2006 Porsche Cayman S Road Test | Winnipeg Used Cars, Winnipeg Used Trucks, Manitoba Used Cars, Manitoba Used Trucks, Used Vehicle Reviews, Safety Recalls, Used Cars for Sale in Manitoba

Sporty ambivalence

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the Cayman S. Porsche's intention was to offer a coupe between the Bosxter and the 911. The car's lines seem to appeal to enthusiasts, who find the design

(Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com)

beautiful. I've heard many people shout ''Wow!''. Personally, I think I prefer the Boxster S. In fact, both have familiar traits, most notably the big fog lights. With its bubble roofline, the car reminds me of the Audi TT.

In terms of storage, there's a generous trunk up front. In the back, space seems limited at first; however, when opening the liftgate, one realizes that a standard suitcase could easily be stored flat and fixed with the cargo net -- out of sight for potential burglars.

Cockpit
The selection of materials is all about quality. Likewise, the selection of interior colors appealed to me. As far as storage goes, there's not

(Photo: Amyot Bachand, Auto123.com)

much beyond the map pockets integrated in the door panels. Since the temperature quickly rises in the cockpit, one has to make good use of the HVAC system. That said, I found the ventilating too noisy for my liking. In the audio department, quality is obvious, but the engine sound makes it hard to appreciate. On the other hand, the driver enjoys a full array of instruments. I liked the digital speedometer because the traditional circular gauge was too hard to read. The steering wheel is of the right size and has a tilt/telescoping function. Forward visibility is impeded by the big A pillars, which requires extra caution from the driver.

Performance
The 2006 Cayman S is motivated by the same engine as the Boxster S but with a greater displacement -- 3.4 liters. For 2007, both share the same powertrain. Output is rated at 295 horsepower and 255 foot-pounds of torque. The engine purrs or roars depending on the

(Photo: Porsche)

one's driving style. The six speeds of the standard manual gearbox are well spaced; the short throw of the shifter makes it easy and fun to manipulate. Porsche's engineers have many talents indeed. The car is also available with a Tiptronic transmission.

I managed to get good accelerations with the Cayman S. There's a noticeable difference between Normal and Sport modes. I went from 0 to 100 kph in 6.43 seconds in Normal mode and 5.94 seconds in Sport mode. When deactivating traction control, the time dropped to 5.48 seconds. As for passing maneuvers, the Sport mode certainly lives up to its billing: only 3.8 seconds are necessary to go from 80 to 120 kph, while in Normal mode, it takes 5.06 seconds. Finally, the brakes are typical of Porsche, which means they allow safe stops. I immobilized the Cayman S from 100 to 0 kph over an average of 32 meters.