DRIVEN: Why The Porsche 987.2 Cayman S Is The Perfect £25,000 Used Sports Car Bargain

Thanks to CarVertical for sponsoring today's video. Get 10% off their comprehensive car checks with this link:
www.carvertica...
In this video, courtesy of a very dedicated owner, I drive a 987.2 Cayman S - with very few options on, but everything that you need to really enjoy a proper sports car. Could this be the best bargain out there for the money?
#Porsche #987.2 #CaymanS
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on [e-mail]
************************************************************************
Looking to buy a new or used car? HOLMESDALE FINANCE can help!
My channel partner Holmesdale Finance specialises in finance solution for new and used prestige, sports and performance cars - including MODERN CLASSIC policies and many more. You might be surprised at what they can do, so speak to them to find out more. Their website is www.holmesdalef...
***********************************************************************
Looking for a new stereo or multi channel system for your home?
Speak to James Dean at DB Hifi for the best deal on the best equipment around.
www.dbhifi.co.uk
***********************************************************************************
Want More JayEmm? Become a channel member for access to exclusive content!
/ @jayemmoncars

[@Copleyfundresearch]

The ratio of content for used cars (where 100% of my buying interest lies) and new cars (where I have no buying interest) is so so low. Everything (evo, top gear etc) is geared towards new car releases. Thanks for readdressing the balance Jay.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

My pleasure Steven

[@jaydamain]

@@JayEmmOnCars Just wanted to say that's a really fair and balanced review James. Not really anything I disagree with there. I was back up in Scotland with a few weeks back and hot the rest coast with the Cayman, absolutely made for those roads. Have shared your review with the 2 mates who owned her before me and it's got one in the lookout for a 981 now!

[@jaydamain]

*hit there West coast*

[@williammorris3334]

I can’t stand new cars. Earlier this year I bought a 981 Boxster S and it is outstanding! The NA flat six is where it should be, in the middle of the car and right behind your head, it begs you to rev it. I wouldn’t mind less luxury (and weight) but it’s still a proper drivers car, direct, nimble and responsive. I had my eye in a 987 until I drove both, and the 981 is a HUGE upgrade in interior quality and looks. It was worth every penny more. The junk they make now won’t make me want to waste money on the “latest and greatest “ and I’ll be keeping my “old” Porsche as long as I can drive it.

[@setti7i]

Couldn't agree more

[@wasimakujee5627]

One of the best looking Porsches ever beautiful curves and love the rear of the car and side profile don’t need massive grills and aggressive bumpers etc just pure art the 987 cayman 👌👌

[@luftlinie811]

I love how you make an informative and authentic review in 10mins and don’t stretch unnecessarily. Thanks

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

I found a 987.2 2.9L, 6spd, guards red with some nice options early this year. Took it out for a spirited 100 mile drive this afternoon on some narrow, twisty back roads. It's such an amazing car!

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

You can upgrade those to be seriously fast... I've got a mate here in Australia who sold his R34 GTR he used for time attack comps. He bought one of those and had more than enough change to modify it. After much teasing from the boys, such as "Nice car Scotty, is the missus gonna let you drive it much?" and "do they make those for men?" (we're 35 going on 5) we were shocked, that thing is much, much faster than the Skyline and so much less deadly. So much easier to push on the limit and unlike the GTR, he can still use the Porsche on the road. I think it was nearly 2 seconds a lap faster around the Phillip Island circuit... He drove it three hours there, spanked it all day long, didn't touch a thing and drove it three hours home. Fantastic machine, even if it is a girls car 😁

[@oscardominguez1680]

Oh wow, didn't expect that! Well the chassis is amazing on these, the R34 was never truly amazing as a track car

[@davidelmsly5130]

What were the mods

[@Lucky008aau]

@@davidelmsly5130 Yes, please.

[@briancollins5117]

Yeah, I don't think any Porsche is a "girl's car", they're just cars for driver's that can appreciate and afford amazing power and handling, regardless of gender.

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

@@davidelmsly5130 Off the top of my head... It has an aero kit from a race car of some description, a full cage that we (mostly) made, the suspension from a wrecked GT4, AP racing brakes (it has to have steel discs for the class... Don't ask me what class it is though), a shorter diff and a supercharger which Harrop built for him. Oh and some super light wheels, made by a joint in Geelong that also makes them for the Ford GT... The rest, to the best of my knowledge, is factory. He really should do some social media, he's got some sick cars and bikes and is always getting asked about them. I think Full Boost magazine did a feature on the Porsche though, if I can find it, I'll link it. I know he based the build on another very similar one in the states he found in a magazine.

[@tofinobeach7093]

I think the cayman looks better than the 911

[@mikehertz6507]

😂

[@ForgetfulFoot]

987.2 is the perfect all-rounder sports car in my opinion. I own the 987.2 2.9L and it just ticks all the boxes. Its really got everything going for it. Its one of the last analog Porsche's. It has great reliability, a very desirable badge with great usable storage space. And not that many made due to the financial crisis (compared to 987.1). Plus its mid engine and its not a big car. The only other mid-engine car from the 2000s that would be similar with the same desirability is the Elise. And that is not a car you can drive daily.

