26 Votes

Road & Track: 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 Porsche Cayman S

TurboSpyder submitted on 2/26/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:36:23 AM

30 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.roadandtrack.com

Tag Links: 2009 Nissan 370Z, 2008 Porsche Cayman S

Following the long-awaited release of the Nissan GT-R, it was obvious that the Japanese were taking their German studies seriously, laying into the venerable 911 Turbo like a Ginzu knife through bratwurst.

But taking a piece out of a mighty juggernaut wasn't enough. It inspired visions of a greater glory, a strategic dismantling of Porsche's armor from both ends, in hopes of supplanting Zuffenhausen's benchmark stature.

Their next mark...the mild-mannered but oh-so-sultry Cayman S.

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Bilstein "DampTronic" traitors! http://www.oobject.com/category/top-10-soviet-technology-ripoffs/
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

User Comments

Here's a working link to the article
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=7659

And Teknik, R&T looked at the big picture and weighed more than just track time.

"An observation we made over the week was the VQ's sensitivity to temperature. Engines prefer cool weather, but the VQ absolutely detests hot days. During the track day, we had to pit after about four laps in each session, the VQ winded by high oil temps and limited by its engine management to 6500 rpm."
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 12:47:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

I wonder what Nissan could have done with the 370Z if it were twice the price?...oh yeah, the GT-R.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 1:41:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I couldn't agree more
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 2:25:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

The lap time is all I care. It tells everything.

Get another cheap BMW like 128i with the extra 35K, or can you?
— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 10:03:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I'm almost certain you're LexusBeautyQueen in disguise.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 3:53:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Did anybody read the article, The Porsche won.

So did the Cayman S win this battle? According to our ratings and test numbers, it sent the 370Z back home. But is the Cayman S worth nearly twice the price of a 370Z? Based purely on performance, no. The lap times are pretty close and the handling and acceleration numbers relatively comparable. If you had to pinch pennies to afford one of these cars, the Z makes by far more sense. But if you're well-off, and put an intangible value on overall refinement, powerplant/chassis harmony and an illustrious motorsports legacy, well, the choice is easy.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 4:25:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

"Did anybody read the article, The Porsche won."

But only by 22 points.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 5:20:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

The Porsche won because it had "colored seatbelts, sparkly paint and glorified stopwatch" and cost twice as much. It's the mystique of not getting what you paid for, in other words, the "intangibles". Poor people will never understand or appreciate these things, it's stuff Badgewhores know and enjoy on a daily basis and willing to over pay for.
— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 12:07:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Funny though that most 911 owners look at both the Cayman(basically a hardtop Boxster) and Boxster as "a poor man's Porsche" like the 924 was. Now it's winning comparos based on "legacy"....yeah.
— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 12:20:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Good job Nissan. The 370Z is an amazing machine and outperforming all its commpetition.
— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 1:11:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Nissan b**chslap Porsche again, and again.
Star is going to flip again, and again.
— topneuro (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 1:19:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

Pretty impresive Nissan! It's a good thing they didn't put it up against the regular Caveman ;) I've always been a fan of Porsche, but it looks so outdated inside and out when next to that Z! The Z looks great in that color and has a more muscular and sleek look. The Cayman looks old and "bubbly" next to that Z!
— bigmotov (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 1:35:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Didn't even see porsche at the chicago auto show this year...but anyway, the 370Z > Cayman.
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 2:25:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

The 370Z has a faster lap time than the Cayman S and factor in the Cayman S costs 2x the 370Z and the 370Z is a clear winner in my books. Why didn't R&T compare a regular Cayman to the 370Z?
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 3:21:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Uh-Oh...First of all it was Nissans Godzilla...then this? Get the kleenex ready cuz porsche is going to start bitchin and crying.
— Type707 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 3:50:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I guess you didn't notice that Porsche WON the comparo. But very nice of Nissan to offer much, like the GT-R for a great price!
— Porschinator (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 5:40:35 PM | | Votes: -3

Competition is a good thing. I believe Porsche will continue to make improvements to maintain the benchmark status. Remember an Auto is much more than JUST track speed and numbers. The Cayman is worlds better to drive than the 350Z and the new 370Z is impressive. Lets see what Porsche does next...can't wait.
— Porschinator (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 5:10:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I wonder why they didnt wait for the 2009 Cayman S with DFI and PDK? Being as how there is a 30 BHP increase and a killer transmission it would be even less of a competition.

I doubt Porsche will complain much, this forum doesnt make up much of their target market. The market that isnt going to buy a Nissan because its a Nissan.
— Timzilla (View Profile)

Posted on 2/26/2009 6:07:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Not anymore. The new Cayman S now has direct injection and a LSD option.
— investor27 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/28/2009 9:11:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Road and track did everything they could to make the Z lose. Just look at the results, the Z lost in everything except lateral G and interior styling. Even then, it's still just a super narrow Z victory in those two category. EL34 must've donated his parents social securities to R&T for things to be this lop sided.
— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 2:43:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

"If you had to pinch pennies to afford one of these cars, the Z makes by far more sense. But if you're well-off, and put an intangible value on overall refinement, powerplant/chassis harmony and an illustrious motorsports legacy, well, the choice is easy."

And remember, they found that the 370Z had to cool down after every four laps on the track while the Cayman showed Porsche's race breeding and kept going without overheating. Hey, you get what you pay for.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 8:30:38 AM | | Votes: 5

Again... Does it matter. I know several people shopping for Cayman (S) and Boxsters and I have never heard the word Nissan out of their mouth. These two cars will not be cross shopped. Just because the performance is relatively similar does not mean that it targets the same market.

It does not mean the nissan is a bad car, it just means that they are in different markets.
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 9:15:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Obviously there are a lot more biased Nissan lovers here. Porsche lovers are out making bank and getting laid=)
— Ktsui (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 4:13:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

You forgot the piling up debt part
— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/28/2009 11:16:17 AM | | Votes: 1

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