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

[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.

[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. :-)

[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.

[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?

[Phoneix]

DoubleSix said:

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?

That's the plan tomorrow...

[Phoneix]

thegoose said:

Danny at Unit 11 in Warrington
Mike at Sports and Classic (moved from Knutsford to Nether Alderley now)
Rob at Hartech in Bolton
Robin at Ninemeister in Warrington

I would use any of those guys, and definitely before handing it over to an OPC, where you don't know who will be working on the car and can't have a direct conversation with them. What you need is a consultation with an expert who can then tailor the set up to your requirements.

I agree, I like getting to know someone personally. But Hartech said three weeks minimum and Mike has just had a kid so he's not at the garage much, left my number twice but no one has called me back. Didn't know about the others so I'll give them a shot.

Thanks.

[Phoneix]

DoubleSix said:

Totally.

OPC is the last lace I'd be going even if it meant a little wait.

Just seen the video of your Design Edition, looked awesome, almost perfect spec too. Also see you have a 130i, considered buying it rather than the Black Edition but I don't think I'll ever have the chance to own a two seater sports car like the Cayman again (no kids, etc) so went for it. Did a lot of research on 130i, planned to add Birds Dynamic package and maybe sports exhaust too. In fact, might even go for it as my next car/2nd car. How do you find it after the Cayman?

[Phoneix]

S5V8 said:

I would take it here to Revolution in Brighouse. They too have an excellent reputation.

http://www.revolution-porsche.co.uk/

I would give Russ a call as they will help you out over the phone with free advice and are very helpful.

Thank you. I'm glad to find there's a fair few specialists within 30 mins of me.

[Phoneix]

bingles said:

I agree, Batmobile kind sums it up... My CSBE is a manual, I'm not sure what was standard on this car, but over a standard CS it has the following:

PCM with Extended Nav, Bose, Sports Chrono, Heated Seats, Sports Exhaust, Multifunction Steering Wheel, Bi-Xenons, Auto Dimming Mirrors and Rain Sensor, Climate Control, Embossed Head Restraints. I'm sure there is other stuff, but I can't remember it all!!! :-)

I've had it about a year now and have completed about 10k. I've loved every mile... I've got to be honest that I don't think I've ever noticed the car pulling on a camber - You might need to get an alignment done. Good luck mate!

Thanks mate. Hopefully I'll be loving every mile soon.

That's a good spec, I really wanted Bose and Sports Exhaust, think I'll add the exhaust if I do (hopefully when) I fall for it. I'm really glad I got Sports Chrono too, from what I read most people didn't think it added much but I reckon it makes a world of difference, mainly the throttle response aspect. Makes it feel like a proper sports car, far more reponsive.

[Phoneix]

I apologise for the delay in updating this thread but I thought I'd wait until I'd got it looked at sorted.

I took it to Porsche Wilmslow and then Revolution Porsche, both reported tyres and an alignment issue so I decided on four new tyres and got the alignment done.

Happily, I can report that all three issues are sorted. The biggest difference is in the high speed stability, it's more comfortable on general driving also. I've taken it out on a couple of my favourite roads in the past week, on those winding roads over the moors you can see what the Cayman hype is all about. It makes you feel like a better driver than you are because you're getting away with doing things you wouldn't dream of in another car. In fact, in terms of handling and balance I struggle to see how the car could be improved, thought I've never driven the Cayman R and I'm sure the GT4 is another level.

My favourite thing is the way it hooks up around a corner, it doesn't even have to be going that fast but the feeling of the balance and car in your hands and underneath you is delightful. The other thing I really like is the way the car gets better the more you push, it gives you more information and gets sharper. I'm sure the limits of it are far above my driving ability.

It's an amazing car, however it's not perfect, but is any car? I plan to give a more detailed review once I've spent more time with it.

Thanks for all your help and comments folks.

[Phoneix]

RUSTLE said:

I have a Cayman s and a 130i (with the full birds kit) Not a bad fleet, however having got the Cayman only a few weeks ago the 130i isn't getting much attention. I just got my Cayman wheels balanced after some vibration on the french motorways at easter. I factor in at least one alignment per annum as it drives me mad if a car doesn't track properly. As stated above, sounds like a combo of geo, wheel balance, and tyres.

If you ever plan to sell your 130i let me know, the other option I'm considering is the Golf GTI Mk5. I think I'd prefer the BM straight six (even now I miss the sound of my 135i) and handling of the 130i, though the looks are putting me off.