Porsche Cayman GT4 review: Docile, then demonic

Five things ... we learnt about the Porsche Cayman GT4.

Porsche Cayman GT4.

1 It costs nearly $200,000 but has no inside door handles

Porsche has taken saving weight to the extreme. The door levers have been replaced by a piece of looped fabric. It also lacks steering wheel audio controls and rear-view camera, both of which are standard on a $15,990 Toyota Yaris.

2 It’s not much fun to drive in traffic

The seating is low, so getting in it is like putting on tight jeans. And the suspension is a touch firm over bumps because it’s designed for racetrack weekend warriors. It’s hard to see out of the GT4. Its big rear wing blocks headlight glare at night but it’s difficult to check what’s directly behind you in the day. In sixth gear at 110km/h, the engine drones at 2800rpm, even in so-called “quiet” mode.

Porsche Cayman GT4.

3 Press a couple of buttons and the car changes character

Press the one with the exhaust symbol and the mufflers snap, crackle and pop between gear changes. The “sport” button sharpens throttle response. As it dawns on me what the fuss is all about, I start looking for tunnels to drive through.

4 The GT4 gets demonic beyond 5500rpm

Floor the throttle and you’ll find the GT4 gets to the speed limit a lot faster once the engine is revving above 5500rpm. Until then, it feels, dare we say it, a little docile. But there is nothing ho-hum about fitting the massive 3.8-litre six-cylinder from the 911 into the Cayman. They said they’d never do it; now they have. With the latest Cayman adopting four-cylinder power, could this be the last six?

5 You can’t buy one

I thought $189,000 for a Cayman was expensive but clearly I have no idea what I’m talking about. Australia is getting only 175 and all are sold. Buyers are in for something special — it has the power of a 911 in a better balanced car. The engine sits amidships in the Cayman, just behind the driver’s seat, making it easier for mere mortals to drive. In a 911, the engine swings like a pendulum behind the rear axle.

AT A GLANCE 

Porsche Cayman GT4

PRICE

$189,900 plus on-roads

WARRANTY

3 years/unlimited km

ENGINE 3.8-litre 6-cyl boxer, 283kW/420Nm

TRANSMISSION

6-speed man; RWD

THIRST 10.3L/100km

WEIGHT 1340kg

0-100KM/H 4.4 seconds