997 C2 S v Cayman R as daily driver
Discussion
Wise people.
I am very attracted to the Cayman R, a cult car in the making if ever there was one. Could any owners please give their impressions as to how it performs as an "only car". The main thing that bothers me slightly is the seats, they seem to lack any lumbar support. Is this a problem on a long run, and if so are there ways round it? Any comments gratefully hoovered.
Current car is a very comfy Gen 1 C2s.
Cheers.
I am very attracted to the Cayman R, a cult car in the making if ever there was one. Could any owners please give their impressions as to how it performs as an "only car". The main thing that bothers me slightly is the seats, they seem to lack any lumbar support. Is this a problem on a long run, and if so are there ways round it? Any comments gratefully hoovered.
Current car is a very comfy Gen 1 C2s.
Cheers.
very easy to live with , I use mine as a daily and must be in and out the seats 10+ times a day.
when people say not the fastest ! it's a 175 mph car which does the ton in 10 seconds,
Its also very comfortable.
As with most performance cars you cannot keep your foot planted for long.
The drive is the best and hence why it won drivers car 2011 in Autocar.
I love this car and one of the best I have owned and I have owed a lot.
when people say not the fastest ! it's a 175 mph car which does the ton in 10 seconds,
Its also very comfortable.
As with most performance cars you cannot keep your foot planted for long.
The drive is the best and hence why it won drivers car 2011 in Autocar.
I love this car and one of the best I have owned and I have owed a lot.
Edited by mrdemon on Thursday 12th September 08:55
Edited by mrdemon on Thursday 12th September 09:02
James McScotty said:
arcamalpha said:
You can put more padding behind the seat cushions if you wanted to. Or even make up custom cushions.
Good idea. Anyone tried this?James McScotty said:
Wise people.
I am very attracted to the Cayman R, a cult car in the making if ever there was one. Could any owners please give their impressions as to how it performs as an "only car". The main thing that bothers me slightly is the seats, they seem to lack any lumbar support. Is this a problem on a long run, and if so are there ways round it? Any comments gratefully hoovered.
Current car is a very comfy Gen 1 C2s.
Cheers.
Mine is a toy but I couldn't use it as a daily driver. Apart from the fact that it's a bit of a waste, I think the seats would wear me out. I adore mine and wouldn't change it but I think day in and day out, it would be a bit much.I am very attracted to the Cayman R, a cult car in the making if ever there was one. Could any owners please give their impressions as to how it performs as an "only car". The main thing that bothers me slightly is the seats, they seem to lack any lumbar support. Is this a problem on a long run, and if so are there ways round it? Any comments gratefully hoovered.
Current car is a very comfy Gen 1 C2s.
Cheers.
You can get a Sparco inflatable lumbar support or a plain lumbar support. Demon tweeks have some options. The carbon sports buckets have velcro pads so you can apply a spacer underneath to better shape the pad but I've not bothered.
They're quite hard to get into deftly. I try to avoid putting my weight on the right bolster getting in and at some point, a stud on my jeans has caught the leather on the seam of the upright and taken a nick out. Only small but I know it's there.
If you're in London, speed humps are a nightmare with ground clearance.
As a daily driver my c2s was superb. Any 2 seat cars I have had have been a pain as adaily drive, there s no back seat, however small it may be, to chuck stuff on. Whether it be a coat, your gym bag, work briefcase or a bit of shopping. Also, brilliant little sports car tho the cayman r is, it's noticeably firmer of ride than your c2s.
you don't need a "lumbar support" in a well designed seat !!!
people over use the lumbar support adjustment if given one, the Porsche seats offer full back support and are well designed.
as for space, well being mid engine you have space up front and at the back for stuff and shopping, so win win.
Perfect daily use car, and a big plus is no one asks for lifts when you have 2 seats, so no having to be Mr taxi and people taking it as a given you will take them home if you have 4 seats.
people over use the lumbar support adjustment if given one, the Porsche seats offer full back support and are well designed.
as for space, well being mid engine you have space up front and at the back for stuff and shopping, so win win.
Perfect daily use car, and a big plus is no one asks for lifts when you have 2 seats, so no having to be Mr taxi and people taking it as a given you will take them home if you have 4 seats.
Thanks for all the comments. As you can probably tell from my OP, I have some concerns about the seat. I had a test-drive on Tuesday, only about 30 mins or so, but a definite twinge from the lower back by the end of it, and it was a relief to get back into my own car. A shame, because that's the only "fault" I could find with it (apart from the colour - white). Also a tad expensive at £48k, but it's quite a new one.
It's at Glasgow OPC if anyone's looking for a mint manual low-miler.
It's at Glasgow OPC if anyone's looking for a mint manual low-miler.
buy one with normal seats then, or do a swap if you buy one with buckets and don't like them, many owners will swap and even pay you to do a swap.
I cannot get over why people think they are hard ?
The normal seat is much harder to sit on and and gives you numb bum.
the cushions are very thick, they are shaped for back support also, my other half love them to sit in as do I.
I can do far more miles in the bucket than on a normal seat and I get lower back issues, I even think the seats help my back.
make sure your bum is as far back as it will go and you get 100% even pressure down your back.
