Japan Test Drive

Visited my dealership today to complete some final paperwork (parking certification) and was happily surprised to find a tagged Cayman that the dealership had just received. After my paperwork was completed my rep handed me the keys for an hour of unescorted driving. The car had 42 kilometers when I started, tiptronic, black, with 18' wheels, PASM, sport chrono, sport seats, standard air, standard stereo, and partial leather (seat pocket covers, center consol surround). Before I begin my commentary, I'll point out that I've never driven a Boxster, my experience has been in a 2002 9114S w/tiptronic and a 2001 9114 manual. Tried tiptronic in both auto and manual modes; disappointing to say the least. Apologies to any fans out there but shift speeds in manual mode were slow, (to say the least), while auto-mode is laughable. I had read that Porsche has improved the tiptronic in the shift from 996 to 997 and 986 to 987 - I don't see the improvement. Acceleration in 2nd gear (tip in manual) from 35mph is impressive. I recently had a drive in a friend's 355 and my seat of the pants comparison is that the Cayman isn't too far behind. The engine does seem to want to rev, especially when VarioCamPlus kicks in. I wasn't able to get the car onto the highway and so was limited to very short sprints. There have been many comments in various places on the Cayman's exhaust note; I found it to be very aggressive, especially above 5500 rpm where it shifted from a bark into an outright howl. Apart from the exhaust, one is treated to an assortment of sounds - air intake, belt whine, etc... Which leads into a comment on the stereo - forget it - forget the standard unit, forget the Bose - you won't hear a thing from either one unless you're puttering about below 3500 rpm. PASM in sport mode was punishing on city streets, the normal mode was very comfortable. I'm not at all surprised by this and expect the two modes to be completely satisfactory to meet the two lives my own car will be leading. The handling is extraordinary - it's no 911 - and you can feel it very clearly. The Cayman cornered on city streets as if on rails - a completely different feeling from the 911 where you need to toss the rear out to help move quickly through a turn. Handling reminds me a Lotus Elise I once drove. All in all my appetitie is further whetted in anticipation of December 28th, when I take delivery of my Cayman.

Did you notice any shifting differences with sport chrono in sport mode vs. non-sport mode? Someone else was asking about it.

Didn't try hitting the 'Sport' button. I ordered mine without and wasn't curious enough to try it...

Thanks for the report. Impressions from owners or would be owners is exactly what we are all looking for now. Regarding the issue of the stereo and the engine sounds. When I am concentrating on performance type driving, I don't think I will be paying as much attention to what is on the stereo as I will be to the music the engine is making. When I am on the highway or cruising quietly on streets just getting to a destination, I don't exptect my rpm's to be at a decible level that will render the stereo ineffective. I'm sure the feature that changes the vollume automatically as the ambient sounds vary will have a positive effect as well. After all, if those of us buying this car placed a premiun on deadening the sound of the engine we would be driving our luxury sedans. The point that you are making, however, is a point well taken, and something we should all be prepared to expect. In my case, it is exactly what I expected and it is not in itself a bad thing. Lets hear it for the 'Growl' and the 'Howl' and hopefully the outright 'Scream'./fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbsup.gif

Completely agreed... If I had wanted to listen to a CD I would have bought a Nissan G35 (Skyline Coupe over here). My wife was along for the ride today,a moment afterI turned on the stereo I looked at her and said 'it's notas if this matters' and then turned it off.Ifthere wasa Delete Radio Option I would have taken it.

friedman, Thanks for the review! I especially liked, ' especially above 5500 rpm where it shifted from a bark into an outright howl.' I cannot wait to get behind the wheel!! Aloha Russ

I remember reading somewhere (GT Purely Porsche mag?) that the Tip in the Boxster and 911 were different. Something about shifts maps. I seem to remember something like only 9 in Boxster and a couple hundred in 911. If this is true and Porsche took the Boxster shift maps along instead of the 911 that may explain the sluggishnes of the Tip. Regardless of whether this is true or not - no real excuse though as SMG/DSG have been out for years and new 7 spd auto from Mercedes (can you believe that?) puts Porsche TIP to shame. Some people prefer manuals and some prefer autos, I just think Porsche is doing it's 'auto' customers a dis-service. For those of you not familiar the new 7spd auto in the Merc slk 350/amg55 has NO speed loss to the manual (in the 350). And it's an automatic - not even a fancy smg/dsg. No way Mercedes should have this kind of a lead over Porshe. Only thing Mercedes did wrong was make the shifter left- right instead of up/down. Really weird feeling. PS - in case you're wondering, I'm the Porsche fan, wife is the Mercedes fan. Keith