Porsche Cayman S 2 Year AMA: ANSWERS

"Poor_Sh" (ar4x) 05/20/2020 at 11:30 • Filed to: None

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If you didn’t see, I had an AMA yesterday about my 2 years with my Cayman S. I got exactly 10 questions (as of writing this) so that’s cool! And, what’s great is they’re good questions too mostly so thanks for showing some interest. I’m going to go down the list and just answer everyone. I might get carried away, actually I will, but I’ve wanted to talk about all this anyway.

Tripper

If you’re doing autocross and track days, I’m going to go ahead and assume you’re turning the wrench yourself on most things.

Have you needed to employ and inde or dealer for anything?

Have you owned, wrenched on any other performance oriented Germans?

What are the caveats of mid-engine ownership only to be realized after becoming an owner?

I have been wrenching myself mostly! Before this car I had only done some audio and lighting, a cold air intake, an axle-back exhaust, and swapped wheels. Based on mostly a desire to do more but also LOTS of savings ($$) I’ve done my own oil changes, brake flush and bleed, brake pad replacements, air filter replacements, lots of wheel swaps, and I’ve got... plans.

I have an inde that I use for my track stuff mostly. They offer free track inspections (following the PCA document) due to an agreement with PCA. I’ve also had them do my first brake flush when I wasn’t ready before my first track day, and they did my track alignment last year. I will definitely go back to them once my CPO Warranty is up but for now I will do another track alignment and inspection if track days happen this year. I’ve used the dealer a LOT which is mostly due to bad luck which I’ll explain later, but also a few warranty items got replaced which was really nice. I get great courtesy cars, and the mechanics even suggest warranty fixes they notice that I didn’t!

I have not owned or wrenched on any other performance oriented German. Though I did help replace my friend’s headlight assemblies in high school on his MB C320. His parents owned a car dealership.

Ooh mid-engine caveats ok... Pros: cool rare factor especially when people see you open the frunk, frunk and trunk actually have a LOT of space for this size 2-seater car, intake noises behind your head are teh sex, barely any tubes/wires/etc to get damaged under the car for 2/3 the length, balance around turns is crazy until you go too far

Cons: when you go too far you can’t recover. I’m sure some people can but I’ve had a few more full pirouette spins at AutoX than in the 14' Mustang GT I had before lol. Can’t quickly access the engine, engine work is INSIDE the car so you have to remove and take care of aesthetic pieces you want to keep nice like carpeting and seats. That being said, the videos I’ve watched and wrenching I’ve done myself consistently surprises me with how every aspect of the engineering was thought out. It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible and a lot of times way easier than I thought with “mid engine Porsche” in my inexperienced mind.

Arrivederci

Any common faults to be aware of when shopping for 981s? At this point from what I’ve seen, they seem rather stout.

What’s your favorite thing about it?

Least favorite or biggest annoyance?

If you could do it again, would you still get the S, or would you go for the base, or up to a GTS or GT4?

I don’t know if there’s anything as big as the IMS, but (and this may be the 987 as well) I’ve heard the interior headliner can start to fall down. The door panels tend to unstick over time but mine were replaced under my CPO warranty. Otherwise they seem very reliable mechanically.

My absolute favorite thing about this car is how I feel driving it aggressively. It’s an adrenaline rush every time. It’s not chaos like my Mustang was, it’s refined of course, but it just feels like the physical embodiment of driving enthusiasm. A heel-toe downshift into a tight corner then accelerating out, a hard charge redlining a few gears, or just adding more and more power (POWERRRRRRRR) on a long sweeper and feeling the grip increase, the seats grabbing you, virtually no roll.... hnggg

Least favorite is a bit unfair and is basically just that it’s been so unlucky for me. Mechanically sound but the scratches and other things I’ll get into later is like 10x more than any car I’ve owned even in only 2 years. Some of this is likely it’s shape and sportiness though so I guess it’s par for the course dailying a sports car.

