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300,000 miles on a Cayman
This week: A 987 with record numbers, a head-turning Boxster, and two 981 deals
Hey there!
Earlier this week I was watching a video about a guy trying to put one million miles on his 996 Turbo. Stories of high mileage cars are truly my favorite.
And then I found a Cayman that's already 1/3 of the way there. Must be my lucky week.
Today I've got 5 picks for you instead of the usual 3:
The impossible 300K-mile Cayman
The best 981 Cayman deal I've yet seen...
...and another PCA member-owned car competing for that crown
A head-turning 987.2 Boxster...
...and its manual counterpart
Onwards!
—RF
Some fear high miles. Not this guy
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This car has 294,000 miles on it.
Let that sink in for a second. While Porsche forums debate whether 1% IMS bearing failure rates are meaningful, someone out there quietly drove this Cayman farther than the distance from Earth to the Moon.
Then they listed it for eleven thousand dollars like it's a used Corolla. In fact the whole ad reads like someone selling their daily driver that just happens to be a Porsche.
The seller states that the car has no issues, consumes no oil, and all the electronics (AC, heated seats, lap timer…) work as they should. To top it off, brakes and suspension (Bilstein shocks) were also done recently.
I loved last week’s 24K-mile 987 museum piece, but I think I love this one more. There's something beautiful about a Porsche with enough miles to circle the planet twelve times that's still looking for its next adventure.
Market Report
$11,600 is practically giving it away. That's less than half of what average 987s with 100K miles are asking. High-mileage Porsches create fear, but thoughtful buyers know well-maintained Porsches won't explode the second the odometer hits six figures. If the mechanicals are solid (and 300K trouble-free suggests they are), this is the deal of the year.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
At this mileage, you're looking at a car that's proven itself. The 2.7L base engine has no bore scoring concerns. IMS bearing failure rate is under 1%, as discussed above. The bigger question is: what else has been refreshed at this mileage? Ask about suspension components, motor mounts, coolant hoses, and when they last did the clutch. The owner seems to keep maintenance up to date, but put aside $5-7K for surprises (which you can since the asking price is incredibly low!).
Quiet value
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These two cars are the poster boys for why you don't need a unicorn to get a great Porsche.
The red one hasn't hit 100K miles yet. The current owner is a PCA member, details all the recent extensive maintenance done, and welcomes a PPI.
The silver car has more miles and a sparse description, but is well-optioned and appears to be a clean, one-owner car. You'll need to show up at the dealer with a long list of questions to find out more about its story, but if things check out you may be getting a steal at $25K.
Sometimes a deal is just a deal.
Market Report
While most 981 PDKs still hover just over $30K, some are dropping into the high $20Ks and entering former 987 territory. At $25K, the silver car is the cheapest 981 I've found. I assume high miles pushed the price down, but that matters less with this generation. Both show how accessible 981s have become.
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
981s are bulletproof: no IMS concerns, no bore scoring. Water pump typically needs replacement at 60-80K miles. PDK fluid changes every 60K miles. For the silver dealer car, inspect: PDK service history, water pump status, suspension at 121K miles, and why a one-owner car ended up at a dealer. Get full service records if you can.
This .2 Boxster collects compliments
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This Boxster made me do a double take.
I'm not a black rims guy. And yet I couldn't take my eyes off this car. The Cream White color is uncommon, and somehow the black wheels just work. Whoever built this had a vision and nailed it.
It’s also nice to see a 987.2 living its best life. This mid-cycle revision brought major upgrades over the .1: better PDK transmission replacing the old Tiptronic, improved engine, a more modern interior feel.
The thing with unique builds is that they’re either your thing or they’re not. But whoever buys this Boxster should get ready to collect lots of compliments from like-minded enthusiasts.
Market Report
Fair pricing for a clean 987.2 with unique presence. You can find cheaper automatic Boxsters, but not ones that look like this. The .2 generation brings improved reliability and the better PDK transmission, so the premium makes sense. For those who prefer manuals, here's the best 987.2 Boxster I found this week. Honestly, this listing deserves its own pick section for its great description and great price… But I guess the Cream White won me over and I’m a black rims guy now. |  |
What You (and Your Mechanic) Should Know
987.2 Boxsters are the reliability sweet spot: no IMS bearing concerns, no bore scoring issues with the 2.9L engine. PDK transmissions are robust but require fluid changes every 60K miles. The rear emblem looks slightly crooked to me. Could be nothing (they swapped the original one for a black version and the job was less than stellar) or a hint at rear-end contact. Check it during your pre-purchase inspection.
Porsche Problems
See you next week with more affordable picks!
Take care,
—RF