2011 Porsche Cayman Review
Price
from: RM490,000
to: RM590,000
Installment
from: RM4,673/mth
to: RM5,627/mth
2011 Porsche Cayman at a glance
More hard-edged than the Porsche Boxster, the class-leading Porsche Cayman is quite amazing to drive. More agile than the flagship 911, and harder-gripping than the Boxster, the 2011 Porsche Cayman could be the best Porsche yet.
2011 Porsche Cayman quick specs
| Body Style | Coupe |
| Class | Sports/GT |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 2 |
2011 Porsche Cayman ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
Love it or hate it. All Porsche models follow the same design language. Therefore, it is to no great surprise that the 2011 Porsche Cayman looks somewhat similar to the Porsche Boxster and 911. We happen to love the 911-derived front-end, streamlined profile, and bulging wheel arches. In fact, we love how all other Porsche models look, except for the Porsche Cayenne of course.
Handling
Sharing the same wonderful chassis as the Porsche Boxster, and adding an extra dose of structural rigidity because of the fixed roof, the 2011 Porsche Cayman offers an amazing sharp drive. Expect to be blown away by the instinctive responses, taut body control and phenomenal grip. The precise steering remains peerless in feedback. Lighter and thus more agile than the flagship Porsche 911, and harder-gripping than the Boxster, the 2011 Porsche Cayman could be the best Porsche yet.
Comfort
The 2011 Porsche Cayman uses firmer suspension compared to the Porsche Boxster. Which is why PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) will come in handy to tackle Malaysian roads while retaining the sharp drive. The 2011 Porsche Cayman makes a fine cruiser, with a highly stable high-speed ride and excellent wind, road noise insulation. The low driving position is perfect, and steering and seating adjustments are plentiful. Seats are supportive, and cabin ergonomics are good, but the large number of buttons on the centre console can be confusing.
Quality + Reliability
Similar to the Porsche Boxster's cabin, the Cayman's cabin looks classy and feels solid. While the dashboard can be designed with more flair, quality materials and tactile switchgear fill the cabin. Fit-and-finish are similarly excellent. Porsche holds a brilliant reputation for mechanical reliability, and the 2011 Porsche Cayman should face little problems if properly maintained.
Performance
The 2011 Porsche Cayman comes with a 2.7-litre producing 241 bhp and 273 Nm, while the Cayman S is powered by a 3.4-litre producing 291 bhp and 340 Nm. The 2.7-litre can be paired to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed Tiptronic S. The 3.4-litre uses the five-speed Tiptronic S or a six-speed manual. On the roads, the 2.7-litre Porsche Cayman hurtles forward with blistering pace, putting in a performance worthy of the superb chassis. We recommend the manual over the Tiptronic S gearbox.
Roominess
The Cayman is essentially a Porsche Boxster with a fixed roof, which means the driver and passenger enjoy a spacious cabin with plenty of room. Practicality is highly commendable: the front boot holds up to 150 litres of luggage and the rear boot has 260 litres of loading space. There are a number of useful storage compartments in the cabin, too.
Running Costs
The 2011 Porsche Cayman is the most fuel-efficient using the smaller 2.7-litre and manual gearbox. Under gentle use, you can get 10-11 km/litre. But who drives a Porsche gently? Which then means much worse fuel economy. Servicing and repairs are expensive, but depreciation should be kept in check nicely, thanks to the strong Porsche brand and the Cayman's growing reputation as one of the best sports car around.
Value for Money
The BMW Z4 M coupe is the closest rival to the Porsche Cayman in Malaysia. While the 2011 Porsche Cayman is more expensive than the Bimmer, and very expensive in absolute amount, keep in mind that the Cayman offers Porsche 911-rivalling handling and driving involvement, at a substantially lower price. In fact, the 2011 Porsche Cayman is more than the Porsche that strikes the best balance between price and ability, it could be the best Porsche yet.
Equipment
The 2011 Porsche Cayman is equipped with all the basic necessities such as alloys wheels, premium audio system, climate control, various electric adjustments among others. But even more (expensive) goodies are available on the option list. Safety equipments include six airbags and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), which controls a host of safety programs to prevent accidents in the first place.
Environment
The fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are actually decent. But sports cars such as the 2011 Porsche Cayman are sure to see constant high-revving action, and that is when the real damage to the environment is done. Not helping is the two-seater configuration (meaning more pollution per occupant). A consolation for Greenpeace activists: the 2011 Porsche Cayman's restrained practicality and high running costs should limit its use.
Live Life Drive Verdict
911-rivalling handling at lower price
Class-leading handling and performance
Practical compared to similar rivals
Large number of buttons on dash centre
No topless option like the Boxster
Environment taking a beating
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