If I could do it again in the same situation, I’d get the same car. I wrote a 10 page research paper deciding what car to get and I test drove the base and the S and decided I absolutely had to have the S. Now though, with my house and my Miata and wanting to track a lot more? I’d get a base 981 and spend the difference on track time and tires :)

Thomas Donohue

We hear all kinds of complaints about the manual with the long gearing.....how is it DD vs on the track? Do you ever wish it was geared shorter when driving around town?

I’ve driven many 987/981 S models but never long enough to have a valid opinion (I have a 986 5-sp).

DD it’s great actually if you want to just commute. Starting in first is easy enough, I actually love the heavy clutch like my Mustang had (but more actually). Then once you’re in second it doesn’t end until you’re over EVERY SPEED LIMIT IN 49 STATES. So if you just try to get to the speed you need then comfortably shift to the gear you can cruise in, easy. However, after getting the 5spd Miata I really have a lot more fun shifting more often and blasting around everywhere just to get to the speed limit lol So, if I couldn’t afford a second car then yes it was starting to get boring driving around Rhode Island with this gearing. Find the right roads, it’ll treat you right.

On the track? It’s interesting. It’s great for learning because there’s not much shifting. I shift up twice at Thompson and down once (skip), at Palmer I shift up twice and down twice. At AutoX I shift once then drive an automatic car the rest of the time lol though I get into 3rd on the long straights now. Still, the long gearing itself isn’t the big problem it’s actually the dip in the power around 3500 rpm or so. That just so happens to align with when you drop to second and try to power up a hill while watching Macans and Panameras catch up to you. You really have to try to maintain higher RPMs but then you don’t have the short gearing to really dial that in.

ranwhenparked

As someone who has been tempted by Caymans over the years, I guess my biggest question would be related to total cost of ownership - how bad have the repairs been over the past few years?

Ok this is where I’ll get into the issues I’ve had, the bad luck. For a short answer though it’s been very low cost overall when you think of Porsche but this is due to 2 big caveats namely 1) It had 6 months left of the original warranty then 2 years of CPO which ends this September so even though nothing has come up that actually was necessary to fix it all is expensive when you don’t have a warranty. 2) I do my own maintenance which according to recent numbers saves me about $270 per oil change.

The long answer is that I’ve spent $2700 on repairs, could spend a lot more if I was trying to maintain some garage queen appearance (but that’s actually another caveat to cost is that I treat it as a car not a piece of art). First, the warranty repairs were replacing the stock amplifier which was cutting out when I bought it, replaced both door panels, and replaced a windshield washer hose that broke at a bend. Second, the non warranty repairs were caused by a nail in a newish rear tire so I had to get a pair quickly ($700), I have no idea how but a massive scratch on the driver side rocker appeared one day and my deductible would have been close enough that I covered out of pocket ($700), once I adjusted my insurance I had to replace a cracked windshield ($100), I had to get another driver side rocker (the same one) scratch fixed after a shopping cart hit it in the wind ($100), and recently a bunch of small scratch fixes and replacements from a deer running into me after it had already crossed the road ($100), then in between all this the first time I tried to bleed my brakes I snapped a bleeder nipple off which luckily broke closed but couldn’t be drilled out and the dealership just replaced the WHOLE CALIPER ($1000). Thirdly there’s all the stuff I haven’t fixed. There’s little scratches and stuff all over the front from road work, track debris, etc though luckily I have a clear wrap on most of it but scratches have gone through a lot too. I scratched the hatch when it was open and I accidentally closed my garage door while it was on my lift.

BTW I’m single, an engineer, and have awful priorities so I spend most of my spare money on this hobby. I go to the track, I get track insurance, I bought a jack, jack stands (now recalled), then a Quickjack system which is AMAZING, a motive power bleeder for brakes, replacement OEM brake pads, track pads, RBF 600 brake fluid, a set of winter wheels and tires, specific wrenches, torque wrenches, power tools, tire pressure and tread gauges, brake pad thickness gauges, oh and a full compliment of middling car wash stuff. Probably a lot more. I have a problem. So if you want to do exactly what I do with this car, it’s very expensive.

