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Cayman S

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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 09:59 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by s2kpdx01,Aug 5 2010, 01:49 PM
LOUD NOISES!!

i should got out and drive one...needing a new car and all.
you should, its is def a nice car. Capable of dispatching corners w/ precision and dd comfortable.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:02 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by seung,Aug 5 2010, 01:55 PM
going from s2000 you will have hard time finding anything as exciting or "connected."
maybe exige or atom?
maybe you should try the rumored "cayman clubsport" when it finally comes out?
I am learning this the hard way. I loved the nsx but as far as fun it left me wanting but I loved the cars other attributes that the S does not have. I don't dd my "sports" cars either, I think an exige may be too much for me. I can see myself driving an atom though, soley based on what it is.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:11 AM
  #13  
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I feel the same way about the manual tranny. I am just underwhelmed by its gearbox...

My cousin has a S2000 and 987 Boxster S. He says the S2000 is more fun to drive while the Boxster handles better.

I would still get a Cayman S with PDK, but in addition to and not in replacement of my S2000.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:13 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by sparrow,Aug 5 2010, 12:14 PM
So I went to porsche yesterday as a car enthusiast and possible potential customer and it appears that my experience was not on par with most reviews of the car on this site.

It was certainly beautiful and was equipped w/ optional 19's but w/o sports chrono. I elected to drive the manual instead of the pdk feeling like I'm a purist but after the drive was left wondering if the experience would have been better with a pdk equipped vehicle. Also the vehicle was a pre-owned 08 model. Now on to the drive.

We fire up the car, not a beautiful sound but distinctively porsche and athletic in its own way. I walk around the car as it warms up eyeing the 19's and the details underneath the rear bumper like a high school boy trying to catch a sneak peak up his favorite cheerleader's skirt. As I admire the efforts Porsche has taken to minimize aerodynamic turbulence under the car I am called to the drivers seat as the car has attained standard operating temperature.

I inspect the feel of the clutch... spongy... hmmm I have felt better feddback from other vehicles. I engage first and proceed to leave the lot. Pulling onto the main road the car has more tq than the S2 obviously but not as much as I was expecting, not a deal breaker, after all I drive an NA S2. As I row through the gears getting acquainted to the clutches engagement and the feel of the shifter I notice the dead pedal next to the clutch grossly encroaches on how I step on the clutch. My foot was constantly rubbing the side of the dead pedal and became increasingly annoying, amazingly so in traffic. Not a deal breaker, I can just drive w/o shoes(standard practice in the S2). Combine this with the pedal feeling spongy and pdk sounds increasingly better by the minute during the drive.

Finally we turn off the main road to a nice long series of twists I can take at 3/4 throttle w/ the encouragement of the salesman. Rolling onto the throttle I am reminded of my dissatisfaction w/ the feeling of tq for the money I would be spending. Anyway all those concerns were gone the moment I turned the wheel w/ the intent of some decent road holding. Magnificent. I was dissapointed up until this point but the road holding capability of this MR platform was phenomenal. Loads of grip and stability which gave me the confidence to take the next series of corners faster than I should considering how the salesman was quiet but white knuckled holding on. Transitions were dealt with comfortably as the car began to stretch its legs. All this while remaining civilized and being able to carry the mrs out on the town comfortably. Yet I was not sold.

I didn't get an opportunity to really test braking feel so I cannot fully give my opinion on them. Having said that, I was left unimpressed even though I loved the cars handling. Imo that was the cars ONLY good/great attribute. Where was this amazing interior that commands a premium over a vette. Is it an option b/c it sure wasn't on the car I drove. The styling... ehhhh its ok I can live with it. Most important of all for me, the cayman did not give me any sense of excitement over the S2. Maybe it was b/c everything was so civilized. Regardless I wasnt left smiling walking away from the car. I walked away just thinking "thats a nice handling car".

Given my experience I would have to say that the car is grossly overrated on this website, imo of course. Its definitely a good car but nothing near what it is made out to be here. Yes the car was faster than my S2 and most certainly I felt it handled better and had more grip but it left me wanting more from the experience. I can drive the S2 and feel good driving slowly. I cannot say the same for the cayman.
I disagree.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:39 AM
  #15  
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Imo Porsches have a more substantial feel to them and everything is more deliberate. If you measure a car by another's instead of its own merits, you are less likely to be pleased with it meeting your expectations. Everything in the original post seems to say "I was looking for an S2000 in the character of this car" - at any rate, its not what you were looking for.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by st4rk,Aug 5 2010, 01:13 PM
I disagree.
That's a strong argument you make there.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:46 AM
  #17  
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Hahaha, what's with the weird formal tone? Interesting take, just the language was a little peculiar.

Originally Posted by sparrow,Aug 5 2010, 12:14 PM
My foot was constantly rubbing the side of the dead pedal and became increasingly annoying, amazingly so in traffic. Not a deal breaker, I can just drive w/o shoes(standard practice in the S2).
You regularly drive your S without shoes?

Originally Posted by s2kpdx01,Aug 5 2010, 12:49 PM
LOUD NOISES!!
I killed a guy with a Trident.

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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:49 AM
  #18  
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What was the asking price on the Cayman?

I'm wondering if your expectations were perhaps built up a little more based on a linear "dollar per fun" measure? (i.e., twice the cost should be twice the fun).

Thanks for the solid, objective review.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:52 AM
  #19  
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offtopic but hey, i_heart_my_DB8,
what is the second one (yellow & green) in your tombstone sig?
funny sig.
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Old Aug 5, 2010 | 10:55 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Saki GT,Aug 5 2010, 02:39 PM
Imo Porsches have a more substantial feel to them and everything is more deliberate. If you measure a car by another's instead of its own merits, you are less likely to be pleased with it meeting your expectations. Everything in the original post seems to say "I was looking for an S2000 in the character of this car" - at any rate, its not what you were looking for.
I understand your point but what I like in a "fun" car just so happens to be personified in the honda. So cars happened to get measured by my experiences. I praised the car on what I thought it did well. I said its a good/great car, just doesnt give an air of excitement at a sedentary pace. If one needed a capable DD and only had need for 2 seats I would suggest this car easily.......... w/ pdk of course.
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