Another "in the flesh" review.....

Just got back from the dealer........ As others have stated the Cayman is absolutely stunning in person........better than any picture imaginable. IMO looks much more sporty and 'hungry' than any present 911 or Boxster. Pictures tend to make it look a bit long for some reason.......up close it looks very compact with all dimensions being proper.......even the roof......it all flows together very nicely. The fog lightslook just fine......in fact I like them, sets the Cayman apart from the other models in the lineup and adds to the mean look of the car. The bumperettes were a non-issue at least for me.....the whole car looks so great together you don't even notice them......they look standard Porsche. As I suspected the 19' wheels look good on the car, but make the brakes look small........I'm glad I stuck with the 18's. The interior is really nice.......nothing really earth shattering to report.......it's finished extremely well with everything going together nicely. Good amount of headroom......for tall/big drivers I'd be more worried about leg and foot room as it is pretty compact down there. Doors close with a very solid clunk. The only thing that did look a little strange was the Bose subwoofer in the passengers footwell......looks a little bit 'add-on' IMO, but again its finished extremely well and is tucked pretty far under the dash. It would be more noticeable with a lighter color interior. The Bose system did sound awesome.......one of the best factory systems I have come across........for the money it would be hardto doan aftermarket install and come out with the same quality. The engine sounded really nice with an emphasis on mechanical music as much as exhaust sound. I don't know if the sport exhaust would mess this up or not.....it seems to be a 50-50 balance that would be hard to improve upon in my book. I defintely wouldn't order the PSE until you hear the car first hand.....then decide. The exhaust tipslooked like brushed aluminum and are very purposeful looking.......at this point I don't know if chrome tips would add or detract from the look.......again something to wait and add later if wanted. All in all it is one of the, if not THE best looking Porsches ever........and I don't say that lightly........it's that good. Can hardly wait to get my hands on mine! Edited by - Atlas_Croc on 11/22/2005 2:57:05 PM

Thanks for that report AC. I really value your views and can't wait to see one myself. One question, several reports have suggested that it is smaller than expected. I assume that doesn't mean <u>too</u> small?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr id="quote" noshade="noshade" height="1" /> Thanks for that report AC. I really value your views and can't wait to see one myself. One question, several reports have suggested that it is smaller than expected. I assume that doesn't mean <u>too</u> small? <hr id="quote" noshade="noshade" height="1" /></blockquote> Thanks Santa Fe. No it doesn't look too small.......at least to my eyes, but it does look more compact than its dimensions portray. Many reviews stated that the roof looked a little 'bubble' like......I really didn't see this at all. In fact the first thing my wife (she has a good eye) and I noticedwas how well the roof blended into the hatch and rear.....looks really sleek......definitely makes a Boxster look weird and the 911 dated and less of a sports car.It won't be mistaken for a wide body supercar and may not possess the rear stance of a 997C4.......but it is very much the most sporty design in the lineup at this point. It looks like a lean and meanfighting machine. Edited by - Atlas_Croc on 11/22/2005 3:26:29 PM

I finally got to see one at my dealer here in Austin today. Love it! I am more jazzed than ever. I am dying to see it in other colors, but the silver looks much nicer in person. I am not a big fan of silver, but it looked great. I was there when it was pulled out of the washing area and driven into the showroom. It sounds great. I wish I could have driven it, but at least I got to sit in it. The rear sill is taller behind you than I had envisioned, maintaining the two-seater feel nicely. Unlike many folks, I still like the fog lights. They suit the car well. The bumperettes are not a big deal. Look at a Boxster and the impact is no different. The profile does not look exaggerated or "bubbly" at all. I particularly liked the shape of the door windows with the door open. All angles looked good, but the rear view from a couple of feet is clearly stunning as has been stated so many times. Argh...March is too far away. One weird thing, the car did not have full leather, though it did have leather seat backs, though not sport seats. Seems strange.

Thank you so much Atlas & Mark. You reports are music to my ears! I must admit the suggestion that the top had a sort of bubble look bothered me even though I really couldn't see it in the photos. But to hear you confirm that it is not bubble looking at all is wonderful news. I know it must be viewed first hand to truly appreciate the quality and beauty. Thanks for sharing your valuable opinions. Russ

Great review AC, I noticed everything you pointed out. It's the best looking car in the showroom. Front end, back end , profile, doesn't matter. Seriously. And that's not just me, a Cayman fanatic. Other people who walked in (like tagaongs who came in with customers) who didn't know what a Cayman was were drawn to it more than the others. It drew a crowd... My friend who hought I should have bought a 911changed his mind after seeing it next to a 997S. The leg room comment is right on too. I'm 6'4, but pretty short legged for my hieght (I wear 36/32 levis) and I don't fit comfortably. If sit in an aggressive driving postion, more forward and upright, I fit ok, but I can't get into a truly comfortable position, say if I was parked somewhere or making laps at an airport. I was more comfortable in the Mercedes C coupe (the little hatchback kompressor one) that I rode to the dealer in. Passenger foot room was uncomfortably small also. It struck me that the car did not look low. With PASM (lower 20mm) and 19' wheels I was expecting it to look low. It didn't. Lot's room between fender and tire and lots of daylight underneath. Speaking of underneath, it looks just like photos in the Product Information, all covered except at the back.Very cool. It looks almostfake in the pictures, like matchbox car, and it looks the same in person. I wasn't impressed with the headliner. It doesn't look that bad, kinda of a heavy textured material, but it doesn't look classy either. Very utilitarian, reminded me of a Nissan Xterra.

Atlas_Croc & Marc34: Thanks for your first-hand reports. The news is very encouraging. I think we know where the 987 platform is headed; it's aBIG part of PAG's future.