Porsche Cayman S 2011
Test Drive

Porsche Cayman S 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Pebble Beach, California, August 2010

AllCarCentral.com's Test Drive
This is the way to sell Porsches

Friday we were touring the upper lawn above the Pebble Beach Lodge, where Nissan, Cadillac and Porsche had their show tents. After shooting the Porsche cars, one of which was the 'Green' 911 Race car, we headed for the door, only to be stopped by a lovely young lady asking us if we would like to test drive a new Porsche. As AllCarCentral had been turned down by the new regime which is now in control of the historic car races at the Laguna Seca Raceway, we had Saturday free and what could be a better way of enjoying the Monterey Area. As I had just done a test drive on a new 911Carrera 4S, the Cayman S seemed a reasonable choice.

Timing and Location. Timing and location are the two most important elements for successful endeavors. The location for the Porsche Factory test drive was in the Carmel Valley right near the Laureles Grade road, which became my 'test track'. The Laureles Grade also intersects the Monterey Salinas Highway right near the Laguna Seca Race Way entrance. Fitting!

My Porsche Factory host and guide for this experience was more than qualified, and I am forever sorry that I failed to get his name firmly in my control before every previous though and memory was erased by this inspiring drive. My Factory host explained the operations of the Cayman S and guided me out the drive and on to the Carmel Valley Highway. We moved East as I felt out the acceleration, steering and brakes. As we turned on to the Laureles Grade road my Factory host suggested that I stop on the side of the road and let the cars go by and disappear up the hill.

With clear road ahead I turn back onto the pavement and hit the Loud Peddle hard as we headed for the first corner.

This Cayman S no way has the power of the 911 4S and the power comes on in a nice controllable manner. I was thinking it was 'polite' in its mannerisms. The brakes were solid and predictable keeping the car settled and inline with the no drama as I pushed deeper into the corners. I pushed the car hard through the corners and twisty parts without any feeling that this car would let me down or get away from me. This was an unfamiliar road but the visibility and configuration allowed pushing for more speed as the Cayman S hit the apex points.

The one fun thing that I experienced over and over was the rear end giving me a sense of a little dance as I hit the power at the apex. This is a mid-engined car and the turn-in and exit was right on with little thought required on my part. But the "little dance" put a smile on my face as the Cayman let me know that all was well, solid and firm back there and we were having FUN.

I would say that most drivers will find this Porsche to be more than capable of delivering the thrills and performance when ever one finds a bit of open road. Which we all need to make our days hit their high point.

The overall layout of the car was very comfortable and easy to feel right at home in, even at speed, hitting the twisty parts as hard as I could. The most interesting points which draws me to the Cayman are the interior layout and the mid engine. Most mid engined cars have no place to set ones coat, hat or anything, once one is seated in the car. Porsche design engineers worked out a very useful way to keep the lines of a racing car and provide a very useful shelf just behind the passengers head. Although it is not as deep as the 911 back jump-seat, it will work, where with other mid engined cars, there is no space. Period. The one feature which seems to be a bit awkward for me is the Porsche style shifting switches on the steering wheel. For some reason I haven't found them to be quite as easy to adjust to as the other style or paddle type.

Looking at the check list; 1. Coupe, Yes. 2. Performance, yes. 3. Interior room and function, yes. 4. Mid engine, yes. 5, A full-on Porsche, yes. 5 out of 5, Yes! I will take it.

After we returned the car to Porsche center I was given a fantastic patio tour of the new Porsche Boxster Spyder. This bit of lightweight boy racer has several interesting features, like a pull strap for opening the doors, a rear faring with the fast looking raised aero section behind each seat and a seat that is a bit of throw-back to the old speedster seat although the new ones may even sit a bit deeper. However the most interesting feature to this model is the 'emergency weather' top, most useful for closing off the inside from the outside elements. As the Boxster is an emotional purveyor of the old Type 550 race car, and the Spyder is trying even harder to bring about this feeling, the car comes with a likeness of the old minimal 550 Spyder top. However this one, although much more weather resistant, is much more challenging than the original to erect. Think old MGB.

Oh yes the new Boxster Spyder comes with the paddle style shifting. And the next time you are around a Porsche dealer ask them about their "Lunch Control" Option.


For more cars, Click Here To search under Make of Car

For Dealership Information, Click Here To search under Make of Car
ad

Bookmark and Share

Porsche Cayman S 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®

Porsche Cayman S 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Cayman S 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®

Porsche Cayman S 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche_SAT0064_Monterey_2010

Carmel, California 2010

Porsche_SAT0064_Monterey_2010

Carmel, California 2010

click here click here
Porsche Cayman S 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®

Porsche Cayman S 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010 Clara Cunningham Photo 2010

Porsche Cayman S 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®

Porsche Cayman S 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010 Clara Cunningham Photo 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Information Sheet For This Car - jpg file


Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

New Top
Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche 550 Spyder 1956 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Old Top
Porsche 550 Spyder 1956
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

Porsche 550 Spyder 1956 
  Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® Carmel California

Old Top
Porsche 550 Spyder 1956
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®
Carmel, California 2010

click here click here
BACK TO TOP
BACK TO TOP

Allcarcentral.com is in no way associated with any automotive manufacture, race track, race event.
All automotive brand names, model names and event names are the property of the respective manufacture and event owners.