Used Porsche Cayman for sale: everything you need to know
When Porsche launched the open-topped Boxster in the 1990s it seemed inevitable there would eventually be a closed-roof variant, and it eventually arrived as the first Cayman in 2005 - a car so good that some people reckoned its performance had been deliberately limited so as not to steal sales away from the Porsche 911.
The Cayman is still great today, now in its third-generation ‘718’ form. There’s a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, naturally aspirated power and turbocharged, road-friendly or track-focused models, and more options than you can shake a Porsche-branded stick at. Its popularity means plenty of choice on the used market too, at some quite tempting prices. Read on to find out more about the Cayman below.
Should you buy a Porsche Cayman?
The Porsche Cayman is one of the best sports cars on sale at any price. There are some who’d have you believe it’s even better than its larger sibling, the Porsche 911, and there’s certainly some truth to this - the Cayman’s mid-engined balance and relatively compact size could both be considered advantageous.
When the Porsche 718 Cayman arrived in 2016 it did so with a pair of flat-four engines. It’s fair to say these drew mixed opinions at first - there was certainly nothing wrong with the way they performed, but as the Cayman had previously offered only six-cylinder engines, the sound and feel felt like a step down. If you’re happy with just four pistons then they’re still great units, with plenty of torque and really strong performance even in the 300PS base model.
The 4-litre six-cylinder engines still feel like the Cayman at its best, but all versions have a fantastic chassis, both hugely capable and involving. An excellent driving position helps you feel like a part of the car, and interior quality is hard to fault too - while Porsche’s extensive options list means you’re sure to find some very well-specified cars on sale. The Cayman’s even practical, with not one but two boots.
For similar money, the only two other cars that really get close to the Cayman’s dynamics are the lightweight Alpine A110, and the Lotus Evora. The Porsche has the edge on both for quality, but all three deliver a unique driving experience that’s hard to find elsewhere. If you’re shopping at the upper end of the Cayman range, a Porsche 911 is still a tempting proposition too.
What’s the best used Porsche Cayman model to buy?
With a broad spread in prices, budget comes into play even among Cayman buyers. At the upper end of the market, the GT4 models really are remarkable, but the GTS 4.0 probably delivers the core Cayman experience - brilliant on the road and still pretty adept on track, with the ‘correct’ number of cylinders for a Porsche. Of the smaller four-cylinder engines we’d go for the Cayman T. It may only have the 2-litre engine, but it’s the sharpest to drive, and with 300PS it’s still a brisk device, while the changes to its specification make it visually appealing too. As for manual or PDK, that’s down to personal preference. Both are excellent, though PDKs are much more common on the used market than manuals.
Used Porsche Cayman fuel economy and performance
- Porsche Cayman 2.0: From just a 2-litre flat four the basic Cayman makes 300PS, on a par with most 2-litre hot hatchbacks. With rear-wheel drive traction on its side, it’ll knock off a 5.1-second 0-62mph run too, while economy is quoted at 31.7mpg.
- Porsche Cayman 2.5: Half a litre more capacity results in another 50PS in the Cayman S, taking half a second from the 0-62mph time and only affecting economy slightly, at 29.4mpg.
- Porsche Cayman 4.0 GTS: The 4-litre, naturally aspirated flat six Cayman GTS replaced a 2.5-litre four-cylinder version in 2020. It develops 400PS - 100PS per litre, in other words - and gets from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds as a manual, four seconds flat as a PDK. Economy is still 28mpg combined.
- Porsche Cayman 4.0 GT4: The GT4’s 4-litre flat six makes even more power at 420PS and cuts the 0-62mph time to 4.4 seconds in manual form. Economy drops slightly to 26.4mpg.
- Porsche Cayman 4.0 GT4 RS: The most potent Cayman makes 500PS from its four-litre engine, with a 3.4-second 0-62mph time the result (with a standard PDK gearbox). All that extra power does reduce economy, down to 21.4mpg, but few owners will care.
What used Porsche Cayman trim levels are available?
- The Porsche Cayman gets the 2-litre engine and a pretty generous level of equipment, which when new, Porsche is only too happy to embellish by showing you the options list.
- The Porsche Cayman T keeps the 2-litre engine but gets larger wheels, a limited-slip differential, and active drivetrain mounts, plus a few options and colours unique to the model.
- The Porsche Cayman S upgrades to the 2.5-litre engine and has a few more standard features than the regular Cayman.
- The Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 takes another step over the S and has a few more performance-focused features as standard - plus of course that 4-litre engine.
- The Porsche Cayman GT4 gets a prominent aero kit with a rear wing, plus adjustable suspension, a shorter gearshift throw, and automatic throttle blipping on downshifts. There are several options too, from bucket seats to a half cage.
- The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is a true track-day special with the most powerful engine, an even wilder aero kit, plenty of carbonfibre, unique seats, and more.
Used Porsche Cayman dimensions and boot size
The Porsche Cayman’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,379mm (GTS: 4,405mm; GT4 and GT4 RS: 4,456mm)
- Width: 1,801mm (GT4 RS: 1,822mm)
- Height: 1,276mm (S: 1,295mm; GT4: 1,269mm; GT4 RS: 1,267mm)
- Ground clearance: 128mm
The Porsche Cayman’s boot space is:
- Front luggage compartment: 150 litres (GT4 RS: 125 litres)
- Luggage compartment behind front seats: 184 litres, or 272 litres with seats folded (GT4 182/270 litres; GT4 RS 136 litres)
Used Porsche Cayman road tax
The Porsche 718 Cayman debuted in 2016 and this means the first year or so of models on the market are taxed on their CO2 emissions. This works in favour of several models given all post-2017 cars attract a VED surcharge and therefore a £600 annual bill - opt for an earlier car and you could pay as little as £305 each year. The later surcharge disappears from year seven onwards however, so some 2017-on cars will already get lower tax rates.
How much is it to insure a Porsche Cayman?
No surprises here really: insuring a Cayman won’t be the cheapest endeavour, with even the 2-litre standard car getting a group 42 rating. The Cayman GT4 meanwhile is in group 47, and the GT4 RS tops the scale at group 50.
