Used 2015 Porsche Cayman Consumer Reviews
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Base 2014 Cayman
I purchased this car from Brumos and had the most positive experience ever buying a car. Delivery took about an hour. The quality of this car is outstanding, it handles like it is glued to the ground, and there is plenty of power to get you out of trouble immediately. Luggage space is impressive and long drives are comfortable. I got 29.2 mpg with the cruise control set to 80. I never thought I would be doing this I have become addicted to performance driving schools and events. Although this car is no dragster (275 hp vs 600+), it is unmatched by most cars in turns and is extremely well balanced. (thank you blue flag) If a driver can smoothly carry momentum they will be tough to hang with. After 9000 miles and over $30,000 in repairs and very long waits for parts (nothing seems to be stocked and takes a boat from Germany after being custom made - it is not unusual for the car to be in the shop for 3-5 months) I would say that after owning it for 2.5 years it has spent close to a year in the shop. Buy a Miata.
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Move over 911
The cayman is what the 911 could have been; a true sports car in all aspects having the perfect balance by having mid-engine; superb handling and chassis design; superior brakes and sounds of engine/exhaust sure to excite enthusiasts…
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- GTS CoupeMSRP: $57,235534 mi away
- Base CoupeMSRP: $48,795578 mi away
- S CoupeMSRP: $53,479664 mi away
One of the best Porsche buys. Recommended
I have owned a 2015 Porsche Cayman GTS (internal code 981) for the last 4+ years. In this review, I try to put myself in a prospective buyer's shoes and answer some key questions. 1. Cayman or 911? I drove both. The Cayman drives like a sports car, the 911s (aside from the GT3, GT2, Turbo, GTS) drive like a GT. It was an easy decision for me. You feel more connected with driving thanks to the intimate (but not cramped) cabin, louder exhaust sound, and lighter feel due to mid-engine characteristics. The 911 is a better daily driver and the obvious choice if you have small kids. For those who care about the 911 has an undeniable cachet of being the "premier" Porsche model. 2. Cayman or Boxster? Both are excellent cars with minuscule differences in performance. Boxster, if you want an open-top experience. I would recommend a Cayman for tracking as some events are more restrictive to convertibles. Also, you get more space above the engine in a Cayman for your stuff and can put a camera on the bar behind the seats. No bad choice though. 3. 981 vs 987 vs 718? All great cars. Go by your budget - recommend the newest car you can afford. I had the choice of all three when I was buying my car in 2019. I wanted a 6-cylinder - that eliminated the 718 (now you can get a 4.0 GTS but then it was a 2.5l 4 cylinder). I would have been happy in any generation though. I would recommend a 987.2 from 2009 onwards though for track use. The 987 has hydraulic steering and a great butt. The 981 looks swoopy and is pretty all-round. The 718 has the most modern UI. Each newer generation benefits from minor tweaks and enhancements to the ride, performance, and UI. 4. What trim base, S, GTS, R, GT4, GT4 RS? All are fun to drive. You get more performance as you move up the scale from base to a 4RS. I would say the S and GTS are sweet spots for a blend of daily driving, weekend drives, and track outings. The GTS is like a S with some performance and cosmetic tweaks. The GT4 onwards compromises daily driving a bit but rewards with greater performance on-track. The RS is if you want to terrorize GT3 owners. The base car will be a great daily but lacks torque (aside from the 718 base). The GT4 rides low and the front bumper lip can scrape easily. The RS offers a suspension lifter option to mitigate this issue. 