Tuesday 13th December 2011

Spotted: Porsche Cayman S Viper Green

Wishlist spec Cayman S press car surfaces at an official Porsche Centre

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OK, first up an admission. We weren’t quick enough and this car has actually sold. And whoever bought it is one lucky git.

Viper Green gives a bit of GT3 chic

So we weren’t fast enough to flag it up while it was still for sale. But we have actually met this car before, in its previous life as a Porsche GB press car. And if that worries the new owner then fear not, press cars probably get more attention lavished on them than any other so it’ll be in tip-top condition.

Priced at £52,950 at Porsche Centre Newcastle with just over 7,000 miles on the clock, this Cayman S is one special car. I remember booking it out and when, in the usual style, the spec sheet pinged into my inbox ahead of the car’s arrival my jaw dropped. First thought? Viper Green – cool! Working my way down the spec it was like a mental wishlist being checked off item by item. Ceramic brakes, manual gearbox (joy!) with short-shift upgrade, fixed bucket seats, sports exhaust, black 19-inch Carrera Sport alloys, limited-slip diff and more besides.

Carbon package and £2K PCM nav included

Yup, whoever it was in the Porsche press office that specced this car had clearly been having fun. And then I reached the bottom line: £71,954. This Cayman wasn’t just a junior GT3 in looks – it was dangerously close on price too!

Not that I cared once I got to drive it. Truly one of those sublime, lovely cars that just transcends any ‘OMG’ about the price my week with the Viper Green Cayman S is up there with my all-time favourite press cars. More than one fellow hack who booked it out muttered “I’ll be keeping an eye open for that one when it’s de-fleeted…” and though the price was still pretty sturdy the new buyer can feel chuffed at bagging £27K’s worth of extras at Porsche GB’s expense.

Aero kit, sports exhaust and LSD among options

Of course, since then we’ve had the Cayman R and, if you’re kicking yourself that you missed this beauty, there is at least consolation in the fact a brand new R at £51,728 is actually a little cheaper than the sticker price on this special S. There’s no escaping the fact that £2,365 worth of Viper Green paint does lend this car a special something though, Caymans always suiting strong, solid colours. It’s more arresting than the signature Peridot Metallic rolled out for the R too.

As ever when looking at fancier new Caymans there lurks the inevitable ‘what used 911 could I get for the same money…’ dilemma. One not helped by the fact 997 GT3s are just about within reach for this money…

This is by the by though. I can personally vouch for the fact that this very car is an absolute peach. And that Viper Green paintwork is appropriate given the envy I feel!

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Porsche Cayman S
Engine: 3,346cc flat-6
Power (hp): 320@7,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 272@4,750rpm
MPG: 29.7mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 223g/km
First registered: March 2010
Recorded mileage: 7,318
Price new: £71,954
Yours for: £52,950

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[loudlashadjuster]

I'd take the car, but you can keep the paint, ta

[nsmith1180]

Ohhh, If only I had a little bit in the bank. And a time machine.

[Pat H]

loudlashadjuster said:

I'd take the car, but you can keep the paint, ta

Yep.

Lovely looking car in white.

Looks like Kermit's arse in green.

[DanDC5]

A Cayman S really does 29.7mpg combined? Really!?

[Stitch]

No surprise it depreciated £20K in 7000 miles when the list price is bumped up by two and a half grand paint jobs!

[Hellbound]

Prefer it in white with red decals, or orange with black wheels.

[BigTom85]

Love the spec, and love the paint. But if it was me ticking the options list, I'd go for red without a doubt.

[Rumblestripe]

Love it.

The best model Porsche currently do (yep I'd rather have one than a 911!) and in a great colour. Not struck on the black wheels but that's a minor quibble as it's just about perfect in every other way.

[Dan Trent]

For anyone who's interested here's the full options package. Read it and weep!

