Just back from Skip Barber High Performance Driving School

BTW, thanks to all who gave me tips before I went Just got back from the 2 day course at Lime Rock Park in CT and have this to say: it is OFF THE SHIZZLE. The word "fun" hardly does it justice. The highlights include: autoX in a 997 C2, M3 (E46) and Cayman; driving the same 3 cars on the full track (instructor lead follow); hot lap w/ instructor behind the wheel It was really interesting to actually feel how each car handled differently close to the limit (sometimes, over the limit). It's a great way to "test drive" the different cars before making a purchase decision. The instructors are top notch, everybody attending is obviously also a petrolhead which makes for great camaraderie. I highly recommend the experience. YMMV, I have no previous DE or autoX experience, just street driving. The instruction is well organized and broken down into different exercises e.g. skid control, lane toss etc. which build upon each other. One regret is that they didn't have an Audi RS4 available for comparo. The one realization I have after the course is that the Cayman's handling is really really really good, IMHO better than the 997 and M3 (for a novice like me anyway). Sadly, of course, the engine is rather anemic so the uphill and straight are a bit of a snooze compared to the other two.

Great write up - I've been thinking about this myself for a while. Maybe if we hit our numbers this quarter.....

Sounds like a blast and a great time. Is it safe to assume that you have been bitten by the track bug? I noticed your in the Princeton area...I work at BMS a see quite a few of 996's on the road.

I wish I could go to the track but weekends are tough to get away because of family obligations and GOLF SEASON! I figured Skip Barber was the best way to get a concentrated dose of instruction and wheel time in couple of days. Not to mention it's somebody else's hardware. There are a lot of Porsches in this area, saw an orange 997 GT3 RS the other day and there's a black Ruf 996 Rt12 Turbo about too.

So you liked the Cayman's handling, but which car did you want to take home?

A guy showed up in a Gallardo Spyder. I wanted to take THAT home. But seriously, based on how the cars felt to me on the autoX and on the track these are my opinions (keep in mind I'm not a car reviewer or even a half decent driver): Cayman - At the limits of traction in corners this was the easiest to drive. Felt very predictable as the tires lost grip. It was relatively easy to turn in and point the nose. But the lack of power was disappointing on the straights and up the hill where it fell back against the M3 and 997. Some of the other drivers like the way the Cayman handled in the corners but hated the lack of power too. 997 - I was actually surprised how much the 997 understeered trail braking into corners, you know, after reading all about how 911s are suppose to be tail happy and all. All 3 cars understeered, but the 997 was the trickiest to get consistently well in and out of the corners. The car felt a little twitchier. Coming over the top of the hill, if the car wasn't dead straight, it was kind of scary. The 997 had tons of torque and power. Going up the hill and down the straight was a breeze. I could catch up to the instructor (in a BMW 330i) on the straight bits but I would lose him on the corners. M3- This car felt the best overall. It's really easy to drive and forgiving of mistakes. Great handling and good power. I think the engine in the front keeps the front tires gripping a little better. Not as torquey as the 997 but good enough.I could keep up with the instructors the best with the M3. The action of all the M3 controls just feel right on. I would have to say that I would have taken the 997 home (something about BMW styling just doesn't sit quite right with me), but I really really liked the way the M3 drove. It was a bit of a disappointment to jump back into my own car for the ride home. The 996 clutch and shift feel is just not that great. I hate to say it but the Porsche marketing people are right to be worried. If they dropped a 3.6L or 3.8L in the Cayman, I wouldn't buy a 997 C2, C4 maybe, but not a C2.

M Power baby! Bow down 911!

Pfft!

LOL!

B choi - it's been great fun to have you as a rennlist member, but I still can't figure out why you bought a Porsche... smackboy - great writeup - thanks! So that was a base Cayman, not an S, right? I wonder what impressions would be in an S.

Very good write up! I see you had a blast and learned a lot. I'm fully with you on the summary. The M3 is a great overall performer with no real weakness (maybe weight) and the Cayman is very balanced due to its mid-engine. I had quite a few BWMs before i got my 996 and drove a Boxster as well but after more and more track events I've to say that the 911 makes the most fun as I learn and learn more about driving the car. It's by far not as easy to understand and drive as a Cayman or a M3 but for me much more fascinating.

hey black, just ask me what's in the garage today and that should show you that i was being completely facetious, though i will say... the M3 is a fantastic car in its own way. the E92 M3 is going to be a beast, but guess what... i wouldn't trade my old **** 996 for one ever.

They only had base Caymans and base 997s. I think they used to have Boxters but then Lime Rock Park wouldn't let them out on the track without roll cages or something like that. Even a Cayman S is hauling 10.01 lbs/hp vs. 9.46 lbs/hp for a 997 vs. 10.26 lbs/hp for an M3. So maybe a Cayman S would edge out the M3? This is what is needed http://www.rufautocentre.com/conversions/CaymanS.asp Did you know that Skip Barber himself no longer owns or runs the school? Apparently he sold it to some former students a few years ago. He does however still own the track itself, Lime Rock Park.

smack, how much did it cost?

http://skipbarber.com/driving_school...hp_school.aspx It's $2,895. 5% discount each if more than 1 person sign up as a group. $100/day extra if you want to reduce the car damage deductible from $10,000 to $2,000 (not really necessary IMHO, you have to be really trying to be stupid to damage a car).

I suspect with a Cayman S vs. the Cayman, you would not have been disappointed. It's easy handling through corners combined with the improved power would have created faster laps for you than the others. I really experienced driver might be able to squeee more out of the 997. However, the Cayman S is much easier to drive for someone new.

Between 2000 and 2004 I had a Boxster with the ROW 030 setup and 18" wheels. I think that my Boxster was a more approachable car than my 03 Targa. By approachable I mean easier to drive near the limit. As such I would agree with your assessment of the Cayman.