Please help - seeking - Cayman 2.7 for about £15,000

[Cat Coop]

Hello all,
This is my first post on the site (I've been told you're all very friendly). I've been dreaming of a Porsche for many years and now I'm in a position to own my first one. I've decided on a Cayman 2.7, I was thinking about 60,000 miles (as this fits with the major service), manual, as much service history as possible, budget is £15,000. Top tips so far have been check all four tyres are matching, check the passenger footwell isn't wet as the technology is under the passenger seat, do my own HPI, 2 original keys, review MoT for cautions. I have been to view three so far (I live in the North) none of which have been quite right.

Are there any other top tips out there?
Or does anyone know of anyone who wants to pass their car on to be well loved?

Thank you all for your help.

 

[duncanireland]

Welcome

Have a read of [link=http://www.pistonheads.com/news/buyingguide/ph/28004]www.pistonheads.com/news/buyingguide/ph/28004[/link] for tips.

Are you based in the North of Scotland? I'm in Inverness if you'd just like a general blether about Caymans.

 

[Cat Coop]

That's really helpful thank you, there's lots in there.

Would love to have a natter but I'm not that far North - I'm in Cumbria so nearly Scotland!

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Cathryn, and welcome to this part of the forum.

A 2.7 Cayman is a great choice for your first Porsche and, as Duncan has suggested, have a look at the PH article for some useful tips.

As always, buy on condition and a complete service history - either Porsche Centre or a reputable Porsche Indy - and a pre-purchase inspection will be money well spent.

Typical issues:

[ul][*]The RMS bearing and IMS bearing failures that you may read about online are largely overblown but are worth researching on a potential purchase.[*]Check the brake discs for excessive wear and corrosion (the latter on the inside of the discs) and also check for a/c condenser and coolant radiator damage as well as coolant leaks around the front of the car.[*]Make sure that all the electrics are working correctly and that the car drives and stops without pulling to one side.[*]If the suspension clonks this is generally due to wear in various elastomeric parts of the suspension components.[*]The body and interior should be in good condition, although there will probably be a lot of stone chips on the front bumper and bonnet - a downside of the low nose.[*]Don't worry too much about the "tappety" nature of the engine, particularly when cold, and a little bit of smoke on start-up is quite normal. The exhaust should be smoke free when the engine is warm.[/ul]Good luck with your search.!

Jeff

 

[stephenbailey]

Hi Cat

I'm based north lancs/ Cumbria border

If you need to take a look over my car for pointers feel free to get in touch, mine is a 2006 Cayman S

Im no expert but I've owned mine now for just over a year and have undertaken quite a few jobs on it

My only advise is do your research like Jeff has said

cheers

Steve

 

[Buddy]

Hi Cat,

As Jeff says, plus if you can find one at an OPC then you can get two years warranty and all of the things he mentioned will have been checked and if in fault then corrected but bear in mind that your budget is probably about the lowest that you may find an OPC car for. You have a dealership in Kendal and not too far away there is Hartech in Bolton who know these cars better than most of the non-franchised dealers. They may possibly have something for you, I bought my first Porsche from them over twenty years ago, they also do some good maintenance programmes/warranty type cover lat I heard.

 

[kevinnunn]

Hi Cat

Excellent advice from all above and I would still ask at an OPC as you never know they may have taken in a Part Exchange car but due to the strict rules and the 111 Point check they have to do they maybe able to offer you the Part Exchange car instead of passing it on to another Porsche specialist who will put it on there forecourt.

Sadly I have just sold my Cayman S but it went for a much higher price than your looking to spend but if you in for a Boxster I know of one forsale with OPC on there web page if its not gone already as good cars don't stay on line for long as I found out with the Boxster I brought as I was first to see it and the deal was done but I would also say look at the Auto Trader and Motors web pages as you may find the right 2.7 Cayman your looking for sooner then you think, Good Luck and I look forward to seeing your Cayman on the Forum soon.

Yours Kevin.

Ps If your after some Porsche Roof Bars and Porsche Cycle Carrier I have both For Sale give me a call and the price is £200 cost new over £800 see picture enclosed. - Contact number is Colchester 01206 865962 also any other Cayman owner interested call me they are a bargain. These are now SOLD Sorry.

 

[Cat Coop]

Thank you all so far, really good tips. I've seen one that's bordering on the "could be the one" but there are a lot of chips on the bonnet, significantly more than the others, but it's done a lot of miles on the motorway so to be expected, thanks Jeff. Any thoughts on how much it would cost to get that resolved? The problem being if the bonnet is re-sprayed on a 10 year old car it's not going to match the other panels?

I've called Kendal Porsche and they were lovely but I'm below their price range but they've put me on their list.

Thanks Kevin, for the mention of additions; but luckily I've got an L200 who sorts out all my issues when 2 seats aren't enough!

 

[tscaptain]

The problem being if the bonnet is re-sprayed on a 10 year old car it's not going to match the other panels?

Shouldn't be a problem if the rest of the car is properly detailed. I have a 26 year old 928 (in red!) which has a couple of resprayed panels and you can't spot them!

