Hello, everyone! I’m Mina, the editor of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” Our Porsche Owners File series was created in response to readers who wanted to hear firsthand stories from Porsche owners. For installment #16, “Takemaru” shares his buying story, options, and driving review of his “Cayman (981).”

〘Owner Profile〙
・Featured car: Porsche Cayman (981)
・Name: Takemaru (Twitter @tkr9811)
・Location: Kanagawa Prefecture
・Family: Father, mother, and younger sister
・Previous cars:
(My father’s cars) BMW 320i M Sport (late E46) → BMW 523i M Sport (early F10)
・A message for readers:
I’m 24 this year, and although I’m still young, I took the plunge and bought a Porsche as my first car. I hope my story can help others like me who are young and interested in Porsche.

1) How I Decided to Buy a Porsche

—I wanted something to make life more fun

I’ve always been interested in cars. When I started my first year as a working adult, I found myself dreaming vaguely of one day owning a supercar.

Once I started working, there was a period when I lost motivation because of my work environment and compensation, and after a breakup as well. Then one day, I thought, “This isn’t right! I need to find something new to make life more fun!” That was what first got me thinking seriously about buying a car.

—Why I chose a Porsche

My father is a car enthusiast too and has owned several BMWs. Since he hardly ever drove his car, I was lucky enough to have free use of his BMW.

I drove a 523i, so I wanted my own car to be its opposite: instead of the F10 523i’s four doors, front engine, rear-wheel drive, and automatic transmission, I wanted two doors, a mid-engine layout, and a manual transmission.

I also wanted a car with a “large engine,” “room for luggage,” “good reliability,” and a “great-looking interior.” The 981 Cayman checked every box.

I asked the dealer to find me a manual in Agate Grey, so it took a while. When one finally came along, it was in great condition, and the salesperson strongly recommended it—so I went with this Cayman.

I don’t think there’s another mid-engine car with this much luggage space. Depending on the size, you can even fit a golf bag in it. The 987 Cayman can apparently hold two.

—What sealed the deal?

Getting approved for the loan. I was trying to buy a car worth more than twice my annual income, so, honestly, I thought, “There’s no way I’ll get approved for this loan.”

I’d decided to give up if the loan didn’t come through.

2) Options and Specifications

I bought the car used, so I don’t know all the details, but it appears to have a “Sport steering wheel,” “carbon-fiber interior trim,” “Sport Exhaust,” and “full leather interior,” among other features.

The previous owner had made quite a few modifications. It seems to have a carbon-fiber front lip, bucket seats, a ducktail-style (?) spoiler, and aftermarket coilovers.

On top of that, I had the wheels painted black and added colored Porsche crests before delivery. When I have a bit more money to spare, I’d like to paint the brake calipers yellow.

It’s left-hand drive. I figured that since imported cars have the turn-signal stalk on the left, a left-hand-drive car would let me shift gears and use the turn signal with separate hands.

The downside is that reaching for a parking ticket can be a challenge. (Many urban multistory car parks do have ticket machines on the left, though.)

3) The Buying and Delivery Timeline

I visited the dealership and checked that a loan seemed possible. I started looking in late December 2018, and took delivery in April 2019. If you’re not particular about the body color and transmission, I don’t think you’d have to wait this long.

4) What Porsche Ownership Has Taught Me About the Cayman

① Engine

The engine revs freely, and the sound is especially satisfying. You can also hear the mechanical sounds clearly—maybe because of the mid-engine layout—which makes me feel even more connected to the car.

② Manual Transmission

I originally had an automatic-only driver’s license. After deciding to buy a Cayman, I got my manual-transmission restriction removed while the dealer searched for a car that met my criteria, so the only manual car I’d ever driven before the Cayman was the one I used for driving lessons.

I’m still learning, but the way the 981 Cayman’s shifter slots into gear with a satisfying little click is addictive.

If I stall, pressing the brake and clutch restarts the engine automatically. It’s a luxury feature, but it makes the Cayman feel like a manual that’s friendly to beginners.

The electronic parking brake applies automatically on most hills, but I find it harder to use because I can’t tell when it will release. On gentler inclines, it often doesn’t hold the car at all.

③ Handling and Brakes

Compared with the 523i, the Cayman feels like this:

“It turns so well! Incredibly well! It takes corners with ease, even at a pretty decent speed!”

The car still has plenty in reserve, but I feel like I’m the one holding it back because I’m nervous about pushing it harder. I feel like I’m letting the Cayman down.

At the same time, I sometimes think, “It must be scary once you go beyond the limit.” I’m thinking of taking a Porsche driving course (Porsche Track Experience) so I can learn the car’s limits and how to respond appropriately if I exceed them.

As for the brakes, I’m comparing them only in everyday driving on public roads. The 523i has more travel in the brake pedal than the Cayman, and its braking feels progressive and resistant to sudden, aggressive bite, even when you press a little harder. The Cayman’s pedal has less travel, but the brakes feel responsive and sharp without grabbing suddenly.

I think this reflects the difference in purpose between the “523i, a four-door sedan designed with ride comfort in mind,” and the “Cayman, a two-door sports car.”

I imagine the differences would become even clearer on a track or on a downhill mountain road. (Mina recently bought a BMW too, and I’m curious how she finds it compared with her Porsche.)

When I visit my grandmother in Fukuoka, I drive her Toyota Aqua. Its brakes scare me! They bite hard with just a light touch, and I kept lurching forward until I got used to them, haha.

Next page → Cayman Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, and Track Driving—How Does It Measure Up?