I actually prefer longer gears for daily driving, but backroad driving allows you to stay in a single gear most of the time. Actually probably why I'm going to buy it. Personal preferences are weird.
I have a 2008 Base Model with the 5 speed manual. It's the car on my profile pic. I Bought the car with 70,000 Miles, I have owned for a full year and I can add on to this review. My car has a 2.7L 6 Cylinder Flat 6 engine "M97.20" made my porsche. The car drives amazing. it has a manual steering rack, so every input from the road and the driver is felt ( If you like driving a car and feeling like you're riding a skateboard downhill, this is the car) The chassis is amazing and I truly think it's one of the most raw feeling Porsche from that time after the 996 GT2. The car is not fast ( straight line), But honestly stock the car can probably outrun most cars on a curvy road. IMS bearing is an issue for 1-3%, however My car is 12 years old with currently 80,000, No issues. ( My brother owns a 986 boxster) * Don't buy this car if you can't afford maintenance ( average $1000-$2000 basic maintenance yr) * Don't buy this car If you don't have a steady job, This really isn't a car where you ignore lights or skip maintenance. *Super Practical for a only car
The IMS bearing issue is a non event from 2006 as the bearing design was changed on Cayman`s. The single race design was doubled in size and the best figure I have received from Porsche dealers here in the UK is a fail rate of much less than 1%. What can be an issue on the S model is bore scoring for the 987.1, but we are talking about maybe a 5% fail rate. The design was changed for the `09 upgrade 987.2 model.
@@jamesmarshall3311 I've seen people mostly freak on the 987 series Boxster and Cayman. But most of that freaking is people wanting to own the car for a lot less. In reality most people know that these cars got solid engines, porsche is known for making crazy cars that last over 200k miles. On the original drive train.
As long as the car was properly maintained and taken care of, high miles normally isn’t an issue. If it’s a single or two owner car, odds are the car was maintained well if they kept driving them for so long. Things that regularly need to be replaced at a high mile point likely got replaced already too. Just do the research, check the car out yourself, and get it inspected at a mechanic you trust and you can’t go wrong. Sometimes that high mile car could be a better deal than it seems.
You have to shed that thinking about miles. You don't want low miles, you want pride in ownership shown in the maintenance. You can rebuild an aircraft engine for $40K today, park it in the hangar and put almost no time on it. In 12 years, if I remember correctly, the FAA will tell you to rebuild it again. Not driving a car is murder. I hear guys at work bragging about low mile muscle cars all the time. Not worth the argument. Get a well loved car with 90k miles and your fine.
Youre refreshingly pleasant to listen to, must admit im nicely surprised. No bs, no irrelevant private talk, no constant 'ummmmmmm....', not trying to be poet, just straight facts and to the point, love it!
Great review of my favorite car.- Mine's exceptionally fun, reliable, and surprisingly practical - with useful storage everywhere. Plus, I think it's very beautiful - an all-time classic Porsche design.
Own this exact same car, same wheels, color and everything, except it's a base model. Have owned it for 3 years, amazing car that gets me lots of compliments. I would actually recommend the base model over the S because it doesn't have the spray-coat on the inside of the cylinders that can result in bore-scoring, unlike the S.
Small amount of issues - less than 5% globally. Like everything, if it has been looked after it reduces the risk / onset. But yep - it’s definitely getting lots of press - as does the IMS. Finding an M97 engine reduces the IMS risk as Porsche updated the bearing. Sad thing with Bore score is that whilst you might not detect it in a scope it PPI, you won’t know if it’s going to get it until it starts.
Buying an 09 base this week. No IMS, no bore score, 265 hp and a 6 speed. Not going to miss the S. Can't wait to get it home! Love how analog it feels.
Bought an 06 cobalt blue 3.4 s for £10k here in UK. 80k miles. Have it nearly 2 years and 10k more miles. Absolutely gem of a car. Still get kids wanting to sit in it and have photos taken.
I bought my Arctic Silver 06 Cayman S for the same amount, also 2 years ago here in the UK and I can honestly say it’s the best car I have ever driven. At low revs it’s a docile tourer, but go over 3000 revs and it becomes a racing car. Maintenance wise it’s also the easiest car for access, and whilst parts are expensive, there are many specialist parts suppliers like design911 who have really competitive prices. Apart from major mechanical parts, the most expensive items are tyres and brakes, which will need replacing frequently if you drive it as it should be driven. My Cayman S is my daily driver, and it always puts a smile on my face when driving it.
On spot description. If you had clear side markers and an upgraded stereo my 08 CS would be a twin. Some carbon fiber interior makes the nest a little better but pricey. I swapped most int,ext lights to led. Big improvement. You know where to find the throttle. Keep it up!
A clean 987 S will be much more then $20k unless you find a very high mileage one. Its still one of the Best Buys out there and will go up in value ! Not too many for sale as I’m currently looking.
I'm looking at buying one now an 06 with 33k miles for 36k. with more miles they're still bringing over 30. should have bought one last year but oh well.
I got that,!!!,a 2006 boxster s, 13K$ a 2nd hand, high every day user, 130k miles , but its 1st owner who took good care of it. Since in2019. Peace and Aloha!
I have an 07 cayman base. Frankly its as dependable as my truck. Now.. I got it fairly cheap and sunk 4k into basic maitenence...discs, brakes, front end parts, starter, filters.NOW I wouldn't sell it for less than 26K. They're fast, look amazing and handle even better. Our little date car gets driven anytime we go to town . We shred the local roads,do lunch ,grocery shop and attend functions in it. Style,speed and drivability. I can't imagine a finer vehicle on the planet.