[@dusterman360]

Yeah it’s the same story with Miata’s even. The NC “2” came out in 09 and are way harder to find than 06-08 NC1s. Here in the states though the Elise is so rare that they’re around $40k cuz they haven’t been sold here in 10+years.

[@ForgetfulFoot]

@@dusterman360 I am from Australia myself. But in my garage I actually have a nice manual 2013 NC3 in Pearl White with OEM BBS & Recaro's in addition to my Malibu Gold NA MX5 and 987.2 2.9L Cayman. I really wanted a S2000. But that car has gotten away from me now price wise. But the NC3 is honestly a better car value to money wise compared to a S2000 or even the Cayman. I hope I never have to sell any of them as they are all great cars to drive on normal roads. On a side note. I had a Subaru BRZ for a bit. And I absolutely hated that car. Its a POS compared to any generation of MX5.

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

@@ForgetfulFoot You can get a s2k for around 45-50 It shouldn't really depreciate either so it's a reasonably safe investment and much more special than a mx5 👍

[@ForgetfulFoot]

@ArtVandelayOfficial yeah I actually sold my cayman and mx5s and managed to pick up a low milage bargain S2000 for $35000 AUD. S2000 is an excellent car. Very buzzy on the inside with the top up though. I wouldnt want to daily it

[@matthewcoleman1919]

Your near death experience made my day. "Christ on a bike, people are dumb!" Lol.

[@oldwarrenpointforum]

Ah yes the lesser spotted 2013 VW Amarok with a chequered MOT history - just the thing for taking racing lines on country roads - mind you as a Thunderbirds fan I do like its number plate :)

[@nadeemm429]

AS13 FAB

[@1968spikey]

I'll bet a kidney she was on the phone.

[@barry5138]

@@1968spikey and she couldn't give a f uck anyway. Gormless

[@LR_84]

it should be reported!

[@RussellMiddleton]

Had a base engine 987.1 for a bit, and found this to be a lovely road car - could be wrung out regularly without immediately reaching silly speeds, to enjoy the flat-6 engine note at all times. The later 987.1's apparently have fewer IMS issues and the base engine is less susceptive to bore scoring too. Was tempted to upgrade to a 981 but the steering lost too much feel to be a great enthusiast weekend car. The extra refinement might make it a better daily though.

[@Steve-jq4st]

Love my 987 Boxster S. Proper driver’s car - light, plenty of power, great handling and a minimum of tech to get in the way of the fun. Also looks great and is aging well.

[@sjdunks1115]

I'd love a 987.2 Boxster S or Honda S2000 eventually. Love a mid-engine two seater convertible with good handling and enough power to have some fun on B-roads. Also both cars sound good imo

[@evansanchez4767]

Love the steering wheel for NOT having a bunch of buttons

[@tjk9263]

If I had the money to buy a Porsche it would be a Cayman S or GT4. Great looking car and it is still available in a manual!

[@MAXREVS]

Fully agree!

[@demithijssen]

I've been to the UK once. Everybody was driving on the wrong side of the road except for me.

[@klasseact6663]

"Christ on a bike"🤣

[@TroyHR123]

...JC [21:5,2014] for the Old Testament Topgear nuts.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

@@TroyHR123 It’s a well known British phrase that , old skool long before the time of Clarkson

[@TroyHR123]

@@Carrera-gp9od I know; but jayemm does litter, deliberately or not, topgear references throughout his vids. We would need the man himself to confirm whether he pictured a budget half naked Jesus riding a cheap MTB at Dunsfold, in the moment or not.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

@@TroyHR123 😂

[@2000viperrt]

My 987.2 Cayman is a fantastic vehicle. It could use some more power but the 6 speed is perfect and the car does what you tell it to. And keep the Porsche videos coming!

[@MayurPatelZA]

No manuals here in South Africa so i chose a .1 for my first porsche. But this is def the one to have.

[@Liam24795]

My mate has a 14 plate cayman S, never understood why he bought it until after about 45 seconds as a passenger. Fantastic car!

[@15DEAN1995]

A year before lockdown I saw a nice early cayman s for 12k but everything's jumping up in value now

[@andyhammond32]

M97 engine didn't have IMS issues, that was the M96. M97 had an uprated item where failure rate is miniscule and overhyped. M97 *can* have bore scoring issues if the car is tracked too hard/often, not properly warmed up and serviced, and hasn't had the lower temp water thermostat installed.

[@pistonburner6448]

It did have IMS issues. Not as many as M96 but is absolutely certainly did still have issues. Worst part is how much that issue costs if you hit the jackpot. Apparently with M97 non-S models the bore scoring issue is very rare.

[@philhanna1206]

I bought my 987.1 new in 2006 and have never had any issues. Car has been tracked and driven hard but has been serviced properly and well taken care of. Porsche did have a recall and addressed the issue early on. Just look in the service history ( if it’s present) to see if it’s been done. This was an issue on 996 era cars but muddied the reputation of the 987.1 model cars.

[@pistonburner6448]

​@@philhanna1206 Are you saying that Porsche did recall fixes to IMS??? And bore scoring??? Also, your anecdotal evidence is totally meaningless in proving any of this. My 987 didn't have IMS issues or bore scoring either but it doesn't mean they didn't exist and that other owners I know of didn't have their 987's engines destroyed. I did have the RMS issue btw.

[@theantler3625]

Fortunately people are massively misinformed so 987.1 prices are nice and low!

[@AnimaEterna996]

@@pistonburner6448 the M97 only had IMS issues for the first year of production. MY2006 cars onwards had the new bearing with no issues. You're right on bore scoring though. the 2.7 had practically nothing. The 3.4 did have it but it was mostly tied to track use where the pistons weren't getting properly lubricated.

[@MKitson]

the person on the wrong side of the road was (I assume) thinking about taking a better line into the left hander (from their perspective) 😂

[@DaGrybo]

The best sports car under $50k, and one of the best sports cars in the world, 2011 motor trend nr 1. After I wrecked my 987.1S I was on the hunt for a 997.2, but a manual 987.2S, black on black 19 inch Carrera SII wheel one appeared on the market in March 2020 for money that is so laughable that I won't even start. I think Jay wasn't calibrated well for this review, some of the 987ns he reviewed with more passion. Anyways, this thing is a proper tool. There were only around 750 ever produced in manual 2009-2012 (excluding Rs), so I'm not surprised the owner travelled long distance to get it. We hold these cars because they are the proper Porsche formula and a simple build. It's the shortest Cayman, the last hydraulic steering, and the most updated internals, when you put the right exhaust at 7400 rpm at full throttle it sounds like something from the heavens. I tracked this thing for three days then returned home in it to daily it to work. I also love how this thing looks, it's a classic "bathtub upside-down" Porsche design.

[@RaySpainPlayer]

Well said. I've had mine for over 6 years and I'm never (really) selling it. The 'right' options are important. PDK with Sports Chrono Plus is a lot of fun on the track (Sport Plus mode), then Sport mode in manual for spirited driving on a quiet country road. Sports Design steering wheel is perfect. And the sound ...!

[@tylerhough9124]

Is that 750 manuals worldwide? I’ve got a manual 2012 coming Sunday and finding info on production quantities is so difficult.

[@DaGrybo]

. worldwide, this number is a combination of someone elses opinion on Planet 9 and my analysis of general production numbers of cars in the years that second gen was produced. Would be good to send a letter to Germany and ask.

[@tylerhough9124]

@@DaGrybo Thank you for your input! I’ve definitely considered sending them a letter. Would be interesting to find out. Some folks recommend digging through annual reports so I might give that a go. 750 MT cars would be about 15-20% production, no? I’m seeing about 2k North American .2 Cars produced so maybe 3500-5000 global?

[@DaGrybo]

@@tylerhough9124 yes, your estimates are correct.

[@olabodealamu5297]

People need to stop talking about a cayman till I get one cos the prices are gonna go up

[@bouncycastles1214]

Close call there Jay with that oncoming car. Could have been our final Jayemm video!

[@8359s]

Just sharing Jay, asked you about S2 vs Turbo S. I bought Guards Red S2 on Tuesday :). It's my 2nd 944. Thanks for the opinion.

[@simonhurlimann908]

Great Choice! Fantastic Cars the 944 S2. Had one was happy and changed to a 968 which is very similar. Love those transaxle cars

[@mythicmma]

I like this car better than the 911

[@fvcgt]

Yesss!!! This is my favourite sports car. Nobody needs more than this and the balance, stearing, engine and trans is perfect! U cant go wrong with one of this and feels more special than a 911. Apart from a gt3.

[@pistonburner6448]

Having owned a 987 the engineering is pretty 'clunky' when compared to other brands of the same period. Others are noticeably more sophisticated. The 987 has the strange McPherson suspension front and back. That is far from optimal. It is nicely balanced but it also IMO feels very flat, not very alive at all unless going at 10/10. I think it's the not-massively-rigid body, the McPherson suspension and also how they use really wide tires in addition to the usual suspect: how they set it up and what bushings etc. they chose. To me it feels over damped and under-sprung. Not very lightweight either. It's practical though. Despite the slightly old-fashioned design and tech which take a bit away from that however. To me the 987 has a horrible clutch and gas pedal response is artificial, including some kind of programmed delays and such. Really just not good to heel-and-toe. (though I didn't have the S version, that might be better adjusted)

[@flat6croc]

@@pistonburner6448 Sorry, what? 987 Cayman has a very stiff shell. And what would be 'brands of the same period' that are more sophisticated? I will agree the factory tyres are too wide, but that is a very, very easy fix.

[@pistonburner6448]

@@flat6croc Not comparable in category but any BMW of that era is far more sophisticated in construction, most parts, engine... They're like a generation ahead at least. It's really clear almost wherever you look under the skin. Cayman's shell isn't that stiff at all by modern standards, or compared to competitors. It was a compromised structure to begin with, it was developed way back as the 986 and at that point Porsche was at the brink of bankruptcy. Not only that but they had to develop the 986 with huge compromises to be able to use 996 parts as much as possible too. So it was an adaptation of the 996 shell = very old at the time the 987 and 987.2 came out especially, compromised to be cheap to make and share lots of parts with a car that had a very different structure (just look at the McPherson struts in all corners as prime examples of this...), and on top of it Porsche was really limited financial and time-wise when developing it. Hell, I'd even add that they were breaking new ground in their new generation of car type too, they had a lot on their plate and were in unfamiliar territory in many ways in the days of developing the 996&986 which was also the basis for 997&987.

