Thinking of ordering a Cayman S..

Technetium · Mar 16, 2019

First off, Newbie alert, so please bear with me.
Probably been asked many times before, but I couldn't find anything recent.
Thinking of ordering a Cayman S, but not for a couple of months at least so have time to research properly..
Can only find a few low mileage (2017/2018) used cars within 60 miles of where I live and none meet my requirements (manual gearbox, dark blue, 19 inch Boxster S wheels, LED headlights), so will probably end up ordering a new one.
Looking at configurator, usual issue about options....
A few must-haves (for me at least) should really be included as standard in a car of this price/quality (e.g. elect folding wing mirrors, rear parking camera) but Audi are just the same!
However, what is the general consensus about:
* The PASM adaptive suspension (I want a relatively supple ride, but am a bit concerned about the 2 cm lowering effect as I have quite a few speed bumps to negotiate daily)
* Bose sound system? Significantly better than the standard option? I appreciate that this is a bit subjective
* Sport Chrono package? Is this the only way of selecting different driving modes (via switch on steering wheel)? Reviewers suggest that "everyone" specs this..

It's very easy for these expensive options to get 'out of control' and you never get your money back on them...
Thanks in advance.

Brian_Innes · Mar 16, 2019

Individual specs on the Cayman are very much according to the owner's preferences and how the car will be used and the roads it's driven on. The following may provide some food for thought;

PASM gives the best of both worlds for general touring. "Normal" mode is the more compliant for general road use. "Sport" firms up the ride, but not excessively so. Best suited to smooth roads. "Sport Plus" is the firmest setting, best for track days.

Sport Chrono package is best optimised for the PDK gearbox. The full benefits of the Sport Chrono pack is compromised on the manual gearbox cars. The steering wheel mode switch selects PASM setting, sports exhaust, sport mapping of the ECU throttle, ABS, and traction control intervention. On manual cars with Sport Chrono, no launch control, or rapid-fire gear shifts, although throttle blipping on down-shifts is provided I understand.

The -20mm PASM has no problem with traffic calming speed humps in my experience. My 718 Cayman GTS has the Sport Design front splitter and the -20mm lower PASM. I have absolutely no issues with grounding.

Power Steering Plus is worth it if you value extra steering feel at speed, and extra assistance when low speed manoeuvring.

20" wheels fill the wheel arches better and make the car look more purposeful.

2 - way Sports Plus seats are comfortable and provide better torso location than the standard chairs.

Other than that, the choice is yours.

Brian

Motorhead · Mar 16, 2019

Some additional comments Philip:

Just be aware that climate control is an option, the standard aircon requiring manual operation (disgraceful on a premium vehicle in my view), and self-dipping mirrors/auto wipers are also optional (ditto).

I'm not sure that it's worth paying a premium for in-car entertainment - it's a sports car after all..!

LED headlights if you must, but PDLS is cheaper and a worthwhile option compared with standard.

For me cruise control is essential and - despite the cost - I'd take the leather option as it lifts the interior quality.

I'd go for the smoking package because it avoids having the nasty uncovered storage compartment in the front centre console; it used to be FOC but is now a £38 option. But a passenger footwell storage net is free..!

Jeff

CLIFFWILKINS · Mar 16, 2019

Yeah I agree some of the extra cost option are disgraceful on a premium expensive car such as a Porsche where as other marques certain items are standard.

I guess that's where the new T versions come into play lots of kit for a little extra.

Daveotto · Mar 17, 2019

Hi Phillip,

Welcome, I went through the same thought process myself back in October and finally went for the following demo (ex- dealership principles) car with 5k on the clock as was to inpatient to wait until I could order an S as they were still off limits due to new emissions testing back in October..spec and my thoughts which might help in your selection.

