DESCRIPTION

Pros:

• Excellent handling
• Pitch-perfect steering and braking
• Power to weight ratio of a true sports car
• A lot more cargo space over the Boxster
• Performance doesn't cost you big at the gas pump

Cons:

• Road and wind noise still intrusive even with a hard top
• Use caution with selection options and packages
• Tight cabin

To many Porsche sports car purists and enthusiasts, the Cayman and Cayman S coupes are clearly the modern descendants of the groundbreaking and legendary Porsche 904 and its precursor, the Porsche 550 Coupe.

The 2011 Porsche Cayman model range currently comprises of four hard-top variants, the Cayman, Cayman S, Cayman S Black Edition and Cayman R Coupes.

The standard Cayman comes equipped with a 2.9-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine developing 265 horsepower at 7200 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque from 4400 to 6000 rpm. This translates to a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top test-track speed of 165 mph when fitted with standard six-speed manual gearbox. Adding the PDK gearbox drops the 0-to-60 time to 5.4 seconds, and adding the optional Sports Chrono Package further improves this sprint time to 5.2 seconds. The top test-track speed for a PDK-equipped Cayman is 163 mph.

The Cayman S is outfitted with a 3.4-liter engine producing 320 horsepower at 7200 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at 4750 rpm. A Cayman S with a standard six-speed manual gearbox will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds on its way to a top test-track speed of 172 mph. Adding PDK lowers the sprint time to 4.8 seconds (4.6 seconds when using the Sports Chrono Package) while providing a top test-track speed of171 mph.

The 2011 Cayman delivers 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway with a manual gearbox and 20 city/29 highway with the optional PDK gearbox. The Cayman S achieves 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with a manual gearbox and 20 city/29 highway with the optional PDK gearbox.

The Cayman R strives to achieve one of Porsche's primary goals: combine performance of outstanding agility with optimal power-to-weight ratio. The Cayman R is 121 pounds and 10 more hp more powerful over the Cayman S. The 330 hp, 3.6 liter flat 6 engine features direct fuel injection which results in impressive performance figures and low fuel consumption and emissions. Top track speed is 175 mph and reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds when mated to the PDK.