[@flat6croc]

@@pistonburner6448 more sophisticated in what regard? BMW of that era is not more sophisticated underneath. Lots of cheap pressed steel suspension arms. Engine wise, 987.2 totally comparable to a BMW lump of the era. BMW platforms very compromised as built for everything from basic diesel shopping cars to M cars. I’m not saying the 987 is the best thing ever, but BMWs of the same era are no better. There are pros and cons either way.

[@bowdenphotos]

Enjoy this guy's reviews.. Was torn between 3 cars, an 08 shaped XKR, a gen 2 Cayman 987 and a 970 panamera. I live in Ireland and these type of car a quite a rarity over here, and while that is so, the price is very steep for used rarer cars. Topped with Brexit a couple year ago has sky rocketed them also with avaraging costs of an 2007 XKR hitting €30,000, same with the Cayman, and the cheapest 2013 Panamera coming in at €40,000 euro its pretty insane. So, that said.. A 2010 Cayman 987 Gen.2 (2.9l with a manual box) in basalt black, and which look like turbo porsche wheels has came up for sale for 26,000 which seems quite reasonable with FPSH and quite a few jobs already done this review has definately been very handy and easy to watch!

[@MAXREVS]

Noooooooo… You’ve dropped this video *JUST* after I’ve sold my 987.2 S to purchase a PTS 981 GT4!! Lots to agree with you in this video, and it goes to show what you’ve explained to me before, that you don’t have it in for the Cayman (as other people have commented on some of your other videos). Disclaimer, I even posted on your 718 GTS Cayman video that you may have missed a beat, as you weren’t overwhelmed by the car. You’re now raving about the Cayman above the 911 in several dimensions… in other words, you just share your honest opinions about the cars you drive, and that’s what keeps us coming back. On the note about the steering feel you mentioned in this 987.2 S, a proper alignment and inspection of the rubber bushings is well worth it given the age of these cars. I took mine to Center Gravity where after dropping £1k and changing new arms front and back with a proper alignment etc… the steering afterwards was sublime. I’d drop a link to my channel here showcasing the work, but I’m not here to get views! Personally I love the weight of the hydraulic steering on the 987.2 over the 981 GT4 I have. Top point about the leather in the cabin which I fully agree with you. My 981 GT4 isn’t going to be a track car, however the interior is super special. I spent 3x the price on my 981 GT4 compared to my 987.2 S, I’m not loaded with cash, and I can honestly say it’s not 3x the car in terms of driving fun. However, this answer is entirely subjective… if I was a millionaire, I would say the 981 GT4 wins hands down every time over the 987.2, as I could have bought it in cash and not finance it. Jared, you’ve got a keeper there!

[@jaydamain]

Oh yes Max she's a keeper. I can see why you lusted for the GT4 but i still get miles of smiles from the 987 S.... If I ever do move on i think a GTS would do for me but it'll take a lot for me to give up the 987!

[@jaydamain]

Oh BTW,i think James meant the steering feel in general as I'd had the tracking done and a check on all the bushings just a few weeks before i headed up to Scotland.

[@TheChannel1978]

Thanks for the comparison!

[@marktsui01]

My 987.2 S is the perfect daily. Lots of space, great engine and I love the looks and handling balance. The mid engine layout responds immediately to even subtle changes to the throttle. However, I added a Honda Integra DC2R to my garage lately and driving them side-by-side, I feel the PASM suspension on the Cayman a little bit soft. There is a bit more body roll and there's less feel from the road. The PASM is very comfortable though, and I can understand why Porsche chose the setup for a car that can be driven everyday on all types of roads. It puts me in a dilemma whether to keep the Cayman stock, or to upgrade to something to give a more raw feel. I drove a GT4 on a track a few years ago and I agree with the interior being much nicer and I also prefer the GT4 suspension setup both for road and track. But overall, I actually felt very pleased with my 987.2 after driving the GT4 and seeing how similar they are.

[@andydixon2388]

I picked up a 987.1 Cayman S a couple of years ago, and it’s fantastic. The IMS issue didn’t bother me one bit, having done proper research. It was an absolute bargain, and I’ve had no issues with it. Keep them well serviced, and they are happy to take a bit of stick.

[@flat6croc]

If you've really done proper research, you'll have found that it's bore scoring you need to worry bout on the 987.1 3.4. And it's extremely widespread.

[@agg25gga]

You just get a borescope done before you buy, easy

[@maryginger4877]

Just bore it out to 3.8L and forget the problems for good... oh, and enjoy roughly at least another 10% across the entire rev range... and 987.1 looks better...

[@markuk4599]

A Cayman 2.9 manual is the best Porsche money can buy. You have aa top notch reliable engine with a solid indestructible gearbox and no DFi. It's a no brainer

[@tedwarner1041]

I have a 987.1 S manual. Love it.

