porsche caymen s

[peter richards]

anyone here with any experience of this car

[grahamc]

A friend runs a Cayman R..... is there much different? Or the same?

[peter richards]

not sure , just trying to do a bit of research on it gra , 06-08 tops , they get a bit expensive above that

[Dnk]

Here's some maybe useful info for you, I highlighted one piece seeing as you said looking at up to 08 reg

 

Used Porsche Cayman

Background

 

Theoretically a coupe version of Porsche's mega-selling Boxster, the Cayman burst on to the sports coupe scene in 2005, spraying mud all over the fairly weak competition and turning out to have enough personality of its not to need to ride on the Boxster's coat tails.

 

Designed to fill the niche between the brand's entry-level Boxster and its flagship 911, Porsche have come dangerously close to shooting themselves in the foot with the Cayman, whose performance has it nipping energetically at the 911's heels but at a lower price point, closing the market gap between the two models. There is a distinct possibility that the two cars could become interchangeable, thereby devaluing the 911's iconic status.

 

The UK's first glimpse came with the arrival in dealerships of the Cayman S at the end of 2005, with a 3.4 litre engine and six-speed manual gearbox which, despite a higher price tag than the Boxster, propelled sales skyward. The basic Porsche Cayman arrived in summer 2006, with 2.7 litres and a five-speed manual gearbox, or the S's six-speed version as an option. An electronically controlled five-speed Tiptronic gearbox was also available to order on both models.

 

Consternation among fans and press at the Cayman's lack of LSD (Limited Slip Differential) was smoothed over with the release of an updated Cayman in 2009, with the option of the much missed LSD and a new, seven-speed PDK dual-clutch robotic manual transmission, power boosts to both models and a revamped front end. A sporty, new Porsche Cayman R joined the pack in 2011.

 

Bang for your buck

 

Early rumours of an unwieldy design proved to be completely unfounded, the Cayman turning out to be a symphony of sinuous curves, hugging the ground like the reptile it's named after. The Cayman is designed to drive more aggressively than the Boxster, with beefier suspension and revisions to the smaller car's stability control and anti-lock braking systems. This helps to make the Cayman slightly edgier than rivals the Audi TT and Nissan 350Z.

 

Although it shares the same mid-engined layout as the Boxster, plus a chassis and numerous bodyshell and suspension elements, the Cayman also smacks of two earlier Porsches, the 550 and 904 coupes. Where the used Porsche Cayman trounces its progenitor is in luggage space, engine capacity and an unexpected element of practicality. While it's still a long way from a tourer or family car, a remote opening rear hatch reveals far more storage capacity than you usually see in a Porsche.

 

What you'll pay

 

High customer satisfaction scores have left used Porsche Cayman cars for sale a fairly rare sight in the second hand market. Happy owners simply don't want to sell them, which in itself is a good enough reason to want one. The original purchase price was often massively inflated with a host of extras so, while the list price for a new Cayman was £36,000, you still won't find used models for much less than that now. The same goes for the S. Insurance across the board is group 19.

 

What to check

 

The used Porsche Cayman S has attracted some notice for engine cooling issues, but generally warranty has covered this, while the basic 2.7 litre unit is pretty much spotless. Tyres, suspension and the rear axle need a good going over because abuse of the right hand pedal can cause a condition known as 'axle tramp', causing an unpleasant juddering to the rear of the car. A whining driveshaft or axle points to this.

 

Apart from the usual kerbing and parking knocks and trivial body scrapes among owner caused problems, you should be able to sleep soundly with the engine and mechanicals if a full service history is present.

 

Parts

 

Consistent with Porsche's high end status, parts are not cheap, but nor are they the most expensive. With clutch assembly kits for £175, a set of front pads £60 and rears £75, each of the Cayman's two radiators £110, an alternator £350 and a replacement headlight about £160, you might think you've got off lightly compared to other luxury cars.

 

How it drives

 

The used Porsche Cayman S far outshines market rivals on a test track, with even the basic Cayman performing well enough to make most drivers devoted Porsche converts. At nearly 300bhp and 5.1 seconds from 0-60mph for the S, you can't fail to have fun behind the wheel here. Add to that the heritage and sheer weight of history that colour every drive in a Porsche and you'll feel you're getting a lot of car for the money. One might say that a Porsche isn't just a car, it's a lifestyle...

[peter richards]

cheers dunk , good read , from what ive found already the 3.4 has bore issues due to scoring , like in your post the 2.7 seems not to suffer from this i think its the cylinder and pistons are smaller , been looking for a few weeks now , none near where i live so test drives out atm ,

[grahamc]

Someone I know had a 55 plate Cayman S..... not the best of times was had.

http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/97666-temporary-toy-for-the-summer-porsche-cayman-s/page__hl__cayman

 

Skip to page 7 for bore scoring (£7k +vat bill) and state of engine when it came out (rust).

[peter richards]

interesting read , thanks

[peter richards]

i think on the later models 09 on they did away with the IMS bearing , to dear though , gives me something to think about as i love the look of the car

[cered]

get the 2.7

 

make sure it's looked after

 

"One lady owner" avoid unless sabine schmidt hands you the keys

[peter richards]

lol was thinking of the 2.7 tbh , slightly cheaper , the only thing i was thinking which might not suit the car is i only use it 6 mths of the year then once in a blue moon .

[ozz]

I had an 07 caymen s, 3.4. Amazing handling car, a little underwhelmed on the noise she made. I was always worried something was going to go wrong. Pretty rapid and looked amazing.

 

If I was going to have another I'd stretch to the facelift (09?) model, supposed to be a big step up in interior quality and reliability.

 

It was a totally different car to the 370z I had before it, the porsche undoubtedly won on looks but I'd take the zed for more frequent usage car.

 

Pretty expensive to fix anything - I used the Porsche specialist in Bridgend, massively cheaper than Cardiff Porsche. My exhaust tip was hanging down when I got there for service, luckily it didn't fall off as he said it was something like 500-800 to replace it!

 

Oh and it broke down in Lidl. (just battery though).

 

Sorry another thought - if you don't use it regular then you need a good charger for it. I can't remember what I bought but it was probably £70+. I may even still have it somewhere.

 

Lol adding another thought - they are a nightmare to sell! Mine went to a performance car dealer but the amount of inquiries I had listing so many different options they wanted was crazy.

[peter richards]

seems to be a few about , but none local , so not driven one yet

[peter richards]

i detailed a boxter s a few weeks ago he uses the bridgend garage , i think they did the inspection on his before he bought it

[formatzero]

As said Gen 2 cars seem better,however buying from a Porsche dealer will give you a 2 year warranty even on earlier models .

[imi]

anyone here with any experience of this car

 

I have a 981 Cayman S - is that the one you are after?