Hawaii Test Drive & Pics

Before I start I want to ask you all to consider the source as I am no aficionado on Porsches. But I can tell you what the experience was like for a guy who hasn’t driven a Porsche or a manual trans in over 25 years. When I got there I saw a Basalt Black Cayman sitting right in front of the door waiting for my test drive. After sitting down in the car and closing the door my first impression was that it feels like a cockpit of something that is to be taken a lot more serious than your average driving car. It really did fit all around me perfectly, what a neat feeling. Then I started it up and pulled out into the street. The car felt extremely solid and very positive, more so than any car I had ever driven. It was openly responsive to my slightest movements. Then the engine tones started to hum with the exhaust sounds deep and pure acting as background music. What really amazed me was the beautiful mechanical sounds of the engine. I owned a Maserati Merek back in the 70’s and it played some nice music, but nothing like that of this Cayman. It would be like comparing a band to an orchestra. I was able to take a pretty long drive down some of the big streets, but downtown Honolulu this time of the day was packed. I was never even able to get to 4^th gear, so what lays beyond 3^rd will be another surprise for me. I had not taken it above 4000 rpms in any gear due to the crowded streets, then my salesman Dan says, ' after this stop sign let this guy in front of you get way ahead and open it up a little'. I looked at him and replied YOU BET. So I allowed the guy to go off ahead of me while I stayed at the stop sign. There was a guy in back of me in a flashy red mustang getting a little impatient or I would have stayed there longer. He must have been wondering what the heck was I doing? Then I took off in 1^st gear and put it all the way down. What happened next caught me completely by surprise, even after reading all the reviews and watching the video clips I had no idea this would be so exhilarating. At exactly 4200 rpms I guess the Variocam must have kicked in but OMG! The pull after 4200 was absolutely thrilling. The volume of the exhaust note and the mechanical sounds from the engine took on a whole new pitch. By the time it took me to shift to 2^nd I was on top of the car in front of me. The Mustang in back of me was now a midget in my rear view mirror. I immediately applied the brakes which were just perfect, not too touchy but firm and assertive. I then looked at Dan with a huge smile on my face, and he said, ' I just wanted you to see where the fun really begins'. He was right! Oh how I wish I could have ran that puppy up in a couple of more gears, but that will be for another day. My heart was pounding and I had fallen in love all over again. (BTW I am talking about the Cayman, NOT DAN!). Now I will try to give you some other thoughts about the car in general. This car had 19' Classics and the ride was great. Yes I could feel the road and any severe bumps, but it was exactly as it should be for a car like this. In fact by comparison I would say that it was almost the same as my Dad’s CLS 500. I am 6’- 175 lbs and once I adjusted the seat back I felt extremely comfortable driving the Cayman. The Bose Surround Sound, I was so excited about the engine sounds that I forgot to even turn it on. No comment. It was a warm afternoon and the A/C on low was more than adequate. No so called cabin heat whatsoever. All I can say about the shifter is that it was smooth, fast and easy. I have nothing to compare it to and I haven’t driven a manual trans in over 25 years. The seatbelts were so comfortable that I didn’t know that I had them on till we got back. In the short time I had to drive the Cayman I realized that I had made one of the best decisions of my life by buying this new Porsche. In summary all I can say is the Cayman gives life a whole new meaning, at leastto this beach boy. Pics will follow shortly!! Aloha Russ

now the fun begins, thanks for your thoughts. i spent about an hour today sitting in, walking around, and playing with an actic silver. i will test on monday. one memory is sitting in the driver's seat, looking out the side view mirror. those hips look absolutely amazing. it will be fun to enjoy that view at speed. peace, michael

You lucky dog, Russ! Just trying to make the rest of us jealous. Thanks for the report. Guess we all assumed it would be just like you described it but nothing like having the experience for yourself! Thanks for the report.

Thanks for the report Russ, I was beginning to think after this much time since you left for the drive (I went for a horseback ride and rode my mountain bike while you tested) that you had been arrested for stealing the black car or had disliked it so much you couldn't stand to report. It is too bad that you cannot take it for a longer drive. Will you get yours on the 14th?? Can I come visit??

nice report Russ .... thanks for quick feeding us hungry caymans....COCO

Here are some of the pics of the test car. And yes this car was/is everything I hoped it would be and more. This car was dirty but still looks great! Basalt w/ Black. Where is Ramiel! I think these are your colors & wheels. SF, I was in back of a cop for awhile and I am sure he had his eye on me, but I kept my cool. Edited by - RussK on 01/07/2006 5:58:55 PM

Pretty pictures. Holes in the front bumper already, ugh. Russ is it 1. as expected, 2. better than expected, 3. less than expected?

