Porsche Cayman Reviews

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Porsche Cayman with specs, fuel consumption and verdict in Sweden.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Porsche Boxster and Cayman from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 as a used buy.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the 2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Richard Blackburn road tests and reviews the Porsche Cayman GT4 at its international launch.

Alfa Romeo is one of the most evocative names in the world of motoring

The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are pure mid-engined sports machines, meaning the engine is installed just behind the cabin, unlike the the engine in the Porsche 911 that’s fitted behind the back wheels.A mid-engine layout gives exceptionally good weight distribution and therefore the best in chassis balance and higher cornering speeds than the 911.Interestingly, the Boxster and Cayman share quite a few of their front-end components with the Porsche 911. At the rear they are quite different machine visually, though there’s still a family resemblance.Porsche Boxster is sold only as a convertible, Cayman is a fixed hardtop coupe and didn’t go on sale till 2006, nine years after its open-top brother.Boxster’s roof is one of the simplest in the business, note the clever way the roof acts as its own cover when it’s powered open. It can be left open even if the weather is threatening as it can easily be powered closed at a red traffic light. You can usually avoid the embarrassment of having to wait for roof closure to be complete after the lights turn green.Both models are brilliant machines that cry out to be pushed hard and fast. Their naturally-aspirated engines are wonderfully responsive, the gearbox is a delight to use, road grip is very high and the feel through the steering wheel and the seat of the pants is magnificent.It takes a lot of provocation to get the tail out of line, and if it does start to slide the cars remains controllable - up to a point, that is. As with all full-on sports cars with mid-mounted engines, if the tail gets out too far you'll need quick reflexes to correct it.An advanced driving course is recommended if you really want to get the best from your Porsche. These days electronics aids can save you from over-reaching; they can be detuned should you wish to make your own decisions, particularly for track days.Unlike the 911, these Porsches are strictly two-seaters. The seats are supportive and comfortable and shoulder room is plentiful, with the two occupants well insulated from buffeting with the roof down.A real bonus of the mid-engined layout is that Boxster and Cayman are surprisingly practical for sportscars, with luggage compartments front and rear, this can almost be used as a daily driver by a one or two-person household.The Boxster arrived in Australia in January 1997. It received minor upgrades in October 1999, August 2001 and August 2002, then a major upgrading in February 2005. The latter, tagged the 987 series, replaced the previous 986 models.This was upgraded again in November 2006, November 2007 and March 2009. An all-new Boxster came out in June 2012, followed by a new Cayman 12 months later.The Boxster was initially criticised for being down on power, mainly due to its smallish 2.5-litre, flat-six engine. That problem was solved in 1999 when a bigger 2.7-litre unit was installed.Even better news was the shoehorning of an optional 3.2-litre engine into the models called the Boxster S and Cayman S. This was increased to 3387 cc in 2006 and to 3436 cc in 2009, with the standard Boxster going up to 2.9 litres in 2009.These superb Porsche engines, even the smallest ones, really come alive above 4000 rpm, their tone initially hardening, then rising to a wonderfully metallic howl as it goes through 5000 rpm. Get the top down whenever you can and hold on to the lower gears just for the sheer pleasure of listening to it.There were major changes to the Boxster engine in 2009. Though the flat-six engines still capacities of 2.9 or 3.4 litres, they featured a direct injection fuel system.This was complemented by numerous other changes. Power was increased, and even more importantly peak torque remained constant over large parts of the rev band. Unlike the older powerplants, that needed 4000 revs to come on song, the newer units really begin to buzz from not much over 3000 rpm.Powerful ventilated brake discs are installed. If you think going from a standstill to 100km/h in under six seconds in the bigger engined models feels sensational, just wait until you experience 100 to zero in less than three seconds. That really makes your eyes bulge and gives a most satisfying feeling of security.Boxster initially used either a five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. From the 2009 upgrade a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox was installed.Porsche is long established in Australia. The dealer network isn’t huge, but it’s well organised and we seldom hear complaints about parts or service availability. Prices aren’t cheap, but neither are they outrageous for what you get.Insurance ratings are generally moderate for