Porsche Cayman 2010
Porsche have been designing some of the most mechanically brilliant and engineering-ly spectacular cars ever made for a long time. Although their design department can be accused of being lazy (the Porsche “look” has not changed in decades) you could not accuse the rest of the company of being anything less than magnificent. Porsche enter 2010 looking for the same success they have enjoyed commercially and mechanically for years.The Porsche Cayman follows the same design principles that Porsche has resolutely stuck to for decades. Whereas some might find thins a little frustrating, it does bring with it some assurance that this car will be reliable and well manufactured. Porsche are sticking to a recipe they know very well.The exterior screams “Boxster” with the exception of a few more curves and a solid roof. It is attractive, classically designed and typically Porsche; the teardrop shape is still there, as are the raised headlamps and all those recognisable smooth and curvy lines.The interior is also typical of Porsche. It is very smart and attractive, minimalist yet luxurious and everything feels like it was made with the highest quality materials. The fixtures, buttons and dials are also well placed and designed for practicality.When looking inside the Cayman, one could be forgiven to be thinking that they were looking inside a Boxster, such are the similarities. The same 2.7 litre H-6 engine, capable of around 260bhp comes as standard with the option to go for the more powerful 3.4 litre H-6 which can produce 320bhp. Whilst this guarantees good speed and performance, one finds it difficult to understand having two cars that look very similar and are equipped the same.The same transmissions are available in the Cayman as in the Boxster also; a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. This car runs from its rear, like all Porsche’s (the engine is also located at the back as normal) and the safety features are typically excellent, with ABS, front, side and side curtain airbags coming as standard. Traction and stability control are also included.The price of the Cayman is very similar to the Boxster also. Starting at around 32,000 pounds and going up to around 40,000, depending on the model and options chosen, it is difficult to see where the extra cash is going. Porsche claim that the engine is more powerful in the Cayman than in the Boxster, and the drive is certainly more sporty, so perhaps it fills more of a niche category than the Boxster does.The Cayman is a little bit of a mystery. It looks like a Boxster, performs like a Boxster, but comes with a slightly higher price tag once you start hitting the more powerful models. Perhaps it is the Cayman’s more sporty character and more sporty drive that separates this car from the Porsche crowd and gives it an identity. It drives fantastically well, looks great and feels luxurious, so there is definitely nothing wrong with it, perhaps all the hype is justifiable.
