Porsche 718 Cayman S
The Porsche Cayman is back - with one significant change. Gone is the naturally-aspirated engine found in the previous car, replaced with a four-cylinder turbocharged unit. What does that mean? For starters, it raises many questions with purists. But the first Cayman was one of the finest-handling sports cars ever made, so has the new engine changed things? In the wake of constant concerns over emissions and economy, Porsche has adopted a new turbocharged engine for its 718 Cayman. It's also been redesigned outside, though it's still clearly a Cayman. That engine produces 296bhp, which is enough to allow the Cayman to reach 62mph in 4.7 seconds and carry on to a top speed of 170mph. In short, the Cayman is still fast. Inside, it's business as usual. The Cayman now benefits from an updated infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apart from that, it's a lovely place to be with a great driving position, too.
All of the materials feel of a high quality and there's plenty of leather and brushed metal used throughout. It's still instantly recognisable as a Porsche car. There's all manner of extras to choose from, ranging from custom paint colours to fixed racing-style bucket seats. Even standard Caymans are high-quality items, and you get a build quality that's only available with cars such as Porsche. It's also got an incredible driving style, with good steering and pedal weights. That new engine is a decent replacement for the original, too. You can choose between the Cayman and Cayman S. The latter produces around 50bhp more than the former, and also brings with it slightly more standard equipment. You'll see the best part of a GBP10,000 premium though, which is a lot considering the not-so huge hike in power. That said, with the added equipment it isn't a bad deal. The first Cayman certainly set the bar high for this new model. However, it's adapted with aplomb - especially when you consider the new engine - and it just as desirable as ever. It handles impeccably, and thanks to the turbocharged unit the fun can go on for longer - Porsche claim that it'll do 40mpg combined, which isn't bad for a sports car.
As long as the snow doesn't fall more than a few inches at a time, the same virtues that make the 718 so competent on a fast, technical road lead to confidence in slick conditions. Our time with the Boxster wasn't all sunshine and country lanes, though. A cracked line temporarily disabled the windshield washers in the dead of winter. Intermittent bouts of mild overheating in city driving and the whiff of sticky-sweet coolant sent us to the dealer twice in nearly four months. Technicians eventually replaced a coolant hose, the water pump, and finally the thermostat housing, all under warranty. We also replaced a set of rear tires due to normal wear and a cracked windshield. But it's silly to let something as superficial as money unravel the Boxster's magic. It's easy for a road trip to be memorable, but this car can stamp five seconds of highway interchange into your memory with the same indelible ink.
And its novelty doesn't fade with familiarity. We were just as eager to drive it with 40,000 miles on the odometer as we were when it arrived. That's some of the highest praise that we can bestow on a long-term test car. They say if you want to buy happiness, you should spend your money on experiences, not things. Makes sense to us. Porsche's sports cars aren't just objects, they are experiences. And when you're behind the wheel of the 718 Boxster S, the experience is that of a summer that never ends. WHAT WE LIKE: The combination of Porsche dynamics, 350 horsepower pushing a feathery 3090 pounds, and open-air romanticism continues to be one of our office's great shared joys. That's true if you're setting a blistering pace on a desolate back road or loafing through town on a Sunday cruise. With just over 32,000 miles on the odometer, our Porsche 718 Boxster S roadster continues to collect praise bordering on hyperbole from anyone who drives it.