Used Porsche Cayman (2013-2016) Review

The original Cayman was a beautifully-proportioned car and Porsche didn’t mess with that formula for the all-new model which arrived in 2013. It had that recognisable Porsche profile and flowing shape but with a few more angles than before and a slightly more bluff front end. Porsche described it as a 'refinement' of the old Cayman and it's one of the best used sports cars you can buy.

The sharper lines work especially well at the back where it's more cohesive than the original Cayman helped by a prominent ridge that runs across the back between the rear lights. Like the Boxster, this neatly houses the electric spoiler but on the Cayman it's higher and deploys at a steeper angle for extra downforce. The central exhaust remains too with the standard Cayman getting an oval tailpipe while the S has a dual exhaust.

If Porsche's aim was to make the Cayman appear more aggressive it has certainly succeeded. Larger alloys help with the Cayman getting 18-inch wheels and 19-inch alloys on the S, but the biggest difference is inside. The interior marks a significant improvement in both ergonomics and design, following on from the new 911 and echoing the Boxster.

The fundamental sense you get from sitting behind the wheel is that the Cayman is a car designed for one purpose - driving. The low slung seat, perfectly placed pedals and high-mounted gear lever mean you immediately feel like you're in a proper sports car. It sounds like one too. This is the last Cayman offered with traditional normally aspirated flat-six engines across the range - there are no turbo or superchargers here - so you get that trademark Porsche engine note.

The standard Cayman has a smaller engine than its predecessor - down from 2.9-litre to 2.7-litres - but as it's a higher-revving unit it actually has more power with 275PS - an increase of 10PS. The new engine also produces more power at identical engine revs.

It's easy to look past the Cayman and focus on the Cayman S but the standard version is hardly slow. On paper it will accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds and a smidge faster if you go for the PDK. So it may not have an S on the boot, but in everyday driving it feels more than fast enough. The improvements over the old Cayman are noticeable with better engine response and a touch more urgency in gear.

It's still as smooth as ever and even more free-revving. With the wonderfully precise six-speed manual gearbox it's a delight to drive with the howling engine and exhaust adding to the experience. It's surprisingly economical too with an official average of 34.5mpg for the manual. Not bad for a car with 275PS.

But you can't deny that the Cayman S is that extra bit special. It uses the same 3.4-litre engine as before but with power now up to 325PS and like the 2.7-litre unit, there's more power across the rev range. It's quicker than the Cayman from 0-62mph, taking 5.0 seconds in the manual, but you really notice the extra power at the top of the rev range.

We're real fans of the standard manual gearbox, it's easy to use in traffic yet still has a short shift which is ideal when you want to enjoy the Cayman on some more interesting roads. It makes driving the Cayman quickly but smoothly really rewarding. A seven-speed PDK (which stands for Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe pub quiz fans) twin-clutch automatic gearbox was offered as an optional extra.

While the PDK may not be the purists choice it's easy to see why many buyers, especially those new to Porsche, chose it. In traffic, you can leave it in D and it will happily potter along with nice smooth shifts. Then on proper roads you can take control yourself thanks to incredibly responsive shifts via the paddles which result in instant changes. Hard braking results in faster downshifts at higher engine speeds, with a nice blip of the throttle between each shift.

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It's all fairly straightforward though and Porsche really improved things like the sat nav and entertainment system along with the layout of the air conditioning controls. An electric parking brake created more space, while the Cayman finally got the modern interior it deserved. You could even claim the Cayman is a practical choice, with a boot at both the front and back thanks to the mid-engine layout.

It's perfectly balanced thanks to the mid-engine layout and feels less intimidating than a 911, especially in the wet. The steering is superbly responsive and accurate too with a nice weight to it. This Cayman is around 50kg lighter than the old model and has a significantly stiffer body, so not only is it even better through tight corners but the ride is more refined, particularly noticeable on poor roads. It's still firm - this is a sports car after all - but it's rarely uncomfortable even on particularly bad surfaces.

The standard Cayman officially returns 34.5mpg (36.7mpg with PDK), while the Cayman S is good for 32.1mpg (35.3mpg with PDK).

Cayman S has 19-inch alloy wheels, partial leather interior, and xenon headlights.