I thought for a long time if I'm biased towards the 981 GTS after owning one. But after getting a lot more intimate with other sports cars and the entire NA motor Porsche line up, and trying to be objective as I can. I genuinely think the 981 GTS (and the base 911 GT3) is the king experience for the ROAD going varianted, Porsche modern (ish) NA motor driving experience in terms of sweet spot, price, level of diminishing returns, and the experience you get per dollar I do think the 981 Spyder is the actual top king for the experience but you have to pay so much more for a huge diminishing returns in driving experience. And if course, the 981 GT4 is the track car Cayman experience. I actually think the new 718 GT4 and the 718 Spyder falls after their 981 variants due to price, and the poor noise the 718 cars make despite having a 4.0 engine, it's a whole new engine made with new compliances that just lacks depth and breadth in the sound it makes (it's quiet under 4000rpm which isn't fun). But with price in mind, 981 GTS (or a well specced S) is the absolute sweet spot for a modern Porsche NA motor experience Of course, if you track or drag race, none of these cars are for you if you only care about results. There's faster cars for the money (well I suppose that depends on the track and if you have any track car preferences)
Great video. I love the intake sound! I own a 2008 Cayman S with a Capristo exhaust system. The car is so balanced and very enjoyable to drive. Worth every penny and definitely is a keeper!
I got an `06 ` S with Capristo exhaust in Artic silver with the 19 inch Lobster claw design wheels and lowered suspension. Three years on and I have not had even a side bulb go out. 76k miles on it now. Great looking car too.
spot on. you've got to drive one AND you've got to drive one on the right roads. i test drove one on crowded freeway for a few miles and then back to the starting point on suburban roads at 25-45 MPH stopping every 400 yds. it was not a particularly informative or interesting drive. next day i test drove a different one on beautiful winding roads heading up into the foothills of the sierra nevada. unbelievable experience!
Good luck finding one for under $20K. The hydraulic steering is perfection. The 987 body style will be a sought after collectors item. Especially the manual transmission models.
My 2006 S is a pure joy to drive. It has every option possible for that year including PCCBs, PASM, Sport Chrono + and PSM. I have this plus an 01 Carrera Cabriolet and they're my everyday drivers year round, the Cayman S is a scalpel compared to the Carrera's sharp knife.
Just bought one will be delivered Monday it’s a 2006 cayman s with 50,000 miles I payed 30k from a dealership in VA I live in ct thanks for the review I’m going to subscribe
Great video mate. What kind of aftermarket air-intakes do the car have? I‘m thinking of replacing the stock ones on my 987s as the sound is really awesome. indeed reminds me a bit of the carbon boxes on the E46 M3s.
I bought a $300 Torque/speed booster and it eliminated the low end torque. Instant torque and made the car completely new. Definitely recommend everyone!!!
I have one in arctic silver as well. From day 1 i wanted to replace the vents with black ones. Glad to find this video. convinced now it's the right thing to do. I wont paint my originals as the car is mint so I want everything I do to be easily reversible. Great video. Great car!
Really great video. I have a 2011 987s but not the sports exhaust think I may have to invest. Servicing on the later ones is every 2 years which softens the Porsche service costs. I use Porsche for servicing to keep service history but any other jobs I use an independent garage which again keeps costs reasonable..
Thank you! I would also recommend you get the exhaust because it makes the car so enjoyable to drive. A set of intakes with the sound deadening removal will wake it up a ton.
A good option is to have all your work done by an Independent Porsche specialist, as opposed to a main Porsche Dealer ( Much more expensive ), or using your local garage ( Even if, say, it`s a main dealer for Toyota, Honda etc ). Independent specialist have all the requisite skills and equipment to do anything a main dealer could do, and it`s a respected benchmark when you sell on your car. That is my experience here in Europe anyways. Long time Porsche owner here.
Well the 986 will have a more dated interior, it's now 22 years old !! If you ask me I prefer that interior to the 987 , it was quirky but such a huge step up from the 993 that preceded it. I have an 08 Cayman S (Speed Yellow) and it's an amazing little car, every time I get to drive it I get excited and even when I look at it on the drive it makes me smile...brilliant car and as good as the 997 911 ...maybe better due to it's rarity.
Great video! You should check out the Cayman S 981 from 2014 to 2016. It's my dream car, I'm just scared of maintenance costs to be too much for my wallet :)
my favorite is a manual 2009-2012 cayman s. slight improvements in looks and performance. not too many around due to the recession at that time. will cost about 35,000 to 50,000 for one with less than 30,000 miles, i think.
@@PKmode Substantial no, but it is a 10% improvement and welcome.. What is nice is the improved fuel economy and lowered emissions. A pal has one and I have the first edition, and driven side by side, its hard to tell any difference in normal driving.
@@jamesmarshall3311 10% added power on a NA engine is substantial in my eyes and the emissions are part of what I consider to be the overall "substantial improvement" along with the valuable peace of mind when not having to worry about the potential IMS issues. They are worth more but how much more is up for debate. The used market dictates that.
I got to ride with an experienced driver at my last HPDE in his Cayman and it felt so balanced in the corners. It was fun to be in as I'm trying to compare cars now to see if I buy another fun car in a year or so.
I threw a turbo on mine and have 460 hp. The big red brakes on the "S" are more than adequate with the additional power. It makes the 2008 GT3 look kind of silly.
@@SimplyCarThings It's actually a kit from TPC. Check them out on line. I had some oil issues with the build because I track the car but it's definitely a rocket. Mine is an 08 and it's still faster than the newest ones. The big downside was not having an LSD, so I bought one from Quaife and installed it. That really made a difference out of the corners. Cheers!
