Cayman as a daily driver? - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Caymans keep whispering to me in the night. How would one stack up as a daily driver? I've not driven one yet, but my previous daily driver was an XKR, which, from a grand tourer type perspective, was actually a comfortable place to be as well as being quick and fun. Anyone driven or owned both? I do around 400 miles a week, on a mixture of road types, and I like being comfortable.

I drove a 996 C4S on a similar basis and it was fine. Road noise and sports suspension did get a bit wearing after a hard day at the coal face. Funnily enough i swapped it for an XKR which did the motorway bit much better. Which generation and model are you thinking?

My 987 cayman S was a very comfortable place to be-even after four or five hrs-it had the standard seats but they were very good indeed and It was lowered and very firm but I wouldn’t have hesitated to use it daily if I had too and it was great over long distances. I imagine you’re probably after a much newer one, but I’m sure a newer one would be even better I was gutted when mine was written off and might well get another at some point (or a Boxster)

Notwithstanding the fact that I'm on the hunt for a BMW 440i, and will probably end up with one, I keep having my head turned by Caymans. Amusingly, they're £200 less to insure than the BMW! For me it would have to have six cylinders which, due to my budget, would mean a late 981 and not an "S". The main deterrent for me is the ever present risk of PADM failure.

Residuals are going to take a bit hit unless you get a very low mileage car and keep it a max of 2 years. Most dealerships wont buy cars with that sort of mileage and those that do will be paying bottom price. I think if you are happy with that then why not, but do be aware you are at the very top end of usage cases. Most Cayman / Boxster owners are doing half or a quarter of your mileage.

I had a 981 Cayman S as a daily and loved it.

You’re a long time dead. If you can run a Cayman as a daily then do it. Even after a tough day it can still be fun getting into a sports car on the right road.

I’ve had three now, all with sports Plus seats. 3.4 981 GTS manual, X73 fixed sport chassis. Amazing, but a little too stiff for bumpier B-Roads. It rattled! Sounded best. ‘Hi-Fi speaker’ audio upgrade was offensively bad. Way worse than cheap vans. 2.5T 718 GTS manual, -20mm PASM. Sport PASM locks out the dampers, so track only. The normal PASM setting was probably the the best overall compromise for speedyness on UK B-roads. Sound was ok I guess. Very quiet and effortlessly fast on modest throttle openings. 4.0 718 GTS manual, -10mm PASM. Both suspension modes were ideal for road use, so the best for UK roads possibly. Sounded amazing and very loud inside when pushed hard, but quiet with valves closed. Bose was good in both 718 and neither rattled at all. All have more than average road noise, but 90% of roads I used were ok. Scattered stone style resurfacing can be unpleasant. The M25 Leatherhead to M3 was borderline unbearable. Overall really enjoyable from 2015 to 2023 and less miles than you plan, at 80k across the three. My Jag experience was limited to a test drive. For me at the time it was too comfortable and remote. The Cayman was also really commodious with frunk and boot, so fantastic for touring as a couple. I hope that helps a bit..

Miserablegit said: You’re a long time dead. If you can run a Cayman as a daily then do it. Even after a tough day it can still be fun getting into a sports car on the right road. Exactly this.

I have driven and owned both and to be fair there is no comparison . In fact I would say that the F Type 5.0 V8 R is more similar in terms of comfort to the XKR than the Cayman is . Where the Cayman excels at least in 4.0 litre guise ( I haven't owned any other ) is in the driving experience . Just a beautiful connectivity and response that I think typifies the Brands sports cars . I found the F type SVR I owned quicker in a straight line but as soon as you turned into a long curve at speed the driving position let it down somewhat . You sat on the Jaguar as opposed to in it as you do in the Cayman . As a daily driver the Cayman is perfectly acceptable though it won't feel as roomy as the X150 XKR . Its also very low and although there is some interior storage its limited in comparison . 718 4.0 GTS is according to last months What Car Awards " the best sports car on the planet " , I have certainly enjoyed mine which I bought new last year and I am looking forward to a GT4 version soon . I have done 16,000 miles in under a year the car being that good . PPF for me is always essential , I just cant bear the heartbreak of stone chip damage . Feel free to PM me if I can be of any further assistance .