*** If you just want to daily a Cayman, it’s not exorbitant at all for what you get and what you pay. ***

ItalianJobR53 etc etc etc

Anything you would change on the car from a design perspective that improves the driving experience? Any mods on the car, any planned?

But most importantly, MOAR ASTON PICS PLEASE!!!

If I could eliminate that power dip mid-band it would be perfect. Maybe hydraulic steering but the electric system is really really good. Porsche sports exhaust should be mandatory rather than an option lol

I have track pads I use for track and autox, I’m getting better tires soon, and replaced my brake fluid with RBF 600. I got a track alignment last year and will again this year. Upcoming though is a valved Fabspeed performance exhaust that I bought stupidly but will install after I get an inspection next month :p then in the future my plan is for this to be my track-only car eventually so I’ll start with headers, Cobb tuning maybe, suspension upgrade, seats with harnesses with a roll bar, then who knows?

AestheticsInMotion

Is there anyone ahead of me in line for when you eventually sell it?

I’m guessing you’ll autox the Miata at some point. Curious how they compare

I’m hoping to never sell it. If I can keep it financially then I want it eventually to be a track-only car until it dies, or I die.

I won’t ever autox the miata as-is, I just don’t trust the suspension and components in that environment. HOWEVER I do plan to turn it into an Exocet once it’s too unreliable to daily. I can’t wait for my first big project!

Captain of the Enterprise

Is it good for tall people. I’m 6’3” with a tall torso and like them a lot. I’d have to buy one in like the sub $15000 range though.

I can’t tell you exactly, but here’s my experience and some anecdotal evidence. I’m 6'0" and I fit easily with my racing helmet on so I think you will fit. Anecdotally I’ve read a lot about the Porsche seating position which basically is possible because you don’t have an engine up front and they don’t try to make the top shaped like a hypercar. It creates sort of a bubble where you can see over the hood really well and feel spacious but while being able to touch the passenger door without leaning and sitting more like an F1 position than an F150 position. If you get a good example, do a PPI, and can do some basic maintenance it will be an amazing car for you. My advice is don’t test drive one if you can’t buy it that day. It wrecked my Mustang for me.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever

Congrats on the anniversary! Did you make any mods for the track, i.e. brakes?

Touched on this earlier but I’ll go chronologically. 1st track weekend (Fri, Sat, and Sun) all I had was a brake flush done which is required each year by PCA and a track alignment maxing out my negative camber front and back with 0 toe foreward and very slight toe in rearward. Otherwise stock everything else. My tires all season were mismatched though because the nail made me get Nitto NT555 rears while I have Michelin PS4S fronts. For my 4th track day I just had another brake flush lol but it was included in the deal for the track day by Porsche Norwell, I brought them the RBF 600. Then for my 5th and 6th track days (Sat and Sun) I replaced my stock brake pads with Ferodos. After realizing I’d swap pads often and need to replace the front caliper bolts each time ($16 total) I swapped the bolts for stainless studs so I can slide the caliper off and on easily. This year I did my flush with RBF 600, will keep using the Ferodos, will redo the alignment, and HOPEFULLY will get RE71R tires at all 4 corners.

Oh and I got Harry’s Laptimer and a bluetooth OBDII reader for my 5th and 6th track days last year which is awesome.

DAWRX

Since you DD & track this car, how is the exterior and interior holding up?

