Looked at a New Cayman
 

I stopped and looked at a couple of Caymans in the local Porsche lot yesterday morning. I'm impressed with the look. Quite stylish and suprisingly different in "feel" to the Boxster -- I like it more, actually. It looks to be fairly crowded inside - about like an Audi TT, but it really is a lovely looking car.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

I haven't seen a Cayman in the flesh yet, but there's one design feature that bothers me.....

....the front spot-lights. I don't know if they sell Skodas in the U.S., but the spot-lights on the Cayman are exactly the same as the Skoda Fabia RS (Skoda is a budget car manufacturer).

[IMG]local://upfiles/1465/63551C842A7848B88DC89CA92C8AEE51.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Here's the whole picture of the above!

See what I mean? [&:]

[IMG]local://upfiles/1465/2100251BDEE044CB92B4AE63B982C150.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Believe me, I know about Skodas, and I'm happy to say they do not sell them in the US. The front of the Caymen looks okay with them, however, but the fastback shape at the rear and the line of the rear fenders really works well. It just has a beautifiul look to it, something that the Audi TT, or a Nissan 3560Z, didn't get quite right.

And, after seeing one, I agree with the factory about one point: it does not compete against the 911. Its a much smaller (marketin types would say "more intimate" car. Both in size and in the feeling that the cockpit has, it will appeal to a totally different crowd than the 911.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Went to the North American Auto Show last night and the Porsche display left me drooling! Beautiful. I originally wanted to buy a Boxster S, but am now leaning toward the Caymen S...maybe in yellow. We spent most of our time with the group at the Lamborghini booth and my camera battery was running low. I might be heading back tomorrow, if I do I will snap some pics for the Forum.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

I just got my new Lapis Blue Cayman S. This car handles better than any Porsche that I have owned thus far. I have owned 944/ 944S/ 944T/ 968 Cab/ 930 Turbo 911/ 964 911/ 993 911/ 996 911/ & lastly a 2005 997 S Cab. This Cayman S kicks butt. Once I finish my engine enhancements, it will be as fast as my 997 S. This car has beautiful lines and curves. The sound is the best Porsche sound yet. Go check out this car. In person the front lights are good and the side and back is awesome. I will be hanging on to this car a lot longer than my previous Porsches. I just thought that I would share this will all you other Porsche fans. There has been a great deal of negative talk about the Cayman S, and it has not been justified. Why are we all so opposed to change????????? This car is rock solid and built very well. It will handle as well as any GT3. And you get more for your money than a GT3. When I test drove it on the VIR, it felt very similar to driving a GT3, but much more relaxed and much more interior comfort. This car can be driven as a daily driver, but when you want to turn up the wick, it is ready and willing to push to the edge. Take one for a test drive and compare it to a 911. You just might be turned just as I was convinced. The track drive is what convinced me.
Cheers!!!

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Who ever said that the Cayman S is small inside needs to seat in a 997 and then get into a Cayman S. I drove my 997 S Cab to my dealer and traded it in for my new Cayman S. The seats in both cars were identical along with the steering wheel. I felt like I was driving the same car home except for the sound was better in the Cayman S. Granted the vents are different, but everything else is very similar. AS far as the back, who looks behind the seat when driving a Porsche?
Hey, mash the pedal and haul butt and enjoy the sound and handling. The size of the two cars are very similar. The inside is nothing like an Audi TT. I am over 6' tall and I could not fit well in a TT. But I have no problem in the Cayman S. I do miss the torque or lack there of compared to my 997 S, but I will fix that with my engine enhancements shortly. This car has plenty of room inside and I weigh 225 lbs. So it will be an awesome daily driving sports car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers,

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Well, the interior of the Cayman does seem small to to me after my 996, I guess because it has no back seat and thus that more "intimate" feel. And of course, while my vette has no back seat its a lot wider inside - it certainly does not feel small inside.

As I said I don't think the Cayman and the 911s compete - totally different type of car. I bought my 996, new, only five months ago, one of the last ones they had, knowing I could wait a bit and get a Cayman, but I needed the extra space. And the back seat comes in handy - people actually fit back there for short trips, although its not fun gettin into the back seat, and the extra storage space comes in really handy for shopping or cross-country trips. As a daily driver I like the very airy, open feel of the 996. The 996/997 is really GT, the Cayman a sports car.