5. What spec items/options/packages do I look out for? My car had the following options: - Leather + GTS interior package: recommended for the unique looks akin to a 911 GT3/RS. The alcantara option shows dirt quicker but feels awesome in heat or cold conditions - better than leather. Note: you cannot get ventilated seats with alcantara. If you are a neat freak then get the leather. - PDK: pick this or a 6 speed manual to your taste and mission. Both are excellent choices. PDK is better for track use IMO. After driving a manual transmission car for 25 years, I did not miss it. - Wheel caps painted with colored Porsche crest - no big deal. - Roof lining in Alcantara - completes the look but not a must-have. - Adaptive 18 way seats. Very comfortable and accomodating. I would recommend the 4 way Sports plus seats instead as it gives you all the padding but is much lighter than 18 ways. The 18 ways make a lot more sense if you have 2+ drivers in the family. If you are a hardcore track addict - you will look into an aftermarket seat with harnesses and the standard setup will not keep you in at track speeds. I would recommend 14 ways if you have a wide torso or hips - the sport plus seats are more constraining. The Cayman R and GT4s come with sport bucket seats that are better suited for smaller frames and are grippy for track use. - BOSE stereo - better than stock but given that this a noisy car it is not a big deal if your car doesn't have it. - Premium package plus: recommended as you get heated seats, dimming mirrors ( a must), auto a/c, etc. - X73 suspension - this replaces the standard PASM active suspension. X73 is a rarer option and is more track-focused like the stock suspension of the Cayman R of the previous generation. I love it. The demerit is that the ride is noticeably rougher compared to PASM. I need to drop my tire pressures to make the ride less punishing for daily driving. Overall, I picked the GTS because it was hard to find a used S with PDK, X73, sports exhaust, and 18-way seats. Also, I liked the racy look of the alcantara interior, and the black trim on the outside. 6) What are the problem areas? The Caymans and Boxsters 987.2 onwards are reliable and capable of pounding through several track days without overheating or falling apart. The issues are: a) headlight lenses getting micro-fractures from UV that look worse than it is. b) Coil packs that tend to last 40k miles or 4 years c) Potential 3rd gear and suspension issues with GT4s that are heavily tracked d) Bore scoring with 987.1 3.4 l cars (IMS issue is overblown). The maintenance costs for all are not that bad if you are lucky enough to find a trusted independent near you. But costs are higher than say Japanese cars. A Miata would be a cheaper bet for tracking. My car has been very reliable (aside from coil pack replacement and a battery going dead.) I got a PDK flush done for a piece of mind and religiously follow ab annual servicing frequency. Get a PPI and look out for an enthusiast-owned car (buy the seller) who has regularly serviced it. There is no stigma to getting tracked cars - the Cayman can easily take it. Overall Recommendation: Buy one.
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Cayman 981
Never in my life have I drove a vehicle that is this much fun. The cayman feels like it was built around me. As if the design team took my measurements and Tailored the car for me. Everything feels of quality. There nothing cheap inside a Porsche. You won’t be let down by any of its craftsmanship. I chose the 981 S over a base 718 simply for the sound. To me each car is identical in every way. Of course there’s some changes on the 718 but good luck picking them out. I drove both and the 981 was a clear choice for me. I wanted a true Bat Mobile and I got it in the 981 S. If I could offer advice to a future cayman owner. I would suggest two options that I got on the car I bought. These options are not what I wouldn’t have ordered on a new car. Get the 14 way seats it’s everything important to driving this car. The 14 way seats are what makes the car fit so Perfect. Next get the high end stereo. It sounds like your driving a high end home theater. You need music in a sports car. Like I said I only got these by luck. The car I bought had them. I’m so thankful it did. You won’t go wrong with the cayman I guarantee it.
2010 Cayman S vs. 2014 Cayman S
I had a 2010 Cayman S, great vehicle, Edmunds is spot on about the steering, it was better in the old model. But the new 2014 model is much more comfortable and forgiving on last distance runs. The NAV / Bose Sound System / Interior much better than previous model. Handling is exceptional and exterior looks greatly improved. My only issue is that I bought a dealer demo with 750 miles. It was delivered to me W/O inspection. Had problems with power seat & unbalanced tires. One of the tires I found a nail in it and cost me $446 to get a new one. Avoid The Collection in Miami.