Hello, everyone! I’m Mina, the owner of the “Welcome Home, PORSCHE” blog. Our “Porsche Owners’ File” series grew out of readers’ requests to hear firsthand accounts from Porsche owners. For installment #17, Akkii shares his experience buying a Cayman GT4, choosing its options, and living with it on the road.

〘Owner Profile〙
・Car featured: Cayman GT4
・Pen name: Akkii
・Location: Hyogo Prefecture
・Family: Wife and two sons, one in college and one in high school
・Previous cars:
① First-generation Primera (automatic) → Altezza (manual) → Prius (automatic)
② Beat (manual) → Cappuccino (manual) → Beat (manual)
③ Abarth 500C (manual)
④ Cayman GT4 (manual)
I’m interested in all kinds of cars—not just Porsches—including kei cars, hybrids, old and new cars, and models from all over the world. I currently own four cars, and I’m attached to every one of them; they’re all keepers.
I generally prefer manuals, so we have a lot of manual cars at home. When we first got married, we had just one car: my wife’s Primera. But I couldn’t stop thinking about driving a manual, so I traded it for a manual Altezza without even consulting her first. (Oops!)
At first, my wife asked, “Why a manual?” But she got used to it quickly and drove it happily—or perhaps resignedly? These days, though, she’s so accustomed to the automatic Prius that she won’t even drive a manual just to shuffle cars around in the driveway… (sigh)
・A message for readers
Among Porsche sports cars, the Cayman is often seen as an entry point in a lineup topped by the 911. But when it comes to going, turning, and stopping, it’s every bit a Porsche.
I also feel the GT4 offers excellent value compared with a 911. It’s hugely satisfying, with 911 GT3 components and a manual transmission—everything about it is appealing, apart from the price. It can even make you think, “Do I really need a 911?”

1) What Led Me to Buy a Cayman GT4

—Inspired by My Nephew’s Porsche Purchase

I’m from the generation that grew up dreaming about supercars, and ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve thought, “One day, I’m absolutely going to own a Porsche.”

But even though it was my dream car, the brand felt intimidating, and for a long time I hesitated to buy one. Then one day, my nephew bought a used 987 Boxster as his first car. (He later moved on to a 981 and then a 993.)

Seeing that inspired my older brother to buy a used 997, and that was the push I needed to finally take the plunge. Later, when I went along with him for a service visit, I happened to spot a GT4 on display—and it was love at first sight.

I like convertibles too, so I considered the Boxster Spyder. But the GT4’s rear wing won me over.

The 911 is what most people picture when they think of a Porsche sports car, and I’m impressed by its packaging and excellent visibility. But for me, the focused, high-value GT4 was the perfect fit.

2) Options and Specifications

Since I bought the car used, I didn’t have a choice of options. Here’s what it came with:

Left-Hand Drive

In Japan, right-hand drive feels more natural. That said, the pedal layout feels less awkward than in my Abarth 500, even though this car is left-hand drive.

Exterior Color

The car is black. Solid black shows swirl marks from washing and fingerprints, so I wouldn’t order it on a new car. But when you can keep it looking clean, the reflections are beautiful and the car looks fantastic. If I were buying new, I’d probably choose white.

Interior

The car has three options: a black leather interior with Alcantara details, contrast-color stitching, and colored seat belts in Guards Red. None of them is essential, but…

They make the Cayman’s simple cabin feel more luxurious, adding a level of satisfaction that feels worth more than the price of the options.

The standard Alcantara steering wheel and shift knob, however, seem designed with gloves in mind. For me, leather feels much better against bare hands. (I was amazed by how the leather steering wheel in a 981 seemed to mold itself to my bare hands the first time I held it.)

Sport Chrono Package

At first, I thought the dashboard looked a little bare without the clock, so maybe it was a must-have. But the Sport Chrono package doesn’t really change the GT4’s functionality, so I’d be fine without it.

Full Bucket Seats

The seats are quite large, so they don’t fit me perfectly. I’m 170 cm tall with an average build. You can raise the seats electrically, but there’s no reclining adjustment, and getting in and out is a challenge. I imagine they’d hold you securely in place on track, though.

Maybe my legs are short, but I have the seat all the way forward. The seats do look great, though, and I love being able to see them through the rear window. I deliberately haven’t applied tinted film.

Smoking Package

I don’t smoke, but the package was free and includes a cigarette lighter socket and cover, which come in handy.

Other Options

・Automatic climate control
Even with automatic climate control, I end up adjusting it myself, so manual controls would be fine too.
・Passenger-side storage net
It was a no-cost option, so I’m glad it’s there.
・Black rear wing
Black suits the car’s body color. Other equipment includes floor mats and a reversing camera.

3) The Road to Delivery

This GT4 was sold when a long-established Porsche Approved used-car center in the Kansai region opened a new location. Several GT4s were on offer at the time, and they were all sold by lottery.

I’d been hoping for “a white car with right-hand drive and standard seats,” but there were too many people interested, so my chances of getting one were slim. Instead, I reserved a “black car with left-hand drive and full bucket seats”—a less popular configuration—and ended up buying it.

Next page → Cayman GT4 engine, ride, fuel economy, and whether its front end scrapes…