Dan


Base price including VAT £45,503.00

Options;
Viper Green (colour to sample paint) £2,365.00
Sports bucket seats with full leather interior £4,029.00
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) £1,030.00
Sport Chrono Package Plus ` £531.00
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) £5,349.00
Sport Shifter £380.00
Sports Exhaust system £1.434.00
Limited slip rear differential £753.00
19” Carrera Sport alloy wheels £1,521.00
Wheels painted in Basalt Black £991.00
AeroKit – Cayman £2,994.00
Cayman side strips £305.00
Bi-Xenon headlights with Dynamic Cornering £1,038.00
Hard-drive based satellite navigation system integrated
within Porsche Communication Management 3.0 system £1,945.00
Carbon interior package £578.00
Sound Package Plus £388.00
Universal audio interface (iPod compatible) £222.00
Telephone module for PCM £527.00
Floor mats £71.00

Total price including VAT £71,954.00

[Davey S2]

DanDC5 said:

A Cayman S really does 29.7mpg combined? Really!?

I had the Gen 1 Cayman S and used to get about 25 combined on long runs and about 22 ish around town.

The Gen 2 engine is obviously more efficient but you would have to drive very conservatively to get that imo.

[Davey S2]

'Universal audio interface (iPod compatible) £222.00
Floor mats £71.00'


It really is a joke when a car costing £45K base doesnt have these things as standard.

[thewheelman]

Dan Trent said:

For anyone who's interested here's the full options package. Read it and weep!

Dan


Base price including VAT £45,503.00

Options;
Viper Green (colour to sample paint) £2,365.00
Sports bucket seats with full leather interior £4,029.00
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) £1,030.00
Sport Chrono Package Plus ` £531.00
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) £5,349.00
Sport Shifter £380.00
Sports Exhaust system £1.434.00
Limited slip rear differential £753.00
19” Carrera Sport alloy wheels £1,521.00
Wheels painted in Basalt Black £991.00
AeroKit – Cayman £2,994.00
Cayman side strips £305.00
Bi-Xenon headlights with Dynamic Cornering £1,038.00
Hard-drive based satellite navigation system integrated
within Porsche Communication Management 3.0 system £1,945.00
Carbon interior package £578.00
Sound Package Plus £388.00
Universal audio interface (iPod compatible) £222.00
Telephone module for PCM £527.00
Floor mats £71.00

Total price including VAT £71,954.00

£991 to paint the wheels! fk that!

[Garlick]

I dearly love this car, but I would be very happy with a small wheeled Cayman 'base' as my daily steer.

Feels so pure in that spec it almost hurts.

[DanDC5]

Davey S2 said:

I had the Gen 1 Cayman S and used to get about 25 combined on long runs and about 22 ish around town.

The Gen 2 engine is obviously more efficient but you would have to drive very conservatively to get that imo.

Those numbers sound more realistic imo.

I'd say quite a few of those options are unnecessary on that car, £5340 for ceramic brakes for example. Are they really worth it on that!?

[Rawwr]

A colour choice which could happily be described as 'bold'.

[Furyblade_Lee]

I like that. A lot. Even though I sold my '03 Boxster S because I found it boring and uninteresting to drive!!

It seems Porsche have got over the early days of not even fitting an LSD to the Boxster or Cayman in case it showed up deficiencies in the high-profit margin 911. By charging nigh-on the same as a 911, so it is therefore allowed to be just as good because they make just as much money!

If I had the money personally though, still don't think I'd be able to choose a newish Cayman over a slightly older GT3 911, purely as the depreciation would cause a divorce in our house.

[thewheelman]

Love it in that colour, reminds me of the old school 911's.....

Far more interesting than the done to death white with blue/red graphics.

[nerfherder]

Dan Trent said:

For anyone who's interested here's the full options package. Read it and weep!

Sound Package Plus £388.00

I see they skimped on the audio - no Bose!

[Dan Trent]

No need with the sportlich auspuff! Trust me, it sounded magnificent.

[Escort Si-130]

Hmmm, wonders what you are doing watchin kermits ass, you perv. Green is fantastic, shame we cant have more green cars. (and not enviromental green)

Pat H said:

Yep.

Lovely looking car in white.

Looks like Kermit's arse in green.