[@MrRoyck10]

Christ on a bike!!! This is a familiar situation in London “she” driving oversized SUV over the white line avoiding parked cars at the expense of oncoming vehicles 😅 Back to the matter of Cayman S 987.1 due to the problems associated with the car perceived or otherwise, the prospective buyers must keep a pot of cash (£10k) coupled with other associated running cost. This becomes an expensive unjustifiable expenses for a Porsche, so I will rather used that £10k and add it onto the £15k ish price and buy the Cayman 987.2 for that automotive peace of mind.

[@George-ur8ow]

Please don't blaspheme, my fellow car enthusiast. Appreciate the remainder of what you wrote

[@julian987r4]

I didn’t hear you saying that about thou holy 997.1 Me thinks you have blinkered vision and any excuse to knock something that isn’t a 911

[@MrRoyck10]

@@julian987r4 you sound very simplistic, myopic at best, I own a 987.2 and this is my perspective so no need to get your knickers in a twist joining issues, regarding your 997.1 I don’t give a flying monkeys about that car.

[@julian987r4]

@@MrRoyck10 I don’t own a 911. I own a 987 Cayman R.

[@spencerayres2669]

Sports steering wheel makes a massive difference to how modern the interior feels. Mine came with PCM 3.0 but it’s my daily driver so I replaced it with a new head unit with CarPlay and the interior now doesn’t feel dated… until you compare it with a new one…

[@philipethier9136]

in a PDK, Sports steering wheel makes a massive difference in shifter function, with big aluminum paddles that work in the same control pattern as other cars.

[@JoJoJoker]

It’s uncommon to see a 987.2 on the roads. Porsche didn’t sell many of them.

[@boredalchemist]

yeah recession

[@jazzyonno]

Bought one like that, black with red interior, new in 2011 (for GBP42k! Gotta love Jersey). Absolutely loved it. Sadly had to sell it after 15 months as I left Jersey for the continent. I've been looking for one recently but they are hard to find in that year and that spec. Weird. Would love to go back to it. Awesome daily for a car enthousiast.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

Great summary. Black doesn't compliment Caymans well at all. I own a black car by the way...colour of which I don't like.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Nice video. I do like the design of this generation. Keep up the good work.

[@dmk0210]

This is the Porsche I want. I would take one of these over any water cooled 911 in a heart beat. I really wish I would have gotten one before Covid. I was waiting for them to depreciate just a little bit more, then the world turned upside down and they jumped way up in price here in the US. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. :(

[@russellking546]

Keep looking they are worth the wait. Me too on the 911 comment. I looked for 2 years to find my 2011 987.2 PDK in Red which I've had now for 4 years. Love absolutely everything about it. I detailed and painted the intake plenum, badges and throttle body and installed a clear engine cover that goes in factory location. Looks stunning to see a tricked out mid-engine motor through the rear glass - especially on a Porsche!

[@turnerables]

Must be nice finding a 987.2 s for that price. Can’t find one anywhere near that cheap in the us

[@1183newman]

I paid 15k for my old 987.1 cayman s, i wouldnt want to pay an extra 10k ontop for essentially the same exact car. Had it 3 years and didnt have an issue with it but yea the fear of ims does haunt you even though it is exremely rare in a cayman s, infact i couldnt find a single instance online at the time of it happening on a cayman s. I ended up selling it and buying an Evora, i guess daily driving the cayman resulted in it just not feeling very special at all and i wanted something with a bit more occassion and the evora is certainly the better sports car just not the better daily commuter.

[@EvoraGT430]

Great choice, the Evora is fabulous.

[@rouman7]

The answer to that is buy one with service history and around 85,000 miles on the issue should have been resolved by then if it had one

[@dwarfyh32]

You could spend the difference on a Hartech rebuild if it came to it and effectively have a new car for .2 money

[@neilturner6749]

From what I’ve read as a concerned 986 owner, there’s not been a “premature” IMS failure case in the UK for nearly a decade, so James was just recycling urban myths

[@zaink7037]

Agree there. For 25k you can save a few up a few more grand and get the better looking 981. Can't go wrong with the Evora also with its reliable Toyota engine

[@bbpleg]

Had mine for 8 years now. Done about 40 Trackdays in it and absolutely nothing has gone wrong with it. Have bigger brakes (discs, pads, fluids, cooling etc) but other than that, it’s been bulletproof!

[@varsas10]

They are great on track, one of the few cars with decent brakes as standard.

[@bwdrives]

I’m told the 3.4 engine has no aftermarket value because nobody ever needs one!😂

[@mikeferguson1879]

The only thing about the 987.2 porsches is that they were made 09-12 when there was "economic downturn" and the production numbers are low. I had the 2.9 boxster and it was fun but more expensive to maintain than the 986

[@bwdrives]

How was it more expensive? More things went wrong?

[@mattandallthings]

I have a base 987 2.7ltr. Drives superbly, none of the issues the S model has and is just a joy to drive.

[@pl1068]

So true and with that the 987.1 is the best looking Cayman with heritage traits of the 550 and 904 built into the design.

