2009 Porsche Cayman Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Porsche Boxster and Cayman from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 as a used buy.

The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are pure mid-engined sports machines, meaning the engine is installed just behind the cabin, unlike the the engine in the Porsche 911 that’s fitted behind the back wheels.A mid-engine layout gives exceptionally good weight distribution and therefore the best in chassis balance and higher cornering speeds than the 911.Interestingly, the Boxster and Cayman share quite a few of their front-end components with the Porsche 911. At the rear they are quite different machine visually, though there’s still a family resemblance.Porsche Boxster is sold only as a convertible, Cayman is a fixed hardtop coupe and didn’t go on sale till 2006, nine years after its open-top brother.Boxster’s roof is one of the simplest in the business, note the clever way the roof acts as its own cover when it’s powered open. It can be left open even if the weather is threatening as it can easily be powered closed at a red traffic light. You can usually avoid the embarrassment of having to wait for roof closure to be complete after the lights turn green.Both models are brilliant machines that cry out to be pushed hard and fast. Their naturally-aspirated engines are wonderfully responsive, the gearbox is a delight to use, road grip is very high and the feel through the steering wheel and the seat of the pants is magnificent.It takes a lot of provocation to get the tail out of line, and if it does start to slide the cars remains controllable - up to a point, that is. As with all full-on sports cars with mid-mounted engines, if the tail gets out too far you'll need quick reflexes to correct it.An advanced driving course is recommended if you really want to get the best from your Porsche. These days electronics aids can save you from over-reaching; they can be detuned should you wish to make your own decisions, particularly for track days.Unlike the 911, these Porsches are strictly two-seaters. The seats are supportive and comfortable and shoulder room is plentiful, with the two occupants well insulated from buffeting with the roof down.A real bonus of the mid-engined layout is that Boxster and Cayman are surprisingly practical for sportscars, with luggage compartments front and rear, this can almost be used as a daily driver by a one or two-person household.The Boxster arrived in Australia in January 1997. It received minor upgrades in October 1999, August 2001 and August 2002, then a major upgrading in February 2005. The latter, tagged the 987 series, replaced the previous 986 models.This was upgraded again in November 2006, November 2007 and March 2009. An all-new Boxster came out in June 2012, followed by a new Cayman 12 months later.The Boxster was initially criticised for being down on power, mainly due to its smallish 2.5-litre, flat-six engine. That problem was solved in 1999 when a bigger 2.7-litre unit was installed.Even better news was the shoehorning of an optional 3.2-litre engine into the models called the Boxster S and Cayman S. This was increased to 3387 cc in 2006 and to 3436 cc in 2009, with the standard Boxster going up to 2.9 litres in 2009.These superb Porsche engines, even the smallest ones, really come alive above 4000 rpm, their tone initially hardening, then rising to a wonderfully metallic howl as it goes through 5000 rpm. Get the top down whenever you can and hold on to the lower gears just for the sheer pleasure of listening to it.There were major changes to the Boxster engine in 2009. Though the flat-six engines still capacities of 2.9 or 3.4 litres, they featured a direct injection fuel system.This was complemented by numerous other changes. Power was increased, and even more importantly peak torque remained constant over large parts of the rev band. Unlike the older powerplants, that needed 4000 revs to come on song, the newer units really begin to buzz from not much over 3000 rpm.Powerful ventilated brake discs are installed. If you think going from a standstill to 100km/h in under six seconds in the bigger engined models feels sensational, just wait until you experience 100 to zero in less than three seconds. That really makes your eyes bulge and gives a most satisfying feeling of security.Boxster initially used either a five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. From the 2009 upgrade a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox was installed.Porsche is long established in Australia. The dealer network isn’t huge, but it’s well organised and we seldom hear complaints about parts or service availability. Prices aren’t cheap, but neither are they outrageous for what you get.Insurance ratings are generally moderate for what is, after all, a prestige sports car aimed at those who like to drive hard and fast.A Porsche Boxster that’s always been serviced and repaired by an official dealer is relatively common and we feel it's the one to aim for. You probably be asked to pay more because of its history. And may we suggest you keep up the servicing to make your car a sound investmentWHAT TO LOOK FORHard driving is what the Boxster and Cayman are built for - butt too much can decrease their lives. Look for severe tyre wear, heavy brake dust buildup and repairs to the body. Rust is very unusual and almost certainly means the car has been badly repaired after a crash.These cars are well engineered and solidly built and unless poorly repaired after a crash should last well. If you suspect collision repairs it’s wise to have it professionally inspected.Check the interior for signs of mistreatment. Look under the floor mats for signs of dampness caused by a Boxster being caught out in the rain. The engine should start easily, idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over and have throttle response that’s all-but instantaneous.Heavy operation of the clutch is likely to mean it’s due for an overhaul. Not a complex job, but there are no cheap repairs on a Porsche. The gearbox should be light and easy to use, with no noises at any time, even during the fastest of gearchanges.Be sure the brakes pull the car up cleanly without one wheel locking ahead of the others. If ABS is installed feel for a pulse through the brake pedal under hard braking.CAR BUYING TIPMost sports cars are only driven gently - sad but true - however it’s a fact of life they probably make a better used-car buy. 

