A growing army of dissident manufacturers continues to blank car exhibitions. And if this commercially suicidal trend continues, prepare for some - maybe most - of these crucial events to vanish. The buying public will have fewer motor shows to attend. Makers will lose priceless opportunities to build relationships with customers. An industry which already builds too many cars for too few buyers will shoot itself in both feet. How clever is that? Having attended more than 30 Geneva shows, believe me when I say the Swiss one is the best, most user-friendly car exhibition on the planet, with the added bonus of fabulously wealthy potential customers walking through the door, every day. Yet despite its global No. 1 status, the likes of Ford, Jaguar, MINI and Volvo boycotted this month鈥檚 event. JLR was missing because it鈥檚 cash-strapped, which is fair enough, right? But why were the others MIA? Possibly it鈥檚 lethargy, or arrogance, or a bit of both, or maybe I鈥檓 being overly tough on them for skiving off.
Perhaps it鈥檚 too much to expect companies to go to the trouble and expense of sending cars and staff to shows where they鈥檒l come face to face with consumers on the front line? It鈥檚 easier for these professionals to languish in their offices, after all, feet on desks, as they idly let the vehicles sell themselves via the internet. Show me a car firm that repeatedly fails to attend and I鈥檒l show you an 鈥榦rganisation鈥?so disorganised it鈥檚 turning its back on customers who are desperately needed like never before. True, motor manufacturers can, depending on their size, spend millions or tens of millions a year attending car shows. But what鈥檚 the problem with this legitimate expense when so many of them rake in billions in annual profits? Show organisers can help by encouraging fewer static displays and more moving vehicles, and creating bigger retailing arenas for buying and selling on the day. So, if a motorist doesn鈥檛 whip out their credit card and order a new car on the spot, they might buy something car related - like a takeaway electric bike for the rear of the family SUV. Having said that, this month JLR could鈥檝e and should鈥檝e taken cold, hard, much-needed cash from showgoers in Switzerland for exclusive 鈥楪eneva Edition鈥?all-new Evoques and Defenders. Only motorists in attendance would have earned the right to buy such limited-volume models, which would surely be wise investments. As it turned out, consumers robbed of a JLR stand headed to Jeep鈥檚 display. How many potential Defender buyers ordered a Wrangler in Geneva instead? Plenty, I suspect. You鈥檝e got to be in it to win it. And the fact is that Jeep was, while Land Rover was not. Do you agree with Mike?
81,000 for the 718 Cayman GTS. That makes it one of the least expensive vehicles in our luxury sports car rankings. Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Porsche dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Porsche deals page. Which Is Better: Porsche 718 Cayman or Porsche 718 Boxster? The Porsche 718 Boxster is almost identical to the 718 Cayman, with one key distinction: The Boxster is a convertible. 2,000. Both the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are excellent choices. Which Is Better: Porsche 718 Cayman or Jaguar F-Type? The Jaguar F-Type is a brawny sports car. Its available supercharged V6 and V8 engines - accompanied by a growly exhaust - are sure to get your heart racing. It lacks some of the Cayman's polish, however, and its taut suspension yields a stiff ride on uneven roads. Ultimately, both are good cars, so pick the one that speaks to you more. Each of the Cayman's three available engines is superb, even the base 300-horsepower engine. Still, speed demons will likely prefer the faster acceleration and throatier sound of the upgraded engines, which crank out 350 and 365 horsepower.
All three engines are turbocharged four-cylinders and have the same superb gearbox options. An easy-shifting and delightful six-speed manual transmission comes standard. The Cayman's fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway are above average for a luxury sports car. The larger engine of the Cayman S gets 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while the Cayman GTS is rated at 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway. The Cayman is the ideal rear-wheel-drive sports car for driving every day and occasionally taking to the racetrack. It's incredibly nimble, responsive, and composed, with a suspension system that keeps you comfortable. The optional Porsche Active Suspension Management system and the Sport Chrono package (which adds launch control and additional drive modes, among other treats) are well worth considering. The Porsche Cayman is 14.4 feet long, with a curb weight that ranges from 2,944 to 3,054 pounds. How Many People Does the 718 Cayman Seat? You have to stoop and slide to get into the low-slung two-seat 718 Cayman, but once you do, you're rewarded with comfortable seats and good visibility.
Though the standard sport seats come with only a few manual adjustments, most people will be able to find a suitable position. You can further pamper yourself by adding upgrades such as heated seats, 18-way power adjustments, and leather seats with Alcantara trimmings. The interior of the Porsche Cayman is first class. Its driver-focused cockpit includes top-shelf materials and handsome styling. Porsche offers an impressive number of interior customizations: You can even pick the color of your seat belts. The Cayman has more cargo space than the average midengine sports car. You can fit several small-to-medium bags in the 9.7-cubic-foot rear trunk, plus there's an additional 5.2 cubic feet of storage in the front of the car. Still, if you need more trunk space, you may want to consider a front-engine sports car instead. Most reviewers call Porsche's infotainment system high-tech and user-friendly, though a few note that the interface appears outdated and overly complicated next to some competitors.
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