In creating the Cayman GT4, it seems Porsche made a performance machine so serious that it deserves a title associated with childhood fun: go kart.
At least, that’s what Youtube user Nick Murray calls the GT4 in the following review video. For good reason. The six-speed manual has short throws, the bucket seats keep him firmly in place in sweepers, the huge rear wing makes the Porsche look like every young man’s fantasy car, and the sound of the sports exhaust is enough to break through the composure brought on by age and bring out the smiling, excited kid left behind years ago.
The 385 horsepower from the 911 Carrera S’s 3.8-liter flat-six seems capable of – at least temporarily – propelling a man’s thoughts from Wow, this thing can hit 80 in second gear! to Thank goodness I’m not a kid any more because kids can’t buy cars like these.
They probably would have an easier time fitting in those bucket seats, though…
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