Traditionally a car company will build a hard top sports car and then leverage that by knocking off the top and charging a lump extra for the privilege of having the convertible version of whatever that car may be.Porsche — as is their wont — did it differently. Not only did they build the soft-top version first but when they stuck the roof on they charged a lump extra for that. Also, true to form, Porsche did a damn fine job of building that hard-top car.Starting with the Boxster's sweet chassis and mid-engine layout Porsche's stylists went to work to produce a car that was different enough to look at that some casual observers still believe it to be a model in its own right, and took it to the market as the Cayman.PricingFor the privilege of having a solid roof the Cayman S — the upper tier of the range — starts some $15,000 above the equivalent Boxster and at $155,300 there is some debate over whether this two-door sporty is any sort of bargain at all. The popular defence to that is that while it may be more expensive than the drop-top Boxster it is far less so than the hard-top 911 against which it has claims for handling and performance. Not sure where I stand on that debate, I just know that if the readies weren't a problem there would be a Cayman S in the garage.Drivetrain The 3.4-litre engine has the distinctive busy sound of the flat-six. There is no gentle rumbling of a big-bore engine waiting to be ignited but rather an impression of noise that quickly becomes a crackling howl when the whips are produced.Punch the throttle and the Cayman comes to life, happy to put the horizon behind at a rapidly increasing rate or throw itself at the next corner with an inspiring surety. The Cayman is not a selfish car, happy to share its dynamism with drivers of many and varied abilities.The test car came with Porsche's sublime 7-speed PDK double-clutch automatic, a $5500 option. So sharp are the changes and so intelligent the programming that you are going to quickly forget how deeply you were gouged to have this gearbox. The beauty of the PDK is that it really is a set-and-forget performance hero. The shifts are razor sharp and there is rarely a time when urge is not in the meat of the 370Nm available across a very usable rev range.Vary the throttle agression and vary the shift agression ... it's that simple. If all you want to do is shift quietly through traffic then the PDK is there make it as seamless as possible. Attack the road and there is a whole new character to the box as it skips gears to get to the most effect ratio for maximum torque — and then holds hard like a hungry dog to a bone.If you really must you can self-select the changes but its is going to be a happier relationship if you sooner rather than later come to terms with the fact that left to its own devices the PDK in full auto can do a better job than you can.DrivingIt is a masterclass in automotive engineering. Packaging feel, balance, excitement, a goodly degree of refinement and within the bounds of what it is a surprising amount of space and comfort into a low-slung two-door sportscar is no small feat.Whether trundling through city traffic or attacking the open road the Cayman cabin is a lovely place to be. Around town the Cayman is docile, with the light yet precise steering seemingly immune from tramlining over road imperfections and a ride compliant enough to take the very worst out of Sydney's awful road surfaces.The cargo space — split front to rear — is not generous but there is enough to get away for a weekend or get the (small) family shopping in. Still, load carrying and domestic duties are not what the Cayman S is about. This is a thoroughbred sportscar and given the chance it will behave as such. Accelerate strongly, stop positively and turn in with the balance of a dancer. What more can you ask of a car.Bottom line: Yes please!Porsche Cayman S Price: as tested $174,250 ($155,300 base)Engine: 3.4L/flat 6, 235kW/370NmTransmission: 7-speed PDK auto, rear-wheel driveEconomy: 9.2L/100km (supplied), 9.8L/100km (as tested)Rating: 92/100Rivals BMW Z4 35i from $116,900 87/100Nissan 370Z from $67,990 82/100Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 from $115,637 86/100Audi S5 from $138,600 88/100

No matter what Porsche would like to think, the new Cayman is becoming a serious threat to the 911. While the 911 will always be the icon, the Cayman simply offers too much bang for the buck to be ignored.It looks hot, handles well and has more than enough sting to satisfy most of us.With new engines and suspension set-up, cosmetic improvements, better economy and the option of Porsche’s twin-clutch transmission, there’s little to dislike about the car.Drivetrains The base model Cayman we tested gets a 195kW/300Nm 2.9-litre boxer engine (up 200cc and 15kW). Mated to the six-speed manual, this gives a 0-100 speed of 5.8 seconds, which is shaved by 0.1 if you option the PDK box that was on the test car – the downside being 2km/h also being shaved off the manual’s top speed of 265km/h due to weight gain. But while the manual uses 9.2L of fuel per 100km, the new transmission manages 8.9 – an improvement of 11 per cent on the outgoing model with its sequential Tiptronic.Step up to the Cayman S and you get