In mid 2005 I started reading reports of a new Porsche called the Cayman. The only details I had were photos of a camouflaged test mule and a sound clip on Porsche.com. I was giddy.
A refundable deposit and six months later I picked up the car. I have kept everything on it since.
From the outside the car is stunning. Not at first, but when you throw some 19 inch, polished, HRE wheels on it, the car becomes exotic. It’s amazing what wheels can do for a Porsche.
On the inside, the car is well crafted and bigger than you’d expect.
Everything clicks and turns like it should. Even when there is plastic, it doesn’t stick out as being cheap. The only thing I’d fix is the plastic on the front of the gear shift. For $70k I was expecting my hand to fall on something finer. Other than that, it feels just like a sports car should: Thick, stitched steering wheel with notches at the perfect spot for your thumbs. The low-slung seat is a snug fit and feels fine even after several hours.
The navigation on a Lexus/Toyota is better. The nav. seems to get you on the destination street as fast as possible, even if there are miles of freeway left.
Note to prospective Porsche owners, be prepared to be nickel and dimed to death. Click here to see the options list.
To be honest, it is frustrating. I can’t think of many $60,000 passenger cars that don’t have these options standard. Go price out an MZ4 coupe. There are a total of 6 options, not including color choices.
The Cayman has 53 options to choose from. If you want to add all the options for different interior trims, like leather, carbon fiber, etc., there are 151 options (I counted!) and you can easily option a Cayman into the six figures. If you want full leather, including the fuse box cover, that’ll be $13 grand. Dude, like seriously, how does a $60,000 car not have automatic climate control???
So, for nearly $70,000 I got a cool car that still has manual adjustments on the seats. After two years I admit it’s all completely worth it. I have experience in a ‘95 Cabriolet, a ‘96 Turbo and a 2003 350Z. This car is the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s faster that the Cabriolet, more nimble than the Turbo and hugely more refined that the Z. Is it worth $70k? No, it’s not. Is it $35,000 better than a Nissan 350Z? No, it’s not. A similar BMW MZ4 costs $15 grand less and should beat you to 60 mph, but it’s like comparing Ruth’s Chris Steak House to Outback. You know that Ruth’s Chris is overpriced and paying a la carte sucks, but it’s the price you have to pay for perfection. If you have the money to spend, perfection tastes better, but if you don’t, you can get 9/10ths the pleasure for much, much less.
The 350Z was an engine with a car. The Turbo is a weapon. It’s tough to take quick trips to the store in a 500 horsepower, 3600 lbs. Porsche Turbo. That’s like taking an F-18 Hornet for a romantic flight up the coast.
The Cayman is a scalpel. It’s a finely crafted tool that will remain fun, smooth and fast for years to come. Every time you tip into the throttle the car begs for more. The mid-engine layout makes for the most nimble car I’ve ever been in and the steering is true Porsche and the epitome of sports car precision. The 300 horsepower layout is not only quick and responsive, but sounds like….well…picture Heidi Klum and then imagine what she’d sound like if she were a car. That’s what a Cayman sounds like : )
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It has been enjoyable everyday for the past 730 days. If you have means, buy one and you’ll never regret it.
P.S. I would not recommend the PASM unless you plan on tracking the car.
P.P.S. On a lazy Saturday in June of 2005 my roommate and I went to the dealer to get some info on the car. When we entered the dealership, looking to buy the same car, the dealer asked if my roommate and I were together, as if we were shopping together, we replied “yes.” After more information was gathered we decided to place a refundable deposit.
We started filling out paperwork. My roommate and I had the same address, worked at the same company, arrived together and knew each other’s phone number.
The dealer asked my roommate: “are you married?”
Justin said “no”
I chimed in “well, you pretty much are” since he’d had the same girlfriend for 4 years and we had just been talking about it.
Dealer: “Oh, I know what you mean, my sister and her girlfriend are the same way”
I squinted, jaw dropped, replaying what I’d just heard. Justin rolled his head back, covered his face and laughed.
Justin: “no, no it’s not like that”
Me: “I like women (deep voice). We both have girlfriends”
It’s a sad, sad day.. at least when you sell the car you can use this post as an ad, it’s pretty damn good. Solid car. I kinda feel like you’re giving a tribute to someone or mourning a loss. I guess with the Porsche it really is like that though. Sigh!
Your car is sweet. Don’t knock the 350z though.
I hope to have one too someday, such a beautiful car! I wouldn’t go for the polished rims but that’s typically something American.