I was doing circa 20k a year in mine for a number of years, it was fine. Did a good job cheering me up on the way home if the day at the office had been particularly unpleasant.

gotoPzero said: Residuals are going to take a bit hit unless you get a very low mileage car and keep it a max of 2 years. Most dealerships wont buy cars with that sort of mileage and those that do will be paying bottom price. I think if you are happy with that then why not, but do be aware you are at the very top end of usage cases. Most Cayman / Boxster owners are doing half or a quarter of your mileage. I find that mileage quotation a very true but sad indictment on the typical Porsche buyer . Why do you think that is ? I am a 60 year old working class kid that has grafted away to earning a few quid on building sites , what do I care about future residuals . Probably the Worlds ultimate driving machine , get it bought driven and enjoyed then onto the next . You are a long time dead . Just out of interest does anyone know if this reluctance to put a few miles on a Porsche exists anywhere else in Europe ?

reddiesel said: gotoPzero said: Residuals are going to take a bit hit unless you get a very low mileage car and keep it a max of 2 years. Most dealerships wont buy cars with that sort of mileage and those that do will be paying bottom price. I think if you are happy with that then why not, but do be aware you are at the very top end of usage cases. Most Cayman / Boxster owners are doing half or a quarter of your mileage. I find that mileage quotation a very true but sad indictment on the typical Porsche buyer . Why do you think that is ? I am a 60 year old working class kid that has grafted away to earning a few quid on building sites , what do I care about future residuals . Probably the Worlds ultimate driving machine , get it bought driven and enjoyed then onto the next . You are a long time dead . Just out of interest does anyone know if this reluctance to put a few miles on a Porsche exists anywhere else in Europe ? It's not that they don't enjoy the car, but they tend to do so occasionally for the right occasionally for the right occasions rather than using it for mundane daily community.

Daily my 981 GTS, brilliant car, even fit golf bag & clubs in the back. One of the most engaging sports cars I’ve owned, it’s also practical, relatively frugal on a run, comfortable and sounds incredible. Do it

The wife used her Cayman as her commuter and shopping trolly from new in 2015 covering circa 150 miles a week up until early 2020. These days it just a shopping trolly with occasional longer trips covering circa 4K miles a year. The car is nearly 9 years old and apart from a few minor issues (drivers window motor failure, rusty exhaust brackets and a small oil leak) the car has been pretty reliable so based on our experience I'd say go for it.

Caymans are perfectly fine as daily cars, with the possible exception of the GT4/GT4 RS. I've done about 125,000 miles in Caymans either as my only car, or in rotation with one or two others. I did drive my GT4 all year round on Cup 2s for the four and a half years that I had it. Only snow would properly stop it, or a ramp! But it would make a pretty intense, sphincter-tightening daily on certain days in the winter months.

My daily for over 3 years was a 2.9 manual Cayman 987.2 with Bilstein dampers, Cayman R springs, a sports exhaust and on Cup 2 tyres throughout the summer. It was brilliant, comfortable enough on longer drives despite the stiffer ride (and did ~35mpg) but engaging and fun on my normal A and B road commute. Now swapped for my current daily, a 981 Boxster which is equally brilliant. Both are really practical too with the frunk and rear boot. As said, we’re a long time dead, so go for it.

Sterillium said: I do around 400 miles a week, on a mixture of road types, and I like being comfortable. The "I like being comfortable bit" for my money means you need a 981 or newer. 987s are slightly coarse cars, they're not hugely pleasant cruisers. As others have said, that kind of mileage will knacker resale value. My record in a Cayman is just over 20k in one year, but I'm a bit of a masochist and I like ragging it mercilessly at every opportunity. I've taken a hammering on a couple of Caymans as a consequence of averaging 15K+ a year. In hindsight, I should have run a second car in parallel, which I do now. I aim for about 7.5K annually now in the Porsche and concentrate that in summer months. Still drive it in winter, but maybe once a week or once in 10 days depending on the weather. Anyway, my suggestion is yes, buy a Cayman to daily, but consider running two cars. I bought a B8 3.0D A4 Avant for absolutely nothing as the second car. It's surprisingly nice to ooze about in and I enjoy the contrast. I reckon it was break even after about 18 months, including purchase price given how much cheaper each mile in the A4 is. And I'm still doing more annual miles than most Cayman owners. Good luck.

