Cayman for the missus?
Cayman for the missus?
Author
Discussion

sco

Original Poster:

213 posts

264 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
Her indoors is keen on buying a Cayman. Despite never showing that much interest in cars she is smitten.

The problem is that she does big miles - 30/40K per year, and is not interested in having 2 cars.

First question is - what do Cayman owners think about this sort of mileage? She understands the big financial hit but more interested in the day to day use of car (noise on motorway etc?)

Second question is secondhand 3.4 or new 2.7? It seems that you can get a secondhand S from 43K and by the time you have put some extras on a new 2.7 you are at about 41K. So I would go for the S, but she isn't really interested in the bigger engine - any views?

Many thanks for any input.

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

243 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
Although slightly different, I ran a Boxster for 75000 miles over three years.

It didnt miss a beat, was more than comfortable in all driving conditions (including snow) and before I got the 996 it was the happiest three years of my motoring life.

With those heavy miles servicing will need to be factored into your calculations. Mine was having two services a year although the Cayman has 20k service intervals rather than the 986 Boxster's 12K intervals.

Tyres lasted around 20k and over 75k it had one replacement set of pads/discs.

As it was a 986 RMS needed changing twice - once under warranty, once FOC by OPC and when the second was done at about 70K the clutch was changed too as it was very low so 70k seems to be a reasonable life span.

I cant give you much info on trade in price after three years as the car was contract hire. However, the P11D value including extras was £36k. When having it valued by my local (non OPC) dealer he believed it was still worth £21k trade with 75000 up.

Would I do it again? Absolutely

shoestring7

6,193 posts

276 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
£41k for a 2.7 is easily do-able with lots of leather, paint, sat/nav and wheels, but £5k for options is on the highside - I believe the average is around £3k.

According to 911&Pworld, there's close to a 50/50 sales split between Boxters and Cayman in the UK now. That seems to suggest a good demand for the Cayman, which may show up in residuals - although you're going to take a hit on 20k/year.

I've not driven a 3.4 (on purpose) but I have spent time in a 2.7. Its a sweet drive, with sublime handling, and there's more performance than 99% of other vehicles on the road, although you had to "use the full rev range". Torque is significantly down on a 'S' though, but maybe she should drive both before deciding. BTW the 20% improved fuel consumption may help ease the residual sting.

SS7

vandereydt

149 posts

287 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
Hi there,
for what its worth I have had a Boxster 2.5 I covered 360.000 km in that car.
Never let me down not once. Allways available.

Regarding the comfort I had the sport suspension which akes it a little harder and noisier. But even for the longer journeys noise is not an issue at all and driving comfort is just perfect.
TH enoice level is significantly down when the hardtop was installed so I d certainly advice you to go for the Cayman. Engine wise the 2.7 does the trick just as easily as the 3.4, its just a matter of personal taste.

I have upgrade from the Boxster to a 996 C2 Cab.
'
'Good luck

ROnny

dsgv6

138 posts

251 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
IMO the road noise will be rather wearing after a while.

I've had two Cayman S in the last year and engine noise in the cabin at motorway speeds is annoying if you are on the road for more than an hour or so.

DSG

MATTYBOY

154 posts

249 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
quotequote all
I cover approx 100 miles a day in my Cayman S and it's biggest failing is engine noise on the motorway, if that doesn't bother you (just turn up the stereo )they are easy cars to run and live with. I get approx 30mpg on a run and about 25mpg in town.

968csreading

3,088 posts

248 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
If she does that many miles I would get her the 3.4 cos after a while she may wish for the extra power over the 2.7.

I used to do that sort of mileage and no matter what car I had I alays wanted more power.

zcacogp

11,239 posts

274 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
Wetwipe said:
... RMS needed changing twice - once under warranty, once FOC by OPC ...
Out of interest, how did you get the second RMS done free by the OPC? I can understand the first being done under warranty, but the second free as well?


Oli.

Wetwipe

3,019 posts

243 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
zcacogp said:
Wetwipe said:
... RMS needed changing twice - once under warranty, once FOC by OPC ...
Out of interest, how did you get the second RMS done free by the OPC? I can understand the first being done under warranty, but the second free as well?


Oli.


Hi Oli

Porsche take quite a good view towards RMS claims. As long as the car has been serviced by them they will consider claims. The first was done during the two year warranty period. Not 100% sure if the second failed within the next year but they just took it in, gave me a Boxster S as a C.car and nothing to pay except the replacement clutch costs.

My 996 needs changing now. No porsche warranty. OPC have confirmed they will pay 85% of the labour charges and the full cost of the seal (which is only about a fiver anyway)

zcacogp

11,239 posts

274 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
Wetwipe said:
Porsche take quite a good view towards RMS claims. As long as the car has been serviced by them they will consider claims. The first was done during the two year warranty period. Not 100% sure if the second failed within the next year but they just took it in, gave me a Boxster S as a C.car and nothing to pay except the replacement clutch costs.
One could almost see this as a good thing, as you effectively get a clutch changed very cheaply. Which, by your original post, was due anyway.
Wetwipe said:
My 996 needs changing now. No porsche warranty. OPC have confirmed they will pay 85% of the labour charges and the full cost of the seal (which is only about a fiver anyway)

Oh. Hmmm. That must take a fair bit of the sting out of it then. In the light of a story like that, what's all the fuss about RMS's about then?

< scratchchin ... next time something goes pop on the 944, perhaps I ought to be taking it along to an OPC to see if they'll be that decent about my car as well!>


Oli.

pat cash

312 posts

260 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
dsgv6 said:
IMO the road noise will be rather wearing after a while.

I've had two Cayman S in the last year and engine noise in the cabin at motorway speeds is annoying if you are on the road for more than an hour or so.

DSG


Agreed - I have a female friend just PXed her Cayman S for a Boxster S as, although she loved the car she couldn't cope with the motorway drone. Loves the Boxster to bits - in retrospect it was always going to be the better car for her....

sco

Original Poster:

213 posts

264 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
quotequote all
Thanks for the thoughts guys, interesting that the Cayman is noisier than the Boxster - it seems that apart from the residual hit the motorway noise is the potential pain. I'll make sure she takes both on a motorway section when she test drives.

Thanks again.

CatherineJ

9,586 posts

273 months

Thursday 16th November 2006
quotequote all
I haven't driven a Cayman, but I have driven a 3.4S Boxster to compare it to our 2.7 987.

Firstly at the time our car was running Super Unleaded and had done 4K miles.

The demo car had done 600 miles and was running regular unleaded.

Taking into account the above differences I was still quite dissapointed by the 3.4S. Based on the Test Drive would I have p/x'd our 2.7 for a 3.4. Put simply no I wouldn't.