More on Porsche Cayman R

Remarkable, refined, and racy: That's what the R in Cayman R stands for! I found those adjectives incompatible when describing one car. But it's true. Let me explain.

The R

Refined and racy are absolutely true. If you think something racy cannot be refined, you've got that right, but you would be wrong about the car. The Cayman R has both. And THAT is what is remarkable!

Porsche traditionally reserved the "R" designation for lightweight racing versions of street cars. The original was the lightweight 911R of 1967. The Cayman R fits the bill by being 121 pounds lighter than Cayman S and performs better than well on both street and track.

Not that you'll race at all with your Cayman R . It will look like you could, and maybe should, but most of all you will be looking good! Real good!

The look

Imagine the perfect Porsche in peridot, the green of a ripening lime. Imagine the color spiked by a black wing on the rear over black Cayman R lettering, black wheels, black side view mirrors, big black twin pipes delivering exhaust out the back, and black decals along both bottom door panels announcing the identity of the car. As if nobody would otherwise know. And all of the black accents say "bad," meaning good, of course.

The overall look says "boy racer." The image suggests a car that didn't grow up. Its driver is a hot-rodder looking to drag at the next red light. The color shouts look-at-me lime. The vehicle says "I'm going to get there ahead of everybody here." And it will.

The ride

Cayman R drives, however, with a refinement that surprises. Imagine the perfect Porsche not rattling your molars. Accelerating occurs with a hum instead of a roar. The ride is the most palatable you'll find in a sports car, even for Porsche. Passengers will want a ride and can take a long-distance trip without Dramamine. To say the ride is comfortable is an understatement. It rides like a family sedan without room for the kids.

All that is just great for the passenger. What about driver pleasures?

The drive

Cayman R has more power than ever before. The 330 horsepower delivers it smoothly to the 2855 pounds you're pushing around. (Add 35 more pounds for air and radio if you want them, plus your own weight.)

That power is delivered quietly too. No raucus wind-up or whiney screaming from under the hood -- make that behind your back, as Cayman R's mid-engine arrangement delivers the quiet hum of acceleration directly to your ears.

Imagine the perfect Porsche perfectly balanced. No over- or under-steer directing you somewhere other than where you intend to go. The response is immediate; the car is under your complete command. The drive is almost too obedient to be coming from such a racy automobile.

What's new?

There still is no place for your designer bag. When Porsche hires somebody besides guys to design interiors, we gals will get that. But it's not here yet.

The doors unlatch from the inside with a strap. A metal lever no longer opens the door. This saves some of that weight that's been shaved off the Cayman R. Rather than off-putting, one can get used to the new "Door Opener Lite."

Valuable storage space at your elbow is taken up with a sound console housing your Ipod, cell phone, and USB port. That's fine if you're a youthful techno wonk, but I'm mature, thank you. I don't want them, would rather listen to the engine, and let the space house a sandwich and a can of Diet Pepsi.

A touch screen navigation system appears in the dashboard. Again, that's great for those who need electronics to find their way. I find it an annoyance because I'm stuck on maps. Yeah, I should move into the modern era. So far, I'm still stuck on the sound of the engine, smell, style, and color.

Speaking of color, only the Cayman R comes in that glorious color, Peridot Metallic. To get that color, you must get your Porsche in the Cayman R configuration. No other Porsche will match my peridot necklace.

Inside out

The Cayman R is refined inside and racy outside. I would have preferred the image in reverse. A Porsche for me must look like it's the refined reflection of the driver with the 'wild' being hidden inside. Having said that, I could get used to inside out.

Disclaimer

The author, unfortunately, derived no benefit from this review other than the privilege of a short test drive in Porsche's Peridot Metallic Cayman R. She left the test drive, however, with a bad case of the drools.

Source: personal experience.