Cayman 981 launch night

[Buddy]

Probably so and watching the vid I liked the way it blipped on downshifts, a habit I'd have to stop as it seems to do it better than I do and that it had a gear indicator in the speedo, quite made me think it will compete with the PDK for those of us who prefer manual shifting to buttons or paddles and in the choice on PDK, buttons or paddles? Advantage of the buttons being that you can change up and down on either hand, paddles are more the way that other companies started and so it became the popular way. But, is popular better? But having seen the new manual shift I like that too. Very glad I don't have to make the decision.[] Got my Autocar article through today too not had chance to read it yet and just flipped through, I do think the new Cayman will drag a lot of 911 drivers over to the Cayman. We all have some things we are unsure of or dislike in it but the actual driving will be the thing. I'm already seeing previous 911 owners joining our register and the usual comment is the drive quality/handling being very special even when moving from a GT3 or RS. Just what we've known all along.[][]

 

[Motorhead]

Unfortunatley Kevan, I think that you need to have Sport Chrono to get the "throttle blip" function. Pity - it could easily have been incorporated as a standard feature for the manual 'box, although I still prefer to heel-and-toe myself. Good to hear that you're seeing defectors from the 911 fold. Let's hope the new car's higher profile will keep things moving in the right direction. Jeff

 

[FERNO]

Yes I also received my copy this morning, I thought it may have come to me because I have got test drive booked for next week, just want to see what the real differences are from my Cayman S gen 2. (Performance & steering wise) when you add all the toys that mine has, it becomes pricey at well over 60K My copy of the Autocar test arrived this morning too Chris. Timed, presumably, to coincide with sales commencing today. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the car sells in the next 9 months since the market has been starved of new Caymans for more than a year. Jeff [/quote]

 

[Buddy]

Yes Fern, I'm looking forward to driving the new car for the comparison to my Gen1 and I know that to get an equivalent to my spec I'd be over £60K too with PDK and a couple of other bits £65K! When it comes time to change I'll probably go for a well specked Gen2 S.

 

[chrisH]

Whilst I think we all accept there is a much bigger difference in the design compared to the 987, its how it drives that's the all important part. Based on my short test drive of the Boxster I'm looking forward to the experience, hopefully mine will not arrive on April 1st. Chris

 

[H14PDB]

ORIGINAL: Buddy I don't think it's any fault of the car and his chunky jacket doesn't help the appearance, personally I find my Gen1 seat snug enough not to wear a jacket when driving but everything is the correct distance away. Also, the 991 has a similar amount of space. I did think that it demonstrated the Cayman quite well although his reference to 911 where he said the 911 can do some things the Cayman can't? Well the Cayman can do likewise in that it can do things better than the 911. It depends on how and what you want the car to do and that is one of the bases of how we choose.

There is a different video in the iPad version of his month's EVO magazine in which same journalist gives almost same conclusions but he is driving yellow Cayman S. I thought it was a review saying good things about the car but agree he doesn't really follow up on comments about 911.

 

[H14PDB]

ORIGINAL: chrisH Whilst I think we all accept there is a much bigger difference in the design compared to the 987, its how it drives that's the all important part. Based on my short test drive of the Boxster I'm looking forward to the experience, hopefully mine will not arrive on April 1st. Chris

Chris When have you got a test drive booked for? I am hoping to get out next Thursday, wanted to wait for initial rush to settle so got a longer drive. Any definite idea of delivery date for your car? Mine is supposed to be late April but as I am away at work till early May there is room for delays.

 

[flat6]

I can only guess that he's referring to the 911 having the advantage of it's engine mass over the rear tyres giving superior traction (whilst the centre of mass being in the middle of the Cayman gives superior direction change ability). Each attribute will enable the driver to do 'stuff' but i'm not going to pretend to be clever enough to explain it as both cars will be good enough in my hands. The only mid vs rear engined test I know is the one many have seen before which is flawed because one car is on all weather road tyres and the other is on shallow tread track tyres. Still, the magicians at Porsche have produced impressive front end grip on the 911, so it aint too shabby. http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-mid-vs-rear-engine-debate-porsche-cayman-r-vs-911-gt3-feature http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcPh4XaU1H0

 

[Motorhead]

So, the 911 can do some things better than a Cayman..? What?....Like going through a hedge backwards...! Jeff