what is, after all, a prestige sports car aimed at those who like to drive hard and fast.A Porsche Boxster that’s always been serviced and repaired by an official dealer is relatively common and we feel it's the one to aim for. You probably be asked to pay more because of its history. And may we suggest you keep up the servicing to make your car a sound investmentWHAT TO LOOK FORHard driving is what the Boxster and Cayman are built for - butt too much can decrease their lives. Look for severe tyre wear, heavy brake dust buildup and repairs to the body. Rust is very unusual and almost certainly means the car has been badly repaired after a crash.These cars are well engineered and solidly built and unless poorly repaired after a crash should last well. If you suspect collision repairs it’s wise to have it professionally inspected.Check the interior for signs of mistreatment. Look under the floor mats for signs of dampness caused by a Boxster being caught out in the rain. The engine should start easily, idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over and have throttle response that’s all-but instantaneous.Heavy operation of the clutch is likely to mean it’s due for an overhaul. Not a complex job, but there are no cheap repairs on a Porsche. The gearbox should be light and easy to use, with no noises at any time, even during the fastest of gearchanges.Be sure the brakes pull the car up cleanly without one wheel locking ahead of the others. If ABS is installed feel for a pulse through the brake pedal under hard braking.CAR BUYING TIPMost sports cars are only driven gently - sad but true - however it’s a fact of life they probably make a better used-car buy. 

There are those who will disagree strongly with this statement: “The new Porsche Cayman is simply the best vehicle ever produced by the iconic German marque that specialises in sports machines.”The disagreement will come from those who insist that the famed Porsche 911 is better. They will insist that the character and personality of the Cayman simply doesn’t match that of its big brother 911.Let me put my argument in favour of the Cayman; the Cayman has its engine in exactly the right spot - behind the seats and in front of the rear axle, thus making it a true mid-engined machine. This placement of the engine (the gearbox is mounted immediately behind it) gives the best possible chassis balance and is used by all pure racing cars, from Formula One down.VALUEThe fact that the Cayman/Boxster cost about half the price of the 911 is a major factor in the equation. While a starting price of $107,100 doesn’t exactly put them into the affordable category, anyone with a decent income can certainly put them seriously onto their wish list.The all-new Porsche Boxster arrived in Australia in June 2012; exactly a year later its closed-coupe brother Cayman now takes pride of place in Porsche showrooms Down Under.DESIGNCayman shares most of its body parts with the Boxster. Indeed, there are many components from the 911 under there are well. Obviously, the fixed roof of the Cayman takes an altogether shape to that of a Boxster with its roof closed.To our eyes the styling of this fixed hardtop Porsche is simply brilliant. There’s a strong hint to the iconic rear window shape to please 911 purists, yet the Cayman definitely makes its own statement.Porsche Cayman differs in appearance in its lower areas of the body, with changes to the style of the the front air intakes and rear diffuser. Like the Boxster, the Cayman has been on a diet and uses a substantial amount of aluminium to trim weight. This results in even nimbler handling, reduced fuel consumption (down by about seven per cent on official measurements) and lower emissions.TECHNOLOGYPowertrains on offer are a 2.7-litre flat-six with 202 kilowatts and 290 Newton metres driving through a six-speed manual or seven-speed double-clutch PDK automated manual. Or a 3.4-litre 239 kW / 370 Nm unit with the same transmission options.Zero to 100 km/h acceleration from the smaller engine is 5.4 seconds, that from the larger unit is an impressive 4.7 seconds, in both cases this requires the PDK gearbox and the Sports Chrono package.DRIVINGThough our initial road testing of the all-new Porsche Cayman involved far too much Sydney traffic crawling (OK, it’s what people do in real life, but…) the open road and twisting segments of the Porsche organised program showed just what a stunning car this is.The close-to-perfect balance, well sorted suspension that comes with various electronic settings, and low centre of gravity make it a delight to push hard and fast. Steering is nimble and Cayman is more than happy to change direction mid bend if need be.Tyre noise is extreme at times on coarse-chip surfaces, to the extent that the occupants have to significantly raise their voices.The sound from the engines, we tested both powerplants, is sensational and even at low speeds there’s an eagerness from the flat sixes that makes the driver feel alive within the car.VERDICTNew Porsche Cayman is a brilliant sports machine at an extremely affordable price when compared with the supercar brigade. We would be more than happy to have one in our garage – or better still out of it – any day.

