A humble 911 owner's review of the Cayman (road test results)

[efhughes3]

First of all, I need to say two things. First, how the heck do you coupe owners handle having a hardtop? How confining!
Secondly, I love my '84.

Here are my thoughts, good and bad, on this car. Note that I've never driven any Porsche newer than an '88. I had the opportunity to switch back and forth between my Targa and the Cayman a couple of times this afternoon, so it was a meaningful test due to direct and immediate comparison. I put about 170 miles on the Cayman.

1. The Cayman is faster. No doubt, when it hits 4500 rpm, it comes on stong, and the sound of the motor, while not loud, is great. But, my Carrera isn't a slouch either, and the ironic thing is when I romp on my car, I got more gratification, because I felt like I was part of the process more, and had to "work" it thru the gears. With the Cayman, you're just "managing" the power.

2. It is tough getting used to a short throw/tight pattern 6 speed. It didn't take long to get the feel so that I didn't have to think about gear placement, but for some strange reason I've grown quite fond of my 915 after this comparo. I'm sure that in time, the Cayman would be second nature. The six speed keeps you in the power band at all times.

3. If you take away the Cayman ABS, my car feels as quick to stop with my big brakes, although you need to feel the pedal more in my car to keep from locking the front wheels up.

4. I've got a fun intersection near my house. I make a RH turn onto a two lane road that goes up a decent grade for about 1/2 mile. It is quite fun in the morning to break the rear loose and hang it out when heading out and up the hill for a drive. With the PSM on, it felt WEIRD. I was wrestling with the car enough to where it felt a little un-natural, and that I was at the mercy of the computer. I did this turn again with PSM off, and the rear end popped out nicely and was easily steered with the throttle. The balance of the car is AMAZING. I found myself romping on it after this as often as possible going around turns, and could throttle steer in either first or second without PSM. FUN!

5. I've got fairly long legs and am 6'2". I wish there was another notch of travel to move the seat back. You can tilt the seat back erect and get a little more travel, but I think that long trips may get to me. The steering wheel had good up.down and telescope adjustment, so it was nice.

6. When driving with the windows down, the shoulder strap got this harmonic vibration thing going that kept it slapping in really short fast rythm on my shoulder. It really was kind of irritating.

7. The horn sounds funky. I love my horn, it amazes me that Porsche didn't keep the same sound in the new horns as part of the icon. Maybe a goofy observation on my part, but it comes to my mind. The stereo, a Bose system, sounded great.

8. I was worried that my car would feel horrible after driving this, but after redoing all of the bushings and stuff on my car, it holds its own!!

9. The interior as well as the fit/finish on the exterior was great. I don't think there will be issues about these cars falling apart from the inside out, as it felt solid.

10. Golfers beware, I don't know how you get clubs in these....

11. There is a stalk on the lower LH side of the column that controls the data display. I kept reaching for it when wanting to use the turn signal. It shouldn't be there, IMO.

12. To sum it up, my car has a soul that I feel when I drive her. I wouldn't say it's edgier or more "raw", but the driver seems to be more part of the team in the older car. The Cayman, while very well engineered and slick, didn't talk to me the same way. I would like to try it certainly, but it just doesn't seem like the Cayman would be as much fun tossing around the track as my Targa.

All in all a very fun day! Stay tuned for pics....

[efhughes3]

Lookin' back:



Evolution in my garage:



Toe to Toe

[efhughes3]

Oops...forgot one of me:

[axl911]

Ed,

How long can you keep the Cayman. Maybe a meet at the usual Starbuck for the rest of us to check out the car this Sat?

[efhughes3]

I actually took the car back tonight. They added another autocross day with the Caymans tomorrow, so it needed to be there real early. IT woulda been great to have it a bit in the morning, but I think I'll take mine for a run.

[Lukesportsman]

Wow, the Cayman looks larger than the SC. Does it look larger in person?

[ianc]

Someone else posted that the Cayman's steering and overall feedback felt kind of numb compared to our cars. What's your take on that?

ianc

[GrantG]

Originally posted by ianc
Someone else posted that the Cayman's steering and overall feedback felt kind of numb compared to our cars. What's your take on that?

ianc

Yes, compared to a manual rack, almost anything with power assist feels numb. However, I thought the steering was excellent for a powe unit with zero slop and lots of quick turn-in (better than the 951S, 993 and 996 I've owned). It's miles from my 73RS in terms of feel though (no rubber bushings anywhere in that suspension). I think the Cayman got the steering very close to perfect for what it is.

[wente]

arrgh - it has bose?!?! well that settles it for me. I can't ever deal with that especially since it's probably very integrated. why can't these high end cars use someone real like Mark Levinson? They've certainly gone to the dark side! First an SUV, then bose arrgh! A radio delete option would be nice! not that the stereo in a porsche matters that much, but if I have to sink that much cash in a car, they can at least put something decent in there. had to spend a month ripping all the bose junk out of my vette in a past life.
audiophile rant off
oh well, I'm very happy with my recently rebuilt air-cooled machine...