 

[Buddy]

Well you can show off your luggage in the back seat! Whereas the Cayman has two boots! Even a wife gives the Cayman a higher score there.[][][]

 

[flat6]

[][][] I hear you Jeff. I prefer the mid-engined handling too. But the 911 can't be all that bad[], to go racing for so long. When I drove a C4S back to back with a Spyder at PEC on the handling circuit (drove the Spyder first), you could feel the weight transfer of the 911 lurching the car under braking and the whole handling feel of the Spyder was a lot more confidence inspiring. The weight of the Spyder had a more neutral influence when going round the track. The 911 didn't beome unstuck though. I'd like to spend more time with a 911 and push it a bit harder but I fear it could be more risky for the novice. In agreement with you, looking at the video at 3:38 and 3:50 the 911 does appear to spin out more rapidly than the Cayman when it does let go and looks harder to catch (although, it's going 20mph faster when it does let go). At 0.55 in the video the 911 is still understeering whilst reaching it's cornering limit, rather than oversteering, so I can't see that the 911 is overwhelmingly inferior. I think if Cayman was given the same power as a 911 it would undoubtedly beat it on some tracks, especially at the lower power end i.e. 350 - 400 bhp. But the "slow in, fast out" Porsche way, to brake as late as you dare into a corner and then powering through the corner, must benefit from the additional traction in some corners and the mid-engine weight distribution win out in others, at say 450 to 600 bhp. The mighty 997 specials are faster than a Carrera GT around a track...[8|] Ultimately, the 918 Spyder is mid-engined, so Porsche can do both designs well. Anyway, I don't even know why i'm defending the 911 - I haven't even got one [][][] (yet[:-] )

 

[turbo jonny]

I think i need the best of both worlds and thinking of selling my Targa Florio after test driving the new Cayman this w/e ! I have driven the previous generation a few times , including on track , and the new was of course better. On reflection I took to it so quickly that the new steering feel was a non issue. Im not a fan of 20" wheel and side scoops look but was Impressed by the lack of harshness with all sports modes engaged. I liked the PDK for its versatility and efficiency and when braking hard /fast cornering especially nice. Would like to have comparison with a Cayman R.

 

[Motorhead]

Just a quip 6 and no serious intent. Clearly the 911 and Cayman are very different beasts when it comes to handling - it can hardly be any different when you look at the widely-differing front/rear weight distributions (39/61 vs 46/54) and the slightly different wheelbases of the two cars (+25mm for the Cayman). And as you say, the 911 formula has been very successful over the years due to the continuous development programme implemented by Porsche to overcome the inherent problems associated with the "engine hanging out the back" configuration. I too have driven both a 997 and 987 at the PEC and found the 997 more of a handful on the handling circuit, but particularly on the kick-pad and ice hill where the rear weight bias of the 911 was definitely noticeable. All good fun, and in the end it comes down to personal preferences and requirements, not to mention the depth of your pockets too..! I still have a hankering to check out a 997.2 GT3 on road and track. Jeff

 

[flat6]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Just a quip 6 and no serious intent. Clearly the 911 and Cayman are very different beasts when it comes to handling - it can hardly be any different when you look at the widely-differing front/rear weight distributions (39/61 vs 46/54) and the slightly different wheelbases of the two cars (+25mm for the Cayman). And as you say, the 911 formula has been very successful over the years due to the continuous development programme implemented by Porsche to overcome the inherent problems associated with the "engine hanging out the back" configuration. I too have driven both a 997 and 987 at the PEC and found the 997 more of a handful on the handling circuit, but particularly on the kick-pad and ice hill where the rear weight bias of the 911 was definitely noticeable. All good fun, and in the end it comes down to personal preferences and requirements, not to mention the depth of your pockets too..! I still have a hankering to check out a 997.2 GT3 on road and track. Jeff

That's cool Jeff, sometimes I do take the written word literally[] I too got the Autocar extract from my OPC, which i've yet to read through. Looking forward to getting a demonstrator on loan when my car goes in for maintenance in the future. The rear windscreen looks to come further down the tailgate than on the 987. Is the upper deck therefore bigger on the 981? May be able to get a larger case for up there? The rear luggage capacity has increased from 260 to 275 litres but for me, the Cayman's trump card for load carrying is the gap between the upper and lower rear luggage compartments (what the vanity shield covers) enabling long items to be transported. I made use of that a few times.