As I said if you can feel lumber (and in most cars with ajustable lumber you can) it's to much, you should never be able to feel the lumber support, and yes I have been on a car seating course, (I kid you not, and I would say >85% of people have their seats wrong and 98% have lumber support wrong)
I cannot get over why people think they are hard ?
The normal seat is much harder to sit on and and gives you numb bum.
the cushions are very thick, they are shaped for back support also, my other half love them to sit in as do I.
I can do far more miles in the bucket than on a normal seat and I get lower back issues, I even think the seats help my back.
make sure your bum is as far back as it will go and you get 100% even pressure down your back.
As I said if you can feel lumber (and in most cars with ajustable lumber you can) it's to much, you should never be able to feel the lumber support, and yes I have been on a car seating course, (I kid you not, and I would say >85% of people have their seats wrong and 98% have lumber support wrong)
Lol there is no right and wrong if it don't fit you :-)
I just find it odd people say they are hard when Infact they are softer to sit on
Is that just forum rumour , they are also massive things now also not like the thin 996 GT3 bucket , which btw is also nice to sit in.
These new buckets will take a 16 stone person no issue.
Plenty of Cayman R with sports seats and not buckets to buy though, so no excuse not to buy one because of the seats :-)
I just find it odd people say they are hard when Infact they are softer to sit on
Is that just forum rumour , they are also massive things now also not like the thin 996 GT3 bucket , which btw is also nice to sit in.
These new buckets will take a 16 stone person no issue.
Plenty of Cayman R with sports seats and not buckets to buy though, so no excuse not to buy one because of the seats :-)
James McScotty said:
Um, OK, sorry I am wrong about the seat.
James, how tall are you and what inside leg measurement? (It's ok, I'm not a gay stalker btw!).I tried a Cayman R with sports seats and the deal fell through as I experienced exactly the same as you, lower back pain after less than 1 hour in the saddle. Truth was, at 6' tall and 34" inside leg (that's a jean size reference, not measured), the cabin was too short by only about 1", meaning my throttle foot was at a slight angle which resulted in the back pain. Fortunately the 981 cabin seems to have addressed this issue?
I don't think the buckets are "hard" at all. Just a tad unsupportive in the lumbar region. Apart from that, the car is fantastic and in some ways better than what I have now.
I'm 6 foot, and take a jeans size 32 or 34 inside leg depending on the brand. Used to be quite slim, but a bit porkier than I'd like round the middle these days, weighing 13 st. The carrera's seats are perfect for me. Maybe I'll just look for one w/ sports seats.
I'm 6 foot, and take a jeans size 32 or 34 inside leg depending on the brand. Used to be quite slim, but a bit porkier than I'd like round the middle these days, weighing 13 st. The carrera's seats are perfect for me. Maybe I'll just look for one w/ sports seats.
The seat issue crops up all the time.
I have the sports seats in my Spyder as I find the buckets terribly uncomfortable.
It horses for courses really - as MrD says, he finds the sports seats numbing, whereas I drove for 4.5hrs only stopping for fuel once and felt as fresh as vestal virgin after a sauna when I got out.
If only the buckets were a couple inches wider with reclining back then I'd have had them.
With regards to your size - I have a similar inside leg measurement but I'm 3" taller.
If I'm honest, the Spyder (or CR) is possibly a touch too small in the cockpit area.
I do believe, however, that the sports seats go lower and further back than the buckets. (Happy to be told otherwise)
Mrdemon on the other hand, is only 4'8" tall....
The point mentioned about lower back pain - I also have sciatica and this was increased when I first got the car.
Simple cure was a fairly cheap lumber wedge off the Internet which sits between the backrest and seat squab.
Works well.
I have the sports seats in my Spyder as I find the buckets terribly uncomfortable.
It horses for courses really - as MrD says, he finds the sports seats numbing, whereas I drove for 4.5hrs only stopping for fuel once and felt as fresh as vestal virgin after a sauna when I got out.
If only the buckets were a couple inches wider with reclining back then I'd have had them.
With regards to your size - I have a similar inside leg measurement but I'm 3" taller.
If I'm honest, the Spyder (or CR) is possibly a touch too small in the cockpit area.
I do believe, however, that the sports seats go lower and further back than the buckets. (Happy to be told otherwise)
Mrdemon on the other hand, is only 4'8" tall....
The point mentioned about lower back pain - I also have sciatica and this was increased when I first got the car.
Simple cure was a fairly cheap lumber wedge off the Internet which sits between the backrest and seat squab.
Works well.
Edited by Zyp on Saturday 14th September 15:05
James McScotty said:
I'm 6 foot, and take a jeans size 32 or 34 inside leg depending on the brand. Used to be quite slim, but a bit porkier than I'd like round the middle these days, weighing 13 st..
I am exactly the same size wise.I have the buckets in the Spyder and have had no back issues at all - I have found the seats to be very good indeed and my car has taken me to Le Mans and back with no comfort issues. I had the hard backed sports seats in my 996 before and I find the buckets miles better.
You must have slightly longer legs than me!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff