How do I break this to you gently?

Difficult to find a way to say this........... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3279381.htm Don't panic though, I won't be deserting you!

Well shiver me timbers - I thought for a moment your were off[ ]

[ ] Don't leave us Richard. Is a Cayman book going to be the sequel? We'll have to start calling you the Caymanator from now on. [ ] Mike

its that itchy feet syndrome[ ] However Richard I now have the perfect antidote the golf is finally back on the road what a hoot

Noo! So many thoughts. Why? OMG is it really only worth that now?! Couldn't you stick it in storage until you realise your mistake 6 months later and have to struggle to find a good one to get back into a 996tt? I can hide it from you if you like[ ]

Sad days indeed but I'm sure more than anyone your plan is rock solid where the next motor is concerned [ ] Good luck with sale.

Not sure there is an easy way Rich. The motor won't hang about long mate I am sure. Pleased that you won't be deserting us [ ]

A sad day. Richard has been an invaluable source of information and expertise on 996s in particular. Richard has played a huge part in the success of the 996 forum.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! Richard, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Good luck with the sale mate!

omg. Good luck Richard

Richard without a 996, a sad day it will be when it's sold but what a great car it will be for someone. Glad your still be about to help us out. Good luck with the sale. Phil

Cayman? Don't do it!

Now If I were in the market for a Turbo that would be a no brainer!. I thought the Captain is supposed to stay on the ship?.

Can't believe the 996T is going Richard ! You are an asset to the 996 register and forum and now without a 996 ! Good luck with the Cayman hunt but if I was you I would be looking for the Cayman R - at least that way you won't miss the Turbo as much

Best of luck with the sale and the search Richard. I had a Cayman a couple of weeks ago whilst a couple of warranty jobs were sorted on mine. I can see the attraction. Of course, the best Caymen come with a free soft top and the very best come with a very silly roof indeed!

Richard, What sad news!!!! I read the advert and came across the words Cayman S. Great car, but wont be same asking advice from someone who no longer has the same car. I wish you all the best in your hunt!!! DON'T LEAVE US!!!!!!!

I echo the thoughts of others Richard and hope your search works out for you. Just a thought the Cayman forum seems pretty quiet, compared to the 996 Forum anyway, so I'm sure you still be spending plenty of time with us[ ] Thanks Ash

Hi Richard, Looks a great purchase for someone (would have been interested myself, had it been a manual)... Hopefully, you'll still come on the forum to bail us all out from time to time - if not, then thanks for all you've contributed here. No doubt the Cayman owners will appreciate your input as much as we have done too. All the best with your new venture...

Welcome to the world of Cayman S. You know it makes sense.....Geoff Turral and the rest of us can't all be wrong!

Brian, Mid engine is great, totally agree - but if/when that old Briggs and Stratton behind you shakes to bits, Richard will rue the day he sold that lovely Silver turbo which is in its prime of life. Good luck Cayman-ers George

I've never been a Cayman fan, not even a little bit, but then again I hadn't driven one. Until yesterday, when a friend turned up in his spanking new Cayman R. Wow! Looked incredible and drove superbly. It really does show how far Porsche have come along since the 996 was developed. The poise, handling, balance, pace and general feel were spot on. But I need back seats for the nippers, so a 911 it has to be for me. But would I swap a 996 Turbo for a Cayman S? No. I'd fit a remap and enjoy the 150 odd bhp advantage!

It's Richard's choice I've raced Cayman's around a few tracks in the uk now, and they are great fun, but IMHO can't beat a turbo 911...

Has the car still not gone? Maybe it's up too cheap?! Putting people off who expect it to be a dog. I did that once with a Z4M raised the price by a couple of thousand and suddenly I started getting calls.

I see your car is shown as sold on PH Richard, well done and whoever bought it has a beauty. Good luck with the Cayman search

Not surprised your car sold quickly Richard, it's just SO sorted. Someone's bought a great car. My friend has a Cayman S and it's a fantastic car to drive but he did have an IMS failure that luckily was sorted under warranty. I just wish I could get rid of my C4: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3001054.htm

The first chap who came to see it bought it. I had no calls at all for a week, two traders on the second week, and then a couple of serious enquiries. Exactly the same thing happened when I sold my C2. The buyer should be collecting the car at the end of the week. I'll be sad to see it go, but I'm looking forward to getting a Cayman. All the ones I had been keeping an eye on have been sold, but I'm not in a huge rush, so I'll hold out until I find the right one. Andrew - what Model Year is your friend's car? I spoke to Hartech, and they told me that from MY2006 a larger IMS bearing was fitted, and they hadn't experienced problems with that bearing.

Richard - his Cayman is MY2005. He was lucky, in as much as iron filings were found in the oil during a service which led to the engine being stripped down and the IMS being sorted and also he followed my strong advice and kept renewing the Porsche Warranty.

Please write us a Cayman review from the perspective of an ex 996 owner when you've got one/driven it a bit. I for one would love to hear the pros and cons as you see them. I still remember the first time I drove a Boxster S... I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I was also very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed driving a Cayman. It doesn't have the same power as my TT of course, but it is is beautifully balanced, much lighter, more 'chuckable' and great to drive. Would I trade my TT for a Cayman? - I have to admit I've seriously thought about doing it several times but at the moment I'm still enjoying the Exocet missile pace of my TT, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out in the future.

I had a Cayman on loan from the OPC a while back and it was fantastic fun. As Andrew says, supremely chuckable and lots of interaction with the gearbox to keep the engine in its optimum power range. I was really impressed but for me, I need the rear seats [ ]

Before I got my first Carrera and after having had a Boxster S for a couple of years I drove a Cayman and it was a mighty impressive car, handling was superb. What it boiled down to for me was that since I was a spotty youth I'd always wanted a 911 and as good as the Cayman was it wasn't the 911 I'd always dreamed of. Fast forward 6 years a carrera, C4s and now a Turbo S I still haven't got the 911 thing out of my system. Cayman is a fantastic car though and i wouldn't rule one out the future

Had a PDK Cayman S on loan from OPC a couple of years back - wow - I was impressed. The balance and feel was unbeleivable, it felt quicker than my C4S too... Unfortunately too small for me, the back seats are useful. There is a Cayman R at Solihull OPC right now in a nice blue, stunning car

My view (when I haven't driven it for a while) is balanced between this one and the one about needing rear seats, but then I drive it and realise I'm just too much of a power addict. I'm afraid I have not matured to the extent I can cope with a Golf out accelerating me. On the road at least riding the atomic shockwave is the thing I get most pleasure from. If I could afford one just for track days then the balance changes, I do enjoy the delicacy of skating around bends.[ ]