If you’ve got around £15,000 to £20,000 and a yen to spend it on a Cayman, go for a second-generation 987-series one (2009-12) – the standard model with the 2.9-litre flat six (Gen 1 cars had a 2.7) producing 265bhp.
It’s a great improvement over the Gen 1 and better, even, than a Gen 1 3.4 S. The new PDK auto was popular at the time but go against the grain and flush out a manual version for a more connected experience.
Porsches are often optioned to the eyeballs but the extras you should aim for on a 987 Gen 2 Cayman are 19in wheels, active ride suspension, which, ironically, removes a lot of the harshness from those larger wheels, a sat-nav, a Bose sound system and heated seats.
Porsche Cayman, £19,950: We found a 2011-reg Gen 2 with 75,000 miles and full Porsche history, finished in Basalt Black Pearl. It has the extended leather pack and a sat-nav. No luck on the 19in wheels but, in any case, it’ll ride well enough on its 18s.
It’s from a specialist and comes with a comprehensive, six-month warranty. Even so, whoever you buy it from, it’s as well to know that around one in 10 Caymans is a serious money pit requiring lots of remedial work but also that there are some simple checks you can make to keep clear of trouble.
Such as checking that the oil has been changed every year, that the front-mounted radiator, condenser and hoses are sound, that the gear cables feel taut, that the clutch isn’t slipping through overly gentle use and that the tyres are N-rated. And then go and enjoy one of the best-handling sports cars £20k can buy.
Volkswagen Passat W8, £2595: Father of Phaeton, grandfather of Bentley Conti GT, great-grandfather of Bugatti Veyron: that’s the Passat W8. The 4.0-litre engine (271bhp, 273lb ft) was a test bed for a new family of W engines. This 131,000- mile 2002-reg is an historic bargain.
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Come off it Autocar!
Come off it Autocar!
Are you seriously suggesting we should spend £3,700 (the windscreen price) on a 10-year old Proton?!?!
I spent less than that 1 year ago on an 18-month/6,800 mile old Citroen C3! Yes it was a repaired Cat D (from vandalism) ex Avis rental car but as it was for my kids to learn to drive in, I figured the body work would soon be scarred (it is!). But a year on it is still under manufacturers warranty.
I loved the looks of the
I loved the looks of the Calibra. And it was fast, and comfortable.
I can't fathom why such a decent looker was dropped, not developed.
Porsche develops beautifully, so why not a Calibra, or indeed a Supra, or MR2, or... or...
Proton Savvy
Proton Savvy. Really? Might be OK if you are going to do high mileages and don't mind a thirsty engine and an underdeveloped driving experience but it won't be worth much at all in a couple of years so relatively heavy depreciation is still likely and the £3695 original sticker price looks a tad optimistic for a 10 year old car that very few have heard of and has no official importer spares support any more...