[av5150]

Hi all, this is my first post to the forum. I’m in the market for a used 718 Cayman S to turn into a track-toy. I’ve started looking around for what’s available and came across a 2017 S listed for $56k with 23k miles on it. I’m going to check it out in-person this weekend and, if it looks promising, get a pre-purchase inspection.

Assuming there’s nothing wrong with the vehicle, does this seem like a reasonable price for this model with this kind of mileage? According to Edmunds and Cars.com this is considered a “good deal”. It’s been on the lot for almost two months so I’m hoping I can bargain them down a little further.

Also, any other things to be aware of when shopping used Caymans?

Thanks!

 

[DriveInHouston]

MT or PDK?

 

[av5150]

Oops, forgot to add that. It’s a manual. Sorry about that. Here’s the dealer link:

Used 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S For Sale in Beaverton, OR - Serving Portland, OR | WP0AB2A82HS285931

If you are in the market for a used 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman S for sale in Beaverton, OR or the Portland, Vancouver WA & Tigard area, we are your destination. Give us a call at (503) 828-0936 to schedule a test drive today!

www.kunibmw.com

No sniping until I get a chance to look at it!

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Looks like a great deal, seems to be well equipped too and an awesome color!

Curious what the Damage consisted of? I'm assuming the low price for what looks like a wonderful car is due to the damage. But if you are going to make a Track Car out of it, does it really matter?

CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2017 PORSCHE CAYMAN S: WP0AB2A82HS285931

CARFAX can help you find a great used car and avoid costly hidden problems. View the CARFAX Report for this 2017 PORSCHE, CAYMAN S, WP0AB2A82HS285931

www.carfax.com

EDIT/ADDITION: Are those headlights from a 19' model? Possibly LED projector upgrade or are those the PDLS + lights? The 4 dot LED's are spaced out more from what are on mine?

SECOND EDIT: I found them, it does look like previous owner changed out the Bi-xenon listed for the LED lights... Nice upgrade! Well that or the build sheet isn't showing the LED option.

 

[cbarra]

That price seems reasonable to me. I'm sure there is some wiggle room though, right???

 

[DriveInHouston]

An independent Pre Purchase Inspection is well worth the expense.

Also, you can ask the dealership to provide an over-rev report. It will give you an idea how much and how often (in vehicle operating hours) was the car hooned. It is important for a manual, because you can over-rev it, the PDK will not allow you to over-rev it.

 

[av5150]

@HooosierDaddy thanks for the pointers on the headlights—definitely something I would have missed. Yeah I saw that “damage incident” on the CarFax report too and wondered what that’s all about. As long as it isn’t some major structural issue it’s probably fine.

@DriveInHouston thanks for the reminder on the over-rev report, I will definitely ask for that.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

if I didn't already have one... I'd buy it before you got the chance! ?

 

[JazzCatGab]

Looks like, other than not having Sport Chrono, the options it has are definitely track friendly. I looked up its VIN which separates the options out. Sport PASM and PTV are a couple of the more track-oriented things I saw there.

 

[RussellHodgson]

It does not look like it has Sport Chrono - this might be an issue for you as you want it to be a track toy.

Also - no steering wheel controls - not a huge issue - but again as a track toy it is really nice to be able to control things without taking your hands off the wheel.

 

[av5150]

It does not look like it has Sport Chrono - this might be an issue for you as you want it to be a track toy.

Not to hijack a thread I started, but I’m a little confused about the Sport Chrono. It’s one part lap-timer and one-part engine and chassis tuning. But from what I can glean the tuning seems geared more towards PDK? Is there a benefit for a manual?

For the lap-timer stuff, I have existing equipment I’ll install that takes care of video and data-capture. If there’s more to the Sport Chrono package, I’ll definitely look into an after-market install (which I think is possible, right?)

Anyway, thanks for the double-check on the VIN. You guys are great!

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Not to hijack a thread I started, but I’m a little confused about the Sport Chrono. It’s one part lap-timer and one-part engine and chassis tuning. But from what I can glean the tuning seems geared more towards PDK? Is there a benefit for a manual?

For the lap-timer stuff, I have existing equipment I’ll install that takes care of video and data-capture. If there’s more to the Sport Chrono package, I’ll definitely look into an after-market install (which I think is possible, right?)

Anyway, thanks for the double-check on the VIN. You guys are great!

