Item: Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005 - 2013
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/used-review/n246">Audi TT</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/370z/coupe/review/n17320">Nissan 370Z</a> 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.

<a href="http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/cayman">Find a used Porsche Cayman in the What Car? Classifieds here</a>

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For 3.4-litre Caymans that have seen a track day or two, pay particular attention to the running of the engine, because they can suffer oil starvation due to the high G-forces the car is capable of. This is in due to the oil in the sump of the engine sloshing over under hard cornering, away from the oil pick-up pump, thus starving one bank of pistons their oil. If you are in any doubt, have your prospective purchase inspected.

Coil springs can snap just as they can on any car, but it’s a dead giveaway on a Cayman as the ride height will be uneven. Another sign will be knocking noises coming from the suspension over bumps.

Rear main oil seals can begin to let oil leak out. As ever, an inspection will advise you on what the best course of action is, because this is an expensive job due to the necessity of removing the gearbox for access to the seal. When the time does come to replace the seal, you might as well replace the clutch at the same time, as there is little point in removing the transmission twice and incurring two sets of labour costs when you can combine the two jobs.

We are mentioning this as you can read all sorts of horror stories about it all over the internet. The same can be said for an engine component called the intermediate shaft bearing (IMS). There are plenty of tales about catastrophic engine failure when the IMS bearing goes but, just to reassure you, this was only fitted to very early Caymans; Porsche fitted an upgraded part from 2006 onwards, which means the majority of the Caymans on sale shouldn’t have this problem. But don’t condemn the early cars straight away, because you can have an alternative retrofit part-fitted to prevent potential engine failure. The previous owner might have had this work completed already – so that's one more thing to check.

For the most part, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a> Cayman is rather reliable.

Of the small number of problems that are reported, most appear to be electrics or engine-based. However, some owners experience brake problems, with discs becoming warped if they're not used hard enough.

As this is a sports car, the previous owner might have had some performance upgrades fitted. Ask them about it, as not all parts are built to the same standards as the original equipment items and may compromise the long-term reliability of the car. If there is a warranty, check what is covered. Porsche won’t cover non-standard items, which is understandable, as it didn’t make or fit them in the first place. And Porsche may not pay out for failures of its own bits if it feels that the performance additions attached to them have caused the problem.

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Coupe

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

CAYMAN

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

Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005 - 2013

It's a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a>, 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.

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The Porsche Cayman is a practical sports car that handles beautifully, yet is reliable and comfortable enough for everyday use. 

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.

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. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a> 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

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Sports

Like most thoroughbreds, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a> Cayman needs looking after to stay at its best.

A full service history is essential and some owners save money by putting off expensive repairs, so consider an inspection if buying privately. Caymans can take higher mileage well if they are looked after. Evidence of regular use is hugely important as the owner will most likely keep on top of any issues that pop up if they are using it every day. Don’t be afraid of a car just because it has travelled further in its life; buy based on the condition and history.

Using a Cayman for track days drastically shortens the life of tyres, brakes and the clutch, and takes its toll on the engine, drivetrain and gearbox. Cars that have been through the gravel traps or even into a crash barrier will have the scars to prove it. The paint and panel fit when new was excellent, so if the car has been repaired and the body shop has done a poor job of it, you should be able to spot it a mile off. Ask the owner about it if you are in any doubt and engage an expert if necessary. Inspect any paperwork regarding the repair to assess the extent of the damage. A Cayman whose body hasn’t been repaired correctly will never handle properly.

If something does fail, the bills could be sizeable. An extended warranty will help ward off sleepless nights.

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/boxster/sports/review/n27">Porsche Boxster</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">911</a>.

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/used-review/n246">Audi TT</a> – 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.

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Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005 - 2013 review

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