Exterior not perfect lol there’s scratches around the front but most on the clear wrap. There are dings right behind my wheel wells. Some rubber marks I keep as battle wounds. Everybody says it looks great though so if you don’t go over it too closely it’s still a sexy beast! The interior is basically mint other than the driver seat has damage that was somewhat repaired before I bought it just based on sliding in and out of a low car. I try to avoid it but I know it’ll rip again in my ownership. Still, I don’t treat this like a garage queen so while I detest the scratches I make stupidly or other people make I honestly kind of like the battle wounds. It proves I track it, and autox it, and road trip it, and drive in the winter. It’s supposed to be used like that I think. Resale value be damned, I’m gonna own this thing till it’s worth as much as my Miata!

CB

Do you ever feel like you should have bought a 911?

Fuck no. lol Ok so there’s 2 answers here. 1) My comparisons when buying were an M2, GT350, C7, F-Type, and ATS-V. All of those would have been 2-3 years old for the price I paid for this (then 4 years old) Cayman S and for a 911 of the same price? It would have been 11 YEARS OLD. This was my new daily, I was fine with practicality being thrown out the window but I wasn’t going to pay that much for a car that old. 2) I never grew up lusting after a Porsche. It meant money. I didn’t have anyone as into cars around as I am now. A 911 didn’t mean that much to me. In fact, I only found the Cayman in my price range and performance requirements after expanding my search just for fun on Cars.com one day during writing my 10 page research paper on the above cars lol So really the 911 was never an option, and I’ll never regret it for what I wanted.

However I will add this, after joining the Porsche community and participating in the wonderful Porsche world (if you’re not a stuffy asshole) I love the 911. I love Porsche. And I would LOVE to drive every single one. I want another one though I doubt I’ll ever be in the same financial standing as when I was able to buy this. So should I have bought a 911? No. But I’d like to. Manual, naturally aspirated, not too many modern safety assistants, and RWD.

Thanks again to all of you! I wanted to talk about all this stuff and even more but if I just wrote that it would turn into another 10 page research paper. Hell, I wouldn’t expect most of you to read this whole thing even. Feel free to ask more, all the time. Even with the bad luck I love this car, I love what this car has done for my life (PCA, Oppo, friends and events), and I enjoy sharing with everyone who I think would enjoy being shared with. It’s just my car but I know it’s still a special Porsche, so letting friends test drive it, or giving people rides, or just showing up sometimes.... it’s nice.

Mid Engine > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 11:43

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Well done, I’ve done a ton of mods to mine (mostly cosmetic bits) and had fun wrenching. Outside of wear items and maintenance I’ve had a few things to contend with: water pump (a bitch to replace) and the serpentine belt was no fun either (access through firewall beh ind the seats). This year I had to replace a catalytic converter and finally, the headliner let go.

For a 14 year old car my Cayman has been one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned.

way2blu does a rev update > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 11:47

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That was an awesome read. I’m glad these aren’t in my price range yet, because I’d be very tempted to go test drive one (Mexico Blue, if I can find it) and end up addicted immediately.

I didn’t know that Porsche boxer engines had a torque dip around 3500 rpm as well. For years I thought that was just a Subaru BRZ  problem.

Poor_Sh > Mid Engine 05/20/2020 at 11:53

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Honestly I kinda want to replace the belt just to say I wrenched on a Porsche engine from the passenger seat lol but yeah I'm glad you've had a similar experience. Too bad about those headliners though. 

Poor_Sh > way2blu does a rev update 05/20/2020 at 11:56

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Thanks!

Mexico blue would be PTS for the 981 but they exist if you really need that color. I personally wanted Aqua Blue Metallic but fell in love with the dark blue when I first saw it.

Also not all Porsche boxer engines dip there, it’s thought to be basically designed in as one of the multiple methods to neuter this car vs the 911. Simple bolt-ons of existing 911 parts can virtually eliminate it, especially headers and a tune.

E90M3 > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 12:15

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BTW I’m single, an engineer, and have awful priorities

Pretty much right back at you, well at least that was the case until of June last year. 

Poor_Sh > E90M3 05/20/2020 at 12:45

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You mean the guy with an M3 and a 3 series who worked/works in the oil industry? I’m shocked, shocked! Well not that shocked lol

BTW even though I'm fully single right now I meant it in the unmarried/no kids way which I believe you still are correct? Single income at least. SINK looking to become DINK eventually. 

