<h4>Fall in love with Cayman </h4>
<h6>Posted on Sun, Jun. 18, 2006</h6>
<h5>By Barbara and Bill Schaffer</h5>
<h6>Auto Digest</h6>
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<div class="photocaption" width="336">The optional Porsche Active Suspension Management system on the Porsche Cayman allows drivers to choose between two suspension setups &ndash; one for comfortable everyday driving and the other capable of the most demanding driving. </div>
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Barbara: I seldom see a woman driving a Porsche, and one wouldn’t be on the top of my shopping list. Nevertheless, I loved the new Cayman.


Bill: For most people, it’s hard to justify buying a two-seat sports car, but on a drive to the airport recently, I may have come up with a good reason &ndash; fuel economy. Running with traffic between 70 and 80&ensp;mph, I averaged 27.9&ensp;mpg on my 90-mile drive to the airport.


But, good fuel economy is just the icing on the cake. This new Porsche is great.


Barbara: The Cayman is designed as a coupe version of the Boxster roadster, and most of the body panels are identical.


Bill: Like the highly regarded Boxster, the Cayman engine is mounted right behind the passenger compartment. This configuration produces excellent balance and handling, plus it makes a significant 14.1&ensp;cubic feet of overall cargo space in the front and rear compartments. That’s as much space as the trunk of a BMW 5 Series sedan.


Barbara: Like all the Porsches, the Cayman has a long list of options that allow buyers to customize the car to their individual tastes and budgets.


The only model currently available, the Cayman S, has a base price starting at $59,695 including destination charge. Our test vehicle was loaded with nine options that totaled over $13,000.


The total price with options was $73,050. That’s more than $20,000 less than the famous 911 Carrera S, and I like this just as much. Porsche believes this car will not cannibalize normal 911 business.


Bill: The Cayman power comes from a 3.4-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine producing 295 horsepower.


The engine is water-cooled and has a Variocam Plus variable intake valve control. Our car had the precise six-speed manual transmission, but a five-speed Tiptronic S transmission, which can be shifted manually by control buttons on the wheel or the shifter, is an option.


Barbara: The Cayman is loaded with active and passive safety equipment including a stability control system, traction control and six air bags (front, side and thorax on both sides of the cabin).


Bill: Porsche claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds, and we have no reason to argue. I recorded 83 mph in my mailbox acceleration test that I run from where I pull onto the highway and accelerate full-throttle to the first mailbox, or about one-eighth of a mile. They also claim a top speed of 171 mph.


As I said, the fuel economy was fantastic. I did record 27.9&ensp;mpg at highway speeds of 70 to 80&ensp;mph.


In combined driving, we averaged 24.1&ensp;mpg. The EPA rates the Cayman at 20&ensp;mpg for city driving and 28&ensp;mpg on the highway.


Barbara: It looks like Porsche has another hit on its hands with this new Cayman.


Bill: The Porsche Cayman S is an easy car to fall in love with. It’s a car that allows a good driver to push the limits or an average driver to be all that he or she can be.


On the downside, the rear visibility is poor, especially when trying to back up.


On other Porsches, I was frustrated by the complexity of the audio systems. The PCM system, combined with the navigation system in the Cayman, was very easy to use. I was able to get everything I wanted without resorting to the owner’s manual.


If this price is too high, watch for a more affordable 250 horsepower Cayman model in 2007.
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<div class="infobox"><span class="infobox-head">Porsche Cayman S [/quote]



Standard equipment: 18-inch alloy wheels, speed-activated rear spoiler, Active Brake Differential, Porsche Stability Management; traction control, power windows, anti-theft system and alarm, partial leather seats, climate control, heated outside mirrors, Homelink system, cruise, keyless entry.


Base price: $58,900


Price as tested: $73,050


Dimensions


EPA size: Two-seater


Weight: 2,954 pounds


Wheelbase: 95.1 inches


Length: 172.1 inches


Width: 70.9 inches


Height: 51.4 inches


Fuel capacity: 19.6 gallons


Cargo capacity: 14.1 cubic feet


Mechanical


Engine: 3.4-liter DOHC horizontal six-cycle


Transmission: Six-speed manual


Drive: Rear-wheel


Performance


Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 seconds


Speed to mailbox: 83 mph


Top speed: 171 mph


EPA economy rating: 20/28&ensp;mpg


Our actual fuel economy: 24.1&ensp;mpg


Competitors


Audi TT, Chevrolet Corvette, Lexus SC 430, Mercedes-Benz SLK
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<div class="tagline"><hr class="tagline" color="#cccccc" size="1" /><span class="tagline">Barbara and Bill Schaffer, owners of Auto Digest of Watsonville, Calif., have been reviewing autos since 1992.[/quote] </div>
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