Inside Story: 2008 Porsche Cayman

2008 Porsche Cayman. Click image to enlarge

Manufacturer’s web site Porsche Canada

Review and photos by Michael Clark

Photo Gallery:
2008 Porsche Cayman

How much Porsche does anyone really need?

That’s a loaded question to ask around a throng of auto scribes. The knee-jerk reaction would be to fawn with religious fervour over turbocharged and all-wheel drive versions of the fabled 911. To be fair, I’ve dispensed the odd quart of drool while proving, in the interest of journalistic integrity, that sub-five-second 0-to-100 km/h journeys in anything that carries a Carrera “S” badge are truly within reach. Please; there’s no need for applause. If I need to experience a facial metabolic change to bring you the reporting CD readers deserve, so be it.

2008 Porsche Cayman. Click image to enlarge

While kicking around Vancouver last week, I had the chance to stop into some local garages, where I practically tripped over a handful of my favourites from the Stuttgart stable. I speak of the 356 Coupe, as well as the earliest examples of the 911. Taut performers, much like the rigid hardtop skin of today’s Boxster, better known as the Cayman. One such Cayman was able to accompany me and my daughter during our 2008 installment of the Daddy-Daughter Road Trip. What better way to poke and prod at this week’s IS tester, a Guard’s Red Cayman coupe? As shown, this configuration of Cayman sits at an MSRP of $71,290. Prices shown do not reflect freight, taxes, or regional incentives.

That’s the tach, Jack! What better way to trumpet your speedy intentions by making the speedometer sweep second banana. For everyday driving, the digital speed read-out will suffice. The display also includes driver information, such as tire pressure monitoring, accessed with a column-mounted stalk at the eight-o’clock position. Wipers include rain-sense, as well as a separate headlamp washer spurt. The headlamp switch includes fog lights for front and rear. The driver’s door places the power mirror control within easy reach, while the window lifts are full auto for descent/ascent, with a weather seal cinch occurring when each door is closed.

“Uncluttered” best describes the Cayman stack, with simple navigation elation for audio and HVAC controls. There’s a switch for central locking, as well as the stability program. If you can’t wait for the rear spoiler to raise automatically at highway speeds, you can engage this hip lip yourself, with the stack-mounted switch.

2008 Porsche Cayman. Click image to enlarge

There’s a Carlin-esque quality to the Cayman’s cubbies, with no shortage of locations to stow your stuff. The locking glovebox is flock-lined, and ample enough for items other than the owner’s encyclopedia. Driver and passenger doors continue with a Porsche mainstay that every manufacturer should consider: storage compartments beneath flip-top armrests. The centre console lid reveals a 12-volt DC powerpoint, coin holder, and a removable rubber floor pad. A second powerpoint is found on the passenger-side wall of the centre stack.

Push the trim piece directly above the glovebox door for cupholder access. They may not be worthy of a Mondo Gulpster bucket cup, but they do work surprisingly well with double-doubles, thanks to an adjustable cinch system. Behind the seats are two flip-top compartments. The passenger-side door opening gets a stuff gully at the scuff plate level, with a removable rubber floor pad. As with most Black Forest vehicles, Porsche continues to promote the blackening of the lungs with its lighter/ashtray combo.

The Cayman benefits from a self-dimming rearview mirror, with an adjacent Homelink transmitter keypad. Vanity mirrors get dual backlights. Topside, the Cayman sports attachment points for optional rack systems. (Porsche actually wants you to USE the Cayman, not just look pretty in it.)

2008 Porsche Cayman. Click image to enlarge

Both driver and passenger receive manual height control, with power recline. Each seatback incorporates a coat hook, while the seat bottoms can toast your backside with two-step heat.

Two trunks are better than one! The Cayman takes two-person touring to new levels, with a rear hatch that sports a mesh cargo net, removable cargo cover, and sturdy tie-down points. The front trunk gets impressive depth for suitcases.

Spare? What spare? Don’t despair. Porsche uses an emergency inflation system, much like last week’s Mazda MX-5. The components are stowed in the removable rear panel of the front trunk wall.

Porsche can fiddle with it for you, during the first four years of ownership.

2008 Porsche Cayman. Click image to enlarge

Well, it’s under there somewhere, a 2.7-litre boxer six of some 245 horsepower. While you can pretty much stow your Metric wrenches for a few years, there is still the ability to fill the oil and coolant, top off your brake fluid, and keep the windshield washer reservoir in check. There’s also an easily-accessible battery compartment up front. In respect to the oil, there is no dipstick to muck up the carpet. The level is checked at start-up, on the driver information screen.

A five-day blast back to the currently-thawed tundra of Winnipeg from West Van proved that the Cayman has plenty of practical storage space, without feeling overstuffed. You still might have a tough time convincing the Significant Other that the Cayman is anything other than a toy. You might need a Costco run to drive the point home. Five stars. And it’s a Porsche!

Next week: 2009 Subaru Forester

Related posts:

1. Buyer's Guide: 2008 Porsche Cayman/Cayman S
2. Inside Story: 2008 Porsche Cayenne S
3. Buyer's Guide: 2007 Porsche Cayman/Cayman S
4. Inside Story: 2007 Porsche Boxster S
5. CTC Review: 2007 Porsche Cayman