With its mid-mounted engine you could argue the Porsche Cayman is a better proposition than the hallowed 911. It's certainly better balanced, with incredible mid-corner poise that makes great drivers out of ordinary ones.You've got to wonder however whether Porsche has arbitrarily limited development of the car to prevent it from challenging the 911? The potential is certainly there.VALUEYou can get into the two-seat Cayman from as little as $115,500, or the more powerful Cayman S version from $150K. That's almost $80,000 less than a 911 Carrera and, as much as we love the naturally aspirated Carrera  we'd take the Cayman every time (unless you're a wally). There's just no downside.In fact, we'd even be happy with the entry Cayman and wack on a few options like larger wheels and the PDK auto. PDK is an extra $4990, Sports Chrono $3890, PASM active suspension management $2710, and a set of 20 inch wheels $5420 (18s are standard). The $4790 sports exhaust system would be tempting too  not that it doesn't sound fine to start with.TECHNOLOGYBoth engines develop maximum power at a higher 7400 revs. They're up to 15 per cent more fuel-efficient thanks to direct injection, along with thermal management and electrical system power recuperation.Cayman gets a 2.7-litre boxer six with 202kW of power and 290Nm of torque. In standard form it does the dash from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds, 5.6 secs with PDK or 5.4 seconds with the optional Sports Chrono pack.Cayman S on the other hand is powered by a larger, 3.4-litre flat pack six with 239kW of power and 370Nm of torque and is capable of putting away the dash in 5.0, 4.9 or 4.7 seconds respectively (with the same options added).A six-speed manual is standard while a 7-speed PDK twin clutch transmission is optional. Fuel consumption for the two engines is 7.7 and 8.0 litres/100km respectively (both with the auto).DESIGNWith this model Porsche has moved to put some distance between it and its convertible twin the Boxster. The look is wider, lower and more aggressive, with larger air intakes at the front. New from the ground up Cayman is 33mm longer with a 60mm longer wheel base and a 40mm wider track.Almost half of the car is now made of aluminium making it 30kg lighter than before and 5kg lighter than Boxster. It also more powerful than a Boxster, at least in standard form.Porsche Australia boss Michael Winkler said if you liked the previous model, then you'll find this one is a "huge" step forward. "It has more presence and is not as much of a toy" he said. "It's a fully blown sports car now."SAFETYIt may be quick but it's also as safe as houses, with a full suite of safety systems and more powerful braking.DRIVINGThere's nothing disappointing in the way the smaller engined car performs. The big decision is whether to get the automatic. If you do a lot of city driving, then it will have to be the auto. If not then you may enjoy the greater involvement offered by changing gears manually  after all this is a driver's car.The other big difference between the two cars we drove was in the size wheels and PASM active chassis management system. PASM is great way of modulating the ride, even with 20s fitted  but you can still leave it in sport for sharper throttle response.VERDICTWhat's not to like? It's lighter, stronger and more powerful than before and quicker than the car it replaces. It even uses less fuel thanks to the addition of auto stop/start (don't panic you can turn it off).Porsche Cayman PDK (automatic)Price: from $115,500Warranty: 3 years/100,000 kmEngine: 2.7-litre six cylinder petrol; 202kW/290NmTransmission: 7-speed twin clutch auto; RWDThirst: 7.7L/100km, 180g /km CO2Dimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.3m (H)Weight: From 1319kgSpare: none

So why does Porsche charge more for the Cayman coupe than its roadster sibling the Boxster?Drop tops cost more to make, what with all the stabilising reinforcement needed to compensate for the lack of a rigid roof. So it must be a calculated marketing driven thing, right? Can't have the junior coupe priced too far under the perennial 911.But while there's no such thing as a willingly downsizing 911 owner, the most affordable new Cayman is $115,500. The most affordable 911 is almost exactly double. Sorry, but the 911 isn't anywhere near twice as good as the Cayman Carsguide has driven in Portugal ahead of its April 27 release here.Against that, the impost over the  Boxster is now some $8K in base form and some $17k for the ripping S. So why does Porsche charge more for the Cayman? Well, mainly because they're Porsche and they can. Also because if the Cayman is not the best  Porsche in outright terms, it is the best pound for pound.VALUENow that the Cayman, like the Boxster, has something like 50 per cent commonality with the fabled 911 and is, as we say, rather more than half the car, you'd have to say the value is fairly sensational.That's even if you - like more than 90 per cent of buyers - accept the premium for the exceptional PDK twin clutch auto transmission. So realistically the range kicks off at $120,800 for the Cayman PDK