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Had a test drive today and was v.impressed. I was a devout air-cooled 911 fan having had 5 of various vintages up to 993 which I thought could not be surpassed. I couldn't forsee ever wanting a water-cooled Porsche and the fried-egg look of the 996 does nothing for me.... that was until I started to read and follow the Cayman S story. This is the first Porsche since the 993 I have lusted after and the drive today confirmed it is a 'proper' drivers car. The spec was coventional suspension, 18' wheels and nothing else that mattered to me. The car feels like it's hewn from granite and feels so planted and balanced it was a revelation. The ride (as I suspected it would be) was amazingly compliant and the test route covered mainly very broken tarmac surfaces in greasy wet English autumn conditions. The PSM in these conditions worked very well, not intrusive but if I was brutal on wet leaf covered back roads it would intervene to protecct me from my own stupidity.
The car is very accessible, I felt at home heeling and toeing within 5 minutes of driving and the sound experience is pure music to any flat 6 enthusiast. My dealer was very civil and has invited me for another drive next week (hopefully in drier conditions) but I am sold on the car. I never thought I'd say it but I think it is better than the 993 whilst definitely in the same 'drivers car' mould.
I am purely interested in this car as an enthusiastic road user and hence my spec is :-
Red, 19' carrera classic, sports seats, climate
my only gripe (which indicates how brilliant I think teh car is) is that the gear lever feels rather plasticky to the extent I looked on the web site at possibly selecting the ALU gear lever option.
PSM - Porsche Stability Management
While it can’t overcome the laws of physics, the revolutionary Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system does lend an added degree of balance and control to the Cayman’s mid-engine driving dynamics, inspiring surefooted confidence in corners and extreme situations.
A standard feature on the Cayman and Cayman S, PSM continuously monitors steering input, road speed, yaw velocity and lateral acceleration to calculate the actual direction of travel. If the car begins to steer off line, PSM instantly intervenes with precision brake inputs on individual wheels to help bring the car back onto the driver’s intended path.
If braking alone isn’t enough to correct the vehicle’s cornering line, PSM then calls on the Cayman’s engine management system, adjusting engine output as needed to help stabilize handling. PSM can also compensate in an instant for mid-corner changes in load resulting from deceleration or braking. When Sport mode is selected with the optional Sport Chrono Package, PSM’s threshold for intervention is raised, allowing for greater driver involvement. If you prefer driving without automatic PSM assistance, the system can be set to standby at any time. In this case, it will only intervene under heavy braking, where both front wheels exceed the ABS threshold.
For all of its technical ability, PSM goes virtually unnoticed in everyday driving situations, preserving the Cayman’s natural agility.
Comments from enthusiasts such as yourself, who now have an opportunity to drive the Cayman, speak volumes more than the automotive press. It has been my opinion from the start that with the Cayman, Porsche is attempting to recapture some of the 'elemental' driving experience of a basic sports car. They have apparently achieved that goal.
Less of the 'old' K-Man S' .. and yes having had 5 old air cooled cars puts me in that category .... but let me tell you, driving the car today I felt 20 ... complete hooligan !! It was like the day I drove a 911 for the first time ... special, and if you get to my age and driving a car makes you feel like that you know it is a good thing.
I guess that's why all the discussions about sat-nav, PASM, sport chrono ... leave me cold ... all a hooligan needs is a properly sorted regular chassis, a wicked engine and the open road .. gadgets I leave for the kids ;-) ... and I design silicon chips for a living .. how hypocritical is that !!
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
Sport Chrono and Chrono Plus
This optional package is a valuable addition for trackday use. Available in conjunction with the CDR-24 CD radio, it includes a swivel-mounted analog and digital timer unit which is centrally located on the dashboard. All functions are easily accessible via the control stalk for the on-board computer. Analog dials measure hours, minutes and seconds, while a separate digital field displays whole seconds, tenths and one hundredths of a second. A second digital display runs in parallel in the instrument cluster. Click this Link to visit the FAQ entry for Sport Chrono.
I guess that's why all the discussions about sat-nav, PASM, sport chrono ... leave me cold ... all a hooligan needs is a properly sorted regular chassis, a wicked engine and the open road .. gadgets I leave for the kids ;-) ... and I design silicon chips for a living .. how hypocritical is that !!
It's funny, because I am a designer (not silicone chips) also, and feel exactly the same way. I did have the sport chrono in my spec, but that was for 'extra' fun. But at the end of the day, I can honestly say that every car I have had has been basically standard spec, and from my first 'new' car, a Ford Puma, I have been a devote believer in taking a car as the designer meant it to be. I like a paper map. I can look out of the back window to see what I'm going to hit when I stick it in reverse. But ther is nothing I can (or want to) do about a chassis that feels lumpy or floaty, or an engine that lacks sparkle or go.
I have always strived for the best drivers car I could afford, and bar the MGF VVC, I think I have managed it. But I know the Cayman is going to move my perceptions to the next level. I just hope that if need must, I will be content making the step back!
Jack
Sport Chrono and Chrono Plus
This optional package is a valuable addition for trackday use. Available in conjunction with the CDR-24 CD radio, it includes a swivel-mounted analog and digital timer unit which is centrally located on the dashboard. All functions are easily accessible via the control stalk for the on-board computer. Analog dials measure hours, minutes and seconds, while a separate digital field displays whole seconds, tenths and one hundredths of a second. A second digital display runs in parallel in the instrument cluster. Click this Link to visit the FAQ entry for Sport Chrono.
By the way, nickh1961, why do you go for red? Do you like to be seen coming, or just like the color? It sounds like you've had a few fast cars to play with for color choice also.
Edited by - K-Man-sculpture.net on 12/01/2005 4:22:20 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. With so many 996/997 owners being critical of the Cayman it is always nice to hear from another air-cooled Porschephile who likes it. I bought the car because I like new cars with warranties and wanted a comfortable but elemental sports car. While I have to wait for January in the States to drive one, your opinion confirmed I ordered the right car.[/quote]
