A Panamera Recall

The other day, a letter arrived from Porsche Japan about a recall affecting the 971 Panamera. I opened it to find an explanation: “Due to incorrect programming in the electric power steering control unit, power steering assistance may be lost while driving. As a result, steering effort may increase.”

I’d never noticed anything like that, so I assumed our Panamera was fine. But H. from the Porsche Center got in touch right away and said, “Sorry to trouble you, but could we inspect the car?” So I arranged to drop off the Panamera for a checkup.

An Unexpected Cayman S

On the morning of the inspection, H. came by first thing to pick up the Panamera. At the door, he asked, “Will you need a car today? If you like, I can leave the one I drove here.” I had a few things to take care of and wasn’t planning to use a car, so I replied, “No, I’m fine. I won’t need one today…” Then I opened the gate—and couldn’t believe my eyes!

A C-Cayman! (ﾟдﾟ)!!!(And in yellow, just like a proper sports car!)

I blurted out, “I’ll take it! Absolutely, I’ll take it! (ﾟдﾟ)!!” H. laughed and said, “Then I’ll leave you the key,” so I happily accepted.

The loaner was a Cayman S. Its main options, if I remember correctly, were the Sport Chrono Package and Sport Exhaust. And with that, I said goodbye to the Panamera for a little while…

I had an appointment I couldn’t miss that morning, so I rushed to take care of it and saved the Cayman drive for the afternoon. I was so excited that I emailed my husband at work: “The loaner’s a Cayman! This is unreal!” He replied right away.

That’s awesome! Why not take it up Royu?

But the idea of “driving a car I’d never driven before, alone on Royu Driveway” was pretty nerve-racking. Still, opportunities like this don’t come along often, so I worked up the courage and decided to head to Royu by myself.

Off to Royu Driveway!

I climbed into the Cayman and turned the ignition key.

Vrooom!!

Oh, right… “That’s what it sounded like when I drove a 718 Cayman before.” The memory came rushing back as I set off.

ポルシェ 718 ケイマンを試乗 − 981とどこが変わった？

The steering felt heavy, and the engine note really did remind me of an air-cooled Porsche. The 718 Cayman’s engine has a surprisingly deep, bassy sound—quite different from what its appearance might lead you to expect.

The ride was firm, with a strong sense of connection to the road that made it easy to feel the surface beneath the tires. Compared with the standard 718 Cayman I’d driven before, though, the car seemed to settle more quickly after bumps—perhaps because of the different tire sizes.

The Panamera and Cayman felt completely different, yet there was something unmistakably Porsche about both. I found myself thinking, “That’s Porsche for you.” as I headed toward Royu Driveway.

Then a very large truck, moving at an extremely cautious pace, appeared ahead of me.

I glanced at the speedometer. It read just 19 km/h (-_-). “In a Cayman S, and I’m doing 19 km/h…” I thought, as I followed along at a crawl for a while. The moment the truck was out of the way, I switched to Sport Plus mode to see what the car could do.

The Cayman immediately felt lighter on its feet, as if it had shrugged off a suit of armor. The engine note climbed, and the steering felt even sharper. Through the bends on Royu Driveway in Sport Plus, there was virtually no body roll. As my husband once put it, the car swept through the curves “like a compass drawing a circle.”

What wonderfully precise handling…

The Panamera handles sharply, too, but the Cayman felt even more precise, with less delay between input and response. I felt like I was working as a team with the car. And unlike an air-cooled, rear-engined 911, where getting the weight transfer wrong can keep the car from turning, the Cayman guided me smoothly through the corners—even though I’m not a particularly confident driver.

On the straights, I gave the throttle a firm push, and the speed shot up to “XX km/h” in no time (I’ll leave the exact number to your imagination.) A few times, I caught myself thinking, “Okay… don’t get carried away.” and eased off the accelerator.

I’d driven a 970 Panamera Edition, a 971 Panamera Turbo, a 981 Boxster GTS with a manual transmission, and an air-cooled 911 (964 C2) on Royu Driveway. Of all those Porsches, the Cayman was the easiest and most enjoyable to drive.

Even someone like me—a woman who isn’t especially confident behind the wheel—can have fun in a Cayman and feel like a better driver. It also felt safe: I wasn’t tailgated or cut off much. It reminded me that beginners, of all people, can benefit from driving a really good car. (I know, I know—that’s a pretty extravagant thing to say (-_-).)

Maybe the Cayman’s mid-engine layout and solid-feeling body also helped make it so predictable and reassuring to drive.

The Appeal of a Two-Seater

I tried the paddle shifters, too, and response was impressively quick even in Normal mode. That was a big difference from the Panamera. There was still a little snow on the road, and it got heavier as I climbed, so I couldn’t push the car too hard. Even so, my drive on Royu was thoroughly satisfying.

With snow on the ground and the drive taking place on a weekday afternoon, the lookout and our usual photo spots were completely deserted. It was the perfect chance to take as many pictures as I wanted—and I took so many I lost count!

I got carried away taking pictures, and before I knew it, it was time to pick up my daughter from kindergarten. So I turned around and headed back.

Driving the Cayman S made me think all over again: “There’s something special about a two-seater.” The compact cabin makes you feel like you and the car are partners. In your own little space, it feels as if you’re talking to the car as you drive.

So this is the appeal of a two-seater…

When my husband got home that evening, I told him what I’d thought.

Sure, but you’ve had plenty of time to enjoy the appeal of a two-seater in the Boxster, haven’t you?!

“Well… when I’m in the Boxster, I’m so focused on working the manual gearbox that I haven’t really gotten to the point of feeling like we’re partners.” I replied.

Fair enough. The Boxster hasn’t opened up to you yet! lol

Exactly. He was right… Maybe I should get out and practice in the Boxster again soon.

If my husband had been able to drive the Cayman S, too, I could have compared it with the standard Cayman I’d driven recently and written a more detailed review. But this time, I was the only one who got to drive it, so I can only share my impressions and overall feel. I’d love to get good enough to write a more in-depth review someday.

As for the Panamera recall, it turned out there was nothing wrong with our car. H., thank you again for your thoughtful gesture! I wonder what the next loaner will be… lol