a direct fuel-injected 3.4-litre unit that develops 235kW (up 18kW). The six-speed manual gives you a 0-100 speed of 5.2 seconds, but getting the PDK here gets you down to 5.1 – and with the optional Sports Chrono Pack drops down to a blistering 4.9 — but again cuts 2km/h off the manual’s top speed of 277km/h. And again the PDK offers fuel savings on the previous Cayman S, using 16 per cent less at 9.2L/100km, while the base model comes in at 9.6L/100km.Appearance and equipment There has been little change to the body styling of the Cayman, but it has been freshened at nose and tail with light clusters featuring twin tube halogens at the front and LED strips at the back that accentuate the swelling curves of the haunches, a new wind deflector plate and foglights. To dress up further, there’s an optional lighting pack with bi-xenon lamps and LED daytime running lights.The interior gets some facelifted touches, the main one being a revised centre control stack with larger screen for nav, info and entertainment. And ventilation has been added to the heating for the perforated-leather covered seats. And you could almost claim it’s practical too, with a 410-litre luggage capacity, although there’s little in the way of cabin storage to augment that for smaller items, and the cupholders that spring out of the dash are a nightmare.UnderpinningsThe base Cayman has new 17” wheels — 12mm wider than the previous version – and the larger 318mm front and 299mm rear brakes of the S variant, plus the chance to option its 18” wheels. The S itself can upgrade to 19” and also option an awesome 350mm ceramic brake package.Meanwhile, new mapping has given the steering a sharper response, while the suspension has been adjusted to account for the engines’ extra power.Porsche’s electronically controlled Active Suspension management is available for both models, lowering the body by 10mm over the standard suspension. It has been enhanced with brake assistance that includes a pre-loading function that comes into play if you lift off the accelerator quickly – even before your foot touches the brake pedal.The Sports Chrono Package adds a Sport Plus function that further sharpens steering, quickens gearchanges and throttle response and hardens the suspension. And if you’ve got the PDK box, the Chrono addition tosses in a Launch Start function as well as a handy auto kick-down if you stab the accelerator.Driving Helm the Cayman in city traffic and you’ll need to treat the throttle gingerly. This is a car with a top speed of over 200km/h and you’ll feel that it wants to do exactly that. Once you’ve realised that only gentle pressure is needed, the Cayman is remarkably well-mannered and easy to drive.There is plenty of torque at low revs, and the PDK gearbox is so slick that you’ll barely notice as it changes. A small indicator next to the tachometer shows which gear the car has chosen but it never gets it wrong, and you quickly learn that around town you are best served by leaving it to do its own thing.On a country road away and away from traffic, this car comes into its own. With a clear path ahead the Cayman can be driven a little more exuberantly and it becomes enormous fun. The 2.9-litre engine just wants to keep revving and the steering is positive and direct.Whether you leave the gearbox in auto mode, or change gear yourself using either the stick or the paddles on the steering wheel, the car responds to the throttle, and feels tight and firm on the road. If you push it, you’re rewarded with a healthy snarl from the exhaust, and a tacho that might be doing duty as a wiper. Driving a car like this won’t make you a better driver, but it will certainly make you feel like one.If you had to pick something to mark down with this car, it is the amount of wind and road noise that makes its way to the cabin, especially over the rougher surfaces of secondary roads outside the city. Conversation at highway speed is difficult, and on a long journey the noise would become wearing.There’s a surprising amount of room for luggage, given that this is a true two-seater. The front trunk is large enough for a weekend away, and this is augmented by the amount of space under the liftback, including a cargo-netted parcel shelf.Overall, this is a fantastic package that makes you wonder whether spending the extra for a 911 is overkill.SnapshotPorsche Cayman Price: from $122,200 (plus dealer and statutory charges), as tested $134,190 (plus dealer and statutory charges)Engine: 195kW/300Nm 2.9-litre boxerTransmissions: six-speed manual, seven-speed twin-clutch automaticPerformance: 0-100km/h 5.8secs man, 5.7secs auto; top speed 265km/h man, 263km/h autoEconomy: 9.2L/100km man, 8.9L/100km auto

