Cayman 981 S prices?

[KayJay79]

Afternoon everyone, I've just joined this great site in search of some info on a potential Cayman 981 S PDK purchase. As my 40th birthday approaches I thought it was about time that I experience one of these beauties. The slight downer is that it won't be a long term ownership propostion as I will need to release some funds next year for a business venture so it would need to be sold then :-( However, I'm hoping to make the most of it before then

After driving a few models, I have my heart set on a 981 Cayman S with the PDK box and sports exhaust (which really turns the car in to a real sports car in my view). Now, the only slight problem is that I have a nagging feeling at the back of my mind about the price of these things. I've been looking on AT, ebay etc for the last couple of weeks and I'm surprised about the price these 981 S are commanding. I had hoped to buy a nice 2013 car privately from a fellow enthusiast, but looking at the price of private sales they all seem to be priced at the same level (if not higher) than cars for sale at dealers, and are all in the £42k to £45k range for 2013-14 modles! The following two in particular have caught my eye:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

My main concern is that Cayman 981 S prices are artificially high at the moment due to it being the last of the 6 cyl engines and the apparent luke warm response to the 718. I'm not looking to make a depreciation free purchase, but my fear is that I'd buy one of these cars and then the market finds a new equilibrium over the next year and I take a £6k loss or similar bath. Interestingly, webuyanycar.com values for these cars are about £10k lower than current asking prices.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who had a bit more knowledge about the 981 Cayman market than me (which isn't hard lol) as to where they see the market going (acknowledging that you don't have a crystal ball and won't be held to anything lol). I do wonder if the cars are even selling at these prices. I went to see a nice 2013 car at RSJ Sports Cars priced at £43k and there wasn't any wiggle room in the asking price!

Any thoughts most welcome

[Twinfan]

It sounds like you've done your own research and got a pretty good handle on the current market

Trade values will be £10k less than asking as this matches what an OPC would pay. There's VAT, profit and a warranty to be added onto the purchase price. Sounds about right to me. The private sales are probably your best bet, and if they're asking dealer money you need to talk the price down.

As for the future? Who knows but I personally don't expect the flat six models to take a nose dive in the coming months. They'll depreciate by a bit but not by £10k.

[Andrew911]

Agree with Twinfan. Doubt they will take a big dip over the next 12 months. A manual I would say would ensure even better residuals IMO.

[Green1man]

You can pick up a 981S for around £10k less than these two models but these two are both nicely speced and reasonable miles so if overpriced it's not by that much.

[KayJay79]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. The sensible side of me is saying I should just buy a BMW M4 (you can pick up a 2015 model for the same price as a 2013 Cayman) but having driven both of them the Cayman just feels so much more special and a true sports car. I think it may be a moment for the heart to rule the head and just hope prices don't soften too much during my ownership.

Green1man - I haven't seen any Cayman 981 S cars for sale at the £32k to £34k mark? There are a few Boxster S PDK's around that mark but I haven't seen a Cayman (otherwise I would've jumped all over it! ).

[WG]

You are worried about depreciation and are thinking about an M4? Does't seem logical to me. Those things drop like stones. There' a reason you can buy a 2015 for similar money to a 2013 Cayman!

Edited by WG on Wednesday 3rd May 09:17

[KayJay79]

True point WG.

[7184c]

Don't forget you can retro fit sports exhaust system for about 1800 or so, this will widen your search. Most people can't be arsed but it's an afternoons work in an OPC and those with it are definitely more in demand and tend to sell quicker for more money, probably pays for itself when you come to sell, esp if car has pasm and sports chrono too.

[DJMC]

Many buyers, me included, will look for a car without the awful (even when switched off) droning, headache inducing, PSE.

PASM is a must have in my book. SC may be useful for some.

[Twinfan]

DJMC said:

Many buyers, me included, will look for a car without the awful (even when switched off) droning, headache inducing, PSE.

There's no droning whatsover in my CGTS, so if you've experienced it it's either a base/S thing (given the GTS exhaust re-tuning) or it's car specific.

[boxsey]

I'll be interested to see how you get on OP. Personally buying such a car knowing that I would keep it less than a year would be a big risk IMO. In a year's ownership with a 3 to 4 year old Cayman you might need to do a scheduled service, put a couple of tyres on it, replace some of the brakes and even put a Porsche warranty on it if it runs out before you come to sell it (private buyers are unlikely to buy it without a warranty). All that lot could cost you around £3,000. Something to consider in addition to the possible depreciation cost.

[DJMC]

Twinfan said:

There's no droning whatsover in my CGTS, so if you've experienced it it's either a base/S thing (given the GTS exhaust re-tuning) or it's car specific.

That's fine, but the thread is about an S thing, not GTS thing.

Could it be you've never experienced the delights of a non-PSE anything to compare?

[Twinfan]

Possibly! I'm just saying I don't get headaches from my car, and PSE is very popular with other buyers

[bcr5784]

In any case if the OP thinks an S is expensive he will think a GTS is insane.

[7184c]

You do get a bit of drone at constant motorway speeds but it's not as offensive as you make out.

I think it sounds the mutts nuts on my 2.7 and I rarely have it turned off.

[DJMC]

7184c said:

You do get a bit of drone at constant motorway speeds but it's not as offensive as you make out.

I think it sounds the mutts nuts on my 2.7 and I rarely have it turned off.

As always, it's a matter of opinion. PSE serves no useful purpose. The day and a half test drive car I had, and subsequent courtesy car, both with PSE, made me realise PSE is not something I like. Some do like it for whatever reason, some don't.

[nsm3]

Those cars have lost about £6k pa. and sit exactly where I think my own example is? My guess is you can expect similar losses for at least the next 2 years, before depreciation should start to reduce?

[Fezzaman]

Have you tried/considered a 987.2 Cayman S PDK? It'll save you £15k ish up front given your time horizon for ownership and they've done more of their depreciation too - you would still enjoy a Cayman with the 3.4 6 pot with PDK box but it won't be as new and shiny with the fancier interior.

Of the two you've posted I think I'd prefer the white one - that's pretty much GTS spec (minus the extra power) with PASM, Sport Chrono, PSE, leather dash/doors with 2 years until the next service.

[ooid]

1 year ownership is too short, especially if you are quite worried about the re-sale price. You might wanna go to OPC and then see some PCP/ lease deals than, imho.

[AndyMort]

You might want to consider a 2015. I'm hearing the 2014 models have 2 year manufacturers warranty and the 2015 a 3 year warranty.