Cayman - now I understand
Discussion
I drove the Cayman this morning and what a fascinating car it is. The car I drove was a basic spec (no dynamic additions) so with 18" wheels and standard suspension.
Iniitially it felt like my old Boxster S, and even sounded similar when started up, but as I rode shotgun for the first few miles I noted that the cabin felt quieter, but actually there were less of the high-frequency sounds the Boxster has and just more of the lower frequency noises. Clearly better than the Boxster with a more insulated feeling from outside.
We swapped over and I got myself comfortable behind the wheel. I still don't like Porsche's thin rimmed steering wheels, but otherwise it's a comfortable place to be. Accelerating away I was immediately aware of the increased chassis rigidity over the Boxster, it feels calmer with less going on, so you're encouraged to begin expoloring the engine.
The engine performance was quite a revelation compared to what I was expecting. I've owned many 911s and even though I knew the Cayman has a 3.4 litre engine with similar power to my 996 C2, I still expected it to feel like a Boxster S. It didn't. Not even slightly. There's torque at the bottom end of the revs in any gear, but if you slot it in 2nd or 3rd and engage right foot it pulls strongly, acceleration remains linear for the next few thousand revs and then at around 5750 rpm it takes on a more urgent tone and surges more aggresively towards 7000rpm. All the time there is a deep howl (deeper than in the Boxster) that accompanies the revs from around 3000rpm, urging you to keep pressing the accelerator. Even when cruising in 5th it's easy to access this induction howl and know that's the Cayman is always ready for some fun. That's very 911-like and in some ways better than I remember.
I accelerated up and down through the gears heel-and-toeing for every corner (just for the sake of it), there's a lovely precision to the throttle and gears that allows you to play tunes at will and place it inch perfect every time. The best way to describe the chassis is 'poised' very much like the 50:50 feel of a BMW, it takes all the effort out of controlling the car and instead you can focus on perfecting your line and carrying ever more speed through corners. The steering whilst accurate lack a little feel compared to either a 911 or good BMW, there's weighting but it just doesn't load up as much as I'd like when entering a slippy corner - there's not enough conversation between the road and my fingertips. Otherwise it feels similar to a 911 (but without the front end patter).
Normally I would be criticising it for this lack of 'character' at the front end, but instead I found myself revelling in it's precision, the way it goads you into carrying more speed, playing tunes with the engine and having FUN!!
I must have driven 40-50 miles and I was reluctant to take it back, instead wishing I could just pop over to Wales or perhaps the N85 in France for a spot of apexing.
I didn't take the opportunity to explore the outer edges of grip but I did drive it very fast, reaching 130+ several times and the main impression I gained was how accesible its performance is and how much fun it feels compared to the Boxster and 997.
This is ultimately the most 'playful' Porsche ever made in my opinion, not the best necessarily for the more seasoned driver, but the sort of car that you jump in and start playing with by the first corner. It's also fast, truly quick enough for most performance minded enthusiasts (it's virtually as quick as an E46 M3) and if you can get over the "it's not a 911" argument then it might be all the Porsche you ever need.
It's certainly much more than a Boxster with a roof, it sounds better, it's noticeably quicker and more characterful, it handles more fluently and confidently and it's more fun. I would certainly be interested in a Cayman RS/CS and I am now more certain than ever that Porsche will make one
Iniitially it felt like my old Boxster S, and even sounded similar when started up, but as I rode shotgun for the first few miles I noted that the cabin felt quieter, but actually there were less of the high-frequency sounds the Boxster has and just more of the lower frequency noises. Clearly better than the Boxster with a more insulated feeling from outside.
We swapped over and I got myself comfortable behind the wheel. I still don't like Porsche's thin rimmed steering wheels, but otherwise it's a comfortable place to be. Accelerating away I was immediately aware of the increased chassis rigidity over the Boxster, it feels calmer with less going on, so you're encouraged to begin expoloring the engine.