[@laich71]

Rattle in the back is the cargo net metal ring.... put something under the net and the tension makes the rattle disappear... at least it did on mine

[@jayjohnson3732]

I have a '07 Boxster S (~110,000 miles) with no issues. Did a LOT of research before I bought one. From my research, and according to the opinion of 3 different experts; one a local Porsche dealer service manager, the other the speed shop (Lambos', Ferrari, and Porsche) where I bought the car, and the the dedicated independent Porsche shop that looks after my car, the IMS issues of this generation VASTLY over hyped. The service manager told me he had NEVER seen a 987 IMS failure, the speed shop said the same thing, and my local shop said that at worst, they are extremely rare. My research turned up numbers that put the failure rate at about the same as a crankshaft main bearing failure. Porsche Club of America had a video series that pointed out that the IMS bearing which earned the reputation is the SECOND iteration from the 986 (~MY2000) which was when they changed to a single row bearing from the original double row. The 987 bearing is MUCH bigger and more robust than either of the 986 bearings. Additionally, the cars that do suffer failures are almost invariably cars that see very few miles. The mechanism being that they don't get hot enough, long enough, and often enough for combustion contaminants in the oil to off gas through the crankcase ventilation system. This can lead to those contaminants attacking the bearing seals. On the other hand, ALL first generation Direct Injection cars (not just Porsche) are more expensive to maintain because they ALL suffer from carbon build up on the top of the Intake valves that must be cleaned (usually by low abrasive blasting-NOT sand) on a fairly frequent basis. In port injection engines the fuel "washes" the carbon off the valves.

[@flat6croc]

If the experts you consulted were well informed, they'd have told you that IMS is indeed not worry on your 2007 S. But scoring very much is. In fact, scoring on the 987.1 3.4 M97 engine is much more widespread than IMS failure ever was on the earlier M6 engines.

[@jayjohnson3732]

@@flat6croc Wow. So, the topic was IMS bearing failure. I asked them about IMS bearing failure. They were answering my questions about IMS bearing failure. But good on you for holding them accountable for a completely different issue than the topic at hand. Which bye the way is easily preventable with proper maintenance and operation of the car, which my local shop does discuss.

[@flat6croc]

@@jayjohnson3732 Bore scoring isn't easily preventable. A low temp thermostat might help a bit. That aside, there's nothing you can do. Lots of very well cared for cars have had scoring. The point is that anyone asking about IMS problems on an M97 engine is firstly worried about engine problems and secondly ill informed. It therefore follows that the answer would be, don't worry about IMS, do worry about scoring.

[@jayjohnson3732]

@@flat6croc “…. Nothing you can do”. Uh, wrong. And with that I am done.

[@flat6croc]

@@jayjohnson3732 There is nothing you can do. it's an inherent flaw involving the piston coating, bore material and cooling balance. Short of tearing the engine down and addressing the core issues, there's nothing you can do. The one possible exception is fitting a low temp stat, but even that may not be terribly effective. If the piston coating has been damaged, the engine will probably go on to score whatever you do.

[@andreapaglia4255]

4:25 too much whiskey before driving in Scotland

[@The_Original_Geoff_B]

Why would they be drinking the Irish variety in Scotland?

[@plugsocket9432]

How the Chip shortage has pushed up used car prices. The 987.2 in 2019 and 2020 was below £20,000. Maybe in 2022 when TSMC makes more processors then the used market will fall back to their usual prices again.

[@boooooobiesrgreat]

987.2 Cayman S with PDK and PASM, that's what you want for an A road blast

[@Monkey80llx]

Interesting fact: there are no silent letters in the German language, hence the e being pronounced at the end of Porsche. Usually. 😉

[@JayEmmOnCars]

When I'm speaking German that is certainly how I do it

[@andreapaglia4255]

My first Porsche! Still remember that steering feeling!

[@djdomj]

"Something in the back rattling, probably easy to fix" - Even if easy to fix, it will still be mental expensive! Expect... "Remove Marble from ashtray - £1000 Porsche Tax" :).

[@marsmellow1589]

@4:09 I crashed my Mini Cooper S from 2003 because one fucker in an SUV didn`t made the corner came on my half, couldnt steer in on time so braked hard and when you do that in a mini the back will go out. The back hit the curb and basically totaled the car :(

[@Lucky008aau]

My daily! '09 987.2 CS, PDK, HRE Wheels, TubiStyle exhaust. I don't want to sell it, but some of these commenters are giving me second thoughts.

[@deep6thisdeep6this92]

they're going for $45,000-75,000 over here in the U.S. these days. just a couple years ago they were $30,000-45,000. and yes, the 987 cayman is beautiful. i've got one and an 2007 aston martin vantage and i think the cayman every bit as lovely as it. not as nice inside though. not by a long shot, but then again, when new, it cost about half the price. not really a fair comparison for something, like a very nice interior, that actually costs more to make.

