Porsche Cayman 987 – The Time is Now

There is a lot to be said for a sporty car that you can use every day. But quite often, sporty cars can be delicate things that need to be caressed and care for at every given opportunity, otherwise they might have a hissy fit and the alternator will fall off. Happily, this isn’t the case when it comes to the offerings of Germany. Or to be more specific, the offerings of Porsche. Take the 911, for example. It’s a supercar, there is no getting away from that. But you could use it every day, and it would be happy to oblige you each time you turned the key. Would an equivalent McLaren, or Ferrari do that on the regular? Maybe, but it would always be in the back of your mind, wouldn’t it? Is this it? I this the journey during which it breaks down? That’s no way to live. As the 911 proves, sporty does not need to exist within the same world as fragility. And if you’re reading this, thinking ‘but I can’t afford a 911’ don’t worry. We’re not here to tell you to buy one (though if you can, you should). No, this post is here to sing the virtues of the baby 911; the Porsche Cayman.

The Porsche Cayman has been in production since 2005, and it’s those early cars we’re looking at here. Their internal numerical designation was 987.1 and 987.2. These early examples will, if you buy a good one, prove with aplomb that sporty can be reliable. They’re also utterly joyous to drive, thanks to being so much stiffer than the convertible Boxster on which they are based. It’s a proper little sports coupe, and one that will thrill even in the most basic of trim levels. Prices are on the rise though, so if you want a used Porsche Cayman for Peugeot money, the time, as this article would suggest, is now.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PORSCHE CAYMAN

The Porsche Boxster had been around for a long while before the Cayman arrived. The best part of a decade, in fact. And in that time it proved itself to be a welcome shot in the arm for Porsche. It brought the entry price for the brand down, thus opening up this exclusive brand to a whole new range of customers. The Boxster went through several changes, of course. The initial 986 model, for example, saw a range of engines and trim levels over its life. However, the biggest change came with the second-generation 987, when Porsche slapped a fixed lid on it, creating a small, stiff and really rather attractive coupe in the process. You might hear some people call it a baby 911. Ignore those people. The 987 Cayman is actually more balanced and more planted on the road due to the engine being in middle, not way out back, behind the rear axle as per the 911.

Confusingly, Porsche launched the Cayman S with a 3.4 litre flat-six and 295bhp in 2005, and then launched a 2.7 flat-six ‘base’ Cayman with 245bhp the following year.  The S came with a six-speed manual, or a five-speed tiptronic, while the 2.7 came with a five-speed manual or, again, a tiptronic. Power went to the rear wheels, obviously. In 2009, the revised 987.2 S model was upped to 320bhp and was offered with a seven-speed PDK auto. The base Cayman was upgraded at the same time, to a 2.9 with 265bhp. It was also offered with the PDK. A snappy, sharp transmission but one buyers were slow to bond with due to the shift buttons.

As first, there was bewilderment as to why Porsche put a lid on the Boxster, but it soon made sense. The Cayman was far more rigid (the suspension actually had be softened compared to the Boxster), it was far sharper and as such, it was far more of a driver’s car. The motoring press were quick to praise it, stating that the way it handled and drove was like nothing else in the range, and as such, the Cayman has since enjoyed its own image and following. Impressive, considering it’s basically just an enclosed Boxster. And while it was no 911, it wasn’t far off. The 987.3 S could get you to 62mph in 5.2 seconds and all the way to 172mph. On private test tracks, naturally.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR? 

The 987 Cayman is, if it’s looked after and serviced properly, a fantastically reliable car. Your mate down the pub will try and scare you with tales of the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing disintegrating, and if he’s really annoying, he’ll finish it off with some talk of bore wear. On the first point, ignore him. The IMS bearing wasn’t an issue, as Porsche upgraded it in 2006. So that covers that. As for bore score, yes, it has been reported, but it’s rare. It tends to strike the bigger engine versions, so do be cautious. However, Porsche Club GB suggest its been an issue for less than 5% of all cars manufactured.

The rear main seal can weep, but upgraded seals are available. However, this was more of an issue for 986 Boxsters, as it was largely sorted by for the 987 generations. Other than that, you need to do all your usual due diligence. Don’t buy one with patchy history, as care is key for the 987. They’re tough old things, but only if they are looked after and serviced when they should be. Main dealer isn’t a must, but you do want specialists to be in the history. Check the brakes, as they can warp and aren’t cheap to replace. Check tyre wear, as it can be an indicator of tired suspension bushes or past ‘interactions’ with hard things. Also, check the tyres are premium and match. If it’s on budget ditchfinders, walk away. You do not want a Cayman that has been run on a shoestring.  As for everything else, Porsche is pretty good for parts (and not as expensive as you might think) and specialists for this marque are plentiful. Some may even be willing to inspect the car for you beforehand, for extra peace of mind.

WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE? 

You can pick one up for around £13,000, but you’d be taking something of a gamble at that price point. Cars with decent history and that haven’t been to the moon and back start to permeate the market at around £15,500 and this is what you should be looking for. Again, and we can’t stress this enough, history is a must. As for which one to buy, don’t dismiss the 2.7 or 2.9 until you have driven one – they’re still fast. The S is obviously a better and more desirable trim level, but don’t buy an S with patchy paperwork over a base model with full history. Go to £20k and you’ll be well into the best of the base 987.2s, while a couple of grand more will get you in a 3.4 S with 320bhp.

WHY SHOULD I BUY ONE? 

Because, quite simply, they are excellent. Sharp, agile, laden with driver feedback and engagement, this is the sort of car that will make you fall in love with driving again. Our money would go on a 3.4 S with a manual transmission. You could spend this money on a really tired, and frankly somewhat leggy 911, or you could get a sharp coupe that’s got loads of life in it and that, if you look after it, will be an appreciating asset. The 987 Cayman is the ultimate expression of a drivers’ car. Buy one. You will not regret it.

If you’re convinced you need your own baby 911, here’s where to find a Porsche Cayman for sale.