Cayman S Black Edition - First Porsche...

[Phoneix]

Hey folks,

I've spent hours trawling through the PH forums but this is my first post. As the subject states I'm a proud owner of a Black Edition. I sold my previous car (BMW 135i, bought on recommendations from here, otherwise I'd have never have considered it) last October and took ages to find the car/spec. I started with the Gen 1 cars but the engine issues and dated interior put me off it. My budget kept going up mainly because I was quite picky spec wise; PASM, Sports Chrono, PCM, heated seats, 19 inch wheels. I wasn't specifically looking for a Black Edition but it had everything I wanted plus a Porsche extended warranty for 19 months.

If I'm honest I've yet to gel with the car, the sound, steering and handling are brilliant. Plus the Sport Design steering wheel makes all the difference to the interior and feel. But I'm having some issues which I hope will be sorted with a geo alignment but I'll list them to see other people's thoughts/experience.

1. The car is veering to the left, I'm amazed I didn't realise this on the test drive. I only noticed it on the motorway drive home.
2. The ride isn't as compliant as I was expecting, on the test drive I felt it was tolerable and I specifically went on poor roads. On the motorway it's much worse than I thought it would be, the steering wheel above 65mph vibrates continuously.
3. At speeds above 75mph the front feels light and the steering gets quite floaty.

The tyres are Michelin PS2s, one rear is a little worn (6mm v 3mm), Porsche vehicle check said it was fine because worn equally throughout (likely due to a puncture on one side). As I said I'm hoping the above issues will be sorted by a geo and new tyre for 3mm side. If not, I think I'm gonna end up getting some 18 inch wheels which is a little gutting considering I spent months finding the right car and I love the Boxster Spyder wheels. 

Does anyone have thoughts on the above? 

Thanks


PS. I've tried to upload pics (cos I know I'll be asked) but on my phone it won't allow more than 2MB per pic, I'll try and sort a few later. 

Edited by Phoneix on Saturday 28th March 15:38

[Trev450]

Congrats on the new car. I'm sure you will come to love it once you've sorted ot the issues you've mentioned.

All three points you've raised could easily be contributed to geo and/or uneven tyre wear.

Since you intend to have the geo checked, I would recommend maxing out the front camber (you will only get about 1 deg anyway) and running parallel toe. Leave the rear on OE settings.

[Phoneix]

Thanks Trev. I'll try to get what you suggested done.

Forgot to mention the full spec and I think I've managed to attach a pic, haven't had time to take some good ones yet.

Spec:

Manual
PASM
Sports Chrono
Rear parking sensors.
Heated seats
Sound Package Plus

The standard spec includes:

PCM
Bi Xenons
Sport Design steering wheel
Lots of other black stuff...

I'm considering adding the PSE in a few months. Hopefully that will complete the car.

[jayxx83]

Congrats on the new purchase. Have you checked the tyre pressures? Makes a good deal of difference if one is lower than the other.

If it was purchased from a dealer they usually sort out the geo before delivery no?

Regarding the steering, the odd time I have taken my spyder on the motorway, it is a lot more communicative than a normal car. My daily is an e class and you feel nothing through the wheel compared to the Porsche. Maybe you just need to get used to it.

Give it some time and I am sure you will learn to love it very quickly. I think driver tuition is also key as the whole layout of the car means it will take some time to adjust. I am slowly finding my feet, but believe me, the time you hook up a proper apex and plant the throttle and feel it lock into the Tarmac and launch you forward, you will know it's the best decision you ever made.

[Klippie]

Lots of things can make the car pull of off line, as has been said pressures, your mismatched tyres, binding brakes could be another but check the basics first before going for a geo set-up.

The very trusted guy that set-up the geo on my CS diagnosed the pull on mine to the rear end and also suggested swapping the front tyres around to see if the camber in the road had worn the tyres, he was correct the car tracked perfect after that...amazing.

