Just got back last night (we pulled in to my driveway at 11:45pm) from a blitz road trip from San Diego, California in a Porsche Cayman. Was a blast and confirmed why I love road trips. I'll try and give the abbreviated version of the story.

I was in my buddy's restaurant last Thursday for a lunch meeting. He happens to be a big car nut and mentioned to me when I walked in that he was thinking about buying a Porsche Cayman. Said he found one in San Diego that he loved. Immediately I'm thinking, "ROAD TRIP!!!" and told him I'd fly down and drive back with him if he ended up buying something.

By the time I got back to the office from lunch I had a text asking if I was serious. We had flights booked by the end of the day for Sunday and he'd purchased the car. Turns out it's a 2008 Porsche Cayman S Porsche Design Edition. Since it's a special edition, it has a little plaque on the dash showing it's #407 of 777 made. Black with black leather and only 7k miles on it.

Among other things, it came with some really cool Porsche Design accessories:

• Chrono watch
• Titanium pen
• Leather keychain
• Sunglasses
• Wenger swiss army knife

Everything is in that cool Porsche Design black. The knife is especially cool with black blades and a nice matte finish. None of it had been used by the previous owner.

We flew down, picked up the car, had dinner with his daughter and her friends, then took off early the next morning for Portland. I'd never driven or even ridden in a Cayman, but I have to say, I was dang impressed. The Porsche Design edition is especially appealing with some nice touches. Inside, there are slick shiny black surfaces sprinkled throughout the cabin with a suede wrapped steering wheel and shifter. LOVED those! Outside, the car has decals up the center that run from front to back, but they're very subtle. In fact you don't even notice them at first. There are also some on the lower doors that run horizontally. They really set the car off (and I don't usually like that stuff). Also included on this model are Porsche turbo wheels.

The car drives and rides like a true Porsche. The ride is a bit on the stiff side, even without the Sport setting engaged. Steering is precise and it corners like a dream. I was particularly impressed with the power of the car and how responsive it was. It feels more agile than the 911 because of it's smaller size and the engine being mid car rather than in the rear. I also loved the sound in the cabin with the engine right behind your back. Reminds me of the Ferrari.

I spent plenty of time driving and enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost every minute of it. I drove through the pass and ended up driving through snow and some ice on the road. I don't mind driving on that stuff, but not in someone else's new-to-them Porsche. We made it though and even made the non-negotiable In-N-Out stop for lunch just outside of Stockton.

I've been thinking a lot lately about Porsche special edition cars and whether or not they're worth it. I have a post partially written up with some thoughts and have some interesting new material to add after spending time in this Porsche Design Edition Cayman. It's definitely tainted my view a bit on the special edition cars.

God bless the "road trip"!

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This video is a little older, but is some pretty good footage of a Cayman S driven on one of the UK's most dangerous roads. I love the post editing of this video.

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Image from WashingtonExaminer.com

I came across a story a few weeks ago about a guy named Eduardo Bodmer who had always wanted a Porsche. The title of the story is what caught me: "Check Out My Ride: Bringing a first-of-its-kind Porsche to D.C. meant doing things differently". Of course it grabbed me!

Bodmer was looking for a Porsche, but not just any Porsche. He wanted something a bit more exotic and settled on a Techart Porsche Cayman. One that is a rarity in the States with only about 50 currently here.

I'll let you read the article if you want the whole story, but the highlights are after placing a call to Techart Germany and realizing the waiting list was too long and the cost too high, he embarked on building the car himself. Starting with a base 2006 Porsche Cayman GT, here's a partial list of what he changed on the car:

• Techart GT package – The rear spoiler alone was $5,000!
• Victor Equipment Florio 3-piece 20" wheels
• APR full exhaust system with software support
• Porsche's X51 (Ultimate Performance) Package – An extensive factory upgrade that replaces many of the engine parts with high quality parts.
• GT3 grill, lightweight pulley kit and intake system

All told, he spent $138,000 over three years to create the car. Certainly a one-0f-a-kind car in D.C., and beyond. Kind of cool to see someone embark on some great upgrades on the Cayman. Seems like more often than not, it's the overlooked child in Porsche's lineage.

If you read the article, check out the most memorable moment.

[Via WashingtonExaminer.com]

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I know this isn't a crazy rare car or anything, but this pulled up across the street from my house yesterday afternoon. I grabbed my camera and shot a few stealthy photos of it (really, I was just trying not to look like an idiot spying on his neighbors). I ended up going out and talking to the guy who pulled up in it. Turns out it's my neighbor's son and he just rolled into town in this bad boy.