SF, Every car there had holes drilled in the front bumper, I looked. And as far as the experience goes, I cannot get it out of my mind. My wife just got home and I told her about my test drive, and even she was excited! It was so neat I cannot even find the words to express it. Up to now it was the beauty of the car that had me in its spell, but now it is that sound! OMG was it beautiful when it got above the 4K mark, and the power/pull of that engine was magnificent for lack of a more dynamic word. I just keep thinking what it must have looked like to that guy in the Mustang when I finnaly moved those full bodied hips of that Cayman into warp factor 5! He must have been thinking 'what the heck was that thing?' Well time to take the wife to dinner at our Favorite Azteca, how I am I going to not talk about this drive?? Oh boy I might be in trouble by the end of this night. I think I better go have a drink before we go, and try to calm down a bit. I will leave you all with this, YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Whooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaa! Beam me back to Earth Scotty! Russ Out! Edited by - RussK on 01/07/2006 6:17:51 PM

Thanks for the review Russ you now have me even more excited and anxiously waiting my Cayman S ....i cant wait to get in it and let that bad boy take me to heaven ..its gonna be a blast

Russ - Thanks for the in-depth report of your test-drive, it sounds that it was over the top. You’ll need to get the Cayman back with Dan and point it to the hills. Were you able to eat dinner? zornet

Great fun RussK, I so glad you had fun and that cop didn't pull you over. "But officer I was still in first gear". Too bad you couldn't take your wife for a spin, but that will come soon enough. What did you think of the sport seats? I see they were the manual ones, instead of the adaptive sport seats. I can tell from the photo they do have a silver back instead of a black back like the regular seats. So now for a bit more waiting...

Excellent Russ......hopefully it will hold you over for a few days now. Thanks for sharing!

What was the dealer thinking ordering heated seats for a car in Hawaii? Looks Bad ***/Hard Core in Black Basalt and 19 Carrera Classics! Nice that you got to give one of the first test drive reports!!

Russ, is that standard to have the front spoiler lip in aluminum look? Thought that was part of an exclusive option?

Russ, great summary. Are you wondering about your decision to go with the Cobalt after seeing it in black? Grey front spoiler lip is standard.

K-Man Sculpture, I loved those seats! Wish I had ordered them now. Here are some pics of them. Carmon Red , That is the standard spoiler that I have seen on all of them, Moto is correct it is gray but looks aluminum. Moto, I do love the black, but I am taking a chance on something new. Mpollard, I have no idea why the seats are heated. I think they just took what they were offered. Anybody order this option?

That Porsche crest wasn't on those sport seat was it? I didn't see it on the options list. Did you also try the regular seats and do you have any comments about the comfort of the sport seats as compared to the regular ones? Thanks for taking the time to post pictures of the sport seats in response to our questions. Edited by - K-Man-sculpture.net on 01/07/2006 10:32:46 PM

K-Man Sculpture, The crest was on the seats of a Carrera not the Cayman Sport seats. And I wish I could give you a comparison of the sport vs standard, but I was so excited after the ride I didn't even think to go inside and try the standards, darn wish I did now. Russ

Russ - So it does look like your dealer is drilling the plate holes, be a hard head and stop them @ your Cayman. zornet

Russ, you are fantastic. Half an hour ago I said to my wife, Ionly have to wait 4more weeks before I can drive my blackbeauty.But now, after reading your report I say: Damned, I still have to wait 4 more weeks. Thank you for the wonderful report and the picturesmate. You realy know I never can't get enough of new pictures of our baby/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thanks.gif/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/dance.gif/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/drive.gif

Great review and pics Russ. To clear a few thingsup. You can get the crest on any porsche seat as an option on the Cayman. The sport seat is more supportive and actually more comfortable. Always good to hear Russ' enthusiasm. Just makes everybody want their cars now!!!

I think I must have driven the Cayman an hour after you. There was 33 miles on it when I took it for a spin. The Cayman did feel quick and solid. I have the opportunity to buy either this black one or the artic silver one in the showroom since the people in front of me aren't ready to show the dealer the money. I'm supposed to let them know if I'm going to take either one of those launch cars on Monday. Very tempting. At the moment (3:05 am HST), I am thinking that though it would be nice to be the first kid on the block . . . the available specimens did not have the adaptive sport seats or sport shift that I ordered. The heated seats are also unnecessary. But then I will be leasing, so its not that important . . . and I could get my Cayman before Russ . . . .

Russ, Thanks for the post. What a blast! I was drooling over the 7 new Caymans delivered to the Orlando dealer yesterday. Should have a chance to test drive one next week. I sat in the Demo again in the showroom and marvelled at how 'right' it felt. Can't even imagine would it must be like to drive. I can't stand it much longer. Awesome post.

Russ Find the guy who does the dealer prep and handcuff him before he can touch your car!

Zornet, I sent a signed fax specifically requesting that NO HOLES BE DRILLED, and I think they are going to leave it alone. I will keep pushing the issue. Ramiel, I know you are a lot like me, can never get enough! All I can say is the wait will be worth it, you are in for many surprises once you get to drive your car. I can't even imagine what 6K or 7K must be like!! It starting singing like a chorus just above 4300 rpms. The turbine screaming sound of the engine was nirvana! Russ ripping

Thanks Barry, it was a blast and I still can hear those sounds! mpollard, my car arrives here on the 16th and my dealer will have it at there lot the next day, I will be all over them to make sure those holes do not get drilled!! Wes, you have some tough choices to make! I am biased because I love those 19' classics, but either car would be heaven, but you better hurry, that Black one and I bonded yesterday! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/kiss2.gif Aloha Rus