The '09 update to the pocket rockets in the Porsche playpen includes everything from a new engines to extra equipment and some minor visual tweaking - as well as an available seven-speed PDK gearbox - but the bottom line is all about the bottom line.The Boxster is now effectively priced at the same level as when the baby droptop first hit the road in Australia - in 1997 - and the Cayman is just as sharp.We're not talking a Hyundai-style $13,990 ticket, so the starting price for the 2009 Boxster is still a lot of money at $113,00. And the top-line Cayman S tips the scales at $160,800, without dipping into the optional equipment.But compare the new numbers with the $109,900 the Boxster cost more than a decade ago, and factor a value improvement which puts as much as $12,000 more equipment into the '09 cars, and the dollars look like a deal.So, too, does the performance upgrade which takes the basic Boxster up to 188kW and 290Nm of torque, and the top Cayman S to 235kW and 370Nm.Anyone struggling with power potential can easily translate the engine work into a 5.6 second sprint to 100km/h and 274 km/h at the top end for the Boxster and 4.9 and 277 for the Cayman S.Those are seriously big numbers for a car which has done a solid job for Porsche sales, particularly a Cayman S which is now a real threat to the classic 911.And Porsche Cars Australia needs those sales. Its results are down by 45 per cent after the first two months of 2009, although company chief Michael Winkler is expecting a rebound - helped by new models including a diesel-engined Cayenne SUV - by the end of the year."We're hoping for 1000 registrations this calendar year. It's a very interesting situation, now, in the marketplace," Winkler says."We've looked at the basic substance of the cars but also the equipment. There is a value story to tell on Boxster and Cayman."So there is a lot riding on the new babies, which are called the 'Generation 2' models of the 987 series and pick up a lot of the changes from last year's updating work on the 911.Visually, the biggest tweak is the new headlamp cluster with two separate reflectors. The grilles in the nose, mirrors and tailpipes are changed, but only a Porsche fanatic would notice.Inside, the only real difference is the shift stick for the PDK twin-clutch gearbox. But there is a major upgrade of the system behind the dash, with satnav and a touch-screen monitor as standard.So the real work is in the new engines, tweaked suspension and the transmissions.Porsche claims it has achieved the extra performance while cutting emissions and improving fuel economy. It's a similar deal to most major makers in 2009, but took a lot of work."There are a whole lot of changes that add up to big things. Porsche has always been good at bringing the detail together. We are a detail company," says technical chief Paul Watson.That detail work even includes lowering the centre of gravity of the engine, as well as PDK gearing which means seventh gear is so tall - for economy - that top speed comes in sixth. A limited-slip differential is now available for the Cayman S.And the work is reflected in lap times at Porsche's ultimate test track, the Nurburgring in Germany.The '09 Boxster is now a massive 31 seconds quicker than the original.DrivingWindswept Melbourne, in a state where speeding is almost a hanging offence, is not the right time to be pushing hard in a new Porsche.Things were so bad with lashing rain showers during the preview drive that I never got a chance to take the top down in the Boxster . . .Even so, the basic Boxster and the Cayman S - top and bottom of the update efforts - showed that Porsche has pushed again to get the best from its cars. They barely look any different, but Porsche people will see the changes and that is what really matters.Both showed more response in the chassis and engine, driving inland down towards the Great Ocean Road, with more a slightly more fluid feeling through the suspension and better drive from slow speed up to solid overtaking pace.It is hard to say what the changes really means because the roads were damp and crowded with all sorts of traffic, including caravan parades and gawking overseas tourists.But the Boxster was a sweet drive, with the incredible mid-engined grip I have come to expect and a little more go from the bottom of the rev range.And the Cayman S, on the few occasions I could crack the throttle, remained as pin-sharp as I remembered with even more of a thump in the back. The PDK gearbox is an excellent device, with sweet auto changes and excellent response in manual mode - although the touch-change buttons on the wheel are a silly fiddle and hard to use, with a gearlever which is set for changes the wrong way (pull back to downshift) for brisk driving.Porsche has given the coupe more go than the droptop because the Cayman chassis can handle the extra, but also because there are a growing number of people who want more from a car they are genuinely choosing ahead of a 911 for driving enjoyment and not just a cash saving.It will take more time with the cars to pin down the exact improvements, but Porsche has put the real emphasis on the dollars and rated against any value-for-money measure in the sports car class the newcomers are winners.Porsche Cayman and Cayman SPrice: from $122,200 to $160,800Engine: 2.9-litre flat six 195kW/300Nm (Cayman); 3.4-litre flat six 235kW/370Nm (Cayman S)Transmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed PDKEconomy: 8.9L/100km (Cayman); 9.2L/100km (Cayman S) Porsche Boxster and Boxster SPrice: from $113,000 to $145,900Engine: 2.9-litre flat six 188kW/290Nm (Boxster); 3.4-litre flat six 228kW/360Nm (Boxster S)Transmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed PDKEconomy: 8.9L/100km (Boxster); 9.2L/100km (Boxster S)