Used Porsche Cayman Coupe 2005-2013 review

Many purists think a 911 is the only Porsche worth considering, but they'd be mistaken. The Porsche Cayman provides more than 90% of the 911's performance but costs considerably less to buy and run.

It's closely related to the Porsche Boxster, but has stiffer suspension and is much more rigid – the fixed roof is to thank for that. All of that, along with the mid-engined layout, gives the two-door sports car amazing agility and poise. It also makes the Cayman predictable and easy to control when pushed hard – something not often said of the Porsche 911.

Engines & Performance: Initially, the Cayman sported a 2.7-litre six-cylinder engine in standard form and a 3.4-litre one in S form. Later, along with a facelift in 2009, the standard car was beefed up to a 2.9-litre unit. The 3.4-litre unit got a small bump in power, too.

Nowadays, most Caymans will struggle to keep up with a lot of modern hot hatches, but you'd still be hard pressed to call it slow. And, really, the engines aren't about rampant, animalistic acceleration, but rather smooth, sonorous, linear acceleration.

Ride & Handling: Like the mechanically similar Boxster, the Cayman is innately set up for success. How so? Well, the engine is positioned right behind the driver, making it mid-engined, and this helps create even weight distribution.

Its six-cylinder engines are flat ones, too: in other words, they aren't very tall, keeping their weight (and subsequently that of the car's) down low for a low centre of gravity, naturally reducing body lean and aiding overall handling. It also lessens the need for super stiff suspension – the Cayman's suspension still leans on the firmer side, but the ride is far from harsh or uncomfortable.

All of this is brought together and enhanced by Porsche's well-reknowned engineering expertise to create a wonderful driving experience. The Cayman flows down a country road with great fluidity and corners are met with impressive poise, composure and balance. You really have the confidence to drive the car spiritedly and it's very engaging and satisfying to do so.

Interior & Practicality: The Cayman is a masterpiece of ergonomic design, squeezing a surprising amount of cabin and boot space into a relatively small footprint: there are 260 litres of space in the rear luggage compartment and 150 litres in the front section.

What is less of a masterpiece is the interior. While it is made out of some very high-quality materials, there are lots of buttons that can be confusing and hard to figure out at first. It really does date the design as there isn’t the same touchscreen functionality you would get in today’s car – but then again, you’re not paying new Porsche prices.

You also have to consider that the Cayman is strictly a two-seater: the packaging limitations of a mid-engine car dictate that.

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You can find early cars hovering around the £9500 mark, but these will either have problems or galactic mileage. As a general rule, there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche, so you will be much better off stretching the budget to £16,000 or more, as this will improve your choice of tidy 40,000 to 50,000-mile 3.4-litre Cayman S models with a full service history.

A facelifted car is likely to set you back upwards of £17,000.

There are various special-edition versions. The most extreme is the Cayman R, which was designed to be the most hardcore version, with a stripped-out interior and some power and chassis tweaks. These were sold in limited numbers, which means you need to spend at least £35,000 to be able to buy one.

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It's a Porsche, so don't expect to run a Cayman on pocket money; but then again, it isn’t overly expensive for a car of this class.

The 2.7-litre does an average of 29.7mpg, while the earlier, less powerful version of the 3.4-litre comes in at 26.7mpg. The newer engines are more economical, with the 2.9-litre averaging 30.1mpg and the later 3.4-litre capable of 29.7mpg.

One benefit of opting for a newer engine is it emits slightly less CO2. The 2.7-litre produces 227g/km compared with the newer 2.9-litre engine at 221g/km. The older 3.4-litre emits 254g/km of CO2 compared with the newer version's 221-223g/km. PDK-equipped cars have slightly lower CO2 outputs.

These later engines are better for road tax too, as early 3.4-litre cars can be caught up in the tax bracket change after 23 March 2006. Any 3.4-litre Cayman before that costs £305; if it is registered afterwards, then it is £520 – ouch! If you must have the bigger engine, then you’re best off finding a facelifted car as its emissions were cut down to reduce those running costs. You will need to spend more to buy the newer car, though, so you will need to weigh up the overall cost to find out which one suits your budget.

Despite the cost, it's best to stick with a franchised dealer when servicing newer cars; this will help protect future resale values. However, for older cars, there are plenty of respected independent specialists that will do the job properly while also saving you a tidy sum. You will have to respect the fact that the Cayman is a mid-engine car, so access to the unit isn’t as great as it is in a front or rear-engine vehicle.

Insurance premiums are typical for a sports car, sitting between groups 42 and 44.

The Cayman S was launched with a six-cylinder 291bhp 3.4-litre engine but, a year later, a 245bhp 2.7-litre version, called simply the Cayman, went on sale. There was also a limited-edition 299bhp 3.4-litre Sport edition.

A new range of engines was introduced in 2009, including a 262bhp 2.9-litre and an uprated 3.4-litre unit with 316bhp. Porsche also introduced its PDK twin-clutch semi-automatic gearbox, which is smooth. In 2010, the PDK system's confusing steering wheel-mounted buttons were simplified, making it easier to use.

In reality, the 2.7-litre and 2.9-litre models are perfectly suited to most drivers. They offer plenty of pace but also help to keep running costs under control; the later 2.9 version, in particular, has reduced road tax costs.

The standard model comes with half-leather sports seats, climate control and stability control, while the S gets upgraded alloys and more aggressive bodywork detailing.

Our favourite Porsche Cayman 2.9

It’s a tricky question to answer because the Porsche Cayman is a really complete sports car and few rivals get close to bettering its blend of abilities. You could consider an Audi TT, as it is a prestige coupé with the practicality of a hatchback, except the Audi’s boot doesn’t have to share space with an engine. You would need to find one with either a V6 petrol, a TTS or a TT RS for a similar or better performance than the Cayman, as regular versions aren’t really a match.

The Nissan 370Z is a cheaper alternative. It doesn’t drive anywhere near as well as the Porsche, or even the Audi for that matter. But it does have a thumping 3.7-litre V6 and plenty of equipment for the money.

Interested in buying a used Porsche Cayman? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

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