The engine performance was quite a revelation compared to what I was expecting. I've owned many 911s and even though I knew the Cayman has a 3.4 litre engine with similar power to my 996 C2, I still expected it to feel like a Boxster S. It didn't. Not even slightly. There's torque at the bottom end of the revs in any gear, but if you slot it in 2nd or 3rd and engage right foot it pulls strongly, acceleration remains linear for the next few thousand revs and then at around 5750 rpm it takes on a more urgent tone and surges more aggresively towards 7000rpm. All the time there is a deep howl (deeper than in the Boxster) that accompanies the revs from around 3000rpm, urging you to keep pressing the accelerator. Even when cruising in 5th it's easy to access this induction howl and know that's the Cayman is always ready for some fun. That's very 911-like and in some ways better than I remember.
I accelerated up and down through the gears heel-and-toeing for every corner (just for the sake of it), there's a lovely precision to the throttle and gears that allows you to play tunes at will and place it inch perfect every time. The best way to describe the chassis is 'poised' very much like the 50:50 feel of a BMW, it takes all the effort out of controlling the car and instead you can focus on perfecting your line and carrying ever more speed through corners. The steering whilst accurate lack a little feel compared to either a 911 or good BMW, there's weighting but it just doesn't load up as much as I'd like when entering a slippy corner - there's not enough conversation between the road and my fingertips. Otherwise it feels similar to a 911 (but without the front end patter).
Normally I would be criticising it for this lack of 'character' at the front end, but instead I found myself revelling in it's precision, the way it goads you into carrying more speed, playing tunes with the engine and having FUN!!
I must have driven 40-50 miles and I was reluctant to take it back, instead wishing I could just pop over to Wales or perhaps the N85 in France for a spot of apexing.
I didn't take the opportunity to explore the outer edges of grip but I did drive it very fast, reaching 130+ several times and the main impression I gained was how accesible its performance is and how much fun it feels compared to the Boxster and 997.
This is ultimately the most 'playful' Porsche ever made in my opinion, not the best necessarily for the more seasoned driver, but the sort of car that you jump in and start playing with by the first corner. It's also fast, truly quick enough for most performance minded enthusiasts (it's virtually as quick as an E46 M3) and if you can get over the "it's not a 911" argument then it might be all the Porsche you ever need.
It's certainly much more than a Boxster with a roof, it sounds better, it's noticeably quicker and more characterful, it handles more fluently and confidently and it's more fun. I would certainly be interested in a Cayman RS/CS and I am now more certain than ever that Porsche will make one
The 911 GT3 and RS would be more challenging and ultimately more rewarding, but a Cayman RS 'could' be more fun, certainly for a wider populace of owners. I've driven it and it's obvious, rather than adding weight and more power this is a car that's crying out for less weight, less soundproofing and even more feel. Porsche aren't dumb, they will have realised this already and I can't see a Cayman RS stealing many sales from any other model.
A much more positive review of the car by Tiff on 5th Gear than Clarkson's rantings on Top Gear. It did sound great, Tiff seemed to love it and he's a proper driver. I'd love to drive one but I know what would happen - I'd have to have one!! I'll stick to the 986S for the time being, until I have some spare cash!
doctorD said:
I drove the Cayman this morning and what a fascinating car it is. The car I drove was a basic spec (no dynamic additions) so with 18" wheels and standard suspension.
Iniitially it felt like my old Boxster S, and even sounded similar when started up, but as I rode shotgun for the first few miles I noted that the cabin felt quieter, but actually there were less of the high-frequency sounds the Boxster has and just more of the lower frequency noises. Clearly better than the Boxster with a more insulated feeling from outside.
We swapped over and I got myself comfortable behind the wheel. I still don't like Porsche's thin rimmed steering wheels, but otherwise it's a comfortable place to be. Accelerating away I was immediately aware of the increased chassis rigidity over the Boxster, it feels calmer with less going on, so you're encouraged to begin expoloring the engine.