Why not get a higher mileage ‘10 or ‘11 Boxster or Cayman w/o any of the potential IMS issues? The 2.9L of the Base 987.2 makes glorious sounds, loves to be revved, handles like it’s on rails. PDK of that era is rock-solid (so solid it’s been used in that config nearly untouched for a decade) and the 6-speed is fine, too. No, the 2.9L isn’t the fastest kid on the block and the 2.9’s low-end torque won’t win any awards...but the engine simply sings when pushed and the engine note is intoxicating. The 987.2 is well worth checking out.
These are about 23 to 29 in my country for a better version or low miles of around the same year. I'm looking to get a weekend car in the next 2 years and good dring mechanics and with road feel and good handling, rwd and manual seems to be the top criteria for me. I don't have huge experiences with sports cars I have a5 cabrio and a4 avant now and I've driven them at various times but hadn't had one for an extended period if time to be able to explore the limits. Commentators are lamenting that with each year that passes, this breed of car is dying out so I want to get one before they're gone. Maybe that means mx5 and put some power into it, maybe its m2, lotus, Porsche. For sure all lightly used, base prices are steep these days. That brings me to this, I never really paid attention to the boxter cayman but after seeing reviews of the new ones, this seems very attractive. The only things would have to see it in person to see how they hold up. Hp and zero to 60 wars I think are dumb, most of these cars you can't explore their limits on public roads and just mashing it in a straight lines seems to under appreciate all of its capability and to not take advantage of the joy of driving. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears. Nice video, subscribe and keep it up.
@@SimplyCarThings it’s a beast on the track. Just need to upgrade a couple things for safety and peace of mind. Go with Pagid Yellow brake pads up front, Pagid black brake pads in the rear, stainless steel brake lines, high temp brake fluid, GT3 brake ducts, and a deep sump oil pan and baffle. This will make for an unbreakable track monster. Oh yeah, throw some RE-71 tires on it too.
Interesting that you like the sound so much since you are a BMW guy - i test drove both a BMW 135i and the Cayman 987S and bought the Cayman, because it is just more special - but the 135i had a much more impressive engine note to my ears. I expected the 135i to feel faster, because turbo, but it didn't really, that also pushed me towards the Porsche.
@@jamesmarshall3311 It can look killer from the right angle, but it can also look distincly ugly from the wrong ones. That's why they made substantial changes to the body's lines for the 981 generation. But I really like the 987 headlights.
Very well presented and intelligent review and video. If by "very well presented and intelligent", I mean completely plagiarised! I don't know what kind of witchcraft you practice, if you read minds, time travel, or talk to spirits like that man/child on TV, but as a 30-year Porsche owner/hard-driver, with nearly 45 years associated with professional racing including Indycar, I couldn't agree with your assessment more. A year ago I wanted to add a car to the stable and replace my '86 Turbo Carrera as my daily driver. I was making a final decision between a couple of 911's and a couple of Mercedes AMG SL55's. I didn't give the Porsche Cayman one moment of consideration. Never thought of it. Until I drove one! A wild circumstance put a 2006 Cayman S with Tiptronic gearbox in my hands in San Diego for 3 days. I drove the fuc& out of it. Then threw every other choice out the door, began shopping, and bought one with a Manual gearbox 3 weeks later. I haven't looked back!
Loving the car reviews man, I've had the opportunity to drive a 987 Cayman manual once before and it was such a raw experience. Can't wait for more car reviews!
bmw staight sixes from the '90's have a pretty good induction noise also.... they also 'breathe' at off or part throttle with a baritone that flat sixes can't replicate .......don't get me wrong, both are in my stable......
Had my 2007 Cayman S (with 33,000 miles) for 9 months but got tired of all the maintenance costs. Now have an Amaranth Red 2013 Boxster S with sports suspension, full leather and PSE. And I must say, while I liked the 2007 Cayman S, the 981 is a MUCH better platform. Way more refined, better sound and the sports suspension is AWESOME. Worlds apart from the 987. But the 987 is still a good starter Porsche.
No reason why you should have had big maintenance costs with just 33k miles !! I am in year three of ownership with my `06 Cayman s, and have had zero issues with it. It has 74 k miles on it and all I have done is oil changes. That`s it. Sports suspension on my car is terrific and it has the nicer hydraulic steering compared to the 981 electrical one. Definitely nicer. A pal owns a 981 and it is a lovely car, with the interior being nicely upgraded, and sounds great with the sports exhaust system. I have a full Capristo exhaust on mine and it sounds fab. Finally, the 981 is way out of reach money wise for a lot of regular people. I previously owned a 997 Carrera S and a 964 back in the day. I live in Europe.
Just a correction... they are 4 piston calipers all around. At least that’s how the 986 Boxster S is. I doubt a slightly more modern Cayman S would have anything less.
muffler swap to small chamber bullets, wheels, basic wing...and you have yourself an INCREDIBLE looking and sounding car that handles grerat as well for under $25k total for a Cayman S with under 60k miles if you shop around!
I test drive one several years ago just like this one and it was the best driving experience I’ve ever had. The feel around corners and overall handling and power is perfect. The price was $24k and it had 50k miles. I was concerned about cost of repairs and maintenance so I decided against it. Probably a big mistake. I’m diving a Miata now it’s fun but not as good of course. I’m still thinking about that car! 😊👍🏻
Hello, Thanks for a great video. Any comments regarding if you anyone thinkgs this car has the potential to become a classic in the next 10 years ? Thanks
Very cool. I live in north county San Diego. I own a 2011 S 987.2 6sp black on black I also owned a 2008 S 6sp black on black If you want to talk comparisons, hit the road, let me know!