Understand what you say about lack on standard kit but if you believe the brand hype having almost fill fully configurability is a premium brand default option

PDK - first ever Auto box car I have owned, was looking at a manual but I am now a PDK convert

Agate Grey metallic - My understated colour of choice

20" Carrera S wheels in platinum silver with colour centre crests - 20" wheels do look far better than 19"'s, compromise is scuffability, already got some kerb damage on one wheel, had these painted platinum as car had black wheels which I hate

Sport Chrono pack - only way to get any type of mapping easily, almost a must have option and increases the smilometer 200% when you press the fun pedal

Sports Exhaust - only compromise for me unless engine sound is an issue for you, i would have swapped these for upgraded lights, ideally LED

Bose sound system - does sound good for the times you want music to be centre stage

Folding door mirrors - must have for me as cars sits on a 2 car drive and i dont trust delivery men and lot of time in airport car parks

2 zone climate control - must have, my wife likes her side of the car ice cold!!!!

GT sport steering wheel (heated) - nice to have that was part of the spec

Park assist front/rear - essential, system is great and I don't see the added value of a reversing camera

Heated 2 way electric seats - heated seats are great, had them on my previous S3's, 2 way electric are a waste of time once set i have not moved them once

Finally, if there was anything i could add now it would be a rear wiper

Hope this helps

Dave

Technetium · Mar 17, 2019

Thanks for the replies guys - extremely helpful.

It is interesting that the Sport Chrono Pack is present on 4 of the 5 manual used cars I have been looking at online, so most people do indeed seem to spec it regardless of transmission type.

I think I could live without the Bose system. As said, cabins in sports coupes are not the most conducive for hi-fi quality sound.

I hear what you say about the 20 inch wheels, but the ride quality usually suffers somewhat going from 18-19-20 (in most cars at least) and the tyres tend to get exponentially more expensive!

Agree with Dave that heated seats are an absolute must (as is auto aircon) and I have got used to the reversing camera on my current car.

I am a dyed-in-the-wool manual gearbox fan and that is in fact one of the attractions of the Cayman.

Would love to get back to a gearbox that is as good (or even nearly as good) as in the Honda S2000.

I don't know that much about the PDK auto, but assume it works in basically the same way as the DSG/s-tronic boxes in VAG cars?

I know that these double-clutch boxes are a 'wonder of modern auto engineering', but they leave me a bit cold.

I know that cruise control is useful for long motorway journeys, but I do very few.

Have had ACC (as standard) on my last 2 cars and never switched it on once!

Finally, for now, the comment about the rear wiper made me smile.

This is actually one of my biggest must-haves as the lack of one on the current mk3 TTS drives me absolutely nuts!

Daveotto · Mar 17, 2019

Ride quality on 20’s is better than both an S3 mag ride on 19’s or the TTS on 20’s

Motorhead · Mar 17, 2019

Philip,

Good to hear your enthusiasm for the manual 'box - we're a dying breed..! The change quality is very good (but maybe not as flick-switch as that in your S2000) and the dual clutch (PDK in Porsche-speak) 'box is excellent if you wan't a semi-auto - probably the best around. A lot depends upon your preferences and whether or not you'll be driving in heavy traffic - maybe worth a try to see if it suits.

I've never missed not having a rear wiper, but then my car's garaged and isn't a daily driver so doesn't see much use in the rain. However, when on the move the airflow soon clears the water and I don't have an ugly rear wiper carbuncle spoiling the clean lines. Plus I think it's set up for LHD, leaving an unswept area in the critical top RH quadrant of the window.

I'm amazed that people still think that cruise control is only applicable for M-way journeys. In our ever more speed-regulated world I reckon that it's an essential fitment and use it all the time, even in built-up areas - rather like a hand throttle.

Jeff

Ray · Mar 17, 2019

Jeff,

I agree on the cruise control. I haven't got it fitted to this Cayman, but in the past I have used it around my area due to the number of speed camera's sited.

Ray

Dylan1 · Mar 17, 2019

If you’ve only tried DSG on Audi/Vw I would seriously give the PDK a try- I didn’t like the sterile DSG/ R tronic but love the PDK

its chalk and cheese imho

Technetium · Mar 17, 2019

Ray said:
Jeff,

I agree on the cruise control. I haven't got it fitted to this Cayman, but in the past I have used it around my area due to the number of speed camera's sited.