When I was at the dealer ysterday looking over the Cayman, I liked the interior as a sports interior - just for fun and sport. I was struck by how similar it feels inside to the 904. Back in the very early 70s I was a diagnostic driver for AutoDelta and I got to drive a '64 904 a lot for several weeks on a contract to a private team setting it up for US racing (by then it was not a first -tier race car but it sort of dominated in the under-two liter club events and regional contests, etc.). The 904 was among the most beautiful Posches ever and its lines sort of belie how small it iwas.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

PitBul,
I don't think there has been that much negative talk about the Cayman, infact, what I have read about it in the press is that is a superb car. Whether people like the looks of the car are a personal choice. As the saying goes, one mans meat is another mans poison! I personaly love the look of the Cayman, I'm just not keen on those spot lamps.

As for Porschephiles being opposed to change, well it's always been the same hasn't it? If you buy any Porsche except a 911, people think you only bought it because you couldn't afford a 911. (Totaly unjustifed in my view.)

Why don't you post some pic's of your Cayman in the gallery? (I don't think we have any Caymans in the gallery yet.)

[sm=Flahssssss.gif]

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

You're right, I don't remember anyone being negative about it, really. I think initially a lot of people were confused as to why Porsche would offer something that looked at first glance to be so similar to the 911, but when you see them side by side, as I said, you can see they aren't the same type of car.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

Congrats! Am hoping to buy mine next year. Do you have any pics?

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

I get my Cayman back on Friday. I have some modifications to the car being done right now. I will take some pics this weekend and post them for you all. My car stickered out to 82K. I got it really loaded with options, and I didn't buy the PCCB either. The color is Lapis Blue with dark blue interior with the aluminum door seal, multi-function aluminum steering wheel, and center console in aluminum, plus silver seatbelts, & 19" Sport Design wheels. Everyone that has seen it says that it is 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' I miss the torque that I had in my 997 S, but I did notice immediately an improvement to the performance and handling. Going around turns is very fun and will break out a huge smile on your face. I am confident that once I finish my enhancements to the power, that this car will smoke a regular 997. The S will still kick its butt. Oh well the car is fun and it sounds better than my 997 S and it does really look better too. I am happy with the car. I will keep this one for a bit longer than the last three 911's.
Cheers,

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

yeah.. i dont remember enything negative either. If anything I remember reading a review that liked it so much they started dumping on the notion of buying a 997 when you can buy a Cayman.

Cayman looks great but I personally think the 997 is more for me when you look at my life style/obligations

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

While waiting for the two new rear tires to be replaced by the dealer the other day (long story, see General Tech about "factory misalignment" of Carreras and my experience with tires) the salesman who sold me my car several months ago hosted me in his nice warm showroom and we talked for a while. He said the new Cayman was selling fast - they never have had one unsold by the time it reaches them. They had a sold one in the showroom but he opened it and let me sit in it. roomier than it looks from the outside. They really are a wonderful car, but definately not something that overlaps of competes with the 911.

Not to take anything away from the Cayman, but I'd prefer the 911. The one I sat in had a sticker of $71,850. There was a "base" Carrera next to it on the floor at $74. given you might be able to deal on the 911 I'd rather pay whatever little there would be for a car with the small back seat and more "classic" look, but that's just me. The Cayman is a fantastic car.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

I saddly missed the party last month at our dealership for the arrival of the Cayman. :(

But after seeing one the other day and talking to the owner for a while they seem pretty bad ass. No 997 but still sweet. Still prefer the FR generation(s) for a variant from FF flagships, but thats a matter of taste.

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

I also have not heard negative things about the Cayman. I have read a couple of articles about them and there was nothing but praise for them. I would still like to see one in the flesh. Pictures of them look really nice.

With all the models Porsche now has, I think there is a model that can fit most peoples tastes and lifestyles [sm=groupwave.gif]

RE: Looked at a New Cayman
 

My first post here. I drove a Cayman S this past weekend and will be buying it today. Over 40 years of driving have seen lots of performance cars in my driveway (too many my wife says). The have included Porsches, BMW M3's and the rest. I currently have a Z51 C6 vette, which I will keep, but the Cayman is the most balanced car I have driven in a long time. I'm getting the tip transmission (my vette is 6 speed) primarily to encourge my wife to drive it, but actually I was most impressed with the action of this unit. The car is not too optioned out as it will be a daily driver. Should pick it up later this week and after more miles behind the wheel I will post a more complete obserevation of this baby. Thanks
than