Verdict
A
Sports · Germany · 2005-Present
Porsche 718 Cayman
Porsche 718 Cayman — spec data and generation history.
Years
2005-Present
Generations
3
Segment
Sports
Boxster's hardtop sister — coupe purity, mid-engined chassis. Three generations: 987 (2005–2012) — first Cayman, 2.7 / 3.4 S / 3.4 GTS / 3.4 R / Cayman R lightweight. 981 (2012–2016) — final NA flat-six 'Cayman' name, 2.7 / 3.4 S / 3.4 GTS / 3.8 GT4. 982 (2016-Present) — 718 Cayman era, 2.0 / 2.5 turbo flat-four; 4.0 flat-six on GTS 4.0 / GT4 / GT4 RS (493 bhp). Boxster covered separately.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
981 2012-2016 → 982 2016-Present
BHP +118 bhp
Torque +30 Nm
0–60 mph −0.7 s
Top speed +11 mph
MPG +0
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
2005-2012
987
→
Cayman R 3.4 — 330 bhp, 0-62 in 4.7s.
Verdict
A
BHP
330
0–60
4.7 s
Top
175 mph
MPG
24 mpg
Used
$15,000-$41,000
- + First Cayman — coupe Boxster
- + 987.2 (post-2009) DFI engines
- − IMS bearing (early)
- − Soft cabin materials
2012-2016
981
→
Cayman GT4 3.8 — 380 bhp, 0-62 in 4.4s.
Verdict
A
BHP
380
0–60
4.4 s
Top
183 mph
MPG
22 mpg
Used
$36,000-$114,000
- + Last 3.8 NA flat-six Cayman name
- + GT4 (2015) — 911 GT3 chassis hand-me-down
- − PDK mechatronic
- − Manual rare
2016-Present
982
→
718 Cayman GT4 RS 4.0 — 493 bhp, 0-62 in 3.2s.
Verdict
A
BHP
493
0–60
3.2 s
Top
196 mph
MPG
18 mpg
Used
$41,000-$210,000
- + GT4 RS = 911 GT3 4.0 in a mid-engined coupe
- + GTS 4.0 / GT4 brought flat-six back
- − 2.0 / 2.5 turbo I4 polarising
- − PCM software updates
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2005-2012 · 987
- IMS bearing (early M97)
- Coolant pipe leaks
- PDK initial issues
- RMS oil leak
2012-2016 · 981
- PDK mechatronic
- PCM latency
- Manual rarity on later cars
- GT4 collectability
2016-Present · 982
- Direct-injection carbon (2.0/2.5)
- PDK mechatronic
- PCM software updates
- GT4 RS supply scarcity
Rivals
BMW M2 · Alpine A110 · Audi TT · Porsche 718 Boxster