My wife and I got the Cayman yesterday. It has PASM, sports chrono, 19 inch carrera S wheel, Bose audio, and NAV. The color is speed yellow with silver linings under the front air dam. Initial impressions, compared to my Vishnu EVO8 (~385HP), is that it handles better on the curves and very well balanced. Power wise, it doesn't pull hard as my EVO and CLK55, but it's descent enough. The sound inside is like a turbine sucking a lot of air with a loud growl above 6000 RPM. I hit this RPM only once after 100 miles just to comply with the suuggested brake-in rules (2000 miles according to the manual). I have been driving it around town and it is quite addicting, especially the sound of the motor. The AMG V8's sound is also addicting but this flat six mounted at the back makes you want more. The funny thing is that I was looking for the engine cover and there wasn't any. I thought it was like the boxster where you can peek at the engine but this cover is no where to be found. An aluminum panel covers it. The Cayman shifter, for me, is not as spot-on as the EVO (maybe the Cayman sports shifter option is different). The Cayman shifter is smooth but sometimes you can easily loose track which gear it is, especially the first, fifth, and sixth. Heel and toes looks good because the pedals are so close to each other. I felt that heel and toe is easier in the Cayman than my EVO.
The Cayman chasis is so stiff that I thought my EVO is already stiff enough. I have driven it into some canyon and this thing just glides into the esses with a very small feel of understeer. The Cayman feels heavy underneath that it feels like it is glued to the ground or some magnet is pulling underneath the chasis . The EVO when driven feels light but the Cayman feels heavy for 2985 lbs. Side to side transition is pretty much the same between the EVO and Cayman. I drove my EVO on that same road and the difference was, with the EVO, it cuts through the canyon with so much intensity, nervousness (must be the quick steering ratio), telepatic steering, understeer, and full of G forces while the Cayman glides through the esses with much more confidence, inspiring, smoothness, fantastic sound effects, meaty steering (I have to agree that the EVO's steering is more telepatic), less understeer, and more G forces. The Cayman handles so good that you can drive it everyday while the EVO brings so much input from the road that it punishes you with its hard ride.
These are just my initial impressions and this might change everthing after the break in period. For me. it is a fun car to drive everyday.

 

i hate you.

coincidentally, i saw my first cayman on the street yesterday. great looking car...much better than the boxster.

 

2nd that. trying to talk my dad into one.

 

3 people hate you, you're not making friends fast around here.

 

That's ok. When there's hate, there's love. Balance is the key and this freakin Cayman is very well balanced. This car is not about horsepower but in the future I will look for some mods to make this around 325 HP. Thanks guys.

 

make it 4....

 

hey dude btw post some pics of the evo and cayman

 

I will post pics when I get home. Makes me want to get off work early and start driving this car on the road again. I should have taken a day off today like the boxster commercial.

 

Congrats!

 

btw, i always knew porshe raped you with their "a la carte" option pricing but this is rediculous!! from edmunds.com:


Select Options (MSRP/invoice)
450 Ceramic Composite Brakes - PCCB info $8,150 $6,928
PPBT Preferred Package Plus w/Tiptronic info $7,995 $6,796
PPAT Preferred Package w/Tiptronic info $4,995 $4,246
PPB Preferred Package Plus info $4,990 $4,242
99 Metallic Paint to Sample info $4,315 $3,668
98 Non-Metallic Paint to Sample info $4,315 $3,668
99 Leather Interior to Sample info $3,845 $3,268
06 Brown (Special Leather) info $3,605 $3,064
05 Grey (Special Leather) info $3,605 $3,064
249 5-Speed Tiptronic S Transmission info $3,210 $2,729
P23 PCM 2.1 w/Extended Navigation info $3,175 $2,699
P01 Adaptive Sport Seats info $3,055 $2,597
P16 PCM 2.1 info $2,970 $2,525
P01L Adaptive Sport Seats Leather Interior info $2,695 $2,291
BG Black/Stone Interior info $2,525 $2,146
RA Cocoa (Special Leather) info $2,525 $2,146
MB Terracotta (Special Leather) info $2,525 $2,146
CCP Aluminum Look PCM Package info $2,230 $1,896
CUR Leather PCM Package info $2,230 $1,896
CUF PCM Package Painted Exterior Color info $2,230 $1,896
T PPA Preferred Package info $2,190 $1,862
XTL Door Finisher in Carbon info $2,150 $1,828
XTT Makassar Door Finishers info $2,150 $1,828
XTU Sycamore Door Finishers info $2,150 $1,828
DF Stone Grey (Full Leather) info $2,095 $1,781
TG Sand Beige (Full Leather) info $2,095 $1,781
FE Sea Blue (Full Leather) info $2,095 $1,781
JX Palm Green (Full Leather) info $2,095 $1,781
AT Black (Full Interior) info $2,095 $1,781
EBA Leather Dashboard Trim info $2,050 $1,743
475 Porsche Active Suspension Management System info $1,990 $1,692
407 19" Sport Design Wheel info $1,940 $1,649
405 19" Carrera Classic Wheel info $1,940 $1,649
CDB Carrera S Wheel in Black info $1,915 $1,628
DAD Gear Lever/Handbrake In Aluminum/Leather info $1,680 $1,428
EBC Sycamore Dashboard Trim info $1,650 $1,403
EBD Carbon Dashboard Trim info $1,650 $1,403
EBB Makassar Dashboard Trim info $1,650 $1,403
DAE Exterior Package Aluminum Look info $1,650 $1,403
XJT Makassar Rear Center Console info $1,625 $1,381
XJU Sycamore Rear Center Console info $1,625 $1,381
XMJ Carbon Rear Center Console info $1,625 $1,381
XSB Leather Covered Sport Seatbacks info $1,610 $1,369
403 19" Carrera S Wheel info $1,550 $1,318
XTW Aluminum Look Door Finishers info $1,550 $1,318
P15 Power Seat Package info $1,550 $1,318
XSA Sport Seat Backs Painted to Match (Exterior Color) info $1,495 $1,271
XCG Seatbacks In Aluminum Look info $1,495 $1,271
CXD Illuminated Carbon Door Entry Guards info $1,380 $1,173
453 Carbon Multi-Function Steering Wheel info $1,360 $1,156
452 Multi-Function Sycamore Steering Wheel info $1,360 $1,156
451 Multi-Function Makassar Steering Wheel info $1,360 $1,156
XPV Multi-Function Steering Wheel Aluminum Look info $1,310 $1,114
CDA Aluminum Look Air Vent Slats info $1,290 $1,097
XD9 Exterior Colored Rims and Wheel Caps info $1,290 $1,097
CDN Air Vent Slats Painted Exterior Color info $1,280 $1,088
XMZ Leather Rear Center Console info $1,260 $1,071
EBE Aluminum Look Dashboard Trim info $1,230 $1,046
805 Exterior Color Interior Design Package info $1,190 $1,012
T P74 Xenon Headlamp Package info $1,090 $927
XPA Thicker Steering Wheel in Leather info $1,050 $893
431 3-Spoke Multifunction Leather Steering Wheel info $990 $842
666 Module for Telephone PCM info $960 $816
680 Bose Surround Sound Package info $950 $808
640 Sport Chrono Package Plus info $920 $782
639 Sport Chrono Package w/out PCM info $920 $782
802 Sycamore Package info $890 $757
CFH Makassar PCM Handset info $890 $757
801 Makassar Package info $890 $757
CFC Sycamore PCM Handset info $890 $757
803 Carbon Package info $890 $757
CED Carbon PCM Handset info $890 $757
X97 Aluminum Gear Shifter info $880 $748
CTG Inner Sill Finishers Leather info $840 $714
CXB Stainless Steel Door Entry Guards Illuminated info $780 $663
CET Exterior Color Door Opener Trim info $780 $663
XCZ Sport Shifter info $765 $650
CDT Leather Seat Belt Buckles info $760 $646
P77 Leather Sport Seats info $760 $646
460 Leather Sport Steering Wheel info $740 $629
DAA Interior Package A Pillar Leather info $740 $629
XCK Rear Center Console in Aluminum Look info $730 $621
XME Rear Center Console Painted in Exterior Color info $730 $621
XFD Instrument Dials Sand Beige info $690 $587
XFH Instrument Dials Speed Yellow info $690 $587
XFG Instrument Dials Guards Red info $690 $587
XFJ Instrument Dials Carrara White info $690 $587
XFE Instrument Dials Terracotta info $690 $587
P12 Self-Dim Mirrors and Rain Sensor info $690 $587
XFF Instrument Dials Natural Brown info $690 $587
CVP Leather Trim Strip info $650 $553
641 Electronic Logbook info $650 $553
T 692 6-Disc Remote CD Changer info $650 $553
482 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) info $590 $502
CEA Leather PCM Handset info $580 $493
CNA Leather Defroster Trim info $580 $493
X69 Carbon Door Sill Model Insignia info $570 $485
CDM Trim Strip Painted in Exterior Color info $560 $476
XMP Leather Sun Visors Lighted Mirror info $560 $476
573 Automatic Climate Control info $550 $468
CCR Aluminum Look PCM Handset info $540 $459
CER Painted Exterior Color PCM Handset info $540 $459
635 Parking Assist System info $530 $451
CNX Spoiler Lips Aluminum Look info $520 $442
459 Steering Wheel in Smooth Leather info $490 $417
XRP 5mm Wheel Spacers info $490 $417
342 Heated Front Seats info $480 $408
CDP Instrument Surround Painted Exterior Color info $475 $404
CVW Leather Rear View Mirror info $475 $404
CFX Floor Mats w/Colored Trim info $440 $374
XNS Steering Column Covered in Interior Leather info $420 $357
X70 Metal Door Sill Model Insignia info $415 $353
P78 Sport Seats w/Full Leather Interior info $400 $340
CNB Leather Defroster Air Vents info $390 $332
397 18" 987S Wheel info $390 $332
982 Supple Leather Front and Rear info $365 $310
XCL Instrument Surround Aluminum Look info $360 $306
425 Rear Window Wiper info $360 $306
XTV Door Finishers in Leather info $360 $306
XSX Seat Belts - Guards Red info $340 $289
XSY Seat Belts - Speed Yellow info $340 $289
XLA Chrome Exhaust Pipe info $340 $289
XSH Seat Belts - Silver info $340 $289
618 Telephone Preparation info $340 $289
XX1 Front Floor Mats w/ "Porsche" info $320 $272
CFA Leather Tiptronic Gate info $310 $264
CUJ Leather Fuse Box Trim info $290 $247
CDW Leather "Y" Trim Steering Wheel info $290 $247
CDD Aluminum Look "Y" Trim Steering Wheel info $290 $247
CDJ Exterior Color Painted Gear Lever Trim info $290 $247
CUV Storage Compartment Lid w/Model Logo info $290 $247
CPT Storage Lid Bin w/ Porsche Crest info $290 $247
580 Rear Luggage Partition info $270 $230
XSC Porsche Crest in Headrest info $270 $230
XNG Instrument Surround in Leather info $260 $221
CDZ Leather Gear Lever Trim info $250 $213
435 Sport Steering Wheel info $250 $213
XXZ Foot Rest Aluminum info $250 $213
CVY Leather Clothes Hook Backrest info $240 $204
CGA Headlight Cleaner Cover Exterior Clear info $215 $183
446 Wheel Caps w/Colored Porsche Crest info $185 $157
509 Fire Extinguisher info $140 $119
CUC Painted Model Designation Rear Lid info $130 $111
M6A Black Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6T Terracotta Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6G Stone Grey Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6H Natural Brown Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6C Cocoa Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6B Sea Blue Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
M6N Sand Beige Mats - Porsche Lettering info $115 $98
CPU Interior Color Leather Key Pouch info $110 $94
DC Stone Grey (Standard Leather) info $0 $0
TE Sand Beige (Sport Seats Leather) info $0 $0
FC Sea Blue (Sport Seats Leather) info $0 $0
JV Palm Green (Sport Seats Leather) info $0 $0
FB Sea Blue (Standard Leather) info $0 $0
DD Stone Grey (Sport Seats Leather) info $0 $0
G1 Guards Red (Standard Paint) info $0 $0
A1 Black (Standard Paint) info $0 $0
JU Palm Green (Standard Leather) info $0 $0
AP Black (Sport Seats Leather) info $0 $0
X4 Speed Yellow (Standard Paint) info $0 $0
TD Sand Beige (Standard Leather) info $0 $0
461 Rod Antenna info $0 $0
B4 Carrara White (Standard Paint) info $0 $0
AN Black (Standard Leather) info $0 $0
498 Delete Model Designation info $0 $0