I've been using Caymans as daily drives since 2017. I had a glitch over winters from 2018 into spring 2021, when the only Cayman I had was a very well kept 2016 GT4 (that I still have), and the GT4 was used as a daily only if there was no risk of salt on the roads. Wasn't that I couldn't have used the car, more that I didn't want to risk unnecessary corrosion for a relatively limited production car. Cars used as daily drivers to date have been base 718 2.0 (x2), 981 GT4, and 718 GTS 4.0. The GT4 isn't exactly hardcore, but you do need to be slightly into the "track day car for the road" concept to put up with the noise, compromised ride comfort, and slightly agricultural nature of the beast on country lanes and in traffic. But I love every minute of it myself, almost as much as slinging a set of sticky tyres on it and hammering around a circuit for the day. Aside from the GT4, the others have been refined, reliable, and a joy to own. Sensible choice is the base model, plenty fast enough, good, if not amazing on fuel consumption, and the sweetest handling and riding road cars I could ever have hoped for. I'm about to switch back to GTS 4.0 as my current daily drive, because the GT4 is going up for sale as a GT4 RS arrives this week (and might not be a daily, but who knows...). Only real downside of the GTS 4.0 is fuel consumption - does about 25mpg commuting (mix of B roads, A roads and motorway). But only does 32mpg on a longer run where the base model would do at least 38mpg, sometimes over 40mpg. Not sure if just how quick it is could be a downside, but the GTS 4.0 really is quick, noticeably faster than the old GT4 on the road, with much better response at low revs, and more torque low down. But all in all, surprisingly practical cars as daily drivers. I used a Toyota GT86 for a good few years before getting my first 718 2.0, and bought it back to fill in for the first few winters of the GT4. Clearly no comparison in most ways, but similarly loveable cars somehow. I can't really see myself jumping into anything other than a Cayman to go to work or make a long journey now. (Unless wife and dogs are coming with me...) I do occasionally get some funny looks at the local tip, especially in the GT4. Liam

Sterillium said: Caymans keep whispering to me in the night. How would one stack up as a daily driver? I've not driven one yet, but my previous daily driver was an XKR, which, from a grand tourer type perspective, was actually a comfortable place to be as well as being quick and fun. Anyone driven or owned both? I do around 400 miles a week, on a mixture of road types, and I like being comfortable . The rear tyre noise, on motorways in particular, could not be described as Jag comfortable - drive one.

I've been using mine as a daily over the last 18 months (Manual 981 2.7 for reference). They are an incredibly usable car that is more than practical for stuff like a weeks shop, going on holiday, carrying golf clubs etc. Its the right size for UK roads and parking it is very easy, ground clearance isn't an issue either. I'm 6"4 and find the driving position really comfortable, more lumbar support is the only real thing I crave. Downsides are mainly the tyre noise on motorways and a roads, my car measures around 80db at 75mph which can be tiring on long journeys. Mine up for sale currently as i've decided a Caterham and a more normal daily is the way forward.

MitchT said: The main deterrent for me is the ever present risk of PADM failure. Covered by excellent value for money Porsche standard warranty.

av185 said: MitchT said: The main deterrent for me is the ever present risk of PADM failure. Covered by excellent value for money Porsche standard warranty. Probably even better value for money if you are planning on racking up loads of miles.

MitchT said: The main deterrent for me is the ever present risk of PADM failure. Easily avoided, don't buy a car with Sports Chrono.

As a CS (manual) owner with Sport Chrono, I wouldn’t dream of having a 981 without it. When you’re used to it being in S+, the car feels so much more dead in Sport or normal. The engine response is significantly sharper, and the whole car is far more taught because of the transmission mounts. It has a far greater impact on my experience than PSE/PASM/PTV. My Macan has it too, but I wouldn’t put too much importance in that. If a replacement pair or warranty cost will put someone in a pickle, Porsche ownership isn’t the right proposition for them. For the OP - get it inspected before you buy, get a decent spec one (Porsche were appallingly stingy with standard spec) and you’ll have a brilliant daily which works even better for weekend blasts and Euro trips. Maintenance at a Porsche specialist is more than reasonable, or you have the OPC & extended warranty if you want that peace of mind. They’ve proven to be robust things though, if you service them properly.

