No over-steer, no under-steer, no dip, no shimmy… nothing. This scrappy little Porsche charged through the most challenging section of my performance loop and it laughed at me. No sports car I’ve tested has come close to what was done so easily by the Cayman R. TFLCar.com has been working for a long time to bring Porsche back to the Rockies. Not only did they return, they brought with them one of the most driver-centric vehicles we’ve tested – ever.
The 2012 Porsche Cayman R is a stunning machine. It packs a 330 horsepower 3.4-liter flat 6-cylinder engine that produces 273-lbs-feet of torque; it weighs just 3,083 lbs. The weight is superbly balanced. Quarter mile times vanish in 12.7 seconds with the Cayman flying past a 111 mph. The 0 to 60 time of 4.2 seconds is impressive too. But, as the more astute of you will notice, none of those times are that much faster than the Porsche Cayman S.
Porsche eliminated 93 lbs from the Cayman S by removing things like interior metal door-pulls, air conditioning and adding extremely light wheels. Braking distance from 60 to 0 mph happens in an astonishing 103 feet. The Porsche Cayman R’s 7-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or PDK dual clutch transmission is supposed to be Formula 1 sharp and perfectly suited to the car. I tested the 6-speed manual and it is just as good as the BMW M3 I tested last year. That’s a compliment. It’s just one more thing that gives the driver real control of the Cayman R.
With manual transmission in hand, driving through a 1.01-G turn at speed is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have behind the wheel.
The 2012 Porsche Cayman R starts at $67,250 which is $4,200 more than the Cayman S. Why the higher price for what appears to be the same machine? Take it to a track and you will see and feel the difference. Suspension, engine and weight loss make the 2012 Porsche Cayman R a much faster vehicle on the track.
It is a true marvel and it will make anyone look like a better driver.
Unlike the 911 of yore, the Cayman R’s tail is always firmly planted. The whole car begs for a corner to charge through like a 3,083 lbs dog begging for a bone. I’ve never driven anything so corner happy in my life – and neither have you.
Oh – and if you’re concerned about making a negative impression regarding the environment… don’t. The 2012 Porsche Cayman R gets up to 29 mpg highway. That’s not a misprint – it actually gets great gas mileage. Despite the sharper handling, Porsche managed to dial in a bit of comfort around town too. Look, with no air conditioning and a hotter cockpit than the Cayman S, you don’t want to drive this machine in daily traffic.
The stereo system is damn good and despite the lack of adjustability of the thinly covered carbon fiber seats, they are mighty comfortable. Old folk bitch and complain about getting in and out – but for a chunky monkey like me… even my big booty can squeeze in and feel pampered. It’s a track car, so you better get used to the idea of track car seats.
Simply put, this is the Porsche of track days.
I’m not being brazen in that statement, nor is the Porsche Cayman R coy about its abilities. The fixed rear wing and body graphics tell the world that, next to the 911 GT2 and GT3, this is the best handling car built from the company that builds the best handling cars.
Yes, with AWD and a turbocharger you will be faster off the line, I know the 911 Turbo is ridiculously fast; however, the Cayman R lets you dial in your laps and cut corners with stupefying precision. It’s uncanny. The difference here is the Cayman R’s overall ability to communicate with the driver and become one with the driver’s whims.
No other car in its class can compete with this type of precision.
Now, for those of you who love the idea of this type of performance but need a day to day car – please try the Porsche Cayman S. Yes, we are all “He-men” who need the best performing vehicle out there. Trust me; the Cayman S is the way to go for most. It’s not quite as capable and nowhere near as sporty balls-out, it is a better all around car and it does have A/C.
Automotive media, racing, vehicle evaluation, wrecking yards, and car sales are just a part of Nathan Adlen’s vehicular past. He writes out of high octane passion! To read more reviews by Nathan Adlen or just to enjoy more of excellent writing please visit him on at his examiner.com page HERE.
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