Overview & Reviews

The two-seat Porsche Cayman sports car shares its midengine platform with the Boxster, but its stiffer structure makes it an even more precise driving tool. Offering ultra-responsive handling, competition-grade brakes and sonorous flat-6 engines that make every road your own personal racetrack, the Cayman is a delightful car to drive. Now that the 911 has moved up in size and luxury, the Cayman perhaps best exemplifies the Porsche tradition of high performance in a compact, lightweight package.

The Cayman can also be surprisingly affordable, at least by Porsche standards. The base Cayman undercuts the entry-level 911 Carrera by tens of thousands when new, and the higher-performance models are still relative bargains if you go easy on the options. Pre-owned specimens, meanwhile, can be real steals thanks to the magic of depreciation, yet they provide thoroughly up-to-date performance. Whether you opt for the current Cayman or its nicely aging predecessor, you'll be getting one of the very best pure sports cars for the money.

Current Porsche Cayman
The current, second-generation Cayman features crisper exterior styling and a considerably richer interior than the original, though its performance is only incrementally better; it's hard to improve on near-perfection. Electric-assist power steering debuts on this Cayman, sacrificing a bit of road feel, yet remaining one of the most gratifying tillers in the industry. The car is slightly longer and lower now, with a stretched wheelbase underneath and wider tracks front and rear. Laudably, Porsche claims a weight reduction of 55 pounds for the Cayman S.

There are three trim levels for the current Cayman: base, S and GTS. The base Cayman comes with a 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine ("flat-6") that's good for 275 horsepower, crossing the auspicious 100 hp/L threshold. The Cayman S packs a 3.4-liter flat-6 rated at 325 hp, while the GTS's 3.4-liter flat-6 makes 340 hp. A six-speed manual transmission is standard across the lineup, with Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual (known as PDK) offered as an option. All models are capable of 30 mpg or more on the highway.

A base Cayman with no options means you're stuck with a lame four-speaker stereo, but other standard features are more appealing, including 18-inch wheels with summer tires, an automatically extending rear spoiler and a 7-inch touchscreen. The Cayman S adds perks like bigger wheels, bi-xenon headlights, a nine-speaker stereo and enhanced infotainment functions. The GTS is distinguished by unique styling elements, a sportier interior, dynamic transmission mounts and some otherwise optional electronic driving aids. It goes without saying that the options list is long, colorful and full of eye-popping price tags.

In reviews of the current Cayman, we've run out of synonyms for "awesome." Handling basically doesn't get any better than this, particularly given how comfortable the Cayman can be on a daily basis. The textbook driving dynamics combined with Porsche's nearly infallible electronic driving aids will make you feel like a Formula One hero every time you take a corner. We also applaud Porsche for taking the interior to the next level, as the Cayman now feels like a premium sports car in its own right rather than a junior 911. Alas, the Cayman remains a junior 911 in the engine room -- keeping the 911 a few horses ahead is a matter of company policy -- but only the pathologically power-hungry will find the sublime 3.4-liter engine lacking, and the 2.7-liter mill is a thrill in its own right.

Used Porsche Cayman Models
The previous, first-generation Cayman was produced for the 2006-'12 model years (there was no Cayman for 2013). Like its successor, it was based on the Boxster of its era, substituting a fixed roof for the Boxster's soft top. For '06, only the Cayman S model was available, powered by a 3.4-liter flat-6 rated at 295 hp and paired with a six-speed manual transmission, or optionally a five-speed automatic with "Tiptronic" manual control. The base Cayman model launched for 2007, featuring a 2.7-liter six-cylinder with 245 hp and a five-speed manual transmission as standard, with the six-speed manual and five-speed automatic also offered.

The Cayman lineup was refreshed for 2009. There were exterior styling tweaks like attractive LED lighting accents, but the real changes were found under the skin. Most notably, the PDK transmission debuted, putting the aging Tiptronic out to pasture. The base Cayman upgraded to a 2.9-liter flat-6 with 265 hp, while the Cayman S added direct injection to its 3.4-liter engine for a healthy 320 hp.  The optional navigation system was modernized with a larger screen and more intuitive controls, and items like ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, an iPod interface and satellite radio were offered for the first time.

For '09 only, all Caymans with PDK came with awkward shift buttons on the steering wheel that tended to get in the way during enthusiastic driving, but a sport steering wheel with proper shift paddles was made available for 2010 (and was backwards-compatible with 2009 PDK models). For the first generation's 2012 grand finale, two special-edition models with 330 hp were introduced: the Black Edition (with a blacked-out color scheme and added luxuries) and the Cayman R (with a lowered suspension, lightweight seats and limited feature availability).

Our reviews of the first-generation Cayman were almost uniformly positive, though in retrospect, the 2009-'12 batch is where it's at for clutch-averse shoppers; PDK is so much better than Tiptronic that it's not even worth discussing. If you don't mind doing your own clutch work, however, any year will do. This Cayman was built to a consistently high standard, and exhilarating performance came standard throughout its run. So if you're shopping first-generation Caymans, go where your price ceiling takes you and look for a well-maintained car with low miles. You're going to have a blast, and the price might make your grin even wider.

