Used Porsche 718 Cayman 2016-present review

Porsche and sports cars go hand in hand. The prestigious brand has a long legacy in crafting state-of-the-art driver's cars, with one of its latest being this, the Porsche 718 Cayman. It's sharp to drive and even quicker than the previous Cayman as well.

We're not kidding about its superior performance either, because even the entry-level Cayman has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit good for 296bhp – you'll also find this unit in the Cayman T. The S version is even more potent with a 345bhp 2.5-litre engine.

However, for those hankering after six cylinders, a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine was introduced in 2019 in two additional models, the 394bhp GTS 4.0 and the 414bhp GT4. You also have the GT4 RS. Released in 2022, it uses the same high-revving flat-six as the Porsche 911 GT3 and produces 493bhp.

• Looking for an older car? Read our Porsche Cayman 2013-2017 and Porsche Cayman 2005-2013 used buying guides

If you want luxuries, better hope the first owner ticked a few options. The regular Cayman is a spartan affair with 18in wheels, xenon rather than LED headlights, part-Alcantara seats and single-zone climate control. Mercifully, a 7.0in touchscreen with sat-nav and Apple CarPlay is a standard-from-new feature. As we mentioned, you get a bigger engine in the S, but you also get 19in wheels. The T models are meant as lighter, purer, better equipped versions of the standard Cayman.

To go along with the six-cylinder engine, GTS 4.0 models have 20in alloys, lowered, adaptive suspension, a limited-slip differential, a sports exhaust and the sports chrono pack.

Both the 2.0 and 2.5 four-cylinder engines are strong enough to make the Cayman tantalisingly fast. Both will see off the 0-62mph sprint in under five seconds and rocket up to a licence-losing speed fairly quickly, and despite the turbochargers, it’s rarely caught out when it comes for sheer puff. However, what it does lack is an aural pleasure. The noise is just a noise when all is said and done, and in the case of the S there’s quite a lot of it. It’s not nearly as pleasant as the old engine’s tone, and it’s not very sports car-like. This is solved with the GTS 4.0 version because it brings back the classic six-cylinder burble that sounds fantastic.

But the engines only tell half the story, because what’s always separated the Cayman from the also-rans in this class is its delicate mid-engined handling balance, and just how damn enjoyable it is to drive. This one is no different, with wonderfully direct steering that is well weighted and linear in its responses, and eager handling that makes the car brilliantly driveable at any speed, with endless grip and remarkable poise thrown in for good measure.

It even rides well, with a suppleness unknown in other lesser sports cars. It’s firm, of course, but it never threatens to become uncomfortable.

Inside is a comfortable, pleasant and well put together interior with a great driving position that places the driver central to the action, in a perfect location in front of the controls. Visibility is reasonably good, too, for such a low-slung sportster, and many cars will have been specified with the optional reversing sensors or, if you’re lucky, a camera.

All the switchgear has a solid, high-quality feel, and all the buttons are well damped. There’s plenty of room for two to sit without brushing shoulders, and although storage space is rather limited there are two small-ish boots: one in the nose and the other behind the engine.

If you're interested in buying a used Porsche Cayman, or any of the other sports cars mentioned here, check out our used car buying site here.

Few cars hold on to their value as well as a Porsche Cayman, so there aren't many bargains to be had. Plan on spending at least £32,000 to get behind the wheel of a 718 Cayman. This will buy you a 2016 model with an average mileage for the year. On the whole, sports cars like this don’t tend to accumulate huge mileages, so watch out for those that have. You’ll be looking at the 2.0 version at this price, but up your budget to £40,000 or so and you should find an early S model. Up you budget closer to £50,000 to see Cayman T cars.

As of writing, expect to fork out at least £64,000 for a GTS 4.0 or around £80,000 for a GT4 version. Every GT4 RS on the used market exceeds £200,000.

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MPG

The 2.0-litre Cayman is the most economical, not surprisingly, with an official WLTP figure of 38.2mpg, and even the more powerful 2.5-litre engines manages 34.9mpg, although if you enjoy the car as much as you should you’ll probably not see anywhere near that in the real world.

Naturally, the GTS and GT4 won't see figures that are that good, at 25.9mpg and 25.4mpg, respectively.

The CO2 emissions of the 2.0-litre, according to the older NEDC tests, is 168g/km, while the 2.5-litre 186g/km.

Road tax

Tax for cars registered before April 2017 will be based on CO2 emissions and will be fairly high, while cars registered after that date will pay a flat rate fee. However, all Caymans cost over £40,000 new, therefore are subject to a luxury car supplementary tax for years two to six after the car's been registered. Current fees are £180 per year for the road tax and £390 per year for the supplementary tax.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups are high, ranging from 44 for the 2.0-litre car up to 47 for the GT4 (and GT4 RS). Servicing will be expensive and is best carried out by a dedicated Porsche specialist in order to get the best value for money.

Discounting the mega expensive six-cylinder versions, you have a choice of two: the standard 2.0-litre car or the 2.5-litre S. To be honest, we love the S, but we're not certain it's worth the extra cash over the entry-level car. We’d be very happy with the normal Cayman.

Our favourite Porsche 718 Cayman: 2.0 Cayman

The Alpine A110 is a real triumph. Its grin-inducing handling is unmatched at this level, and it’s also surprisingly cheap to run. It feels even lighter and more agile than the Cayman and for that reason it’s one of our favourites. Prices remain pretty high on the used market, though – you'll need at least £40,000 to consider buying one.

The more affordable Audi TT comes with a smooth, eager range of engines, darty handling and a beautiful interior. It’s as fast, in some of its variants, as the Cayman, but perhaps lacks the special sparkle and driver engagement that comes with the Porsche badge.

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If you're interested in buying a used Porsche Cayman, or any of the other sports cars mentioned here, check out our used car buying site here.