The engine performance was quite a revelation compared to what I was expecting. I've owned many 911s and even though I knew the Cayman has a 3.4 litre engine with similar power to my 996 C2, I still expected it to feel like a Boxster S. It didn't. Not even slightly. There's torque at the bottom end of the revs in any gear, but if you slot it in 2nd or 3rd and engage right foot it pulls strongly, acceleration remains linear for the next few thousand revs and then at around 5750 rpm it takes on a more urgent tone and surges more aggresively towards 7000rpm. All the time there is a deep howl (deeper than in the Boxster) that accompanies the revs from around 3000rpm, urging you to keep pressing the accelerator. Even when cruising in 5th it's easy to access this induction howl and know that's the Cayman is always ready for some fun. That's very 911-like and in some ways better than I remember.
I accelerated up and down through the gears heel-and-toeing for every corner (just for the sake of it), there's a lovely precision to the throttle and gears that allows you to play tunes at will and place it inch perfect every time. The best way to describe the chassis is 'poised' very much like the 50:50 feel of a BMW, it takes all the effort out of controlling the car and instead you can focus on perfecting your line and carrying ever more speed through corners. The steering whilst accurate lack a little feel compared to either a 911 or good BMW, there's weighting but it just doesn't load up as much as I'd like when entering a slippy corner - there's not enough conversation between the road and my fingertips. Otherwise it feels similar to a 911 (but without the front end patter).
Normally I would be criticising it for this lack of 'character' at the front end, but instead I found myself revelling in it's precision, the way it goads you into carrying more speed, playing tunes with the engine and having FUN!!
I must have driven 40-50 miles and I was reluctant to take it back, instead wishing I could just pop over to Wales or perhaps the N85 in France for a spot of apexing.
I didn't take the opportunity to explore the outer edges of grip but I did drive it very fast, reaching 130+ several times and the main impression I gained was how accesible its performance is and how much fun it feels compared to the Boxster and 997.
This is ultimately the most 'playful' Porsche ever made in my opinion, not the best necessarily for the more seasoned driver, but the sort of car that you jump in and start playing with by the first corner. It's also fast, truly quick enough for most performance minded enthusiasts (it's virtually as quick as an E46 M3) and if you can get over the "it's not a 911" argument then it might be all the Porsche you ever need.
It's certainly much more than a Boxster with a roof, it sounds better, it's noticeably quicker and more characterful, it handles more fluently and confidently and it's more fun. I would certainly be interested in a Cayman RS/CS and I am now more certain than ever that Porsche will make one
Have you driven a 987S? From a test drive, (not owned one) I would say most of this applies to the 987S, over the 986S.
kayc said:
No disrespect to the previous comments but a 2 seater,impractical,mass produced 50k car that is not as quick as a bmw m3 makes little sense to me..at least with a boxster you can get a suntan whilst getting overtaken by subaru's,evo's,m3's etc.
But you don`t get overtaken by Subaru`s, Evo`s amd M3`s (unless they`re tweaked)...
Ok, let me be a little clearer, an M3 will not overtake a Cayman in terms of performance, neither will a Scooby or EVO unless it's suitably breathed upon. They Cayman S has around the same acceleration pace as a 996 C2 which although not the quickest thing on the road is plenty fast enough for 90% of enthusiasts. You don't drive a Cayman on the public road and think of it as being 'slow' , the power curve is full of interest, torque mixed with a lovely noise and a V-TEC like surge at the top-end. The 'only' issue in my opinon is regarding the way it looks, but to drive it's almost beyond reproach. It doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is, a very quick and fun sports car.
I used to own a Boxster S and after a series of 911s (including a Mk 1 GT3) I found it too flat and lacking in torque. Basically a little slow unless it was really hammered. The Cayman isn't.