User Reviews:

Showing 81 through 90 of 90.00

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  The Perfect Car - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By Nick - February 15 - 10:50 pm

  The Porsche Cayman is by far the most well engineered car I have driven. I have test driven most of its competitors and the handling, responsiveness, as well as the overall quality is superb without reservation. The mileage for a sports car is excellent and surprised me. The comfort is excellent, especially in the lower back area. I have been envying Porsches ever since I was in high-school. As another Porsche owner told me, this is a sports car not a luxury car masquerading as a sports car. After I drove it I could clearly see what she meant. The swaying factor around curves is for the most part non-existent. The bottom line is this car is the best choice in its class.

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  What a Car! Vielen Dank, Porsche! - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By mf - February 8 - 7:23 pm

  it was time to move into modern times from my 1981 Corvette. I am more than thoroughly pleased with my Cayman! The body design is, well, simply gorgeous. For 245HP, it performs nicely even at >6,000 ft. elevation. The fit and finish are incredible. At a lanky 6 2", it is more than accommodating. It has lots of luggage space. It will be terrific for our road-trip ventures. My black-on-black certainly turns heads (yes, a little "vanity" there...). Its just a perfect fit. Its a fantastic car for the price, period.

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  A Proud Owners Comments - 2010 Porsche Cayman
  By Black Beauty - February 5 - 6:26 pm

  I have owned my Cayman S for two short weeks. I have been impressed with the overall handling and performance. I traded in a Mercedes Benz SL 500. I have no regrets. The styling, performance, and ease of handling has more the exceeded my expectations.

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  Smooth, Refined, Classy - 2010 Porsche Cayman
  By RudyC - December 30 - 9:10 pm

  The 2.9 L Cayman has a smooth revving engine mated to a smooth shifting 6-speed manual gearbox. This car is all about refinement and being able to drive fast on twisty roads. Plenty of cars are faster in a straight-line, but this is about sufficient power for Californias public roads. The vehicle is relatively light (2900lbs.+), so it is still fairly quick The car drives very well, even with 19" sport wheels and Pirelli P-Zero tires. The base model lacks a decent sounding stereo, but that would add weight.

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  Best Car I have ever owned - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By TH - December 27 - 8:23 pm

  I have owned this car for one year. It has been great. Two major trips of 1,000 miles, plenty of room for luggage for two. No need for trips to the dealership, reliability is the best I have seen in years. Well put together, a great engine sound, seats and ride is very acceptable for a sports car. Great Fuel economy - average 24 mpg around town and 31 mpg on our two trips.

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  Great Sports Car - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By thecory - July 13 - 8:46 am

  Fun to drive and plenty of power. Im 62" and comfortable although the seat is all the way back. Still plenty of head room. Standard seats really hug you might be a little narrow for someone over 200 lbs. Tall passenger seat totally obscures the small window behind the door creating a blind spot. They can also hit and damage the headliner if not careful. Bose system has too much bass but a satisfactory adjustment can be made. The wheel size makes a huge difference in ride quality and the larger wheels will probably lead to more rattles with time. The used Caymans I drove with 17s felt sold and had little rattling. 18s were a little worse and 19s were much worse. I went with 18s for looks.

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  Obsession - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Dean Farris - June 18 - 8:03 am

  My first Porsche, this speed yellow with black leather beauty is like having a Carrera or a Ferrari without the huge price tag. I really like the basic sport feel, almost like a vintage car, with not too much electronic stuff, and not so much glossy plastic trim. As a designer, this car really appeals to me from an aesthetic view. Compared to the Mercedes I was using for a daily driver, this is way more fun, and I love to make 90 degree turns going 45 mph. Now have about 18K miles. Sits in a nice large garage, like a sculpture. Driving a Porsche in Naples is about as good as it gets, even though we have one of the largest PCA memberships in the country. I highly recommend it. Good ego trip.

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  True sports car - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By Kent - May 31 - 12:30 am

  Have owned my Cayman for just a few weeks now and am truly impressed. This is my first Porsche and hopefully not my last. It doesnt take long to see the car is quality built and all the details were done extremely well. One thing is I am tall and fit into the Cayman with absolutely no problem. The headroom is great. It shifts beautifully and there is no other word except "fun" to describe driving this car. My two sons who are in their 20s say "dad you finally got a cool car" which just shows the younger generation knows something good when they see it. Would highly recommend this car to anyone considering it.

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  watch out for pricing - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By MARK URAKAWA - May 16 - 5:10 pm

  A good handling car but its easy to overpay. Dealers overcharge on the car and once you buy the car and want to sell it you notice you really overpaid. IMS problems plague this model, could be running then the IMS bearing explodes and you have a major engine catastrophe. Not like a American car or Japanese car the price would be outrageous a new engine and then you have to junk the car. I suggest getting a 2009 or later version. These cars don’t sell well new and are scarce, overpaying is easy. I would beware, like any German car they are over rated if it is not a S model  don’t buy it the performance is lacking in non S models

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  Porsche Cayman - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Fitzhugh B. LEE - February 3 - 4:03 am

  Have 1500 miles so far on this 2007 Cayman. Steering is tight, precise, responsive and consistently provides an "on-rails" cornering experience. The acceleration is quick, but not overpowering. The engine sound is great! The looks are superb, and the gas mileage is surprisingly good. Im averaging around 26 mpg. Have yet to take it on an extended cross country, but anticipate that the mileage will increase with more miles on the engine. I use this car almost daily and it is always a thrill to drive. The seats are form fitting on my 6 foot 1 inch frame and as a consequence are warm to my back, but there is plenty of head and leg room. Cargo room is generous for a car in this class.