buying a cayman. am i in dream land?
Discussion
Hi all
So I was all for getting a TT/TTS but have recently seen caymans within bugdet (16k). im not sure if i'm mad to even consider one when factoring in running costs? i would go for a 2.7 and it would be used as a daily driver, over a 30 mile a road commute.
I have read just about every scrap of info i can find on running costs (tyers, service costs,mpg etc) which dont seem to over the top but im still not really sure if i'm dreaming. i earn 30k a year and have about 600 quid left a month after all outgoings, no kids etc. Am i mad to even consider one? the only other fast (ish) car i have owned was a mini cooper s - hardly in the same league, although it was quite thirsty so perhaps would be comparable in that regard?
Im well aware that if something big goes pop it's going to cost lots to fix. I love the idea of a cayman but not sure if these cars are the reserve of people earning alot more money then i am? Of course only i can only truly answer this question but opinions welcomed!
So I was all for getting a TT/TTS but have recently seen caymans within bugdet (16k). im not sure if i'm mad to even consider one when factoring in running costs? i would go for a 2.7 and it would be used as a daily driver, over a 30 mile a road commute.
I have read just about every scrap of info i can find on running costs (tyers, service costs,mpg etc) which dont seem to over the top but im still not really sure if i'm dreaming. i earn 30k a year and have about 600 quid left a month after all outgoings, no kids etc. Am i mad to even consider one? the only other fast (ish) car i have owned was a mini cooper s - hardly in the same league, although it was quite thirsty so perhaps would be comparable in that regard?
Im well aware that if something big goes pop it's going to cost lots to fix. I love the idea of a cayman but not sure if these cars are the reserve of people earning alot more money then i am? Of course only i can only truly answer this question but opinions welcomed!
Budget wise you may be cutting it a bit fine. Routine maintenance and tyres will be OK. The potential problem for you is the possible big unexpected expense, which can happen to any car not just a Porsche. A better alternative could be a cheaper Boxster - read the Poverty Pork thread on here for inspiration.
My better half has an Audi TT and it is excellent. However, compared to any Porsche - well actually there is no comparison. Therefore if you can make it work I say go for it.
My better half has an Audi TT and it is excellent. However, compared to any Porsche - well actually there is no comparison. Therefore if you can make it work I say go for it.
There are great Boxster 987's around now for around 10k and this would be a better choice for your budget. It also gives the roof down experience in the summer which is superb.
I had a Boxster S until earlier this year when I moved to a 911 Carrera 4. I still miss the boxster when the sun is out!!
I had a Boxster S until earlier this year when I moved to a 911 Carrera 4. I still miss the boxster when the sun is out!!
For £16k, you could finance a car like this:
Purcahse Price: £16,000
Deposit: £0
Monthly Payments: £350 x 48
Balloon Payment: £4,000
You would need to ensure the car is 2006 or newer to have a balloon payment like the above.
Alternatively, you could up your monthly payments to £450 per month and have a budget of £20,000
Purcahse Price: £16,000
Deposit: £0
Monthly Payments: £350 x 48
Balloon Payment: £4,000
You would need to ensure the car is 2006 or newer to have a balloon payment like the above.
Alternatively, you could up your monthly payments to £450 per month and have a budget of £20,000
A 2.7 Cayman which has been well looked after should be reliable and running costs should be reasonable for the type of car as long as you use a good specialist instead of OPC for any maintenance. As long as you buy a good one, look for newish Porsche N rated tyres all round, recent service at either OPC or recognised specialist. If bought well you will be fine. You could buy a mondeo diesel and face big bills, all modern cars can be expensive if they go wrong so you might as well buy one you want is my outlook.
jimmy p said:
A 2.7 Cayman which has been well looked after should be reliable and running costs should be reasonable for the type of car as long as you use a good specialist instead of OPC for any maintenance. As long as you buy a good one, look for newish Porsche N rated tyres all round, recent service at either OPC or recognised specialist. If bought well you will be fine. You could buy a mondeo diesel and face big bills, all modern cars can be expensive if they go wrong so you might as well buy one you want is my outlook.
A £16000 Mondeo is very, very unlikely to cost much to maintain for quite a few years. jimmy p said:
A 2.7 Cayman which has been well looked after should be reliable and running costs should be reasonable for the type of car as long as you use a good specialist instead of OPC for any maintenance. As long as you buy a good one, look for newish Porsche N rated tyres all round, recent service at either OPC or recognised specialist. If bought well you will be fine. You could buy a mondeo diesel and face big bills, all modern cars can be expensive if they go wrong so you might as well buy one you want is my outlook.
I totally agree. Go Poverty Pork with a lower budget and keep some cash back in case. Only buy from one of the top specialist dealers like 911virgin or 911sport where you get people who only sell good cars and they come with a good warranty.I couldn't help having a quick look and noticed this within your budget [its not a Cayman but...]
http://www.911sport.co.uk/cardetails.php?car_id=19...
F3RNANDO said:
If your 600 is truly free money, after fuel insurance and tax etc then its easily enough to cover non IMS bore scoring failures. If you are trying to buy insure fuel service and maintain on 600 a month it could be tight.
Can you buy the car or is it on the never never?
I'll be saving up for it,(i've still got a year or so to go). i've only just finished off paying off the loan for my mini even though i sold it a couple of year back and dont fancy being in that situation again!Can you buy the car or is it on the never never?
Edited by caymanbill on Saturday 26th January 21:16
Bumble SV said:
I totally agree. Go Poverty Pork with a lower budget and keep some cash back in case. Only buy from one of the top specialist dealers like 911virgin or 911sport where you get people who only sell good cars and they come with a good warranty.
I couldn't help having a quick look and noticed this within your budget [its not a Cayman but...]
http://www.911sport.co.uk/cardetails.php?car_id=19...
Interesting. thanks for that link. not sure about that one but those specialist dealers sound interesting. I couldn't help having a quick look and noticed this within your budget [its not a Cayman but...]
http://www.911sport.co.uk/cardetails.php?car_id=19...
caymanbill said:
I'll be saving up for it, i've only just finished off paying off the loan for my mini even though i sold it a couple of year back and dont fancy being in that situation again!
Eh? So why are you asking now? By the time you have 16k there will be other choices, eg 997. When will you have the money?
mollytherocker said:
Eh? So why are you asking now? By the time you have 16k there will be other choices, eg 997.
When will you have the money?
I'm asking now because I'm researching before dropping (for me) a lot of money. Is that OK with you? I dont have any intention of buying a 997, even if it was in budget. When will you have the money?
caymanbill said:
I'm asking now because I'm researching before dropping (for me) a lot of money. Is that OK with you? I dont have any intention of buying a 997, even if it was in budget.
That's great but I think what mollytherocker is saying is that the market will have changed significantly by the time you may be ready to purchase so most advice is moot at this point.Cayman 2.7 or Carrera S – you will be charged the same hourly rate and same money for most parts.
Petrol, brakes, tyres, insurance – will be obviously cheaper.
To save money:
Find a good one and buy the best you can (do PPI)
Manual 5 is less to tax than manual 6 gears
17s wheels – tyres are less than 18s
Discs and pads – you can do yourself
Battery – Bosh
Tyres – premium brand (but maybe non-N rated)
Insurance and petrol will be similar to any hot hatch really.
Petrol, brakes, tyres, insurance – will be obviously cheaper.
To save money:
Find a good one and buy the best you can (do PPI)
Manual 5 is less to tax than manual 6 gears
17s wheels – tyres are less than 18s
Discs and pads – you can do yourself
Battery – Bosh
Tyres – premium brand (but maybe non-N rated)
Insurance and petrol will be similar to any hot hatch really.
I honestly don't think a Cayman (S or not) will cost a lot more to run than a TT/TTS (petrol 3.2 V6 or turbo engines anyway). Sometimes what stops people buying a car like a Porsche Cayman instead of an Audi TT is more in the mind, where the name 'Porsche' frightens them into the apparently safer, but not necessarily much cheaper option. Really, I think you should go for it and a few months down the line you'll just think, wow, I did it, I have a Porsche and I am affording to run it (short of catastrophic engine failure which would be a major financial problem if it happened to a TT as well)! Sorry to metion that bit...
Edited by scoobysnacks2 on Thursday 31st January 11:26
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