ANALOG PERFECTION
The Porsche 718 has been around for so long and I’m just so fortunate that I was once part of its global dynamic launch in 2016 in Portugal. I’ve driven it in Portugal twice, in Malaysia, Singapore and here in the Philippines multiple times and those experiences had me questioning if I really do want its big brother, the 911, or this is all the Porsche sports car I really need?
Internally, it’s designated as the 982 generation chassis which has been around a bit longer, prior to the line’s make-over switching from naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines to the turbocharged four cylinders in the Cayman (and its open-top twin, the Boxster) in base, S and GTS trim. The 718 moniker was added after the engine switch, an homage to the 718 open-top sportscar competing in the small displacement classes at Le Mans, various road races and the European Hill Climb Championship from the late 1950s to the early 1970’s.
The 718 won the Italian road race classic, the Targa Florio 3 times and even won its class at Le Mans in 1961. Thus, the Cayman carrying the mantle of the original 718 has a heavy weight to uphold the pride of Porsche.
The Cayman S is powered by a mid-mounted 2.5 liter four cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine that produces 345hp and 420 Newton-Meters of twist action. Seems modest but truthfully, it feels perfectly adequate, providing the delicate balance a mid-engine sports car is known for. It sends power exclusively to the rear wheels via a 7-speed Porsche PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters exclusively for the Philippines although in other markets, a manual is still offered.
There’s not much else to be had in the Cayman, partly owing to its older architecture. No Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, or any large display screens. No ADAS, no 360-degree cameras. There’s a modestly sized frunk and a boot that surprisingly fits a stroller plus some weekend bags for a quick getaway, a red leather clad interior with form fitting bucket seats and that handsome 918-style steering wheel.
What it does offer, is driving purity, an analog experience that is unfortunately about to ride off into the sunset. The Cayman feels fabulous, mesmerizing, intoxicating and addictive to drive. The engine sound matches the pace, progressively getting louder, more urgent and more aggressive as both revs and speed rises. Power is abundant, easily accessed and flexible, making the Cayman S easy and forgiving to drive in the road and track, especially for first timers. But the power isn’t overwhelming either: it doesn’t define the driving experience. Rather, the overall balance the Cayman delivers allows you, the driver, to utilize more of its power and potential more often, delivering a truly invigorating, and most memorable driving experience each time you go for a proper b-road blast or a flat-out track attack.
The steering is excellent: slightly light due to the lack of weight up front, but overflowing with feel, progression, accuracy and feedback on the road. It weighs up beautifully as you pile on the lock. The brakes, always a Porsche strength builds confidence to really push the car hard, thanks to the firm pedal feel, the progressive action, and the way the pedal serves up very precise and predictable modulation. You can really stand on the brakes to the point of lock-up without triggering the ABS-EBD brakes all day everyday, on your first try. And it will take a very hard downhill thrash, or multiple flat-out track sessions to induce fade. And the suspension? Just amazing. Firm, perfectly controlled, allowing the Cayman to corner flat, but giving just enough lean, sway and pitch to allow you, the driver, to feel just what the Cayman is doing. This is its true party trick, giving a very analog, very organic and very reassuring driving experience that urges you to push harder, faster and longer, exploring your limits (and courage) well before you find the Cayman’s.
A modest (for a modern car equipped with all the niceties of proper safety equipment) 1,385kg curb weight, and its 45:55 weight distribution allows the car to again be as close to perfectly balanced as much as possible. And yet, ride comfort, despite riding on massive 20-inch wheels shod with licorice-thin 235/40R20 fronts and 265/35R20 rears allows a comfortable enough ride to use it everyday even on our horrendous roads. The 318mm front and 299mm rear discs, clamped by four-piston front calipers and two-piston rears seem somewhat shy behind the huge spokes, but trust me, they only need to be this size. The smaller discs and rotors also reduce unsprung weight which aids both ride and handling.
The 718 Cayman S is a keeper. It’s a car you’ll keep forever, and grow together as its performance is easily accessible to beginners, but holds a vast performance potential even professionals respect, allowing you enough headroom to grow in skill and experience. It’s not very practical, but no other car offers this much driving pleasure AND performance, combined with striking looks plus the legendary Porsche reliability.
Porsche has already stopped accepting orders for the 718 Cayman and Boxster models as production will finally end this October. We mourn its passing after many years of service, but thankfully, Porsche Philippines has quite a few available in stock. This is your last chance to grab a piece of automotive analog perfection. I’m sold.
