We're in the Bieszczady Mountains, on the southeasternmost Polish road,
where we've brought 2 unique cars.
The 1st one is the Porsche 911, a sports car icon.
The 2nd one is said to be its smaller and poorer relation - the Porsche Cayman S.
Our task is to check if the Cayman S is finally worthy to be called a proper sports car.
The most vital difference in their construction lies in the engine location.
As we know, the 911 has its motor behind the rear axle
whereas in the Cayman engineers packed the engine right here: between the seats and rear wheels.
Another difference is that the Cayman is fitted with winter tyres and the 911 has summer tyres.
The first challenge will be to drive out of this snowy car park.
I'll leave you to it. Good luck!
Thanks
Moments later
As you can see, the Porsche 911 S with 400hp had to be backed with muscle force.
And that's just the beginning of our mishaps.
We're heading from Ustrzyki Dolne to Wetlina towards the best roads in Poland.
It's driving real well in the snow considering its “rollers” at the back.
It's just because you have a diff but look ahead - it's all white.
No way I'm going there. Summer tyres on ice? Thanks a lot.
We'll see how far you can get. 305 at the back?
They're wide.
Which one do you choose?
From where I'm sitting it seems like the Cayman S is better. Yes, definitely.
And I feel like I'm slowly getting old.
Slowly?
I guess I'm old already because I feel better in the 911.
It's a bit more comfortable, doesn't thrash you around so much.
Know what? I'm struggling to go up this hill.
Why don't you switch off traction control and see if it's any better.
Yeah, it's better going sideways, only slower.
We're stuck.
Good we're not sliding down anyway.
The worst of it is, there are barriers here. Szymon, it's not gonna work, come back.
OK, I'm coming for you, I'll just go some three bends up.
The Cayman S we're testing with an output of 325hp is fitted with a diff and proper Michelin winter tyres.
This set let me have some fun in the snow, taking advantage of the rear-wheel drive.
The mid-engine is no problem.
All you need to watch the road through the side windows is more accelerator inputs.
Nice and easy.
Meanwhile, Szczepan got into trouble.
Szymon, there's no way we can go on on these tyres.
That's no surprise. The surprise is the weather.
Yeah, but you have to check to be sure.
OK, we have to look for other roads
because these snow-covered ones are no good for a 911 on summer tyres.
Just pull me out gently.
We had to head north to leave the white roads behind.
Pity because playing with the Cayman in the snow was fantastic,
but on tarmac both Porsches are fun to drive too.
A sports car with a manual transmission is more and more of a rarity but the Cayman,
the regular 911 and the S version can be ordered with a brilliant manual gearbox.
Shifting gears is a pure mechanical interaction with the car
complete with automatic throttle-blip downshifts in the Sport Plus mode.
You switch off traction control or the PSM system, which is Porsche's ESP, and enjoy pure ride.
The Porsche 911 is clearly bigger than the Cayman.
On top of that, there's uneven weight distribution and the engine hanging behind the rear axle.
In the Cayman it only takes you a moment to feel like unleashing its full potential.
And it sure is a capable car.
In bends it's a worthy rival for the 911 and it's surprisingly controllable in skids.
The Porsche 911 can impress with its brakes, even in the standard option.
It's incredibly stable at high speeds but the Cayman is doing just as well.
It has 75hp less power but it also weighs 100kg less.
According to company figures, the 911 S with a PDK transmission hits 100km/h in 4.1s,
whereas the Cayman S with a manual box in 5s.
What's the reality?
3, 2, 1, Go!
After a delayed start the 911S is quick to make up for lost time,
taking advantage of its lightning-fast gear shifts.
But the Cayman has nothing to be ashamed of.
It costs at least PLN 200,000 less and is as much fun to drive.
You'll only feel the power difference if you're faced with a 400hp 911.
The Cayman is no substitute - it's a proper sports car.