First reviews of the new Porsche Cayman here

[SimonOcean]

See Steve Sutcliffe here driving a high spec S model: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/porsche-cayman-s-video-review
He likes it... a lot.

And the written review from Autocar here:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/porsche/cayman-s/first-drives/porsche-cayman-s-first-drive-review

And another review from US auto week here:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130208/CARREVIEWS/130209770

It looks good - as expected. The point is made: why spend the extra for a 991 Carerra 3.4? Indeed. But why spend the extra for a Cayman over a Boxster?

Anyways, hope you all enjoy reading the reviews.

[SimonOcean]

Ahh, just realised that the Autoweek USA review is just a syndicated version of the Autocar UK review. Anyways, there are some nice pictures of a Red S on 20 inch wheels and a Yellow S on 19s.

[GentlePersuasion]

Hmmm, that is a mighty fine looking machine. This could cause me a problem...

[BubblesNW]

This could upset a whole hornet's nest of issues for the serious Porsche buying community.
Obviously the braces wearing Nigels will still get the latest 911 but for the purist ....
Put me down for an R in a couple of years; 400 bhp, PDK and all the toys would just about do it.

[beeej]

Wow, what a video review! SS loves it. As do I :-)

[anonymous-user]

SimonOcean said:

See Steve Sutcliffe here driving a high spec S model: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/porsche-cayman-s-video-review
He likes it... a lot.

And the written review from Autocar here:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/porsche/cayman-s/first-drives/porsche-cayman-s-first-drive-review

And another review from US auto week here:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130208/CARREVIEWS/130209770

It looks good - as expected. The point is made: why spend the extra for a 991 Carerra 3.4? Indeed. But why spend the extra for a Cayman over a Boxster?

Anyways, hope you all enjoy reading the reviews.

Cheers for posting, I'd not spotted that review yet. Didn't expect to see first reviews for a couple of weeks yet.

Interesting to see where this takes their product strategy - wondering how long it'll be before they bring out an R variant - will it be as long as last time.

I would like to see a review of the 987 Cayman R versus the 981 Cayman S in close matched specification. Appreciate there are cosmetic differences but from a performance and handling perspective, paper stats don't tell enough of the story.

Interested to see what the Tequipment bodykit for the Cayman looks like and what it does to the lines of the vehicle, particularly the back. Suspect that's a fair way off being made available as an option.

[SimonOcean]

The links did work last night. I think that the links have been disabled by PistonHeads. Goodness knows why! Just do a google search and you will find the articles no problem.

As regards the potential of the Cayman R sometime in the future: I imagine 400 bhp will be far too much to realistically hope for. But I agree, it would be wonderful.

As regards the 991 range: we have the 991 GT3 to look forward to at Geneva... it will be interesting to see how much this improves on the 991 formula. But the value for money equation of this car will be much weaker than this Cayman S.

As regards the comparison to the Boxster S. Well... the Boxster S is cheaper. I expect Porsche could have charged a premium for the Boxster over the Cayman, but heck... you can get the "Cayman Spider" for LESS! As regards ideas that the Cayman is stiffer than the Boxster: on a lab test rig, yes maybe. But on the road, or even the track, I wonder if you would notice? Maybe you would... granted. I suspect you would not. More weight higher up on the Boxster? Hmm, yes, maybe but again very marginal I would be and hardly noticeable. So you get to keep a couple of thousand cash and you get all the utility of a soft top that you can raise and lower on the move with just the press of a button. Sounds good to me. I spend the money I save on a fixed roof on a PSE instead.

[mrdemon]

Shame it bigger than the out going model.

Shame it weighs more

Shame they keep the Bhp down.

Such a throttled back car :-(

I'll take a cayman r please, smaller, lighter and more Bhp.

[stevod]

"19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport A/S"

Anyone know if this is a new tyre or is it a tyre that's not available in the UK? We get Pilot Alpin full winters, which are a bit extreme, although it's snowing as I write this and I'm off out for a couple of hours in a mo....

S

[Klippie]

Just watched the review on Youtube......the new 981 looks cracking (maybe a little bit fat arsed from some angles) one thing I could not have though is the PDK gearbox who cares if it can change gears faster than me I want to change the gears myself.

Looking forward to seeing the 981 in the metal on the 13th March.

[baz1985]

I remember reading a 987C review back in late 2005 during a uni lecture...it's being vaunted in a similar manner again...I'd rather have an Evora now.

[Clevers]

The problem is if you go and spec this car on the Porsche configurator it becomes a lot more than £48K if you want all the toys. I got up to £63K quite quickly.....and then you think again about what you could own for that money.

[TryHarder]

Video link appears dead:-

Try Here

[J-P]

Saw the review yesterday - it's very positive. Would like to see the review of a manual though. With a 6speed shift mounted high in the console, I think I'd like the following spec:

Manual
PCCB
Sports suspension
PTV
Bucket seats

Anything else a bonus for easier day to day use, or an R with 350BHP when they make one in a couple of years

[MDian]

Great review, but of no surprise, was always going to be good. Would I have one over my existing Cayman R...no chance.

[Koln-RS]

I think the Boxster/Caymans have moved to a whole new level with the 981s models.

These look seriously cool.

[sootyvrs]

J-P said:

an R with 350BHP when they make one in a couple of years

I suspect the R might be saved for near end of line to boost sales and same with the Spyder for 981 Boxter and GTS for the 991.

I'll be surprised to see them after 2 years if history repeats itself and we will probably see a Gen2 before the above models appear so perhaps 4 years

[baz1985]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Keep it simple: (scrap SPASM) add Ohlins 3-way. I'm not sure about 'feeling' the lightness- one would have to be as sensitive to car balance as a top tier F1 driver.

[Carl_Docklands]

I love the way it looks. Thumbs up.

Steve says:

"i would have this instead of a 911, any day of any week."

Edited by Carl_Docklands on Sunday 10th February 11:14

[Mermaid]

Carl_Docklands said:

Steve says:

"i would have this instead of a 911, any day of any week."

Looks compelling, but it will not be £48k for decent spec.