I drive my 4.0 almost every day and she's currently sat on 16742 miles. She's a keeper for me so I'm not bothered about residuals.

Loads of great advice - thank you - and certainly enough positives to mean that a test drive or two will be my next step. Interestingly, the F-Type was always the plan in terms of replacing the XKR, but the Cayman itch has complicated matters. Residuals don't bother me, because whatever I get it'll be used mercilessly and made to earn its keep. I don't like feeling that a car needs to be wrapped up and only wheeled out for special occasions. I like using a special car for mundane occasions.

Crack on then, any thoughts which version you are going for? I think a GTS would be high on my list.

981Boxess said: The rear tyre noise, on motorways in particular, could not be described as Jag comfortable - drive one. Jag is much quieter, big GT cruiser, great for long drives. I love them especially the v8. Cayman is a different beast entirely, a scalpel vs a hammer I suppose you could say. Road noise is painfully loud on those concrete motorway sections especially and that’s particularly wearing on a long drive. That said the mid engine handling is night and day vs the Jag and the reliability should be better, dynamic engine mounts excluded. Just the fact that Porsche will extend the warranty to 15 years, 125k miles says they are mostly rock solid vs a maximum of ten years on the Jag and will have no trouble with high mileage. Residuals should be stronger than the f type as well. I’d personally have no issue whacking a load of miles on a base 718 pdk as will probably be the cheapest to run for high mileage commuting but I’ve no doubt a 4.0 would also withstand it if you have a deep wallet. 981s are coming up to ten years old, not sure I’d consider that for a commuter, also the cheaper 2.7 is to me a bit gutless at only 265 bhp. Would advise PASM on a 718 if you like comfort as the standard passive car is quite firm. In terms of cost Caymans do seem to chew through rear tyres every 12k or so miles but that may just be my driving. Brakes should be good for 30k fronts and 60k rear without torque vectoring but are expensive to replace via OPC. Warranty will require Porsche parts and servicing which may be costly, the warranty extension itself is very reasonable but will lock you into the official £ dealer network. Edited by Dunbar871 on Tuesday 20th August 18:02

My GT4 is my only car (wife has the family estate) and I've done 6,000 miles or so in it since I bought it in Feb 23. It's comfort spec, 18 way seats, Bose, Cruise and PS4S tyres. It's got incredible bandwidth, I can use it to run around in most of the time, then spank it round Bedford GT like I did yesterday having a whale of a time, nothing overtook me all day and it even did 37mpg according to the trip computer on the way there. It's great fun even at town speed, the manual box is a joy to use and I properly love it. Although I do find myself looking at GT3s even so. It's a definite gateway drug. I appreciate you do a lot more mileage, but if you can afford it then why wouldn't you?

I daily a 718 GT4 Manual, with the buckets! Changed the standard Cup2 tyres out for some PS4S and it's entirely livable... Though as a couple have said, you have to be ready for a slightly recalcitrant experience at very slow/traffic speed. Just ticked over 21k miles yesterday. I'll keep it forever (unless I trade in for a manual GT3!)

Red 5 said: I’ve had three now, all with sports Plus seats. 3.4 981 GTS manual, X73 fixed sport chassis. Amazing, but a little too stiff for bumpier B-Roads. It rattled! Sounded best. ‘Hi-Fi speaker’ audio upgrade was offensively bad. Way worse than cheap vans. 2.5T 718 GTS manual, -20mm PASM. Sport PASM locks out the dampers, so track only. The normal PASM setting was probably the the best overall compromise for speedyness on UK B-roads. Sound was ok I guess. Very quiet and effortlessly fast on modest throttle openings. 4.0 718 GTS manual, -10mm PASM. Both suspension modes were ideal for road use, so the best for UK roads possibly. Sounded amazing and very loud inside when pushed hard, but quiet with valves closed. Bose was good in both 718 and neither rattled at all. All have more than average road noise, but 90% of roads I used were ok. Scattered stone style resurfacing can be unpleasant. The M25 Leatherhead to M3 was borderline unbearable. Overall really enjoyable from 2015 to 2023 and less miles than you plan, at 80k across the three. My Jag experience was limited to a test drive. For me at the time it was too comfortable and remote. The Cayman was also really commodious with frunk and boot, so fantastic for touring as a couple. I hope that helps a bit.. I’m looking to get a daily - would you say the 2.5T is better for British roads. Would love the 4.0 but think it needs open tracks to get best out of it

Nope the 4.0 is a fantastic engine and perfectly suited to rapid road use with the added benefit of sounding great too. Not quite as good as the GT4 engine overall but not far off.

