It sounds amazing! 981 Cayman with factory Porsche sport exhaust | One-Mile Review

[@Dave-White]

I have never regretted purchasing a base, all stock, 981. Guards red/beige - it gets looks every time I drive.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Right on!

[@jimmyliew7994]

Looking forward for my 981 base soon. 😊

[@BobC59]

Gorgeous automobile, and the base is so much car for the money. I was looking for a base Boxster to replace my S2000, but stepped up to the S in Cayman form during a moment of "what-the-hell, it's only my retirement" :D The Honda was outstanding (I only sold due to my height and some developing back problems), but the Cayman is in another class. Light, nimble, German solidity, fantastic flat-six mid-engiine choices... the list goes on. I have never been happier with a car. Anyone who owns or has driven a Boxster or Cayman just knows.

[@optimusp70]

Daily drive my '16 981 2.7 6spd since I got it from 1 owner in 2020. It's magic. Best Porsche car ever. In fact, the last great Porsche imho.

[@timmusick9875]

Verry cool to see a 2.7 get such high scores. It's one ofthe best sports cars in history.

[@thedamonlowney]

275 hp, sub-3,000 lbs. Often a winning combo.

[@minibeee]

I totally love my base 981 Cayman. I have a 2016 CPO that I bought last year with 2000 miles on it. One year later, it has 14000 miles. I live in the southwest and almost all the miles are weekend runs through the mountains. Black/black as it should be lol. I can confirm that the car is an incredible pleasure to drive and own. I prefer it to the S precisely because it has to be wound out. More opportunity to hear the flat six howl. Don't hesitate to buy the base.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for sharing, sounds like a sweet car!

[@car_enthusiast99]

I agree. Love mine

[@scnupe7]

Agreed! Base manual 981. Mine is also black on black.

[@car_enthusiast99]

I have a 2014 base Cayman. Racing yellow. MT. Cayman S wheels. Picked it up April this year with 42k miles. Just ticked over 57000. Drove to San Francisco from Boston. And back. A beautiful tourer. Done with one service and did a Tyre change. Nothing has gone wrong so far. If I could I would have gotten the S, but I don’t regret getting the base, especially when S cars are atleast 10k more.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Love to hear about people driving their Porsches. May you have many more miles.

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

Got '14 base 981 PDK a year ago, @38.5k miles. Almost at 42k now and enjoying every drive I take. It actually sounds better than 3.4 and much more enjoyable to rev out without going jail time fast. My only complaint is the tall gearing, but other than that - do not pass on base, especially given the price difference with S.

[@Swolecat17]

I got a black 2014 cayman base added Fabspeed race exhaust, techart body kit and wing, replaced my headlight with clear new ones, carbon fiber pdk sports steering wheel and now getting the IPD competition plenum with GT3 throttle body. I’ve never had a car before that I’ve got so many compliments on every where I go. I love it!

[@briani3599]

I had a 981 S manual with pasm and sadly sold when prices were high-still one of my absolute favorites.

[@981KMAN]

OMG! That color combo is Fantastic! Absolutely Beautiful! Then again, I am biased...😁

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Ha!

[@rjhussel]

One of the best sports cars you can buy for the money! But I'm biased, have a base 2014 Cayman base, PSE, 19" Wheels. Very reliable as well. PSE sounds magic.

[@williamjackson5357]

I own a 2014 BC, purchased in 2018 with 27,860 from an off lease program. It’s Amaranth Red Metallic with Luxor Beige interior, PDK. I have added a Carnewal GT Exhaust ( because the factory no longer makes PSE) and Top Gear headers. A wolf in sheep clothing dare I say. The most beautiful looking and sounding car I have ever owned, as evidenced by the looks and questions from admirers. What a thrill to drive such an automobile that was meant to be driven 🏎

[@dac9404]

This is exactly the kind of Cayman I will be looking for in the not to distant future. I no longer autocross, I don't feel the need to have the fastest car on the street. I just want an engaging car for my drives through the southwestern country side. I like the interior. Yellow is not my favorite color but it is much nicer that an of the thousands, well seeming thousands, of shades of between black and white. Nothing wrong with those colors, because the car has a nice shape and most any color looks good.

