2008 Porsche Cayman S

For those who find the 245-horsepower Cayman too mild, they can step up to the 295-horse Cayman S.

Its larger engine displaces 3.4 liters instead of 2.7 and also churns out 251 pound-feet of torque, which are 50 more than the base Cayman.

Acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour takes only 5.1 seconds. The top track speed is 171 mph.

Of course, with more power almost always comes lower fuel economy and this holds true for the Cayman S. While the base model is estimated at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, the Cayman S is estimated at 20 (three lower) and 28 (four lower), respectively.

The available transmissions are a standard close-ratio six-speed manual and optional Tiptronic S five-speed automatic with manumatic shifting capabilities. They transfer the power to the 18-inch rear wheels. All-wheel drive is not available on the Cayman.

In a nutshell, the Cayman is a fixed-hard-roof version of the popular Boxster convertible. As such, the Cayman also offers two trunks, one in the back and one in the front, but the Cayman's back trunk is much larger because there is no folding roof to store. It can be filled with 9.2 cubic feet of stuff, remarkable for a sports car, plus a further 4.9 cubic feet up front.

An optional roof transport system increases the volume even more.

Many of Porsche's cars feature an automatically extending spoiler in the tail end. The Cayman's is a biplane design and it keeps the car firmly planted on the road at high speeds. The drag coefficient is only 0.29.

Options on the Cayman S include Porsche Active Suspension Management, a Sport Chrono Package, automatic climate control, Bose surround-sound stereo system, parking-assist sensors, self-dimming rearview mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

A wiper for the rear window is even an option, perhaps because some customers may feel it ruins the Cayman's sweeping roof line.