[@tylerhough9124]

Maybe not a “fair” comparison but it goes to show how enthusiast oriented the Cayman was designed to be. Cayman prices are strong here in the US and I was surprised until I realized that it’s an analog Porsche with as much HP as many of the 993 Gen 911’s. I think the future will continue to be bright. Just bought a 987.2S for what the previous owner paid and he put 13k miles on the car…hoping to have a similar experience to share 🤪

[@aknotpsu]

Good to know for the .2 gen

[@anthonywiseman174]

Thankyou for all you said as I'm thinking about a Porsche cayman or lotus evora

[@EvoraGT430]

You must try both yourself. Evora won EVO COTY 2009; look that up to see what it beat.

[@davidstorm4015]

I don't think £25,000 is a bargain for a 2011 car, regardless of it being a Porsche. The used sports car market has gone mad.

[@1240enzo]

only thing is in Australia your not going to find a Cayman fir around $50k. Used ones generally start around $60k and you won’t find many for that money. Most of them go for between $80-130k. So hardly a bargain or cheap sportscar.

[@ForgetfulFoot]

I have purchased two low mileage 987.2 Cayman Base 2.9L Manuals in Australia over the past few years. Paid around 55k for each of them. They were really good finds though. I was going to buy a low mileage 987.2 S Manual for 70k AUD about 1 year ago. But by the time I decided to call the bloke (5 minutes after the add was up), he already had a committed buyer. I hesitated as I didn't want to spend that much coin. But your right now though. A decent low mileage stock 987.2 Base Manual will be in the mid 60s. With the S being way more, as there is never more then 1 manual 987.2 S up at one time. However go back 3 years, there were plenty to choose from. I will be definitely be keeping hold of my current one for a long time I think. And unfortunately, I think everyone else in Australia is doing the same.

[@Izzy111R]

Anyone made the transition from Elise to Cayman/Boxster? I fancy trying one as i love the flat 6 noise. The Elise just lacks some drama for me.(111R)

[@LurchLures]

Not everyone needs an S. For my first sports car I wanted an s, thinking more power was better. Having driven one for a few years the mindset changed to unless your going to track the car the standard version has more than enough power for normal driving. If you can drive for hours without using full throttle then the s wasn't needed. I guess no one could have told me this though.

[@cyprianmulenga9540]

That's crazy , people be driving like theey own the road .

[@jcermak1234567890]

Got the very same car recently as my first proper car and first Porsche. It looks exactly the same as this one bar the fact that mine is a gen 1. Love the car to the moon and back. Got to drive the new 992 911 and even a 997 911 and they're just not as great to drive imo. The 992 is brilliant but too big and the turbo engine is simply not the same and the 997 just didn't impress me at all... Maybe it was a bad example...

[@benjaminlocksmith8932]

The prices of Caymans these days is utterly mental compared to some of the stuff you can get in the same price range

[@boredalchemist]

come back in 5 years and the prices will have gone even crazier, America going crazy over these as track machines

[@flat6croc]

Steering, feedback, ride, flow down the road, involvement etc much better with these on 17s - and yes you can put 17s on the S. But they do look a bit underwheeled on 17s. Run my gen 2 S on 17s. Wish the 18s and 19s drove better as they do look better. But once you get used to how these cars drive on the 17s, it's hard to go back. They feel so numb, crashy and uninteractive on the 18s and 19s by comparison.

[@WallanderBP]

Same here just with a 2.9 - bought it with 19s then changed to 17s after a few weeks, massive gains in steering feel, turn in, and as you say: flow down the road. Now changed the 205/55 fronts to 225/50 to have less understeer, but have to admit lost a little bit of fun. Porsche designers told at the introduction of the car the handling WAS designed for 17s. Actually I like the "large rubber" look, classy.

[@flat6croc]

@@WallanderBP Yeah, been thinking about 225/50 fronts, too. I know the steering and feel won't be quite as nice. It's a tough trade off. Would like a touch more front end positivity and better braking performance (205s hurt the outright braking quite a bit). But that telepathic feel you get from skinny fronts is just so nice. On my old gen 1 987 I had it lowered on Bilstein B12 and maxed out the front camber and the front end was fairly positive - again on 205/55/17 fronts.

[@WallanderBP]

@@flat6croc Yes, a trade off, but only hurt a bit right after the change, still much better than the 235 on the 18s and 19s, as the weight is still down. I will try a 215/50 or 215/55 next time, only +-1.5% diameter difference.

[@Fryhs]

Ive the same spec with pdk, going to swap 3.8L soon :)

[@TML34]

Make sure it can rev to 9k or don’t bother. 😀

[@lollypop9580]

This with 18, sport seats and maybe a little lower... Perfect. 👍 Thank you for this short but very good vidéo. "Christ on a bike..." 👍

[@chrisogrady28]

4:19, you're giving me Michelle Visage watching Elektra Fence's lip sync break dancing vibes.

[@bogdanpanek3481]

its like 95% a 911. just the engine/trans turned around and some rear suspension bits are different. The instrument cluster is a tad different. The software, control modules, front subframe, front suspension, central pan, 95% of the interior, slightly detuned 911 motor, its basically a 911 with the engine/trans rotated 180 degrees.

[@s2korpionic]

4:18 yeah that caught me off guard too.

[@dhjet2000]

Christ on a bike ??!!?!!? Love it. What year is that one?

