Cayman S - clutch heaviness normal?
Discussion
Drove an 06 Cayman S at the weekend - and was surprised by how heavy and stiffly sprung the clutch was. I've heard that all the controls are nicely weighted - but in this Cayman the clutch was really pretty heavy. I stepped back into my 130i M-Sport (which has a moderately stiffly sprung clutch compared to most cars) and I felt like I was driving using a clutch from a Nissan Micra! Are all Cayman clutches stiff/heavy? or was it just that one?
Owning both those I can confirm the Cayman is, and should be, alot stiffer than your 130i.
Would I be right in assuming you've not driven many Porsches or not? If you're new to Porsche you might find it a little heavy (especially coming from BMW) but its totally normal and part of the experience. You'll come to love the weight of the controls and find the clutch in your BM a bit, errrm, wimpy after a while.
Would I be right in assuming you've not driven many Porsches or not? If you're new to Porsche you might find it a little heavy (especially coming from BMW) but its totally normal and part of the experience. You'll come to love the weight of the controls and find the clutch in your BM a bit, errrm, wimpy after a while.
daveknott5 said:
You're right that I've not driven many Porsches. I've briefly driven a MK1 Boxster S before but that's it. Is the clutch weight tolerable in urban/heavy traffic environments? or does it get to be a right pain and you end up only using the car on weekends...?
Well, I use mine as a DD and have no problem in stop start traffic in one of the most hilly citys in the UK. As Roy Castle would say....
Clutches on these normally get replaced because they get too heavy (rather than because the friction plate has worn out and started slipping) so as everyone's perception of "heavy" when described over t'internet may be different I'd be sure to try another example or two of a similar car before assuming that the clutch in the one you tried was OK. 
If you're near me, I have a Boxster here that's just had a clutch fitted that you could try - feels quite light to me and I'm no Chuck Norris.
If you're near me, I have a Boxster here that's just had a clutch fitted that you could try - feels quite light to me and I'm no Chuck Norris.
When I first went for a test drive in my CaymanS, my leg was shaking cos of the effort on the clutch. I honestly thought I was in trouble of crashing it due to thinking I was going to accidently let the clutch go. Since owning it, I dont notice it anymore - it must have taken me about 1-2hrs to get used to it. I guess they couldve done something between test drive and purchase.
When I drive any of my parents cars, their clutch feels rather flimsy & loose in comparison. I much prefer the firmer feel of the clutch on the cayman.
When I drive any of my parents cars, their clutch feels rather flimsy & loose in comparison. I much prefer the firmer feel of the clutch on the cayman.
The Cayman S clutch is beautifully weighted for urban traffic. I don't think a clutch in good order can ever be described as heavy. As somebody above says, you'll find a world of difference between the Cayman and GT3 clutches.
I'd being asking questions pertinent to worn clutches personally.
I'd being asking questions pertinent to worn clutches personally.
Cayman 2.7 here as a DD, a fair chunk of it in traffic. It's a reasonably heavy clutch and a few months after getting it I was half wishing I got a tiptronic or a PDK. But actually as time goes on I think I am getting used to it. Neutral + foot on brake if the traffic is stationary and it can happily crawl at 6-7mph in 1st without labouring - so just leave a bit of a gap in front.
daveknott5 said:
Drove an 06 Cayman S at the weekend - and was surprised by how heavy and stiffly sprung the clutch was. I've heard that all the controls are nicely weighted - but in this Cayman the clutch was really pretty heavy. I stepped back into my 130i M-Sport (which has a moderately stiffly sprung clutch compared to most cars) and I felt like I was driving using a clutch from a Nissan Micra! Are all Cayman clutches stiff/heavy? or was it just that one?
You need to experience another Cayman or Boxster. It has been too long since I've driven anything but my Porsches so compared to other cars I don't know but if a Cayman clutch is heavy compared to the clutches in other Caymans/Boxsters that can be a sign the clutch is worn.My info is as the clutch wears and some mechanical advantage is lost and this makes itself known by a heavier clutch.
I think this info is correct because my Boxster's clutch has gotten heavier over the last 6 months or so and the clutch now has almost 250K miles on it.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
Rockster said:
You need to experience another Cayman or Boxster. It has been too long since I've driven anything but my Porsches so compared to other cars I don't know but if a Cayman clutch is heavy compared to the clutches in other Caymans/Boxsters that can be a sign the clutch is worn.
My info is as the clutch wears and some mechanical advantage is lost and this makes itself known by a heavier clutch.
I think this info is correct because my Boxster's clutch has gotten heavier over the last 6 months or so and the clutch now has almost 250K miles on it.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
That must be a typo surely... 250k miles on one clutch??My info is as the clutch wears and some mechanical advantage is lost and this makes itself known by a heavier clutch.
I think this info is correct because my Boxster's clutch has gotten heavier over the last 6 months or so and the clutch now has almost 250K miles on it.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
First Porsche I ever drove was a 996 GT3 and I found the clutch heavy. Drove a 997 C4S immediately afterwards and the clutch was a lot lighter - more like my E46. Was a few years before I drove another Porsche and that was a 986 Boxster S - clutch was surprisingly heavy so I think it must have been approaching the end of its life. Bought a 987 Boxster S just over 6 months ago and don't find the clutch heavy at all tbh.
I wonder does the 3.4 engine have a larger clutch than the 2.7 Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff