Porsche Cayman - Opinions?

NightShadow

NightShadow

NightShadow

Associate
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
1,925
Location
Welling/London
I find myself here again, looking at Porsches. A Porsche 911 has been on my "want" list for quite a while now however with a budget of £20-£25k 911s are getting a bit long in the tooth, you would be looking at an 8-10 year old 996 911 C2/C2S. As much as I love the 911 I can't help but think that spending £25k on somthing that old is silly, I would love a newer 997 but these are at least £10k more and holding their money quite well.

Looking around lately I've seen that the Cayman can easily be had in this budget, is much newer (3-4 year old eaxmples are easy to come by) and has a much nicer front end, the back end is no where near as nice as the iconic rear of a 911 but it's growing on me.. What are the general opinions of them? What's the deal with the aero kit, are these easy to pick up and have fitted? IIRC Housey's father had one which looked superb with it.
 
They do look very tasty. Most write-ups comment on the smaller-engined one being a bit underpowered, though.

Would definitely look into the preventative work that a couple of companies now do against that big IMS engine failure jobby that's estimated to affect 2-3% of Boxsters and Caymans (again, a % I've read somewhere). There's some discussion of it all in the Porsche subforum over on PH, I think.
 
I've never been a fan of the rear end of the Cayman but that aero kit really finishes it off well! :) . Buy one, with aero kit (or fit it) and you'll have (almost) a 911 but cheaper!
 
I have just quite literally returned from picking up my new (2nd hand) Cayman.

My advice is just get out there and test drive them and your next car choice will be decided ;)

My understanding of IMS issue is MY06 cars and on have a new larger bolt used in the IMS which helps prevent the issue and googling shows minimal problems of IMS on caymans, it was really a problem on the M96 (996 986) engines.

Full write up to follow :)

/edit re: rear, I was the same at first, i loved the cayman side profile and front but really didn't feel the back, however after months and months of researching and browsing them it has subliminily forced me to come to love it so much so i think the cayman is a better looking car than the 997 now :O

aero kit is nice but not essential imo, it is a ~2k extra so not many spec it.
 
Last edited:
Rotty's got one and has done a few posts about it. It might be worth having a dig about for them.

EDIT: Just had a dig, can't find it. There is however a thread were he announces the fact he's become a hairdresser.
 
Last edited:
Drove a 3.4S and was very impressed with how it rode, drove and handled - but I wasn't really that taken with the interior. Couldn't quite put my finger on it but just somehow felt distinctly 'meh'. Not sure whether it was the build quality, colours or materials....

Felt a very solid car though - great fun little thing too :)

Looked good though!
 
Superb cars, go for the S if you can though £25k is about the starting point for a good S

amazing handling, superbly well built, lovely noise and just so much fun

most will have full Porsche history but make sure you check

Spec can make a fair difference to price as some have £10k+ of options

Running costs are not bad at all

I get 23mpg, insurance is £450 and servicing every 20k miles and will average about £600 a go

only expensive things are tyres at £1k a set

brakes expensive from OPC , discs and pads are about £1250 all round but you can get the same parts off web and get an indy to do work and it will come to about £600
 
Just seen this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1607036.htm

Looks great, seems to have the extended leather on the centre console, sports chrono (laptimer & launch control?) Sat-nav, etc. Really do like the look of it. Is there anything to watch out for with 65,000 miles on the clock? There are lower mileage examples but this seems very well specced in my eyes.
 
Last edited:
Rotty, thanks for the informative post, servicing seems pretty reasonable, it's around double that of the RX8 which is to be expected. Things such as brake discs/pads I would probably do myself unless there is anything "special" about them that would prevent me from doing them that is, I quite like taking things apart! What sort of driving do you do to average 23MPG? I use my RX8 as my daily car for commuting and seem to average 16MPG in London, 18-19MPG long term. What size tyres does yours need?

Edit - I assume the need super-unleaded petrol?
 
Last edited:
NightShadow said:
Just seen this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1607036.htm

Looks great, seems to have the extended leather on the centre console, sports chrono (laptimer & launch control?) Sat-nav, etc. Really do like the look of it. Is there anything to watch out for with 65,000 miles on the clock? There are lower mileage examples but this seems very well specced in my eyes.
Click to expand...

no known problems with mileage other than resale

Sports chrono does not include launch control
 
NightShadow said:
Rotty, thanks for the informative post, servicing seems pretty reasonable, it's around double that of the RX8 which is to be expected. Things such as brake discs/pads I would probably do myself unless there is anything "special" about them that would prevent me from doing them that is, I quite like taking things apart! What sort of driving do you do to average 23MPG? I use my RX8 as my daily car for commuting and seem to average 16MPG in London, 18-19MPG long term. What size tyres does yours need?

Edit - I assume the need super-unleaded petrol?
Click to expand...

varied driving

16mpg town

30 mpg legal motorway

nothign odd re brakes

mine are 235/60/19 and 265/35/19
 
Cayman is fantastic, less special than a 911 but actually a more sorted car. Everyone should own some Pork, they win laurels due to being epic not to annoy kids who think they are too common or lazy in their design. Buy it and laugh in the face of the ignorant or I'll informed, great little skate the Cayman in all it's forms, S if you can mind!
 
I think the Cayman is a bit of a pointless fast Chelsea Tractor.

Go for an older 911 it gets far more respect from people than a Cayman ever will
 
IIRC Housey's father had one which looked superb with it.
Click to expand...

One of the first fitted I believe, came out after he ordered his and he added the kit. I believe it was a dealer fit too, but might be wrong!
 
eatcustard said:
I think the Cayman is a bit of a pointless fast Chelsea Tractor.
Click to expand...

Cayman a Chelsea tractor? Don't you mean a Cayenne?

The Cayman is an awesome car, anyone who just dismisses them as a poor mans 911 is certainly an idiot.

Will 25k get you a 996 C4S?
 
I had a 'S' for a week. IMO I thought it was a bit too compromised without being that special, but this totally depends on where you compromise. If I was going to live with suspension that stiff I would get something really silly instead, although this didnt have the adjustable suspension which I believe you can get with them. Steering was very nice, as you would expect from a MR layout. Engine nice and gusty for the size, nice even spread of power. Boot space both front and rear is pretty useless, depending what you are expecting I guess. I think the one I had wasn't that optioned up which may have swayed me more towards one. It didn't really feel that special compared to a nicely decked out 911 interior, but you pays your money etc. etc.
 
eatcustard said:
I think the Cayman is a bit of a pointless fast Chelsea Tractor.

Go for an older 911 it gets far more respect from people than a Cayman ever will
Click to expand...

This thread is about the Cayman.


Cayman:

cayman-s-edition.jpg


Cayenne

04.porsche.cayenne.turbo.f34.500.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom