30k Cayman S or......?

[anonymous-user]

I’ve a budget of 30 to 35k to get something nice.

Priorities are:
Must be great to drive
Sensible enough to daily in terms of fuel economy, comfort and maintenance
Low depreciation (Relative to age at least)

This will be my only car. Practicality isn’t a concern, but I will be doing 15k miles a year including some regular longer motorway journeys so it needs to be reasonably refined.

I’m struggling to see past the final run of the six-pot Cayman S as the ideal fit. Any other ideas?

[Teebs]

Some kind of Lotus? Not quite as 'everyday' as the Cayman but more of an event and a better proposition to own surely? Good indie support depending on location too..

[AJB88]

I've got a 2015 981 S I don't use it as a daily but drove to Italy and back in it last year and it was nice for the long journey.

Fuel isn't that bad if driven sensibly (I hardly do mind you). It's probably the most complete car I have driven and is a pleasure to drive.

Need to part with mine later in the year as need to buy a new house but want to get some summer driving out of it first.

[JackReacher]

I'd probably go for a Cayman, I loved mine. M2 another option.

Be aware that when you use a car like that daily, it can sometimes be frustrating and lose its "specialness". So 2 cars can be better than 1, but if it needs to be one then I dont think you can beat a Cayman.

[AJB88]

JackReacher said:

I'd probably go for a Cayman, I loved mine. M2 another option.

Be aware that when you use a car like that daily, it can sometimes be frustrating and lose its "specialness". So 2 cars can be better than 1, but if it needs to be one then I dont think you can beat a Cayman.

I agree about loosing specialness.

[anonymous-user]

Absolutely take the point about any car becoming "normal" if you use it every day. I don't think that's something I can avoid.

M2 Competition is a good shout too actually, although residuals on M cars seem very weak, I guess because they are selling so many of them.

[Hammy98]

I'll likely be changing at the end of the year with the same criteria as yourself.

I reckon the M2 Comp values will tumble a fair bit, as if rumors are to be believed the new M2 will retain RWD and a 6 pot up front.
Coincidentally, I don't think Caymans will hold either as Porsche have announced they are reintroducing the 6 pot variant to the Cayman/Boxster lineup.

In terms of residuals, I reckon a non-comp M2 is a safer bet. I just can't see them going sub 20k and fair mileage cars are available for about 28k, less money to lose compared to the Comp.

Can you get a tidy Evora at this price point? Lotus seem to have strong residuals as another poster mentioned.

[anonymous-user]

An Evora S is available at that sort of budget, and very enticing it is too. Good call.

[LunarOne]

I currently daily a 2014 Boxster S. I'm not doing as many miles and it's a truly excellent car, but certainly not the most comfortable. In fact I find it quite tiring to do distances in, although like another poster I took mine on a road trip last summer down to Spain through the Pyrenees, across the South of France to Italy, then up through the Alps to Switzerland and back again through German and France. For that kind of driving when you're alert, it's just an amazing car. For motorway miles in the UK I find it quite tiring as you can never really relax because the steering is so quick and direct. My particular car has PASM and 20" wheels, so you might be better off without those for a daily UK car. I had cruise control retrofitted to mine to make motorway miles easier, as I find it so easy to find yourself going too fast in those damned 50mph average speed zones that will be everywhere for the next few years thanks to "smart" motorways that are the stupidest idea ever conceived!!

[LunarOne]

But here's why you must have one. I know it's a Boxster GTS, but you get the idea.

https://youtu.be/y1LhUzL3qdU

[TheAlastair34]

Lotus Evora

[timberman]

LunarOne said:

But here's why you must have one. I know it's a Boxster GTS, but you get the idea.

https://youtu.be/y1LhUzL3qdU

Many years ago I drove that road in a Vauxhall Zafira,
it wasn't nearly as much of an event as that looked, and there was also a lot of other traffic on the road including buses + a goat was milling around in the light house car park probably looking for food and scratching the cars with its horns.

Nice view from the top though.

[AshVX220]

Agree with some of the above posters, it would be an Evora all day long for me at that budget.

[Parsnip]

I had a (non-S) Cayman for a while - it just didn't excite me - very good in ever measurable way, but less good in the ways you can't measure - it felt very clinical. Sold it for a E89 Z4, which was the right level of unhinged and I loved pretty much ever minute of ownership - it managed roof down European trips as well as scooting round B-roads with its rear end scrabbling about like a dog on a wooden floor.

F-Type maybe? New Z4 (although I can't imagine your budget will get you into a spicy one yet)? Both have options for roof downery - not something I would ever have though I wanted or needed (I live in Aberdeen) but being able to have a couple of thousand meters of headroom at the push of a button was great and defo something I miss.

With regards to "must be great to drive" I guess it depends what you want and what you mean by "great". If I was a steely eyed racing driver who talked about toe and camber all the time, I would have loved the Cayman's handling - the thing drove like it was on rails. As it happens, I am a complete yobbo (I have a Focus RS now, its me personified) - the Z4's slightly unhinged handling made driving way more fun - same with my 350Z - it was a wallowy old thing, but you drove it everywhere with a grin.

[aaron_2000]

I think if you want something special, then consider one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say it would be the Evora for me it'll do your 15k annual in it's sleep it'll cost no more to run than the Cayman & be a bit more of an event.

Evora

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A simple change of headunit (it's quite a simple job on the Lotus) brings you all the connectivity (DAB Bkuetooth streaming etc) & up to date navigation you'd want when covering the miles.

Pioneer SPH DA230 DAB this is a direct replacement for the existing one.

https://www.pioneer-car.eu/eur/products/sph-da230d...

[aaron_2000]

How about an F-Type 5.0?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[aaron_2000]

You can get a pretty much brand new F Type V6 with the manual box for around about your budget too

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[anonymous-user]

Fair comment by what do I mean about being great to drive - it's very subjective.

I like cars that give a great sense of connection to the road, which flatter and work with the driver. Something that "breathes" with the road and you can feel it tighten or relax it's line based on your inputs. I'm not interested in powerslides, drifting round roundabouts or bonfiring rear tyres, I'd rather it tucked in and gripped than wagged it's tail.

I do like the Jags, but the problem is that they will continue to haemorrhage value.

Definite food for thought, thanks for all the input, it was really useful. Cayman and Evora shortlisted so far.

[cerb4.5lee]

For your personal requirements I'd definitely go for the Evora or Cayman for sure. From what I read mid engined cars are the best for grip/handling and surefootedness.