Cayman S
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Originally Posted by xmatt,Aug 5 2010, 02:55 PM
Cars are always 90% a matter of personal taste, and when you get to this level of car, even more so. I can understand where you're coming from, but I (obviously) came away with a pretty different opinion of the CS. I love the clutch and shifter, feel the combination of torque and progressive power is just right, find the engine sound beautiful, and think the interior is well-designed and thoughtful in just the way the vette's isn't. The S2000 was fantastic, but I find the CS a few steps up in just about every way.
But all of that stuff has a lot to do with my personal tastes, not absolutes, and also how much things are worth to you. I also thought the 370Z was embarrassingly bad (in the ways I care about), and found that the things the Cayman does better (handling being one of the big ones) were worth the big price tag. I totally understand if that's not the case for somebody else.
I don't get the dead pedal thing though, I've never had that problem at all, you must be some kind of freak
But all of that stuff has a lot to do with my personal tastes, not absolutes, and also how much things are worth to you. I also thought the 370Z was embarrassingly bad (in the ways I care about), and found that the things the Cayman does better (handling being one of the big ones) were worth the big price tag. I totally understand if that's not the case for somebody else.
I don't get the dead pedal thing though, I've never had that problem at all, you must be some kind of freak
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From: Dallas
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower,Aug 5 2010, 03:05 PM
+1, I rode in XMatt's new Cayman S and it was fantastic. The power was great, handling nice and neutral and had pretty good brakes. To me it's a perfect mix between a luxury and driver's car. If I could only have one car I think that would be the one.
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From: Dallas, TX
Originally Posted by sparrow,Aug 5 2010, 09:14 AM
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.
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.
in just about everything you said but the dead pedal wasn't an issue with me.I spent the past couple of weeks extensively driving a 2007 Boxster S and didn't walk away very impressed.
I guess I feel what someone pointed out earlier, since it's twice the price it should be twice as fun, or atleast a lot more exciting than it was.
I'm not comfortable with spending that much money on a car just to be just a little bit better across all the categories of my current car.
With that much price variance I want a big variance in most if not all those categories.
I haven't driven a C6 Vette yet because I'm afraid I might end up buying it.
Like the OP, i don't dd my S so I guess everytime I'm in it I enjoy the drive and experience that much more.
My DD which is an '07 Avalon is plush and smooth for work and back but I always look forward to getting into my S whenever I can. I still turn back and look after walking away from it. It still has my heart after 7 years of ownership and I do plan on keeping it forever is my fun car even after getting into a Vette, Porsche or whatever car I may get in the next few years.
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From: Powell, OH
So Sparrow didn't like the Cayman S, BFD.
The car is not for everyone and it is a lot of money which for most means high expectations.
I will agree with Sparrow about the clutch. I'm not going to search, but somewhere on the Internet, I posted that was the one weakness of my CS experience.
Also, I can relate to expectations - at least initially. I remember thinking on my first test drive "Is the CS $30k better than an S2000?" At first, I did not think so. However, the more I drove the CS, the more it grew on me and I felt like I had to have it.
And here I am today, almost four years after buying my CS and I still love it. Unlike my previous cars, including the S2000, I don't think about replacing the CS. The car is a keeper, for sure.
The car is not for everyone and it is a lot of money which for most means high expectations.
I will agree with Sparrow about the clutch. I'm not going to search, but somewhere on the Internet, I posted that was the one weakness of my CS experience.
Also, I can relate to expectations - at least initially. I remember thinking on my first test drive "Is the CS $30k better than an S2000?" At first, I did not think so. However, the more I drove the CS, the more it grew on me and I felt like I had to have it.
And here I am today, almost four years after buying my CS and I still love it. Unlike my previous cars, including the S2000, I don't think about replacing the CS. The car is a keeper, for sure.
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Originally Posted by xmatt,Aug 5 2010, 04:55 PM
I don't get the dead pedal thing though, I've never had that problem at all, you must be some kind of freak
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by sparrow,Aug 5 2010, 11:59 AM
and yes I drive my S barefoot or at most, w/ socks. I drive every "sport" vehicle like that. Just feels comfy to me.
I can't say if I'd be more comfortable/safe racing bare-foot or with shoes on, but bare-foot is an awesome experience in a car like the S2000.
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I personally didn't like the Cayman.
1)S2000 spoiled me as far as transmissions go, no other car even comes close.
2)Handles very well, but not 2x better than an s2000, but again, VERY well. MX5 is better.
3)Much slower than an SLK55 (but handles better)
IMHO, pointless car. I could not figure out one reason to get one (IMHO of course.) It's not fast AT ALL on daily drives. On tight roads like the dragon, it's not faster than an MX5. On regular roads, it's not much faster than an s2000. The build is a little better, but it should be, it's 2x the price of an S2000.
Overall, I think there are other cars (particularly the new Z4) that I find FAR superior vehicles......PERSONALLY.
1)S2000 spoiled me as far as transmissions go, no other car even comes close.
2)Handles very well, but not 2x better than an s2000, but again, VERY well. MX5 is better.
3)Much slower than an SLK55 (but handles better)
IMHO, pointless car. I could not figure out one reason to get one (IMHO of course.) It's not fast AT ALL on daily drives. On tight roads like the dragon, it's not faster than an MX5. On regular roads, it's not much faster than an s2000. The build is a little better, but it should be, it's 2x the price of an S2000.
Overall, I think there are other cars (particularly the new Z4) that I find FAR superior vehicles......PERSONALLY.
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Originally Posted by Disgustipated,Aug 6 2010, 06:57 AM
I recently started driving my S2000 bare-foot (due to sandals sucking MAJOR ASS) and it's truly an incredible experience. You can feel the most minute of details and it gives you an even crazier connection with the car.
I can't say if I'd be more comfortable/safe racing bare-foot or with shoes on, but bare-foot is an awesome experience in a car like the S2000.
I can't say if I'd be more comfortable/safe racing bare-foot or with shoes on, but bare-foot is an awesome experience in a car like the S2000.
when I tell them I drive it barefoot but I do it for the very reason you cited. You can feel every little detail and the smallest flexing of your toes can provide a change in the cars behavior.