Played with a Cayman S yesterday =D

[StayGold808]

Yesterday as I was driving along, i saw a black cayman driving up ahead. So i came up behind him at the next lights. Sure enough, he booted it from the lights. Not shifting like a maniac or anything, i just accelerated behind, expecting it to blow me away. But i have to say, he didn't pull away in the slightest. It was pretty much a dead heat.

At a set of lights futher ahead, this time we started side by side. He gave me that look and reved his car, as if to say, check this out lol. Once again, no launch or anything, but yet again, we were side by side for a long time, before he veered left onto the freeway, and i went straight.

I was so suprised, i went home and checked the figures from the porsche website. Although it has 295hp, i guess all the weight ruins it. The stated 0-60 is 5.4.

But i know the cayman would be a nice car to drive around town. Very torquey and luxurious compared to my 3.2. I do like the look of the cayman, but i just don't like it that porsche have purposely "detuned" it, in fear of creating a 911 killer.

I don't know what the point of this post is, but just thought i'd give you something to read.

Adam

[ruf-porsche]

One of two scenerio

1. He had a new car and was just breaking it in so he didn't want to go over 4000rpm.

2. He thinking just because I drive a PORSCHE everyone wants to race me.

[livi]

Continuing on previous list.

3. Driver of Cayman S thinking to him self: " Poor sod, I donīt have the heart...

But no worries mate. Eventually his car will not be worth more money than yours. Air cooled will prevail.

[wicked9]

Having the CaymanS vs an 89 Carrera (Stock), I believe you holeheartedly.. I think the only advantage the cayman has is in the Handling (Huge) It feels torquey, beacause it's so darn loud..
But it is not going to run off and leave a healthy Carrera.
It will be the victor but, but it will be far from a rout...
Though I didn't make it to the Dyno... I would love to see what thet are dynoing at the wheels.. they weigh, a reported 2954lbs vs. 2976 so they are pretty close in weight. I guess the power band differences, really keep then close...
I like the Cayman, but I would love it with about 295 at the wheels...

[911-32]

EVO magazine took a std 993 VR to their first test of the Cayman S as a comparison and found the S had to work very hard indeed to put any daylight between it and the 993, both on the straights and to a slightly lesser extent in the twisties. On the track, the lap times were within a second IIRC with the 993 on comparatively little 17s and the S on 19s with much wider rubber.

A lightened and stiffened Euro 3.2 might stay close to an S but then we are talking modified versus std and its not apples vs apples is it.

RB

[Doug&Julie]

Originally posted by wicked9
I would love to see what thet are dynoing at the wheels...

Check out this thread:

http://www.caymanclub.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2734&FORUM_ID=1&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Cayman+S+Dyno+Results+%2D+Free+Horsepo wer%21&Forum_Title=Cayman+Chat

"The car turned out 269 horsepower at the rear wheels and 225 foot/lbs of torque. Outstanding for a car that is only supposed to have 295 hp at the crank. In fact if you do the usual 15% loss factors and multiply that would give 316 hp and 265 foot/lbs of torque. So it appears that we may have some "Free" horsepower from the factory and that the 295 HP number is nothing other than a "marketing" number and not necessarily the "true" horsepower number from Porsche."

[NoLift911]

Having spent the better part of a day in a Cayman S and having a Carrera - I can tell you it is like black and white. The Cayman S is WAAAAY underated in HP based on what Porsche states - it drives like a bat out of hell and handles like it also. It pulls very hard - muscle car hard and is a cinch to drive fast.

Final word - he could/would have eaten you for lunch....no question.

-Jeff

[kach22i]

Originally posted by nolift911
It pulls very hard - muscle car hard

Sounds good to me, but I'll have to keep it a fantansy for quite a while though.

[t.brady]

I sold my 930 and bought a Cayman S. It's a great car, probably the best car I have ever owned. The mid-engine layout, suspension, power, brakes, trans., interior , etc. are all perfect.

The Cayman S is very quick. I would dare say as quick as my stock 930. I can take on-ramps and off-ramps at a much faster pace than I was able to with the 930.

The price of building the 930 to the level I desired would have exceeded the price of a no-options Cayman S with $5000 discount off the sticker price (which my dealer offered me). Granted, the 930 would have been one helluva a lot faster, but it still wouldn't have had the creature comforts I sought. The car is used frequently on New England roads, with my wife in the passenger seat (or occasionally driving).

I do miss my 930 for many reasons, especially the thrill of boost, but most importantly for the driver-car connection. I believe this is the main reason I love the air-cooled 911s, nostalgia factor aside. Suffice it to say, I will be buying an SC in the near future, to celebrate the 20% depreciation on my Cayman S.

[JBO]

I love the old 911's, but let's not kid ourselves. The Cayman S, and many stock modern cars from Europe, Japan and the US will out accelerate our cars. However, you are correct that a 5.6 to 60 car vs. a 6.2 to 60 car will not be way ahead of the slower car between stop lights. In addition, unless you can shift really well or are willing to abuse your car, a Cayman S tiptronic will in most real world situations be farther ahead of you than the 6 speed, even though on paper the 6 speed is faster to 60. As we all know, who can accelerate the fastest is only one aspect of a car. A neighbor friend who has a pristine TR-6 recently said "you know, my TR only has 85 horsepower and won't win any races, but it sure is fun to drive". That's what its all about.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Porsche should offer the Cayman with the 3.8 X-51 381 HP engine.

Now THAT, would be something to have,....

[Doug&Julie]

Has anybody asked you to stuff one in a Cayman yet Steve? ...or a Boxster?

[wicked9]

Originally posted by Steve@Rennsport
Porsche should offer the Cayman with the 3.8 X-51 381 HP engine.

Now THAT, would be something to have,....

Ditto...

Steve...
How are ya bud?
Len in St. Louis...

[Craig 930 RS]

So typical of Porsche on the newer cars - only about 10% difference from stated HP to actual RWHP

[tonypeoni]

Im finding this hard to believe. I know for a fact that the cayman is more than a Boxer S at least thats what the sales men told me at my local porsche center in Indianapolis. So if Boxer S is faster than a 3.2 carrera and a Caymen is faster than a Boxer S hows this possible? I think Maybe this guy was in a automatic and had it in economy mode!

[Craig 930 RS]

Equal driving styles/drivers in each of those cars - the Cayman will leave the 3.2.
But ya had fun, and that is what it is all about.....

[HarryD]

At Parade Portland, Michelin offered a back to back comparision of their Pilot Sport vs their Pilot Cup tires. The rig to test was a pair of identical Cayman S's.

I do not know how many tires Michelin sold but Porsche most certainly got their hook into a bunch of people. It is one heckuva car. I did not see one person leave the test area without a SEG.

[mnmike]

I do like the look of the cayman, but i just don't like it that porsche have purposely "detuned" it, in fear of creating a 911 killer.

Well that just means it easier for us to squeeze more power from it.

A friend of mine just bought one. I drove it and must say it is incredible. I dont like how you cant see the engine though.. Oh and dont be suprised about the results. They arent that much quicker. Personally Id still take a barely used 911.

[StayGold808]

i'm guessing the cayman wasn't run in yet...

But i wasn't abusing my car in any way, didn't shift fast or anything.

[k9handler]

I think the Cayman S is a great car and hope to get some seat time in one in a few weeks. Now I have had the chance to run my modified 911S against a Boxster S, 996 C4S and a 993 VR and in pure acceleration my car wins...but both cars will get past me once I hit 150 mph.

Apples and Oranges I am sure...but to me the Cayman is a breath of fresh air and a car I would very much like to own.