Back to back test drive, Cayman S PDK on 20s, Cayman on 19s
Discussion
This is as much to help me crystallise my thoughts, as it is to impart any great nuggets to you.
Beautiful day, European markets closed for May Day, so off to Tonbridge in the Scirocco for a test drive, which turned into two. First car was an S PDK on 20" rims, SC, full leather, electric seats/wheel, no PASM etc. Passenger for a few miles, certainly feels like a quality item, but boy, the ride is firm to ridiculous. Anyone speccing a 20" wheel would surely put PASM on as well... The roads around Tonbridge are not smooth, by any means, but wow. The friendly salesman tells me that they've got a customer with a 911 Turbo who wants to buy the demonstrator as a down-sizing measure and he loves the ride. Each to their own, I guess. Multifunction wheel looked better than it does in the brochure. Leather seats (Sport electric) reasonably supportive. Instruments clear, but the speedo's 25mph (or was it 15?) divisions are an obscure choice. Back to the digital speedo, like in my MINI, I guess.
Down the bypass in Sport mode first. Well, it's got some grunt and plenty of noise (mostly induction etc, rather than exhaust, but it put the hairs up on the back of my neck). Certainly quicker than the Roc R. Don't think the PSE is needed on the S. Took the roundabouts with aplomb. Steering direct, to the point of being a bit flighty compared to what I'm used to. Hard to judge level of feedback on a short test drive. A bit of main round and roundabout work and my conclusion is: doses of "through the gears" fun are going to be very short - just as a smile is forming on your face, the speedo is saying "playtime's over". Obviously through the twisties there'll be a broader range of fun, but if the main difference between the S and the 2.7 is power (and brakes of course), then maybe the smaller model really is the sweet spot on the busy Kentish roads. Back through a similar selection of roads, in Sport Plus. Even more ridiculous for day-to-day driving, it wanted to stay in 3rd or lower, even at the national limit. Once again, on more challenging roads it might be a blast.
Whilst we got the keys for the 2.7, another customer asked me how the drive went. He's got an S already and was considering moving to the new model at the end of the PCP deal. He could see where I was coming from when I suggested the S might end up being a little dull, day to day, since so little of the massive potential could be used.
Measured the ground clearance compared to the Scirocco - I live down a fairly rutted track so I'm wondering whether I'll have to budget for regrading it and putting a few tonnes of hardcore down. The S was about the same (although the little rubber flanges would get roughed up a bit) - the 2.7 was a little lower. Both should be able to cope.
To the manual 2.7 on 19" wheels, no SC, Sport Plus partial leather seats, SportDesign wheel. Ride more comfortable, but I think I'll tick the PASM box so that my wife is prepared to accompany me occasionally. Slightly different set of roads. Nearly stall setting off from the verge (it has been three years since my last operation of the quaint antediluvian method of gear changing
). Once under way, immediately settle in to the car in a way that I hadn't in the S. I guess the response to throttle inputs was closer to my Roc. The noise was less evocative, subjectively - I might be persuaded to spec the PSE on the 2.7, to make it more of special sound - but accelerative fun lasted longer and the 4500 RPM VarioCam second wind was far more evident without the smoothing effect of all those automatic ratios. No problems with low-end drivability, fourth gear in particular seemed to cope with everything thrown at it, up to the point of turning back into the dealership, where slotting down to 3rd then 2nd was necessary.
So now I'm in at least seventy-three minds. The S felt "too much", the 2.7 "only just enough of an improvement on the Roc". Maybe I'm being a wuss about the S? Obviously the deeper joys of owning a 2.7 are not going to be revealed in an hour-and-half's pottering on clogged roads. Likewise the pleasure of owning the more profoundly rapid, but prematurely-curtailed S. As promise above, no great nuggets imparted here, but food for my thoughts. I await the dealer's opinion on the value of my Roc and then I'll have to come to some sort of decision. What I'm certain about is:
Multifunction wheel - I'll sacrifice the paddles for ease of operation of key secondary functions, which I didn't expect
PASM, though I might see if can get a drive in an 18" Cayman at some point.
