Topgear review the Cayman S against the Z4 M Coupe. A nice read, with a great gallery!

This BMW Z4 M Coupe is eight feet wide. Well, not literally, but for the plucky young chap in the eye-wateringly yellow Porsche Cayman S currently some six inches off the Beemer's back bumper, there might as well be a pair of them lashed together side-by-side.

It's not that the Z4 M Coupe is cumbersome, just that while the Cayman is neatly knit-one, pearl-one between the brief straights and tight unsighted corners here in Portugal, the BMW is bounding around like a Labrador that's just stuck a wet paw into a three-phase generator.

Furtive glances in the rearview mirror confirm suspicions as to why the Cayman is all but mounting the BMW like some amorous block of Anchor Spreadable.

You can see the difference in the tactics at the wheel; while Cayman driver is at quarter-to-three and merely pointing the relevant thumb into the apex at precisely the right moment, Z4 M Coupe driver is palming the wheel into opposite lock with his right hand, trying to hook third with his left and hoping to God that there's nobody coming the other way.

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BM3W - 8/11/2006 5:08:00 PM

+1 Boost

PlanoA4...

Nice article. I knew this would be a street fight. I just didn't think the BMW Z4 M coupe would get knocked out. There is no doubt about it BMW has it's hands full against the Porsche Cayman.

Rupert - 8/11/2006 6:28:04 PM

+1 Boost

people say how they like the cayman, but i don't like it. looks contrived...
and to me it screams "can't afford a 911"
it's not a bad car, but on small coupes like that, i prefer the convertible version.

crackityjones - 8/11/2006 6:42:45 PM

+2 Boost

That's definitely true. Do you want the entry-level Porsche, or the top-of-the-line Z4?

I know the Cayman isn't "entry-level" but Rupert has a point.

With that said, you'll obviously go with what drives better. But I don't know if I'll ever drive a Porsche until I can "afford" to do it proper.

crackityjones - 8/11/2006 6:53:43 PM

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Yes, it does. And the fact that 911 owners will sneer at you at stoplights in your base Porsche does too :)

Rupert - 8/11/2006 6:54:27 PM

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if i couldn't afford a new 911, i wouldn't buy a cayman.
i'd buy a used 911. if i was concerned about age, i'd stick non-dating personalised plates on it (in the uk plates show a car's age very clearly with letters or more recently numbers).
40k pounds of cayman will buy you a very nice used 996.
it's the same reason why i wouldn't buy a range rover sport (poor man's range rover), bmw x3 (poor man's x5 and ugly) or slk (poor man's sl).
i'd pick even a last generation sl over an slk, far classier and better looking.
i'd have a boxster or z4 convertible, as they are considerably different from larger cars (boxster looks v different to 911 IMO and z4 isn't anything like 6 series)

crackityjones - 8/11/2006 11:36:37 PM

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My imagination's not big enough to get jealous over not owning an Enzo.

DarkOneForce - 8/12/2006 12:35:52 PM

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OK people did anyone bother to read the review ?!


[quote]
here are two cars that are totally different in character. The BMW is instantly more fun. It reminds you why you like driving, but is also capable of taking a road apart in a monstrous fashion.

The Porsche rewards precision and commitment rather than show-boating, but always feels like a car designed right from the outset to be a missile. You will, ultimately, be faster in the more nimble Cayman S.

It's a better performance car. But you will have more fun in the Z4 because it's the more exciting driver's car. Head says Porsche, heart says Z4 M Coupe.
[/quote]

The Z4 M Coupe isn't intended to go up against the Cayman S, it's a car for those people who loved the old, real, pre 996, 911s and who can't afford a GT3 RS or GT2 witch for them are the Porsches around worthy of the 911 badge.

BM3W - 8/14/2006 1:56:48 PM

+1 Boost

Will....

I beg to differ. I think the BMW Z4 Coupe looks better.