[creepy coupe]

Took this out saturday.











Cayman S with a good amount of extras.

Good points. even on those gorgeous 20" rims the ride was brilliant. The car had PASM. So I'm not sure how much of a part that played. But it was obvious some good quality parts and know-how had been used on the dampers etc.

Steering feel was also excellent, with good feedback an accuracy. Well compared to BMW.

Have to admit to being slightly disappointed in the engine. Putting aside the fact it's not a 6 pot anymore. I went with an open mind. But even for a four banger is sounded flat. I think Porsche had tried to recreate that induction howl of the old engine, for me it didn't work. I also found the engine bogged down a bit when giving it a poke sending vibrations trough the rear of the cabin and rattling some trim on both sides around the strut tops.

I think the biggest eye opener was the cabin controls and what an absolute clusterfcuk they are. It made me realise just how good BMW's are at this.

Porsche really need to have some kind of single control wheel. especially with the limited space inside a Cayman. The gear lever got in the way of the majority of buttons around the infotainment and nav. This car had PDK and I was surprised the shift action was old school. With the position for D-R-and Park needing the full range of movement. Again BMW are the best at this with just a once forward/back click. In fact the Cayman could have done with a Jag pop up style knob.

I came away bank account in tact. Sorry for the naff photos.

[makkan00]

Thanks for sharing your opinion on it.

[SkyJawa]

[Tengocity]

Would you not be tempted to go get a proper 6 pot one a couple of years old? If I really like the Boxster S and end up using it more than the 335d over the next year, then I can imagine swapping both for a Cayman GTS. I think they'll be a future classic! Last of the 6 pots in an affordable mid engined Porsche.

[BnB]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Would you not be tempted to go get a proper 6 pot one a couple of years old? If I really like the Boxster S and end up using it more than the 335d over the next year, then I can imagine swapping both for a Cayman GTS. I think they'll be a future classic! Last of the 6 pots in an affordable mid engined Porsche.

^^ This ^^

Or wait until Porsche realises its error and fits a 6. It takes the company a while to admit mistakes but usually it'll quietly correct them in the end.

[JNW1]

Wise words from both Tengocity and BnB; if I didn't need the space I'd certainly look at a used 6-pot Cayman S!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Would you not be tempted to go get a proper 6 pot one a couple of years old? If I really like the Boxster S and end up using it more than the 335d over the next year, then I can imagine swapping both for a Cayman GTS. I think they'll be a future classic! Last of the 6 pots in an affordable mid engined Porsche.

I had a Cayman s GEN 2 for a while. I was hoping the low end turbo shove would impress me enough over the flat 6. It wasn't just the engine though. i think Porsche are behind the times with cockpit layouts. Made me appreciate BMW's simplicity. Made me start thinking of an M2. But I can't get excited about a two year wait.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I had a Cayman s GEN 2 for a while. I was hoping the low end turbo shove would impress me enough over the flat 6. It wasn't just the engine though. i think Porsche are behind the times with cockpit layouts. Made me appreciate BMW's simplicity. Made me start thinking of an M2. But I can't get excited about a two year wait.

I get the impression there's a steady trickle of M2 orders being cancelled for one reason or another so in practice do you think you'd have to wait that long? I see on Pistonheads that someone's saying their local dealer has a car available for March 2017 delivery and I suspect that won't be the only one!

I guess there's also the question of would you want one in preference to an M4 if they were available for similar(ish) money? I certainly get the appeal of the M2 but even if I could get hold of one I'm not sure I'd pay £50k if I could be in an M4 for around the same cost; suppose you'd need to drive both in order to decide....

[tomppa]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Took this out saturday.

Cayman S with a good amount of extras.

Steering feel was also excellent, with good feedback an accuracy. Well compared to BMW.

Have to admit to being slightly disappointed in the engine. Putting aside the fact it's not a 6 pot anymore. I went with an open mind. But even for a four banger is sounded flat. I think Porsche had tried to recreate that induction howl of the old engine, for me it didn't work. I also found the engine bogged down a bit when giving it a poke sending vibrations trough the rear of the cabin and rattling some trim on both sides around the strut tops.

I came away bank account in tact. Sorry for the naff photos.