I own a stage 2 m240i but I have always wanted a cayman s, will a cayman s like the one in this video be a good replacement? I don’t mind losing close to 200hp if it drives better.
I love the M240's they're such awesome cars. But I think from a pure driving standpoint the Cayman S is better, its just so direct and nimble. Both are great in their own ways, and the BMW is way more practical
Simply Car Things I have a tuned 235. How much better is the m4 in terms of daily driving experience. I don’t track like you but just curious how much better would an M4 be to drive around town and down backroads?
@@SimplyCarThings appreciate the reply, the same intakes will fit my 986 S (987 intake is a common upgrade), I'll do some looking around at aftermarket options
Just found my new favorite youtuber, can’t wait to keep watching your videos about your BMW’s. I’m 15 and getting ready to purchase a 435i and put a M4 body kit on it🤟🏼
It’s a very underrated car. 4 years with mine and still love it.
totally agree, glad to hear you’re enjoying yours!
I actually prefer longer gears for daily driving, but backroad driving allows you to stay in a single gear most of the time. Actually probably why I'm going to buy it. Personal preferences are weird.
How is the maintenance and reliability?
@@mannyrosado9887 Maintenance can be pricey (tires, brakes etc). If you can do basic things its not that bad. Reliability is great!
Underated by who ...never seen a bad review ever !
I have a 2008 Base Model with the 5 speed manual.
It's the car on my profile pic.
I Bought the car with 70,000 Miles, I have owned for a full year and I can add on to this review.
My car has a 2.7L 6 Cylinder Flat 6 engine "M97.20" made my porsche.
The car drives amazing.
it has a manual steering rack, so every input from the road and the driver is felt ( If you like driving a car and feeling like you're riding a skateboard downhill, this is the car)
The chassis is amazing and I truly think it's one of the most raw feeling Porsche from that time after the 996 GT2.
The car is not fast ( straight line), But honestly stock the car can probably outrun most cars on a curvy road.
IMS bearing is an issue for 1-3%, however My car is 12 years old with currently 80,000, No issues. ( My brother owns a 986 boxster)
* Don't buy this car if you can't afford maintenance ( average $1000-$2000 basic maintenance yr)
* Don't buy this car If you don't have a steady job, This really isn't a car where you ignore lights or skip maintenance.
*Super Practical for a only car
The IMS bearing issue is a non event from 2006 as the bearing design was changed on Cayman`s. The single race design was doubled in size and the best figure I have received from Porsche dealers here in the UK is a fail rate of much less than 1%. What can be an issue on the S model is bore scoring for the 987.1, but we are talking about maybe a 5% fail rate. The design was changed for the `09 upgrade 987.2 model.
@@jamesmarshall3311 I've seen people mostly freak on the 987 series Boxster and Cayman. But most of that freaking is people wanting to own the car for a lot less.
In reality most people know that these cars got solid engines, porsche is known for making crazy cars that last over 200k miles. On the original drive train.
What a beauty. The problem is, finding a Cayman S for $25k with lower miles is quite unrealistic.
That's what I'm thinking....looking at one at the moment that is $37k with 15k miles.
As long as the car was properly maintained and taken care of, high miles normally isn’t an issue. If it’s a single or two owner car, odds are the car was maintained well if they kept driving them for so long. Things that regularly need to be replaced at a high mile point likely got replaced already too. Just do the research, check the car out yourself, and get it inspected at a mechanic you trust and you can’t go wrong. Sometimes that high mile car could be a better deal than it seems.
You have to shed that thinking about miles. You don't want low miles, you want pride in ownership shown in the maintenance. You can rebuild an aircraft engine for $40K today, park it in the hangar and put almost no time on it. In 12 years, if I remember correctly, the FAA will tell you to rebuild it again. Not driving a car is murder. I hear guys at work bragging about low mile muscle cars all the time. Not worth the argument. Get a well loved car with 90k miles and your fine.
@@autonomousindividual7780 Agreed. My 90K+ mile 2006 987 came with a brick-thick stack of maintenance documents\upgrades.
@@TheCh0wderpperfect advice.
Youre refreshingly pleasant to listen to, must admit im nicely surprised. No bs, no irrelevant private talk, no constant 'ummmmmmm....', not trying to be poet, just straight facts and to the point, love it!
Sorry for the late reply to your comment! But thank you so much! Appreciate the kind words
This video makes me want to get one of these in the $20-25k range to take to the track, and the canyons, as well as cruise the coast.
They provide a ton of value honestly, and will be a blast to drive for all the reasons you stated!
Great review of my favorite car.- Mine's exceptionally fun, reliable, and surprisingly practical - with useful storage everywhere. Plus, I think it's very beautiful - an all-time classic Porsche design.
Own this exact same car, same wheels, color and everything, except it's a base model. Have owned it for 3 years, amazing car that gets me lots of compliments. I would actually recommend the base model over the S because it doesn't have the spray-coat on the inside of the cylinders that can result in bore-scoring, unlike the S.
Small amount of issues - less than 5% globally. Like everything, if it has been looked after it reduces the risk / onset. But yep - it’s definitely getting lots of press - as does the IMS. Finding an M97 engine reduces the IMS risk as Porsche updated the bearing.
Sad thing with Bore score is that whilst you might not detect it in a scope it PPI, you won’t know if it’s going to get it until it starts.
We have several Porsches, and the first-gen Cayman is still my favorite. An absolutely fantastic car.
Buying an 09 base this week. No IMS, no bore score, 265 hp and a 6 speed. Not going to miss the S. Can't wait to get it home! Love how analog it feels.
Bought an 06 cobalt blue 3.4 s for £10k here in UK. 80k miles. Have it nearly 2 years and 10k more miles. Absolutely gem of a car. Still get kids wanting to sit in it and have photos taken.
I bought my Arctic Silver 06 Cayman S for the same amount, also 2 years ago here in the UK and I can honestly say it’s the best car I have ever driven.
At low revs it’s a docile tourer, but go over 3000 revs and it becomes a racing car.
Maintenance wise it’s also the easiest car for access, and whilst parts are expensive, there are many specialist parts suppliers like design911 who have really competitive prices.
Apart from major mechanical parts, the most expensive items are tyres and brakes, which will need replacing frequently if you drive it as it should be driven.
My Cayman S is my daily driver, and it always puts a smile on my face when driving it.
On spot description. If you had clear side markers and an upgraded stereo my 08 CS would be a twin. Some carbon fiber interior makes the nest a little better but pricey. I swapped most int,ext lights to led. Big improvement. You know where to find the throttle. Keep it up!
A clean 987 S will be much more then $20k unless you find a very high mileage one. Its still one of the Best Buys out there and will go up in value ! Not too many for sale as I’m currently looking.
I'm looking at buying one now an 06 with 33k miles for 36k. with more miles they're still bringing over 30. should have bought one last year but oh well.
@@Aeneas137 same boat. I am looking at one of the same price, but has 15k miles. Seems like it's a good buy? Did you end up purchasing?
I got that,!!!,a 2006 boxster s, 13K$ a 2nd hand, high every day user, 130k miles , but its 1st owner who took good care of it. Since in2019. Peace and Aloha!
Can buy them in the uk with 70k miles for about 12k
Nice review. This confirms my suspicion that I need one of these.
I’m with you. Did you buy one?
Love mine currently at 120k+ miles with mine and I just did cross country trip and still runs perfect
So awesome to hear! they seem to be very reliable
@@SimplyCarThings I noticed you said san diego and I recognized the views hahahah I just moved from eastlake to philly
I have an 07 cayman base. Frankly its as dependable as my truck. Now.. I got it fairly cheap and sunk 4k into basic maitenence...discs, brakes, front end parts, starter, filters.NOW I wouldn't sell it for less than 26K. They're fast, look amazing and handle even better. Our little date car gets driven anytime we go to town . We shred the local roads,do lunch ,grocery shop and attend functions in it. Style,speed and drivability. I can't imagine a finer vehicle on the planet.
I thought for a long time if I'm biased towards the 981 GTS after owning one.
But after getting a lot more intimate with other sports cars and the entire NA motor Porsche line up, and trying to be objective as I can. I genuinely think the 981 GTS (and the base 911 GT3) is the king experience for the ROAD going varianted, Porsche modern (ish) NA motor driving experience in terms of sweet spot, price, level of diminishing returns, and the experience you get per dollar
I do think the 981 Spyder is the actual top king for the experience but you have to pay so much more for a huge diminishing returns in driving experience.
And if course, the 981 GT4 is the track car Cayman experience.
I actually think the new 718 GT4 and the 718 Spyder falls after their 981 variants due to price, and the poor noise the 718 cars make despite having a 4.0 engine, it's a whole new engine made with new compliances that just lacks depth and breadth in the sound it makes (it's quiet under 4000rpm which isn't fun).
But with price in mind, 981 GTS (or a well specced S) is the absolute sweet spot for a modern Porsche NA motor experience
Of course, if you track or drag race, none of these cars are for you if you only care about results. There's faster cars for the money (well I suppose that depends on the track and if you have any track car preferences)
981 GTS still very expensive
I own 981 2.7 and fast enough on public roads for much less money
both are indeed dreamcars
Great video. I love the intake sound! I own a 2008 Cayman S with a Capristo exhaust system. The car is so balanced and very enjoyable to drive. Worth every penny and definitely is a keeper!
I got an `06 ` S with Capristo exhaust in Artic silver with the 19 inch Lobster claw design wheels and lowered suspension. Three years on and I have not had even a side bulb go out. 76k miles on it now. Great looking car too.
spot on. you've got to drive one AND you've got to drive one on the right roads.
i test drove one on crowded freeway for a few miles and then back to the starting point on suburban roads at 25-45 MPH stopping every 400 yds. it was not a particularly informative or interesting drive. next day i test drove a different one on beautiful winding roads heading up into the foothills of the sierra nevada. unbelievable experience!
Good luck finding one for under $20K. The hydraulic steering is perfection. The 987 body style will be a sought after collectors item. Especially the manual transmission models.
Yea definitely its impossible finding one nowadays. pre covid however there were many for sale in this price range
ive seen a few for under 25k with under 45k miles for a 06+ S
My 2006 S is a pure joy to drive. It has every option possible for that year including PCCBs, PASM, Sport Chrono + and PSM. I have this plus an 01 Carrera Cabriolet and they're my everyday drivers year round, the Cayman S is a scalpel compared to the Carrera's sharp knife.
Just bought one will be delivered Monday it’s a 2006 cayman s with 50,000 miles I payed 30k from a dealership in VA I live in ct thanks for the review I’m going to subscribe
Great video mate.
What kind of aftermarket air-intakes do the car have? I‘m thinking of replacing the stock ones on my 987s as the sound is really awesome. indeed reminds me a bit of the carbon boxes on the E46 M3s.
