Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble...

5715 Views 17 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Mozella, Feb 25, 2021

agent 86

Discussion Starter · Apr 27, 2017 (Edited)

This car really attracts attention.

I picked up my 718 Cayman S on December 10, 2016. My drive to work is only 8 miles, and I haven't driven it nearly as much as I would like. But the weather has been getting better so that will change. I just reached 1500 miles today and this car has exceeded my expectations. I love it.

The driving character of my Cayman seems to combine the qualities of my 2013 VW Golf R and my 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited only raised to the power of 10.

The Golf R was really solidly built with a high quality interior, lots of amenities and pretty fast. My BRZ was rear wheel drive, lightweight and handled really well. The Golf only interested VW fans, and the BRZ mostly attracted the attention of 10 year old boys. Until I got my Cayman, the BRZ was easily my favorite car.

Regarding my Cayman, it's not an exaggeration to say that I have received 20 to 40 compliments since buying it. I have received complements on the color and the exhaust note. Stopping to get fuel has turned into a a 20 minute affair on more than one occasion. Strangers stop and want to ask questions and generally talk about cars. Driving down the road I often get the thumbs up and friendly waves. At the stop light I look around to find other drivers and their passengers staring and pointing on both sides of the car. I want to laugh but I don't want to seem rude. My wife even notices the attention we get.

On one occasion a driver of an older 3 series BMW followed me for miles. I would slow down, and he would slow down. I sped up and he did the same. He pulled along side but he wouldn't pass.

It doesn't bother me, but I can't help but wonder how long it will continue.

Anybody else have similar experiences? I would imagine a top down Boxster would attract even more attention.

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photonscience

· #2 · Apr 28, 2017

Wow, here in NJ silver Porsches get zero attention and that's exactly how I like it. Believe me, the attention gets annoying after a short while. I've had no reaction at all to my GT silver 718S Boxster (at least none that I could ascertain).

The only car I ever owned that caused the kind of reaction you describe was a sepang blue R8 V10 spyder I owned at the time when the R8 was being promoted in the Ironman movies. I was constantly being followed, videoed, "thumbs-uped",etc. Every gas stop was an event; kept being asked how much it cost and what I did for a living. It got downright scary when I'd be on the highway with some kid on my bumper, videoing me. I was even stopped once by a cop just wanting to see the car up close.

The insanity peaked one day when I was behind a school bus and a bunch of teen girls on the bus "flashed me". Unbelievably they did that while my wife was sitting in the passenger seat.

I really grew to dislike the attention - prefer to be far more anonymous on the road.

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Lurker

· #3 · Apr 28, 2017

Really depends on your area and how many of these or cars similar to these you see around. It could last for quite some time.. which.. me personally, I wouldn't complain about because I love the attention haha

RussellHodgson

· #4 · Apr 28, 2017

I get a ton of attention with my 718 CS. I've had it for a month and people come up and talk about it or take pictures of it all the time. This hardly ever happened with my 987 CS. It could be because of the color (Sapphire Blue) and every other car around here is black or white!

agent 86

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 28, 2017

photonscience said:
Wow, here in NJ silver Porsches get zero attention and that's exactly how I like it. Believe me, the attention gets annoying after a short while. I've had no reaction at all to my GT silver 718S Boxster (at least none that I could ascertain).

The only car I ever owned that caused the kind of reaction you describe was a sepang blue R8 V10 spyder I owned at the time when the R8 was being promoted in the Ironman movies. I was constantly being followed, videoed, "thumbs-uped",etc. Every gas stop was an event; kept being asked how much it cost and what I did for a living. It got downright scary when I'd be on the highway with some kid on my bumper, videoing me. I was even stopped once by a cop just wanting to see the car up close.

The insanity peaked one day when I was behind a school bus and a bunch of teen girls on the bus "flashed me". Unbelievably they did that while my wife was sitting in the passenger seat.

I really grew to dislike the attention - prefer to be far more anonymous on the road.

I do like the attention. I feel like I have a special car, and when other's think it's special it makes me smile.