PDK - the manual was fun, but only for old-times' sake.
Already decided before test:
Basic interior, though the leather was lovely, maybe sportplus seats for the slight lateral support boost
Automatic AC
PCM, DAB, Sound Package plus, phone prep for iPhone
Blue
Cruise, PDLS, ParkAssist rear, folding mirrors
Beautiful day, European markets closed for May Day, so off to Tonbridge in the Scirocco for a test drive, which turned into two. First car was an S PDK on 20" rims, SC, full leather, electric seats/wheel, no PASM etc. Passenger for a few miles, certainly feels like a quality item, but boy, the ride is firm to ridiculous. Anyone speccing a 20" wheel would surely put PASM on as well... The roads around Tonbridge are not smooth, by any means, but wow. The friendly salesman tells me that they've got a customer with a 911 Turbo who wants to buy the demonstrator as a down-sizing measure and he loves the ride. Each to their own, I guess. Multifunction wheel looked better than it does in the brochure. Leather seats (Sport electric) reasonably supportive. Instruments clear, but the speedo's 25mph (or was it 15?) divisions are an obscure choice. Back to the digital speedo, like in my MINI, I guess.
Down the bypass in Sport mode first. Well, it's got some grunt and plenty of noise (mostly induction etc, rather than exhaust, but it put the hairs up on the back of my neck). Certainly quicker than the Roc R. Don't think the PSE is needed on the S. Took the roundabouts with aplomb. Steering direct, to the point of being a bit flighty compared to what I'm used to. Hard to judge level of feedback on a short test drive. A bit of main round and roundabout work and my conclusion is: doses of "through the gears" fun are going to be very short - just as a smile is forming on your face, the speedo is saying "playtime's over". Obviously through the twisties there'll be a broader range of fun, but if the main difference between the S and the 2.7 is power (and brakes of course), then maybe the smaller model really is the sweet spot on the busy Kentish roads. Back through a similar selection of roads, in Sport Plus. Even more ridiculous for day-to-day driving, it wanted to stay in 3rd or lower, even at the national limit. Once again, on more challenging roads it might be a blast.
Whilst we got the keys for the 2.7, another customer asked me how the drive went. He's got an S already and was considering moving to the new model at the end of the PCP deal. He could see where I was coming from when I suggested the S might end up being a little dull, day to day, since so little of the massive potential could be used.
Measured the ground clearance compared to the Scirocco - I live down a fairly rutted track so I'm wondering whether I'll have to budget for regrading it and putting a few tonnes of hardcore down. The S was about the same (although the little rubber flanges would get roughed up a bit) - the 2.7 was a little lower. Both should be able to cope.
To the manual 2.7 on 19" wheels, no SC, Sport Plus partial leather seats, SportDesign wheel. Ride more comfortable, but I think I'll tick the PASM box so that my wife is prepared to accompany me occasionally. Slightly different set of roads. Nearly stall setting off from the verge (it has been three years since my last operation of the quaint antediluvian method of gear changing
). Once under way, immediately settle in to the car in a way that I hadn't in the S. I guess the response to throttle inputs was closer to my Roc. The noise was less evocative, subjectively - I might be persuaded to spec the PSE on the 2.7, to make it more of special sound - but accelerative fun lasted longer and the 4500 RPM VarioCam second wind was far more evident without the smoothing effect of all those automatic ratios. No problems with low-end drivability, fourth gear in particular seemed to cope with everything thrown at it, up to the point of turning back into the dealership, where slotting down to 3rd then 2nd was necessary.So now I'm in at least seventy-three minds. The S felt "too much", the 2.7 "only just enough of an improvement on the Roc". Maybe I'm being a wuss about the S? Obviously the deeper joys of owning a 2.7 are not going to be revealed in an hour-and-half's pottering on clogged roads. Likewise the pleasure of owning the more profoundly rapid, but prematurely-curtailed S. As promise above, no great nuggets imparted here, but food for my thoughts. I await the dealer's opinion on the value of my Roc and then I'll have to come to some sort of decision. What I'm certain about is:
Multifunction wheel - I'll sacrifice the paddles for ease of operation of key secondary functions, which I didn't expect
PASM, though I might see if can get a drive in an 18" Cayman at some point.
