2010 Porsche Cayman

MSRP from $51,400

Overview

Some consumers love the open aired ride of a sports car with a drop top. Yet, when it is a chopped top the car is definitely compromised. A chopped top car doesn't have a rigid body or a ridge mount suspension. That's why consumers like the Porsche Cayman coupe; it offers a solid body.The Cayman has a mid mount engine. It comes with a selection of six cylinder motors married to a choice of trannys including the six speed manual or seven speed PKD dual clutch automatic gearbox. The Cayman sports a racecar-like chassis and responsive steering too. In addition, this coupe sports hardtop making it more sound structurally speaking. The suspension is poised and the driving manners are exceptional.The Cayman is not a hardtop boxster. It has a body with sloping glass components that complement its elaborate haunches. It looks extremely different from soft top boxster models.The Cayman is hypnotic in every sense of the word. You get an ultimate sports car with a handsome design, superior handling, great power, and sound structure as well.

 

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Porsche Cayman is a two-seat coupe available in base and Cayman S trim levels. Standard equipment on the base car includes 17-inch wheels, summer high-performance tires, front and rear foglamps, eight-way adjustable seats (power recline, manual for all others), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, a trip computer, cruise control and a four-speaker sound system with CD player. The Cayman S gets a bigger engine, 18-inch wheels and a nine-speaker sound system.
The Cayman's lengthy options list includes typical items like different wheel sizes and designs, a limited-slip rear differential lock, ceramic composite brakes, adaptive suspension, a rear window wiper, auto-dimming mirrors (packaged with automatic wipers), rear parking sensors, bi-xenon adaptive headlights, PDK shift paddles and a sport exhaust.
Interior options include automatic climate control, fully powered seats, two different sport seat designs, heated seats, ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, Bluetooth, a navigation system, voice controls, an iPod interface, satellite radio, an in-dash or remote six-CD changer, a seven-speaker sound system upgrade for the base Cayman and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system for either model. The Sport Chrono package adds a lap timer, adjustable driver settings and, with PDK, launch control.
Then there are the numerous customization choices that will cover just about any interior surface in leather, Alcantara, aluminum, carbon fiber, wood trim or exterior paint.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2010 Porsche Cayman is powered by a 2.9-liter horizontally opposed (a.k.a. flat, or boxer) six-cylinder that produces 265 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The Porsche Cayman S gets a direct-injected 3.4-liter flat-6 good for 320 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Both cars come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while the seven-speed PDK automated manual is optional. The base car accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, while the S chops about a half-second off that time.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is quite good for a sports car. A Cayman with the manual will return 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 combined, while the PDK improves that to 20/29/24. The Cayman S with a manual is estimated to achieve 19/26/22, and PDK improves mileage to 20/29/23.

Safety

The Cayman comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, side airbags and side curtain airbags.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2010 Porsche Cayman's interior boasts premium materials and proper sports car seating. The oversized center-mounted tachometer conveys the Cayman's high-performance DNA, although the analog speedometer's tiny numbers and huge range make it more decorative than functional -- the trip computer's digital speedo readout is more useful. Some controls are a bit fussy, but the present center control stack is much friendlier than before -- especially the touchscreen navigation system.
Sharing much of its cabin with the Boxster roadster, the Cayman is hardly a spacious environment. Legroom is tighter than in other two-seaters and 2+2 coupes, while the small greenhouse can feel a bit confining. On the upside, the standard seats are remarkably comfortable and supportive -- the optional sport seats really aren't necessary. In regard to trunk space, there are 9 cubic feet available in the rear hatch (located behind the engine and cabin), and a front trunk expands total storage capacity to 14.5 cubic feet. Despite this impressive total, though, both compartments are awkwardly shaped.

Driving Impressions

Thanks to its petite size, modest weight and midengine layout, the 2010 Porsche Cayman handles superbly, managing to feel glued to the road and light on its feet at the same time. Body roll is virtually nonexistent, and the variable-ratio steering is among the best systems on the market. With the optional active suspension, the Cayman rides amazingly well for a sports car.
If you didn't know the 320-hp Cayman S existed, chances are, the base Cayman's 2.9-liter motor would never have a negative word thrown at it. Both are capable and impressive -- it just depends on how demanding you are as a driver and how willing you are to throw down $10,000 for an extra 0.6 second of 0-60 acceleration. The new PDK transmission is a revelation, providing faultless automated-manual shifting performance for those who would rather not row their own gears. We're not fans of the wheel-mounted buttons, though, preferring the paddle shifter designs found in the 911 Turbo and other vehicles.