Cayman S - first 1000 miles

[Yex]

Well, having owned the car for 3 weeks now and covering just over 1,000 miles in it I thought I’d jot down a few thoughts as I'm bored brain dead at work.

The first time I saw the car in my chosen colour (seal grey) was when I collected it from the OPC. It was stunning, especially when the salesman did the removing the cover bit I was asked/advised to keep the revs down to 5,000 for the first 1,000 miles but this has proven difficult on occasions, although only after completing 300 miles to bed the tyres and brakes in fully.

The driving position is excellent and the all round vision is superb. The ride is firm but very comfortable and the sports seats are proving to be a winner. When the PASM option is selected the ride noticeably firms up more and the car felt a little jittery at first, but I soon got used to it and am now comfortable with how the car feels on the road when using the system. The Sports Chrono pack hasn’t been tested in full as yet as I’ve not been on a track (counting down the days ) but the throttle response is certainly improved with it on and makes the car come even more alive than in normal mode.

One minor niggle is the lack of an LSD, apparent when exiting 90 degree corners in a hurry. The rear wheels spin, but only for a split second until the car is facing straight and/or the PSM system kicks in. I’ll correct this by changing my style of driving slightly and don’t believe it will impede me when the road conditions get better as the weather picks up.

I am still getting used to the car and how it reacts under certain driving conditions but to date I am glad I have taken the plunge into Porsche ownership.

Happy to answer any questions on the car

Yex

[verysideways]

Sounds like you're having fun

[pikey]

Have you had any niggles?

Oh, and of course threads are better with pictures

[Yex]

pikey said:

Have you had any niggles? Oh, and of course threads are better with pictures

Have had no niggles to date, are there any that other owners have found that I should keep an eye/ear out for?

There is a picture in my profile but will post others if somemone tells me how to do it, although I do post from work at moment if that will be a problem.

Note to Mr Sideways....oh yes having lots of fun Will be catching up with any other Porker owners here on PH in next few months when meets are arranged etc. Looking forward to it, especially getting to see some of the more stunning exotica that owners here have hidden away in their garages

Yex

[willr]

I'd have to say that visibility isn't as good as expected - the rear quarterlight is almost completely obscured by the seats, which can be awkward at junctions.

Sports Chrono helped on track, but mainly because it relaxed PSM a little. I'm not so keen on the "lively" throttle map in sport mode, but guess it's personal...

Not yet had a problem with traction out of bends on the road, by avoiding booting it until the wheel straightens up a bit. It's clear that an LSD would help on widening radius corners on track.

Yex - when's your first trackday?

[andy tims]

Can anybody comment from experience on the Cayman S ride with 18 vs 19" wheels?
Only driven with 19" wheels & on bumpy B roads the ride was unsettled quite badly.
Just wondering if the 18's improve things significantly.

[willr]

The nearest comparison I've done is my Cayman on 18" vs a Boxster S on 19" (both had PASM).
Much preferred the Cayman ride quality

[anniesdad]

I had a Cayman S for a week with the standard 18's on it, but without PASM. The car feels very much like a Boxster, if a little (20%) stiffer. I drove the car for about 500 miles and had no issues with it being too stiff, I'm 35. The owner is 48, he thinks it is a little too stiff, stiffer even than his 997S and a bit "hoppy" at the back.

[curley]

I am just in the process of specing up a Cayman for purchase.Thinking of going down the 18" with PASM and interested to see what others think.I have driven the car on 19" with PASM and it felt fine in normal mode if a little jiggely in sport on a bumpy road.

I guess my greatest concern is that it will feel a little " soft " in normal with 18" wheels.

I havent been able to find a demonstrator to this spec yet so no personal experience.

[Yex]

curley said:

I guess my greatest concern is that it will feel a little " soft " in normal with 18" wheels.

My car has standard 18" wheels and cannot be described as soft in normal mode. Ride is firm at best IMHO although the sports seats help a lot.

WillR: Am hoping to get in a few track days beginning in February. I'll be looking to go with a 100% Porsche day or with PH members only to start with. I've done loads of track days in the past and have witnessed some seriously silly driving that I'd like to avoid if at all possible, hence hoping my choice of venues and participants will resolve this.

Yex

[Glenn McMenamin]

Yex said:

pikey said: Have you had any niggles? Oh, and of course threads are better with pictures Have had no niggles to date, are there any that other owners have found that I should keep an eye/ear out for? There is a picture in my profile but will post others if somemone tells me how to do it, although I do post from work at moment if that will be a problem. Note to Mr Sideways....oh yes having lots of fun Will be catching up with any other Porker owners here on PH in next few months when meets are arranged etc. Looking forward to it, especially getting to see some of the more stunning exotica that owners here have hidden away in their garages Yex

Nice pick on profile mate....