PDK - the manual was fun, but only for old-times' sake.
Already decided before test:
Basic interior, though the leather was lovely, maybe sportplus seats for the slight lateral support boost
Automatic AC
PCM, DAB, Sound Package plus, phone prep for iPhone
Blue
Cruise, PDLS, ParkAssist rear, folding mirrors
Buy the S...one day when driving the base car and you need extra power this will flash across your mind "I should have bought the other one" it'll happen.
A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
Klippie said:
Buy the S...one day when driving the base car and you need extra power this will flash across your mind "I should have bought the other one" it'll happen.
A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
Not helpful, Klippie A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
Given that I'm unlikely to do more than a couple of track sessions, I'm struggling to think when I might "need" extra power, given what the 2.7 can do. "Like", maybe, or "yearn for", or "want with every fibre of my being". But "need"?
I actually preferred the 2.7, can't quite put my finger on why but I did.My last 4 cars have all been at least 4.2 V8's so quite a turnaround.Both cars I drove were on 20's and PDK, they both handled extremely well, but the 2.7 felt a little more nimble, loved the PDK even though I normally go for a manual.No surprise that I've just bought a 2.7 PDK on 20"s, its fast enough for the road, handles like a dream and looks the part, what more could you want ( apart from a bit more noise )
)RobRain said:
Multifunction wheel - I'll sacrifice the paddles for ease of operation of key secondary functions, which I didn't expect
PDK - the manual was fun, but only for old-times' sake.
Make sure you've driven the PDK with the buttons on this wheel - it's quite different and not everybody gets on with it. PDK - the manual was fun, but only for old-times' sake.
S
Thanks for the input everyone. The S had the multifunction wheel and whilst it wasn't as natural as paddles, it wasn't difficult to use. I'm sure I'd get used to the buttons in a few journeys, just like when I moved to paddles before. I've done enough virtual miles with Xbox and PS123 controllers to cope with a little buttoneering.
I'm at the point now where I'll be happy whether I get 2.7 or S. If the money side of things pans out okay (profit share), then I'll get the S (and enjoy the torquiness), otherwise the 2.7 (and I'll enjoy making the most of the rev range above 4.5k, when the mood takes me). No losers, either way.
I'm at the point now where I'll be happy whether I get 2.7 or S. If the money side of things pans out okay (profit share), then I'll get the S (and enjoy the torquiness), otherwise the 2.7 (and I'll enjoy making the most of the rev range above 4.5k, when the mood takes me). No losers, either way.
RobRain said:
Not helpful, Klippie
Given that I'm unlikely to do more than a couple of track sessions, I'm struggling to think when I might "need" extra power, given what the 2.7 can do. "Like", maybe, or "yearn for", or "want with every fibre of my being". But "need"?
You don't need any cayman or indeed any porsche. Nobody does.Given that I'm unlikely to do more than a couple of track sessions, I'm struggling to think when I might "need" extra power, given what the 2.7 can do. "Like", maybe, or "yearn for", or "want with every fibre of my being". But "need"?
Klippie said:
Buy the S...one day when driving the base car and you need extra power this will flash across your mind "I should have bought the other one" it'll happen.
A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
The counterpoint to that is an amp that only sounds at its best when turned up, and is too loud to turn up in your house! You'd buy the less powerful amp as it would sound better most of the time. A useful line I like to use when describing HiFi equipment works great for cars too..."you can never turn not enough up but can always turn too much down"
cf. my other post on the Spyder. It can't be redlined through the gears safely on Kentish B roads and that is a problem (for me at least).
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