[TRZ06]

I think for the C7 to shine and compete with German sports cars, it needs the Z51 package and the magnetic shocks.

[baege]

So I've got this disease called car switchitis and I am looking to make a move out of my 2016 Cayman S. I had a 2014 cayman S before and so this spring will essentially be three years with the same car which is a long time for me

Looking to this forum for good suggestions on my next move.

Anyhow,here's my gearhead profile/parameters:
I like small compact, light, nimble cars (I had a c7 for 3 weeks and didn't like its size)
I don't like turbos and turbo lag (don't tell me it doesn't exist much anymore coz it does)
I like low end torque. I am not the guy who keeps the revs up and drives above 4000 rpm all the time. In a city it's hard to find space to really rev a car out. I tend to drive my cars off idle to maybe 4500 rpm. I like a good push in the back in that area. This is why back in the day I chose an mx6 mystere over a prelude with its peaky vtec.
I want a manual.
I want a newish car under OEM/CPO warranty.
I am looking to spend max 80k cdn.

when I look out there, I think what I am lookin for is the proverbial automotive unicorn, doesn't seem to exist

the only cars that come to mind are the audi s5 and the f type coupe manual, but not sure either really qualifies as light and nimble...

any other suggestions?

[tdott]

Sounds like you want American muscle. (Hellcat, GT500, Viper, Vette, Z28, CTS-V, etc)

I was going to suggest an E39 M5 but saw you are looking for newer.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by tdott

Sounds like you want American muscle. (Hellcat, GT500, Viper, Vette, Z28, CTS-V, etc)

compact.....light.....nimble......



It's out of your pricerange (2fold), but maybe something supercharged like an evora 400?
Superchargers have zero lag as opposed to turbo's. And I think it has a roots or twinscrew type sc (so a volumetric supercharger) and that gives boost from 0rpm more or less.
It's a nice step up from the cayman S and a similar type of car I guess. Very exclusive too.

[vsix]

SVT GT 500

[mkoesel]

Since you are currently driving a car that makes just 273 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm, it is tough to take your torque requirements too seriously.

Nissan Z would seem to fit. SLK55 if it exists with MT. Neither of those is better than your current car though, which is why you should either stick with it or learn to appreciate turbocharged cars. They are beasts.

Good luck with the search.

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by vsix

SVT GT 500

A car as big (and a LOT heavier), if not bigger than an M4?

OP, good luck with your unicorn search. If you stumble upon the Loch Ness monster or a sasquatch let us know. I don't think your car exists but....

You should test the new 718 Boxter. Yes, it's turbo but who knows, Porsche may have negated the lag.

[sygazelle]

Vette

[TGNY 335]

You need a Vette. Non Turbo with torque and light

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Since you are currently driving a car that makes just 273 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm, it is tough to take your torque requirements too seriously.

Nissan Z would seem to fit.

270 lb-ft @ 5200 for the Z, less torque at higher rpm, heavier car than Cayman. Even the "high performance" Nismo has only 6 more lb-ft.

I think he needs to reevaluate his expectations at this point.

[sygazelle]

After declaring that you don't like turbo cars, I'll assume you are posting on the BMW forum because you are expecting one of us to tell you that BMW's don't have perceptible turbo lag so you can spend some time disagreeing.

Why don' t you save that time at the keyboard and go drive a well equipped CPO 335i or even a new 340i or an M2 (both within your price range) and come back an let us know what you think. If you want 2 seats instead of 4, check out a Z4. None of these cars matches your car in weight, but you should give them a try before you decide.

The Cayman is a sports car. If you want to stick with that type of car, another Porsche or a Vette are good choices. In the US, you can get a CPO 911 MY2009 for within your budget. I don't know about Canada.

Enjoy your test drives. Can't wait to hear what you ended up buying and why.

Good luck!

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by TGNY 335

You need a Vette. Non Turbo with torque and light

.....and long.....and wide

[djDori_C]

OP you mentioned you were considering an F type coupe...
I don't believe MT is available for that car...
Have you thought about a Lotus ?
Or Audi R8? I know you said max $80, but I think you can find a 2008 around that price.
Good luck

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Vette

Originally Posted by TGNY 335

You need a Vette. Non Turbo with torque and light

He said he had a C7 but thought it was too big.

Originally Posted by auf Deutsch

270 lb-ft @ 5200 for the Z, less torque at higher rpm, heavier car than Cayman. Even the "high performance" Nismo has only 6 more lb-ft.

Right, my point was sort of that his "big torque" requirement was a bit of a red herring to begin with. However, you're points are exactly why I said he should stick with the Cayman. Not to mention, an F-Type and S5 aren't light either, right? The Z easily beats those.

I think he needs to reevaluate his expectations at this point.

Exactly. Asking people to help uncover this mysterious, unknown car that is better than what is often referred to as one of the best pure drivers cars on the market is probably a lost cause.