Sensitive things these cars...

[DoubleSix]

jayxx83 said:

Regarding the steering, the odd time I have taken my spyder on the motorway, it is a lot more communicative than a normal car. My daily is an e class and you feel nothing through the wheel compared to the Porsche. Maybe you just need to get used to it.

Give it some time and I am sure you will learn to love it very quickly.

Obviously the OP should eliminate any genuine issues but I suspect it is simply as above.

If you coming from a BMW you wont be used to feeling every minute change in the road surface and all the jiggles and vibrations that come with a Porsche. They are also very camber sensitive and will pull noticibly when braking on a cambered surface.

These are all the things I miss about my Cayman

[PorscheGT4]

Was it a OPC car, did not thing they were allowed to sell a car with only 3mm tread !

Thought all 2nd hand cars should be 4mm, I would be fighting for a new tyre free.
As for the geo, that will make the motorway much worse if you go for zero toe in as advised.

I know I advise it, but I am after a very focused drive, also if the car is not pushed hard zero toe does not generate heat as easy.

I would advise some toe in upfront on your 1st porsche.

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Sunday 29th March 12:08

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Sunday 29th March 16:43

[lj04]

With 19 months warranty take it back to Porsche. Are you driving with suspension set to sport, causing a harsher ride.

[Phoneix]

jayxx83 said:

Congrats on the new purchase. Have you checked the tyre pressures? Makes a good deal of difference if one is lower than the other.

If it was purchased from a dealer they usually sort out the geo before delivery no?

Regarding the steering, the odd time I have taken my spyder on the motorway, it is a lot more communicative than a normal car. My daily is an e class and you feel nothing through the wheel compared to the Porsche. Maybe you just need to get used to it.

Give it some time and I am sure you will learn to love it very quickly. I think driver tuition is also key as the whole layout of the car means it will take some time to adjust. I am slowly finding my feet, but believe me, the time you hook up a proper apex and plant the throttle and feel it lock into the Tarmac and launch you forward, you will know it's the best decision you ever made.

It wasn't from OPC and I only realised the veering later, tested on country roads but I'm still amazed I didn't notice it. It's possible that something happened to it from testing/leaving a deposit and pickup.

Yes, I put the pressures slightly lower than recommended to improve the ride.

I think getting used to it is part of it, but I'm using it as a daily driver and from all my research (and testing) 19s with PASM was recommended and acceptable according to the majority.

[Phoneix]

Klippie said:

Lots of things can make the car pull of off line, as has been said pressures, your mismatched tyres, binding brakes could be another but check the basics first before going for a geo set-up.

The very trusted guy that set-up the geo on my CS diagnosed the pull on mine to the rear end and also suggested swapping the front tyres around to see if the camber in the road had worn the tyres, he was correct the car tracked perfect after that...amazing.

Sensitive things these cars...

Yes, I need to find someone in the North West who is good with things like this as I'm sure OPC will just say buy new tyres and get geo alignment done which may not necessarily solve the problem.

[Phoneix]

DoubleSix said:

Obviously the OP should eliminate any genuine issues but I suspect it is simply as above.

If you coming from a BMW you wont be used to feeling every minute change in the road surface and all the jiggles and vibrations that come with a Porsche. They are also very camber sensitive and will pull noticibly when braking on a cambered surface.

These are all the things I miss about my Cayman

I get your point, part of the joy of driving the car is the connection with road but I'm finding it a little grating on the motorway, it's not pleasant to to hold the steering wheel properly at 10-2 as it's continuously vibrating.

[Phoneix]

PorscheGT4 said:

Was it a OPC car, did. It thing they were allowed to sell a car with only 3mm tread !

Thought all 2nd hand cars should be 4mm, I would be fighting for a new tyre free.
As for the geo, that will make the motorway much worse if you go for zero toe in as advised.

I know I advise it, but I am after a very focused drive, also if the car is not pushed hard zero toe does not generate heat as easy.

