The Porsche Cayman is considered the quintessential sportscar by many Porsche aficionados. The key is the placement of the engine in the middle of the car, right behind the passenger compartment, giving it superb balance and making it easy to hurl the Cayman through winding roads at high speeds with ease. This focus does affect the Cayman's abilities as a daily driver; buyers wanting such a dual-purpose vehicle should consider the Porsche 911.
The Porsche Cayman is divided into the base Cayman and the Cayman S, each coming with their own engines. Like all Porsche vehicles, the Porsche Cayman is available in a variety of configurations depending on selected options. The Convenience package, for example, adds xenon headlights while the Infotainment package piles on an infotainment system with navigation system, satellite radio, and a seven-speaker sound system. Other options include heated and cooled seating, carbon fiber trim, and rear parking sensors. Porsche prices rapidly rise depending on the selected options and it's not impossible to double the base price after checking off too many option boxes.
There are two Porsche Cayman trims available for 2012. The Cayman R model is a stripped-down model for purists while the Cayman Black Edition is a limited model.
The Range
Body style: Hatch
Engines: 2.9-liter flat-6, 3.4-liter flat-6
Transmissions: six-speed manual, seven-speed automatic
Models: Porsche Cayman, Porsche Cayman S
What's New
The 2012 Porsche Cayman lineup adds the limited Black Edition model to its lineup. Similar to the Porsche Boxster Black Edition, the Cayman Black Edition features black accents and trim, color, wheels, and an exclusive steering wheel.
Otherwise, the 2012 Porsche Cayman and Cayman S carry over essentially unchanged into the new year. Porsche usually makes incremental changes to its vehicles and provided more standard options and features like Bluetooth in 2011.
Exterior
Porsche debuted the Porsche Cayman in 2005 as a 2006 model and made incremental changes until 2008 where the 2009 Cayman received new engines and transmissions. A two-seater coupe with a hatchback-style rear door, the 2012 Porsche Cayman is classic Porsche with its round lights and curvaceous and swept-back body styles. The prominent rear wheel arches and smaller hatchback design separate the Cayman from its siblings, especially the Porsche 911.
Interior
Though Porsche uses premium materials throughout the Cayman's interior, it's not the most comfortable place, with little legroom to stretch and the roof low for taller drivers. Seat comfort is good and adjustment controls allow all but the most contorted positions for driver and passenger. However, the right-hand blind spot can cause some difficulties. Trunk space is passable for a sports car, partly because there's no spare tire.
Performance & Handling
The Porsche Cayman is designed to carve up twisting canyon roads with aplomb and it does it superbly. The Cayman always feels planted to the road but yet light enough to feel likes it's flying through the curves. As a daily driver, the loud engine can get tiresome while the stiff suspension transmits virtually every bump, crack, and road imperfection. The situation worsens in the Porsche Cayman R.
Safety
Like all Porsche vehicles, the 2012 Porsche Cayman is equipped with many standard active and safety features like front, side, and side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability control (ESC), and traction control. Tire pressure monitoring system is also standard.
EPA Fuel Economy
Porsche Cayman with 2.9-liter flat-6 and six speed manual: 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway
Porsche Cayman with 3.4-liter flat-6 and seven speed automatic: 20 mpg city / 29 mpg highway
Porsche Cayman S or R with 3.4-liter flat-6 and six speed manual: 19-20 mpg city / 26-28 mpg highway
Porsche Cayman S or Rwith 3.4-liter flat-6 and seven speed automatic: 20 mpg city / 29 mpg highway
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Sum Up
Essence of sports car made real
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