2011 Porsche Cayman Reviews, Pricing & Specs

$51,400 to $61,500

Original MSRP

expert review

4.3

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2011 Porsche Cayman Preview summaryImage

With a new trim this year for the venerable Cayman, a lot of 911 owners will be quite upset. Porsche has always been protective of its favorite son the 911, making sure it remained firmly at the top of the heap. Things change with the new Cayman R this year with its 330-hp, 3.4-liter boxer 6 engine – that’s a 10-hp bump over the 3.4 in the previous top Cayman, the S.

Were it just an extra 10 horses, the 911 would have nary a worry, but far be it from Porsche to make a small, simple change like that. No, the Cayman R follows the same recipe as the Boxster Spyder, which understood that the best way to maximize horsepower gained is with pounds lost.

That means taking the already quick Cayman S and adding aluminum, carbon fiber and lighter, 19-inch wheels. That means chucking the air conditioning, the stereo and even the door handles, all in the name of trimming the fat, and adding lighter sport seats and steering wheel to do the same. The result is over 120 pounds of weight savings and a car that handles better than anything that isn’t on rails has a right to. That’s partially due to weight saved – especially at those all-so-important corners – and partially because Porsche wasn’t done yet. The Cayman R gets a 20mm drop in the suspension, a standard limited-slip diff, and new front and rear spoilers for improved aerodynamics in a car that really wasn’t begging for better aerodynamics.

And if you thought the transformation with the Boxster Spyder was dramatic, just imagine what the same treatment will do to the Cayman R, which doesn’t suffer from the penalties of going topless. It all adds up to a midengine monster that will do the sprint to 60 in 4.7 seconds – exactly the same as the 911 Carrera and for significantly less money. Get ready for the whining to commence. Sure, I’m pitting the top-tier Cayman trim against the entry-level 911, but I’d rather have the Cayman and the extra pocket change anyway – pocket change that could buy your kid a brand-new economy hatchback.

Porsche didn’t leave the Cayman and Cayman S trims alone this year either, both getting fitted with Bluetooth and an iPod interface as standard features. Otherwise, they stay the same with their 2.9- and 3.4-liter boxer 6 engines putting out 265 and 320 hp, respectively. However, knowing their big brother can suddenly embarrass at least one of their 911 stablemates at will, even the lowlier Caymans get a bit more confidence this year, and confidence is sexy.

Published May 31, 2022 by Michael Perkins

A CarGurus contributor since 2008, Michael started his career writing about cars with the SCCA - winning awards during his time as editor of Top End magazine. Since then, his journalistic travels have taken him from NY to Boston to CA, completing a cross-country tour on a restored vintage Suzuki. While his preference is for fine German automobiles - and the extra leg room they so often afford - his first automobile memories center around impromptu Mustang vs. Corvette races down the local highway, in the backseat of his father's latest acquisition.

User reviews for 2011 Porsche Cayman

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by Maria R

Jul 16, 2021

You could never go wrong with a porsche. If its taking car of its worth every penny Jul 16, 2021

by Dany P

Feb 22, 2021

The 2011 Posche Cayman S is pur bliss.. 320HP mid-engine and first model ever equipped with bluetooth. This second generation 987 is free of engie problems related to the first generation and is pre 981 model with additonnal the electrical controls. It just has a better feel. Having the 7 speed PDK transmission just makes this cars a dream to drive.. I am NEVER selling mine. Quite simply de perfect Porsche! Feb 22, 2021

by Alex A

Sep 17, 2020

car had a accident report maybe its way low priceSep 17, 2020

2011 Porsche Cayman Pricing

Original MSRP

$51,400 to $61,500

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Trims & specs

2011 Porsche Cayman Base

Original MSRP: $51,400

Air Conditioning

Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: element · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4 · 50 watts

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.5 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc

Comfort Features

Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Parking brake trim: leather · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: storage organizer · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2

Exterior Features

Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Rear spoiler: electronically controlled

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2

In Car Entertainment

Infotainment screen size: 6.5 in.

Instrumentation

Warnings and reminders: low fuel level

Lights

Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Taillights: adaptive

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power

Passenger Seat

Manual Adjustments: 4 · Power adjustments: 2

Safety

Crumple zones: rear

Seatbelts

Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear

Tires

Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Run flat tires: puncture sealing compound with electric compressor

Wheels

Wheel locks: front and rear

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent

2011 Porsche Cayman S

Original MSRP: $61,500