Porsche Cayman Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Porsche Cayman range
Prices: £36,101-£44,107 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-19
Emissions: 214-223g/km
Performance: [S PDK] 0-60mph 5.2s / Max Speed 170mph [est]
Fuel Consumption: [S PDK] (Combined) 30.1mpg
Safety: Twin front, side and door airbags / ABS / PSM
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height, 4329/1801/1295mm [est]

CAPTAIN CAYMAN

Our Rating: 7.4 / 10

Porsche’s Cayman remains a sports coupe of rare quality in its latest guise. Steve Walker reports.

That the Porsche Cayman is most regularly compared to its 911 stalemate gives us an insight into how far ahead of its rivals the car is. The classic mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout has been supplemented in the latest model by more advanced engines, a PDK twin-clutch gearbox and an optional limited-slip differential. There’s also sharper handling, more performance and better economy, so if you’re looking for a coupe in this class, you know what to do.

Many of us will never find ourselves in the happy position of having over £40,000 to spend on a new two-seater sports car. Safe in this knowledge, we can let our minds wander on the topic of which one we’d choose if we did. Minus the practical headaches of daily life and protected from the real world consequences of the stupid buying decision, all kinds of weird and wonderful models can be entertained but for those who actually have the money to spend, the stakes are far higher. Down the years, Porsche has generously made it its duty to provide sports coupe buyers with a safe destination for their money by producing the finest, most usable products on the market. Competition in the sector has never been fiercer but the latest Cayman is looking to maintain its status as the default choice.

For a long time, the big talking with the Cayman centred around whether or not it was actually a better car than entry-level versions of Porsche’s 911. Many felt the mid-engined layout of the Cayman made it an intrinsically better car than the rear-engined but considerably more expensive 911. This gives some indication of just how highly regarded the Cayman is and must have given Porsche cause for concern as it tried to preserve its model hierarchy and protect sales of the lesser 911s. Today’s Cayman is improved in a number of key areas so it seems certain that the old 911 debate will rumble on.

The bog standard Cayman gets a 2.9-litre 265bhp flat six engine giving it a 20bhp increase over the 2.7-litre model that originally propped up the range. This will be more than quick enough for most but Porsche can also offer Cayman S which uses a 3.4-litre flat six with 320bhp. This engine features direct fuel injection technology which precisely controls the quantity and timing of fuel injections into the combustion chambers. It can adapt according to the inputs of the driver providing optimum performance when it’s called for or better economy if you go easier on the throttle. In a Caym

An automatic Porsche was once frowned upon by the marque’s aficionados in the same way as a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with stabilisers might be viewed in superbike circles. The PDK gearbox models, by contrast, encourage nothing but respect from those in the know. It’s a twin-clutch ‘box which shifts between ratios many times faster than you can say Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (don’t worry, we’ll stick to PDK from now on). The system actually shaves 0.1s from the 0-62mph time of an expertly driven six-speed manual car, such are the slickness and speed of its shifts. With the optional Launch Control function which manages traction off the line, a further 0.2s can be stripped from the performance envelope.

Porsche has shown us with the 911 its fondness for settling on a styling direction for its cars and sticking to it like a like a mute monk to his vow of silence. Sure enough, the latest facelifted Cayman isn’t hugely different from the original car. The latest car has reshaped headlamps with indicators built in that resemble the units on the Carrera GT supercar. The air-intakes below have also been reshaped with horizontal bars for the outer ones in the front bumper that also house LED side lights. There’s more of the in vogue LED lighting at the rear where the bumper has come in for some subtle tweaks. Far more salient are the changes to the suspension and steering designer to enhance the Cayman’s exemplary driving experience.

Having tinkered with the suspension settings on the Cayman, Porsche predictably claims improvements to both handling and comfort. The power steering system has also been remapped with the aim of achieving a more agile and spontaneous feel. The Porsche Stability Management system is rightly regarded as the leading technology of its type and now features Brake Pre-Loading that primes the brakes in anticipation when the driver lifts off the throttle suddenly. An optional feature that’s now available will please those who felt the Cayman was only a l