THE DRIVER: A dearth of low-end torque and real power bode ill for the most basic Porsche hardtop here in the Mile High City. It never feels as quick as its $52k sticker. Compensation arrives in the form of a spine tingling induction howl at high revs, and some of the most pure and informative steering in the world—price be damned.

In fact, all the controls are sublime: matched in weighting and a joy to use at all speeds. The driving position is spot-on and build quality is excellent (though in the tester’s poverty spec, it didn’t feel expensive). It’s practical as well, with two roomy trunks and long-mileage seats.

The Cayman’s day-to-day usability is almost certainly based on where one lives; in the cratered city, surrounded by open-pore concrete freeways, it’s a nightmare—noisy and harsh. In suburbia or the country, where you can relish one of the world’s best balanced chassis, feelsome brakes, and tight-fisted damping—and where the road noise doesn’t drown out the stereo or conversation—it begins to make real sense.

It’s considered heresy by some to mention any negatives about Stuttgart’s excellent products, but whether this Porsche makes any sense is really based on how much value one places on intangibles like feel and cache.

THE BROKER: Porsche’s are generally very reliable these days—along with being fuel efficient—and therefore make good ownership propositions. Be careful with all the desirable options like full leather and big wheels, as they don’t necessary translate at resale time. Caymans were super-hot when they came out, and have cooled quickly, on average loosing around 20% of their value within 10,000 miles. That said, they are an ‘affordable’ entry into the Porsche pantheon and so retain a built in buyer base.

THE (ROCKY MOUNTAIN) MAN: Go for the S; the extra urge from its slightly bigger flat six challenges the chassis more and doesn’t feel as gutted by our thin air.

Price as tested $52,635

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