Test drive: 2006 Porsche Cayman S

I'm not quite sure who Colin is sleeping with at Porsche, but he's the first of the About.com Cars test drive team to get his mitts on the 2006 Cayman S, Porsche's new mid-engine coupe and cousin to the beloved Boxster. Colin raises an interesting point: Pile on the options (including an $8,000 brake upgrade kit and $4,300 custom paint job) and the Cayman can quickly top the price of the 911 Carrera. The 911 offers more go-faster bang for the buck, but it lacks the mid-engine balance of the Carrera. What to do? I know what I would do if I found myself with $100,000 and trying to decide what Porsche to buy: I'd faint.

In other news, BJ Killeen got an invitation to drive Dodge's Challenger concept car today. I'll be sure to publish her photos and driving impressions *before* killing her in a jealous rage. (Colin, you're next.)

I, on the other hand, have just received an invitation to a press preview of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. Yeah, yeah, I know it's no Porsche, I know it's no Challenger, but I really am looking forward to driving the new Santa Fe. We at About.com Cars have been almost universally impressed by Hyundai's recent redesigns, including the Sonata, Accent and Azera. (I say "almost" because Jason Fogelson didn't care for the Sonata he test drove.) I was impressed by the original Santa Fe when I test drove it for Tropical Bob Bowden's web site back in 2001. Look for my new Santa Fe test drive towards the end of June. -- Aaron Gold