Looking to get a Cayman this summer!
Discussion
Thinking about getting rid of my MB A Class for a Cayman...
I've been doing a fair bit of research and some of the things I'm wondering about are;
1. Can I get something decent Cayman for £15k-£18k?
2. I'm not looking at the 3.4 as I hear it has a trending engine issue, so would probably go for the 2.7/2.9 - are there any known issues that crop up time and again with these cars?
3. Are the running costs as high as people make out?
Any advice much appreciated!
I've been doing a fair bit of research and some of the things I'm wondering about are;
1. Can I get something decent Cayman for £15k-£18k?
2. I'm not looking at the 3.4 as I hear it has a trending engine issue, so would probably go for the 2.7/2.9 - are there any known issues that crop up time and again with these cars?
3. Are the running costs as high as people make out?
Any advice much appreciated!
Having recently purchased a Cayman myself I think its a great choice.
1) Given your budget id think its only 2.7s that will be available, from what ive seen the 2.9s are £20k+.
2) I wouldn't discount the 3.4, a lot is made of the engine issues but there arent as many failures as the internet would have you believe.
3) i have the 3.4 and im getting around 25mpg with mixed driving. Tax (£500 for the S) and insurance arent cheap, neither is servicing but lots of decent specialists that wont charge as much. Obviously it will never be the cheapest car to run.
1) Given your budget id think its only 2.7s that will be available, from what ive seen the 2.9s are £20k+.
2) I wouldn't discount the 3.4, a lot is made of the engine issues but there arent as many failures as the internet would have you believe.
3) i have the 3.4 and im getting around 25mpg with mixed driving. Tax (£500 for the S) and insurance arent cheap, neither is servicing but lots of decent specialists that wont charge as much. Obviously it will never be the cheapest car to run.
Edited by smith335I on Monday 5th June 15:54
Thanks both!
For me at the moment, the 2.7 will be plenty. I'm sure if the drive is as good as many say it is, then I'll upgrade down the line to something meatier!
Does the 'S' only come with the 3.4 litre?
Also, I realise it's perhaps not this simple, but are there any key mileage milestones to look out for in terms of things needing to be replaced? I'll probably only be doing around 5k a year in it, so hopefully it won't be a huge issue.
For me at the moment, the 2.7 will be plenty. I'm sure if the drive is as good as many say it is, then I'll upgrade down the line to something meatier!
Does the 'S' only come with the 3.4 litre?
Also, I realise it's perhaps not this simple, but are there any key mileage milestones to look out for in terms of things needing to be replaced? I'll probably only be doing around 5k a year in it, so hopefully it won't be a huge issue.
noomo said:
Thanks both!
For me at the moment, the 2.7 will be plenty. I'm sure if the drive is as good as many say it is, then I'll upgrade down the line to something meatier!
Does the 'S' only come with the 3.4 litre?
Also, I realise it's perhaps not this simple, but are there any key mileage milestones to look out for in terms of things needing to be replaced? I'll probably only be doing around 5k a year in it, so hopefully it won't be a huge issue.
Gen 1 was either 2.7 or 3.4. For me at the moment, the 2.7 will be plenty. I'm sure if the drive is as good as many say it is, then I'll upgrade down the line to something meatier!
Does the 'S' only come with the 3.4 litre?
Also, I realise it's perhaps not this simple, but are there any key mileage milestones to look out for in terms of things needing to be replaced? I'll probably only be doing around 5k a year in it, so hopefully it won't be a huge issue.
Gen 2 was either 2.9 or 3.4. Both new engines over the Gen 1, so tend to be more reliable.
Be aware that the two-pedal option in the Gen 1 cars is Tiptronic. PDK didn't arrive until Gen 2. Tiptronic considered a bit lazy these days.
Milestones - services every 2 years or 20k miles according to the book, but I'd advocate annual oil changes (especially on a 3.4). 70-80k might see squeaky bushes in the suspension (seems to be general consensus). PDK needs a clutch oil change at 60k, serpentine belt needs done at 60k, otherwise it's just regular maintenance/wear and tear replacements.
Other common age/mileage related issues include:
- clutch (it usually gets heavy well before it starts to slip)
- leaking aircon condensers
- leaking/corroded coolant pipes and hose connectors
- suspension spring breakages (as well as other suspension wear items already mentioned)
- window regulator failure
- gear change cable failure
- corroded brake pipes
None of these are major issues but you should factor these into the costs when buying a 50k + mile car unless they've already been done. I've encountered most of these in the last few years as well as the usual scheduled maintenance and discs/pads etc.. My car is now on 75k.
- clutch (it usually gets heavy well before it starts to slip)
- leaking aircon condensers
- leaking/corroded coolant pipes and hose connectors
- suspension spring breakages (as well as other suspension wear items already mentioned)
- window regulator failure
- gear change cable failure
- corroded brake pipes
None of these are major issues but you should factor these into the costs when buying a 50k + mile car unless they've already been done. I've encountered most of these in the last few years as well as the usual scheduled maintenance and discs/pads etc.. My car is now on 75k.
Check the PCGB buyer's guide on the Cayman, it lists most major issues across the 987 Gen I & II models plus things to look out for.
