This Powerful German Sports Car Is Cheaper To Own Than You Think

German sports cars are some of the best; they are typically precision-engineered, they look good, and they are generally powerful. There is no denying that brands like Porsche, BMW, and Audi roll out some of the best high-powered performance cars on the market. However, you do usually have to pay a pretty penny for the privilege to get behind the wheel of one, whether that be for up-front costs or maintenance costs.

We have found a high-powered German sports car, though, that bucks the trend a little. At its most powerful, this sultry Porsche boasts an engine good for over 300 horsepower, it is packed full of performance goodies, it looks the business, and it is cheaper to run than you might think.

The Porsche Cayman 987.2 Is Both Affordable To Buy And Run… Relatively

Boasting the classic Porsche look and track-worthy build, the high-powered German sports car that is cheaper to own than you think is the Porsche Cayman 987.2. Model years for the 987.2 Cayman ran from 2009 to 2012, and it was originally available as the base model from 2009 to 2012, the Cayman S from 2009 to 2011, the Cayman S Black Edition in 2012, and the Cayman R in 2012. Horsepower ranges from 265 ponies to 330 ponies; you get the classic Porsche setup; there is a relative lack of electric nannies compared to more modern models, and average used prices are considerably lower than those of other powerful used Porsche models.

2009–2012 Porsche Cayman 987.2 Average Auction Price: $42,585

According to Classic.com, the average auction price of a 2009–2012 Porsche Cayman 987.2 is $42,585. Yes, that does sound like a lot of money, and it is for something that might not see action every day, but compared to a used 2008–2013 Porsche 911 997.2 (yes, we know it is a 911), which has an average auction price of $120,000, the Cayman 987.2’s price makes it look like a very fast economy car.

Different model years command different average auction prices. You can pick up a 2009 Porsche Cayman for $31,000; the average auction price of a 2010 model is $41,222; it will cost you just over $38,300 for a 2011 model, and the 2012 model year has an average auction price of just under $57,000.

The most expensive Porsche Cayman 987.2 fetched $93,500 at auction, while the lowest auction price recorded by Classic.com is a mere $17,500. Compared to its similarly-aged 911 997.2 counterpart, which has a low-end auction price of $22,000 and a high-end price of $1.3 million, the Cayman 987.2 is certainly the option if you want high-powered, cheap fun.

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What Makes The Cayman 987.2 A Relatively Affordable High-Powered Sports Car

Aside from the generally good auction prices for its caliber, what makes the Cayman 987.2 an affordable Porsche model is its reliability. According to RepairPal, the whole Porsche Cayman lineup will cost you $1,135 a year for maintenance, which, anyway you look at it, is not particularly cheap. However, this is a premium German sports car, and, in the Cayman 987.2’s case, it boasts an exceptionally reliable engine compared to the 2005-2008 Cayman 987.1 lineup, which can bring down some of the more expensive repairs associated with German cars.

The 987.1-gen Cayman models are equipped with M97 engines, and while you can get some pretty ponies from them, they are plagued by two specific failures that make them an expensive Porsche to maintain. The first issue many owners have with the M97 engine is IMS bearing failure, caused by grease breakdown in sealed bearings. The second issue that a lot of owners complained about is bore scoring, caused by the failure of the Lokasil cylinder coating, which, in turn, means piston-to-cylinder contact. Or, over time, thanks to the high-revving nature of the engine, damage. Cayman 987.2 models, though, are equipped with MA1 engines, and these things are nearly bulletproof in comparison.

The Engine Options For The Porsche Cayman 987.2

When Porsche introduced the MA1 engine for the 987.2 generation, horsepower went up, displacement went up at the base level, and reliability rates went up. It was a very popular move. The MA1 engine is a closed-deck design, which makes it more structurally sound; the M97 is an open-deck. The MA1 utilized in the Cayman S models upwards boasts direct fuel injection (DFI), which improves performance and efficiency; the M97 utilized multi-port injection. Finally, Porsche substituted the Lokasil cylinder coating for Alusil to reduce the risk of bore scoring, and the intermediate shaft was completely removed from the highest-displacement MA1 engine’s design, so there is no risk of IMS failure.

Porsche 987.2 Cayman Specs

As standard, all Cayman 987.2 models come equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, but there was originally also the option for a seven-speed PDK automatic. The PDK transmission utilized was also introduced to replace the Tiptronic rig found in the 987.1-gen models, and brought with it a lot faster and silkier shifts, if you don’t want the hands-on experience of a stick that is.

The Performance Features That Make The Cayman 987.2 An Affordable Performance Legend

Alongside having a naturally aspirated set of engines that can rev up nicely and get the Cayman up to 60 in very good times, considering its age and price, the 987.2 Cayman also gets a Porsche-esque set of performance features that make it a very in-tune and fun car to drive. All models are rear-wheel drive with a mid-engine layout; weight distribution is 46:54 front:rear. The heaviest model only tips the scales at 3,031 pounds, and all models boast hydraulic-assisted steering, not electronic.