Red 5 said: I’ve had three now, all with sports Plus seats. 3.4 981 GTS manual, X73 fixed sport chassis. Amazing, but a little too stiff for bumpier B-Roads. It rattled! Sounded best. ‘Hi-Fi speaker’ audio upgrade was offensively bad. Way worse than cheap vans. 2.5T 718 GTS manual, -20mm PASM. Sport PASM locks out the dampers, so track only. The normal PASM setting was probably the the best overall compromise for speedyness on UK B-roads. Sound was ok I guess. Very quiet and effortlessly fast on modest throttle openings. 4.0 718 GTS manual, -10mm PASM. Both suspension modes were ideal for road use, so the best for UK roads possibly. Sounded amazing and very loud inside when pushed hard, but quiet with valves closed. Bose was good in both 718 and neither rattled at all. All have more than average road noise, but 90% of roads I used were ok. Scattered stone style resurfacing can be unpleasant. The M25 Leatherhead to M3 was borderline unbearable. Overall really enjoyable from 2015 to 2023 and less miles than you plan, at 80k across the three. My Jag experience was limited to a test drive. For me at the time it was too comfortable and remote. The Cayman was also really commodious with frunk and boot, so fantastic for touring as a couple. I hope that helps a bit.. I’m looking to get a daily - would you say the 2.5T is better for British roads. Would love the 4.0 but think it needs open tracks to get best out of it

Test drove a 981 3.4 and couldn't live with the lack of low and midrange torque (compared with my current car at that time). The 3.4 seemed to need taking up the rev range to keep up with the normal ebb and flow of traffic, it seemed and sounded like you were trying hard just to make normal progress with the traffic around you. The 4.0 equals the 2.5 torque wise but only up at 5000rpm and more. The 2.5 718 in comparison has max torque from 1900 rpm - 4500rpm, suited me better as a daily and that's where I placed my money. P.S. If you like a comfortable ride, test drive a model with PASM suspension. Edited by Techno9000 on Friday 27th December 01:15

What traffic were you in that takes the upper range of a 3.4 to keep pace with?

Dunbar871 said: Jag is much quieter, big GT cruiser, great for long drives. I love them especially the v8. Cayman is a different beast entirely, a scalpel vs a hammer I suppose you could say. Road noise is painfully loud on those concrete motorway sections especially and that’s particularly wearing on a long drive. That said the mid engine handling is night and day vs the Jag and the reliability should be better, dynamic engine mounts excluded. Just the fact that Porsche will extend the warranty to 15 years, 125k miles says they are mostly rock solid vs a maximum of ten years on the Jag and will have no trouble with high mileage. Residuals should be stronger than the f type as well. I’d personally have no issue whacking a load of miles on a base 718 pdk as will probably be the cheapest to run for high mileage commuting but I’ve no doubt a 4.0 would also withstand it if you have a deep wallet. 981s are coming up to ten years old, not sure I’d consider that for a commuter, also the cheaper 2.7 is to me a bit gutless at only 265 bhp. Would advise PASM on a 718 if you like comfort as the standard passive car is quite firm. In terms of cost Caymans do seem to chew through rear tyres every 12k or so miles but that may just be my driving. Brakes should be good for 30k fronts and 60k rear without torque vectoring but are expensive to replace via OPC. Warranty will require Porsche parts and servicing which may be costly, the warranty extension itself is very reasonable but will lock you into the official £ dealer network. Edited by Dunbar871 on Tuesday 20th August 18:02 Useful info. I do think a base 718 pdk could well be the sweet spot for commuting and putting on the miles. High mileage would get pretty expensive in the 4.0, both in fuel and depreciation, whilst a used 718 base would be quite cheap to run I suspect.

