Cayman For Day to Day Use

[NailedOn]

New here, so be gentle!
I'm looking to trade my TVR T350c for something more suited to daily driving. ie easier to park, good for long motorway runs, vaguely affordable to run.
Annual mileage would be around 10k. Budget £20-25k.
I am mightily drawn to a Cayman.
Any thoughts on real life with one would be appreciated.

[FrankCayman]

Had a gen 2 987 from new. Covered 85K plus in just under 3 years. Wonderful car 19" alloys without PASM....lovely ride despite what some old boys say on here !! 30mpg

So good, I've now got a Cayman 981 which has nearly 10K since April....20" without PASM...again ...no probs with the ride...35mpg!!

[Steve H]

I've had mine for 6 months now and done about 4k miles, pretty faultless and a joy to drive but I do wish it was a bit more compliant so PASM would have been nice (06 S on 19").

Ideal would probably be a gen2 with PDK and PASM, I wouldn't be worried if it was 2.9 or 3.4.

[Peakz]

I've had my '07 Cayman S for four months now, it's great as an everyday car, even on 19" Sport wheels (Bridgestone RE050's).

Go for it

[Guiseley]

Recently swapped Z4 coupe for 987.2S with Pasm and pdk. Great drive, and TVR drivers probably find lower assistance on brakes and slight offset driving position less of an adjustment!

[craigjm]

I have a 10 CS PDK since Jan 10 on 18s with PASM and its my daily drive. Really easy to live with and a completely different animal when you use the sports chrono and sports exhaust to when it will quite happily be quite docile around town in normal mode.

[ooral]

18 months with an '06 3.4S/Manual on 19" Wheels, Michelin PS2. Cracking to drive, and looks good. So much that I already know that my next car will either be a re 987.2 or a 981...

[mrdemon]

I ran a gen 1 for 2 years and now run a R as a daily no issues.

[Gio G]

My gen 2 gets run as a daily, no problems at all. Go for it. I suspect you would want an S, given the power you are used too?

[NailedOn]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
I'm drawn to the S.
Is mileage to- date a big factor if I look at models with 40,000+ on?
Finally, a couple of good questions to ask the seller?

[ge0rge]

Im hankering after a cayman also, its good to see such a post. The alternative was a 135i.. I think the 135i will be more practical but the cayman handle better and more desirable to look at !

[vindows]

Ive been running my Gen 1 S for just over 3 years as a daily driver! Will recommend you find one with a decent spec, especially PASM if you are going for 19" wheels

[ge0rge]

Do they suffer the dreaded RMS issue?

[Trev450]

RMS not really a problem and IMS much improved from 2006 on. If you have any concerns it should be over bore scoring.

[craigjm]

Trev450 said:

RMS not really a problem and IMS much improved from 2006 on. If you have any concerns it should be over bore scoring.

Bore scoring isnt really an issue on the Gen 2 S either.

[Dr S]

How can a Cayman not be a daily driver? I run a GT3 all year round and even that I find easy to live with

[OlliePorsche]

Currently running a Gen 2 987 3.4S with PASM 19" Alloys, achieving 34mpg due to my commute being motorway. Very nice daily commuter, galaxies away from my Cerb I had for years. I'd highly recommend one, loads of luggage space, easy to drive/park. Go for a test drive and you'll be sold.

[Trev450]

craigjm said:

Trev450 said:

RMS not really a problem and IMS much improved from 2006 on. If you have any concerns it should be over bore scoring.

Bore scoring isnt really an issue on the Gen 2 S either.

The OP may struggle to get a gen 2 S on his budget especially if he goes via the OPC route.

[jcelee]

Been running a 2008 Gen 1 2.7 manual on 19"s without PASM for the last couple of months and its very very good. I actually think more performance would be more frustrating than a benefit on my commute. Bad roads really highlight a very poor ride on 19s but most roads are as smooth as silk.

I'm changing to 17s as I suspect not only will I get a better ride but the car will be more fun with reduced grip (insane amounts on 19s) and lighter on its toes with reduced unsprung weight.

Its very easy to live with and a lot of fun but my Caterham is still in a totally different league of driving pleasure and its a humble 1.7 X-flow.

[smiffy555]

I've been running a 987 Cayman S gen.1 for a year now.

It's on 19 design wheels and no PASM. I have no issues with the ride at all. Before this I had a 135i (old shape) with 18's and RFT's and the ride was ste compared to the 987.

They are great cars, handling is a-m-a-zing, the engine is addictive and the practicality of the car is equal to the 135i.

Go for it, you'll love it.