Well, I survived my first track day in the 09 Cayman S. Here are my impressions and a comparison to my C5Z06 on the track.
First off, let me say that since my Cayman is brand new, I babied it. It had just cleared break-in. I kept my top speed to around 100 mph and didn't worry about how many folks passed me (and practically everyone did). Also, I short- shifted my green motor at about 6500 rpm. Of course, none of this is a poor reflection on the car.
Okay. Well, the CS rolled over big time in turns. I do not have PASM, so I guess I have learned my lesson. The stock suspension's sways seem really soft. In turn 12 at Road Atlanta I felt like I was falling off the world to the left. There was some understeer, but that was okay. I was learning a new ride.
The steering is very smooth and responsive. Feel is good, precise.
Because I kept my speed down, the brakes were solid. They were bled this week but with the stock fluid. They have always been a bit spongy, but they were fine and the pedal didn't sink.
Heel-and-toeing was fine. Although for me the brake is too high for HT on the street, at the track where you really use the brakes, the depressed brake pedal and the accel were in good position. I couldn't use my driving shoes, however, but had to use a wider set of running shoes. To use my driving shoes, I will need a pedal extension on the accelerator.
The stock shifter was fine. Reasonably precise. Stock sport seats were pretty supportive. I have the sport chrono without the PCM and it is about worthless. You cannot store the data for later reference. I understand with the PCM you can do a lot more with the timer and the data. No wonder my car was sitting unloved on the lot a few weeks' ago.
I ran five sessions--no problems. Car held up well. The water temp gauge stayed steady--does it do anything? Burned no oil. RE050A tires held up well, too. I had a more aggressive track alignment--no unusual wear.
My C5Z06--both stock and after I modified it--had a stiffer suspension than the stock 09 CS suspension. The shocks and sways were stiffer. It rolled less. The brakes on the Z were firmer, but I never ran it with anything but Motul. Stock pads on the Z were about the same as the CS pads for dust. I never held the Z to such a low speed limit, so I had some fade. Of course, I hit 145 or so once on the back straight at Road Atl, so slowing from that speed burns up brakes much more than a stop from a mere 100 mph going into turn 10A.
Of course, the 405HP/400 lb-ft LS6 motor moved the Z much quicker than the 320 horse 3.4 liter unit, but that is to be expected.
In feel, the Cayman steering is better, but I never had any real issues with the Z's steering.
I still miss the Z's complete gauges, but the large center tach on the CS was fine at the track. Not quite as good as the Z's HUD, but fine.
It is also great to be able to open the Z06's hood and see everything. On the CS, the first time I'll know a belt is about to go, or a pulley bearing is getting wobbly, is when it all goes, "poof".
Summary? Well, in my opinion the Z is a better track car. It is faster--much faster--accelerating and does everything pretty well. The CS, which feels so great on the street, gets its skirt raised a little at the track. It seems, for lack of a better word, wimpy. I think the CS is great in that it inspires confidence, and really does so at 7/10s. As you get closer to the edge, the Z seems to be able to do more. And, that incredibly flexible, monster motor is always right under foot. I think, in stock form, as a hi-po street car, the CS is probably better car. As a track car, the Z wins. As one guy at a Corvette board said, the Cayman is handicapped by Porsche because they cannot allow it to outdo the venerable (if somewhat outdated rear engine design) 911, whereas the Z-06 represents Chevy's best effort. Maybe that is accurate.
That said, at my next track day the CS's engine won't be so green and we'll give the CS a better workout. And I'll have better brake fluid and pads. Until next time....
First off, let me say that since my Cayman is brand new, I babied it. It had just cleared break-in. I kept my top speed to around 100 mph and didn't worry about how many folks passed me (and practically everyone did). Also, I short- shifted my green motor at about 6500 rpm. Of course, none of this is a poor reflection on the car.
Okay. Well, the CS rolled over big time in turns. I do not have PASM, so I guess I have learned my lesson. The stock suspension's sways seem really soft. In turn 12 at Road Atlanta I felt like I was falling off the world to the left. There was some understeer, but that was okay. I was learning a new ride.
The steering is very smooth and responsive. Feel is good, precise.
Because I kept my speed down, the brakes were solid. They were bled this week but with the stock fluid. They have always been a bit spongy, but they were fine and the pedal didn't sink.
Heel-and-toeing was fine. Although for me the brake is too high for HT on the street, at the track where you really use the brakes, the depressed brake pedal and the accel were in good position. I couldn't use my driving shoes, however, but had to use a wider set of running shoes. To use my driving shoes, I will need a pedal extension on the accelerator.
The stock shifter was fine. Reasonably precise. Stock sport seats were pretty supportive. I have the sport chrono without the PCM and it is about worthless. You cannot store the data for later reference. I understand with the PCM you can do a lot more with the timer and the data. No wonder my car was sitting unloved on the lot a few weeks' ago.
I ran five sessions--no problems. Car held up well. The water temp gauge stayed steady--does it do anything? Burned no oil. RE050A tires held up well, too. I had a more aggressive track alignment--no unusual wear.
My C5Z06--both stock and after I modified it--had a stiffer suspension than the stock 09 CS suspension. The shocks and sways were stiffer. It rolled less. The brakes on the Z were firmer, but I never ran it with anything but Motul. Stock pads on the Z were about the same as the CS pads for dust. I never held the Z to such a low speed limit, so I had some fade. Of course, I hit 145 or so once on the back straight at Road Atl, so slowing from that speed burns up brakes much more than a stop from a mere 100 mph going into turn 10A.
Of course, the 405HP/400 lb-ft LS6 motor moved the Z much quicker than the 320 horse 3.4 liter unit, but that is to be expected.
In feel, the Cayman steering is better, but I never had any real issues with the Z's steering.
I still miss the Z's complete gauges, but the large center tach on the CS was fine at the track. Not quite as good as the Z's HUD, but fine.
It is also great to be able to open the Z06's hood and see everything. On the CS, the first time I'll know a belt is about to go, or a pulley bearing is getting wobbly, is when it all goes, "poof".
Summary? Well, in my opinion the Z is a better track car. It is faster--much faster--accelerating and does everything pretty well. The CS, which feels so great on the street, gets its skirt raised a little at the track. It seems, for lack of a better word, wimpy. I think the CS is great in that it inspires confidence, and really does so at 7/10s. As you get closer to the edge, the Z seems to be able to do more. And, that incredibly flexible, monster motor is always right under foot. I think, in stock form, as a hi-po street car, the CS is probably better car. As a track car, the Z wins. As one guy at a Corvette board said, the Cayman is handicapped by Porsche because they cannot allow it to outdo the venerable (if somewhat outdated rear engine design) 911, whereas the Z-06 represents Chevy's best effort. Maybe that is accurate.
That said, at my next track day the CS's engine won't be so green and we'll give the CS a better workout. And I'll have better brake fluid and pads. Until next time....
