Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005 - 2013 review

Category: Sports car

The Porsche Cayman is a practical sports car that handles beautifully, yet is reliable and comfortable enough for everyday use.

Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
  • Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)
Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005 - 2013 review
Star rating

What's the used Porsche Cayman coupe like?

Many purists think a 911 is the only Porsche worth considering, but they'd be mistaken. The Porsche Cayman provides more than 90% of the 911's performance but costs considerably less to buy and run.

It is based on the Porsche Boxster, but has stiffer suspension and a much more rigid chassis. This, along with the mid-engined layout, gives the two-door sports car amazing agility and poise. It also makes the Cayman predictable and easy to control when pushed hard – something not often said of the 911.

Overview

The Porsche Cayman is a practical sports car that handles beautifully, yet is reliable and comfortable enough for everyday use.

  • Brilliant to drive
  • Big maintenance bills

The Cayman is a masterpiece of ergonomic design, squeezing a surprising amount of cabin and boot space into a relatively small footprint: there are 260 litres of space in the rear luggage compartment and 150 litres in the front section.

What is less of a masterpiece is the interior. While it is made out of some very high-quality materials, there are too many buttons. It really does date the design as there isn’t the same touchscreen functionality you would get in today’s car – but then, you’re not paying new Porsche prices. It’s just a shame that this interior isn’t a patch on that in the Audi TT – which, by contrast, has some real design flair, such as air vents that look like pods that sprout out of the dash top and gorgeous aluminium trim. The TT's dashboard is also angled towards the driver, whereas the one in the Cayman is simply flat.

You also have to consider that the Cayman is strictly a two-seater: the packaging limitations of a mid-engine car dictate that. If you need four seats, then the TT is a better proposition, or if you really must have a Porsche, then you will need to step up to a 911.

Ownership cost

What used Porsche Cayman coupe will I get for my budget?

You can find early cars hovering around the £9500 mark, but these will either have problems or galactic mileage. As a general rule, there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche, so you will be much better off stretching the budget to £16,000 or more, as this will improve your choice of tidy 40,000 to 50,000-mile 3.4-litre Cayman S models with a full service history.

In late 2008, there were a number of revisions made to the Cayma. If you want one of these cars, you will need around £26,000.

There are various special-edition versions. The most extreme is the Cayman R, which was designed to be the most hardcore version, with a stripped-out interior and some power and chassis tweaks. These were sold in limited numbers, which means you need to spend at least £40,000 to be able to buy one.

Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)

How much does it cost to run a Porsche Cayman coupe?

It's a Porsche, so don't expect to run a Cayman on pocket money; but then again, it isn’t overly expensive for a car of this class.

The 2.7-litre does an average of 29.7mpg, while the earlier, less powerful version of the 3.4-litre comes in at 26.7mpg. The newer engines are more economical, with the 2.9-litre averaging 30.1mpg and the later 3.4-litre capable of 29.7mpg.

One benefit of opting for a newer engine is it emits slightly less CO2. The 2.7-litre produces 227g/km compared with the newer 2.9-litre engine at 221g/km. The older 3.4-litre emits 254g/km of CO2 compared with the newer version's 221-223g/km. PDK-equipped cars have slightly lower CO2 outputs.

These later engines are better for road tax too, as early 3.4-litre cars can be caught up in the tax bracket change after 23 March 2006. Any 3.4-litre Cayman before that costs £305; if it is registered afterwards, then it is £520 – ouch! If you must have the bigger engine, then you’re best off finding a facelifted car as its emissions were cut down to reduce those running costs. You will need to spend more to buy the newer car, though, so you will need to weigh up the overall cost to find out which one suits your budget.

Despite the cost, it's best to stick with a franchised dealer when servicing newer cars; this will help protect future resale values. However, for older cars, there are plenty of respected independent specialists that will do the job properly while also saving you a tidy sum. You will have to respect the fact that the Cayman is a mid-engine car, so access to the unit isn’t as great as it is in a front or rear-engine vehicle.

Insurance premiums are typical for a sports car, sitting between groups 42 and 44.

Our recommendations

Which used Porsche Cayman coupe should I buy?

The Cayman S was launched with a six-cylinder 291bhp 3.4-litre engine but, a year later, a 245bhp 2.7-litre version, called simply the Cayman, went on sale. There was also a limited-edition 299bhp 3.4-litre Sport edition.

A new range of engines was introduced in 2009, including a 262bhp 2.9-litre and an uprated 3.4-litre unit with 316bhp. Porsche also introduced its PDK twin-clutch semi-automatic gearbox, which is smooth. In 2010, the PDK system's confusing steering wheel-mounted buttons were simplified, making it easier to use.

In reality, the 2.7-litre and 2.9-litre models are perfectly suited to most drivers. They offer plenty of pace but also help to keep running costs under control; the later 2.9 version, in particular, has reduced road tax costs.

The standard model comes with half-leather sports seats, climate control and stability control, while the S gets upgraded alloys and more aggressive bodywork detailing.

Our favourite Porsche Cayman 2.9

Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Porsche Cayman coupe?

It’s a tricky question to answer because the Porsche Cayman is a really complete sports car and few rivals get close to bettering its blend of abilities. The closest would be the Audi TT, as it is a prestige coupé with the practicality of a hatchback, except the Audi’s boot doesn’t have to share space with an engine. You would need to find one with either a V6 petrol, a TTS or a TT RS for a similar or better performance than the Cayman, as regular versions aren’t really a match.

The Nissan 370Z is a cheaper alternative. It doesn’t drive anywhere near as well as the Porsche, or even the Audi for that matter. But it does have a thumping 3.7-litre V6 and plenty of equipment for the money.

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Porsche Cayman Coupe (05 - 13)