Pleasure cruise
Time to start thinking about finding that ideal sports car? Adrian Ion partners up with the new Porsche Cayman S
February 2010 - From the Print Edition
It may be inappropriate to present this genuine sports car in the winter time – but the aim for any serious driver would be to buy it up in time for the spring.
Porsche is a brand on a constant quest for sports perfection and many Porscheophiles believe the Cayman is the closest one can be to a dream vehicle – a mid engine layout, perfectly balanced chassis, great throttle and braking response combined with legendary ease of use and versatility.
In 2009, Porsche upgraded the Cayman, offering more power in both its versions with a new PDK gearbox and some changes in the design of the car.
The basic Cayman now has a new 2.9-litre engine with 265 hp and the Cayman S - with direct injection - is fitted with a 3.4-litre engine up and 320 hp. Another change is the new limited-slip differential, which comes as an option, but is decently priced. This makes the car feel even more stable through curvy roads, adding to the already impressive traction power of the car.
Versatile style
I had the chance to test drive the Cayman S, courtesy of local importer Porsche Romania, and for one day I enjoyed driving one of the most desirable sports cars available. And because many people inevitably compare the Cayman with the iconic 91, I invited a 911 Turbo owner along for the ride.
We drove the car in both the city and open country, and were impressed by its ease of use. In Bucharest traffic, the car will drive like any compact vehicle, the visibility is decent and, despite the oversized wheel arches, the driver can easily know where the car starts and ends.
The real playground of the Cayman is the open road and the race track. On curvy roads or straight highways, the pleasure of driving is immense. The aspirated engine, which sits just centimetres behind the head, revs happily to over 7,000 rpm and the sound perfectly complements the acceleration. If fitted with the Sports Chrono package and set to Sport + mode, the Cayman S will reach 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 Seconds and a top speed of 275 km/h. The engine delivers power in a very linear way, as opposed to a 911 turbo, thus making it easier to control with no surprises from the turbo boost.
Gearing up
The seven speed PDK gearbox comes as an option and is the evolution of the five speed Tiptronic present in the Porsche range until now. The gearbox is great, works well and changes without effort. If the Sport Chrono pack is fitted by pushing a button and selecting the sport or sport plus option, the suspension is progressively stiffened and the revs stay up at 4,000rpm. This offers the best torque for the next gear change. My friend with the 911 Turbo was not so impressed with the seven speeds of the PDK, considering that, for the torque of the Cayman, a five speed gearbox is more appropriate.
When it comes to suspension, the Por¬sche Cayman has on offer the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which automatically adjusts the suspension to optimise either comfort or sportive handling, depending on the setting and the driver’s level of aggression. Braking performance can be further enhanced on the Cayman S by optional carbon-ceramic brakes.
Overall, the Cayman is a great boys’ toy which offers - for a decent amount of money - the full excitement of a genuine sports car tuned to offer great performance when needed or ease of use and versatility in daily life.
Additionally my 911 Turbo co-driver made the following observations:
The brakes of the Cayman are impressive even in the standard steel version, offering a very predictive and safe handling even when braking hard.
The Sport Chrono package is highly recommended also because it will let the engine rev more without changing gear in the middle of a corner.
In terms of practicality, the Cayman offers more luggage space than a 911 Carrera, with an additional space in the rear.
The chassis of the Cayman will easily handle another 30-40 Hp and 50-60 Nm of torque but then it would cannibalise for sure the entry level 911.
Vital statistics
CAYMAN S WITH PDK TRANSMISSION
Layout/number of cylinders: six
Displacement: 3,436 cm³
Power: 235 Kw (320 hp)
Max. torque (Nm): 370 Nm at 4,750 rpm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Top speed: 275 km/h
Acceleration from 0 - 100 km/h: 5.1 s (4.9 s Sport+)
Acceleration from 0 - 160 km/h: 11.2 s (10.9 s Sport+)
Fuel consumption: Urban - 14.1 l/km Non-urban - 6.6 l/km
CO2 EMISSIONS: 221 G/KM