I think for manual the only real benefit would be the rev matching and dynamic engine mounts? I could be mistaken or missing something else.

 

[Viffermike]

One thing to ask pointedly about relates to those headlights. Upgrading from Bi-Xenons (PDLS) to LED (PDLS+) is not a simple light-nacelle swap. Auto-dimming high beams (and the requisite camera behind the windshield glass next to the rear-view mirror mount) would be part of that upgrade -- and it would NOT be cheap. It's my understanding (and a quick parts check confirms this) that each LED nacelle runs $2.5k. (Yes. EACH.)

I would grill the dealer about those lights: why the previous owner upgraded after the accident, if the car had the complete PDLS+ package installed, etc.

(By the way: Yours truly made that diagrammed PDLS+ nacelle image. I got 'em. Best headlights I've ever had on a car by far.)

 

[DriveInHouston]

My understanding is that for the Sport and Sport + modes, there are different ECU maps, which in a turbo motor can make a world of difference.

I wonder whether the quoted .2 sec 0-60 mph difference for cars equipped w. Sport Chrono is happenning in the Sport+ mode which non-SC cars do not have (I'm talking PDK here, but if SC in Sport+ is what makes the difference, then you can expect some difference in the MT).

EDIT: Here is an excerpt from the Owner's manual. It doesn't answer my question, but provides some answers to yours:

EDIT 2: Again from the owner's manual, performance specs stating that the SC performance numbers are from SC Sport+

 

[alfaguy]

Will look great with numbers on the doors!! AND loads of fun on the track!

 

[Third]

Hi all, this is my first post to the forum. I’m in the market for a used 718 Cayman S to turn into a track-toy. I’ve started looking around for what’s available and came across a 2017 S listed for $56k with 23k miles on it. I’m going to check it out in-person this weekend and, if it looks promising, get a pre-purchase inspection.

Assuming there’s nothing wrong with the vehicle, does this seem like a reasonable price for this model with this kind of mileage? According to Edmunds and Cars.com this is considered a “good deal”. It’s been on the lot for almost two months so I’m hoping I can bargain them down a little further.

Also, any other things to be aware of when shopping used Caymans?

Thanks!

I might be the only one to respond this way so far, but the price seems a bit steep for a Cayman that's three model-years old, not to mention one with accident/damage history. I'd want to know a lot more about the damage and repair before I'd opine on what's a fair price.

 

[av5150]

I might be the only one to respond this way so far, but the price seems a bit steep for a Cayman that's model-years old, not to mention one with accident/damage history. I'd want to know a lot more about the damage and repair before I'd opine on what's a fair price.

I completely agree. There’s definitely much more leg-work to be done. I was just curious if the price seemed extreme one way or another (I.e. too good to be true? Overpriced?)

I’ll be talking to the dealer in the next day or two and likely checking it out in person this weekend. If folks are interested, I post a follow-up on what I find.

 

[JazzCatGab]

I completely agree. There’s definitely much more leg-work to be done. I was just curious if the price seemed extreme one way or another (I.e. too good to be true? Overpriced?)

I’ll be talking to the dealer in the next day or two and likely checking it out in person this weekend. If folks are interested, I post a follow-up on what I find.

I'm curious about the Sport PASM on the VIN report, but in the pictures, I don't see a Sport+ button, which I thought would be part of that. If you got the Sport+ button, I'm not sure the SC would be a big deal with the other features.

 

[Third]

I'm curious about the Sport PASM on the VIN report, but in the pictures, I don't see a Sport+ button, which I thought would be part of that. If you got the Sport+ button, I'm not sure the SC would be a big deal with the other features.

It sounds like the Sport+ selector you are referring to is part of the SportChrono package and has nothing to do with PASM/SPASM. I believe the PASM button is the same on all PASM-equipped cars whether they are equipped with PASM or "Sport" PASM. "Sport" only indicates the ride height has been lowered 20mm when compared to a stock Cayman, while a car with regular PASM has been lowered 10mm.

 

[phroenips]

Interesting build in my opinion. It's got SPASM and PTV, but no sport chrono, and the 14-way seats (I would've expected sport plus seats, either 2-way or 18-way). Depending how far down the rabbit hole you go, you may end up swapping those out for bucket seats anyway.

Also, if it's going to be a track toy, I'd strongly suggest getting some 18" wheels, which will give you more tire options, and they're cheaper to replace, too.