2008 Porsche Cayman Las Vegas NV

November 18, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2008 Porsche Cayman
DriverSide Overview
It’s always the heavyweights that garner the most attention. Holyfield, Tyson, Foreman – these are the big-name fights that rake in the national audiences and high rollers. But if you ask someone in the know where to see the most entertaining fighting on earth, they’re likely to tell you to have a look at Thai Kickboxing. Fought by nimble middleweights, these fighters are – just like the Porsche Cayman – potential Goliath-slaying Davids. The 2008 Porsche Cayman is a bantamweight scrapper if there ever was one, with an ideal blend of chassis balance, low mass, power and braking. As such, it has the ability to beat heavier high-horsepower cars around a track. Yet the Cayman is also a remarkably easy car to live with, thanks to a comfortable cabin, civilized everyday driving composure and decent fuel economy. There’s good news for those seeking style too – you can have your Cayman exactly the way you want it, as Porsche offers a plethora of options as well as bespoke custom tailoring.



2008 Porsche Cayman





What's to Like
The Cayman’s centralized balance and low weight give it true athletic composure. It also has a surprising amount of dedicated storage space – more than a Honda Accord , according to Porsche – making it an easy lifestyle compromise for those looking for daily versatility in a two-door.

What's Not to Like
The base model Cayman comes off as a bargain, but the 2.7-liter can be a letdown in a drag race. Expensive and practically endless factory options can quickly see your Cayman’s price tag doing its best 911 impression.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The most impressive thing about the Cayman is its neutral balance. The mid-engine design leads to a centralized mass within the wheelbase, and the horizontally opposed engine – whose architecture is more than somewhat mind-boggling – keeps the center of gravity low within the chassis. This leads to a car that’s more than happy to change direction with the flick of a wrist, really showcasing its talents through fast side-to-side turns. The steering is sharp and keen to let you know what’s going on at the front-end, while the gear change is crisp and efficient. The standard Cayman’s 245 horsepower can feel a little weedy towards the top-end, which leads us to recommend the 295 hp Cayman S for the optimal experience. The brakes bring plenty of stopping power in either Cayman guise, perfectly complementing the Cayman’s overall balance. After repeated threshold braking minor fade is present, but Cayman S buyers who frequently find themselves visiting the track can opt for fade-free Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes.

Engine and Drivetrain
The standard Cayman is fitted with a 2.7-liter horizontal six-cylinder engine that produces 245 hp an...

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