You cannot help but whoop like an American Idol winner when you drive the 2006 Porsche Cayman S hard. The engine sings like Barry White, the steering wheel melds to your hands and it seems as though your nervous system’s rapidly firing synapses are directly connected to the road. Did we mention that the Cayman carves turns like Bode Miller?

Interestingly, the Cayman S has a tendency to understeer when entering corners, but by lifting off the brake the tail rotates a bit and then you’re ready to hammer the throttle at the apex. Unlike Porsches of old, which had a tendency to slash back and forth in an alarming fishtail under such conditions, the Cayman’s back end breaks free just a little bit and then the tires grip and you’re tearing up the road again. Just like that, you’re a Formula 1 stud. Of course, this behavior is available only with the stability control system disengaged. But you don’t need to switch PSM off for good times. The system allows a modicum of oversteer as well as some slippage at launch so that you can thrill to driving by the seat of your pants without worrying whether your life insurance premium has been paid.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 rpm, the 2006 Porsche Cayman S seems to have almost limitless acceleration. We routinely took it to 70 mph before shifting into third gear. Even during a very unofficial speed trial we managed to find plenty of torque in fifth while exceeding 125 mph. The Cayman was composed the whole while, illustrating a major difference between it and the more expensive Carrera 911. When you drive the bigger Porsche fast, it’s hard to feel totally in control and you’re aware that at any moment things might go very wrong. But the Cayman isn’t so threatening. It feels more manageable, adding greatly to its appeal.

One of our favorite things, however, is the Cayman’s engine note. It produces goose bumps, and because the Cayman’s large glass hatch and cargo area work like a speaker cabinet, you’re surrounded by the engine’s music and further immersed in the driving experience. It’s like a THX version of the racing sounds you made as kid, which sums up the Cayman’s greatest attribute: It makes you feel like a kid with the coolest toy on the road.