2010 Porsche Cayman - Page 1 Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Porsche Cayman? MSRP: $51,400 - $61,500

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Last year, Porsche introduced a second-generation Cayman with a host of mechanical changes. For 2010 the Porsche Cayman stays largely the same. Situated between the 911 and the Boxster in the brand's lineup, the Cayman shares much of its underpinnings with the Boxster roadster. Exterior changes carried forward from last year include upgrades to the exterior with redesigned front and rear panels that accommodate larger halogen headlights and LED tail lights.

The 2010 Porsche Cayman is powered by a 2.9-liter engine rated at 265 horsepower. Upgrading to the Cayman S boosts engine displacement to 3.4 liters and, thanks to the addition of direct injection, 320 horsepower. That's enough oomph to give the Cayman S a power-to-weight ratio of 9.3 pounds per horsepower. Despite the ready performance figures, the Cayman isn't a gas guzzler, due in part to its relatively low weight. New last year was the addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission called the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK. A standard six-speed manual transmission is also available. Porsche rates the Cayman S's acceleration at 5.1 seconds to 60 mph with the manual transmission, and 5.9 seconds for the standard Cayman. Top speed for the S model is a heady 171 mph. An optional Sports Chrono package with launch control shaves that 0-60 mph time to 4.9 seconds for the Cayman S. These numbers do little to describe the sheer pleasure of the sound of the Porsche boxer engine, however.