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 11 through 20 of 90.00

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  The REAL Ultimate Driving Machine - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By JG - April 16 - 10:53 am

  This is my first Porsche after a myriad of other sports cars, Z4, RX-8, several Miatas, SLK, etc. The Cayman S is without question superior to all of the foregoing. Its sound is intoxicating as is its performance and handling, and brakes. It works well as a daily driver, too. It has very satisfactory storage space and holds my golf clubs in the rear trunk with a little juggling. It is just a great car that Porsche is holding back on to keep the iconic 911 on top.

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  My Cayman S experience - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By dhsieh - April 15 - 1:13 am

  I bought a Cayman S on Jan. 2008 and have put in 1700 miles since. Overall I am happy with the performance and driving experience. In the past, I have owned Bimmer, Mercedes, Lexus & Infiniti in the past. By far, Cayman gives the most exhilaration and fun. Above all, it returns 19.7 mpg in average and this is simply incredible for a pure sports car.

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  My Face Hurts! - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Al - January 17 - 10:56 pm

  From smiling when I drive this thing. It moves where I want it to move and does it quickly and without lag. I love this car!

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  Nothing even comes close - 2009 Porsche Cayman
  By anonimo - December 25 - 5:33 am

  Fantastic engine, brakes, chassis, steering, interior... this really is the finest true spots car value available. Had an Audi TTS and while it was a very capable and well-built sports car, it just didnt offer the the perfect balance and driving dynamics of the Cayman. And the beautiful curves of the exterior are very reminiscent of the classic 911s of the 80s and 90s. The Cayman has become the ultimate Porsche (and an especially exceptional value with current incentives!).

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  Glued to the Road Always - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Carmona Red - October 16 - 9:10 pm

  Bought 6 speed manual Cayman S as pleasure driver, not everyday commuter. Have had for 2 months, have about 3000 miles on it, highlight was a drive up and back on back roads including Highway 1 LA to Monterey for MotoGP a few weeks ago. Handling, shifting, road feel superb, I spent a lot of time going through the twisties and laughing out loud with pleasure. Has plenty of power on the street to get you tickets even if it does not have 911 hp. And it is not even broken in yet. Car gets a lot of looks, and I love the look of it (and I hate the Boxster.) Yes the car is noisy and a very firm ride (19 inch wheels), stereo is so so but listening to the engine is the real musical experience!

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  Ive ruined all other cars for myself... - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By blue098 - August 18 - 3:02 am

  I bought this car used 12 months ago and have put over 10K miles on it. Every mile driven has been a joyous one and Ive had no performance or mechanical problems with it so far (at 28K total miles). A few minor interior rattles (easily fixed) and some minor comfort issues for the longer trips but without a doubt the most fun & engaging vehicle Ive ever driven. And Ive driven cars of all types, sizes, shapes, and costs. People regularly give it some great looks when Im driving around town and rarely does a highway trip happen that someone doesnt pull up next to me with a "thumbs up". Sounds great, handles great, and has more storage room than youd think given its size.

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  Great Car - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Britain22 - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Have owned it for just over a year and love driving it both to work and on weekend fun trips. Do not plan to drive it cross country, but that was never my intent in the first place. It replaced my Z3 BMW, and while both are really nice cars the Cayman S seems like a star ship, while the Z3 is more of a classic from the 50s. I have yet to find any major issues with the Cayman and hope that it runs as good 10 years from now as it does today. The Navigation system is difficult to figure out the first few times of using it so wish they would team up with Garmin and keep thing simple but it works well once you get it set up.

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  Perfectly balanced - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By John - March 29 - 12:50 am

  The blend of handling, braking and acceleration makes the car a joy to drive. I purchased a basic model (non-s, 5 speed, 19 inch wheels, bose, heated seats) which was actually hard to find. If you want to pay for all the other goodies go for it, but they are expensive and some add quite a bit of weight. Trust me, you wont miss them and you can save 25 grand. Its a drivers car all the way but remarkably comfortable, quiet, and it really does get the 29 mpg highway.

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  The 2.7 (aka base) Cayman - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By Don - March 24 - 3:53 pm

  Much has been written/said about the Cayman s; all justified. The Cayman 2.7 has enjoyed fewer reviews, yet it remains a totally engaging Porsche. It has the same platform, same build quality, same fun to drive, better fuel economy (mine gets 27-28 mpg mixed driving... And runs at 30+ at steady freeway speed!). So, what is the downside? surely not the 10k less Price! Yes, it has 50 less hp, concomitantly less torque and 5 speeds instead of the lovely 6 speed. But for daily driver duties, one cannot even use the 245 hp the Cayman 2.7 offers! Ive taken my 2.7 on a track day (thunderhill) and find that it handles and marks well most other makes and was a blast to drive.

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  Great Car, One Small Problem - 2008 Porsche Cayman
  By John S. - February 21 - 7:46 am

  Most beautiful car Ive ever owned, with sharp performance to match. Acceleration could be better for the price, but I was never planning to do any drag-racing anyway. The big problem is the abominable base stereo, which came with the car as ordered by the dealer (it was a leftover 2008 that I got a very good price). This stereo was state of the art in 1970, and I figured I could upgrade it with aftermarket equipment, but at $2200 just for new speakers and amps, I decided to just live with it. If you get a Cayman, be sure to order the Bose upgrade.