Few questions about the Cayman / Cayman S

Are these cars pretty reliable as far as using it daily? I know Porsche seems to have pretty solid engines.
Any idea on the maintenance? I've heard mixed things from "not too bad" to "pain in the neck".

I'd probably get a used one from 2006. Not really looking to pay more than $47,000. . .I won't be buying soon, but just wanted to learn a bit about them and was wondering if anyone here could help. I'd probably just get the Cayman, but maybe the Cayman S.

Feel free to add whatever comments you want about the car though.
I'd appreciate any info you can give. Like I said, I keep getting mixed things.
Last time I searched for info was on a Porsche forum, and a lot of the people there seemed to be biased...obviously.

Thanks...

 

I wouldn't hesitate to get a Cayman, from a reliability standpoint. There may be annoyance things that go wrong with various cars, but I don't know anyone that was ever stranded by a modern Porsche breaking down. At the track I have heard of a few engine problems (usually with 986 models), but driving around town? No.

 

I have an 06 Caymans. Love the car. 12K miles. Only needed routine service once a year. Runs about $300. The car is an absolute blast to drive. Have taken it on several long trips never let me down. If it had another 50 hp it be just about perfect.

 

Cayman is just a boxster with a sexy re-designed body.

So I'd feel pretty good about the Cayman since they've built Boxsters since 1997 and must have put 100,000 of these cars on the road.

I'd say they have plenty of research into this series... But we will see important up-grades to the engine in 2009 (see my post in this Boxster thread) http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204546

 

I totally disagree. The Cayman feels nothing like driving a Boxster. It doesn't have the 'coke can' feeling, finish out is lot nicer and ride is incomparable. I have an '08 S - the extra hp of the S vs. non S is significant (but then again, I have high expectations).

As far as maintenance goes, I also have a 25 year old 911. The 911 has always been the most reliable and least expensive car to maintain in the garage - it certainly has had enough to time to prove me wrong. There is a reason why you see as many older models on the road as there are new. You might want to attend some of your local PCA events if you want to get the real scoop. You will be amazed at how many people will share their P car ownership experience.

I had no problem with the dealer allowing me to test drive several cars over multiple days before deciding which to buy but I am a repeat customer and they knew I was definitely buying. It wouldn't hurt to ask - even if you only get to test drive each for an afternoon.

 

I didn't mean it that way. I was talking about reliability not the drive-ablity.

I was trying to say...that for a new 2006 car, the cayman has 10 years history on the mechanical components and parts if you look at the Boxster as 10 years of research and development for the platform.

For the extra $4,000 cayman charges over Boxster you get a much better driving car for the money. Too many people still complain that Porsche is backwards for pricing the coupe above the convertible... but they got it right, cayman is a great car.

 

what he said.

 

I have had an '07 Cayman S, 6 speed, for 14 months. Only service issues were a oil change needed warning that went off way to early. Dealer reset with no issues. Also an issue with the clutch (I think it was a slave cylinder spring).

First service is at 20 K miles--I don't put that many on so had oil changed at 1 year--was about 75 bucks.

Unresolved issues include several annoying cabin rattles, and the well known rear hatch thunk which I fixed myself using internet instructions.

Overall seems to be a well screwed together car.

 

i have an 08 artic silver over black cayman S 6speed. i love the car so much this car is so amazing hopefully going to the track next month with her for the first time bought it in april and have 3k miles on it as of this week such a great car

 

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Welcome to Fchat (I see you're relatively new here).

I have had my '07 Cayman S for about a year now. Have about 7000 miles on it, and use it as my daily driver. It puts a big, fat grin on my face every morning as I drive the (unfortunately/fortunately) short drive to work. When I take it on runs with some of my Fchat friends, it keeps up with many of them (ok, not a Murcielago or a F430 at full throttle, but on the twisties I'm right there in the middle of the pack).

To me, this is the biggest issue -- and it's not that big of an issue. Yeah, the car has some clunks and noises, but then again, I have 19" rims and live in a city with very, very bad roads.

This is the second problem, and one that irritates me about Porsche. In order to avoid eating into their 911 market, they underpowered the Cayman line. I would NOT get the Cayman, personally. Even the Cayman S has only 295hp, which is a little too low I think (I'm either going to bump this a little with an aftermarket exhaust, or maybe trade in for an '09 or '10 -- I hear they raised the hp?). It's a little embarrassing that a bunch of Acura, Lexus and other sport-sedans have more hp. That said, my old Ferrari 308 only had 240 hp!

The Cayman S is a GREAT car over all. Good luck.

(BTW, you're 16 and have a Ferrari 328? Really?)

 

I can't tell you much about owning a Cayman, but I love my Boxster. I was having trouble deciding between the two and then I put the top down and I had to have the Boxster. But I actually prefer the way the Cayman looks. It doesn't bother me too much that the Boxster isn't all that fast because I spend way too much time stuck in city traffic. But I look forward to the windy roads a lot! You could probably get an extended warranty on a Cayman and not have too much to worry about for a while except for maybe tires and routine maintenance, I would think.

 

My wife has expressed interest in a Cayman and I told her that I'd ONLY consider the CaymenS. For very selfish reasons too... If I ever got rid of my 996TT, I'd be expecting to "borrow it" for PCA events! They're very nice platforms, and the visual appeal of the car has grown on me, a fan of the 911!

Used 2006 models are selling in the low $40s!

Mike