Thursday 30th January 2014

Porsche Cayman S: You Know You Want To

Nearly new and ready to race, this Cayman must be worth a punt

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We know the Porsche Cayman GTS will be a superb little car, but it's not the Cayman enthusiasts are really craving, is it? What everyone who loves the Cayman wants is a proper flagship, a GT3-lite. The 400hp Carrera S 3.8 engine, a bit less weight and some big brakes should do the job perfectly.

Nope, don't want it. Left-hand drive...

What we also know is that such a car will never be made as Porsche don't want its junior sports car being a fair bit quicker than the 911. But then why only be a fair bit quicker when you could be a whole lot faster?

Alright, going to a race-spec Cayman may be overkill and not really fair but would you just look at it? The first-gen Cayman was never the prettiest thing in the world and yet with a proper racing stance, some BBS rims and a Martini stripe it looks exquisite.

Inside is just as fabulous, with everything required for racing beautifully prepared and not a whole lot else; a full cage, OMP seat, Momo wheel, fire extinguisher and a manual 'box. Lovely.

Martini and BBS a match made in heaven

Its pristine appearance becomes easier to understand when this Cayman's spec and history is revealed. A Belgian car built for a customer in the Middle East by GPR Pino Racing, said customer decided on the car's completion 'to go single seater racing instead'. Who wants to race a poxy Cayman anyway? Regardless, it has been laid up in storage having only run for 3.5 hours from new. The rumoured cost was c.£85K, making its £37,995 asking price seem something of a steal.

Immerse yourself in the spec and that original cost becomes easy to understand. Perspex has replaced most of the glass, the doors are carbon composite, the brakes are from a 997 GT3 and the suspension is by Eibach springs with three-way adjustable Moton dampers. It even has an airjack system installed for speedy pit stops. This isn't a budget track conversion by any stretch.

The Cayman is apparently eligible for all manner of championships which would surely be a joy to race in with this. If budget allows it would undeniably make a fantastic track day toy as well. Still hard to justify? A Cayman R could still set you back £45,000 so there's already some money saved towards a trailer and tow vehicle there. See you in the pitlane!

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PORSCHE CAYMAN S
Price: £37,995
Why you should: A gorgeous little racer for a huge amount less than the build cost
Why you shouldn't: There must be used 911 Cups round as well...

See the original advert here

[HeMightBeBanned]

Power output?
Weight?

[n4aat]

How much would it cost to put it on the road?

[Reardy Mister]

To my eye, that Martini stripe looks like it doesn't belong.

[Dave Hedgehog]

i was about to post why would i want a gayman when there are 911 GT3s about

but oh my

[RenesisEvo]

I'll just get straight to the point:

WANT.

[jamespink]

What amazing value for money! 200Km from new with all that kit!

[jimmyVX]

99% sure I spotted this at Silverstone in early December, looks and sounds great in the flesh!

[red997]

looks great - nobody mentions running costs...
a little more than a road car
(I ran a 997 cup for a while...made the GT3 look like a fiesta in costs!)

[k-ink]

Looks awesome. I'd snap it up if I had the change.

[405dogvan]

n4aat said:

How much would it cost to put it on the road?

More than a road going Cayman I'd suspect (for starters the airjacks are illegal - as is the perspex i think - and that interior would send an MOT tester running for the fail button too i suspect )

[Camry_Man]

Ruf 3800 S Coupe - get on a plane Pistonheads and get us a proper road test!

[FTW]

405dogvan said:

n4aat said:

How much would it cost to put it on the road?

More than a road going Cayman I'd suspect (for starters the airjacks are illegal - as is the perspex i think - and that interior would send an MOT tester running for the fail button too i suspect )

Our GT4 Spec Cayman is road legal and has perspex and air jacks.....

We also have one the same spec as this for sale with 0 miles on it. Anyone interested PM

[SmartVenom]

405dogvan said:

n4aat said:

How much would it cost to put it on the road?

More than a road going Cayman I'd suspect (for starters the airjacks are illegal - as is the perspex i think - and that interior would send an MOT tester running for the fail button too i suspect )

You should be fine on the interior front, my race car was MOT'd with a similar (if somewhat messier) interior. Plenty of rally cars around with MOT's as well. I think the MOT is meant to be fine for bona fide competition cars, the one's that have a problem are badly modded road cars.

[Sampaio]

Reardy Mister said:

To my eye, that Martini stripe looks like it doesn't belong.

True.

How rich/mad do you have to be to order a custom made track car, use it for "3.5 hours" and then sell it?

[DoubleSix]

Needs a proper fixed rear wing imo, that standard wing looks a bit apologetic. So, power, weight etc etc ?

[canucklehead]

"The first-gen Cayman was never the prettiest thing in the world"

Got to disagree with you there. As far as I'm concerned the first-gen Cayman is one of the prettiest cars Porsche has ever done, and substantially better looking than the new 981.

eye of the beholder and all that.

Edited by canucklehead on Thursday 30th January 16:52

[andy97]

I have always thought that Cayman would benefit from the marketing push that a proper "GT4" version would deliver. Race the 911 in GT3, the Cayman in GT4 and sell road versions of both. Simples

[Davey S2]

Fingers crossed the acusump means that it won't shag its own cylinders into oblivion like the standard car could.

[BBS-LM]

Bargain

[mikEsprit]

DoubleSix said:

Needs a proper fixed rear wing imo, that standard wing looks a bit apologetic. So, power, weight etc etc ?

You're right, that wing does look weak.