So, I wanted to log some miles on my cayman before I write a "review" on it.
(if you don't want to read, there are a couple pics at the bottom)
Prior to this car, I have owned several modded e46s, this was my first p-car.
Like most of you, I fell in love the first time I saw it. I was actually back in Korea, and saw a brand new silver cayman in early January.
For a while, I was denying myself the chance to go test drive in the fear of having to buy one. Content with my modded e46, I was looking for a new car to drive, and oddly enough, saw a interlagos/cinnamon zcp fully loaded m3 as the new fun car to enjoy on the weekends, or a imola red cabrio m3.
After having some less than pleasant experiences from the BMW dealer which I had previously purchased three vehicles, in a moment of sheer anger and frustration, I drove down to the HBL of Tysons Porsche dealership.
After looking at both a base Carrera and a cayman S, we talked over the differences in the cars.
Like the boy in that 997 launch commercial, I, like most of you was the little boy always dreaming of a 911.
I had told myself that the first Porsche I was going to buy was a GT3 in some form, for the visceral driving experience that it is. I love all Porsches, but the GT3 (having had the distinct pleasure of a driving a 996 gt3, among all the 996 line) was the most complete driving experience I had ever felt.
My salesguy told me to drive both, and that it would be clear whether to get a 997 or a cayman s. He said that each caters to differing drivers, and that I would soon find that out.
the 911 was great, in some respects, very similar to an e46 m3, a little more refined.
but that first drive in the cayman S had me sold. I had to do my best relaxed impression as I came back with the cayman S to still hold the indifference factor in my corner to negotiate for a good price.
In the back of the inventory warehouse was a black cayman S, with black interior, the carrera classics in 19s, bose, heated seats, xenon, rear wiper, and colored wheel crests.
The reason I did not get nav was because i am in the process of getting the pioneer z1 installed by a shop contracted by my dealership to do most all of the stereo installs, as they have plenty of experience working with the fiber optic wiring.
Being my first black car, the first thing that I did was install clear sidemarkers and get the 3m bra done. All in all, I am glad that it is there, because if nothing else, it gives me peace of mind when I drive it that the front will not be sandblasted or something to that effect after driving.
I had intended for my e46 to be my beater and cayman s weekend car, but quickly my e46 is collecting dust and the Cayman S has won over all my time.
Having been a life-long modifier of BMWs, stock cars were things that people would never expect in my garage. I have sitting in my garage the techart front and sides (wholesale distributor for cec, which sponsored my e46s back in 2000, coincidentally being the techart master distributor), a box with h&r springs, and a tubi exhaust from champion en route to my dealer.
For some crazy reason, i don't want to modify this car, yet. Sure it looks a little high, but right now the car is so perfect in my eyes, that for the first time, i don't want to mess with it. I absolutely love the carrera classic wheels, I tinted the windows a black 20% on the sides, and 20 in the rear window, which I am going to remove. I actually liked being able to see in the back window, and just having the sides tinted gives a nice blackout look, maybe do a clear reflective tint on the back window.
I absolutely love the black paint. Sure, there are times where I obsess over making sure it is clean, but that obsession saves a lot more money than having the mod bug.
Zaino: I love it, it is truly amazing. The first time I did it, I had impressive orange peel all around the car, but still small swirl marks. That was because the new nice towels I bought were not washed to remove the loose threads. But after fixing that, the paint is deep and shiny.
Quick thanks to our board sponsor wheel wax, it works great.
Yeah its only been nearly 2000 miles, but that's 2000 miles longer than I am used to leaving a car stock, so for me, this is big progress.
It drives like a dream, I enjoy it so much that I have yet to desnork it yet. I am just scared that once I do that, then an intake will follow, then cams, exhaust, headers..... and the ball starts rolling....
Break-in? The first 200 miles, I drove the car slightly hard but not aggressive, keeping the revs under 4000 rpm. At 200, I just gave in. I could not resist. But the first 200 miles were a blast. Keeping it under 4200 rpm, I loved accelearting to 6th gear up to 105 mph, knowing that I had just begun to feel the motor of the car. But of course, once I let her open, did the smiles on my face get wider and wider. And to think, if I had waited to break her in, I would have just now felt the acceleration and true handling abilities on this thing
.
Favorites:
2nd gear being such a long pull. On partial throttle, 2nd gear feels like being sucked slowly into a vacuum.
3-6: i love how quickly one gets from 70 to 110, then gets to 6th gear.
All in all, I could not be happier with this car, and love it so much, that I will wait to modify it to what my original plans had been.
This car fills all the needs that I had wanted. In my eyes, it is my mini-version of a CGT, such a quality driving experience, with a distinct connection to all facets: handling, accelerating, as having the accoustic sounds of sheer bliss. For me, this is MY supercar.
Thanks for reading, time to get back and drive some more. Thanks Cayman Club, I have learned a lot already from this forum, (i helped dado start a little forum called dtmpower back in the day, and also was around with kev for e46 fanatics) and respect and enjoy the commentary from the membership here.
Took a couple of quick pics. the car was still dirty, but clean enough to take some pics.
Edited by - OKayMan on 07/17/2006 7:18:32 PM
Edited by - OKayMan on 07/17/2006 7:19:30 PM
Edited by - OKayMan on 07/17/2006 7:22:21 PM
Edited by - OKayMan on 07/17/2006 7:58:36 PM
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