Ray

I currently deal with this by downloading a third-party speedcam database, so the speed camera locations (gatso, ave speed, etc) show up on the navmap on the Audi virtual cockpit.

I also get a 'beep' and a pop-up message when I'm about 100m from a camera.

Is it possible to do something similar with the Porsche?

Technetium · Mar 17, 2019

Dylan1 said:
If you’ve only tried DSG on Audi/Vw I would seriously give the PDK a try- I didn’t like the sterile DSG/ R tronic but love the PDK

its chalk and cheese imho

Yes. I used to own a Golf GTI with 6 speed DSG (got rid of it after about 12 months as I just couldn't get along with the gearbox) and had an extended test drive in a 7 speed s-tronic TTS before ordering a manual. 'Sterile' is a very good description of both - and I found that they can be quite jerky in first and second. However, sounds like I should at least give the PDK a try.

Brian_Innes · Mar 17, 2019

The latest evolution of PDK on the 718 is definitely worth a test drive. Sport Chrono package brings this into sharp focus.

The new PDK is a very worthwhile option to consider.

Brian

paulseagrave · Mar 17, 2019

I have the PDK and its brilliant especially on track days , when choosing you need to think about where you will be driving the car, because the reality of uk driving now is being in traffic and a manual clutch is no fun in a traffic jam.My car has the Pasm,sport chrono and the Porsche torque vectoring but i went with the 19" wheels for a slightly more compliant ride when on general roads. what love about the car with the PASM and PDK is i can take my wife out for a comfortable ride but have an animal on Trackdays. Best of all worlds

Ray · Mar 17, 2019

I wouldn't go back to a manual shift if you paid me. Everyone who I know who drives an automatic is of the same mind. With the auto you can concentrate on driving the vehicle, in traffic they are a god send. Stop start traffic, feathering clutches is a thing of the past.

Ray

Technetium · Mar 18, 2019

Ray said:
I wouldn't go back to a manual shift if you paid me. Everyone who I know who drives an automatic is of the same mind. With the auto you can concentrate on driving the vehicle, in traffic they are a god send. Stop start traffic, feathering clutches is a thing of the past.

Ray

You touch on the key point. For me, the manual gear change is totally integral to the pleasure of driving and without it you are essentially just steering. I know that semi autos have manual modes / flappy paddles, but (in DSG guise at least) this is not the same thing by any stretch. I am fortunate in living in a rural area and happily spend very liitle time in crawling city traffic etc, so one of the oft quoted advantages of auto over manual is negated. However, having said all that, I am keeping an open mind about PDK and am hoping that its a lot more involving that the rather boring VW/Audi offerings. Test drive planned.

Philip

Motorhead · Mar 18, 2019

Manual 'box? Grab one while you still can Philip. In 10-years time I reckon you won't be able to get one - that's if we haven't gone EV - in which case the gearbox type becomes irrelevant.

The PDK is an excellent 'box, but at the end of the day you're still just clicking switches.

Jeff

AlistairF · Mar 18, 2019

I find the Bose option in my Boxster a bit pointless (unless you spend a lot of time in traffic). To hear it properly over the nice mechanical noises you have to turn it up. A lot. I can only stand it for so long...

AndrewCS · Mar 18, 2019

Further PDK vs Manual comments ... https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1015165

There is so much more to PDK use and driving experience than mentioned in these threads, one must be prepared to explore all of it`s capabilities though. After eighteen months and thirteen thousand miles I am still enjoying learning.

`Switches`, they (the controls) may be but gear (down) shifts can be done using the `manual` brake pedal [

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Technetium · Mar 18, 2019

Motorhead said:
Manual 'box? Grab one while you still can Philip. In 10-years time I reckon you won't be able to get one - that's if we haven't gone EV - in which case the gearbox type becomes irrelevant.

The PDK is an excellent 'box, but at the end of the day you're still just clicking switches.

Jeff

You are right Jeff, of course. But lets not worry about that now. Live for the present eh? [

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