Yeah, an R8 spyder would capture my attention, too. Being flashed by teen girls and pulled over by a cop is just strange.

agent 86

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 28, 2017

Lurker said:
Really depends on your area and how many of these or cars similar to these you see around. It could last for quite some time.. which.. me personally, I wouldn't complain about because I love the attention haha

Funny you should mention location. We don't live that far from Potomac MD (one of the wealthiest areas in the country) and I hardly ever see super expensive or exotic cars. Although, someone in my neighborhood on a rare occasion drives his loud as heck yellow Lamborghini.

agent 86

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 28, 2017

RussellHodgson said:
I get a ton of attention with my 718 CS. I've had it for a month and people come up and talk about it or take pictures of it all the time. This hardly ever happened with my 987 CS. It could be because of the color (Sapphire Blue) and every other car around here is black or white!

I imagine Miami Blue would really attract attention.

Lurker

· #8 · Apr 29, 2017

agent 86 said:
Funny you should mention location. We don't live that far from Potomac MD (one of the wealthiest areas in the country) and I hardly ever see super expensive or exotic cars. Although, someone in my neighborhood on a rare occasion drives his loud as heck yellow Lamborghini.

Well that's definitely something that contradicts what one would think haha. Well.. now you could be the face of the neighborhood along with the loud Lambo guy

Gallatin

· #9 · Apr 30, 2017

agent 86 said:
This car really attracts attention.

I picked up my 718 Cayman S on December 10, 2016. My drive to work is only 8 miles, and I haven't driven it nearly as much as I would like. But the weather has been getting better so that will change. I just reached 1500 miles today and this car has exceeded my expectations. I love it.

The driving character of my Cayman seems to combine the qualities of my 2013 VW Golf R and my 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited only raised to the power of 10. The Golf R was really solidly built with a high quality interior, lots of amenities and pretty fast. My BRZ was rear wheel drive, lightweight and handled really well. The Golf only interested VW fans, and the BRZ mostly attracted the attention of 10 year old boys. Until I got my Cayman, the BRZ was easily my favorite car.

Regarding my Cayman, it's not an exaggeration to say that I have received 20 to 40 compliments since buying it. I have received complements on the color and the exhaust note. Stopping to get fuel has turned into a a 20 minute affair on more than one occasion. Strangers stop and want to ask questions and generally talk about cars. Driving down the road I often get the thumbs up and friendly waves. At the stop light I look around to find other drivers and their passengers staring and pointing on both sides of the car. I want to laugh but I don't want to seem rude. My wife even notices the attention we get.

On one occasion a driver of an older 3 series BMW followed me for miles. I would slow down, and he would slow down. I sped up and he did the same. He pulled along side but he wouldn't pass.

It doesn't bother me, but I can't help but wonder how long it will continue.

Anybody else have similar experiences? I would imagine a top down Boxster would attract even more attention.

I agree! So far my 718--GT Silver Boxster has garnered a lot of attention. I do, however, live in a fairly rural area and there are few Porsches of any type in the immediate area. So far-- like agent86 noted--lots of conversations at gas stations, store parking lots, and lots of thumbs up at stop lights. On one occasion I was on the Interstate and this car drove by in the other lane with some kid hanging out the rear window taking a video of my 718. This lasted for about two or three miles and then they drove on. I can't say that I have been flashed--not yet anyway--but here is hoping. ha ha

Also--I have not had one negative comment or look yet. I can't say that about when I had my 911. I had several encounters of young kids wanting to race me and large trucks trying to blow exhaust on me. I even got a few nasty comments at a gas station once. It's interesting that the two cars have drawn such different reactions.

starweb9

· #10 · Feb 21, 2021

The other day I had a new comment. The guy gets out of his car next to me at 7/11 and says nice car, then he says but you don't look like a Porsche guy. I did not ask him what he meant and I just laughed. So I have to ask, what do you 718 owners look like?

GregW

· #11 · Feb 21, 2021

Well, obviously not like you! 🤣

Reactions: 1

starweb9

· #12 · Feb 21, 2021

GregW said:
Well, obviously not like you! 🤣

I had to go home and look in the mirror.

Reactions: 2

johan

· #13 · Feb 21, 2021

A couple of fun moments that will be with me forever

It is summer and on the motorway i am slowly passing an old Golf convertible with a bunch of youngster in it.
They are waving, cheering and tells me to go faster, so i ease of and falls a couple of car lengths behind and then i floor it.
In the my rear view mirror i saw 8 arms in the air waving like crazy.

Police control at the bridge between Sweden and Denmark.
The cop gave me order to floor it so he and his colleagues could enjoy the roar from the 6 pot (!)
I left them with wheel spin.........

And the Best one!
I had been shopping groceries and was fully loaded with bags.
So i start to load the front/rear trunk.
Three cars away a Mom and here son 7 years old are on there way in to shop.
He cryes......
Mommy, MOMMY... he is giving the engine food!!
She turns around and the look she got on her face, i wish i had a camera.

I asked here if it was ok if son could take a look.
I got a date out of that one and we are still best of friends.

To bad that it goes 10 idiots between moments like that.

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orton

· #14 · Feb 21, 2021

starweb9 said:
The other day I had a new comment. The guy gets out of his car next to me at 7/11 and says nice car, then he says but you don't look like a Porsche guy. I did not ask him what he meant and I just laughed. So I have to ask, what do you 718 owners look like?

I enjoy going to the dealer showroom. Obviously I do not fit with the required wardrobe. $15 Costco Court Classic tennis shoes, old Levies and a sweatshirt makes for interesting stares. Sort of "how do we get this homeless person out of the showroom" look from the uppity dressed people.

I paid cash for the car but would never wear any clothing with the Porsche name or Logo. Dress the same as I used to when driving a 49 Crosley Hotshot or Fiat 600. I might consider wearing clothes with advertising on them if the companies would pay me enough for helping sell their products.

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MLJJ

· #15 · Feb 21, 2021

I think I saw one a little while ago. Well put together older (my age) mid-60s/early 70s. Linen long pants, nice docker-like shoes without socks, tidy button-down tucked in, a couple of gold rings in addition to his wedding ring, I think. I talked with him briefly about his 911 when he exited but could tell I was more of a nuisance he had to get past on his way to wherever he was going. I was in shorts, a ratty T-shirt - it may have even had a stain or two and holes, and tennis shoes. No offense to anyone. Don't think my SA was convinced when I walked in like that until I wrote the deposit check!

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Daacayman

· #16 · Feb 21, 2021

My 2 cents worth of observations. Two previous cars, 911/Boxster both Guards Red. Current car, GT Sliver 718 Cayman. Guards Red definitely more attention and the Boxster more than the 911. And I think that was because the Boxster was an early 986 and there just wasn't very many around at the time. At the first gas stop in the Boxster (with the top down) a guy at the next pump over asked me if it was a Ferrari. Between the GT Silver and Guards Red, I think there are a couple more factors than previously mentioned. The GT Silver is a metallic paint and the Guards Red is not. So, when both colors are freshly detailed, the Guards Red cars have a mirror like look/reflection to them. So as cars would drive around or pull up next to them, I think it was the reflection back that would catch most people's eyes first and then draw them to look even further. With the GT Silver, it's like a car will pull up next to you, happen to look over, then react as Oh, that's a Porsche, or Oh, that's a cool sports car.
The other factor I've noticed in the amount of attention I get is based on how sunny it is. Especially with the GT Silver. If it isn't anything but full blown sunshine, the GT Silver gets no attention. With the Guards Red, sometimes it seemed to get even more attention when there was less light like on overcast days. My 2 cents.

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Rob 379

· #17 · Feb 25, 2021

starweb9 said:
The other day I had a new comment. The guy gets out of his car next to me at 7/11 and says nice car, then he says but you don't look like a Porsche guy. I did not ask him what he meant and I just laughed. So I have to ask, what do you 718 owners look like?

We are all really, really good looking !

Mozella

· #18 · Feb 25, 2021

2

starweb9 said:
The other day I had a new comment. The guy gets out of his car next to me at 7/11 and says nice car, then he says but you don't look like a Porsche guy. I did not ask him what he meant and I just laughed. So I have to ask, what do you 718 owners look like?

About half the Porsche owners in my local PCA chapter look pretty much like this except not all of them have nipple rings:

The rest of us look like this:

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