The other day, we had to have the speakers in our air-cooled 911 replaced at the nearest Porsche Center, where our family has always been taken care of. And to our surprise, they offered us a loaner car, the718 CaymanWe're happy to lend you a copy of "The Lost Decade"!
On the morning of the day, I dropped my daughters off at their respective preschools and headed to the Porsche Center. Upon arrival, I entered the store and saw a bright blue 718 Cayman in front of me.
It's really cool, but "No way this is a loaner car.I was thinking, "I'm not sure...(Of course.)
After talking for a while with Mr. H., who was in charge, he said, "The loaner car is a stock Cayman with only the Sport Chrono package.I received the key to the Cayman with the explanation that "the key to the Cayman is the same as the key to the Boxster. Like the Boxster, the Cayman key has two buttons to open the trunk, I see.
Receive the key and head to the back door where Cayman is located. "I wonder what color the replacement Cayman is - I wonder if it's white? I wonder if it's a bright color.As I walked along the street, a silver Cayman appeared in front of me, and Mr. H said, "I've never seen anything like this before.This is GT Silver. So cool!And.
Oh! That's so cool! That's so cool!
As is the case every time, the day was overcast and cloudy.(I'm a fog lady, a rain lady)...Also, I wanted to go for a run on Ashiyu Driveway when the season was good, but it's impossible now because of the snow and icy road surface. Another pleasant Sanda country road.(in Japanese history)Sundable clink w for example.)So, I decided to run to Ashiyahama beach where I could take some nice pictures.
We drove the car a little ways and my husband said, "You know what?I see...so this is the 718 Cayman. The sound of the engine is totally different from the NA 981.I was surprised to hear it," he said. Indeed, the engine sound was quite different from the popping high note of my 981 Boxster GTS, and it was lower than I had expected.
."Doesn't the 718's engine sound somewhat like an air-cooled one?And when I say to my husband.
Yes indeed. It's not the pure mechanical engine sound of air-cooling, but it sounds like the engine exhaust is making an air-cooled sound. I know this because I drove an air-cooled one just a few minutes ago. It's also different from the Subaru Impreza STI, even though they have the same horizontally opposed 4-cylinder turbo. I think that one has a stronger beat and a sloppier sound. When I started the engine...981 is like, "Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" That's what it feels like.but718 is like, "Gullllllllll!" I feel like...And the sound quality is totally different from the 981.
And. Her husband continued.
I knew it was because it wasn't a convertible.More rigid and stiff than the Boxster.It feels a bit more loose than the 981 Boxster. Also, the ride is firmer than the 981 Boxster, just a bit firmer than the 981 Boxster GTS with PASM set to Sport Plus, it feels like it's driving on the ground a lot harder. I think it's partly because the chassis is more advanced, but let's just say...Cayman is "stout" and Boxster is "supple.I guess.
He said. I'm not going to be in the passenger seat.Certainly the Cayman's ride is firmer and its ground contact with the road is higher than the Boxster's.I felt that it was a good idea.
However, there is a "shaking" left over when the road surface is rough, and the "shaking" is not always the same.The ride quality is not as good as I imagined. I have driven Panamera and Cayenne which I have test-driven before.Is it because they compare it toMy husband," I said.
Well... There is no direct impact from the road surface, so there is no discomfort at all, but when driving on a wavy road surface at low speeds, I am a little concerned about the "shaking" that remains. Incidentally, this shaking is more like "shaking with a long period" and not like "shaking with a short period" like McLaren's.
Is this the case for Cayman or is it an optional PASM（Porsche Active Suspension
Also, I hear that the 718 rides better than the 981, but from what I remember when I drove a 981 Cayman GTS a long time ago, I think the 981 is better at low speeds.(probably thanks to PASM)I think the 718 is better (more evolved) overall. But it is the same when you go faster, and considering the stronger ground feel and the stiffer feel, I think more people think 718 is better (more evolved) overall.
He said.
We drove for a while, and I said, "When I first test drove a Panamera or Cayenne before, I would start off and within two seconds, I'd be like, 'What an outrageous car!I was very impressed with the Cayman, but I was not so impressed with the Cayman. But the Cayman didn't impress me that much..." My husband said, "But it's still a very nice car..." I said, "I'm not sure if it's a good car or not.
Sure, it's not as impressive as all that. Well.I usually drive a 981, so there is a big part of me that is used to the ride.I think. Also, I've only driven 6,000 km, so maybe the suspension isn't fully acclimated. However, the handling is as expected of a Porsche. There is no deviation from the line I envisioned in my mind, and I can feel the ground contact of all four wheels even when I take a very slight curve.
If you've never driven a Porsche yet, you'll be impressed if you drive a Cayman for the first time.I think.
My personal opinion is thatAs for the feel of the suspension, I'mOf all the cars I've driven, I think the Ferrari 488 is the closest.Of course they are not the same, but my first impression was that the ground feel, ride comfort at low speeds, and stability are similar.
He said.
