[Simon]

Hi,

I've been lurking here for a while deciding on my new toy, so first of all, thanks for helping me make up my mind. After seriously considering a Lotus Elise, BMW 335i Convertible or BMW Z4M, I finally decided to get a used Cayman S and to keep my old 98 C Class as a door ding absorber.

My Cayman is a low milage 2006 CS with PASM, SC, 19" wheels, preferred package, black leather, climate control and Bose. I bought it private party from a seller here on Cayman Club (I'll let him identify himself if he chooses). This was my first private purchase since my first car -- a '76 SaaB 99, and one of the banks involved was a bit unhelpful, but the seller was very helpful indeed.

So, early Saturday morning, I flew up to Pennsylvania and acquired my new toy. I live in the DC suburbs, and the quickest way back home takes you down the PA Turnpike and through Maryland. This is a very dull drive and is generally crawling with cops. Not what I wanted for my first solo. Instead, I decided to go through West Virginia and stop off and see my Sister in Harrisonburg, VA - which meant I got to drive over mountains with TWISTIES.

But first, you have to get out of PA. Driving the car felt immediately comfortable and on the highway, it was a very relaxing cruiser. I-79 between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, WV isn't particularly crowded and it gave me a chance to play with things like the cruise control (which I found to be a little counterintuitive coming from my Mercedes) and the Bose sound system (which, with some adjusting I think isn't as bad as I expected - especially with classical music).

Just south of Morgantown, I picked up Old U.S. 33 to cross into Virginia over the mountains. This was the first time I have driven that road. For such a twisty and scenic road, the traffic is surprisingly fast - even the trucks. I wasn't trying to do anything crazy, but I suspect the spoiler may have popped up a couple of times. With all the switchbacks, it was also a very good opportunity to get to know the gearbox and clutch. I am ashamed to say that I am more than just rusty. I learned to drive manual in the UK, and I think my instructor prepared me well -- for driving a Mini Metro. Things like blipping throttles and heel toeing were not part of the curriculum. It's going to take me a while to become expert, but after US 33, I was getting better.

All in all a very positive first driving experience in the CS. It's going to make paying VA sales tax on the car much more palatable.

	PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style. The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll. In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values. A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road. For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating. Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM

	Sport Chrono and Chrono Plus This optional package is a valuable addition for trackday use. Available in conjunction with the CDR-24 CD radio, it includes a swivel-mounted analog and digital timer unit which is centrally located on the dashboard. All functions are easily accessible via the control stalk for the on-board computer. Analog dials measure hours, minutes and seconds, while a separate digital field displays whole seconds, tenths and one hundredths of a second. A second digital display runs in parallel in the instrument cluster. Click this Link to visit the FAQ entry for Sport Chrono.

[dfogal]

Watch out for those INSANE speeding laws in VA.

Enjoy your new toy! And don't forget to register it in the registry!

Dfogal.

[peakpro]

Sounds great, best of luck

[eric_l]

Welcome to the club I’ve had my Cayman S for about 6 months now and I still grin ear-to-ear every time I get in her.

Don’t forget to join PCA, it’s a great deal for the money.