Cayman S too capable?
Discussion
Finally said goodbye to the 968 cab and picked up my midnight blue Cayman S in mid september, exactly three day before leaving for Africa for 5 weeks, during which time I had to endure texts from my wife telling me what a lovely drive it is 
So I was damned pleased to get back to the UK, take possession of the keys and banish her back to the Nissan Micra
I have to say its damned nice to have a modern car, with lots of widgets and gadgets, and lights that work, and lovely unmarked leather, and a heater that works etc etc.
And it is, in every respect, a stupendous car - massively capable, grip like I wouldn't believe, thrilling acceleration. And utterly, utterly, GORGEOUS to look at.
But...
But but but....
I can't help thinking its a slightly silly car. Its just so clearly overqualified for driving in the UK. Less than halfway through the rev range in third, I'm at the national speed limit. The acceleration is sufficiently quick that theres hardly time to enjoy it before having to back off or risk the attention of the forces of Law and Order. And its got sufficient torque that actually you can sit in third all day long and cover almost the entire range of legal driving with no effort at all.
When I think about my old 968 I really had to work it. Attention to timing of braking and gear changes genuinely made a difference to, and gave me a chance to enjoy the twisties (of which there are plenty where i live) and generally do stuff to guide the car along.
I fully accept Im no driving God, and I have plenty to learn about handling etc, but i suspect that even Sabine would find it difficult to demonstrate, or get anywhere near the limits of this car's capabilities on UK roads. Which makes me wonder if it isn't a little bit pointless.
In essence, Im not sure the Cayman S really needs me. And when the time comes to change cars (a while off) I'm actually wondering if I'd have more fun in the standard 2.9
So I was damned pleased to get back to the UK, take possession of the keys and banish her back to the Nissan Micra
I have to say its damned nice to have a modern car, with lots of widgets and gadgets, and lights that work, and lovely unmarked leather, and a heater that works etc etc.
And it is, in every respect, a stupendous car - massively capable, grip like I wouldn't believe, thrilling acceleration. And utterly, utterly, GORGEOUS to look at.
But...
But but but....
I can't help thinking its a slightly silly car. Its just so clearly overqualified for driving in the UK. Less than halfway through the rev range in third, I'm at the national speed limit. The acceleration is sufficiently quick that theres hardly time to enjoy it before having to back off or risk the attention of the forces of Law and Order. And its got sufficient torque that actually you can sit in third all day long and cover almost the entire range of legal driving with no effort at all.
When I think about my old 968 I really had to work it. Attention to timing of braking and gear changes genuinely made a difference to, and gave me a chance to enjoy the twisties (of which there are plenty where i live) and generally do stuff to guide the car along.
I fully accept Im no driving God, and I have plenty to learn about handling etc, but i suspect that even Sabine would find it difficult to demonstrate, or get anywhere near the limits of this car's capabilities on UK roads. Which makes me wonder if it isn't a little bit pointless.
In essence, Im not sure the Cayman S really needs me. And when the time comes to change cars (a while off) I'm actually wondering if I'd have more fun in the standard 2.9
you'll be thankful of the extra bhp when the situation allows and as you say; the extra torque makes the drive more flexible. Speed, capability..... pointless! go wash your mouth out with soap :-)
Know what you mean though re UK roads. Funny enough I have a stg2 GTR which exacerbates these issues massively and through a similar thought process ironically went and got a Cayman S, pdk,lsd,pasm,SCP as I thought it would be something I could exercise and have fun with, having far less risk than the GTR on uk roads.
IMO the CaymanS is a great car to do exactly this, even if only on selected roads to exploit it's capabilities anywhere near it's limits and it's lovely to drive even when pootling. Of course you could always take it to track and have a great time too.
enjoy
Know what you mean though re UK roads. Funny enough I have a stg2 GTR which exacerbates these issues massively and through a similar thought process ironically went and got a Cayman S, pdk,lsd,pasm,SCP as I thought it would be something I could exercise and have fun with, having far less risk than the GTR on uk roads.
IMO the CaymanS is a great car to do exactly this, even if only on selected roads to exploit it's capabilities anywhere near it's limits and it's lovely to drive even when pootling. Of course you could always take it to track and have a great time too.
enjoy
I miss my S like crazy, I always thought, "baby forces sale" was something people stuck on an add to try and show a genuine reason fro sale.
You will undoubtedly find places that you can push the limits a little more, I had a couple of favourite roundabouts where I would step the rear end out with a beaming smile. The very best thing about the Cayman is you always feel 100% in control, it never snaps or catches you out. Comfortable on a long run, reasonable on fuel and uncatchable on the backroads, perfection IMHO, but like you say almost too good!
You will undoubtedly find places that you can push the limits a little more, I had a couple of favourite roundabouts where I would step the rear end out with a beaming smile. The very best thing about the Cayman is you always feel 100% in control, it never snaps or catches you out. Comfortable on a long run, reasonable on fuel and uncatchable on the backroads, perfection IMHO, but like you say almost too good!
Having just (August) fulfilled a long held ambition and got my Porsche, I went for the Cayman as it was just such a good drive and the S because you con never have enough......
You don't have to use it all the time but it's nice to have there in reserve as it were.