[@tom24057]

Good review, thanks

[@GC987]

Would be interesting to know what mods people have (successfully?) made. Been reading about IPD Plenum... but I'm not convinced it is as good as perhaps hoped with the ECU hunting between 800-2,000RPM. I also wonder how a LSD would improve the handling. A bit of a mod with the first 3 gears and/or the ECU would perhaps deliver the most notable change but I haven't really encountered any such/similar mods that are really worth contemplating - although I'd like to hear different.

[@knightofcydonia07]

They absolutely ruined the look of the 981 by losing the pert surface tension and rake of the side glass that the 987 had. There just isn't the same drama to the haunches.

[@dalomusic5509]

I find it funny seeing some one talking about looks while wearing that shirt. Good vid tho.

[@edgarbeat275]

A 400 pound 206 estate still own it 4 years later is a bargin. 25k bargin I wish 😃 Imagin all the 206s I could buy for 25k I like your channel though seeing all the fancy stuff.

[@ApothecaryTerry]

The step up isn't as much as it sounds though. From £400 perhaps but for people who own a car costing £5k or more (most people) they're going to lose more in depreciation than the would on a £30k Porsche, which balances the running costs for anyone not doing too many miles. I got into my 981CS by just trading up an extra few grand every few years on cars and I've now had it for a year, it's gained about £5k- I'm assuming the car market will settle before I sell it, probably late next year, but it's looking unlikely that I'll lose much money on it, if any. Gets nearly 50mpg on a run too! I did just spend a grand on tyres though, that wasn't fun.

[@edgarbeat275]

@@ApothecaryTerry I dont know much about the depreciation residual values. But learn so much on this channel. Thanks for the comment.

[@grahamsmith2022]

If you think the idiot on the wrong side of the road is bad in a car(which it is),it's a whole lot worse when you're riding a motorcycle.😦😨

[@tomthompson7400]

There arre very few days I go out on a bike , that I couldnt get killed by someone else if I wasnt reading the road ahead ,, its part of riding a bike ,, its a shame but its how it is.

[@grahamsmith2022]

@@tomthompson7400 and that's the truth. ✌️👍

[@barfmeister8509]

Definitely on my to do list

[@adebrade172]

Christ on a bike,I spat my coffee out laughing

[@samlancaster1277]

Nearly spat out mine at the ill use of His name. God bless

[@adebrade172]

@@samlancaster1277 yes v true

[@BCNeil]

Paying an extra 10K to avoid IMS issues. Or if you really feel the need, get the IMS replaced for a small fraction of that 10K.

[@jarrodhaas]

Plus bore scoring tho…

[@Fee.1]

I don’t understand how you upload a video every day

[@kins9737]

I know a few people who have had to rattle the Porsche dealer in a cupboard to get what they wanted

[@phil-jz1mj]

Good review but can’t help feel you are adding to the online scaremongering about the gen 1. Yes they have issues but do your homework buy a good one then look after it and it should be fine, pretty much the same as any other performance car. Not for one second saying they don’t have problems but a gen1 987s can be a fantastic entry to Porsche ownership at sensible money just go in with your eyes open.

[@4pevans]

And kudos to whoever shops for your shirts!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

That would be me, so thankyou

[@ProdicalMan]

These are a loooot more money in the US sadly

[@dylanmura905]

I have tried the S and base model. And it seems that the base have shorter gear ? I can't confirm but It felt more enjoyable

[@ForgetfulFoot]

There is 54HP between the two. The base definitely needs to rev out more. But you still wont be going through gears as much as a MX5.

[@chrisward7582]

Trunk clunk.. use a bit of cardboard to wedge between plastic trim, stops rattle

[@bpaul2494]

I would recommend being more succinct and not ramble on

[@onaponap8168]

My local porsche specialist say's they have never come across a broken ims in any 987.1. please let me know if you have.

[@zippy963]

Unfortunately that type of driving is not unusual on our roads.

[@Spazza42]

25k is a bargain? How many people believe that's cheap without financing it....

[@MT-zh9wc]

For £25k , maybe a few grand more, I think I would rather have an Aston Martin Vantage. Whilst the Cayman is likely to be better, the Vantage seems to have more sole and personality. Personal preference of course

[@seanbailey8545]

While you could purchase an Aston, it wouldn't be daily drivable with their reliability issues.

[@bwdrives]

These cars literally feel alive in your hands, drive one and feel what it’s like!

[@michaelschlicker]

I know this is my affordable dream car

[@miamimo70]

Is it sitting a bit high?

[@julian987r4]

They all do. Only the lower stance of the Cayman R if this era/model looks right to me.

[@flat6croc]

God these look boring in black. I should know. I have on ein black. So may gen 2 cars are black. I bought on spec and condition, but really wish it was almost anything but bloody black!

[@touchingthecloth]

if that shirt isn't by 'coton doux' you need to have a look!

[@user-rw8zj1td9v]

Prices are a good bit above this in the us...wish I could find one for 35k usd

[@samcourt6228]

Holy arch gap! In the stills it looks like it sits super high.

[@maryginger4877]

I'd buy the 2.9, its way cheaper... and realistically with all the cameras and other speed traps... plenty of ponies.

[@mrmanfitz]

“Christ on a bike!”