Overall rating:

If you're choosing between a highly specified Cayman or a pretty standard Porsche Cayman S, we'd urge you go for the latter. It's astoundingly good and significantly quicker - without losing the delicate balance and engagement of the chassis. Are there are rivals? Truly?

Key Facts

Model tested: Porsche Cayman S
Pricing: starts at £48,783
Engine: 3.4-litre flat-six petrol engine
Transmission: rear-wheel drive, six-speed manual
Body style: two-door coupé
Rivals: Audi TT RS, BMW Z4 sDrive35is, Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 AMG Sport
CO₂ emissions: 206g/km
Combined economy: 32.1mpg (8.8 litres/100km)
Top speed: 176mph
0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
Power: 325hp at 7,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm at 4,500- to 5,800rpm

In the Metal:

Differentiating the Porsche Cayman S from its non-S sibling are two round exhaust pipes (as opposed to an oval), bi-Xenon headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels as standard (as opposed to 18-inch items). It's tempting to go for the 20-inch rims as they enhance the car's stance, but they do detract from its refinement and comfort.

The body of the car is all new and though it's lighter than before Porsche has managed to increase torsional stiffness by a considerable 40 per cent. That means it's more than double that of the new Boxster (which, Porsche is quick to stress, is already quite stiff). Improvements of the same level are quoted for the efficiency of the pop-up rear spoiler. It generates more downforce than before, yet creates less drag.

Technical stuff aside, we love how the Cayman S looks inside and out.

Driving it:

As you'll read in our first drive of the entry-level Porsche Cayman, you don't need to splash out on the S model for thrills or serious driving enjoyment. However, if your budget allows, it's worth doing, as the Cayman S is appreciably faster at all times. It has 50hp more, but it's the 90Nm of extra torque that makes the difference on the road and this car is rapid even if you don't chase the redline. Saying that, the howl from the exhaust does encourage you to use a lower gear than is strictly necessary a lot of the time...

In Sport Plus mode the throttle is automatically blipped to match engine and road speed. Now, as someone who enjoys trying to perfect heel and toe in different cars, I dislike the fact that this system cannot be turned off (other than not using Sport Plus), but at the same time it's difficult not to be impressed by it. Like the 911 Carrera 4 it was introduced on, the timing and amount of throttle is perfect every time you change down, though it still feels a little odd in conjunction with a manual gearbox.

Speaking of which, the PDK automatic versus manual gearbox debate rages on. The former is brilliant technically and doesn't detract from the experience, but the manual option is so much more satisfying. It helps that the shift has a pleasing mechanical action through the gate.

The other controls are direct and well-weighted as you'd expect. A firm brake pedal doesn't drop after hard use and the steering is quick and offers up useful feedback without anything resembling kickback on poor surfaces. On the track the Cayman S is beautifully balanced and grip from the front particularly impressive. You learn to really lean on the tyres into and through a turn, helped of course by the inherent traction of a mid-engined layout.

Back on the road, the Cayman S is just as remarkable and though it rewards smooth, decisive inputs the chassis is highly forgiving and progressive at the limit of the tyres' adhesion. One last word on those: there's considerably more tyre roar from the optional 20-inch items.

What you get for your Money:

The fact that a standard Cayman S is still £23,000 or so cheaper than an entry-level Porsche 911 says it all. The Cayman is no less a car and arguably more of a focused sports coupé now that the 911 has grown into a semi-GT role. Nonetheless, other cars that may be shortlisted by buyers alongside the S generally have more standard equipment.

Of course, any Porsche buyer will be tempted by the company's options list. New to the Cayman S is adaptive cruise control and a Burmester stereo, but of more interest to us would be the Sport Chrono package, Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), sport exhaust and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). The PDK transmission adds over £2,000 to the list price - and you have to pay a few hundred quid extra for what we'd call traditional gearshift paddles (left for down, right for up).

Worth Noting

The Sport Chrono package is worth a closer look. Admittedly it does more when you specify it in conjunction with PDK (as it encompasses launch control for quicker standing starts and a more aggressive shift strategy), but it also brings with it active transmission mounts, which remain 'soft' when at a cruise or at low speed for comfort, but then stiffen up considerably when the car is being cornered quickly, reducing the drivetrain's moment of inertia and theoretically making for a more stable car.

Summary

In isolation, the regular Porsche Cayman feels as fast as anyone needs, but the Cayman S manages to ratchet the excitement up a notch without losing the car's inherent balance and sense of engagement. Unless you really must have the 20-inch wheels we'd urge you stick with the standard items to maintain comfort and refinement - and spend the money saved on a few choice options.