I just put on a Soul Performance PCS cold air intake for my 987. 10/10 recommend it sounds amazing.
Another amazing video dude I love where this channel is it going thanks so much for another interesting video good work my man
appreciate it man thanks for watching!
Hey bro, what road are you driving? I live in San Diego and am looking for some epic driving roads... thanks! Great vid..
Drive to lake Elsinore and drive highway 74 from lake Elsinore to San Clemente.
I bought a $300 Torque/speed booster and it eliminated the low end torque. Instant torque and made the car completely new. Definitely recommend everyone!!!
I have one in arctic silver as well. From day 1 i wanted to replace the vents with black ones. Glad to find this video. convinced now it's the right thing to do. I wont paint my originals as the car is mint so I want everything I do to be easily reversible. Great video. Great car!
Thank you so much! Glad you the video helped convince you 👍
Plastidip the originals black. Then you can peel off when you want it back to stock
Thank you for a great review! I love mine too. What a great sound and feel. And, the best color, German silver!
Sounds 👌
Throttle response must be instant. 😍
Very good throttle response for sure!
It's actually not. Very low torque/power under 4k. A throttle booster helps and sport mode helps deliver quicker response.
@@kurtspencer7520 how is a 3.2L flat 6 not torquey at low revs?
Really great video. I have a 2011 987s but not the sports exhaust think I may have to invest. Servicing on the later ones is every 2 years which softens the Porsche service costs. I use Porsche for servicing to keep service history but any other jobs I use an independent garage which again keeps costs reasonable..
Thank you! I would also recommend you get the exhaust because it makes the car so enjoyable to drive. A set of intakes with the sound deadening removal will wake it up a ton.
Amen
A good option is to have all your work done by an Independent Porsche specialist, as opposed to a main Porsche Dealer ( Much more expensive ), or using your local garage ( Even if, say, it`s a main dealer for Toyota, Honda etc ). Independent specialist have all the requisite skills and equipment to do anything a main dealer could do, and it`s a respected benchmark when you sell on your car. That is my experience here in Europe anyways. Long time Porsche owner here.
Well the 986 will have a more dated interior, it's now 22 years old !! If you ask me I prefer that interior to the 987 , it was quirky but such a huge step up from the 993 that preceded it.
I have an 08 Cayman S (Speed Yellow) and it's an amazing little car, every time I get to drive it I get excited and even when I look at it on the drive it makes me smile...brilliant car and as good as the 997 911 ...maybe better due to it's rarity.
Great video! You should check out the Cayman S 981 from 2014 to 2016. It's my dream car, I'm just scared of maintenance costs to be too much for my wallet :)
Learn to drop the engine out to maintain it yourself....aaaahhhahahahha
I really want to do a review on one! I think it would be pretty interesting for a lot of people
Excellent review especially with the weight balance and feedback. Cayman is an enthusiast's dream
thank you, yea it was a lovely car 👌🏼 hoping to review some newer cayman’s soon on the channel
my favorite is a manual 2009-2012 cayman s. slight improvements in looks and performance. not too many around due to the recession at that time. will cost about 35,000 to 50,000 for one with less than 30,000 miles, i think.
The direct injection makes a substantial difference for sure. As pointed out though, they command a premium.
@@PKmode Substantial no, but it is a 10% improvement and welcome.. What is nice is the improved fuel economy and lowered emissions. A pal has one and I have the first edition, and driven side by side, its hard to tell any difference in normal driving.
@@jamesmarshall3311 10% added power on a NA engine is substantial in my eyes and the emissions are part of what I consider to be the overall "substantial improvement" along with the valuable peace of mind when not having to worry about the potential IMS issues. They are worth more but how much more is up for debate. The used market dictates that.
I got to ride with an experienced driver at my last HPDE in his Cayman and it felt so balanced in the corners. It was fun to be in as I'm trying to compare cars now to see if I buy another fun car in a year or so.
I'm really hoping I can experience one on track soon because it was so enjoyable even on your everyday backroad
You’re gonna make it big. Keep grinding.
My guy
Liked the video as soon as I hear the exhaust
I threw a turbo on mine and have 460 hp. The big red brakes on the "S" are more than adequate with the additional power. It makes the 2008 GT3 look kind of silly.
No way! That sounds like an epic build. Any modifications to the motor? Or is it relatively stock
@@SimplyCarThings It's actually a kit from TPC. Check them out on line. I had some oil issues with the build because I track the car but it's definitely a rocket. Mine is an 08 and it's still faster than the newest ones. The big downside was not having an LSD, so I bought one from Quaife and installed it. That really made a difference out of the corners. Cheers!
Super Dave post a video of it. Would like to see it.
Super Dave, what did the kit cost you, installed, if you don't mind my asking. I read the kit is something like 11 grand.
@@LetsDIYIt if you have to ask you can’t afford it...
Good video. Makes me want to go out for a drive.
Why not get a higher mileage ‘10 or ‘11 Boxster or Cayman w/o any of the potential IMS issues? The 2.9L of the Base 987.2 makes glorious sounds, loves to be revved, handles like it’s on rails. PDK of that era is rock-solid (so solid it’s been used in that config nearly untouched for a decade) and the 6-speed is fine, too. No, the 2.9L isn’t the fastest kid on the block and the 2.9’s low-end torque won’t win any awards...but the engine simply sings when pushed and the engine note is intoxicating. The 987.2 is well worth checking out.
There are no issues with any Cayman`s after 2005 as they had a much larger bearing installed.
2007-2008 S models have potential for bore score problem
Great video! :) Is that suspension dropped? It looks lowered
Yes. Probably lowering springs.
