OK so I took a Cayman S for a test drive.

We were meant to take out the tiptronic to see how that compared but apparently last night the traction control warning light came on and stayed on hence it was off the road. So far not looking good.

What was impressive was the experience in the show room, relaxed, waiting for the drive to start, mature and pleasant, a proper experience

So one and making it even.

Took the car out and went along the A3, then off round a couple of roundabout at which point I was encouraged to push it as much as I liked. Here it was very well mannered, tight roundabouts that I know the S would ultimately have spun on the second run as I was going out very quickly.

Next up was some twisties with good sprints in between. the torque is v usuable, all the way through the rev range from 3k up to 7k. Smooth, even delivery all the time.

As I drove up through certain areas I did have to reference the speedo to gauge speed. I'm not going to disclose the speeds covered, but I could see the potential to easily lose one's license.

After about 30 minutes we returned to the showroom where Jo went for a quick spin.

Now I really wanted to hate this car. It's a Gayman, it's a hard top poxster etc etc. It's not. It's very capable, very capable indeed. It'll move quicker and safer and more predictabley (sp?!?) than the S ever did for me.

The thing is that I neither love nor loathe this car, IMHO it's a beige car (the one I tested was red). It's very very good at going fast, just you don't know it's doing it.

The car would be fantastic if you wantede to get up at 3am, drive over to the ring same day, drive the ring, then drive home. Problem is to get the big and factor you need to drive way in excess of the speed limit to even raise an up turn at the side of the mouth.

The car is a credit to Porsche, but not for me I'm afraid.

 

Interesting......

If the car handles as well as it is alleged, then it's surprising that it doesn't appeal.

Given your favourite set of twisties, free of dawdling micras etc, would you rather be in the Porker or the S?

 

We were in agreement on this car; I quite liked it as a comfortable quick capable safe car, but to make me grin you really had to push it; even when the salesman slid it round a roundabout it wasn't as fun as the S; no slipping or drifting, just a bit of tyre squeal.

It was a nice car; comfortable cruiser; but to get any fun out of it, as Kelk said - you would have had to be going well in excess of any speed limits.

Gear shift was also waaaayyyyyy too long.

 

I'd say the S

so much free-er and more involving; the Cayman has a really smooth power delivery and a nice sound, but you're isolated from the drive. It is brilliant handling but clinically so (this led onto a conversation about what exactly gives a car character).

You would hit much higher speeds in the Porsche, but you'd have more fun at lower speeds in the S. I think you could have just as much fun in the Porsche but you'd have to be going 20-40mph quicker.

 

There ain't many roads (even up here) where you can go 20-40 mph quicker than the S without ending up in Barlinnie or hospital.

 

Exactly

So you'd be bored... doing similar speeds would feel like "pootling"

 

(anyway I'm in trouble for hogging Kelk's thread so I'll try to be quiet now )

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head here...

Unless you're on a track, I think the S has got more than enough thrills for the road.

Other that the odd straight line traffic light grand prix, I can not see the point of getting anything quicker or more capable.

Of course looks, status etc still play a part so I'd still have my white 911 GT3 if I could afford it!

 

Euan, a good question mate, the answer would be an S.

The S would be exhilerating all the way thru the roads I know and love whilst the Cayman would do it quicker and safer but once I'd finished in the Cayman I'd get out and walk away and not remember the fact I'd done it 5 seconds later. In the S I would have been telling my mates all day.

The Cayman S was numb for me.

 

When I test drove a boxster S (with PSM) I found it exactly the same - no sense of thrill/speed - just covered the miles quickly and effortlessly. Was the reason why I choose the S