 

[Motorhead]

Interesting to see a pictorial comparison between the 987 and 981 rear boot areas 6. The actual rear boot space looks slightly bigger and deeper in the new car but the rear deck (over the engine) appears to be slightly higher; although, of course, the hatch is now higher and longer. Whatever, there's not a great difference between the two in real terms if you're using soft luggage. The combined front/rear capacity of both cars is excellent in my opinion, although thankfully I've never had to resort to taking my car down the tip to compete with transit van fraternity..! Like you, I'm looking forward to arranging a test drive when things have settled down a bit and then grabbing a car when mine's due for it's 4-year service later in the year. As you'd expect, the Autocar reviews are very positive (aren't they always when a new car arrives on the scene..!) but make interesting reading none the less. Jeff

 

[Motorhead]

Some very nice shots of different colour cars at the Torridon Hotel in the Scottish Highlands: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=48&t=1266046&mid=0&i=0&nmt=981+Cayman+%2D+Taken+delivery+yet%3F&mid=0 Great location too. The Aqua Blue car looks really nice with the 19" Cayman S wheels. A pity that Aqua has been replaced by Sapphire, which looks a bit anaemic on the Porsche Configuator. Jeff

 

[flat6]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Like you, I'm looking forward to arranging a test drive when things have settled down a bit and then grabbing a car when mine's due for it's 4-year service later in the year. As you'd expect, the Autocar reviews are very positive (aren't they always when a new car arrives on the scene..!) but make interesting reading none the less. Jeff

Hi Jeff I couldn't resist any longer. Drove an Cayman S yesterday. It's brilliant. My thoughts here: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=719756&mpage=110

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks for the link 6. Interesting comments from someone who has experience driving both a 987.1 Cayman and a Spyder. Good to know that the car also rides well on the non-active dampers with the 20" wheels (most test cars seem to have PASM). Was the oversteering nature perhaps due to the fiitting of PTV on your test car? The light interior looks good - something that I'd consider specifying if I purchased a new 981. Speaking of which, I'm still looking forward to a drive myself now that the weather has improved and after the initial rush to test drive a car. However, I think that I'm going to find it difficult to get a drive in a manual S - perhaps Hatfield PC can get one from the PEC. I see that you're in the market for a 997.1 Turbo as your daily drive, so good luck with that. I presume that you need a 2+ (dubious)2, otherwise you might be tempted back into the Cayman fold? Jeff

 

[flat6]

Thanks Jeff. Yes, I need 4 chairs. When we go out as a family we can only go in the wife's car. She's only ridden in the Spyder 3 times in over a year of ownership, whereas, my son is in Spyder every other day - dropping him to school or doing weekend stuff. I'm bitten by the Porsche bug and would like to drive a Porsche on the family outings too. I think i'd regret selling the Spyder though, so looking to squeeze them both in and then retire from buying cars for a good while (well, that's the theory telling me it makes good financial sense[8|]). Spyder and turbo seem like a good complementary pair to give a broad range of driving pleasure: lightweight vs not so lightweight RWD vs AWD NA vs turbo-charged Agility vs brute force immense power and torque. Well, that's the theory helping to talk myself into it[]. Sometimes you just feel "you only live once". Will always admire the Cayman (and prefer coupes in general) and if I didn't need 4 chairs and was looking for a single car as a daily driver, Cayman will often get my vote[].

 

[flat6]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Thanks for the link 6. Interesting comments from someone who has experience driving both a 987.1 Cayman and a Spyder. Good to know that the car also rides well on the non-active dampers with the 20" wheels (most test cars seem to have PASM). Was the oversteering nature perhaps due to the fiitting of PTV on your test car? Jeff

FYI - a few 981 Cayman demonstrators are now posted, so you can get an idea of the specs on the first OPC spec'd cars. Hi Jeff, I forgot to answer your question regarding PTV, but the answer would've been "I don't know"[] However, i'm sure this is the car I drove, so no, it didn't have PTV. http://ucl.porsche.de/ucl/plsql/uk/clients.print_car?fin_=WP0ZZZ98ZEK180384&lang_=EN