Some call it a Porsche Boxster with a hardtop. Porsche insists the Cayman is different in many ways. In reality just 40% of the components - including hood, front fenders, doors and mirrors - are shared with Porsche's Boxster, yet you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference except for a $3800 upmark in price. Introduced after the more powerful Cayman S, the base Cayman arrives at $50,195 with a 2.7 liter, flat-six water-cooled engine and 5-speed manual trans. Included are 6 airbags, antilock brakes, anti-theft system with immobilizer. EPA fuel rating: 23/32 city/hwy.
First Glance: 356B Hardtop reborn?
Larger exterior photos
Whenever I test a Porsche I'm overwhelmed with nostalgia. I have a history with the company that included a stint as associate p.r. director, racing my own car, mixing with famous racing stars and even taping, for radio, a conversation with Ferry Porsche. Does this make me prejudiced in my reviews? No, it just makes me a pain in the butt as I relate another tale about the good old days. Bear with me as I suggest the Cayman reminds me of a long-forgotten version of the Porsche 356B called the "Hardtop."
It differed from the coupe in that the pillarless roof was similar to what Detroit called a "hardtop convertible." Since Porsche was already producing a roadster, cabriolet and coupe, the hardtop didn't make much sense. It was aimed at a style-conscious North American market yet few sold and it soon did a fast fade. I'm not suggesting the Cayman will fade away but I can't help but wonder why anyone would pay almost $4k more for a coupe than a roadster, especially when the latter can be had with a removeable aluminum hardtop. But then, I always was attracted to convertibles.
What the Cayman does offer is added stiffness (which improves handling), a feeling of security in the unlikely case of a rollover, and styling that, though similar to the Boxster, is different enough to stand out in traffic. At $23,000 less than a 911 and with a superior mid-engine layout, it is, as Porsche coupes go, a bargain. Though Porsche got it wrong with the 356B Hardtop all those decades ago, my test of the Cayman says they got it right this time.
Continued below...In the Driver's Seat: Easy to get in, but not so easy once you're there
Here it comes, I thought, another twisting, back-scrunching, hair-messing inglorious entry. Since a friend and another journalist were watching it could be embarrassing. But no - I made it in with ease! The Cayman instantly became my friend. Well, almost. I was disappointed that in a $50,000 automobile the seat slider and height adjuster (link goes to photo) had to be operated manually. Okay, the backrest was power-operated but what a silly way to differentiate "base" from a Cayman S.
Settled into real bucket seats where holding the driver in place is a priority, I felt at home. Everything is pure Porsche. Ignition key on the left, tachometer front and center with digital speedo insert, precision controls; clean, elegant, efficient. The left-side ignition is more tradition than common-sense, though, as the three-spoke steering wheel blocks it from view. What I did like was the "one click" return system: twist the key to the right, engine starts, key returns to center. Same to the left to stop the engine.
The climate controls are less intuitive, using small up/down levers with bar graphs to control temperature and fan. Rotary knobs are superior but would have spoiled the design... and then there's that long row of confusing stereo buttons. An extensive search revealed two cupholders under the armrest. You can't reach 'em so forget 'em: if you're driving, don't drink anything is the German philosophy. Behind the seats is a parcel shelf with, thank goodness, a safety net to keep articles from slamming into your head.
On the Road: Don't try this at home...
Turning onto Highway 17 North to Sidney and the BC Ferries docks I noticed that northbound traffic was stopped at the light. Ahead, all lanes were clear on a one-way, divided highway. It was too much temptation. I slammed the throttle to the floor, 7000 rpm in each of five gears. As the revs soared, the sound was reminiscent of Rendezvous, an infamous short film where a Ferrari drives flat out through the streets of Paris.
My Cayman's Canadian speedo read in kph. At 150 kph (93 MPH for you antiquated Yanks) my brain said "quit." I decided to go for 180 (112). Still no traffic, let's try 200 (124). Royal Canadian Mounted Police not in sight ahead or behind. At 205 kph (127) a large truck loomed ahead and it was time to test those ventilated disc brakes. Within seconds I was turning into my home town of Sidney and realised that my heart was beating audibly. What an adrenelin rush!
"Professional driver, do not attempt" would be the TV ad subtitle. Appropriate inasmuch as I'm an old-time Porsche racer with decades of experience. More importantly, the Cayman was superb through the airport roundabout and on the twisty West Saanich highway, demonstrating a sports car's true forte. I couldn't come to terms with the pedal locations, totally failing to heel-and-toe on every downshift. Maybe it's my size-9 feet but on every attempt I missed. Has Porsche concluded that with today's powertrains, such techniques are unnecessary?
Journey's End: Coupes have more fun
You don't drive a Porsche Cayman, you experience it. Pared to its essence it's just a car but driven as intended by the Porsche engineers the Cayman is an ongoing experience, capable of making every drive a special event.
If only we had the roads. You may live in Manhattan where the Cayman is a wheeled version of a trophy wife; another viewer enviably lives close to California's magical Highway One; someone else dwells by the Riviera's Grande Corniche. I live on a narrow peninsula north of Victoria, British Columbia, with few opportunities for fun driving. Each of us must come to terms with the Porsche Cayman.
Sheer logic, if tempered by concerns for the environment and the horrifying accident statistics involving younger drivers, would tell us that high-performance sports cars have no place on today's roads. I'm inclined to agree. But that doesn't mean the Porsche Cayman is redundant; merely that it should be bought by responsible owners who recognise safe driving opportunies and have the necessary skills.
Critically I'd have to say that engine noise, sourced mere inches from my head, was tiresome. Vision front and rear required attention. Fuel consumption was worse than the EPA numbers. And my inability to heel-and-toe was irksome. Yet I hated to say goodbye. Winding the engine in every gear, tossing it through corners, I was lost in the past with the Cayman. Coupes, like brunettes, really do have more fun.
Next page: Pros/cons, who should buy it, specs and best rivals
