I own a 2007 Cayman S and a 2005 S2000. When I first drove the Cayman I was impressed but there were a lot of things I liked better about the S2000. After about a month of driving the Cayman all those things were forgotten about.

I've never had a car that needed a break-in period more than the Cayman. The brakes and shifter especially will get better with a few miles on them.

 

So many times I thought about going back to the S2000 as well. The Cayman has finally silenced that desire. The S2000 is a phenomenal car IMO and finding something to equal or best it is no simple feat.

 

I'd be willing to bet serious money that the tires were way overinflated, judging by your review, and realizing that it is extraordinarily common for dealers not to bother checking them when they come off the boat, where the pressures are high so they don't flat-spot on the way over.

 

This has been a somewhat interesting read. I had not heard the opinion of the Cayman S from an RX-8 owner's perspective.

I know how it can be when you go to test drive a new/different car and you have your own car in mind (a car you know inside and out). I did this with the S2000 I had. I would take it to dealers and drive it back to back with what I was considering. Most of the time, I came to the same conclusion, "this car is not $XX better than my car."

However, you really can't "experience" a car from a quick test drive around the block and fairly compare the two.

I noticed this when I test drove the CS for the first time. Ten miles after I put the car in gear, I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Later, after spending many hours behind the wheel of the Cayman S, it became clear to me this car is simply fantastic and has a much higher performance envelope to it than I was capable of finding on public roads.

Thinking back to my initial test drive, where I jumped out of the S2000 and into the CS, I remember how the CS immediately felt more refined and perhaps less visceral at the same driving speeds. The S2000 felt raw and connected, but now I realize this does not necessarily translate to faster or better.

It took seat time to appreciate this new approach to a sports car (a very well engineered one). And once this happened, it created a new and different benchmark.

I have no regrets about the decision of trading the S2000 for the CS, other than I am now spoiled and would find it tough going back. All in all, I think it's a regret I can live with.

 

only thing about my s2k i miss so much is the vert aspect!!!

 

True.

Funny thing is, I also had the hardtop and liked the car just a bit more with the hardtop installed. The S2000 is one of those cars, IMO, that looks great with the hardtop on or soft top dropped. This made me feel like I had two cars.

Until the S2000 came out, I had not really considered a convertible. As an enthusiast who puts much emphasis on the car's design and one who likes to do track events, having the coupe has been and is my preferred choice for the majority of the car models out there. The S2000 has been the only convertible I've owned, which says a lot for that car. If fund$ and garage space permitted, I would still have it.

 

When I drove my first Boxster S (back 00), I wasn't that impressed with the car, in terms of acceleration, and I have never been one to wring out someone else's car, even in a test drive. But I had read so many articles raving about the car, I bought it anyway.

Now I am an avid fan and hold it as the benchmark for all other cars.

 

Our JIC RX8 is coming back out very soon as full time attack car. We set the track record with our S15 at Button Willow, CA and we will beat it with RX8. Do any of you Cayman owners think about changing the suspension to our JIC/CROSS coilovers? The same one we set up for Farnbacherloles Cayman GTR. We want to give special price for 6Speed people on limited quantity. Let me know.