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      04-12-2013, 10:25 AM   #44
baege
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Drives: 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0 6MT
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gripster View Post
I went from a 2007 3.0si to the 911 and there's a big difference between to the two. Both deliver plenty of grins, but of a different sort.

Z4

Very tosssable - I could throw it into a corner and it always made me smile because it was easy to get the rear tires loose without the sense that I was going to spin the car. Some people complain about the electric steering, but I am not one of them. It always talked to me and I always knew what the front tires were doing. The Z4 was always such a hoot to drive quickly - I never felt like my point to point progress was going to set lap records, but it was always with a huge smile.

What became less satisfying over time was that the 3.0si engine seemed to run out of breath at the top of the rev range and how tiring the car was for long journeys. My wife refused to go anywhere over an hour in it, so I never got to use it as much as I wanted.

911

It's only been a few weeks and I am still exploring the 911 but here are my impressions thus far. Firstly there's a big jump from 255hp to 345hp. The car pulls really hard no matter what gear or what speed and that's seductive. It's easy to put yourself into license losing territory in the blink of an eye. Unlike some cars (e.g. 335i) the engine does not overwhelm the chassis. The car is all about grip - massive gobs of mechanical grip. It is just so composed through the twisties and I haven't been able to exceed it's limits responsibly on public roads.

It's a much bigger car though and you can really feel the weight when you carry speed into a turn. Moreover the weight is at all the back of the car and I am less confident on turn-in - I just don't get as much info through the steering wheel into a corner unless I am under hard braking. It can even feel floaty at times. The payoff is on the corner exit where the grip is simply outstanding and I can just fire the car out of the corner like a rocket. Here the joy is in the cars unfettered composure - it's just so capable and feels like it has so much more to give.

Shifter - this is sublime. It snicks so precisely than rowing through the gears is something that I will do just for fun. If you thought that the Z4 shifter was sweet (and I did) the Porsche is on a whole new level. I know that PDK is quicker on the 0-60 stopwatch, but I will keep my 3-pedals thank you very much.
Cheers on the review

Update: 2014 Cayman S Ordered, delivery late June or early July. I am gonna miss my Z4C big time, my fave car of all time to date. I don't think the Cayman will completely fill the void for the reasons I mention at the start of this thread, but I have no doubt it will be a lot a fun. Wish I could afford to have both.
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