The Cayman Effect

I can't pull up to a traffic light without causing some guy in a Subaru WRX or a Honda Civic Si from taking off like they are at a drag strip. Is it just me or does this car cause some strange behavior when people pull up next to it? I am 42 years old and just chuckle watching this phenomenon, it happens daily.

Yes I have noticed that as well. A 'trust fund' young lady raced me in her new 640i today from the light to a one lane entry into the expressway. Sad thing is that I won.....got to remember to not do that.

Yup, it happens here too. I'm always oblivious to it until I see a car in my rear view trying to catch-up. Then when you see the kind of car it is I either slow down, let it through! whats the point! They don't get the satisfaction of racing me and I enjoy my time. However other times when you get a souped-up hatchback with young kids in it its more of a testosterone thing for them and in my eyesit's no different then them playing with themselves - they go right up to the bumper and follow you until they can gesticulate and drive off.. It does make me laugh as when I find I'm being followed by kids I usually drive round town a little and get them to follow me around the same route several times until they get bored. I don't really want them following me home to see where I live. But yes, having a Porsche seems to bring the the 'animal' out in some drivers who have to some degree 'lesser' cars, however I do respect people regardless of what they drive and who they are, life is too short. But it does get annoying when people want to race you. I just want to enjoy my ride, and if I drive fast sometimes, I don't want to race, I'm just enjoying the day.

Just picked up my new Cayman two days ago......I traded in a 1997 911 (993) and as I was having my last drive in my 911 on the way to the dealership, a kid in FRONT of me, pulls over on the side of the two lane road so he can get behind me and horse around (waste gate noises and all) it was comical. An hour or so later on the way home in my new Cayman, the exact same kid pulls along side me on a different road and obviously wants to duel...........After the break in, I think I'll go looking for the kid !

I have found this happening as well, and it is very interesting comparing responses to the Cayman with those I got when in my Mini Cooper S. The Cooper S always generated smiles, every time no doubt, in men, women, and especially in kids. On the other hand, many folks seem somehow to feel challenged in the Cayman's presence. I guess the throttle blip to 3k tends to put people off?

Here's a different take on the story. I've been driving a '99 Carrera Convertible around for the last week or so. Last weekend, an older guy pulls up in a Mini Cooper S and obviously wants to race. He starts driving like a mad man, cutting in and out of traffic, just hauling *** in general. I normally associate this with kids younger than me, I feel like I'm a kid at 29 but this guy who looked to be around 50 or so was driving like this. I thought it was pretty funny.

They come in all ages I guess.......interesting though that everybody wants to take down a Porsche, and I've driven some other hot cars, but I always attract the speed racer types while driving a Porsche I'm 45 and have the maturity level of your average 18 year old, so I really can't complain.

This tends to happen in all proper performance cars and even bikes. I had a Ducati 916 which is faster then any car and young lads in ordinary hatchbacks with bling wheels would try to race you from the lights. My wife told me she toasted a teenager in a peugeot from the lights onto the motorway when we had an M3. He blew his engine trying to keep up. I was so proud of her. It would seem that people in lesser cars will always try to prove themselves. Best to ignore it most of the time and every now and again make an example of them!

Happens to me all the time! Always a lesser car! I think they feel they need to prove themselves, or that they want to measure their inferior vehicle's performance to the Porsche. Maybe they're threatened by the Croc. Half the time I just ignore them, if and when I find myself in the midst of 'spirited driving', it's for my enjoyment, the other half of the time......the Croc must prey. [/quote]

Try driving around in an STi if you want to talk about getting hassled by idiot kids wanting to race you! Ignorance is a disease.

No one ever seemed to do it when I had my 993TT! Now they do with my new Cayman. Thats when I wish I had the turbo engine in there!

I get this too...all the time. It seems no one is immune. I'm not suprised for the kid in a ricer, but the women in an SUV is the one that shocks me. It seems as though if you can 'beat' (however that is defined in ones narrow mind) a Porsche you can conquer some primal urge. It's amusing, fun, annoying and all part of Cayman life!

Okay, I am not making this up. I swear, today on the way home from my 1st oil change a guy in a Mini Van pulled up, gave me 'the eye' and then jetted off and slowed down along side me a second time. What are these folks thinking?

Yeah, all day, every light. Most entusiasts have read by now that Caymans are slower than 911s... Everyone seems inspired to race it. It would be fun to have an SL65 and take all the emblems off...