I did the same test lately and didn't like the high revving 4 banger either. Like my 335D engine+gearbox combo much more.
Surely Porsche takes turns better and engine would be perfectly suited for trackdays.
M4 being more expensive than Boxter, I would pay that extra € for DD.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I had a Cayman s GEN 2 for a while. I was hoping the low end turbo shove would impress me enough over the flat 6. It wasn't just the engine though. i think Porsche are behind the times with cockpit layouts. Made me appreciate BMW's simplicity. Made me start thinking of an M2. But I can't get excited about a two year wait.

Great write up!
Best option on the M2 is jumping into a cancelled order. The options are fairly limited in reality so once transmission and colour are sorted, happy days. I see the base price has been sneaking up and up from 44 to 48 is it now? If you're really interested ask around at a few local dealers and keep an eye out for cancellations or better still (IMO at least) nicely discounted pre regs. Still a few pre LCI cars optioned past 50 but selling for 46. Think I'd mentioned before but this was my route. I was out for mid 50s but in for a new At high mid 40s.

Sorry for off topic ish. Chester have another car exactly as above as mentioned recently.

Still...no harm in testing every car in the segment for a bit

[Steven1077]

My dealer said he could get me an M2 in about 6 months if I wanted one

[NotGotABimmer23]

Loads of pre reg pre LCI m2s available with up to 15% discount.

[Roberto71]

Porsche really made a bit of an error with this 918. I test drove the ordinary 918 as well and the engine just kills the experience. It's just not a good sound at all. Compared to a 340/440 or an M2 or an Audi S4/S5, RS3 etc it falls way short which is a crying shame. The chassis and balance are superb and the quality is top notch inside though I agree about the plethora of awkward buttons.

Over here a decent specced Cayman would be hitting €88K. That's way too much for a 4 pot two seater like that. I'd take a 440i any day or an M2 or a 2nd hand M4.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Great write up!
Best option on the M2 is jumping into a cancelled order. The options are fairly limited in reality so once transmission and colour are sorted, happy days. I see the base price has been sneaking up and up from 44 to 48 is it now? If you're really interested ask around at a few local dealers and keep an eye out for cancellations or better still (IMO at least) nicely discounted pre regs. Still a few pre LCI cars optioned past 50 but selling for 46. Think I'd mentioned before but this was my route. I was out for mid 50s but in for a new At high mid 40s.

Sorry for off topic ish. Chester have another car exactly as above as mentioned recently.

Still...no harm in testing every car in the segment for a bit

TBH Honest Chris. I'm seriosly thinking of the LCi M240i. Bang for buck it knock just about everything else into a cocked hat. Just waiting for a dealer to take have one so I can have a gander at it. I'm in no rush.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

TBH Honest Chris. I'm seriosly thinking of the LCi M240i. Bang for buck it knock just about everything else into a cocked hat. Just waiting for a dealer to take have one so I can have a gander at it. I'm in no rush.

Yup totally agree, it way better value. Loved my M235 as you know. Manual or 6MT if the latter try for test drive in any 2 series to be certain you're ok with the pedal positioning.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Yup totally agree, it way better value. Loved my M235 as you know. Manual or 6MT if the latter try for test drive in any 2 series to be certain you're ok with the pedal positioning.

Auto every time Mate. My M235 was auto. I did borrow TRLs Manual with an LSD for a couple of days. I was glad to get back in mine.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

TBH Honest Chris. I'm seriosly thinking of the LCi M240i. Bang for buck it knock just about everything else into a cocked hat. Just waiting for a dealer to take have one so I can have a gander at it. I'm in no rush.

Sure you'll have clocked this already but on his post on the Joe Achilles 440i thread TRL suggested he had some "amazing" deals on LCI M240i's that are due to arrive in late September...

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Sure you'll have clocked this already but on his post on the Joe Achilles 440i thread TRL suggested he had some "amazing" deals on LCI M240i's that are due to arrive in late September...

I'm guessing they are spec JNW1? I'm fairly picky about what I want. I'm in negotiation with Tony at the mo though.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I'm guessing they are spec JNW1? I'm fairly picky about what I want. I'm in negotiation with Tony at the mo though.

You're right, if they're arriving at the end of next month they probably won't be spec changeable. However, I factory ordered my 335d in mid-August 2014 and it was delivered before the end of September so you never know; worth asking the question if you're talking to TRL!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by JNW1

You're right, if they're arriving at the end of next month they probably won't be spec changeable. However, I factory ordered my 335d in mid-August 2014 and it was delivered before the end of September so you never know; worth asking the question if you're talking to TRL!

Indeed.