A couple of months ago I had the privilege of driving it’s closed brother, the Cayman GT4. A real driver’s machine, with a classic sportscar character. Also naturally aspirated with a once again 4.0-l. six-cylinder boxer engine, situated in the middle and a six-speed manual gear box. Very direct, light and agile with a brilliant background noise. Ticking all the right petrol head boxes. An impressive return to past glory. On my favourite piece of twisty tarmac, the R44 between Gordon’s Bay and Rooiels, the Cayman GT4 was in it’s element. Through those narrow bends with plenty of grip, it came alive.

Can one top this experience, I said to myself at the time? Yes one can. In the car I am in, the topless 718 Boxster Spyder. Naturally (aspirated) on Clarence Drive, With the same power output as the Cayman GT4, but much more fresh air in your hair - and an even better, unfiltered sound experience.

When turbos came out they were hailed as brilliant

Capturing exhaust fumes for forced induction, improving performance and efficiency. Getting a hell of a lot out of smaller engines. But they lacked one important sensual motoring ingredient: sound. Nowadays there are only a few left. The US of A are obviously still holding on to them. Dodge Charger and Jeep Wranglers feature 6.4-l. V8s, Ford in their F250s and F350s go up to monsterous 7.3-l. V8.

Some Japanese cars still go for unassisted breathing, like the iconic Mazda MX-5 with a 2.0-l. 4 cyl., or Lexus with their substantial 5.0-l. V8 in the LS500 and LC convertible. The Italians are still celebrating their 6.5-l. V-12 in some of their Ferrari models. Lamborghini has the same powerplant in their Aventador. And a 5.5-l. V10 in the Huracan, sharing it with Audi’s brilliant R8, which I recently experienced in the topless Spyder version on this piece of tarmac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuIYFzXCfAQ&t=1s&ab_channel=LOSSKARN