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