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      10-20-2009, 05:58 PM   #1
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Just test drove a Cayman S...

and im not that impressed.
The clutch felt spring loaded (not in a good way), the interior wasnt that nice and the engine whine was mildly annoying after only 15 min. In fact, it had a weird, high-pitched humming noise. Almost like an electric motor.
I got to open it up in second gear and it takes a while to rev. Is there some sort of "v-tec" type system in the car? It felt like something kicked in at around 3800 rpms.

The drive was nice and the car felt ALOT lighter than my 135i, but i guess I felt like it just didnt have that x-factor to it ya know. Like, there was nothing about the car that made it seem that much more special than anything else.

Yes its light, nimble, pretty quick, and better looking than the 1 series, but its also... idk, just kinda uninspired
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      10-20-2009, 06:03 PM   #2
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its a fun car but still no 911
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      10-20-2009, 06:08 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guardianangel3290 View Post
and im not that impressed.
The clutch felt spring loaded (not in a good way), the interior wasnt that nice and the engine whine was mildly annoying after only 15 min. In fact, it had a weird, high-pitched humming noise. Almost like an electric motor.
I got to open it up in second gear and it takes a while to rev. Is there some sort of "v-tec" type system in the car? It felt like something kicked in at around 3800 rpms.

The drive was nice and the car felt ALOT lighter than my 135i, but i guess I felt like it just didnt have that x-factor to it ya know. Like, there was nothing about the car that made it seem that much more special than anything else.

Yes its light, nimble, pretty quick, and better looking than the 1 series, but its also... idk, just kinda uninspired
If you are used to the BMW clutch which is a mushy pile of poo, a clutch that provides feedback and feel will be shocking at first. Porsche clutch pedal feel is arguably the best in the industry.
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      10-20-2009, 06:19 PM   #4
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how dare you diss a porsche...
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      10-20-2009, 06:51 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guardianangel3290 View Post
Is there some sort of "v-tec" type system in the car? It felt like something kicked in at around 3800 rpms
That might have been the "powerband". It's located next to the blinker fluid.
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      10-20-2009, 07:07 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spec 1 View Post
That might have been the "powerband". It's located next to the blinker fluid.


Its funny these days where n/a engines have more of a power surge then f/i cars.

Clutch pedal feel in the 987 is far superior to this BMW CDV nonsense.

If the 'humming' sound is what I think it is, then that is the sound that reminded me of the old 911 (1985, Turbo Body Cab.) that my parents had/have, the car that started me on the P-Car path, that sound was the final nail in the coffin and I had to buy.

If you don't like it thats fine...not everybody likes things that are good.
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      10-20-2009, 11:42 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask View Post


Its funny these days where n/a engines have more of a power surge then f/i cars.

Clutch pedal feel in the 987 is far superior to this BMW CDV nonsense.

If the 'humming' sound is what I think it is, then that is the sound that reminded me of the old 911 (1985, Turbo Body Cab.) that my parents had/have, the car that started me on the P-Car path, that sound was the final nail in the coffin and I had to buy.

If you don't like it thats fine...not everybody likes things that are good.

i prefer the the sound of an exhaust or the growl of an engine over a high pitched humming.

and it definitely wasnt the "powerband". It was quick up to 3800 rpms but then it was like something snapped into place and the car decided it wanted to be fast. it was almost instantanious
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      10-20-2009, 11:48 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guardianangel3290 View Post
i prefer the the sound of an exhaust or the growl of an engine over a high pitched humming.

and it definitely wasnt the "powerband". It was quick up to 3800 rpms but then it was like something snapped into place and the car decided it wanted to be fast. it was almost instantanious
seems like you need to drive a GT3
you may find the "v-tec feeling" worse in that car though
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      10-20-2009, 11:56 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marty_mcfly View Post
seems like you need to drive a GT3
you may find the "v-tec feeling" worse in that car though
so you noticed the same thing when you drove the cayman? haha

if you have one you wanna let me take a spin in i certainly wouldnt mind lol
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      10-21-2009, 12:06 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marty_mcfly View Post
seems like you need to drive a GT3
you may find the "v-tec feeling" worse in that car though
The GT3......hmmmmm.......Now that's a REAL car.
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      10-21-2009, 01:18 AM   #11
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your review pretty much exactly like clarkson top gear review. the cayman is good, but it has no soul.
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      10-21-2009, 01:18 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guardianangel3290 View Post
so you noticed the same thing when you drove the cayman? haha

if you have one you wanna let me take a spin in i certainly wouldnt mind lol
to be honest i didnt in the cayman s. i've driven both a 6 speed and PDK.

we just got rid of our 996 GT3 last week. dont know if we'll be replacing it with a new one or not yet. whenever i would be passenger in that car though, my stomach would sometimes feel like its getting tickled. kind of the same effect you get from rollercoasters when you get that feeling it gets faster and faster. i feel like that feeling is what you're talking about but its nothing major.
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      10-21-2009, 01:58 AM   #13
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We have a 997 GT3 and had a 996 GT3, and I've test driven a Cayman S. The rollercoaster feeling is exactly the same feeling I get. It just keeps building and building and then you realize you are committing a felony. The Cayman is a nice car, but I didn't find too much excitement after driving our GT3's and my Dinan 1.
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      10-21-2009, 02:12 AM   #14
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Its a waist of money..

