Another Cayman Fan

[ralphmusic]

Gordon Murray in the Goodwood GRRC newsletter

Road cars you admire?

The purest new sports car for me is the Ferrari 458. And the best is the Porsche Cayman S. Among old cars, the (original) Lotus Elan is the ultimate, better than the F1. We tried to get its delicious steering feel in the F1 but we just missed it.



See http://grrc.goodwood.com/road/news/qa-hankering-one-supercar-wouldnt-unless-hybrid-monsters-hadnt-come

 

[MrDemon]

Don't really care much for what he has to say, brings up the F1 in every piece he writes and seemed a **** when he did a few bits for evo. F1 does not drive that well and he's none nothing since. His city cars look dire and he thinks his old F1 with good tyres and traction control would beat a la ferrari lol , he's on some thing. Merc always make nice bespoke engines though, but that had nothing to do with him !!!

 

[fbr]

Another well balanced opinion. Come back and share your views when you've had a hand in the design of several F1 championship winners. Back to the QA article, the title seems to overstate Gordon Murray's views on the 918. Nice to see he's still going at 68 (wonders if mrD will last that long). Gordon Murray's 'open design' concept for small cars was very original. FBR

 

[John H]

I read that too, and I'm a fan of Mr Murray. Granted he is a bit self referential, but frankly he deserves it. I am completely with him on the pointlessness of the current crop of hypercars. I'm delighted to see him promoting the idea of a light simple sports car, and the sooner Porsche takes note the better. As for him choosing the Cayman as the best sports car going ... well, we already knew that didn't we? []

 

[hamishmoon]

John good morning from Kazakhstan, I was fortunate enough to sample a Cayman from Aberdeen when my Turbo S was in for a service, and although I certainly missed the power of the Turbo I found the handling to be fantastic and managed to average a staggering 56mph from Blairgowrie to Ballater before traffic took over. Has anyone tested the new GTS which if it has 340 bhp might suffice all appetites, even with the 275bhp being available I thought I would have had to have been pushing my turbo really hard apart from the straight sections to also average the 56mph which I did with the cayman. I am looking forward to hear comments about the new GTS , boxster and cayman Hamish

 

[Motorhead]

And good morning from the UK Hamish. Interesting comparison between your Turbo and the Cayman on-road, where overall balance generally trumps outright power. In my experience, the Cayman S is certainly a different beast from the standard car and I believe that the GTS is due in the showrooms in July; although I did see one at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone earlier this month. Jeff

 

[fbr]

ORIGINAL: hamishmoon ..... I was fortunate enough  to sample a Cayman from Aberdeen  when my Turbo S  was in for a service, and although I certainly missed  the power of the Turbo I  found the handling to be fantastic and managed to average a staggering 56mph  from Blairgowrie to Ballater  before traffic took over.....

Hi Hamish, Via Gairnshiel? - To avoid the A93 traffic and improve your averages take either the South Deeside road from Crathie/Ballater or turn left outside Ballater and try the Torphins road as alternative routes into Aberdeen. It's quicker with the top down. Do you really want my experience of the 981 over these type of roads or are you being a bit devilish given the hostility to 981 non Spyder variants on these forums? .. Keep the oil flowing FBR

 

[hamishmoon]

Oh no no hostility at all , was impressed with the Cayman and would be surprised if I could of averaged the same with the Turbo S as I was heading back to Aberdeen OPC to collect it after its first service. My only complaint would have been it was noiser than the 911 and wouldnt have wanted to drive to London in it on a motorway, but for round our neck of the woods it was brilliant and think the GTS would be a fantastic car. Average fuel consumption was 21 on the dash , so must have doing something right []

 

[fbr]

I found that the noise in the cabin of the 981 Cayman was it's main drawback when comparing it to the Boxster, it mainly seems to be road roar that gets trapped in the cabin. The Boxster is much better insulated from the road roar, which is further reduced with the semi-hard top down. Although most wouldn't fancy the race down South with the top-down. That said I've made Edinburgh & back with the top down and been perfectly comfortable. Why not keep the turbo for the southern long distance runs and get a two seater for the Highlands. I've no need for a long distance runner anymore hence the downsizing to a 981. Can't say that I really notice the difference from the comfort point of view, if anything the 981 is better and, as you've discovered is much more handy for driving in the Highlands, but as I'm often reminded, it's noisier. A small winter benefit is that the winter continental contacts on the standard 19 inch wheels have less road roar. FBR PS Whilst the Cayman is excellent, another local benefit of an open drop-top is it's advantages for spotting the wildlife. Last time we were over Hamish's side of the hill we enjoyed the sight of eagles soaring over the Cairnwell on the run up from Spittal of Glenshee. That said the Boxster's rearward vision and blindspots are horrendous with the top up, but then our top is rarely up!.

 

[MrDemon]

ORIGINAL: fbr Another well balanced opinion. Come back and share your views when you've had a hand in the design of several F1 championship winners. Back to the QA article, the title seems to overstate Gordon Murray's views on the 918. Nice to see he's still going at 68 (wonders if mrD will last that long). Gordon Murray's 'open design' concept for small cars was very original. FBR

I don't wish him any unwell, so why you quote "wonders if mrD will last that long" is quite odd. his writing and reviews only ever talk about what he did years ago time and time again , it's very dull, even the other week he was bleeting on and was happy Merc F1 team did not get the win because he got the record. I just don't like to listen to what he has to say, seems all self worth. but I wish him well in health and his future.

 

[fbr]

ORIGINAL: MrDemon I don't wish him any unwell, so why you quote "wonders if mrD will last that long" is quite odd.

If you think that reviling & maligning somebody in an unprovoked attack on their integrity is not wishing them unwell, I’m relieved that you find me merely odd. If you have any doubts about your immortality check you longevity potential [link=http://www.bumc.bu.edu/supercentenarian/the-living-to-100-life-expectancy-calculator/]here[/link] . FBR

 

[Buddy]

A couple of points in this thread, Gordon Murray has been a top designer for as long as I've been into driving sports cars and it's good to hear we share an opinion. I agree with him on all he has quoted as saying here. I am getting a fair number of ex 911, turbo and even GT3 owners coming over to the Caymans due to the driving capability of the chassis, most do go for the Cayman S or if they can find one a Cayman R so we can expect them to go for the GTS. My Cayman S is from the second year of production and so is one of the pre DFI engines and last week running 100 Octane V-Power I saw an easy 250kph on the Autobahn, I have had it fully aligned at Center Gravity and found the full benefit with the chrono pack switched on over the Gerlos and Grossglockner passes in Austria. There temps fell to 2C at over 8000ft so chrono was switched off for the descent since I wanted traction and such a drive really brings it home to you of how temp changes effect tyres. As for Boxster or Cayman? This is the Cayman forum, I am the register secretary and while I may have a Boxster if I ran two Porsches I'm more likely to build a 550 Replica.