The Porsche Cayman is an entry-level 2-seater sports car made by Porsche for those who want to enjoy a dynamic driving experience without suffering when it comes to luxury and style. The Cayman has been around for quite a while which means that there are many different Cayman model years to choose from.
The best Porsche Cayman model year is likely the 2017 981 model because it offers the best engines and is a perfect blend of performance, value, luxury, and dynamics. The latest 718 models from 2022 are objectively the best Cayman model years because they are the most advanced and most luxurious Cayman models yet.
If you want to save a bit of money while also enjoying most of what these two newer 718 Caymans can offer, you should also consider buying the 2006 Cayman. This Cayman generation represents probably the best Cayman model before the 981 generation because these are well priced, exciting, and really clean-looking.
No matter which Cayman model you go for, you need to make sure that you go for a pre-purchase inspection as these cars are often neglected. Caymans are not the types of cars people tend to drive every day which means that many of these, especially older models, are fairly neglected.
2017 Porsche 981 Cayman
The 2017 Porsche Cayman is likely the best Cayman model to go for due to a variety of reasons. Starting with reliability, the 2017 model is the last model year of the 918 generation which means that it is the most advanced one out there. The 2017 Cayman is not a car bogged down with recalls and various issues that plagued earlier 981 models.
The 2017 Cayman customer satisfaction index is also really high as most owners deem the ownership experience to be predominantly positive. Value is also what the 2017 981 does really well because the car is now 5-6 years old. This means that it lost quite a bit of value over the years and is now fairly steady value-wise.
The reason why we put the 981 before the 718 generation is due to the engines as the 718 generation reserved 6-cylinder engines for only the higher-end models which cost a lot more money. Therefore, the 981 can be had with a 6-cylinder engine for a relatively low price.
2022 Porsche 718 Cayman
The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman is the latest and best Cayman model because it is the most advanced and most desirable Cayman you can buy. It does cost the most out of all Cayman models, but quality comes at a premium. Furthermore, the 2022 Cayman is covered by a warranty which means that you don’t have to worry about repairs.
Customer satisfaction is also something the 2022 does really well as most people who bought it state that the car is pure joy to drive and own. Higher-end GTS, GT4, and GT4RS models are some of the best Porsche cars in general, but those costs as much as some Porsche 911 models.
Reliability also seems to be really good with the 2022 Cayman because the car is more reliable than 718 models that came before it. Porsche has quite a bit of trouble with the 718 due to lots of recalls, but those were solved before the 2022 model came out.
2006 Porsche Cayman
If you want a Porsche Cayman on a budget, the 2006 Cayman is the model to go for. Some say that the 2006 Porsche Cayman is perfectly balanced and was the very peak of the Porsche Cayman. Reliability is also an important factor to consider when buying any car and thankfully, the 2006 Porsche Cayman seems to be a really dependable car.
Customer satisfaction is something as important as reliability when it comes to buying a used car model and the 2006 Cayman seems to be a really positively regarded car. However, the main reason why the 2006 model is so good is that it offers you the very best value for money.
You can buy a 2006 Cayman for only a fraction of what you would usually pay for even an 981, let alone a 718. It’s worth mentioning that the 2006 Cayman is now a really old car which means that finding one in perfect condition with all service history records is not as easy as in the case of the 981 or the 718.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Porsche Cayman?
If you are interested in compact 2-seater sports cars with premium badge credentials, the Porsche Cayman is a great car to buy. The Cayman is usually compared to the Audi TT, the BMW 2-Series, and the Mercedes SLC. However, the Cayman is the most dynamic car out of the lot and one that retains its value the best.
As such, if you like this type of car, the Porsche Cayman is definitely a car you should consider buying. On the other hand, you need to be aware that the Cayman is a fairly compact car and the tallest drivers out there could struggle a bit to find enough space inside the Cayman.
What is the best Porsche Cayman model you can buy?
The best Porsche Cayman model is likely the Porsche GT4 as it balances performance, value, and excitement the best. The GT4 RS is the top-of-the-line Cayman model which rivals the likes of even the 911 GT3 which is not something common for entry-level Porsche Cayman models.
The Cayman GTS is also one of the best Porsche Cayman models, especially the 718 generation which gets a glorious 4.0L naturally aspirated flat 6-cylinder engine.
What is the difference between Porsche Cayman and Boxster?
The Porsche Cayman is a hardtop version of the Porsche Boxster which means that these two share most parts with each other. The Cayman is also a bit more rigid because it comes with a hard-top roof which does make the car a bit more agile in the corners. Also, the Cayman is a slightly lighter car which also helps in the corners.
The Boxster tends to cost around $2,000 more than the Cayman and the Cayman gets some special models such as the GT4RS and the GT4 which can’t be had with the Boxster.