I would advise some toe in upfront on your 1st porsche.

Edited by PorscheGT4 on Sunday 29th March 12:08

It wasn't an OPC car but it did have a vehicle check with them, I spoke to them too, the manager there said the minimum they sell a used car with is 3mm.

[Phoneix]

lj04 said:

With 19 months warranty take it back to Porsche. Are you driving with suspension set to sport, causing a harsher ride.

Suspension set to normal. I'm planning to take it to them but like I siad above, think they'll just say two new tyres (so tread in the rear is same) and geo alignment, which is around £600 so I'd like to consider other options before that.


Sorry for all the separate replies, I'm not sure how to quote all the replies in one response and reply to each.


Thanks for all the help so far. :-)

[Trev450]

Phoneix said:

I need to find someone in the North West who is good with things like this as I'm sure OPC will just say buy new tyres and get geo alignment done which may not necessarily solve the problem.

Not sure where you are based but Hartech are in Bolton.

[BubblesNW]

Trev450 said:

Phoneix said:

I need to find someone in the North West who is good with things like this as I'm sure OPC will just say buy new tyres and get geo alignment done which may not necessarily solve the problem.

Not sure where you are based but Hartech are in Bolton.

You could also try Mike at Sports & Classic in Knutsford, he has the latest laser alignment stuff and sets up his own GT3 as well as others on here.

[BubblesNW]

Trev450 said:

Phoneix said:

I need to find someone in the North West who is good with things like this as I'm sure OPC will just say buy new tyres and get geo alignment done which may not necessarily solve the problem.

Not sure where you are based but Hartech are in Bolton.

You could also try Mike at Sports & Classic in Knutsford, he has the latest laser alignment stuff and sets up his own GT3 as well as others on here.

[Phoneix]

BubblesNW said:

You could also try Mike at Sports & Classic in Knutsford, he has the latest laser alignment stuff and sets up his own GT3 as well as others on here.

Thanks guys.

[bingles]

I hope you're getting on OK with your new steed now! Keep us up to date with how the tracking/handling issue goes...
On a separate subject, what number is your Black Editon? Mine is No 236 and I bloody love it....

[Phoneix]

bingles said:

I hope you're getting on OK with your new steed now! Keep us up to date with how the tracking/handling issue goes...
On a separate subject, what number is your Black Editon? Mine is No 236 and I bloody love it....

Booked in with dealer on Tuesday. Both Hartech and Sport & Classic are not gonna be able to look at it for a few weeks. The guy I bought it off tells me the car pulling to the left is normal i.e. car follows the camber of the road. Apparently it's also normal to have to hold at about 5 degrees to the right on a normal road, I'm not sure I agree. But I've not owned a Porsche before so we'll see what dealer says. Unfortunately it means I'm still not in love with it as much I was hoping, I reckon once I get the issues sorted I will be.

It's No 336. It's a beautiful looking thing, my last car (BMW 135i) was black on black on black too, but the Cayman is something else. My sis "It looks like the batmobile".

What's the spec on yours? How long have you had it?

[DoubleSix]

Phoneix said:

Booked in with dealer on Tuesday. Both Hartech and Sport & Classic are not gonna be able to look at it for a few weeks. The guy I bought it off tells me the car pulling to the left is normal i.e. car follows the camber of the road. Apparently it's also normal to have to hold at about 5 degrees to the right on a normal road, I'm not sure I agree. But I've not owned a Porsche before so we'll see what dealer says. Unfortunately it means I'm still not in love with it as much I was hoping, I reckon once I get the issues sorted I will be.

It's No 336. It's a beautiful looking thing, my last car (BMW 135i) was black on black on black too, but the Cayman is something else. My sis "It looks like the batmobile".

What's the spec on yours? How long have you had it?

Surely you've found a (very) quiet stretch of road and explored the other side of the camber to see if your 5% lock reverses?