SmokeyKnight said: I’m looking to get a daily - would you say the 2.5T is better for British roads. Would love the 4.0 but think it needs open tracks to get best out of it i have a 2.5 so might be biased, but i find it hard to see how you get the best out a 4.0 on the road - it'll do 80 in 2nd gear so you barely get to wring its neck and enjoy the exciting bit before you're done. Of course the same is true for the turbo but you have some extra shove low down which is a bit more practical for daily driving. Try and drive both, but i'm happy with the 2.5 as my daily for sure.

Youforreal. said: What traffic were you in that takes the upper range of a 3.4 to keep pace with? I get overtaken by buses all the time, it is a real concern

981Boxess said: Youforreal. said: What traffic were you in that takes the upper range of a 3.4 to keep pace with? I get overtaken by buses all the time, it is a real concern I assume you have the 3.4 then? Normal commute needs at least 400+horses nowadays.

The 4.0 is fine as a daily however, if only doing short runs before it warms up properly you'll be lucky to see 20mpg. On the flip side, I've just done a 600 mile road trip and got 500 miles out of the 64 ltr tank running the good stuff. Too many of these cars sit around for 9 months of the year. They don't like being sat as that's when the problems start..seals and O rings drying up etc. Get a set of winters from ebay and enjoy it all year long. I love my 4.0. It makes me smile every time I get in it and she's just coming up to 3 years old and has 19800 iles on the clock. The car is only worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, irrespective of mileage. Remember, shrouds don't have pockets!

The 4 litre is a relatively new engine with contemporary tech and warms up very quickly indeed compared to many other cars incl Porsche even of smaller capacity. Also in comparison to older engines e.g. the 3.4.... and the 3.8 C2S engine in the 981 GT4 which is glacial in terms of warming up in comparison..... with dire economy too. For ref a 718 GT4 runs at c106 degrees which is hot even compared to a GT3 which runs at mid to top 90s. For touring the GT4 does around 35mpg (manual) so the GTS would probably do at least 10% more.

I'm about 16 months in on the Cayman GTS 4.0 daily driver experience. I bought it new in 2023 as the latest "winter hack", but used it for most of last summer as well. Manual gearbox, but otherwise much as anyone else would have spec'ed one. Winter wheels and tyres fitted just about in time for the first cold spell both times around. It's pretty hard to fault really. Fuel consumption in daily commuting use isn't great. 26-27 mpg most of the time. Mid 30s on a run if I'm lucky with traffic. But that's about it as faults go. Quick, quiet enough for me, compliant suspension, much too fast for road use, sublime handling. Really quite a special car in every way. I've had a Cayman of some sort as a daily driver for almost 8 years now, starting out with a base 718 2.0 not so long after launch. Bang per buck, and I've had 2 of those, it's the one to have of the newer cars. But any of them seem fine for daily use. Amazing luggage capacity for what they are, and if there's another one going to the local tip on a Sunday morning I have yet to see it. Liam

Youforreal. said: 981Boxess said: Youforreal. said: What traffic were you in that takes the upper range of a 3.4 to keep pace with? I get overtaken by buses all the time, it is a real concern I assume you have the 3.4 then? Normal commute needs at least 400+horses nowadays. Yes only the 3.4, not even a GTS so even less power to hand. There is quite a steep ramp to get in to my garage which really highlights this problem, but thankfully it can manage that, just.

In the same way as Liam, I use my GTS 4.0 all year round. Took it out on Christmas Day to see family, just come back from another drive in it this morning. The car is fun at most speeds and in most weathers. Proper job!

981Boxess said: Youforreal. said: 981Boxess said: Youforreal. said: What traffic were you in that takes the upper range of a 3.4 to keep pace with? I get overtaken by buses all the time, it is a real concern I assume you have the 3.4 then? Normal commute needs at least 400+horses nowadays. Yes only the 3.4, not even a GTS so even less power to hand. There is quite a steep ramp to get in to my garage which really highlights this problem, but thankfully it can manage that, just. Just kept it at between 7000-7500 approaching any sort of gradient and you should be ok, not promising though.

As said earlier I can’t decide what to buy. I change my mind weekly. Newer Cayman GTS 4.0 with warranty Older 991.1 with the 3.8 engine, not sure about warranty My budget is upto £60k max My heart tells me 911 my head tells me Cayman. It would be used every day and parked outside on my drive.

Drive both and see which you prefer. You can always put a warranty on the 911 but it may cost you a service if the last one wasn't done by an OPC.