2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Testing and Finalists
Perhaps the sports car of the decade
By Todd Lassa
As Maxwell Smart would say, "Missed it by that much." Porsche's stunning Cayman mid-engine coupe tied with the Toyota Camry during first-round voting, but lost the runoff. Significance and value rule: Everyman can lust over the Cayman; everyman can own the Camry.
Everyman and everywoman can drive the Cayman, though. It makes you feel like a better driver. If you're average, you'll feel like an expert; if you're an expert, you'll think you're ready for the next Red Bull Formula One challenge. Cliche-mongers will tell you it fits like a glove. The Cayman is perfectly balanced, thanks in part to the mid-engine, and power comes on strong but smoothly. Turn-in is quick and predictable with no surprises, and you can dance on the edge of oversteer as you slalom your way through the esses. The car is tactile, from the seat-of-the-pants feeling to the directness and feedback of the steering. "Front-end carving is so predictable and assured, only when I screw up does the back-end make itself known," says Mark Williams.
All this comes with a brappy, flat-six soundtrack, from 3.4 liters in our S test car or 2.7-liters in the base Cayman. Base is no consolation prize. It handles as well as the S, but its engine is 50 horsepower short of the 3.4, and the six-speed manual is optional, five-speed standard.
What tipped the vote against it? Porsche is clearly holding back Cayman power to make room for its costlier 911 icon, a car that in its basic form has been around since "Get Smart" was on prime-time Saturdays. And our as-tested price (which includes a $3000 special paint job) was in Corvette Z06 territory. While Porsche's Cayman didn't capture the calipers, we all agree this sports car is the one you're most likely to see on the cover of Motor Trend Classic a quarter century from now.
| 2007 Porsche Cayman |
| Base price range | $50,195-$59,695 |
| Price as tested | $70,500 (S) |
| Vehicle layout | Mid-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door hatchback |
| Engine | 3.4L/295-hp/251-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve flat-6 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Curb weight (f/r dist) | 3109 lb (46/54%) |
| Wheelbase | 95.1 in |
| Length x width x height | 172.1 x 70. x 51.4 in |
| 0-60 mph | 4.8 sec |
| Quarter mile | 13.3 sec @ 105.0 mph |
| Braking, 60-0 mph | 116 ft |
| 600-foot slalom | 69.1 mph, avg |
| Lateral acceleration | 1.01 g, avg |
| MT figure eight | 24.7 sec @ 0.79 g, avg |
| EPA city/hwy fuel econ | 20/28 mpg |
| Sum Up | Good enough to supplant the 911? |
| Bet you didn't know | Porsche has fitted the Cayman S with taller first and second gears so it won't beat a 911 to 60 mph. |
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