④ Fuel Economy

I get 12–14 km/L on the highway and 10 km/L on local roads. The 523i gets poor fuel economy, so when I saw the Cayman’s numbers, I thought it was an eco car. (laughs)

⑤ Ride Comfort and Driving Feel

The suspension has adjustable damping, so I can set it anywhere from rock-hard to fairly comfortable. For a sports car, I think the ride is pretty comfortable.

That said, as mentioned earlier, the car has bucket seats and aftermarket suspension components, so its ride is likely different from a Cayman with all the original equipment.

As for how they drive, the 523i feels like it uses a big engine to push its heavy body along with ease, while the Cayman feels like a light car shooting forward on a big engine. (I’m really struggling to put it into words, haha.)

I often feel electronic systems intervening in the 523i, and in Comfort mode there’s quite a delay between pressing the accelerator and feeling the car pick up speed. Sport mode makes it much more responsive, but it still doesn’t match the Cayman. Even compared with the E46 320i my father owned before the 523i, I noticed a lag in response.

By contrast, the Cayman responds quickly, thanks to its manual transmission and its nature as a focused sports car.

On track, the Cayman’s “handling,” “braking,” and “chassis rigidity” really stand out.

I haven’t driven any other car on a circuit, so I can’t compare it directly. But it felt as though the Cayman was telling me, “You can take this corner faster. Keep pushing. You can brake harder.”

The car still had more to give, but I couldn’t keep up with it. Sorry, Cayman—I’ll keep working on my driving and get better.

⑥ How My Family Reacted

My mother’s reaction was basically, “I can’t believe you actually bought a Porsche…” I felt the same way myself. My father was happy for me.

When I told my ex-girlfriend, she said, “Are you crazy?” She had a point.

⑦ What I Love Most

I love those sexy hips. And when I switch on the Sport Exhaust and hear it crackle as I lift off the throttle, I feel like I’m glad to be alive.

Thank you, Mom and Dad.

5) The Option I’d Definitely Choose on My Next Porsche

I’m happy with the car as it is, but I’m still terrible at heel-and-toe downshifting. The floor-hinged accelerator pedal makes it especially tricky, so I keep thinking, “I wish it had the Sport Chrono Package.” (On the 981, Sport Chrono activates automatic throttle blipping in Sport Plus mode.)

But I shouldn’t make excuses—I’ll keep working on my heel-and-toe technique! Experienced manual drivers, please share your advice!

7) Anything I’m Not So Keen On

I’m not a big fan of the orange accents in the interior. I don’t notice them while I’m driving, though.

8) Overall Verdict

I love everything about it—except the orange interior accents!

9) What Does Porsche Mean to You?

“Something that makes life richer.”

Even though I had free use of the 523i, it was still my father’s car, so I’d never been to an imported-car gathering or meet before. Buying a Porsche gave me my first chance to join one. I’ve made new friends, and I’m sure there will be more to come.

Since buying the Cayman, things at work have been going well, so maybe it’s brought me a little good luck, too.
I’ll keep working hard so I can afford to take care of this car.

〘A Note from the Editor〙
Takemaru, who shared his story with us, once told me that this blog inspired him to buy a Porsche. He bought one at a young age and is working hard to keep it on the road. His straightforward love of cars and determination really moved me. Thank you, Takemaru!