A mid-engined car with rear-wheel drive and a low centre of gravity. That simple little formula will take you a long way down the road to motoring nirvana, and if you also throw in a five-second 0-100km/h ability and a raunchy roar you’re well on your way to looking at a Porsche Cayman as a “real” sportscar rather than a watered-down substitute.
The Cayman coupé recently took its place alongside the South African Car-of-the-Year-winning Boxster in the junior ranks of the Porsche family, and with its sub R1-million pricetag you have a car that appeals to both your adrenal gland and your budget.
The coupé version of the soft-top Boxster is available in two flavours: the standard Cayman selling for R679 000 which is powered by a 2.7-litre flat-six engine with outputs of 202kW and 290Nm, and the Cayman S retailing for R838 000 with a 3.4-litre that packs 239kW and 370Nm – both are normally-aspirated. In today’s language that’s not big firepower for a sportscar, but the Cayman proves that it’s not necessarily the size of the gun that matters, but how it’s wielded.
LIGHT AND BRISK
This may be a relatively low-calibre Porsche but it’s light too, making for nimble handling and brisk getaways. The Cayman S clocked a 5.1 second 0-100km/h time in our Gauteng performance tests, which suggests it should easily attain Porsche’s claimed 4.7 seconds at sea level where normally-aspirated engines breathe better.
The quick pulloff was aided by a launch-control system (part of the optionally-fitted Sports Chrono package worth R26 670), which takes all the rocket science out of making a swift getaway. You left-foot brake, then simply mash the throttle and aim for the horizon. The rear wheels grab traction without any squirming or wheelspin, and there’d be an almost disappointing lack of accelerative drama if it weren’t for the emotive six-cylinder howl emanating from behind your back. It’s a sweet-sounding engine when the revs are singing (and sing they can, with the redline pegged at a lofty 7 800rpm), and it can be made even raunchier by buying the optional sports exhaust.
The seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission is a beaut, and essentially makes a manual gearbox superfluous (only a tiny percent of Cayman buyers opt for the three-pedal version). The slick and reactive ‘box feels intuitively connected with the engine and the driver’s DNA. There are F1-style gearshift paddles on the steering, but you mostly play with them for the cool feel of that magnesium, as you won’t beat the gear-changing efficiency of the electronic brain.
Our test car’s fuel consumption averaged around 11 litres per 100km, which is pretty decent since it included high-performance testing, but Porsche reckons you could get it down to 8 litres. Hmm ...
EVERYDAY SPORTS CAR
The Cayman S finds a happy balance between pulse-quickening sportscar and practical everyday commuter.
The ride’s fairly firm and it doesn’t like bumpy roads (especially on the optional 20” low-profile rubber fitted to our test car) but in most conditions it’s not unbearably uncomfortable and has a decent ride. Also, it’s not an impractically low car and doesn’t go around scraping its belly in driveway entrances.
But it also does really well in the light-a-fire-under-your-bum department. The Cayman S is happiest when being thrashed through a set of corners, where it displays gymnastic poise of the highest order. Its compact size makes it a very accessible and forgiving car to drive fast, and it’s just powerful enough to be fun without being intimidating.
The wheelbase is 60mm longer than the previous Cayman’s leading to a more hunkered-down and masculine look.
In the cabin, the obligatory leather upholstery and brushed metal are presented in a sophisticatedly sporty style, without being too flashy.
Some of the ergonomics could do with some polishing, as the audio and aircon controls are positioned behind the gearlever which somewhat hinders access to them. When it comes to the business of driving everything’s well located, however, and the buttons which select Sport and Sport Plus modes, and to switch off the stability control, are instantly at hand on a console between the seats.
The instrument panel follows the time-honoured Porsche tradition of placing the rev counter in the centre (because that’s the part enthusiast drivers most need to see), and the speedo and ancillary gauges to the side.
VERDICT
Does less power mean less Porsche? For drivers who believe nothing matters below 300km/h, perhaps. But if you can live with a car that can do “only” 283km/h, the Cayman’s handling and all-round driver appeal are all authentically Porsche.
It’s slick and quick (enough) in a way that’ll paint a smile across the face of any driver with a pulse. -Star Motoring