2005 Porsche Cayman
Is it Porsche's courage or people's loyalty to this very strong image? They took there mid-engine convertible Boxster model, and reshaped it as a coupe. What objective reasons are there for preferring the
Cayman over the Boxster? In the direct comparison, there is the clearly stiffer carbody of course. The rear boot fits 260 instead of 150 liters. Having the same front, the rear design with its almost provocative
fenders drawn about the rear wheels can be called sophisticated. However, this last reason ranges beyond rationality.
The rather narrow interior is remarkable. Headrests and the self extending back spoiler interfere in the rear-view mirror. The car has been built around a central engine almost uncompromisingly. Of course, the
very low centre of gravity is advantageous in curves. Thus, even the less powerful Cayman engine is able to compete with its competitors.
In comparison to its competitors, Porsche is definitely slightly more expensive. Though, Porsches in general compensate their high price with a good trade-in value. Servicing is expensive, too. In the past,
Porsche built sporty, yet always also consumption-efficient vehicles. Today, some Porsches might require a little gulp more as compared to its competitors.
A typical feature that Porsche kept till this day is the direct way with which the car communicates with the driver. This holds true acoustically for the engine, which is situated directly behind the front seats.
However, there are only few people who feel this sound to be disturbing. On the contrary, many drivers put on maximum engine speeds for the sound of the engine.
The steering and the wheel suspension deliver a lot of information about the state of the road surface. With its unusual low centre of gravity, the stabilizer effect can be minimized to hold the rolling angle low. In
general, this Porsche creates a feeling of immediate access without much electronic settlement in between. The only functional element which performs relatively indirect is the shift cable, obviously hardly
avoidable with a middle engine with gearbox completely in the back.
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