It took me the entire trip to Jerez, Spain, to come up with something negative to say about the current Cayman, but here it is: Even within the limited sports car market, Porsche's little two-seater has a limited appeal. Brand loyalists don't touch it because the engine — though still behind the seats — is too far forward. Sun gods don't bite because, hey, isn't it just a Boxster with a roof and a higher price tag? Techie types don't go for it because its CD player and outdated optional nav aren't much too get excited about; things like satellite radio, iPod jacks, or touch screens have never been part of the deal in Stuttgart. Casual cruisers probably aren't biting either, the automatic Tiptronic S transmission being a bit jerky, the engines not being class-leading in power, and the chassis not exactly supple. While the 911 fan club probably won't be swayed by the changes coming in 2009 (or ever), the revised Cayman should be able to find love among other shoppers. It certainly deserves it.
Just out of curiousity... can you Motive guys confirm that this is Mexico Blue in the middle? It looks pretty close, but perhaps a shade too dark... either way, gorgeous color.
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
Just out of curiousity... can you Motive guys confirm that this is Mexico Blue in the middle? It looks pretty close, but perhaps a shade too dark... either way, gorgeous color.
It was very early in the morning so my memory is foggy, but I'm pretty sure someone there asked that and the PR guy said "No, it's somethingsomething blue." I'll look into it.
Edit: It just came back to me--it is definitely NOT Mexico blue. It's Riviera Blue.
Ah, very cool... I'm a total trivia nerd and little details like this always fascinate me .
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
It was very early in the morning so my memory is foggy, but I'm pretty sure someone there asked that and the PR guy said "No, it's somethingsomething blue." I'll look into it.
Time to test that memory a little more: are the blue and green going to be part of the regular colour pallet, or are they special order?
Quote, originally posted by Jrod511 »
One of these days I'm going to break my computer screen punching you Corbic.
If I could afford something like this, I would do it without thinking twice. I almost always love hardtop versions of cars that originally started as convertibles. I'd probably own a miata (a retractable hardtop doesn't count IMO) or s2k if they were available from the factory in a fixed top version. I guess that partially explains my current car as well.
Tom Current: 94 SLC; 08 XF LTD-6 spd Previous:06 GTI, 99.5 Jetta, 85 jetta coupe (x2), 93 Fox
I made the same mistake. Based on seat time in the last gen Cayman and owning a 350z their not even close.
I'd wager to say that the 370z is more of an upgrade to the 350z than the new/old Cayman... but, I could be wrong .
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
I think the Cayman is highly underappreciated and a good looking car in person. Now if only Porsche would give it the proper balls it need and not worry about it wrecking 911 sales.
For the most part. If memory serves, it's also the cucumber capital of Japan. Hence the home-market ads for the FT-86 featuring Takeichi-kun, the cartoon cucumber whose meteoric rise through the underground drift world has shamed him in the eyes of his school-master.
I'd wager to say that the 370z is more of an upgrade to the 350z than the new/old Cayman... but, I could be wrong .
You're probably right. But like I said in the last line of the article, we'll be putting the Z and Cayman together this weekend and will report about that next week.
You're probably right. But like I said in the last line of the article, we'll be putting the Z and Cayman together this weekend and will report about that next week.
Sweet, looking forward to it!
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
You're probably right. But like I said in the last line of the article, we'll be putting the Z and Cayman together this weekend and will report about that next week.
Can't wait to see that review.
I love the Green and Riveria Blue on those press cars. Outlandish colors and Porsche's just seem to work so well together Mike
"Ferraris are serious cars for serious people who drive around wearing a serious expression. The Gallardo can do serious, too. It has Audi electrics and Audi engineering. But as you careen towards the next bend on a wave of extraordinary sound, half blinded by your own upholstery, you’ll be making the noise of a howler monkey and wishing you were naked" The one and only Jeremy Clarkson
Would you get the new Cayman S or Mercedes C63 AMG?
Man, that would be one painful decision. I think it all comes down to needs and whatnot, but if I, in my current childless, cares-a-bit-about-fuel-economy state went out to buy a $60k car today, it'd be the Cayman. But either would be a wonderful choice.
Would you get the new Cayman S or Mercedes C63 AMG?
Depends on if I was going to use it as a DD or if the wife and kiddo were going to be coming with me . If that weren't an issue, I can't see a single reason that I would buy the Mercedes over the Porsche.
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
It took me the entire trip to Jerez, Spain, to come up with something negative to say about the current Cayman, but here it is: Even within the limited sports car market, Porsche's little two-seater has a limited appeal. Brand loyalists don't touch it because the engine — though still behind the seats — is too far forward. Sun gods don't bite because, hey, isn't it just a Boxster with a roof and a higher price tag? Techie types don't go for it because its CD player and outdated optional nav aren't much too get excited about; things like satellite radio, iPod jacks, or touch screens have never been part of the deal in Stuttgart. Casual cruisers probably aren't biting either, the automatic Tiptronic S transmission being a bit jerky, the engines not being class-leading in power, and the chassis not exactly supple. While the 911 fan club probably won't be swayed by the changes coming in 2009 (or ever), the revised Cayman should be able to find love among other shoppers. It certainly deserves it.
