TRIED&TESTED CAYMAN 987 GEN ‘1’ 2.7 2008 ‘08’ 79,000 MILES £11,995 VALUE AT A GLANCE Condition Price Performance Overall
With roving tyre kicker, Kieron Fennelly
ACayman for below £12,000: it says somethingof the croc’s residuals that it has taken almost a dozen years for the earliest lower specification models to land here and it is still 20% more than the equivalent 987 Boxster. At first sight this bargain basement three-owner Cayman belies its ten years, and closer inspection confirms the impression: red paint is largely unmarked and repainting of the front valance and lower panels has been well done with little sign of overspray. Of all colours solid red is the most prone to fading, but the red on this Cayman has generally lasted well; the paint though is parting company in both front wheelarches on the vulnerable sills, exposinganodised metal. This will require attention. On the other hand, the 17 inch wheels show little sign of deterioration and are shod with acceptable third-worn rubber, Continentals on the front and Michelin Sport Pilots on the rear. None of the tyres displays any signs of uneven wear.
Inside, the Cayman shows rather more evidence of its ten years. The driver’s seat is slightly shiny and creased and wheel and gearknob have signs of wear. The carpeting would benefit from a clean, though the state of both luggage compartments, especially the rear, suggests they have not been used much. This is a fairly basic spec: a Cobra alarm was fitted when new but its annual subscription has longexpired; the Cayman does have one useful addition in the form of reversingsensors. The a/c produces plenty of cold air and cabin heating/demisting operates with equal efficiency. The previous owner who had the car from 2010 had apparently managed to lose much of the service history; the MOT sequence supports the mileage and reasons for occasional fail are of the ‘worn wiper blades’ variety rather than brake or emissions maladies which wouldn’t suggest servicing had been missed completely. The most recent recorded service was by a non-specialist at 78,000 miles.
The Cayman fires and idles properly and on the road and suitably warmed up the 2.7 moves smoothly up through its five forward gears. The clutch works well and there are no untoward noises except a rattle from a rear suspension arm, a common, not life-threateningf ault. Fully solicited, the small flat-six does not quite have the zest it should have climbing to high rpm. However, after a run there are no obvious smells of hot oil or worse, coolant, and a standard diagnostic intervention by a Porsche specialist would probably improve things; at the same time the brakes which feel spongey and provoke the pad warning light with firmer applications would probably benefit from some new material.
This Cayman feels taut and steers as well as any 987. Caveat emptor applies of course includinga proper look underneath, but otherwise this example should provide pleasure to an owner prepared to spend a modest sum on improvements. PW
911 & PORSCHE WORLD