What a nice, nice, nice car.
You don't have to use it all the time but it's nice to have there in reserve as it were.
What a nice, nice, nice car.
I came to exactly the same conclusion about by Gen 1 Cayamn S. Half way through 3rd gear I'm breaking
the law. Solution - got a Gen 2 Cayman with PDK. Rev the nuts off it (sounds excellent in my view),
and spend less time worrying about how fast I'm going (although 80 in 3rd is still possible!)
the law. Solution - got a Gen 2 Cayman with PDK. Rev the nuts off it (sounds excellent in my view),
and spend less time worrying about how fast I'm going (although 80 in 3rd is still possible!)
Youa re right, it is too capable to get near the limits at sensible speeds in the UK, or maybe anywhere really.
What I loved about it though was more trying to attack the same sequence of corners in an ever smoother and smmother way and getting quicker that way.
At the edge of the limit it tends to want to understeer anyway so I found it more fun to do the above, and I'm just not good enough to push beyond the understeer into brown trousers mid engine over-steer.
What I loved about it though was more trying to attack the same sequence of corners in an ever smoother and smmother way and getting quicker that way.
At the edge of the limit it tends to want to understeer anyway so I found it more fun to do the above, and I'm just not good enough to push beyond the understeer into brown trousers mid engine over-steer.
This is one of the reasons I love the older 911's. You get a large dose of fun at relatively (Ahem) sane speeds. A 993 seems to have the perfect grip/power/noise ratio for fun on the UKs roads.
Even a seemingly humble 997S has such great reserves of grip and dynamic ability that to push it near to its limits on the queens highway, you are travelling at very uncomfortable speeds well into 3 figures and risking a VERY large one if another driver doesnt see you/pulls out on you etc.
On what roads owners genuinely 'push' these 600+bhp tuned Turbos I dont know!
I think the older you get, you realise that its not all about power, its about fun. Its why drivers love little terriers like the Clio Cup. You can rag'em anywhere.
MTR
Even a seemingly humble 997S has such great reserves of grip and dynamic ability that to push it near to its limits on the queens highway, you are travelling at very uncomfortable speeds well into 3 figures and risking a VERY large one if another driver doesnt see you/pulls out on you etc.
On what roads owners genuinely 'push' these 600+bhp tuned Turbos I dont know!
I think the older you get, you realise that its not all about power, its about fun. Its why drivers love little terriers like the Clio Cup. You can rag'em anywhere.
MTR
Hmm - I own a 3.4 Boxster S and find it can break traction at the rear quite easily (currently has Continental Sport Contact 3s fitted). I know the rears are quite worn and I have a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2s waiting to be fitted sometime soon but do others not find their Cayman/ Boxster S breaks traction quite easily (I'm talking about in the dry)?
Not sure a 'non S' model would be the same so I see it as increasing the driver involvement in my car - I owned an E46 330Ci for many years previously and the electronics/ gizmos would never allow that to happen so I do find the Boxster more challenging in that respect.
Drove 4 laps in a 'non S' Cayman at Croft last weekend and personally I think my 3.4 S is much stronger in the mid-range, but it was still a cracking car.
Not sure a 'non S' model would be the same so I see it as increasing the driver involvement in my car - I owned an E46 330Ci for many years previously and the electronics/ gizmos would never allow that to happen so I do find the Boxster more challenging in that respect.
Drove 4 laps in a 'non S' Cayman at Croft last weekend and personally I think my 3.4 S is much stronger in the mid-range, but it was still a cracking car.
Edited by cslwannabe on Thursday 17th November 21:22
cslwannabe said:
Hmm - I own a 3.4 Boxster S and find it can break traction at the rear quite easily (currently has Continental Sport Contact 3s fitted). I know the rears are quite worn and I have a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2s waiting to be fitted sometime soon but do others not find their Cayman/ Boxster S brakes traction quite easily (I'm talking about in the dry)?
Not sure a 'non S' model would be the same so I see it as increasing the driver involvement in my car - I owned an E46 330Ci for many years previously and the electronics/ gizmos would never allow that to happen so I do find the Boxster more challenging in that respect.
Drove 4 laps in a 'non S' Cayman at Croft last weekend and personally I think my 3.4 S is much stronger in the mid-range, but it was still a cracking car.
+1 in my Cayman S - the rears aren't perfect any more granted, but I have no issues kicking the back out slightly using the power, and maybe a few more sudden inputs. I suspect the types of road and corner play a part - I'm talking about 30/40mph 2nd gear turns, not epic 3rd gear 70mph slides...Not sure a 'non S' model would be the same so I see it as increasing the driver involvement in my car - I owned an E46 330Ci for many years previously and the electronics/ gizmos would never allow that to happen so I do find the Boxster more challenging in that respect.
Drove 4 laps in a 'non S' Cayman at Croft last weekend and personally I think my 3.4 S is much stronger in the mid-range, but it was still a cracking car.
Whichever way you cut it, the Cayman is the most capable, but also the most fun, car I've ever owned. I really really REALLY want a GT3 next.
Someone doesnt have to much hassle loosing traction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A5rt630Chc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhz0gHgQGD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A5rt630Chc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhz0gHgQGD4
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