The Cayman 987.2 base trim is the most basic setup, but you can find used examples that were originally equipped with the Porsche Active Management System (PASM); they are rare, but it means there is a degree of smoothness when you are driving normally. The Cayman S gets improved braking and a slightly stiffer chassis with 19-inch wheels available, while the Cayman R is the sportiest flavor.

The Cayman R is equipped with a fixed rear spoiler; it rides 0.8 inches lower than the other models; the ECU is mapped, and the engine boasts a larger 2.16-inch manifold. The overall weight is 121 pounds lighter than the Cayman S, thanks to lightweight 19-inch wheels borrowed from the Boxster Spyder and aluminum skins on the doors, and the suspension rig is sharper and firmer. It is a lot of racing DNA for the road for a relatively affordable price.

Interior Features That Are Classic Porsche

You might not get all the fancy tech that you would in a new Porsche Cayman, but if you are looking for high-powered performance fun for less, we think it is a sacrifice worth taking. The interior is classic Porsche, with the base model available with partial leather seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a five-inch screen for the PCM system. Bluetooth and navigation did originally come equipped as standard as well.

The Cayman S gets a little more finery, and you’ll notice the difference with larger bolstering for the sports seats and a full-leather dash. The Cayman S Black Edition is, as it sounds, and flaunts blacked-out leather and touches inside, while the Cayman R leans more into its sportiness. You do get the precise and posh feel that you’d expect from a Porsche, but weight-saving is the name of the game, and Porsche originally removed the radio, added lightweight door panels, bolted in fixed bucket seats, and stripped out anything that would add pounds.

How The Porsche Cayman 987.2 Stacks Up Against Other Powerful Sports Cars

There is no denying that the Porsche Cayman 987.2 is not the most powerful Porsche ever created, nor is it the most illustrious up against the 911. However, it does look fantastic, it is powerful enough to have a lot of fun in, it boasts the very Porsche-esque rear weight bias for good traction, and it is made to be driven at full chat.

What makes the 987.2 Cayman a very appealing and affordable sports car is that it also offers a lot of bang for your buck compared to some of the other sporty numbers that German brands released at a similar time. We’ve already compared it to the Porsche 911 997.2, but the Cayman is also cheaper than the following models:

The Horsepower Wars With Other German Sports Cars

If you are looking to impress the hardest-nosed Porsche fanatics, it is unlikely that a Cayman will cut it. It is viewed, alongside the Boxster, as more of an entry-level model, and because of that, horsepower is lower compared to what you get from a similar-aged 911. However, despite being the starter Porsche for some, it still outpowers a lot of other German sports cars of the time.

There is absolutely no arguing with the Porsche 911 GT2 RS 997.2 in terms of power. Its 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat-six can kick out 620 horsepower, and even the base-level 911 997.2 can muster 402 horsepower from its 3.8-liter NA flat-six. But, the 2009–2012 Porsche Cayman does have more ponies to play with than the following German sports cars from the same time:

Is Buying A Porsche Cayman 987.2 A Smart Buy In 2026?

Whether buying a 2009–2012 Porsche Cayman 987.2 in 2026 is a smart buy is wholly dependent on how you perceive what a smart buy is. If you don’t want to spend over $2,000 a year on gas or are comparing the Cayman to a Corolla for ownership costs, then, no, it is not a smart buy. However, if you look at the Porsche Cayman 987.2 as an admittedly less powerful yet cheaper alternative to a Porsche 911 997.2 or an alternative to the rising price of something like the Honda S2000, then, yes, it is a smart buy.

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the 2009 Cayman boasting the 2.9-liter flat-six can muster 24 combined mpg, costing you $2,450 a year on gas. The 3.4-liter flat-six-equipped models do predictably worse, but you can still get 23 combined mpg, which will cost you just a $100 extra a year. Compared to the 2010 911, yes, you get more horsepower from the 911, but it will cost you a minimum of $2,650 a year to fill up the base model’s tank on top of the high used prices.

Then you have performance fun, reliability, and the introduction of the gear that the 987.2 was known for. According to the 116 owner reviews on Kelley Blue Book, the Cayman 987.2 has been rated 4.8 out of 5 overall, with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 for reliability and 4.9 out of 5 for performance. 95 percent of owners have also said they would recommend buying one, so there is some evidence to show that you’d not be wasting your money on a good sports car here.

The 987.2 generation Cayman was also among the first Porsche models to utilize the PDK transmission and the more reliable engine choices, so either way, you get a smoother and more trustworthy ride that won’t cost you more than you want to be paying at the garage. But what is important here is that it is still a driver’s car.

There aren’t a massive number of driving aids (especially in the base trim); you still get a connected experience thanks to the hydraulic steering, and the engine power is certainly enough for speaking about the back roads and on certain track days. It won’t break any speed records, and it doesn’t have the fanatic pull of the 911, but the Porsche Cayman 987.2 hits the sweet spot for drivability, good looks, reliability, lower running costs compared to other Porsches and powerful German sports cars, and relatively low auction prices; there isn’t much more you could ask of a powerful used Porsche.

Sources: CarEdge, Classic.com, RepairPal, FuelEconomy.gov, iSeeCars, and Kelley Blue Book.