<span class="postcolor">Been out todayin a Cayman S and 997 Carrera Sfor a back-to-back comparison. I had already driven the same test loop in a Boxster S (997) and a 997 Carrera two months ago. I also drove the loop in my M3 today before going to the Porsche dealership.
Cayman S first. Key items of spec: Manual, 19' SportDesign wheels,
PASM,
Sports Chrono, sports seats, sports steering wheel.
It's a noisy car (in a good way). Suprisingly so. Engine note is perhaps more 911 than Boxster. Certainly gruffer than a Boxster, but perhaps less musical at the top end. Personally I think the new 987 Boxster S's engine note is the best and most interesting.
The car's handling is fantastically neutral and extremely confidence-inspiring, even more so than the Boxster. It rides better than the Boxster too (see later). I think this is down to the rigidity & stiffness of the coupe over the roadster.
Visibility is excellent for a sportscar. Better than an Audi TT Coupe, and miles better than a VX220/Elise with a hardtop . The car is low, but no so low to prevent you from exploiting the performance, which can happen in a VX220/Elise.
Driving position is excellent and the brakes are superb. Gearshift is slick and it doesn't need a short-shifter IMO.
Steering feel is very similar to the Boxster - i.e excellent weighting (not too light) and gearing (very linear), but lacking a little in feedback and tactility. I think this is made worse by the 19's, the 18's may heighten the involvement a little.
PASM normal, Sport Chrono off:
Car feels as if it needs more power! Ride is superb but you need 5500rpm before it really comes alive. Power doesn't build quickly enough at lower revs and you keep thinking 'come on!'
PASM normal, Sport Chrono on:
Much better.
Sport Chrono gives more throttle response for a given pedal travel (and raises the
PSM threshold a bit). It means you can exploit the power more easily, and doesn't give you too much response for a small pedal movement (personally I think the M3 sport button is over-zealous and makes the car harder to exploit in anything other than non-twisty, dry roads).
PASM sport, Sport Chrono on:
This firms up the dampers. It's subtly firmer, you do notice it, but it doesn't ruin the ride even on the 19's. Not sure whether you'd want it on all the time (I wouldn't) but if you're going to track the car, certainly worth having.
Overall summary:
If only it had another 40-50bhp it would be absolutely perfect. Apart from that, it's sensational. I know I'm biased, but I really can't wait to get mine in March. But when they make a more powerful one, I want it!
So after that, I went out in the 997 Carrera S (not the 4S). This car represents a new 'BHP personal best' for me, but I'm going to set another personal best on a test-drive next week....
The spec was great: Sports seats and the sports suspension (-20mm and the locking diff) - as per the one on TG and winner of Autocar's best drivers' car feature this year.
Initial impressions:
Steering feel is sooo light after stepping out of the Cayman! Of course, this is because there is far less weight over the nose. There's much more 'dead travel' in the 997S' steering too. In fact I didn't bond with the steering at all, which really surprised me. The 997 Carrera that I took out last time didn't feel as light.
Power - oh yes, this is what you need! Very muscular delivery, all through the rev range. However, accelerating away from a tight junction I still found myself saying 'come on, come on!' so maybe I'm just a power-crazed junkie...
Handling - so different, and less confidence inspiring. While you can get the car to flow, you can't just take it by the scruff of the neck as you can the Cayman. I felt that I would have to be very calm and measured to get the most out of the 997S, whereas with the Cayman I could experiment much more. I would certainly get down a twisty road quicker in the Cayman, and have more fun doing so.
Overall - I don't lust after a 997 in the same way as I really, really want a 340bhp Cayman!
So - what would a keen driver want on a Cayman? I reckon
Sports Chrono is a must, as are sports seats, and Xenons. Beyond that it's more to do with personal preferences. I'm going with
PASM and 18's because I'll probably track it (so I want
PASM) and I value involvement and tactility above ultimate pace and looks (so I want the 18's).
Stunters
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Edited by - stuntman on 12/01/2005 08:49:09 AM
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PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
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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 |
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PSM - Porsche Stability Management
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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. |
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