richardheeley
New member
After nearly two years of trying, I've finally got a Cayman that actually goes, stops and handles properly.
Those with long memories, or too much time on their hands, may remember that I jumped in with both feet to grab a Cayman S in November 2005, one of the very first on the road in the UK. Unfortunately its PASM system never worked properly, giving a rock hard ride with wallowy handling (quite an achievement).
After fighting a losing battle with Porsche ('they all do it Sir') GB, I finally gave up and traded it for a new one.
Cayman number two arrived in May, but sadly it wasn't quite the joy that I had been hoping for.
It certainly rode much better than the first Cayman, in fact it rode just like I always knew the Cayman should. The trouble was that it didn't want to go round corners, the only thing that the first Cayman was actually good at!
I began to think that God didn't want me to have a Cayman.
Cayman 2 went back to the supplying dealer where a quick geometry check revealed that the suspension, both at the front and the back, was completely out of factory tolerance. Worse, it was different from side to side. Presumably someone in Finland had just got bored when my car reached the 'put the wheels on straight' part of the production line.
With the geometry corrected the car stopped understeering and started turning in properly, but something still didn't feel right. It still didn't have quite the 'bite' that the first car had.
To be fair my dealer, Porsche Centre Exeter, took me seriously when I returned yet again and lent me another Cayman for an extented comparison session. The result was that their car definitely handled better than mine. Where their's was sharp, mine seemed to lack steering focus.
Just before they pulled out the steering rack, it occurred to me that there was just one more possible explanation. My first car had arrived on Bridgestones, the new one on Continentals. The dealer's car was on Bridgestones.
While my car was on the ramps having Bridgestones fitted, Exeter lent me yet another Cayman, this time riding on Continentals. It had the same fuzzy, lack of focus as mine! Ten minutes later I was on the same bit of road in my own car, but with a set of Bridgestone boots. I would not have believed the difference tyres could make. The car was razor sharp (but not, please note Porsche GB, harsh like my first car). Suddenly I could drive faster, safe in the knowledge that I could feel exactly where the car was on the road, something that simply wasn't possible with the Continentals.
Now, at this point I should say a few things to keep Continental owners and the lawyers away from my door. Firstly, if you have Continentals on your car and you like them, then that's great! The ride/handling compromise is a personal choice. Secondly, I would have to say that the Continentals are much quieter than the Bridgestones and do have a softer ride, therefore, if comfort is more important to you than the ultimate accuracy of handling then the Continentals are a fine choice.
The trouble is that Porsche doesn't actually give you the choice. When your new Cayman arrives you can choose the colour of the paint, the size of the stereo, even the shape of the steering wheel, but you can't choose the tyres. They might be Bridgestones, or Continentals, or Michelins, or Pirellis. Given that they make so much difference to the way the car handles it is extraordinary that they seem to be a totally arbitary choice.
Porsche Exeter, who, it must be said, have been very helpful in trying to solve my problems, kindly let me keep the Bridgestones and so, for the first time, I now have a Cayman that I really love.
PS. Two days later I managed to get a thorn through the side of one of the brand new Bridgestones. See what I mean about God?
