Need help deciding between Lotus and Cayman S

[Bubba1]

Your the same age as me (18 in 3 weeks) and you can afford these cars? Are you going to college? I smell drug money. I know kids in my grade who have 5 digits in their accounts from selling.

You're in no position to question how he acquired his cars given how you got both of yours completely free, including one that you totalled while showing off..

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

A couple that come to mind are the 350/370Z, the Mazdaspeed Miata, the Honda S2000 CR, hell even the Corvette C6 Z06 would be a cheaper alternative as would be the newer Shelby GT500 or Mustang Cobra.

Most of those cars you listed are more expensive than what the OP is looking at.Used Caymans are coming in below 30k, and same with a used Exige. Baller status doesn't really matter when the cars themselves are worth every penny.Tough choice... I love both cars. But being young I'd go for the Lotus as I'd be able to live with it's spartan accommodations at the moment.

[Watermelonwarrior]

I would buy the Lotus. Although your profile says you already decided on a '07 Cayman S.Modified by speedeast at 2:23 AM 4/8/2010

Well when I first sold my M3 I was set on a Cayman and iv actually bought 2 of them at the auction. I always do a PSI(post sale inspection) after the purchase and both of them had previous work done on the body. Both times I ended up canceling the sales. Then I saw a lotus and started reading reviews on them and videos and got interested in them.

Of all the cars out there why have you chose those 2 cars if you don't mind my asking. From a maintenance and insurance stand point both are stupid expensive. While you might have that money flowing in at present moment, with this economy that's not guaranteed to last. If you want something that will perform equally well on the track and the street there are a lot of cheaper alternatives, though they might not be as baller as a Lotus or a Cayman S are.

A couple that come to mind are the 350/370Z, the Mazdaspeed Miata, the Honda S2000 CR, hell even the Corvette C6 Z06 would be a cheaper alternative as would be the newer Shelby GT500 or Mustang Cobra.

Iv already owned a 350z. I buy the cars wholesale which is 3-4k less then kbb and depending on the car it can be 6k less then retail prices. I dont have to title the car if im only keeping it for a few months cause it has dealer plates. And since I dont keep the car very long I dont ever have to do maintenance besides maybe an oil change.

Mmmm Imola red E46. It really is the best color for the E46. If you think otherwise, its just because you're secretly jealous.Tough decision, but I would get the Porsche.

Agreed. Imola is just a perfect color for the e46

Your the same age as me (18 in 3 weeks) and you can afford these cars? Are you going to college? I smell drug money. I know kids in my grade who have 5 digits in their accounts from selling.

Not drug money. Tobacco money. Plus the money I get from selling cars.

My question isn't are you going to college, it's do you own these cars and still live at home, because if you still live at home then I'd have to ask why you would drop that kind of money on these high dollar cars when you can use that money on a down payment on a house and drive a much cheaper alternative.

Trust me im saving up for something big. Want to start my own business or start renting out property. But till then I can put my money in a car I want to drive and enjoy driving. Not loose anything during the driving. and possibly come out with a few thousand then what I started. My brother looses $850 every month on his C6 lease. My mom looses $550 every month on her Tl lease. I made $4100 driving an M3 for not even two months and 3k miles. Which is better?

And am saying this as a big Lotus fan. And I'm not a huge Porsche fan (they are ok, just not crazy about them), but in this case I would take the Cayman over the Exige.

Wow thanks for the honest opinion. much appreciated.

Im really surprised I was only attacked by a few on the money and age. Definitely expected a lot more trash talking. I like the response from you guys and I appreciate all the comments. I really would like to go test drive a lotus cause to me I think I would be able to tell immediately if I could dd. But unfortunately I work mon-sat and long hours and it makes it tough to do any test driving. Plus no ones going to let an 18 year old test drive either one of these.

Modified by Watermelonwarrior at 10:51 AM 4/8/2010
Modified by Watermelonwarrior at 10:57 AM 4/8/2010

[alphapig]

Not drug money. Tobacco money.

So drug money

[Watermelonwarrior]

Well personally I agree, I do consider tobacco a drug. but nala meant it in I have illegal money

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Plus no ones going to let an 18 year old test drive either one of these.

Show up with a briefcase full of cash... you'd be surprised on what they'll let you test drive.

Best of luck to you man! Don't mind the haters!

[twofortyesecks]

WANT!

Chrome Orange Exige S

I was looking into getting a Lotus last year but I couldn't find anything in the 30K range. Ended up with a Nismo Z.

My thoughts are the miles on the the Caymen are too high. I like my used cars barely used.Also, wouldn't the Lotus be easier to sell down the line? It would appear that's your plan.

Anyways, either car is sweet. I wish I had to make decisions like this. Good luck.

[Koshin]

looking at a Lotus...nice

looking at a Porsche...nicer

playing with mommy and daddy's money....priceless

[Watermelonwarrior]

looking at a Lotus...nice

looking at a Porsche...nicer

playing with mommy and daddy's money....priceless

Really? mommy and daddys money?

[numbnuts240]

rich is a hater

[Koshin]

I would never own an e46 M3 or a Cayman....I have more taste than that

like an E30 M3 and a 935 slantnose

but thats just me

Really? mommy and daddys money?