Then, as we approached a road with few cars on it, the mode was changed to "SportI turned the car to the "A" position and stepped on the accelerator pedal harder. As if the Cayman had finally woken up, it accelerated at once, and the tone of the engine changed dramatically.(The optional sport exhaust is not included, so the "ba-ba-bo-bo" exhaust sound is only faintly audible.)
As one would expect from a "Porsche" when turned around.
After running in sport mode for a while, my husband
If you try to drive in normal mode in busy city traffic, you may feel a little sluggishness at low speeds.If I put it in Sport or Sport Plus, the idle goes from 800 rpm to about 1000 rpm and it takes less time for the turbo boost to kick in. And the PDK becomes more agile.So it accelerates sharply and moves like a wormwood.
Also, it revs well at high rpm and has plenty of torque.This car is fast.I personally think it is fast enough even though it is a plain Cayman and not an S. The acceleration is sharper than the NA 981 Boxster GTS because of the turbo, so I feel it is sharper on the street.
The chassis is more stable and grounded than the Boxster's, so I can take curves with more confidence. Is this the difference between the two cars, or is it the difference between the 981 and the 718... perhaps if you drive them around Ashiyu Driveway or something, you'll be able to feel the difference between the Boxster and the 718.Cayman is faster than Boxster.I think it's a good idea.
He said.
Afterwards, we parked the car and had some time for a quick photo shoot.
So I looked at the interior again... and to be honest, in the case of the stock one without any options, I thought, "Not exactly the upscale interior you imagine when you hear "luxury sports car.Maybe.
My husband, too.
When you look at this interior, thinking it's a luxury sports car costing over $7 million, you'll think, "What the heck?At the very least, I'd like to see a little more luxury around the dashboard.I wonder if some people might think that.
Porsche is a luxury car.It is only high-end performanceI think that is the reason why some people buy a Cayman as a fashionable luxury sports car. If you misunderstand this and buy a Cayman with the fashion sense of a luxury sports car, I think some people will be a little dissatisfied.
He said. As for storage space, the Cayman is mid-ship, so there are two trunks, one in the front and one in the rear, and the front trunk is quite deep.
Then my husband, who was taking various pictures from different angles.
What's this unfamiliar lid here!"
And. I looked and found a hidden door on each side of the back trunk opening.(No, it's not a hidden door, but...)
When I opened it, I found it was a small storage space. I wondered if it could hold car-washing tools or something.
I wonder if this area was used as a storage space for the Cayman, which does not have a roof, since it is the base of the Boxster where the top is attached.
After the photo contest, the next step was for me to take over driving and we were on the Hanshin Expressway headed for Osaka on a single trip. I was in the passenger seat when I heard the words "Well, it's a Porsche, and it's a nice car.When I started to drive it, I could only react to the extent that I said, "I'm sorry, I can't drive it.I was quite impressed by the fact that it is a "Porsche.
There is no deviation in handling, the gas pedal responds to the gas pedal, the brakes work well, and the stability on highways and acceleration at merging traffic are perfect.
After all, you have to drive a Porsche yourself!
I thought again. Without the slightest discomfort or complaint, we quickly arrived in the city of Osaka and decided to park the Cayman in a nearby parking lot...Unlike the Panamera, which is about 2 meters wide and over 5 meters long, you can park almost anywhere without checking every single spot....how easy it is... (laughter)
However, I had gotten used to the 360-degree park assist feature when parking, so even though the Cayman was supposed to be smaller and easier to park than the Panamera, parking itself was difficult.... And here I parted ways with the Cayman, while my husband took the Cayman all the way home that evening.
Acceleration on the highway is fast, I can get to 1.0 km in no time, and I have no problems with high speed stability! And the exhaust sound was a little disconcerting at first, but after riding it, it's addictive!
He said.
Finally, my husband's general comments about the 718 Cayman.
I think Cayman is a cosmetic Porsche.The price is about 7 million yen and up, but the ride is a true Porsche.And. Some people often look down on the Cayman and Boxster, saying that they are cheaper versions of Porsche, but that is not true at all.The acceleration, cornering speed, and braking are all worthy of the Porsche name.
This price for this driving performance is a bargain, and I speak from personal experience.As far as driving performance goes, the Cayman is a whole lot better than more expensive cars from other manufacturers.In many cases, the "I'm not sure I can do this" attitude.
By the way, if I were to buy a Cayman, I would prefer this bare-bones Cayman or the Cayman T that recently came out. I would add PASM and sport chrono package, and if possible PCCB. the suspension without PASM depends on your preference, but if you are a driving enthusiast, this would be fine.If comfort is important, I think PASM is the way to go.
I am sure of it. Indeed. The more I drove the Cayman, the more I thought, "This is a car whose excellence will gradually become clear to me later on....'Oh my God, it's a Porsche,' 'The handling is amazing,' 'Wow, this is 1/3 the price of a Panamera Turbo, that's too much!'I was made to feel that I was becoming addicted to its charms.
I got to drive a 718 Cayman this time, so I'd like to drive a 718 Boxster next...w
For a detailed review of the 718 Cayman, see "[Porsche Owner's File #8] 718 Cayman Purchase, Options and Driving Review"You may also read this article if you like.
