When all cars are electric and boring, these cars will be even more special than they already are. I think values can go up but not a substantial amount.

 

987 Cayman R
2010+ 987 Cayman S or R with PDK and DFI engine.
981 S / GTS / GT4
718 4.0 and GT4

You will pay a premium and fetch a premium on all these models. They are not only pretty sports car, but they have added utility value of being a good track day car.

 

Congrats on your new car, Porsche sports cars including the Cayman will always be a desirable car. I think how the car drives and makes you feel is more important than collectibility, so as long as you’re happy with your car then you made the right choice.

To provide some feedback about classics, some models will appreciate and be more collectible than others. The most significant factors are their place within the hierarchy and rarity. Top tier and low production models like the Cayman GT4, Cayman R and Boxster Spyder models are considered the ones to buy for their generation and are the most likely to be a classic. They made so few of them and good ones don’t come up for sale often, they keep their values really well. It will be even more difficult as time goes on and people hold onto them. Other models like the GTS or RS60s are also desirable and command a premium over the standard cars even though they’re very similar.

As for the generations, each one has something special about them and have their own fanbase. My favorite is the 981 because I prefer the styling and exhaust note but I think they’re all great. The nice part about your 987.1S is that it’s been at the bottom of the depreciation curve for a while. If you keep it in good condition and maintain it, it will hold onto it value for a long time.

 

Agree with you. Especially when the era of ICE vehicles get taken over by EVs.

 

Why can't you just enjoy your new car?

 

It really depends on your definition of a classic. If you're asking will the 987 start appreciating in value, then I would argue that we're already starting to see the values tick up. As more and more OEM's move towards BEV's there will be a subset of people who want ICE vehicles. I suspect that NA cars, especially high performance cars, becoming more desirable in the coming years since most OEMs have shifted to turbo charged engines. We can already see this happening with 981 deprecation vs 718's with more people desiring the high revving NA motors over the 4-pot turbo engines. The air cooled Porsche craze will eventually evolve into the naturally asperated Porsche craze with more and more people buying into the "old school" naturally asperated engines. And then eventually that craze will transition into the turbo engines as the public accepts that BEV's are here to stay.

Now, will a standard run of the mill 987 be as desirable as some of those limited run examples like the R and Spyder? No, they aren't at that level now nor will they ever be so long as those models exist. But the saying goes a rising tide lifts all boats, and it should see those non-special 987's come up in value as well. We're not too far away from someone being able to buy even a base 987 put less than 5k/annual miles and sell it for their original purchase price or even more.

 

Sometimes the future can be predicted by looking at the past. In the post-WW2 later 1940s, unless it was a museum-quality zero-needs specimen, one could not give away an exotic Duesenberg. No convenient infrastructure, no parts, not even tires. And 7-8 years earlier, there was no gasoline (rationed) to even run one. Lots of such cars were simply scrapped. Today, Duesenberg equal $$$$$$$$$. Or just look 30 years back...Model A Fords were hot stuff, active clubs, parades. Today - not so much. The age cohort for whom the Model A had significance are.......gone.

So while the current thread’s discussion is much great fun, it is probably not terribly useful, at least for the *long term*. The Soviets used to have an ironic comment: the only thing more uncertain than the future is the past. In today’s America, we have outdone the Soviets: both the past and the future are equally uncertain. We are left only with the present, which keeps on disappearing. So as we draftees used to say: smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Apologies for the geezer cheap philosophizing...too much free time.

 

Perfect!

 

You should get a 911R or a GT3T if you want a classic. Prices on those bad boys are higher than MSRP according to BAT.

 

I didn't buy my 987.1 S to be an investment. I bought it because I loved the looks of it and driving it. Have put 30K miles on it since I bought it 2 yrs ago and will continue to do so until my engine dies from bore scoring, etc. and then will pay a ridiculous amount of money to repower it because it's great fun to drive. That being said, even with the mileage I have put on it, I have been offered more than what I paid 2 yrs ago. Prices are ticking up, but I would just say have fun with it.

I also made the mistake of selling my old 73'Bronco about 10 yrs ago for $900 so don't ask me for investment advice on cars!!!

 

Classic for sure, just varying levels of value like the air cooled 911s, especially if/when the EV transition goes through. The 981 is my first Porsche, so it’s got immense sentimental value. I’ll be driving mine until either the engine or transmission goes. Even then I’d probably look to go the route of a 3.8 or 4.0 engine swap if the funds allowed!

 

 

They'll be worth more in 5 years than today but you won't outrun the insurance and maintenance costs.

In 20 years you'll probably have to get a special license from the UN to use an ICE. Your Cayman will be worth less than your 911.

 

2008 Cayman S Sport Edition. Only 700 made world wide and 200 shipped to the US. Mine is #104/700. Whether they will be classic or not, I don't really care. They are beautiful cars and super fun to drive, on the street and at the track. Given that I blew the engine two weeks ago at the track, I am building a 3.8 using a 997 3.6 core. Can't wait to the new build to finish.

 

I dig the black accents on white ..well done! Car looks really good. N' I'm not a fan of white cars ..partly because there's just SO MANY of 'em.
Good luck with the engine build.

As for the question of becoming a "classic" ..I might be on the precipice of that experience with this car.