Cayman R drive
Discussion
I have to say one of the joys of Porsche ownership is dealing with the Carlsberg OPC. They are utterly excellent. Where in a normal car any slight thing going wrong would irritate me no end, with the Porsche it's an excuse to go to Mid-Sussex and have a look around. Also, you can book a courtesy car and being Porsche, you can't really get a crap one!
Anyway, today (after a Maserati drive) I realised I could take the car to the garage early, so I asked if that would be OK. They said fine, but the Cayman S we had planned for you won't be ready but you can have a std Cayman instead, to which I said fine.
When I arrived at the dealership, there was a gorgeous Cayman R there, which I commented on and they asked if I'd rather have that instead! Errr... yes please!!!
Anyway, after sorting out the paperwork and having a quick listen to the Panamera GTS (Jesus Christ that thing sounds good!), I pootled off in the Cayman R...
I can sort of understand why people refer to Caymans as a "poor man's 911", it's very similar inside but not quite as nice but there's nothing wrong whatsoever or even slightly low-rent about the way it drives. It has lovely steering and a supremely well-judged ride / handling balance.
The ride feels somewhere in between comfort and sport mode in the GTS, which is spot on and it shifts too! Engine noise could be a little better, I find the GTS is worth pushing round to the redline because the noise between 6 and 7,00RPM is worth it, in the R it's louder but just missing that final, exhilarating yowl.
However, down a bumpy back road not far from where I live, I reckon it's pretty much untouchable, the car is beautifully damped and a savage mid corner bump was absorbed with consummate ease. Also because it's a small car, it's fantastic on small roads all the while getting this constant stream of information from the steering.
Needless to say, I think it's an incredible little motor, sounds great with the PSE on perfect pedal position for H&T, nice gear change (but not quite as sweet as the GTS (mine has the short shifter, which may be the difference) and peerless handling.
I'd love to drive it on a track to really give it some beans but it's an incredible car and fantastic value for money!
Now all I have to do is convince the Mrs that we really need a dedicated track car, that she can also use on the road
Anyway, today (after a Maserati drive) I realised I could take the car to the garage early, so I asked if that would be OK. They said fine, but the Cayman S we had planned for you won't be ready but you can have a std Cayman instead, to which I said fine.
When I arrived at the dealership, there was a gorgeous Cayman R there, which I commented on and they asked if I'd rather have that instead! Errr... yes please!!!
Anyway, after sorting out the paperwork and having a quick listen to the Panamera GTS (Jesus Christ that thing sounds good!), I pootled off in the Cayman R...
I can sort of understand why people refer to Caymans as a "poor man's 911", it's very similar inside but not quite as nice but there's nothing wrong whatsoever or even slightly low-rent about the way it drives. It has lovely steering and a supremely well-judged ride / handling balance.
The ride feels somewhere in between comfort and sport mode in the GTS, which is spot on and it shifts too! Engine noise could be a little better, I find the GTS is worth pushing round to the redline because the noise between 6 and 7,00RPM is worth it, in the R it's louder but just missing that final, exhilarating yowl.
However, down a bumpy back road not far from where I live, I reckon it's pretty much untouchable, the car is beautifully damped and a savage mid corner bump was absorbed with consummate ease. Also because it's a small car, it's fantastic on small roads all the while getting this constant stream of information from the steering.
Needless to say, I think it's an incredible little motor, sounds great with the PSE on perfect pedal position for H&T, nice gear change (but not quite as sweet as the GTS (mine has the short shifter, which may be the difference) and peerless handling.
I'd love to drive it on a track to really give it some beans but it's an incredible car and fantastic value for money!
Now all I have to do is convince the Mrs that we really need a dedicated track car, that she can also use on the road
It all the same parts, so not sure how you can say not as nice inside as a 911.
Spec leather in a Cayman and not in the 997 and the caymans nicer.
It,s all about spec :-)
As for the ss that is the same part number as well lol.
Amazing car, rather shocked only 120 have sold.
Faster on the road than it is on paper also as you have found out.
Such a shame Porsche limit Bhp in these cars.
Spec leather in a Cayman and not in the 997 and the caymans nicer.
It,s all about spec :-)
As for the ss that is the same part number as well lol.
Amazing car, rather shocked only 120 have sold.
Faster on the road than it is on paper also as you have found out.
Such a shame Porsche limit Bhp in these cars.
Edited by mrdemon on Thursday 26th April 23:10
mrdemon said:
Such a shame Porsche limit Bhp in these cars.
I agree, I still think its Porsche's best handling car, if the R had decent HP I would have traded my GT3 for one. Just lacks the correct engine, everything else is excellent. If you are tall, have the carbon seats, I am 6'+ and with the CF seats its just perfect.mrdemon said:
It all the same parts, so not sure how you can say not as nice inside as a 911.
Because the one I drove wasn't - plastic but grained to look like leather, in a 911 the plastic is smooth and looks nicer IMHO.Edited by mrdemon on Thursday 26th April 23:10
Less dials, so no oil pressure or temperature read-out. Vents look different and less nice. All IMHO clearly.