 

[stephenbailey]

Cat

Totally agree, mine is 10 yrs old this year and my front bumper was re-sprayed before I bought it. Its perfect with no difference in colour to the wings, bonnet etc

Going back a couple of months there was a black 2.7 Cayman for sale in north Kendal, just down from Opc for the price your looking at

Cant quite remember the garage name: think it was something like "Specialist cars of Kendal". Sorry to be vague but I'm sure a Google search will find it

Its on the main road into North Kendal coming from the A590

hope this helps

Steve

2006 Cayman S

 

[stephenbailey]

Hi Cat

Just had a quick look & yes that's right

Specialist Cars of Kendal

2008 Cayman 2.7 in black with 80k miles @ £14.5k

Just remember what Jeff/Kevan said

If it was me I would get Porsche Kendal to look over it, they are a stones throw away

Good Luck

Steve

 

[Motorhead]

Cat,

As others have said, don't worry about paint colour matching. With modern equipment any reputable body repairer will do an excellent job so it's worth asking a local repairer what they'd charge. Anyway, the Cayman bonnet is aluminium so there's no problem with it rusting..!

If the bonnet is badly stone chipped then I expect that the front PU (polyurethane: Porsche-speak for the plastic front bumper) will also be pitted, so it would be worthwhile getting both items resprayed (£400?). As a corollary, check for stone chips on the windscreen as stones have habit of bouncing off the bonnet and glancing the screen.

The Specialist Cars Cayman looks quite tidy in the pics and is well-spec'd for a 2.7 - full leather, auto climate control and cruise control. High mileage but worth a look if it's in your area; and they've dropped the price by £2k so are obviously keen to shift it. They may well offer a warranty but most aren't worth the paper they're written on and Porsche parts and repairs can be expensive. Keep in mind what I said about getting a PPI done by a Porsche Centre or reputable Porsche specialist.

Jeff

 

[Buddy]

Cat,

As Jeff has said the Specialist cars Cayman does look quite tidy, it has a couple of options they don't list in the blurb the rear wiper which I've always viewed as unnecessary but it is on my second Cayman S and I do use it occasionally, it also has the sports steering wheel in my view nicer than the original which had a triangular boss, it has Porsche mats too which are a nice addition to have, maybe there are others which they haven't listed also. Metallic Black as they call it is named by Porsche Basalt Black, after all of the advice you have had one thing I would say is to go to see it and be critical, look at the panels from odd angles incase of odd reflections, any blemishes can generally be fixed by painless dent repairers or paint chip repairers but see if they can get them done on their bill.

If the bonnet is chipped over the area rather than the odd one then an alternative to spraying is to have it wrapped maybe in carbon fibre if you like it, I have seen it before and it can look quite good with the right colour combination but as it is probable that the PU is chipped if the bonnet is then spraying is usually the better option, your choice.

88,000 miles isn't bad for the age, my Gen 1 had done about the same when I traded it in last summer and it was the same age, had been very reliable and had only recently had coil packs and gear change cables replaced for the first time, not exactly untypical. Ask if they have been done but if it was done under any warranty then it may not have been recorded except on the warranty providers records it may not be in the history. My first two Porsches had more than 90,000miles on them when I bought them and mostly only general maintenance for the next 40,000miles.

Whichever Cayman you get, let us know and show photos in the new Cayman members section, introduce yourself and most importantly, enjoy your driving.

 

[MattDC2]

Hi Cat, did you get my PM?

 

[Cat Coop]

Thanks all. I've checked on the black one in Kendal, unfortunately the landline is disconnected and the company has been listed for strike-off due to failing to submit accounts / annual return.

Think I may go back to the one which needs the bonnet work

[link=http://www.sccleeds.co.uk/porsche-cayman-24v-in-yeadon-leeds-for-sale-5337355]http://www.sccleeds.co.uk/porsche-cayman-24v-in-yeadon-leeds-for-sale-5337355[/link]

 

[Cat Coop]

Hi Matt, I did thank you but struggling to find out how to reply to you directly, probably being slightly dim!?

 

[MattDC2]

Just click on my avatar name, then profile details, and you should see an option to send me a message. (If you're interested in more details on the car, that is)

Cheers

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Cat,

The SCC car looks tidy from the pics. Worth consideration.

Also, have a look on the Pistonheads site. There are quite a few Caymans for sale there in your price range.

Jeff

 

[MattDC2]

Hi Cat,

My car is now up for sale if you're still looking:

[link=http://www.pctcars.co.uk/carsforsale/porsche-987-cayman-27ltr-manual-2007/250.htm]http://www.pctcars.co.uk/carsforsale/porsche-987-cayman-27ltr-manual-2007/250.htm[/link]

Regards,

Matt

 

[John H]

Hi Cat,

I have a fairly basic spec 2006 2.7 Cayman which I bought new 9 years ago, 68,000 miles, which I have looked after carefully and serviced properly which has been a delight to own. Sorry, it's not for sale, but if you wanted to have a look at mine to see what a genuine and good example should look like you are more than welcome. I'm in Fife, so not exactly on your doorstep, but within a days outing.

All of the above advice is sound. I'd suggest paying attention to suspension, tyres and brakes, as these get wear and tear and while they are all replaceable the costs can quickly mount up. I'd also suggest that if the car is cosmetically scruffy, it will also have had a hard life mechanically, so hold out for a good one. If you find one in good original condition it is possible to buy a proper Porsche warranty for it ( now extended up to 15 years). It's not cheap, but I have found it good value, and great insurance against a major (if unlikely) failure.

Oh ... and the basic 2.7 Cayman is still the best car Porsche have made in years! Great choice!

John H