The 2010 Porsche Cayman S: Life is good!

A wise man once said: cars don’t cause accidents, people do. Another wise man said: cars are rarely exceptional, it’s the people behind them who are. People, however, can sometimes make exceptional cars, and that’s no accident – at least that’s what the author of this text says; he is clearly a wise man.

Last fall, we had the chance to get behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman S. So, why wait until spring to tell you about it? It’s not because the vehicle can’t hack the winter (for more on this subject, read the article by my colleague Sylvain Raymond http://www.guideautoweb.com/articles/6571/). It’s just that this car feels like the warm sun on your face after a cold spell...

Just 15 years ago, Porsche only offered one model: the 911. Despite its quintessence, it could not ensure the German manufacturer’s future alone. In 1997, the Boxter appeared, and though it was not an instant hit, it became a fixture in the sports car segment fast enough. In 2007, between a Cayenne that was outright heretic and Panamera that was almost as much, Porsche unveiled the Cayman, which many believed to be a Boxster coupe. It didn’t take long for mechanical buffs to catch on that this two-seater had an entirely unique personality, even if it was built on the Boxter’s platform and had some of its mechanical elements. Plus, the lovely rounded lines of its roof and its curvaceous hips make it so much more attractive than the Boxster, which is, admittedly, starting to get a little old.

Engine + lightness = yahoo!

The Porsche catalogue features two Caymans. There’s the base (!) model, which is nonetheless quite powerful with its 2.9-litre six-cylinder flat engine that delivers 265 hp and 221 lbs-ft of torque. But thrill-seekers (with fat wallets!) opt for the Cayman S, with a 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine that spits 320 hp and 273 lbs-ft of torque. While these numbers may not be out-of-this-world, they certainly deliver incredible performance in this 1,375-kg vehicle! For example, it can go from 0-100 km/hr in 5.3 seconds, and 80-120 km/hr in just 5.0. And, of course, the sound that comes with this is nothing like American V8s; it caresses your eardrums like nothing ever has before. However, this extremely modern engine doesn’t drink cheap wine. It requires 93-octane gas, or 91-octane in a pinch. During our week-long test drive, which did not include a spin on the track and for which we drove in a very civil manner (perhaps too civil), our average fuel consumption was 11.6 L/100 km – pretty extraordinary.

On the Cayman S, the engine can be paired with one of two transmissions, either a manual six-speed or a seven-speed double-clutch automatic called PDK. Our test vehicle came with the automatic, which is hands-down the most popular choice given how fast it changes speeds. During our test drive, in automatic mode, it was sometimes a little slow to react in lower gears, especially at slow speeds, and it could be a little brusque. In manual mode, however, we found nothing to complain about. There’s also what they call "Launch Mode" which is easy to use. Now, if there’s something wrong with the transmission, it’s the ergonomics. Instead of steering-wheel-mounted paddles for shifting gears, Porsche decided to go with buttons that you push to shift up and pull toward you to downshift. The two buttons on the steering wheel have the same function, so the driver ends up finding his or her own way to do it. Incidentally, a Porsche engineer has even admitted to me that this system is a lot less user-friendly that the traditional paddles behind the steering wheel, but that the only people who complain about them are... automobile journalists! Despite the sophistication of this gearbox and the excellent times it can clock on the track, I still have a weakness for the manual.

Comfort is a relative thing…

Like any self-respecting Porsche (and Porsches tend to respect themselves quite a bit), the steering is very lively and offers superb feedback, while the red caliper brakes are über powerful. Just imagine what Porsches with yellow caliper (ceramic) brakes are like! The engine is admirable, the steering delicious and the brakes majestic – what more could you ask for? An impeccable chassis. Well, the Cayman S has that too. This allows the vehicle to come with an ultra-sporty suspension that is not too firm. Oh, it’s a far cry from driving a Lincoln, but on a car like this, we might have expected to get shaken up quite a bit more. The Cayman S is almost comfortable! Depending, of course, on how you define comfort...

Nowadays, electronics are increasingly widespread, and the Cayman S is no exception. Our test vehicle came with PSM (Porsche Stability Management) which controls lateral stability. It is constantly analyzing the car’s speed, the angle of the steeringwheel, the lateral accerations (G) and the degree of rotation around the vertical axis. If this system determines that the vehicle is going to lose its footing, it prepares the brakes for an intervention. If the car does lose control, the brakes are applied to the appropriate wheel and the engine’s power is reduced. The PSM, when paired with the PDK transmission and Sport mode, can only be used once on a circuit. After that, the seventh gear becomes ineffective. Among the other electronic assistance systems is PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management), which is either activated by the driver or kicks in automatically when the PDK is put into Sport mode.

Living with a superstar

Sports cars are nice and all, but you have to live with them day in, day out. But the Cayman S does very well! Granted, rear visibility isn’t great, and people with back trouble will have a hard time getting out of the vehicle (assuming they managed to get in!), the big 235/35ZR19 tires in front and the 265/35ZR19 tires in back convey the slightest hair to have fallen on the road, the specially-crafted cup holders are not particularly handy, and the dashboard on our test vehicle let out some crackling sounds when the temperature dropped. But overall, the dynamic qualities of the vehicle more than make up for the shortcomings. Fortunately, the turning radius is small, despite the size of the tires, and the two trunks (one in front, the other in back) can fit more than just a toothbrush. Finally, it takes no time to find the perfect driving position.

Now, not everyone can afford a $75,000 vehicle. But you have to know a deal when you see one, and the Cayman S is... almost a deal! Plus, with the Canadian dollar nearly on par with the US dollar, Porsche has dropped its starting price. Last year, the same car cost $77,500. If Porsche keeps knocking $2,500 off the price for another 24 years, I may eventually be able to afford one!!