HOnestly when buying a porsche

911> and higher is worht every single penny and time..

No Caymen or Boxter for me
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      10-21-2009, 04:21 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guardianangel3290 View Post
and im not that impressed.
The clutch felt spring loaded (not in a good way), the interior wasnt that nice and the engine whine was mildly annoying after only 15 min. In fact, it had a weird, high-pitched humming noise. Almost like an electric motor.
I got to open it up in second gear and it takes a while to rev. Is there some sort of "v-tec" type system in the car? It felt like something kicked in at around 3800 rpms.

The drive was nice and the car felt ALOT lighter than my 135i, but i guess I felt like it just didnt have that x-factor to it ya know. Like, there was nothing about the car that made it seem that much more special than anything else.

Yes its light, nimble, pretty quick, and better looking than the 1 series, but its also... idk, just kinda uninspired
I would love to discuss in detail where your comments are SO WRONG but frankly your lack of simple understand of what makes a great car makes such an effort too time consuming that I would have wasted half of my life and still be no further forward.

Quote:
Originally Posted by graider
your review pretty much exactly like clarkson top gear review. the cayman is good, but it has no soul.
Truth me, JC might say that when the cameras are on him (makes for good TV) but it couldn't be further from the truth.
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      10-21-2009, 04:31 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by footie View Post
I would love to discuss in detail where your comments are SO WRONG but frankly your lack of simple understand of what makes a great car makes such an effort too time consuming that I would have wasted half of my life and still be no further forward.
+1,000,000

Cayman S is so far from uninspired, it is not even funny. One of the best values for a track car, throw on a set of r-compounds and you're set.
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      10-21-2009, 10:19 AM   #17
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I had a BLAST shopping the Cayman S. But, it just was a bit too much money for what you got. No xenons, ipod, or blue tooth at $55k?

If i had money to blow and another car, maybe. But, at the moment I need a car that does more things well.

Once I get a cheap truck, I may be looking at Lotus ExigeS!
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      10-21-2009, 11:27 AM   #18
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interesting... everything i've heard points to the caymanS being more of a drivers car than the 911 (sub the GT3)
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      10-21-2009, 11:36 AM   #19
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I loved the Cayman S. The steering is perfect, the intake sound (that you complained about whining) is soulful, the feedback on the track is fantastic. If you're interested in one, go out and look for a slightly used one, they're going for mid $30Ks now. What a bargain. There's no 135 that will touch it on the track (stock for stock - I don't want to hear about modded ECUs). Also, at 3,800rpm the VarioCam kicks in. VarioCam Plus combines variable valve timing with two-stage lift on the inlet side. This results in smoother running, better fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions. As well as greater top-end power and low-end torque.
Yes, I'm sure it's uninspiring compared to a GT3, then again, most cars today are - save an Elise or Exige S. The chassis in the Cayman is still more balanced than a 911. I can definitely feel the weight out back compared to the Cayman. Put the 911 engine in the Cayman and run them back to back and I'm sure the Cayman will be quicker.
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      10-21-2009, 11:43 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AW325xi View Post
I loved the Cayman S. The steering is perfect, the intake sound (that you complained about whining) is soulful, the feedback on the track is fantastic. If you're interested in one, go out and look for a slightly used one, they're going for mid $30Ks now. What a bargain. There's no 135 that will touch it on the track (stock for stock - I don't want to hear about modded ECUs). Also, at 3,800rpm the VarioCam kicks in. VarioCam Plus combines variable valve timing with two-stage lift on the inlet side. This results in smoother running, better fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions. As well as greater top-end power and low-end torque.
Yes, I'm sure it's uninspiring compared to a GT3, then again, most cars today are - save an Elise or Exige S. The chassis in the Cayman is still more balanced than a 911. I can definitely feel the weight out back compared to the Cayman. Put the 911 engine in the Cayman and run them back to back and I'm sure the Cayman will be quicker.
I couldn't agree more. People who say the caymanS is for women or a cheap 911 are so wrong. CaymanS's are well respected in the porsche world.
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      10-21-2009, 11:54 AM   #21
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I would take this whining chicks car over any current model in the BMW line up. Past BMW's are a different story.
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      10-21-2009, 11:58 AM   #22
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Quote:
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I would love this whining chicks car.
me too lol

but the stock, silver one that i drove just didnt do it for me

Im sure that if i got to push the car a little it'd change my perspective on things, but i really only got to drive it through some town a little.
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