Regarding running costs, I would consult ChipAndCheese's blog which was very useful to me during the purchase process.
Everything is meticulously detailed, and is used as a daily, so will give you some ideas.
https://www.pistonheads.com/members/showServiceHis...
Regarding running costs, I would consult ChipAndCheese's blog which was very useful to me during the purchase process.
Everything is meticulously detailed, and is used as a daily, so will give you some ideas.
https://www.pistonheads.com/members/showServiceHis...
Hmm...I think the only way I could do it is with a warranty that covered 10k miles or something, coupled with a car that has had a recent service, its tyres replaced recently etc.
It's either a Cayman or a RR Evoque. Not keen on the Boxter looks and a cabriolet would bound to have more issues I reckon, including insurance being higher.
It's either a Cayman or a RR Evoque. Not keen on the Boxter looks and a cabriolet would bound to have more issues I reckon, including insurance being higher.
The thing is I'm looking for something unique and good looking like the Cayman as they're quite rare on the roads here. The Evoque mainly interested me due to it's good residuals, likewise with the Porsche. However Evoques are really quite common here.
I'd love to get into a decent Cayman and believe it would put a smile on my face everyday. Just wouldn't be happy to constantly be worrying about something big going wrong.
I'd love to get into a decent Cayman and believe it would put a smile on my face everyday. Just wouldn't be happy to constantly be worrying about something big going wrong.
noomo said:
The thing is I'm looking for something unique and good looking like the Cayman as they're quite rare on the roads here. The Evoque mainly interested me due to it's good residuals, likewise with the Porsche. However Evoques are really quite common here.
I'd love to get into a decent Cayman and believe it would put a smile on my face everyday. Just wouldn't be happy to constantly be worrying about something big going wrong.
This sums up Porsche ownership I think. The question you have to ask is if you can live with the worry or be carefree enough to enjoy the car. As cmoose said, you have to be committed and I tend to agree.I'd love to get into a decent Cayman and believe it would put a smile on my face everyday. Just wouldn't be happy to constantly be worrying about something big going wrong.
Couple of comments from me:
On the commitment bit, I think it's true to say that these cars can suck up a bit of cash if they've not seen regular maintenance. I remember on my Boxster, in addition to servicing, MoT and tax costs, in my two years or so, I had to stump up brakes all round, front suspension control arms, drop links all round, coil packs, exhaust clamps/brackets and sort various roof leaks in addition to the £600 or so set of tyres it needed when I sold it on. I'm a Porsche guy through and through, but even my enthusiasm was beginning to wane. So I think that's what "commitment" means - having a slush fund you don't mind spending on the car because you know it's worth it.
I learned from this and meant when I got my Cayman, I initially looked at OPCs to take advantage of their 2 year warranty. I ended up getting a Cayman at a significantly lower price than an OPC from a franchised Inchcape dealer, with a year's warranty. I got the car serviced with 1 month or so left on the warranty and they picked up on a couple of niggles that I claimed from the cover, giving me peace of mind. Might be worth a look.
On the commitment bit, I think it's true to say that these cars can suck up a bit of cash if they've not seen regular maintenance. I remember on my Boxster, in addition to servicing, MoT and tax costs, in my two years or so, I had to stump up brakes all round, front suspension control arms, drop links all round, coil packs, exhaust clamps/brackets and sort various roof leaks in addition to the £600 or so set of tyres it needed when I sold it on. I'm a Porsche guy through and through, but even my enthusiasm was beginning to wane. So I think that's what "commitment" means - having a slush fund you don't mind spending on the car because you know it's worth it.
I learned from this and meant when I got my Cayman, I initially looked at OPCs to take advantage of their 2 year warranty. I ended up getting a Cayman at a significantly lower price than an OPC from a franchised Inchcape dealer, with a year's warranty. I got the car serviced with 1 month or so left on the warranty and they picked up on a couple of niggles that I claimed from the cover, giving me peace of mind. Might be worth a look.
If you're buying a 2.7 987 Cayman you just need to remember it's a 10+ year old car so will inevitably need on-going maintenance on top of the normal routine service just like any other car of this age. Stuff like sloppy and clonky suspension might not always fail an MOT but why buy a car for it's handling prowess then handicap it?
md4776 said:
As a recent Cayman buyer with a similiar budget to you I searched high and low, putting deposits down on cars I then travelled to see and was disappointed in the condition (as not being consistant with description given over phone/photographed). I'd recommend going to a indy specialist to buy, or as a minimum if you dont buy from an indy then get get whatever car youre after taken to an indy for a pre purchase inspection. I put down a deposit on a 2006 S in which was taken to Parr Porsche for PPI and a borescope found scoring on 3 pistons, plus overrevs in all 6 categories.
In the end I bought from RPM Specialist Cars near Yorkshire and they have something in stock that meets your budget, if you can stretch another £250:
http://www.rpmspecialistcars.co.uk/cars/porsche-98...
Good luck.
Thanks - top advice!In the end I bought from RPM Specialist Cars near Yorkshire and they have something in stock that meets your budget, if you can stretch another £250:
http://www.rpmspecialistcars.co.uk/cars/porsche-98...
Good luck.
I checked that out now, the only thing is it's a manual and I was actually after a PDK...
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