Addicting?, I think you mean addictive!but I agree with you on the sound of that car😊
Do you have any detail on the mods?
These are about 23 to 29 in my country for a better version or low miles of around the same year. I'm looking to get a weekend car in the next 2 years and good dring mechanics and with road feel and good handling, rwd and manual seems to be the top criteria for me. I don't have huge experiences with sports cars I have a5 cabrio and a4 avant now and I've driven them at various times but hadn't had one for an extended period if time to be able to explore the limits. Commentators are lamenting that with each year that passes, this breed of car is dying out so I want to get one before they're gone. Maybe that means mx5 and put some power into it, maybe its m2, lotus, Porsche. For sure all lightly used, base prices are steep these days. That brings me to this, I never really paid attention to the boxter cayman but after seeing reviews of the new ones, this seems very attractive. The only things would have to see it in person to see how they hold up. Hp and zero to 60 wars I think are dumb, most of these cars you can't explore their limits on public roads and just mashing it in a straight lines seems to under appreciate all of its capability and to not take advantage of the joy of driving. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears. Nice video, subscribe and keep it up.
Sweet cayman bro!
Would love to see a 997 911 featured one day
I'll definitely try to get one on the channel for you guys! Thank you for watching!!
That beat at the beginning was 🔥
glad you liked it 😃
yup. I have an 07 with mods. some videos from track time on my channel. highly recommended as I have owned 5 Porsche models.
How do you like the cayman on track?
@@SimplyCarThings it’s a beast on the track. Just need to upgrade a couple things for safety and peace of mind. Go with Pagid Yellow brake pads up front, Pagid black brake pads in the rear, stainless steel brake lines, high temp brake fluid, GT3 brake ducts, and a deep sump oil pan and baffle. This will make for an unbreakable track monster. Oh yeah, throw some RE-71 tires on it too.
What kind of exhaust set up on the 987 ? I noticed it had a lower suspension so I imagine the owner modded the pipes a little
Aftermarket coldair intake kit
Interesting that you like the sound so much since you are a BMW guy - i test drove both a BMW 135i and the Cayman 987S and bought the Cayman, because it is just more special - but the 135i had a much more impressive engine note to my ears. I expected the 135i to feel faster, because turbo, but it didn't really, that also pushed me towards the Porsche.
The Cayman is so much better looking it`s not even fair.
@@jamesmarshall3311 It can look killer from the right angle, but it can also look distincly ugly from the wrong ones. That's why they made substantial changes to the body's lines for the 981 generation. But I really like the 987 headlights.
Oh man I've been on a mish for one of these or a 981! Gonna have to part with the 335i tho 😭
a 981 would be awesome! I think it'll be a nice upgrade!
Very well presented and intelligent review and video.
If by "very well presented and intelligent", I mean completely plagiarised!
I don't know what kind of witchcraft you practice, if you read minds, time travel, or talk to spirits like that man/child on TV, but as a 30-year Porsche owner/hard-driver, with nearly 45 years associated with professional racing including Indycar, I couldn't agree with your assessment more.
A year ago I wanted to add a car to the stable and replace my '86 Turbo Carrera as my daily driver. I was making a final decision between a couple of 911's and a couple of Mercedes AMG SL55's. I didn't give the Porsche Cayman one moment of consideration. Never thought of it. Until I drove one!
A wild circumstance put a 2006 Cayman S with Tiptronic gearbox in my hands in San Diego for 3 days. I drove the fuc& out of it. Then threw every other choice out the door, began shopping, and bought one with a Manual gearbox 3 weeks later.
I haven't looked back!
Great review!
thank you!!
great review man, sometimes i wonder if i shouldve gotten a cayman s over my m235i. also why do i feel like your next car is gonna be a porsche 😂
They're both amazing cars for their respective reasons! And maybe one day man.... :D The M4 will most likely stay with me forever though !
I believe the rear calipers are also four Pistons.
Try a 3.2 NSX with a intake and titanium exhaust. Even better sound. Like a race bike.
😯 do you have one i can review?
@@SimplyCarThings had one. Many moons ago. Back when Arc made titanium exhausts.
Love mine had it since 07
Great review.
Loving the car reviews man, I've had the opportunity to drive a 987 Cayman manual once before and it was such a raw experience. Can't wait for more car reviews!
Thanks for watching, Justin! And yea man its an awesome little car, they offer a ton of value for the money
bmw staight sixes from the '90's have a pretty good induction noise also.... they also 'breathe' at off or part throttle with a baritone that flat sixes can't replicate .......don't get me wrong, both are in my stable......
Owned a well modded 987 S in the past and I can easily say bmw doesn’t compare (I have two BMW’s now).
it's a sports car built from the ground up! Definitely an awesome ride to have
It's all fun and games until you get lapped by M3s on the track.
Mind you I do have Pcars as well..
absolutely a drivers car ! just love my roadster.
loving these new videos bro
Thanks brotha, glad you like them!
Had my 2007 Cayman S (with 33,000 miles) for 9 months but got tired of all the maintenance costs. Now have an Amaranth Red 2013 Boxster S with sports suspension, full leather and PSE. And I must say, while I liked the 2007 Cayman S, the 981 is a MUCH better platform. Way more refined, better sound and the sports suspension is AWESOME. Worlds apart from the 987. But the 987 is still a good starter Porsche.