If OP really wants something unique he should find whichever late model or classic sports car out there does it for him and start a project to install the drivetrain of his choice. Putting his own blood, sweat, and tears into might also help him learn to appreciate what he has instead of constantly looking to find then next big thing.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

The Z easily beats those.

The e89 z4 isnt exactly lightweight anymore either. And I dont think you can get that without turbo anymore (28i replaced the 30i)

The f type is supercharged (no lag) but indeed pretty heavy, or that lotus I mentioned. But that last one is expensive but really fits the profile on all other points (powerful, small nimble). He needs to spend more cash!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

The e89 z4 isnt exactly lightweight anymore either. And I dont think you can get that without turbo anymore (28i replaced the 30i)

Nissan Z, not Z4. See my original post for the part of the conversation you missed.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

He said he had a C7 but thought it was too big.



Right, my point was sort of that his "big torque" requirement was a bit of a red herring to begin with. However, you're points are exactly why I said he should stick with the Cayman. Not to mention, an F-Type and S5 aren't light either, right? The Z easily beats those.



Exactly. Asking people to help uncover this mysterious, unknown car that is better than what is often referred to as one of the best pure drivers cars on the market is probably a lost cause.

If OP really wants something unique he should find whichever late model or classic sports car out there does it for him and start a project to install the drivetrain of his choice. Putting his own blood, sweat, and tears into might also help him learn to appreciate what he has instead of constantly looking to find then next big thing.

Agreed.
He's already driving the car which fits his requirements. The torque is really a non-issue based on his 'likes'.

Additionally, turbo lag only exist when the car is just beginning to move. Turbo lag is eliminated when using the proper gear at the proper time. It's like complaining about engine tractability when accelerating from 30 mph in 7th gear.

[ErvGotti]

Buy a Mazda Miata, swap engine with an LS7 from C6 ZO6, purchase aftermarket warranty/insurance...problem solved.

In all seriousness most if not all "light weight/nimble" cars usually only have 4 or 6 cylinder engines due to space and weight. The only way to match the low end grunt of a V8 is to turbo charge the engine. You're requirements are too stringent. If you find a car that's "Newish/CPO, small and nimble, has good low end grunt, and is non turbo'd" please let us know.

[baege]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

compact.....light.....nimble......



It's out of your pricerange (2fold), but maybe something supercharged like an evora 400?
Superchargers have zero lag as opposed to turbo's. And I think it has a roots or twinscrew type sc (so a volumetric supercharger) and that gives boost from 0rpm more or less.
It's a nice step up from the cayman S and a similar type of car I guess. Very exclusive too.

I drove a non-s evora some time ago. It didn't rock my socks like the first time I drove a 981 did, but it was not an S. The s's are pretty expensive, way above 80k cdn. Thanks for the thought though.

[baege]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Since you are currently driving a car that makes just 273 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm, it is tough to take your torque requirements too seriously.

Nissan Z would seem to fit. SLK55 if it exists with MT. Neither of those is better than your current car though, which is why you should either stick with it or learn to appreciate turbocharged cars. They are beasts.

Good luck with the search.

having lived with the 981S for a while now, the lack of torque is something that annoys me, hence the search

when I got the 981 in the spring of 2013, there was nothing really that met my lightweight, nimble compact, good low end torque non turbo parameters and it is starting to look almost 3 years later that remains the same

not sure why it's such a unicorn, to me it seems like a combination many would appreciate and there would be a good market for...

[baege]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

After declaring that you don't like turbo cars, I'll assume you are posting on the BMW forum because you are expecting one of us to tell you that BMW's don't have perceptible turbo lag so you can spend some time disagreeing.

Why don' t you save that time at the keyboard and go drive a well equipped CPO 335i or even a new 340i or an M2 (both within your price range) and come back an let us know what you think. If you want 2 seats instead of 4, check out a Z4. None of these cars matches your car in weight, but you should give them a try before you decide.

The Cayman is a sports car. If you want to stick with that type of car, another Porsche or a Vette are good choices. In the US, you can get a CPO 911 MY2009 for within your budget. I don't know about Canada.

Enjoy your test drives. Can't wait to hear what you ended up buying and why.

Good luck!

I drove an m235i about a year ago. I felt lag. Otherwise a pretty sweet car. the m2 is on my radar but the turbo thing dulls my enthusiasm.

[baege]

Originally Posted by djDori_C

OP you mentioned you were considering an F type coupe...
I don't believe MT is available for that car...
Have you thought about a Lotus ?
Or Audi R8? I know you said max $80, but I think you can find a 2008 around that price.
Good luck

f type coupe now comes manual
I have tried the non-s evora, it didn't really do it for me and it is very impractical
the r8 is something I have thought about, but the v10 is the one with low end torque and it is out of my price range when in warranty and it is pretty big and wide
thanks for the thoughts though.