The Porsche 987 made its global appearance in September 2005 and soon gained wide universal acclaim from those that got behind the wheel. In fact, so good was the mid-engined chassis, power outputs were always deliberately pegged back to make sure that in pure performance terms, the Cayman didn’t embarrass its bigger brother, the 911. However, for 2010, Porsche launched a special version of the Cayman called the R, which readdressed this issue with its 55KG weight saving, and power increase over a standard 3.4S model to 330 brake horsepower. It also featured a 20mm lowered chassis, aluminium doors from the GT programme and lightweight wheels, shaving another 5KG on each corner. It could even be specified without a radio or air conditioning, although in reality, very few were ordered like this for obvious reasons. Autocar nominated it as Britain’s best drivers’ car when launched in 2011, an accolade not won lightly when you consider the quality of sports cars still around at that time. Here was a car that could sprint from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds (similar to a base 997 Carrera) when sports mode was selected on the PDK gearbox and turn in a not unrespectable 8:06 lap time on the Nürburgring. In other words, if you are on a track day in your 911 Carrera, don’t be surprised if one of these is snapping at your heels. Seemingly flying under the radar for several years, the Cayman R is finally being recognised as the drivers’ car it truly is, light, compact and just good fun to drive. Two specifications stand out as being desirable when paired together, and that is the manual gearbox equipped cars fitted with the carbon bucket seats, for that complete analogue and junior GT feel. Or the quicker PDK equipped car with sports seats for the more rounded daily road car. Supplied new from Porsche Centre Cardiff in September 2011, this Cayman R is finished in Carraweiss with full black leather interior, with Carreweiss painted seatbacks, dashboard trim and centre console. The full specification is listed below, but headline features for drivers are the lightweight aluminium doors, Boxster Spyder wheels finished in contrasting gloss black, sports seats, sports steering wheel and a limited slip differential. A special mention for the cup holders featured in this model! Heated seats Sports seats Without rear window wiper Nineteen-inch Boxster Spyder wheels Air conditioning Cupholder Xenon Plus Dynamic Cornering Light Park Distance Control Sport Chrono Plus Package Sports exhaust system Rear section of centre console painted Painted Sports seat backrest Cover on headlight cleaning system painted Maintenance has been carried out by both Porsche OPC and Porsche specialists with only 30,100 miles and three former keepers from new. Ever tightening legislation is making sure that cars are getting bigger and more tech laden with every new edition, ensuring cars like the Cayman R will never be produced again, and that is a crying shame. Here we have a car that feels light, with a flat six 330 brake horsepower motor sat just behind your ears, playing a genuine un-synthesised tune every time you squeeze the throttle, hydraulic steering bristling with feedback, a highly communicative chassis with a mechanical limited slip differential and all for under fifty thousand pounds! We don’t bang on about investment opportunities here too much at Paul Stephens, but we can’t help thinking it won’t be too long before the world wakes up to what great value and fun these cars actually offer.