with the 2.7 six cylinder engine - a $400 increase on the previous model. But then the S slithers into the equation, at $2900 over the previous model.A six speed manual - not a seven like the 911 - is $150,400 with $155,700 for the range topping auto. That's some $17,000 above the equivalent Boxsters, in which you can convert from topless to soft top up in a matter of seconds at the push of a button. To justify (sort of) that impost, the Cayman gets more power and bi xenon headlights as standard. Also non optional are 17-inch alloys on the base car and 20s on the S.Although packages are being finalised, including Sports Chrono, it will be possible to option the S up to $200,000, at which point you're within tens of dollars of a base 911's lease repayments. Which is Porsche's point in this positioning.Among the excellent, diverse but not really comparable cars in the Cayman's price  range are BMW's M3, Audi's top TT and Benz's SLK.TECHNOLOGYElectrical  steering is the most obvious and important piece of tech devolved from the 911. Some can bore for their countries on the verities of the classic hydraulic steering, but as Porsche kindly explain, such people are wrong. Porsche's own test driver, the great rally pilot Walter Rohrl, might be paid to spruik these cars but there's little doubting his belief in its "positive feel".Much is made of the Cayman's superiority to the Boxster -it is much stiffer, has all of 10 horsepower and 10 Newton metres more, it's light so quicker and less thirsty. But it's the commonality that's most telling. With the engine mid-mounted behind the seats, the Cayman enjoys inherent balance - 40/60 front to rear - with all the poise and confidence that conveys.The first Cayman to achieve the magical 100hp per litre figure, the lesser car's 2.7 six is good for 202kW/290Nm and a 5.6 0-100kmh sprint. The S gets there a good 1.3 seconds faster, putting out a comparatively blistering 239kW/370Nm. It has done the ultimate test of the Nordschleife in 7:55.The bantam weight 1310kg makes rivals look porky. The die hard manual people will revel in throttle blipping that comes in during Sports Plus mode, maintaining engine speed during changes. Or maybe they won't. Burmester sound with all of 12 speakers permeates the cockpit, but what need have you of any soundtrack other than that from behind your seat?DESIGNA feeble but unfortunately persistent  quip is to ask Porsche people when they'll do up a hardtop Boxster. Well, here's another one, though no folding metal roof yet devised looks quite so shapely as the Cayman's rigid hard hat. You can train spot the 911 and the 918 visual cues. The air intakes are literally cool, the low slung roof stretches the profile, accents like the enveloping rear lights emphasise the width of the rear track into which the pop-up spoiler fits seamlessly.Cockpit quality had lifted to reflect the quantum leap of the latest 911. There are proper shifting paddles, rather than buttons, but there are idiosyncrasies. The back of the optional sports seats cannot be adjusted. Again though, it's not the seats that are wrong. It's you. A car intended for daily driving, there's decent storage too, with a small hatch like 275 litres under the back lid and another 150 up front. You'll get the shopping done or be able to take a holiday's worth of luggage for two.SAFETYThere's no nonsense about pranging one of these into a safety agency wall. Stars are left to brands that need selling points. This is a Porsche and therefore as bulletproof as it is alluring. Active safety is its chief asset. The wider diameter of the rear tyres increase grip to a limit you won't reach on public roads. Options include mighty ceramic brakes and adaptive cruise control. You'd want to be trying awfully hard to get out of shape.DRIVINGIt says everything for Porsche's notion of the Cayman's intended buyer that they could strap into the cockpit and go without the least feeling of unfamiliarity or awe. It's that intuitive to drive, a device that forms around and feels part of you. The more familiar it becomes, the more gratifying the experience. Congratulations on your purchase, you're on a delightful journey of discovery.Even without a back to back comparison, the entry engine feels lacking. There's not a lot of twist - only 10Nm more than a Golf GTI - and it comes in late. PDK can't mask that, but if you like  shifting gears for yourself this deficit could be a plus.In either guise, the Cayman reflects the dynamics of the Boxster and raises them slightly. There's seemly endless grip and a willingness to hold speed through corners. It's when leaving them that the S model with PDK comes into it's own, grabbing just the right gear at the just the right moment and letting you punch out hard accompanied by a glorious rising whine note.You needn't be Rorhl to get indecent levels of gratification from the Cayman. If not exactly attainable in terms of price, it rewards and cossets the average.VERDICTThe 911 - especially the imminent 4S - has become by Porsche's admission quite sensible, growing up and out. Still, there's nothing Carsguide would rather own - except this.