 

When I was traveling down to LA from Sactown, there was a Cayman coming up on me, so I was like okay. Needless to say it was about 1-2 car lengths behind me at my rev limiter. I was like okay so lets see this turbo's back end. As it passed me, I saw it was just the S. I was like DAMN. That **** is fast.

 

Porsche cars are crazy when it comes to options. We minimized the options selection and still came out pretty high in price, much higher than my CLK55. If you load all the options, it can easily go to north of 90 grand, which doesn't make sense. But then again, if I buy a 911, where the base starts at 71K plus the options like the aero kit (got to have this because 911 butts are, for me, ugly), PASM, nicely looking interior; it'll hit 90K easily.
If you buy a Porsche and other manufacturers like MB and BMW, it does not make sense not to get any options. If I was looking for a raw and bare mid-engine car, then get the Lotus Elise or Exige.

 

The gearing of most German cars are tall in the top end. Plus the Porsches put more horsepower on the wheel than most front engine. So if the Cayman was rated at 295 HP on the crank, it is putting around 270 or 275 HP on the ground because it is like a front drive car but put the engine at the back or at the middle.

 

congrats, man - that's awesome. I have always wanted a 911, but the Cayman definitely has my interest. I'll be looking to get either one of these or a late model 993 in about two years or so...

 

Thanks man. I always love the looks of the 993. If you can get a 993 turbo, that will rock. BTW, the sound of the Cayman inside is pretty much the same as the aircooled Porsche engines.