| If you are knew to the world of Porsche and | | | | the cargo shelf. There are also two narrow |
| haven't been keeping up with the Porsche | | | | storage bins and there is plenty of useable |
| changes the Porsche Caymen S is basically a | | | | floor space.If you are familiar with the |
| Boxter with a hatchback and a steel coupe | | | | Boxter when you park yourself in the driver's |
| roof.But wait there's a little more to it. | | | | seat you'll instantly feel like your back in |
| The Cayman has a stiffer set of springs for | | | | the Boxter except that the instrument faces |
| the strut suspension, thicker anti-roll bars, | | | | are gray and the cargo shelf is behind your |
| and it comes standard with 18 inch wheels.The | | | | head. So are you ready to take it for a |
| Caymen uses the familiar 3.4 liter engine | | | | cruise?First thing you'll notice is that the |
| seen in the Porsche M96, Boxter, and 911. Of | | | | Caymen fits both driver and passenger |
| course it's been tweaked and now it delivers | | | | snuggly. You'll notice the night tight |
| a whopping 295 HP and 255 pound foot of | | | | suspension and how the car hugs the road |
| torque. The old Boxter version had only 280 | | | | never missing a beat. It's impressively |
| HP and 236 lb-ft to offer.From 0 to 60 is | | | | intuitive as long as you don't mess up.The |
| capable in 5.1 seconds you'll find your top | | | | steering puts you in complete control with |
| speed at 171 MPH. That's all the speed | | | | the blacktop and its responsible and |
| you'll ever need. The PSM or Porsche | | | | sensitive to your every mood. Drive it |
| Stability Management System is standard | | | | neatly and it will never let you down. Know |
| equipment on the Caymen. And the Sport | | | | your car and how to drive and it will be hard |
| Chrono package with built in lap time counter | | | | to be outperformed.First impressions are that |
| will be optional.Another option is ceramic | | | | the Cayman is as snug-fitting for the driver |
| brakes. If you aren't familiar with ceramic | | | | as it was for the passenger and that the |
| brakes you should be. These brakes are half | | | | mid-mounted engine makes life hard for the |
| the weight of stand cast iron brakes. You | | | | air-conditioning; the cabin serves up rump |
| get exceptional braking power, less heat | | | | roast over frozen heart as a summer dish.The |
| fade, and low brake dust. They Cayman brakes | | | | chassis has been seriously beefed up and is |
| are identical to the Boxter's with just a | | | | more of a partner than ever before. Combine |
| little more air cooling and ABS tweaking.A | | | | that with the Michelin tires that have |
| look at the exterior and you will instantly | | | | amazing gripping you are going to have a ride |
| know that the body is built off the Boxter | | | | like nothing you've experienced before.The |
| platform. In fact many of the body panels | | | | new Caymen is everything the 911 has always |
| are interchangeable. The rear windows are | | | | been and more. It's not only a great ride on |
| the same shape as the 911 if you were to turn | | | | the street it's also a great track ride. It |
| them on end.The Cayman has a rapidly sloping | | | | sounds great, looks great, and performs |
| hatch that drops quickly and deeply and it is | | | | great. But then after all it's a Porsche and |
| accented with a scripted Cayman S on the rear | | | | would you accept anything less? If there |
| wing which deploys at speeds over 75 MPH.The | | | | were awards for best car this one would |
| hatch is a nice light weight which rises with | | | | certainly be in the running.If you haven't |
| no effort presenting you with a nice size | | | | checked out the Porsche Caymen be sure you |
| trunk that is a decent depth. It's very | | | | do!Wayne has been owned and ridden Porsches |
| similar to the Boxter trunk.And there was | | | | for 15 years. Visit his Porsche site at to |
| some smart design thinking here. An aluminum | | | | learn more about Porsche 944. |
| scuff plate covers the area from trunk up to | | | | |