E90M3 > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 12:51

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Used to be in the oil industry, thankfully not anymore with the current climate. I did have the M3 from those days, and the 328i was a 128i back then.

Yeah, that’s what I kinda figured. Still single income, I do have a girlfriend but that’s looking like it’ll become a DINK situation in the not too distant future. She’s a pediatrics resident and I need some more income so I can get a turbo Porsche. 

Poor_Sh > E90M3 05/20/2020 at 12:54

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I need a second (bigger) income to move to a 3 car garage haha 2 for me one for her and my daily can stay outside. Conversely 3 for me.......

Good luck though!!

E90M3 > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 12:57

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I have told her that a three car garage would be on my wish list for a house. I wasn’t really joking. 

functionoverfashion > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 13:05

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This was great, nice write-up. Any questions I would have asked were answered anyway, so cheers.

I’ve thought about doing an Oppo review on my old truck, but maybe I’d do this instead - let other people do half the work by asking questions hahaha

I love the Cayman and would love to have one. A friend offered me his Boxster for $5k and I’m sure it would still have been a fun ride. There are a few Porsches out there that aren’t insanely priced, yet still a lot of fun and nice to look at, 911's be damned. However, if I won the lottery I’d have an older 911 in a heartbeat. 

Poor_Sh > functionoverfashion 05/20/2020 at 13:13

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Thanks for reading and definitely the AMA took a bunch off my shoulders. Do it!

I was very close to getting a $5k boxster to compliment my Cayman but ended up with the $5k miata instead. A better decision likely but I think I could handle most of what the cheap boxster could throw at me and can you imagine 2 PORSCHE 2 SEAT MI D ENGINE MANUAL FLEET? Would have been worth the story alone. 

Mid Engine > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 13:25

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The glue eventually dries out and the headliner drops. I can’t complain as it took over 13 years for the headliner to fail, it was replaced with a lcantara at a local specialty store for $1k.

Poor_Sh > Mid Engine 05/20/2020 at 13:46

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Yeah I mentioned that it was a known issue but that seems like a very nice result!

bouldergeek > Mid Engine 05/20/2020 at 14:33

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I am also a 987.1 owner. I’ve had mine for three years. Bought it with 22,000 miles for $26,000. So, it was nearly new at 60% depreciation. Been a great car, so far.

Nothing has broken on mine, now at 36,000 miles. Everything I have done has been my own darkling and mods. I added H&R lowering springs, braided steel brake lines, GT3 master cylinder at the same time plus clutch bleed. IPD plenum and GT3 throttle body, paired with FVD Brombacher tune and their stainless exhaust. Numeric shift cables, short shifter and painted console, leather console armrest, GT3 alcantara shifter knob. Just did plugs & coils. Should be good for a bit

I’ve rented GT3s and Cayman GTS at the track, plus PCA classes.  I go back to my $30K car after a $150K one, and giggle at how much fun I have for a fraction of the cost.

bouldergeek > Mid Engine 05/20/2020 at 14:36

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My 2006 hasn't started to droop, yet. I bought a large bolt of gray alcantara and wrapped the door surround trim.  I need to find a shop to install the liner someday.  Should be sexy after that.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 15:09

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Thanks for sharing. Like you, realising my childhood dreams of playing with sports cars has opened an entirely different world for me. I now have entire circles of friends that I never would have met if I didn’t make take the plunge 9 years ago (987 Cayman ).

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 15:10

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I’d say you made the right choice. IMO the Boxster isn’t different enough from the Cayman to make me want to own both at the same time—even with the significant age gap.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3 05/20/2020 at 15:12

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Honesty, I can feel the honesty in this post.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 15:13

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Ugh, we have 2 incomes and I still can’t afford a 3-car garage. My nonexistent Abarth could use it.