I used to own a Boxster S and after a series of 911s (including a Mk 1 GT3) I found it too flat and lacking in torque. Basically a little slow unless it was really hammered. The Cayman isn't.
ive had owned nearly all the cars mentioned plus 993c2s,c4s,gt3 mk11.and a standard evo6 will match all but the gt3(and it will that on average uk road!)the cayman has as much use as an audi tt ,whats the differnce apart from the myth of owning a porsche coz the are...sorry were exclusive.
DoctorD said:
The 911 GT3 and RS would be more challenging and ultimately more rewarding, but a Cayman RS 'could' be more fun, certainly for a wider populace of owners. I've driven it and it's obvious, rather than adding weight and more power this is a car that's crying out for less weight, less soundproofing and even more feel. Porsche aren't dumb, they will have realised this already and I can't see a Cayman RS stealing many sales from any other model.
Hmm I dunno. For me it was a serious stretch to get the RS (only live once etc). If I could get nearly the same thrills for half the price, it wouldn't be a hard choice.
kayc said:
ive had owned nearly all the cars mentioned plus 993c2s,c4s,gt3 mk11.and a standard evo6 will match all but the gt3(and it will that on average uk road!)the cayman has as much use as an audi tt ,whats the differnce apart from the myth of owning a porsche coz the are...sorry were exclusive.
Interesting. When did you have a test drive in the Cayman?
I think thats the problem with the marque in general now it just is'nt that special anymore.
If the cayman had a vw badge on it and cost 30k everyone would have been raving about it.
I have'nt driven it but i expect it to be better than my 987s,the problem is not with the car but with the company itself imo.
Ferrari sold 5000 cars last year porsche 80 odd thou,once the two were seen as the cars to aspire two,now porsche is becoming more like bmw/mercedes every year.
If you can forget about the badge and the price the the car makes a lot of sense and i bet is a great drive.
If the cayman had a vw badge on it and cost 30k everyone would have been raving about it.
I have'nt driven it but i expect it to be better than my 987s,the problem is not with the car but with the company itself imo.
Ferrari sold 5000 cars last year porsche 80 odd thou,once the two were seen as the cars to aspire two,now porsche is becoming more like bmw/mercedes every year.
If you can forget about the badge and the price the the car makes a lot of sense and i bet is a great drive.
why would anyone test drive a cayman s after when its perfomance is clearly inadequate for an out and out one dimensional sports car...987s and 997s didnt impress so any reason why a cayman s will?i currently have a 996tt and that is good.last great car i drove worth gassing about was a gt2...which is next to buy.if too expensive get a wr1,type 25,ev09...all max 30k and will leave the cayman s for dead..4 doors and a boot as well.
kayc said:
why would anyone test drive a cayman s after when its perfomance is clearly inadequate for an out and out one dimensional sports car...987s and 997s didnt impress so any reason why a cayman s will?i currently have a 996tt and that is good.last great car i drove worth gassing about was a gt2...which is next to buy.if too expensive get a wr1,type 25,ev09...all max 30k and will leave the cayman s for dead..4 doors and a boot as well.
Ah, so you've written it off without ever driving it. Thought so
kayc said:
why would anyone test drive a cayman s after when its perfomance is clearly inadequate for an out and out one dimensional sports car...987s and 997s didnt impress so any reason why a cayman s will?i currently have a 996tt and that is good.last great car i drove worth gassing about was a gt2...which is next to buy.if too expensive get a wr1,type 25,ev09...all max 30k and will leave the cayman s for dead..4 doors and a boot as well.
Gosh, you have had a lot of cars - I`m surprised you have time to fit them all in!
your right i have written it off,i expect it is good but i dont want to lose 10k in a year on a car so overpriced,and in time it will look overpriced ..as per all the other porsches...they just sell too many now and the quality is no better than bmw,audi etc.its a shame but porsche threw quality/exclusivity out of the window after the 993 and decided to make money not specialist cars .what happened to porsches' bullet proofed residuals?too many average build cars thats all.!!
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