Cayman S - my thoughts

[Lowe]

Today I had the pleasure of having an afternoons drive in a Cayman S. Firstly, a few pics:






Had quite a few of the options, lots of carbon including carbon sill covers etc. Looked the part for sure. Build quality was typically German, the whole car felt very solid and well put together - but then you'd hope so!

The drive felt very much like the Boxster S I'd driven before which was expected, but if anything this was more of a brute. This is a car you have to very much grab by the scruff of the neck and drive, letting it know you're in charge. The gear change had the optional quickshift, so whilst the lever travel is shorter, it requires more effort. The clutch was pretty heavy as well compared to most modern cars, but if anything I prefer this since it helps with fast downshifts.

Hitting the sport mode button transforms the car - the suspension stiffens up and the throttle response is completely changed. It absolutely comes alive, and the engine note noticeably changes - so much so the first time it was turned on I pulled away at an island in the same fashion I'd done previously whilst not in sport mode, I tore off the line which raised a few eyebrows! The car is pretty responsive throughout the rev range and it'll pull smoothly in pretty much any gear, but it really comes alive once you hit 3.5k rpm, and it'll keep pulling hard till you hit the limiter.

Three figure speeds are incredibly easy to come across - a couple of times I had to do a double take at the speedo when entering a motorway/dual carridgeway. It's also pretty refined considering the lump is pretty much directly behind you. Fuel economy isn't something you really want to think about, I was seeing a figure of about 20mpg but then I wasn't driving like a saint...

Other bad parts to the afternoon? Handing back the key....

[Guy]

Very nice

Although im still not sure about the boxster/cayman shape, give me the 911 shell anyday.

Also hell of'alot of buttons on the centre console?!

[stevie lee]

why is the steering wheel turned left and the tyres pointing to the right?

hope you cleaned the gravel off the carpet before giving it back..

[Nemeliza]

As nice as it looks with these and Boxters I just don't "want" one, when it comes to porkies if it's not a 911 i just don't "want" it.
If I stopped at the lights and a 911 pulled up next to me it would destroy me, I would be thinking "i should have just saved up for that bit longer"

[dave87]

Lowe - Was that the 3.2 or the 3.4?

If it was the 3.4 there isn't much in performance terms between that and the Carrera2, with the 3.6.

Very capable car, and I prefer the Cayman to the 911 (excluding the GT2/3 series, which, lets face it, are pure sex).

[Lowe]

It's the 3.4 - very capable as you say and whilst deep down I know the 911 is a better car, with the engine being in the 'right' place you can't help but enjoy the Cayman. It's pretty well known that Porsche don't give it an LSD because that would be the final nail in the coffin for the 911...

Another thing - with all the options this thing had on it, when new it would have probably been a lot more than a 911!

All the buttons on the centre console are the built in phone and satnav unit. The 4 buttons across the bottom are 1) Spoiler up/down, 2) Suspension mode, 3) Sport mode, 4) PSM on/off.

Oh, and it was mucky before I had it lol, not my fault promise!

[GoNz0]

[monty python] you lucky lucky bastard [/monty python]

[UseItNow]

Nice.

[Nemeliza]

So...are you thinking of getting one of these?

[Behemoth]

The interriror looks cheap and tacky,looks very similar to that of my Dad's old Nissan Micra, but then thats just my opinion. That said though the rest of the car looks spot on

Shame one of those will be forever out of my league

[Lowe]

So...are you thinking of getting one of these?

God no, just got the chance to have a go.

The interriror looks cheap and tacky,looks very similar to that of my Dad's old Nissan Micra, but then thats just my opinion. That said though the rest of the car looks spot on

Shame one of those will be forever out of my league

I think the pics don't do it justice to be honest. The seats are great, everywhere is stitched leather and carbon... I've seen far worse places to be, believe me!

[Butuz]

It's pretty well known that Porsche don't give it an LSD because that would be the final nail in the coffin for the 911...

See - if I paid all that money for a car like that it would really nark me that the car was purposefully severely castrated in order to fit into some sort of model line up. Given that a good LSD will transform even a Mazda MX5 – I would imagine the difference to a Cayman would be like night and day.

Shame - porkers just dont "do it" for me even though I acknowledge they are very very good.

Butuz

[kalniel]

Also hell of'alot of buttons on the centre console?!

Better than a silly dial which you have to use like you're cracking a safe just to switch radio stations

Very nice car. I love the way the dial are like - LOOK: massive rev counter! Just ignore the tiny little speedo in the corner telling you how much you're breaking the limit by..

[sleepyhead]

I agree with Butuz...it seems like the crippled the car to conform to a price range and performance.

Someone out there will do an LSD aftermarket upgrade

I'd love to have a Porsche but then I don't if that makes any sense? It's just too much to tinker with or I'd rather not tinker with it...

...still you are one jammy bugger Lowe

BTW how heavy was the clutch (compareable to what car?) and what was the bite point like? Most modern cars clutch pedals feel dead to me (far too light) with a bite point of what seems like the whole travel. lol. For something like the this, I expect something meaty and with a bite (excuse the pun) when you let the clutch pedal go.

[Lowe]

Considering my background is with hot hatch Mk1 Clios (known for heavy clutches anyway) which have always had aftermarket Volvo clutches put on for extra strength, I found it about right. It was heavy (not quite like pushing a brake pedal heavy, but you know what I'm saying!) and a fair bit heavier than a Boxster I've driven. Bite was pretty much either on/off.

The owner mentioned that out of all the cars he's had (and his car history could puts most people to shame) this is the car he's stalled the most. For me however, it felt 'normal' and I got on with it fine. Downshifts were a joy, and in sport mode it was very easy to match the revs because the throttle response was so sharp.

[sleepyhead]

Excellent, an on/off clutch Love them, good proper clutches! lol.

How did you find the accelerator pedal? I've driven the new Mini Cooper S a number of times and that has the same floor hinged design. It makes for slightly awkward heel-toe, but can still be done. Awkward is not really the right description but it felt weird as the pedal is hinged to the floor.

Is the Cayman S N/A or has it got some form of FI on it?