BEER4Bonnieville > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 16:15

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Very good looking Tuxie.

Poor_Sh > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 05/20/2020 at 17:21

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The point of the miata is a slow convertible beater to cruise around in. I think the boxster could be the same really. 

Poor_Sh > BEER4Bonnieville 05/20/2020 at 17:21

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Thanks!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Poor_Sh 05/20/2020 at 18:55

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If you don’t mind having 2 cars with a very similar vibe, absolutely true.

Poor_Sh > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 05/20/2020 at 18:56

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See E90M3 lol

AnonymousCoupe > Poor_Sh 05/21/2020 at 08:13

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Great write up! You remind me a lot of myself haha. I got a 2014 Cayman S as a DD and PCA HPDE car 3 years ago and loved every minute of it. What a great all around car. Mine was Amaranth Red Metallic with 6mt/PSE/SC/X73 and more. I had a lot of the same problems as you as well. The gearing was probably my least favorite thing about the car though I agree it made it easier to learn a new track. Unfortunately my car was totaled by a sanitation truck that cut me off on the highway recently. I used the opportunity to get one of my dream cars, a gen 1 R8 with the gated 6 speed which I’m enjoying so far. I could definitely see myself in a 981 GT4 in the future though. May you enjoy your Cayman for many years to come!

Poor_Sh > AnonymousCoupe 05/21/2020 at 09:03

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Awesome thanks for the response! I’m sorry about your Cayman but coming out alive and getting into an R8 sounds like a great outcome. It’s it apples to oranges?

A GT4 is a dream car for lottery winning me lol but I guess at that point I'd get the upcoming GT4 RS.

superdave847 > Poor_Sh 05/21/2020 at 10:48

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Great write up--sweet car & cute cat. Keep this stuff coming!

superdave847 > E90M3 05/21/2020 at 10:49

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A black on black 996 Turbo S hits a sweet spot.

AnonymousCoupe > Poor_Sh 05/21/2020 at 10:53

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I was really bummed out about the Cayman for a while, but insurance ended up giving me a generous payout so I can’t complain. With both being mid-engined mid-tier sports cars, i wouldn’t say it is an apple and oranges comparison, though they are certainly different cars. My r8 has an Armytrix valvetronic titanium exhaust on it so it sounds insane with the valves open. Makes the 981 PSE seem tame haha, though I loved that as well. With the exhaust on, the r8 has about 450 hp so it feels faster in a straight line, but I think the specific track will determine which car is faster as the X73 suspension on my 981S felt tighter and the 981 is also lighter. I’m still getting used to the light clutch in the r8 as the Caymans is pretty heavy as you mentioned. Looks wise, I think the Cayman is beautiful with a timeless design, but the r8 is on another level. One of my favorite designs of all time. The Cayman is a bit more practical as the frunk is bigger. Overall, they are both such great cars. I’m looking forward to getting thr r8 to the track to see how it compares at the limit.

E90M3 > superdave847 05/21/2020 at 10:54

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That it would. I do have quite an affinity for the 996 turbos. 

Poor_Sh > AnonymousCoupe 05/21/2020 at 11:50

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I’d love to eventuall y upgrade to the X73, and my Fabspeed Valvetronic exhaust is going on next month.

Idk if the R8 is mix-tier, but I'd love to hear your experience on the track in comparison. 

AnonymousCoupe > Poor_Sh 05/21/2020 at 14:33

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I can’t recommend the X73 highly enough. I could feel a huge difference when driving a 981 or 718 with the base suspension. Good luck with the exhaust, that should sound great!

I called the r8 mid-tier just because I have the v8 which is on p ar with the 981S performance wise. There has always been a debate among the r8 community whether it qualifies as a supercar or not. Based on looks it certainty does and the v10 has the performance to back it up, but I would consider the v8 to be a mid-tier sports car based on performance. Regardless of what’s its classified as, it’s an awesome vehicle haha.