I was joking, but YES.....really

[car nut]

like an E30 M3 and a 935 slantnose

Show up with a briefcase full of cash... you'd be surprised on what they'll let you test drive.

.

[nametakennow]

If it's only a few months then screw the practicality factor and drive the Exige. Your situation is particularly unique, so you might as well take advantage of it while you can.

Hell, buy the Exige, flip it when you (or your back) get tired of it, and pick up a Cayman S next.

[Watermelonwarrior]

I would never own an e46 M3 or a Cayman....I have more taste than that

like an E30 M3 and a 935 slantnose

Different cars different leagues. Old school vs new and reliable.

If it's only a few months then screw the practicality factor and drive the Exige. Your situation is particularly unique, so you might as well take advantage of it while you can.

Hell, buy the Exige, flip it when you (or your back) get tired of it, and pick up a Cayman S next.

Thats a really good point. I mean its not going to be the best daily driver but since im dealing with it months and not years it might be fun to drive for a while. I already have someone putting in an offer on a cayman s. so if that doesn't go though then ill put the offer for the lotus.

[Looneybomber]

I would take the car to the track once or twice a year. and the car will mostly be driven on the weekends as I would most likely have another car to drive during the week.

That should answer your question; Cayman. If you were going to be tracking it bi-weekly, then exige all the way.

Although, being an old guy, I gotta put in my .02.

Buy an S2000. I had one and loved it. They're half the price and you can put the other half into some kind of IRA or other investment.

[Watermelonwarrior]

That should answer your question; Cayman. If you were going to be tracking it bi-weekly, then exige all the way.

Although, being an old guy, I gotta put in my .02.

Buy an S2000. I had one and loved it. They're half the price and you can put the other half into some kind of IRA or other investment.

Thanks. I appreciate the advice. I had a 350z which was a blast to drive but wanted something a little faster.

Putting my money in a car is a very safe investment and offers good return. I buy cars at the wholesale auction and then I have full insurance on them. Worst case for some reason I cant sell the car I can always take it back to the auction and sell it there. Where I will most likely get most if not all my money back. Plus the return on my money is huge compared to stocks or anything else I could do with it at the moment.

[marlin29311]

Cayman for either track or normal use.

1 - the Cayman is a better built car. Does the Lotus have the LSD and "track" upgrade? I can tell you that mannnnnnnnnnny people that run the 06-07 Exige on the track that didn't have the upgrade package suffer from broken control arms, trim breaking off, and a boat load of other things. The car is a blast, but it's built like a piece of s***.

2 - the Cayman has much more potential. Guy at work, who is a HPDE instructor and semi-professional driver actually just traded in his 800+ hp GT2 for a Cayman S. After one of his buddies laped him in their Cayman S, it was lights out. Many people in the Porsche world feel that the Cayman was purposfully neutered...the platform is different from the 911, but it's a much better track platform...you can't just let your 40+ year flagship car be taken over by the small guy, right?

Plus, if you get the Techart job done to your car, it will look BALLIN.

[Looneybomber]

Plus the return on my money is huge compared to stocks or anything else I could do with it at the moment.

If done right, car flipping can be pretty profitable, but my portfolio has been looking pretty this last 1yr...the 1yr before that

Cayman for either track or normal use.

1 - the Cayman is a better built car. Does the Lotus have the LSD and "track" upgrade? I can tell you that mannnnnnnnnnny people that run the 06-07 Exige on the track that didn't have the upgrade package suffer from broken control arms, trim breaking off, and a boat load of other things. The car is a blast, but it's built like a piece of s***.

That's surprising.

[Otto.]

935 slantnose

How about the DP version?

To the OP: Get the Porsche... DOIT DOIT!!

[Razi]

I saw a white slantnose the other day.I JIZZED IN MY PANTS

[hbpignosePA]

Different cars different leagues. Old school vs new and reliable.

i often find older cars to have far less issues if you find a clean garage kept version

car designs died in my mind a looong time ago

id rock a classic or soon to be way before something new.

out of those two, i would go with the lotus, there are very few appealing new porsches id consider buying

[Koshin]

know how I know youre ghey?

[alphapig]

Slant nose Porsche?

People in this decade still like those?

If I wanted a Porsche with pop-ups I would stick to the 914

[hbpignosePA]

know how I know youre ghey?

me?

sorry classic porsches are way better

[dre1507]

It is only fair you do give the lotus a test drive when/if you get an opportunity.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Slant nose Porsche?

People in this decade still like those?

If I wanted a Porsche with pop-ups I would stick to the 914

The 914-6 is a true Porsche...fast as f*** too.

[Watermelonwarrior]

2 - the Cayman has much more potential. Guy at work, who is a HPDE instructor and semi-professional driver actually just traded in his 800+ hp GT2 for a Cayman S. After one of his buddies laped him in their Cayman S, it was lights out. Many people in the Porsche world feel that the Cayman was purposfully neutered...the platform is different from the 911, but it's a much better track platform...you can't just let your 40+ year flagship car be taken over by the small guy, right?

Wow going from a gt2 to a cayman s. The car is definitely being held back. They actually messed with the gearing of the car so that it would not be faster then the 911. The car for sure has a lot of potential and im sure is a blast to drive just like any of the other porsches.

[crakin]

How about an Ariel atom? lol

fkin yes