[randywebb]

Thanks, Ed.

wente - Lexus used (or used to use Mark Levinson - who BTW is no longer associated with the co. - he started up a co. called Cello). Bose is good at tricking the ear and using cheap components to get decent sound... it's the new Porsche way & then there is the idea that real high end sound in a sports car should only come from the engine...

Luke - re: larger - dunno re the Cayman, but a Boxster looks huge parked next to a '75 911 -- it isn't ht. or length so much (or even width tho that is a big difference). Instead, it is that every curve on the Boxster is "filled" and bulges outwards, unlike the 911 - compare the hood area side by side and you'll see what I mean.

[Crachian]

I'm with Ellsworth. I can't believe they'd cheapen the brand by sticking a Bose audio system in there. I'm also struck by how much larger the Cayman appears.

Ed, did you notice that either car was harder to get in and out of?

[aigel]

The car looks terrible in black. I guess it is no surprise, but the Boxter is showing through big time. I think that's less the case with other colors I have seen. And yes, boy, is that a big bubbly vehicle, compared to the 911.

When you say it is quicker than the 84, did your 84 have any help in the engine compartment? I.e. cams, exhaust? How about lightening? I read that many folks actually were underwhelmed in the Caveman power.

In any case thanks for the review. This will make me sleep a lot better at night, knowing that I won't have to have one!

George

[Jeff Alton]

Who needs Stephan Wilkinson when we have Ed?

Great right up Ed, thanks for sharing!

Cheers

[petrolblue83911]

you've got to see the cayman in person, I don't always like the way it looks in pics either, but in person wow, I think it's sweet. I've seen it in silver and I think red, the silver was amazing, like liquid metal.

[efhughes3]

I'll respond to several questions:

Luke- I RESENT THAT! Can you spell C-A-R-R-E-R-A?

It is the bulges that make the Cayman look big. It was a little easier to get in and out of.

ianc- It certainl felt better than any power steering unit I've felt, and the car turned in very quickly, but it all comes back to the fact that you're somewhat insulated in this driving experience.

aigel- I've got 2700lbs, headers and SW chip. The Cayman did feel faster, but a similar power band. My car starts to come on at 4-4.5K, and so did the new one. Actually in low end leading up to that, they are probably very similar in power. But, once V-ram kicks in, it winds pretty quick. Like I said early on in the post, my car didn't feel like a slouch when comparing the two. I don't know that I'd say I was disappointed by the Cayman's power. I think it is wasted on the street, and in stop and go traffic, it's "just another" car. I did get her opened up on some back roads, and there's plenty of hustle to have fun. Keep in mind, Porsche has not fully utilized this engine's HP potential.

The thing I was really scared of, was that my car would not be the same after the drive in the CrocCar. Just the opposite. I appreciate the driveability and feel of my car, and made me pretty happy with what I've done with the 'ol girl. Sure the nice new interior would be sweet to have, but then again, I kind of like the imperfections inherent in Ruby.

The car looks pretty nice in person. This was the first one I'd seen in person, and black looked good. To be honest, I'm burnt out on seeing silver in all of the pics.

PS-There's no way you'll change the stereo, it's VERY integrated.

[Wrecked944]

Hey, thanks for the excellent review. I am envious. And I have to say I like the looks of the Cayman. Your pics make it look better than the factory photos.

I can't wait to get my hands on one of those. AFAIK, it weighs less than my aircooled 964 and has more hp. If I had the cash, I'd hit that thing twelve ways to Sunday.

Then I'd do the same thing to the Cayman that we do to our 911's. I'd add lightness. Pull out the A/C, stereo, carpeting, sound insulation, sunroof delete, c/f body panels, lightweight seats and wheels, power steering delete, etc...with the un-insulated motor roaring right behind your head and a couple of hundred pounds left behind, I am willing to stick my neck out and say it would probably kick the ever living crap out of my 911. I can't wait until Ruf or Sportec or 9ff creates a "Cayman RS" and maybe swaps in a Carrera 3.8 motor...THAT combo would be a giant killer...

[efhughes3]

Janus: That reminds me, the car had no sunroof, and Kenneth @ the dealership (CEO on Pelcan board) said they aren't going to offer one.

PS- I have 2 shares of Porsche stock just for yucks....

[Wrecked944]

Originally posted by efhughes3
PS- I have 2 shares of Porsche stock just for yucks....

Hey, between us we have FIVE. I am hoping to inspire other Pelicans to buy Porsche stock so we can eventually take over the company. Then we can march into Weideking's office and demand they issue a special edition, air cooled Pelican 911 RSR...and then enter a factory sponsored Pelican protoype at LeMans!!

[blue72s]

I like!! Black looks good.

If one wants more road feel, why not remove power steering, brake booster and ABS? The latter is the most horrible aid in my opinion.

[TomTurtle]

Originally posted by JanusCole
Hey, between us we have FIVE.

Make that six - I have a share too and its actually going up faster than my Starbucks stock!