First Cayman S test drive

[wcc]

I test drove the new Cayman S yesterday and I must say it's pretty sweet. The seats were comfortable and everything seemed to be easily reachable. It has a nice sound from the exhaust but not overwhelming. It's fast, but I'm sure with some more seat time it could be even faster. The brakes grab like there's no tomorrow. And WOW it sticks to the road. I took it around some curves at a pretty good clip and not once did I feel like I was going to lose it. Not to mention it has AC, eventually.

The things I really didn't care about. Lots of plastic, but all new cars are that way now a days. The AC was on for quite a little while blowing hot air before it actually started to cool down. But when it did it cooled very well. What's up with the window going up and down every time you open/close the door? I know why they did it, but I thought it was kinda annoying. Also, the rear hatch back cover would bounce and make a thud noise on just about every joint on the e-way. That got annoying also. I had a hard time getting it to go in reverse but I'm sure over time that would be second nature.

The bottom line is the car is sweet and some of the little annoyances could be worked out to make it even better. I think it would make anyone a very nice car or daily driver. But it's just not for me. I personally still like the sound and feel of the older more spartan P-cars. The Cayman just didn't give me the excitement my 930 does. I know, I know, apples and oranges but that's what I have to work with.

[Wil Ferch]

I hate that window "up/down" feature...

..this electrical complexity ( shared with the 996 and 997) could have been completely eliminated if a proper window frame was used.

But noooooo...why make it simple when it can be made complicated...the German auto engineers mantra? The design allows the frameless window to enter a "channel" so that the window doesn't pull away from the body at high speed. If you didn't have this electrical feature...you'd "pop" the window over the small channel- edge every time you open/close the door.

Stupid...needlessly complex.....undoubtedly troublesome as the car ages and electrical contacts go south....

...but good for the (CHEAP, CHEAP) manufacturing process... *ONE* set of doors for coupes / cabs / Boxsters / 911's......

- Wil

[livi]

I hope Wilīs analysis of the German tendency to over complicate matters also will affect their soccer game against Sweden next week.

Sorry for hijacking your thread. Just that I like Wilīs little repertoire of mantras. 'Complicated Germans, donīt drop the eentze weentze screws holding the feeler gauge together - will be a bad hair day', etc.

[smdubovsky]

Surely the window up/down helps lower Cd and reduce weight. There would be 2 seams/seals if an old style frame type door was used.

BTW, It becomes second nature when you use them in daily life. I simply dont notice it anymore. I find BMWs rotating the driver side mirror down when you put the car in reverse a far more annoying feature.

SMD

[RPKESQ]

The real problem with all of this automation is reliability, While the Japanese have managed to achieve this, the Germans are still trying. I have had three different Lexus, Toyota and Honda models with all the bells and whistles, and have had zero defects. Not with the newer German models. One Audi, one BMW and one Mercedes, all with multiple electrical gremlins. WTF?

[JP911]

That little window trick on my Audi TT is REALLY annoying. Especially when a passenger slams the door a little too hard and the pinch protection activates, automatically rolling the window down about an inch. May not sound like a big deal, until you park it outside in the rain without realizing your passenger window decided to roll itself down just enough to soak the seat and carpet.

I love the simplicity of my '74.

[MattKellett]

SMD - I recall on my BMW if you have the mirror switch set on driver ot neutral position, then passenger mirror odesn't move in reverse. Mine was a 1996 528, of course it might work totally different on your car. I only say this because I didn't even know I had this feature for maybe 2-3 months of car ownership!

Matt