you are paying so much more. And like someone else mentioned earlier, that engine screaming in your ear from behind the seat really makes an impression on you.
One thing I should mention though is even though I am comparing the base Cayman to the RX-8, anyone with half a brain would never buy anything less than the "S" model with 295hp and the manual trans. There is a night and day diffrence in fun factor, but to be really fun the Porsche really needs another 30 hp.
After driving the Cayman for the first time it really made me appreciate my Mazda. Here I have a car that drives and feels like a sports car that costs $20k+ more money. Kudo's to Mazda for pulling off such an achievment. Now if they would only give us another 50 hp
I am surprised that you thought the 8 felt faster - I wonder if it's because of weight or ???
I knew the braking on stock cars was really close - I think 60-0 in 111 ft for the Cayman and 117 for the 8 (though I've read as little as 112 for the 8 somewhere).
Although I've never sat in the Cayman, the gauges and dash look minimalistic compared to the 8, which is not a bad thing by any means. The Cayman has a real oil pressure gauge, and has an analog speedometer (although the digital speedometer on the 8 has SURPRISINGLY grown on me in the 2.5 years I've owned it).
You say the materials in the Cayman are really high end. I don't doubt it at all. That's not to say I think the 8 has shoddy interior by any stretch. In fact, I think fit and finish in the 8 is pretty decent, with the exception of the usual issues that we like to complain about here (visors, center arm rest/compartment).
Thanks for your input.
To everyone else, I never said the 8 was better than the Cayman. I happen to love the Cayman and I think that it's a truly beautiful car. Someone here remarked that on paper, performance may be close between the 8 and the Cayman, but paper specs mean little.
While that's true to some degree, and even though I haven't driven the Cayman, I think the similarities in weight distribution, acceleration, handling, and braking between stock cars is remarkable given that the 8 is priced some 20k less. As for steering, call me crazy, but I find the steering feel of the 8 to be superb, and yes, I have driven many other comparable cars, so I can't imagine the Cayman having any distinct advantage there - if it does, then it must be truly sublime.
But maybe some of you are right. Maybe I would completely rethink the merit of even making this comparison and mentioning the price difference between the two if I did drive the Porsche.
But I somehow doubt it.
Also, I mentioned earlier that the Cayman S had FI. I was wrong and am glad you pointed that out. I am surprised how much Porsche charges for that letter, though, given that Porsche officially lists the 0-60 time of the base Cayman at 5.9 and the S at 5.1. That's pretty significant, though, I guess.
#81
Until you have driven both the Caymen and the RX8 especially with a little bit of excitement you'll not be able to judge them. The Caymen provides a totally different experience and its very positive.
The real question is whether it provides $20,000 worth of enjoyment.....That simply depends on how much $20,000 is worth to you.
I like the Caymen much better, just not $20,000 better.
The real question is whether it provides $20,000 worth of enjoyment.....That simply depends on how much $20,000 is worth to you.
I like the Caymen much better, just not $20,000 better.
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I can't stand the Caymann. Porsche intentionally built it to be slower than a 911, when in actuality it could be faster. One of the most notable failings is the omission of a decent differential, because with one it could out-handle a Carrera. The reason the RX8 can keep up at half the price is because Porsche built it to fit in their model range, not to be an awesome sports car. Then they decided to charge corvette money for it, because they're Porsche and the badge and "heritage" are worth 20 grand.
Originally Posted by kartweb
Until you have driven both the Caymen and the RX8 especially with a little bit of excitement you'll not be able to judge them. The Caymen provides a totally different experience and its very positive.
The real question is whether it provides $20,000 worth of enjoyment.....That simply depends on how much $20,000 is worth to you.
I like the Caymen much better, just not $20,000 better.
The real question is whether it provides $20,000 worth of enjoyment.....That simply depends on how much $20,000 is worth to you.
I like the Caymen much better, just not $20,000 better.
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The man made a good point, and I've confirmed it through several other sources... why is Clarkson less valid of a source than anyone else? I didn't quote him directly and I happen to agree with him here. I think less of any manufacturer that holds back their other models to not compete with their "cash cow" halo car, the same way GM balked at a Fiero Turbo because it would have thrashed the Corvette. Porsche neutered the Caymann the same way, and it falls short of other cars at its price point as a result.
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Does walking on the mars offer twice the experience, sights, sound, etc of walking on the moon? Wait, what??
He's not saying that the performance must double to make a double in price justifiable, just that it wouldn't be worth it to him to drop $20k more for the porsche. If I had 40k I sure know I wouldnt be buying a base cayman
edit: Who is this guy anyways, crazy s2k driver
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The man made a good point, and I've confirmed it through several other sources... why is Clarkson less valid of a source than anyone else? I didn't quote him directly and I happen to agree with him here. I think less of any manufacturer that holds back their other models to not compete with their "cash cow" halo car, the same way GM balked at a Fiero Turbo because it would have thrashed the Corvette. Porsche neutered the Caymann the same way, and it falls short of other cars at its price point as a result.
The Cayman is nothing more than a Boxster with a fixed roof...
I disagree that it falls short of other cars at it's price point.
BTW: what makes you think the RX-8 wasn't built to a price? Every car out there is, save for the super/hyper cars.
Last edited by alexisthemovie; 03-11-2008 at 09:13 PM.
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It's called having an intellectual discussion, not trolling. I LOVE the RX-8, I just happen to know a lot of people who don't feel the same way.
#91
"disappointed" ? I don't think 95% of the buyers are disappointed in their RX8s.
