The 2016 Porsche Cayman S: The Last of the Pure Ones

There’s something quietly heroic about the 2016 Porsche Cayman S. It arrived at the peak of a performance car era that was about to change — just before turbos, touchscreens, and driver aids became mandatory features in almost everything with a badge and an engine. While the rest of the world leaned into tech and torque curves, the 2016 Cayman S chose instead to stay true to the old ways. Mechanical. Naturally aspirated. Connected.

And in doing so, Porsche built one of the most balanced, rewarding sports cars of the modern era.

A Flat-Six That Sings

At the heart of the 2016 Cayman S is a 3.4-liter flat-six engine — not turbocharged, not hybrid-assisted, just a beautiful piece of naturally aspirated engineering. It produces 325 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, but those numbers only tell part of the story.

What makes this engine special is how it delivers its power. Throttle response is instant. There’s no waiting for boost, no artificial torque spike. You feel the car come alive as the revs climb. The power builds progressively, the tone sharpens, and by the time you hit the upper range of the tachometer — somewhere near 7,400 rpm — you’re no longer just driving. You’re experiencing something elemental.

And because it’s mid-mounted, the sound floods the cabin from just behind your head. It’s mechanical, raw, and real — a sound you won’t find in anything built today under the name “718.”

A Chassis That Communicates

The Cayman S has always been praised for its balance, but in the 2016 model, that balance became something even greater. The 981 chassis — longer and wider than its predecessor — brought better grip, more composure, and sharper reflexes without sacrificing feedback. There’s no unnecessary insulation between you and the road. You feel every dip, every camber change, every load shift through the chassis.

The electric steering, while initially controversial among Porsche purists, is tight and direct. No, it doesn't have quite the same texture as the old hydraulic system, but it's accurate, quick, and well-weighted — more than capable of feeding back the essential details when you're pushing hard through a set of corners.

It’s the kind of car that doesn’t just respond to inputs — it invites them. The moment you start to trust it, it starts to talk back in the best way possible.

Manual or PDK — Both Rewarding in Their Own Right

Whether you go for the traditional six-speed manual or Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK transmission, you’re getting a gearbox that complements the engine’s personality. The manual is tight and mechanical, with a satisfying heft to each shift. It turns every drive into a conversation between your hands, feet, and the car.

The PDK, on the other hand, is brutally efficient and surprisingly involving when driven in manual mode. It snaps through gears with a precision most automatics can only dream of. And with the optional Sport Chrono Package, the Cayman S becomes startlingly quick — but without ever feeling detached.

A Driver’s Cabin, Not a Lounge

Inside, the Cayman S feels focused. There’s luxury, yes, but not excess. The layout is clean, purposeful, and free of distraction. You sit low, with a clear view of the road ahead, the shifter perfectly positioned, the wheel just right in your hands.

It’s a space designed around the driver, not the tech. In fact, part of its charm today is that it predates the screen-heavy interiors we now find in even the most basic cars. You still get knobs and switches. You still feel like you’re driving something built to be driven.

The End of an Era

The 2016 Cayman S didn’t just mark the end of a model year. It marked the end of Porsche’s naturally aspirated flat-six in a “regular” Cayman. Starting in 2017, the 718 series brought turbocharged four-cylinders into the mix — faster on paper, but missing something vital in feel and sound.

That makes the 2016 S a rare breed. It’s modern, yes, but still mechanical. Still emotional. Still built around the simple, perfect joy of driving.

Final Thoughts

There are faster cars. There are flashier cars. But few cars, even among Porsche’s own lineup, strike a better balance between performance, feedback, and pure driving enjoyment than the 2016 Cayman S.

It doesn’t need to shout. It doesn’t need gadgets. It just needs a good road, a warm engine, and a driver who still values the feeling of being connected to the machine.

This is more than a great sports car. It’s the last of the true driver’s Caymans — and maybe the last of its kind altogether.