Is $50,000 too much, or too little, for an entry-level Porsche?

Page 3 of 6

2007 Porsche Cayman - Comfort

Front Comfort
This is a business office, not a luxury suite. The seats are made for a certain type of body, one that doesn’t mind being contorted a little at first to fit the Porsche seating philosophy. Side support is good, and so is the bottom cushion, but the lumbar is on the aggressive side and takes some getting used to. Tall drivers will find themselves squeezed against the firewall quickly, but at least there’s plenty of head room, and the telescoping steering wheel makes finding a good position relatively easy. Still, those who splay their legs during their daily drive will find it tight.

Interior Noise
No car is without fault, and one of the Cayman’s is noise. This is a loud little beast, from the constant engine drone to the thump of the suspension and tires to some wind roar thanks to the lack of sound deadening. There was also an almost constant flutter, as if a sunroof was open, emanating from the rear. Maybe it’s the hatch itself, maybe it’s the body’s resonance frequency, but it was enough to give our tinnitus fits. Of course, noise has its benefits as well: There are few sweeter sounds than the Porsche’s engine right behind your head as it wails to redline.

Visibility
The Cayman’s visibility is compromised compared to its excellent 911 sibling because of the mid-engine arrangement. This, coupled with the hatchback design, requires more structure around the rear quarters, and consequently the view out the rear is difficult because of the thick rearmost pillars. The small windows back there don’t help, but at least the view directly to the rear is good thanks to the large glass. Out front it’s classic Porsche: The swelled fenders help you place the car on the road, the hood otherwise is invisible, and large outside mirrors more than make up for the small rear view.