The original question was something like 'Is a Cayman worth twice a RX8?'
If you ask me the answer is no.
If you ask the actual buyers the answer might be yes.
Mazda sold 579 RX8s in Jan. 08 AND Feb. 08!
Porsche sold 539 Caymans in Jan. 08 at twice the price!
The original question was something like 'Is a Cayman worth twice a RX8?'
If you ask me the answer is no.
If you ask the actual buyers the answer might be yes.
Mazda sold 579 RX8s in Jan. 08 AND Feb. 08!
Porsche sold 539 Caymans in Jan. 08 at twice the price!
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"disappointed" ? I don't think 95% of the buyers are disappointed in their RX8s.
The original question was something like 'Is a Cayman worth twice a RX8?'
If you ask me the answer is no.
If you ask the actual buyers the answer might be yes.
Mazda sold 579 RX8s in Jan. 08 AND Feb. 08!
Porsche sold 539 Caymans in Jan. 08 at twice the price!
The original question was something like 'Is a Cayman worth twice a RX8?'
If you ask me the answer is no.
If you ask the actual buyers the answer might be yes.
Mazda sold 579 RX8s in Jan. 08 AND Feb. 08!
Porsche sold 539 Caymans in Jan. 08 at twice the price!
I didn't say "buyers" of the RX8. Clearly, if you like the car, you are going to purchase it. Many people drive the RX8 and don't like it.
I am not surprised at that figure at all. If the RX8 lived up to it's expectations, then it would sell much better. That, plus the upcoming new version, plus the fact that it's just a "different" car, mean it won't sell as well as, say, a BMW 3-series.
#93
I had a 308 Quattrovalvole about 15 years ago and it rocked - figuratively and literally. Driving it for an hour on a concrete freeway was almost miserable, yet put it through the paces on a twisty road through the Piedmonts and it was an extension of your own body. Don't forget to drive on down to the Dealership (70 miles for me, & I lived in Raleigh NC) get those genuine Ferrari parts for the 30,000 mile service. (2) Timing belts at a paltry $130 EACH. Air Filter (paper) $90. The list went on to about $1000. I drove the car for about a year and sold it.
I've driven and owned a few 911's never a GT3. 95% of the time I liked the 911 better, but that other 5% the Ferrari had on it was priceless.
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I am probably the biggest JC fan out there...but the point itself wasn't really valid to begin with. Where was all the complaint this whole time that the Boxster has been out?
The Cayman is nothing more than a Boxster with a fixed roof...
I disagree that it falls short of other cars at it's price point.
BTW: what makes you think the RX-8 wasn't built to a price? Every car out there is, save for the super/hyper cars.
The Cayman is nothing more than a Boxster with a fixed roof...
I disagree that it falls short of other cars at it's price point.
BTW: what makes you think the RX-8 wasn't built to a price? Every car out there is, save for the super/hyper cars.
Oh, and he's not trolling - its true, many people (not exactly 95% of the population though) were disappointed with the 8 at its release (people who were expecting a *new* rx7, people expecting 250hp, etc). He spends much of his off time hanging out at a rotary shop so thats all he hears though
Alex, your stubborn ways are going to get this thread locked :O
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Complaint of the Boxster as a poor man's porsche? See Series Three Episode Two - s2k/Z4/boxster :D
Oh, and he's not trolling - its true, many people (not exactly 95% of the population though) were disappointed with the 8 at its release (people who were expecting a *new* rx7, people expecting 250hp, etc). He spends much of his off time hanging out at a rotary shop so thats all he hears though
Alex, your stubborn ways are going to get this thread locked :O
Oh, and he's not trolling - its true, many people (not exactly 95% of the population though) were disappointed with the 8 at its release (people who were expecting a *new* rx7, people expecting 250hp, etc). He spends much of his off time hanging out at a rotary shop so thats all he hears though
Alex, your stubborn ways are going to get this thread locked :O
BTW if they lock this thread for having a discussion in the "RX-8 Discussion" forum, then this forum is hopeless haha.
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I am probably the biggest JC fan out there...but the point itself wasn't really valid to begin with. Where was all the complaint this whole time that the Boxster has been out?
The Cayman is nothing more than a Boxster with a fixed roof...
I disagree that it falls short of other cars at it's price point.
BTW: what makes you think the RX-8 wasn't built to a price? Every car out there is, save for the super/hyper cars.
The Cayman is nothing more than a Boxster with a fixed roof...
I disagree that it falls short of other cars at it's price point.
BTW: what makes you think the RX-8 wasn't built to a price? Every car out there is, save for the super/hyper cars.
I know the RX8 is built to a price, but the car is as good as Mazda could make it at that price. They're not leaving any bits off to stop it competing with anything else. The Caymann's price, much like everyone else about it, is just supposed to be between two other figures.
Last edited by Rootski; 03-11-2008 at 11:08 PM.
#98
It seems like Mazda and Porsche have always kind of been "competing" against each other. On the racetrack obviously, but the FC and the 944, the FD was compared to 911s a lot, and now the RX-8 and Cayman.
Mazda always seems to win though!!
Mazda always seems to win though!!
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Only stated it (like rootski said) in ref to the 911 because you said you had never heard complaint of the likes of the boxster "this whole time its been out" - of course you wouldn't have, it hasn't been on such a level with the cayman until recently (you know that). My comment was just regarding that although not necessarily intentionally slower, it still received criticism as a poor man's porsche relative to the 911.
The thread lock comment was a joke...