Less is more in the "ultimate" $165,000 Porsche Cayman R which sheds 55kg to gain tenths of a second in acceleration.LIGHTWEIGHTThrough selective use of lightweight materials including the special 19-inch alloy wheels, aluminium bonnet and doors and carbon fibre racing seats, Porsche has brought Cayman R down to 1295kg helping reduce the 0-100kmh sprint to a neat 5.0 seconds for the six-speed manual version (less for the PDK seven-speed manumatic). Not only that, the R consumes no more fuel despite having 7kW more power rated at 243kW/370Nm. It's all good if you like your Porsches razor sharp and bullet fast.GOOD LOOKINGEssentially a hard-top Boxster, the Cayman is arguably one of the best lookers in Porsche's lineup with cannon barrel front guards, a low arcing roofline and classic fastback rear end. The test car was painted iridescent green which amplified the visual effect along with the fixed rear wing and blacked out body hardware. It's a two seat, mid-engine sports coupe with handling to make your head spin - a real Porsche in other words.ENGINEThe dry sump, 3.4-litre, direct petrol injection, flat-six engine is tweaked for more power but torque remains the same. It has what Porsche calls Variocam Plus on the inlet side which alters valve timing and lift for gains across the board including fuel economy and emissions (Euro 5). A characteristic Porsche exhaust rasp builds to a manic wail as revs approach the 7500 redline. Fuel economy is rated at 9.7-litres/100km in the manual, less in the PDK version.PERFORMANCE PARTSPorsche tapped its performance parts bin for some Cayman R components with bits coming from the 911 GT3 and others. A leaf has been taken from the Ferrari book with cloth strap interior door latches. But this is no "stripper" track day car as Porsche has fitted plenty of kit in the Cayman R including a premium audio system, satnav and other goodies.DYNAMICSHowever, it's not a car you would necessarily like to drive every day due to the narrower sports focus which brings tight fitting race seats and firm suspension, uprated and lowered significantly (20mm) from the standard Cayman. It has monumental brakes and big tyres with low profile rubber for optimised cornering and steering response. The strut/wishbone suspension runs firmer springs and dampers and stiffer sway bars.THE DRIVEWow, where to start? Acceleration is brilliant no matter what the speed and so is the cornering. It has a typical of Porsche "connected" steering feel and the big brakes make light work of stopping this relatively lightweight Porsche. We had to have two runs up and down our favourite mountain road and could have stayed there all day enjoying the finely-honed dynamics of the Cayman R. We still prefer a PDK transmission but the six-speed manual is nearly as much fun if a little slower and thirstier.There's no S button or performance "individualising" options like the new 911 unless to opt for the Sports Chrono pack with attendant gains on top of the already accomplished "standard" model. Few cars we have driven are as well balanced and as razor sharp dynamically as the Cayman R. It's fully engaging and a thrill to drive.VERDICTNot in the green but would have one in a blink - a properly engineered, good looking, great sounding sports car.Porsche Cayman R (6-sp manual)Price: $165,000Warranty: 3years, 100,000kmEconomy: 9.7l/100km,  228g/km CO2Safety: six-airbags, ABS,  Porsche Stability Management, traction control system, engine braking control system,(automatic braking differentiEngine: 6-cylinder, 243kW/370NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, RWDBody: CoupeDimensions:  4,347mm (L),  1,801mm (W),  1,285mm (H),  2,415mm (WB)Weight: 1295kgTyres: 235/35 19 inch Alloy wheels