He flew down to California to buy the car from a guy in Beverly Hills, CA and drove it back. It's a 2006 Cayman S with only 15,000 miles on it. It has upgraded 19" Kinesis wheels and a Tubi exhaust. It sounded amazing when he fired it up an took off.

A great looking car and it sounds like he got a steal on it. I love the wheels.

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The first is by John Griffiths (what is it about guys named John and Porsche Caymans?) on FT.com. It's an interesting article about some time spent behind the wheel of a Cayman S in Spain. He also makes a great case for the Cayman and why it could potentially outsell the 911 based not only on price and availability, but performance, handling and desirability. This paragraph sums up his post:

Eight miles later, the road had proved beyond doubt that Porsche has done, at long last, what it said it would never do and even now will not admit to. It has created a two-seater sports coupé, the latest version of the Cayman S, which eliminates almost every reason for spending nearly £20,000 more on the time-hallowed 911. [Via FT.com]

Read the rest on FT.com.

The second article worth reading is actually about the Boxster, but you'd never know it from the first two paragraphs:

There's one big problem with the new Boxster, but it's not the car's fault. The '09 Boxster is in every way better than the '08 car – it looks, handles, stops and goes better than ever before. But that's still not enough to get over the issue. And, truth be told, it never will be, because the problem is not the Boxster – it's the new Cayman that's just been launched alongside it.

Faster, more powerful and even better handling, the only thing the Cayman hasn't got over the Boxster is the convertible roof. So you better make sure you want the open-air experience over the better figures, as in every other way, the Cayman beats it. The tin-topped S has 10bhp more and 8lb ft more of torque than the Boxster S. Its top speed is 2mph higher, and it's 0.1secs quicker to 60mph. I know those don't sound like much, but to Porsche drivers those fractions are everything. [Via Alibaba.com]

I thought they had possibly put the wrong title on the entry. As it turns out, it actually IS about the Boxster and details some of the most important updates for the 2009 model. After reading the article though, I was left wondering why I'd even consider a Boxster.

Read the rest on Alibaba.com.

One interesting factoid. According to the Alibaba.com article, England is one of the largest markets for convertibles in the world. I know a lot of the cars I see for sale online from the U.K., especially the exotic ones, are convertibles, but I still find that very surprising. Doesn't seem like the weather is good enough, often enough, to make a convertible worthwhile. Course that's coming from a guy who owns a 911 convertible AND lives in Oregon.

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I came across an interesting article today on The Independent in their Motoring section. Before I get into that though, why is it that the UK seems to have more motor enthusiasts, publications and general information per square inch of land than anyone else in the world? Guess bigger (as in the the size of the United States) doesn't actually mean better. Or maybe I'm missing some important press avenues here.

Anyway…

The post by Mr. John Simister, opens with what he calls "the punch line":

This is the best car Porsche currently makes.

Hmmm, I haven't heard anyway say that about anything other than a 911 in a LOOOOONNNGGGG time. His reasoning? Here's the basis for that judgement:

…it's because the Cayman is compact, quite light by modern standards, looks in proper proportion with itself – unlike a modern 911 which has huge, droopy overhangs – and has its engine mounted ahead of the rear wheels instead of behind them. All of which means the Cayman steers with transparent precision and has an easy, confident, inertia-free balance in bends like a good racing car.

Seems like he is saying the Cayman is superior for the very reasons many absolutely love the 911. Styling. Rear-engine. Unique handling characteristics. To me that's what the 911 is all about.

I've never driven a Cayman, but now I'm feeling the need to give it a more serious look. Although I think Porsche will have a hard time ever besting itself when it comes to the 911.

Read all of Simister's post about the 911 on The Independent.

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"There is no doubt this is the best car in the group." Marc Noordeloos

"The 911 has a sense of theater at any speed and remains the world's best sports car." Jason Cammisa

One Automobile Mag staffer, Amy Skogstrom, when asked for a recommendation without hesitation: "I pretty much always say 'the Porsche 911.'" Pretty impressive given the stiff competition the 911 faces each year in it's category. Read more including the full article here.

The second award is the addition of the 2008 Boxster and Cayman to the "Recommended" list by Consumer Guide. Editors put cars through their paces using an 11-point evaluation process that leaves them with the best cars in particular segments based on an "every-day driver perspective." Both the Boxster and the Cayman emerged at the top of the pack despite there being less expensive sports car available.

Read more about the recommendations and full reviews at the following links to Consumer Guide Automotive: 2008 Porsche Boxster and 2008 Porsche Cayman

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This is still my favorite even though we already saw the picture on Day 1. I thought the video was a fitting end.

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How about finding this parked in your driveway on Christmas Day!  I'm always a sucker for a nice car with a bow on it.

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