Don’t shoot me - Boxster/Cayman prestige?

[Dabz]

This may ruffle some feathers and I apologise to those who take offence, but two people have already asked me this same thing recently.

I’m fairly new to Porsche ownership (3yrs) but long term petrolhead. I’ve always been told that the Boxster/Cayman is the “poor man’s Porsche” and carries far less prestige than most other Porsche models. “entry level model” and “not a real Porsche” seem to be posted on Instagram a lot too.

so, with the 718 EV coming soon, we hope, are these sentiments true, do they carry any weight? Does it even matter to anyone other than internet keyboard warriors?

Asking to see if there’s a healthy respectful debate to be had about this and hoping this doesn’t descend in to throwing muck at eachother. It would be nice to get some nice early debate in this 718 EV forum

Personally I’d love an electric or BHEV 911 but that probably makes me strange, so in the absence of one of those I’m excited to drive the 718 EV and see how fun it is

 

[atebit]

Actually iirc the Macan is (was?) actually the cheapest entry point, at least in NA.

Could care less about “prestige”. Not everyone tracks their Porsche. A Base 718 is plenty of car for me, I expect the EV to be more car than I need.

Don’t be “this guy”:

 

[Kakatus10]

I've always been of the opinion the only real Porsche is a non-SUV Porsche. So, all models aside from the SUVs

 

[atebit]

I've always been of the opinion the only real Porsche is a non-SUV Porsche. So, all models aside from the SUVs

 

[RingoDingo]

Among car enthusiasts, I’d say most recognize the mid-engine cars as the best handling and pure driving models. While rear engine vs mid-engine no longer matters for EVs, I wouldn’t sweat the prestige thing. Most Porsche snobs won’t rate you either way with an EV and most non-car enthusiasts don’t know one model from the other. Get what you like best.

 

[Dabz]

Get what you like best.

In my case it seems like "get what your daughter likes best" - I have a very climate-conscious 11yr old who doesn't understand why I would opt for a 992.1 GTS over waiting for a 718 EV - why would you want to burn fossil fuels Daddy? As most fathers can probably attest, daughters usually win

The only consideration is that we can squeeze her in to the back of a 911 where the 718 will almost certainly be 2 seats only

 

[irrelevant]

I have a C7 Corvette in my garage. I already don't care what the Porsche snobs think.

 

[daveo4EV]

the only thing wrong with Boxster/Cayman is the existence of the 911…if the 911 didn't exist Boxster/Cayman would be top-tier…

Porsche maintains the difference specifically to have two different sports car entry points…both cars are excellent for their market segments and goals…but one will be "less" than the other by careful design…

iPhone
iPhone Pro

both excellent products, but one is better than the other, and one cost is priced lower than the other…and has different engineering trade offs and designs…

I got a rare opportunity in 2022 to drive a GT4 RS back to back against a 911 GT3 at the Nurburgring - literally back to back - I had just completed a hot Lap on day 2 during open track session on the ring in. GT4 RS - and as I was pulling through the "pit area" prepping another go round - my instructor (at my request) presented a 911 GT3 - so I got out and then did a lead follow with him in the 911 GT3…it was as close to a controlled A/B test as one can get with out putting in a lot of effort - even automotive journalist rarely get an opportunity to drive these cars back to back - if they have driven them both it's normally months apart, different conditions and even different track etc…

having driven both cars in anger back to back same day same weather some conditions same driver - same experience level - same mental state…I prefer the GT3 - for me it's just better "sorted"

but the GT4 RS/Cayman platform is still simply excellent - but the GT3 for me just felt more planted and had more to give - but the GT4 RS was lively and spunky and a bit playful - the GT3 was button down professional grade let's get this done with a bit of aggressive goal seeking…focus is what the GT3 requires/demands - the GT4 required engagement and a willingness to push…

but I had a blast in the GT4 RS…iPhone vs. iPhone Pro - both excellent products - but they are different by design and priced accordingly and one product has the peak engineering components and the other doesn't…

I also drove my wife's 2015 Boxster S one day at Laguna - my local track and one I'm very very familiar with - it was such a "hoot" - much easier car to drive and a bit more "fun" than my 2018 GT3 of time - you can basically drive a Boxster flat out at laguna seca everywhere…where as a GT3 will bit you "hard" if you go to power at the wrong place/wrong turn at Laguna - the Boxster on track was simply excellent, fun, compliant and much more consequence free and forgiving vs. the GT3 - it was a more relaxing drive and simply faultless…simple inputs not stupidity and you can basically just show up and drive it nearly full beans…and not be stressed…mid engined, a bit down on power, but still fun and light and toss able … what a car!!!

there will always be a divide of the 718 vs. 911 - it's by design and carefully engineered and managed to be that way by Porsche - it is the goal that the two products represent two different tiers - but both are excellent - the only solution to own both.

 

[daveo4EV]

"Jeremy Clarkson famously wrote in his review for The Sunday Times: "I've always thought that the Boxsterand the Cayman were bought exclusively by people who could not afford a 911... Buy one, and all you're doing is saying that you haven't achieved your life goals." He regularly made similar remarks on Top Geartargeting the junior Porsches. [1, 2]"

I don't think he's wrong, but he does miss the point - but Clarkson's not that stupid but in essence most Cayman/Boxster owners probably would have a 911 if they could afford one - most serious Porsche owners own both and multiple examples of each - because each car Porsche makes is worth experiencing for itself…

 

[daveo4EV]

2018/2019 - I forget exact year - buddy and I are attending Porsche Ice Driving in Montreal Canada

NOTE: highly recommend this if you've never done - if you consider yourself a driver and have never done this - well then I'll suggest you don't know nothing - highly highly recommend this at least once - sign up and have fun - https://porscheexperience.ca/driving-experience/ice

let's just say this friend of mine was "not a fan" of the Boxster/Cayman group of vehicle's - he was full on 911 is the only worth while sports car - Boxster/Cayman are "sh*t" why would anyone own that crappy product?

day 1 of the ice driving - drifting, braking, slalom, Scandinavian flicks, etc…we do this in 911's (RWS and AWD) and Caymans…5+ hours of serious driving in ice/snow conditions on test tracks at speed with some "ooppps" and car control handling laid bare for all to see…

my anti-boxster/cayman must be a 911 friend is on the phone that night with his local sales guy buying/ordering a Cayman after spending most of the day in one in extreme handling conditions - he was amazed with the Cayman and simply thought it was stunning - he understood now both can be excellent but different. He still loved his 911's but he grew to appreciate the Boxster/Cayman's - all it took was actual seat time on ice in one to experience first hand how brilliant it is, and that includes back to back seat time in 911's - same conditions, same day, same activities - both cars are excellent - both are different…there is no better…there is only differences.