If someone asked me the best colour for the Car, that one have been the bottom of my list.

But seeing that pic, i think it works very well for the car indeed, giving it a classy look.

I reckon there will be after market LSD's out there before long too.

G.



>> Edited by Glenn McMenamin on Thursday 5th January 14:44

[miracle]

Hi Ian,

car looks beautiful, excellent colour choice too!


Kind Regards
Paul Dalton
www.miracledetail.co.uk

[DanH]

Glenn McMenamin said:

Nice pick on profile mate.... If someone asked me the best colour for the Car, that one have been the bottom of my list. But seeing that pic, i think it works very well for the car indeed, giving it a classy look. I reckon there will be after market LSD's out there before long too. G. >> Edited by Glenn McMenamin on Thursday 5th January 14:44

Yep seems better than the lairy colours Porsche selected for press pics.

[NIIKME]

nice work 'Miracle', i got to say after a browse on your site, you have a fantastic job - half of those motors ive never even seen in the flesh! i shouldn't bother with the Jap mobiles tho...........

[willr]

Glenn McMenamin said:

I reckon there will be after market LSD's out there before long too. G.

I wouldn't bet on it - there doesn't seem to have been much interest in LSD for the Boxster. Quaife advertised one but on the basis that they got enough interest, and anyway that's just a torque-biasing diff and not a "proper" one that could perhaps work well with PSM...

[Raven Flyer]

Yex

I completely forgot you were running it in

[Yex]

Raven Flyer said:

Yex I completely forgot you were running it in

that's the main reason I didn't try to chase you down. That and the slushy road, your 4wd, and the fact you're a good driver were all factors I took into account. However, my co-pilot was a little more voiciferous when the PSM kicked in

On other subjects in the thread.......

Colour is a personal choice with any car and I had seen a few grey Porsches in the flesh and liked them, especially having owned a grey RB5WR in a previous life. I also went to the Frankfurt motor show and saw Caymans in blue, silver and black. The blue was too neutral for me, silver I thought would be too common and the black didn't show up the curves of the car enough for me. My short exposure to Porsche has shown me that certain models look better in certain colours, but that might just be my eyes. However, the yellow beastie on Glenn's profile is the nuts

The LSD issue is not something that is worrying me at all as I know I can change my driving style to cope with little effort. However, I am keeping an eye out for anything that the nice men over at Ruf come up with for the Cayman. Given their reputation I'm quite sure that a LSD option coupled with an engine performance upgrade is something they are already looking at. In my opinion the car can handle more power easily (looking at 350bhp if possible) and a LSD would get this down on the road more effectively. Reasons? Well I'm looking at a 997GT3 when they are available and if I could get the Cayman to the level I mention above it'll save me buying the GT3 as, if I'm honest, that may be beyond my driving ability.

Yex

edited for fat fingered spelling

>> Edited by Yex on Friday 6th January 11:31

[DanH]

willr said:

Glenn McMenamin said: I reckon there will be after market LSD's out there before long too. G. I wouldn't bet on it - there doesn't seem to have been much interest in LSD for the Boxster. Quaife advertised one but on the basis that they got enough interest, and anyway that's just a torque-biasing diff and not a "proper" one that could perhaps work well with PSM...

Why wouldn't a Quaiffe ATB work? Doesn't the PSM just measure tyre rotation speed at each corner? I know it has g-sensors etc too, but there is no way anyone aftermarket is going to diddle with that stuff, and I'd be surprised if it made any odds.

I rather like the Quaiffe ATB, and it's decently robust.

[r555wrs]

Ian,

Hi, long time no speak! Glad to see that you have finally taken the plunge into Porsche ownership. Mr Raven Flyer is very impressed with your charge.

I'd bring the Maser Gransport out for a blat with you but seeing how crap the car is in this inclement weather, i'll have to wait until March before I can get any sort of traction!!!

You do not realise how good an all-year rounder the Porsche is until it has gone. I could drive the 996 in the ice and snow, no probs. With the Maser, I just get in the Forrester, end of story!

Catch up soon,

Stu

[gmk666]

Yex said:

pikey said: Have you had any niggles? Oh, and of course threads are better with pictures Have had no niggles to date, are there any that other owners have found that I should keep an eye/ear out for? There is a picture in my profile but will post others if somemone tells me how to do it, although I do post from work at moment if that will be a problem. Yex

After weeks of trying, posting pics has become second nature now.

Visit http://tinypic.com

Follow the instructions to host the pic and get a url for it.

Then type [pic]followed by the url address[/pic]

And you should get your pic online.

Hopefully.

Car looks great by the way. Although I'm a bit biased towards Seal Grey.


>> Edited by gmk666 on Friday 6th January 15:36