Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Porsche Cayman?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2011 Porsche Cayman?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2011 Porsche Cayman?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2011 Porsche Cayman reliable?

Based on MOT data from 582 vehicles, the 2011 Porsche Cayman has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Porsche Cayman?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Porsche Cayman are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (34.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.6% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Porsche Cayman?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Porsche Cayman (2011)

582 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.9% first-time pass rate

2011 Porsche Cayman

CarHunch analysed 582 real MOT records for the 2011 Porsche Cayman. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Porsche Cayman is significantly more reliable than average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9% against the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects have affected 18.6% of the cohort, which is worth noting if you're buying one, though it's not exceptionally high for a sports car of this age.

These cars are running relatively light at an average of 40,627 miles, suggesting careful ownership typical of the Cayman's enthusiast buyer base. The low failure rate of 1.07 per vehicle signals solid structural and mechanical integrity, though advisories average 8.5 per car—check suspension and brake components carefully on any example you view.

The 2011 Porsche Cayman passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

18.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.07

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

39k

Middle half: 28k–52k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 8.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 582 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 582 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 34.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Tyre wear 25.6%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 16.1%

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 582 Porsche Cayman cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Porsche Cayman

Based on MOT data from 582 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	579	91.9%	1.07

Colour Breakdown

Based on 17,092 Porsche Cayman vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.2%

3,794

Grey 18.7%

3,199

Silver 15.6%

2,672

Blue 14.9%

2,543

White 12.1%

2,073

Red 11.1%

1,900

Yellow 2.5%

429

Green 1.6%

268

Orange 0.8%

138

Brown 0.3%

Purple 0.1%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Porsche Cayman vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

38,798

typical

27,667

low mileage

51,879

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Porsche Cayman vehicles fall between 27,667 and 51,879 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,667 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 27,667–51,879 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Porsche Caymans sit.

⚠ Over 70,036 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Porsche Cayman — Still on the Road

Almost all 2011 Porsche Caymans are still on the road.

Strong survival — 489 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.07

Avg failures per vehicle

8.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Porsche Cayman: All Cayman years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2011 Porsche Cayman stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?