New Porsche Cayman S review, test drive

The old Cayman was the best handling sportscar around. Has Porsche topped it? We drive the new Cayman S in Dubai to find out.

Published on Jun 18, 2013 05:17:00 PM

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It’s exactly this that comes to the fore as we get to the mountains – I expected the Cayman to be special dynamically, but I didn’t expect it to astound me with its crisp turn-in, its beautifully neutral chassis and, in these arid conditions, tremendous grip. And Porsche has nailed it on the head with brake feel and stopping power too.

What this all adds up to is a car that feels incredibly tight and exploitable in a way that even supremely exciting (and way more expensive) supercars of Latin origin aren’t. The Cayman S feels absolutely right, the engine’s modest power and chassis (aided by Porsche’s optional torque vectoring system) working to provide an experience that’s beyond everything the enthusiast would expect. Even the new electro-mechanical steering is tremendously engaging with its weight and sheer directness. Still, owners of the old Cayman might be disappointed slightly with the new steering’s lack of the feedback that characterised the old system.