That's really the problem. I'd LOVE to have a Cayman. BUT, I want a fun car as a convertible. So either A) I have THREE cars (DD, convertible, cayman) or B) I DD the Cayman and keep the S2000 in the garage. Problem is, then, that S2000+Cayman = Boxster S for less money. So a smarter move would be sell the S2000, buy a Boxster S, and buy some other DD. Maybe if I turn out to be sterile I can have S2000 and Cayman S, but since my wife and I plan on kids some day, I can't justify 2 2-seaters. Just doesn't make sense. So Boxster S it is. Or really, S2000 it is, since I can't afford a Porsche anyways
Can't wait to read about the comparison with the Z.
"What you are, is by accident of birth. What I am, I created myself. There are, and have been, thousands of princes; there is only one Beethoven." -- Beethoven
Can't wait to read about the comparison with the Z.
If anyone has any specific questions or thoughts about that comparo, now's your chance to post them up before we drive the two cars together this weekend.
Did two different people write the first two paragraphs? First you say Stuttgart doesn't do something, for instance iPods and satellite radio, then you immediately contradict yourself say that both are options and that the former, iPod support, is fully integrated.
You're probably right. But like I said in the last line of the article, we'll be putting the Z and Cayman together this weekend and will report about that next week.
That'll determine if the 370Z is capable of hanging with the Cayman (S), as Nissan specifically went after them. I think the regular colors available for the new Cayman is kinda mundane but the special-ordered colors are really striking.
Did two different people write the first two paragraphs? First you say Stuttgart doesn't do something, for instance iPods and satellite radio, then you immediately contradict yourself say that both are options and that the former, iPod support, is fully integrated.
The first paragraph is about the current/outgoing Cayman. The rest of the article is about the new/upcoming one and how it fixes my one critique of the car it replaces. So what's being said there is that if you go into a showroom right now, you won't get iPod connectivity or a satellite radio. If you go in March, all that stuff will be there.
Numbers for the two are very close. But the Nissan doesn't come close to the Porsche's refinement, classiness, or driving impressions.
I'd personally hope that actually, the Cayman ends up feeling like the more "raw" of the two, not the more refined.
Your car does not have soul, you just have a pitiful selection of adjectives in your vocabulary. -... .- -. - .- -... ..- .-.. .- I post useless garbage at http://twitter.com/salynch
I'd personally hope that actually, the Cayman ends up feeling like the more "raw" of the two, not the more refined.
I'm going to try and explain this the best I can within the context of what I think you're saying: the Cayman S is "raw" in that you feel everything that's going on with the car. You can tell through the steering wheel if you drive over a dime, you know exactly how much grip is left at all times, you can feel the clutch engage, etc. However, it's extremely precise and refined in that it isn't rough around the edges.
Quote, originally posted by Jrod511 »
One of these days I'm going to break my computer screen punching you Corbic.
I'm going to try and explain this the best I can within the context of what I think you're saying: the Cayman S is "raw" in that you feel everything that's going on with the car. You can tell through the steering wheel if you drive over a dime, you know exactly how much grip is left at all times, you can feel the clutch engage, etc. However, it's extremely precise and refined in that it isn't rough around the edges.
Yeah, it's a tough distinction, but think of it this way: The Cayman is "raw" in the sense that you feel everything the steering wheel is doing, but it's refined in the sense that it's so precise you can place it to the millimeter of where you want it. The 350Z is "refined" in the sense that you don't get as much feedback (or vibration/noise/whatever) through the steering wheel, but it's less "refined" in the sense that the controls are less precise.
The 350Z is a cavity-backed "forgiving" iron that is slightly clumsier for the pro, versus the Cayman which is more a blade; less forgiving but more precise in the right hands.
I drove a 997S and own an S2000. The S2000 is raw, loud, mechanical, unforgiving. The 997 was different. It was way more refined. It was like driving a swiss watch. You could tell when the gears in the tranny notched in through the feel in the shifter, the steering was crazy, the engine sharp, powerful, mechanical, edgy but also the vibrations were curtailed. It was like an iron fist in a velvet glove - that touch of refinement to make everything very civilized, but without distilling any of the essence of the car. Kind of like adding a bit of water to scotch - it actually helps accentuate the flavors of the scotch.
The whole car was simply awesome. Very different to the S2000, but at the same time, I could see why the 911 is the benchmark in its class. After driving one, the R8 would have to be spectacular to beat it.
If anyone has any specific questions or thoughts about that comparo, now's your chance to post them up before we drive the two cars together this weekend.
Could you put them on the same track, same condition and record the lap time?
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