The Cayman began life as a slot filler. When the Boxster wasn't hardcore enough and the 911 cost just a bit too much for some, the Cayman came in to save the day so to speak. Not surprising, its power positioned it just above the Boxster and slightly below the 911. Its price was similarly Goldie Locks and The Three Bears - right in the midst of the other two Porsche offerings.
Due to its obvious retail intentions, most thought it wouldn't really be all that good a car. After all, it shares a large swath of its body with its drop-top brother the Boxster, so how good could it really be? Turns out pretty fantastic.
What Porsche was able to do with that hardtop was create extra rigidity that the Boxster could never have. This allowed for improved ride comfort and handling. The tuned-up engine provided more grunt and thus more speed. What most people don't know about the Cayman is even more interesting though. Let's dig in below!
15 The New 718 Name Is Old
Using proper names wasn't really a thing for Porsche decades ago. Numbers were all the rage and what you look at above is the original 718. As old school becomes cool, Porsche is doing the same thing. The new Boxster and Cayman are now the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, giving a fitting tribute to a car that came before.
14 New Base Models Are All Turbo
For the first time ever the new 718s will have turbo engines at the base of the range. There may be some danger here as tuning has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon and it wouldn't be surprising if we'll soon see base models capable of keeping up with their naturally aspirated variants.
13 It's Named After An Alligator
When you see the name and the way it's spelled you might be tempted to think this car is named for the Cayman Islands. That's ok, it's understandable, considering it's spelled the same. Porsche will, however, tell you that it is actually named for the small-sized but clearly feisty alligator species. The Islands were actually named after the reptile as well.
12 Porsche Went To War With Crocs
Yes, Crocs the shoe company. All over the name Cayman. You see, Crocs, a company with clear ties to all things Crocodilian named a shoe Cayman and Porsche said that it infringed on their trademark. Of course, that makes sense because it's tough to tell the difference between a shoe and a sports car.
11 It Swept The Podium At The 24Hrs Of Daytona
The Cayman is a stout competitor. Thanks to its mid-mounted engine, it handles exceptionally well, which has led to it winning many races. In 2013, the Cayman swept the podium at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and it has continued winning in different sports car series around the planet.
10 LSD Isn't Standard
If you google photos of the Cayman you'll notice something. Very little smoke coming from the back in pics of it drifting. In part, this is because unless you check the box for it, you'll get the standard open differential. Be thoughtful in your choices.
9 Finnish Porsches
Something else that may surprise even the most die-hard Porsche fan is that the Boxster and Cayman were both constructed in Finland for a number of years. They were actually built by a company called Valmet. These days Porsche builds them but for a few short years, that wasn't the case.
8 It Was A Boxster Spinoff
This isn't too hard to recognize when you look at it, but it's important to keep in mind that it's not just a hardtop version of the Boxster. It's taller and wider, and the suspension is redesigned entirely. It's a spin-off in every way. Not the same but similar.
7 4 Cylinders Are Better Than 6
While the new cars are going to turbos and fewer cylinders, it isn't bad news for Porsche fans. Not only will these turbo engines allow for more power but guess what, fuel economy is up as well. Two birds with one stone as it were.
6 The GT4 Gears Are Stupid Tall
This might surprise most fans but if you go into deeper dives on the GT4 you'll find this the one major flaw. The gearing is so tall that you never really use all of them unless you're on a long race track straight. It's such a problem that there are multiple aftermarket solutions available.
5 They're Reliable
This isn't just a Cayman thing as most Porsches are reliable. The Cayman, however, is notable as most of its owners are especially hard on them, and yet, they are stout enough to soldier on. Examples with well over 100k miles are easy to find with great service records too.
4 The Best Porsche Sports Car
With so many wonderfully made cars coming out of Porsche each year it's tough to believe, but Motor Trend actually went on record to say that the Cayman was the best sports car that Porsche made. It's a combination of multiple facets of its build and design that gave it that title.
3 It's Faster Than The Boxster
Despite being the younger of the siblings, the Cayman will smoke the Boxster in almost any match up. The added weight and lower handling ability contribute to the Boxster's inability to keep up.
2 It's Probably Faster Than The 911
Being a proper mid-engined car makes the Cayman actually a better bet when it comes to physics. The 911, with its rear-biased weight, simply wouldn't be as capable of keeping up, much less being faster than the Cayman - if it weren't for Porsche neutering it. There's rumor of a GT4 RS in the works though.
1 It's Got Two Trunks!
One of the most lovely practical points of the Cayman is the addition of a second trunk. While the Boxster is busy hiding the ragtop this car has some extra space for all your things. Go tell your significant other that it's really just a practical choice at this point.