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Now that's a sports car
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<div id="medtext"><a href="http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Lifestyle/2006/04/20/1541531-sun.html">
PORSCHE CAYMAN S
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By 24 HOURS NEWS SERVICES</div>
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It's still too early for spring, so what I've got must be Cayman fever. I'll explain ...
Rule No. 1 of automotive journalism is that you never - ever - turn down the opportunity to drive a Porsche, even in winter. So after a couple of missed opportunities because I was out of the country when a test car was available, I finally got the keys.
If you appreciate a sports car that goes like stink, handles like a rocket sled on rails and impresses the hell out of people everywhere you take it, what's not to like? I kept inventing the need to go places - the farther away, the better.
The Cayman's 3.4-litre flat six is mounted amidships, just behind the backrests of the wonderfully supportive twin bucket seats.
This really is a car meant for the open road - and the more the road's curves complement those of the Cayman's handsome coachwork, the better.
The ride is firm - and then if you activate the optional sport mode setting (via a switch on the dash) it instantly gets firmer, to the point of being too harsh over some surfaces. With its mid-engine and rear-drive layout, it's hard to make the Cayman lose its composure.
But if you do push it too far, there's always the Porsche stability management system. Especially entertaining is the way the Cayman can square off corners, with the weight of its midship engine acting as a fulcrum the more torque you apply to the rear wheels.
Inside, the cabin is tight but well thought out with good storage: A glove box; a shallow bin under the centre armrest and a receptacle in front of the shift lever that's angled to keep small items.
Controls are simple to use, which is a blessing in a German car. Too cold? Just toggle up a control switch at the bottom of the centre stack. Want to know what radio station is tuned in or what CD track is playing? No need to take your eyes far from the road because the information is displayed in the big tachometer housing directly in front of the driver.
Outside, the best view of Cayman is its voluptuously curved rear quarters. Imagine Jennifer Lopez walking away from you while wearing a tight dress.
Enough of that. Let's concentrate on the engine's performance.
Sprinting from 0-100 km/h the Cayman S is clocked in about 5.5 seconds. Our standard 80-120 km/h passing test was accomplished in 3.5 seconds in third gear - the quickest of any car I remember testing.
Cayman's speedometer, with markings every 50 km/h, goes up to 300 -- and that's not outrageously optimistic. With manual transmission, Porsche claims a top speed of 171 mph (about 270 km/h).
Priced between Boxster and 911, Cayman S isn't cheap. But if you want one you'll likely have no trouble finding your way to one of the 12 Porsche dealers in Canada. In fact, you probably already know where they are.
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