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I ONCE had a red sports car. My magnificent MGB and I cruised around the mean streets of Milton Keynes - a new town created in the heart of England - during my carefree bachelor days.
It was a great asset for 'pulling the birds' but not so great at keeping them. Somehow making them hold the passenger door in case it suddenly flew open and the fact that the horn honked every time I drove around a roundabout (and Milton Keynes seemed to have a million of those) was partly to blame.
I somehow think had I been in possession of the highly-acclaimed 2010 Porsche Cayman S I drove round Bahrain last week I would have been an even hotter proposition.
Maybe I'm suffering from a middle-aged malaise and think I ought to have a little red sports car again before I die?
In addition to being sexy, powerful and agile, the Cayman S features two cargo holds that add a bit of practicality to the mix of a mid-life crisis.
Not surprisingly, the fixed-roof version of the Boxster has been named as one magazine's '10 best cars of the year' and it has been praised for its strong power train options and superb handling, as well as its sleek exterior design and superb interior finish.
This Porsche is a popular choice among luxury sports cars which is probably why 'we' received so many admiring glances as I took it for a spin between Saar and Sanad. "This is the sort of car that you wear like a tailored suit," one motoring correspondent said. "The driver's seat envelops you, the steering wheel, pedals and shifter are placed where you expect to find them, and the car feeds back marvellous tactile sensations that are rare and special in the driving experience."
Auto Express was also gushing with its praise. 'What a result for Porsche!' it reported. For the first time in the nine-year history of the magazine's 'Greatest Drives' feature its reigning champ retained its title. "To the uninitiated, it's nothing more than a poor man's 911. But as anyone who has driven one can attest, the Cayman is no weak link," the magazine said.
"On road or track, the Cayman was untouchable. Rivals were faster, newer and wilder, but none had the German's all-round excellence. So, what is it that makes this Porsche so good? Well, if you reversed the question and asked what it did badly, you'd have a very short list. Get in, and the car fits around you. The driving position, pedal layout and gear change are all perfect - the sports seats are definitely worth having, too.
"Even 911 owners will be forced to concede the flat-six power plant sounds better here, mainly because it's closer to the driver in the mid-engined Cayman, rather than slung out behind the rear axle. The noise is so distinctive, too, from a guttural rattle at low revs through to a rasping wail as the 7,000rpm red line closes in."
Having never driven a mid-engine car before, I cannot disagree with that verdict. Two boots are really an added bonus and my briefcase fitted in superbly in the rear. That's me with the middle-aged practical hat on again ... but the mighty roar of the engine guarantees to make you feel young again.
Both the new generation cars feature the much-publicised Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe gearbox - or PDK for short. This unique double-clutch gearbox was first used by Porsche in its race cars in the 80s and recently introduced in the new generation of the 911.
In this case, this gearbox allows the S to accelerate to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds. Importantly, the new gearbox allows for better performance with reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption, the perfect scenario for Porsche customers.
"It's great to be able to offer the new generation of Boxster and Cayman to our customers," said a Porsche Centre spokesman. "Both cars have proved extremely popular in Bahrain and we expect that to continue. Demand for these cars can only increase with the introduction of all the company's dynamic new driving technologies and the ever growing desire for this iconic brand.
"With two entirely new models for our popular Boxster and Cayman ranges, Porsche is well placed to continue as one of the world's leading sports car manufacturers and a key brand in the Middle East automotive market."
The Boxster and Cayman are both available in either 2.9 litre standard or 3.4 litre S variants, with a wide range of options available for both. Either car can be supplied with the Porsche PDK gearbox or in six-speed manual guise. One thing to note if you've never driven a Porsche before, hold the ignition key in your left hand when slipping into the car as the marque likes to be a little different from the rest.
The basic retail prices for the models are as follows:
Boxster: BD18,700
Boxster S: BD20,900
Cayman: BD19,300
Cayman S: BD22,000
For more details visit the Porsche Centre Bahrain Showroom in Sitra or call 17459911.