J-P said:
I have to say one of the joys of Porsche ownership is dealing with the Carlsberg OPC. They are utterly excellent. Where in a normal car any slight thing going wrong would irritate me no end, with the Porsche it's an excuse to go to Mid-Sussex and have a look around. Also, you can book a courtesy car and being Porsche, you can't really get a crap one!
funnily enough the reason i have had a decent go in a GTS (like yours) is because OPC M-S lent me one for the day when doing an oil change on my RS. you are right, they are a brilliant dealer and a fabulous asset to Porsche. LindsayMac said:
I agree, I still think its Porsche's best handling car, if the R had decent HP I would have traded my GT3 for one. Just lacks the correct engine, everything else is excellent. If you are tall, have the carbon seats, I am 6'+ and with the CF seats its just perfect.
yes but you can almost use all of them horses and it is easier to pivot than a 911. A driver of mediocre talent like myself can't seem extract enough out out a gt3 (other than buzzing that lovely engine) is ultimately why I chose a CR. The fact that I got a new one versus a well used 997 mk 1 GT3 for the same cash is sweet... Not to mention that it is likely to be quite rare is a nice bonus. Still, you would need the bucket seats, PSE and SS for the full fat experience (PCCBs would also add to that).Had a good blatt in it this evening - it's very quick, definitely need to take one on the track I simply can't believe the pace. I actually think that I couldn't keep up with my own car on the road and I'd have to really push, feeling ever so slightly sweaty, where the Cayman R driver would just be out for a hoon, thoroughly enjoying himself and effectively taking no risk - the brakes are epic and it is the perfect size for the small country lanes around here.
It's much easier to drive fast than the 911, so by definition less challenging but it's heroically good!
How much do they weigh? Feels like it weighs f
k all when you're on it!
It's much easier to drive fast than the 911, so by definition less challenging but it's heroically good!
How much do they weigh? Feels like it weighs f
k all when you're on it!J-P said:
I simply can't believe the pace.It's much easier to drive fast than the 911, so by definition less challenging but it's heroically good!
They're epic cars aren't they ? But I think you've hit the nail on the head with your comment about then being less challenging to drive than the 911. They're a bit plug and play, and in the goodness of time I suspect they may start to feel a bit one dimensional. The 911, in all it's iterations (certainly the GT3) requires more of its driver to punt down a challenging road quickly. The Cayman does most of the work for you. That's not a not a bad thing if you want to get from A to B quickly, but ultimately I think it could become a tad boring. I think I'd go for the really "lazy" option and have a PDK box in mine ! Slippydiff said:
J-P said:
I simply can't believe the pace.It's much easier to drive fast than the 911, so by definition less challenging but it's heroically good!
They're epic cars aren't they ? But I think you've hit the nail on the head with your comment about then being less challenging to drive than the 911. They're a bit plug and play, and in the goodness of time I suspect they may start to feel a bit one dimensional. The 911, in all it's iterations (certainly the GT3) requires more of its driver to punt down a challenging road quickly. The Cayman does most of the work for you. That's not a not a bad thing if you want to get from A to B quickly, but ultimately I think it could become a tad boring. I think I'd go for the really "lazy" option and have a PDK box in mine ! I think the engine is more grown-up in mine too but CR is very, very impressive!F3RNANDO said:
What is that opinion based on?
Its TPC incidentally...
Sorry, TPC Its TPC incidentally...
Well it is what it is, just opinion. But I feel that cayman presents better value for money than a 911.
Cayman R is according to some best driver's car. For me a cayman is a sports car while 911 is a GT.
Not talking about GT2 and GT 3 here
Why Cayman turbo? Because 300hp is not enough for some to say 'sports car'. I cannot afford a nice 911 anyway... So maybe it is just difficult for me to imagine spending that sort of money for an icon.
The thing is that better chassis is, more "boring" it can feel to drive. It is the same with Audi R8 4.2. I mean it has 420 HP but It feels it can handle much much more. There is no power limit for "boring" feel 
For me 330 Hp is plenty and anything above that would make it harder and harder to enjoy it on regular driving. But of course some people value things differently. My advice is that throw the car sideways if you are bored of carving trough the corners like hot knife in butter.
Other thing you can also do is to buy cheaper rubber if you want to feel chassis struggle with under- and oversteer.(like Chris H. hinted in some of his videos)
Porsche is currently developing a new car with MR layout to be priced above 911 line-up to take game to the new level.
For me 330 Hp is plenty and anything above that would make it harder and harder to enjoy it on regular driving. But of course some people value things differently. My advice is that throw the car sideways if you are bored of carving trough the corners like hot knife in butter.Other thing you can also do is to buy cheaper rubber if you want to feel chassis struggle with under- and oversteer.(like Chris H. hinted in some of his videos)
Porsche is currently developing a new car with MR layout to be priced above 911 line-up to take game to the new level.
Just had a superb blat in my R. Combination of B and single track roads, virtually to myself. Interestingly the odd car I did chance upon was quick to let me past ( and no I wasn't sitting 6 inches from their rear bumpers). Perhaps these little cars have some presence? Or maybe I chanced upon some very courteous drivers. Anyway I don't think I would have enjoyed myself more in a 911- certainly would have been no brisker in that setting with my level of (in)aptitude.
Just a shame that my nearest track is over 100 miles away. Having seen how well it copes with extremely demanding twisty, bumpy single track roads am now itching to really give it a workout.
Just a shame that my nearest track is over 100 miles away. Having seen how well it copes with extremely demanding twisty, bumpy single track roads am now itching to really give it a workout.
AML said:
Just had a superb blat in my R. Combination of B and single track roads, virtually to myself. Interestingly the odd car I did chance upon was quick to let me past ( and no I wasn't sitting 6 inches from their rear bumpers). Perhaps these little cars have some presence? Or maybe I chanced upon some very courteous drivers. Anyway I don't think I would have enjoyed myself more in a 911- certainly would have been no brisker in that setting with my level of (in)aptitude.
Just a shame that my nearest track is over 100 miles away. Having seen how well it copes with extremely demanding twisty, bumpy single track roads am now itching to really give it a workout.
Exactly - All I kept thinking about when I got out of the CR was - "god I'd love to have a go on track in one of these!"Just a shame that my nearest track is over 100 miles away. Having seen how well it copes with extremely demanding twisty, bumpy single track roads am now itching to really give it a workout.
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