CLUBHOUSE | DRIVING RANGE
The Pick of Porsche The old Cayman was close to perfect. Somehow, the new car is a whole lot better, writes Ben Oliver.
A
friend who lives in Los Angeles and did well in the dot-com boom mountain roads. All were good, but the Cayman called me to ask what sports car he should buy. I told him, instantly, was easily the best. Even on open roads, the that he should order a Porsche Cayman in white with black wheels. more powerful 911 felt like a big dog tugging He could have afforded a far more exotic machine. But the next at its leash, the driver constantly having to hold it back. The lighter, less powerful Cayman felt time I was in LA, there he was outside my hotel waiting to collect me, perched on the hood of his Cayman, and better balanced, with sweet handling allied to sufficient power, and better suited to real-world he couldn’t have looked more pleased. No wonder. It is an exceptionally good sports car, and my favourite car currently driving: it’s so much more satisfying to stretch a car than restrain it. on sale. It has just been completely redesigned, and All this applies to the new Cayman. It has driving a new model like this is always a nervous The Cayman is the same sublime balance of informative, moment when the outgoing model was so good. But better suited to delicate, accurate steering, fine ride quality Porsche doesn’t screw up. The latest Cayman is a little bigger and faster and prettier than the old one but its real-world driving: even over poor surfaces, and a fabulously exciting drivetrain. There are two engine DNA is unchanged. it’s so much options: a 3.4-litre flat-six with 320hp that Porsche’s line-up has multiplied in recent years and more satisfying will break 100kph in 4.7 seconds, and a 2.7 in addition to the iconic 911 sports car now includes with 271hp and a 5.7 seconds sprint time. this cheaper Cayman coupe, the Boxster roadster, the to stretch a car And just like last time, that lower-powered Cayenne off-roader and the Panamera four-door coupe; than restrain it engine may be the better bet; power is more with a smaller SUV, a station-wagon version of the than adequate and you can explore its more Panamera and the 918 hypercar all on the way. A little while ago I was lucky enough to be able to assemble an example of each exciting upper ranges more often than with the of Porsche’s current line-up and drive them all back-to-back over some empty bigger engine, especially on roads like Hong Kong’s. 26
HK Golfer・MAR 2013
HKGOLFER.COM
SCORECARD
Porsche Cayman 2.7
How much?
HK$877,000
Engine:
2706cc flat-six ‘boxer’
Transmission:
Six-speed
Performance:
5.7sec 0-100kph, 265kph
How heavy?
1,340kgs
And while keen drivers will appreciate the fact that there is still a manual gearbox option – some more exotic sports cars no longer offer them – Porsche’s PDK double-clutch automated manual, which allows both F1-style paddle-shift manual changes and a seamless automatic mode might be the better option in city traffic. When I jumped into my friend’s car to drive us to the restaurant I noticed his clutch was already worn after just 18 months of stop-start LA traffic. He could afford the replacement, but loved the car so much he really didn’t seem to mind. HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer・MAR 2013
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