No reason why you should have had big maintenance costs with just 33k miles !! I am in year three of ownership with my `06 Cayman s, and have had zero issues with it. It has 74 k miles on it and all I have done is oil changes. That`s it. Sports suspension on my car is terrific and it has the nicer hydraulic steering compared to the 981 electrical one. Definitely nicer. A pal owns a 981 and it is a lovely car, with the interior being nicely upgraded, and sounds great with the sports exhaust system. I have a full Capristo exhaust on mine and it sounds fab. Finally, the 981 is way out of reach money wise for a lot of regular people. I previously owned a 997 Carrera S and a 964 back in the day. I live in Europe.
I agree having 981 2.7 Cayman with PDK, PASM
it’s another level up
I prefer the analog feel of the 987 over the 981. The 987 definitely gets more looks as well.
NickH agree on the analog feel but the 981 is more comfortable on long drives. Funny I never got any looks with my 987 but get a lot with my 981.
for the record ALL Boxster and Cayman models sound great. even the original 2.5.
Heard the sound immediately hit like
Just a correction... they are 4 piston calipers all around. At least that’s how the 986 Boxster S is. I doubt a slightly more modern Cayman S would have anything less.
muffler swap to small chamber bullets, wheels, basic wing...and you have yourself an INCREDIBLE looking and sounding car that handles grerat as well for under $25k total for a Cayman S with under 60k miles if you shop around!
Hey man good review
appreciate it man!
what is the exhaust line ?
What’s the intake kit on this car?
I test drive one several years ago just like this one and it was the best driving experience I’ve ever had. The feel around corners and overall handling and power is perfect. The price was $24k and it had 50k miles. I was concerned about cost of repairs and maintenance so I decided against it. Probably a big mistake. I’m diving a Miata now it’s fun but not as good of course. I’m still thinking about that car! 😊👍🏻
Joel Remland - just get it! It’s a wonderful car. You will not regret the decision. Maintenance is not bad. Most can be done by yourself.
Hello, Thanks for a great video. Any comments regarding if you anyone thinkgs this car has the potential to become a classic in the next 10 years ? Thanks
I do. Prices have been slowly rising over the past 12 months.
So what is the percentage of bore score in the 06 07 08
May i ask how tall are you? Cause I'm thinking of getting one, but I'm 1,94cm talk and I'm afraid therefore that I'm to tall?
I’m 6’2” and fit with room to spare.
by the way the interior is entirely based on customer options. there are variations that have 100% interior on the dash and everywhere.
Very cool. I live in north county San Diego.
I own a 2011 S 987.2 6sp black on black
I also owned a 2008 S 6sp black on black If you want to talk comparisons, hit the road, let me know!
Most definitely I filmed this vid in Escondido! Thanks for watching 🤙🏼
I own a stage 2 m240i but I have always wanted a cayman s, will a cayman s like the one in this video be a good replacement? I don’t mind losing close to 200hp if it drives better.
I love the M240's they're such awesome cars. But I think from a pure driving standpoint the Cayman S is better, its just so direct and nimble. Both are great in their own ways, and the BMW is way more practical
Nice Sound❣️
I love the 987 but I would get a 981 because I hate the rear bumper blocks
I think the 981 is definitely the best looking. A GT4 would be amazing to own
Simply Car Things I have a tuned 235. How much better is the m4 in terms of daily driving experience. I don’t track like you but just curious how much better would an M4 be to drive around town and down backroads?
Thankfully we don`t have those things in Europe !!
Would you say this is good to pair with my 2007 Accord coupe and 2007 TL Type-S?
Without a doubt yes!
How does this compare to a classic Porsche, say a 930, in terms of directness of handling?
Not entirely sure to be honest, the oldest Porsche i've driven was a 993 Carrera and I enjoyed the driving characteristics of the Cayman a lot more
I've driven a 935 and own a cayman 987. The steering is similar, the cayman feels more planted. the 935 felt lighter, like a 986 boxster.
Like the rx7 with a better engine placement
In Australia they are $55-$65k
great job man thank you
Thanks for watching the review, glad you liked it 🤙🏼
Naturally aspirated c63 or this?
What’s the yearly maintenance like
The owner of this Cayman didn't have to do much. No issues, just stayed on top of oil changes, tires, and brakes
What’s up with the tiptronic steering wheel?
it's an upgraded steering wheel that had been fitted by the previous owner, the tiptronic buttons are not functional
What is the suspension setup!!??
godspeed coilovers with valvetronic mufflers. The coilovers are great but make a lot of clinking noises when you're turning at lower speeds
don’t like the look, so I bought the 981 and enjoy it indeed daily! dreamcars
Got to love it…
PSE exhaust ?
i believe it was just an off brand Ebay valved exhaust system
What intake is on the car? It doesn't sound stock
I can’t remember but i know the intakes were aftermarket. It also deleted a lot of the intake sound deadening so the induction note was lovely
@@SimplyCarThings appreciate the reply, the same intakes will fit my 986 S (987 intake is a common upgrade), I'll do some looking around at aftermarket options
How is it on the canyons?
Can you carve them with this car?
I think you must not watched this video !!
@@jamesmarshall3311 Can you point me to the time?
Just found my new favorite youtuber, can’t wait to keep watching your videos about your BMW’s. I’m 15 and getting ready to purchase a 435i and put a M4 body kit on it🤟🏼
Congrats man thats awesome! And thank you for supporting the channel!
Safe buying a 2006 version of one of these at 136k miles for
only if it has been cared for. check the service log and do your research on major faults.
Steering wheel feels better as it’s not factory, it’s been thickened and retrimmed badly by the look of it
Base cayman is a hidden gem,
I agree!
Like #987. Must be fate that I just bought an 06 Cayman S!
Great car
indeed 👍
Jesus what road is that😂 that shit fire
987R is still yo daddy ❤