The hue of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Cayman is often referred to as “Retail Red” or “Arrest Me Red.” The factory name for the color is Guards Red and has long been a popular choice among Porschephiles. Let’s see how popular this dealer-offered coupe’s price might be.
The interior of yesterday’s 2004 Chrysler Crossfire Limited had been thoroughly coated in a shiny substance that made it look like getting in would require a hazmat suit and bungee cords to keep occupants in place. Despite the car’s six-speed manual and the seller’s promise that everything worked as it should, that took the shine off its $4,500 price tag. Ultimately, that ended up with a 55 percent No Dice loss.
When it comes to Porsches, there are no losers. I’m talking about the cars, of course. I mean, right now, even the once-thought-to-be homely 914 is having its day. The lowly 924 isn’t far behind that. Porsche’s present lineup doesn’t seem to have a clunker in the bunch. I can’t even think how far back one might have to go before you would find a model that the majority of people would turn up their noses at. The only thing that might screw up a Porsche’s desirability is owner-effected modifications. Those can oftentimes spell disaster.
This 2007 Porsche Cayman has four such modifications — a set of aftermarket HRC alloys, a Nakamichi double DIN stereo unit, body-color painted console and gauge faces, and finally, an S badge where no S badge should be.
Are any of these overt deal killers? Probably not, but let’s have a look at the rest of the car and see how much leeway these mods should be given.
According to the ad, this Cayman comes with a clean title, an accident-free history, and just 87,000 miles on the clock. It’s also said to have received a recent service replacing the clutch and serpentine belt.
Despite the presence of the disingenuous S on the hatch, the car’s mechanicals are all base 987, being made up of a 2.7-liter M97 flat-six making 245 horsepower and 201 lb-ft of torque and a five-speed manual transaxle. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as even the base Cayman is a hoot and a half to drive. It’s just kind of disappointing that someone thought it necessary to badge this car as something it’s not.
The bodywork, in brilliant Guards Red, looks to be in excellent condition with no noticeable fading of that paint or clouding of the headlamp lenses. A heavy tint has been applied to all the glass, including apparently the windscreen, which lends the car a bit of a show car feel, although probably not the approval of the local constabulary.
The interior presents in a similar fashion, with minor wear on the seats and tactile surfaces but none of the nasty switchgear wear for which these models are known. Features include A/C, cruise, and a trip computer, plus auto headlights and power windows and locks. All in all, a very swank sports car.
OK, so we discussed the car as a whole and noted the aftermarket mods that may add or detract from its value, depending on how you personally feel about such things. That, of course, will all boil down to how you feel about them taken together at its $22,400 asking price.
What’s your take on this Cayman (not an S) and that dealer-set price? Does that seem like a fair deal to you? Or do the mods actually make it worth less?
You decide!
Miami, Florida, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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