Mid-engine perfection Porsche almost made too good
The Porsche Cayman is widely regarded as one of the finest driver's cars ever made, offering mid-engine balance and razor-sharp handling in a more accessible package than the 911. It attracts driving purists and enthusiasts who prioritise handling purity over outright power or brand cachet. It competes with the Alpine A110, Lotus Emira, and BMW M2.
We track 14 known issues across the Porsche Cayman range, including 4 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Porsche Cayman? Enter the reg to see which of our 14 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
987.1 (2005–2008) — Engine options included the 2.7L Flat-6, 3.4L S Flat-6. Our database flags 8 known issues on this generation, 4 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is IMS bearing failure.
987.2 (2009–2012) — Engine options included the 2.9L DFI Flat-6, 3.4L S DFI Flat-6. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Bore scoring.
981 (2013–2016) — Engine options included the 2.7L DFI Flat-6, 3.4L S DFI Flat-6, 3.8L GTS Flat-6. Our database flags 8 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Brake pipe corrosion (£300–£600 to address).
718 (2016–2023) — Engine options included the 2.0L Turbo Flat-4, 2.5L Turbo S Flat-4, 4.0L GT4 Flat-6.
The intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing supports the shaft that drives the camshafts on M96 and M97 flat-six engines. The original single-row ball bearing is undersized for the loads it carries and can fail without warning, sending metal debris through the entire lubrication system. 2005-2006 models carry the highest risk as they use the weakest bearing design. The bearing was updated in 2007-2008 but the fundamental design weakness remains until the DFI engines of 987.2.
If the bearing collapses completely, metal debris contaminates the full oil system and destroys the engine beyond economical repair. A specialist engine-out rebuild typically costs £8,000-£15,000 depending on the extent of damage to pistons, cylinders, and crankshaft. The car should not be driven if bearing wear is suspected.
Listen for any unusual knocking, tapping or rattling from the engine at idle and under load. Check the oil for metal particles or discolouration. On higher-mileage examples, a professional compression test can reveal internal wear before it becomes critical.
Cylinder wall scoring occurs when the bore surface becomes scratched or gouged, typically due to inadequate lubrication or debris in the oil system. The 3.4L Cayman S engines are particularly susceptible due to their higher specific output and running temperatures. Bore scoring leads to compression loss, oil consumption, and eventual complete engine failure. A borescope inspection through the spark plug holes is essential before purchasing any 987 S model.
Bore scoring requires a complete engine rebuild with cylinder bore work, new pistons, and rings. Repair costs typically range from £8,000-£15,000 at a specialist. If left untreated, the engine will suffer complete failure requiring replacement. The car should not be driven hard if bore scoring is suspected.
Listen for any unusual knocking, tapping or rattling from the engine at idle and under load. Check the oil for metal particles or discolouration. On higher-mileage examples, a professional compression test can reveal internal wear before it becomes critical.
The 3.4L M97 engine suffers oil starvation under sustained high-G cornering due to inadequate oil pan design and pickup tube positioning. During extended track sessions, oil moves away from the pickup causing catastrophic bearing damage within seconds. This affects only cars driven on track - road driving does not generate sufficient lateral G-forces to cause the problem. Deep sump kits and accusump systems provide protection but require professional installation.
Oil starvation causes immediate and catastrophic bearing failure, typically requiring complete engine replacement or rebuild costing £8,000-£20,000. The damage occurs within seconds once oil pressure is lost. Cars with this damage history should not be purchased unless evidence of complete engine rebuild is provided.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
MOT data shows Cayman models fail brake pipe corrosion tests at 7.7x the national fleet average, with 10,700 recorded failures across all generations. The brake lines on Caymans are particularly vulnerable to corrosion due to their routing and exposure to road salt and moisture. This represents a significant safety risk as brake line failure causes immediate and complete loss of braking ability.
Brake line failure causes immediate and complete loss of braking ability with no warning. This represents an extreme safety risk to the driver and other road users. Cars with corroded brake lines should not be driven until professionally inspected and repaired. Brake line replacement typically requires complete system bleeding and may reveal additional brake system problems.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The 981 generation suffers premature water pump and thermostat failures due to the complex cooling system design with multiple radiators and high operating temperatures. The electric water pump fails most commonly, followed by thermostat sticking. Both components are known weak points that typically fail together around 60,000-80,000 miles. Failure leads to overheating which can cause catastrophic engine damage within minutes.
Water pump or thermostat failure leads to engine overheating within minutes of driving. Continued driving with overheating will cause head gasket failure, cylinder head warping, or complete engine seizure costing £5,000-£15,000 to repair. The car should not be driven if cooling system failure is suspected.
Check the coolant level and look for any white residue or staining around hoses, the expansion tank and radiator. After a test drive, check the temperature gauge stayed stable and look underneath for drips. Ask whether key cooling components have been replaced.
For the full breakdown of all 14 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Porsche Cayman common problems page.
Based on 85k real DVSA MOT tests, the Porsche Cayman fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is track rod ends worn at 24x the fleet average, followed by tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned (18x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Porsche Cayman MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 12k miles) typically costs £150–£250 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include spark plugs (£250–£400), coolant flush (£200–£350), auxiliary belt and tensioner (£200–£350).
See the full Porsche Cayman service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Porsche Cayman has some well-documented weak points, including 4 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. The 987.2 (2009-2012) is the sweet spot for value, offering improved IMS bearing reliability with the beloved flat-six engine at significantly lower prices than the 981. The 981 generation (2013-2016) is the handling benchmark, with the 2016 GT4 being the ultimate version. The 2014 model year is a particular standout for its balance of modern engineering and value.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Porsche Cayman, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 14 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 14 known Porsche Cayman issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.