[@Aiken47]

I have a 2017 Subaru Impreza S - with torque vectoring, it’s not the fastest car on the road, most regard it as meh shopping trolley. The difference is me, I’m behind the wheel bringing to bear my skills and experience. I agree 100% with you, I don’t need the most powerful car but I do want a very drivable car.

[@drunvert]

Anything but silver

[@chris_4044]

That’s the best interior I’ve seen in a cayman so far. Nice combination of colours❤

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

It really is!

[@FlatSix981]

Wife and I have base 981 Boxster and Cayman. My Cayman is manual and her Boxster is PDK. Both are great cars and more than meet our excitement/fun needs. I see the reviewed car has the infamous headliner sag. Sad that these cars have that type of issue.

[@BradfordtheEclectic]

Yep, noticed that, too.

[@scnupe7]

2015 Base with 6 speed manual. Bought it in 2021 with 45k miles on the clock. At 56k now. I drive it most days, but not every day. Love it!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for sharing

[@Elliskapu]

I bought mine a couple years back, Traveled to Iowa to inspect and then picked it up and drove it all the way to Long Beach, what a awesome drive. then shipped to Hawai’i,it’s the perfect island car just enough power for the short roads traffic and drives 3 years later and 8k miles, it’s still as strong as the day I got it, I’m a Happy Kanaka😃 Btw please stop putting your business cards on my car, it’s going to die with me🤪

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Very nice!

[@knn3th]

I have a base '15 981 Cayman with PDK and an aftermarket Carnewal exhaust and I absolutely love it! I have 20" wheels and PASM and the ride is comfortable and sporty enough. Drove a 997 S MT back to back recently and it just didn't give me the same joy as my own car.

[@BobC59]

I have the Amber Orange and Agate Gray interior. Saw it on Bring-a-Trailer and fell in love with that interior combo right away. Gives it a bit of a supercar look, I think.

[@nitrostackr]

Sport exhaust sounds so good on these cars, one of the best sounding cars I can think of for under $40k

[@drunvert]

Our 2016 981 base w manual transmission is absolutely amazing. Weve got very few options. Sport exahust, 20" Carera wheels and some carbon trim. Handling is stupid good. Stiff suspension always.

[@M_IkeLeBlanc]

More Cayman love! 👍👍👍

[@DeanoTXR53]

Nice review Damon! Were these roads local? They look great. Lmk if you wan to drive a 2014 with PASM, PTV and 3 pedals as a counterpoint!

[@thedamonlowney]

Hendersonville, NC. Will do!

[@willanthony875]

Nice video and nice road. Was this another single owner / multiple car day?

[@thedamonlowney]

Couple owners, many cars :)

[@newpatchincoming6574]

Hi, some feedback in future reviews Could you do a segment where we hear the engine noise for about 30 seconds? Thanks :)

[@keithyuen2005]

It's a shame that the recent GTS4.0 doesn't sound half as good as any flat 6 cayman with PSE

[@salami99]

install the gt3 steering programming and the steering feedback is night and day %200 difference.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for sharing!

[@drunvert]

Sport exhaust adds 10 hp

[@Opposed_Motoring]

Trying to decide right now… base 987.2 or 981 it’s a hard choice

[@knn3th]

No it's not a hard choice. 981 all the way! Don't get me wrong, the 987.2 is a great car, but it's 90's interior let's it down. If you step into a 981 it's a modern, fresh car. The 718/982 still uses most of the same interior as the 981.

[@ormand3000]

Lol at falling headliner and tacked solution. Porsche still can't make a headliner, door card or window switch that doesn't fail.

[@thedamonlowney]

I could have mentioned the headliner in the review, but the video is self explanatory. Unfortunately the headliner is weak point. The previous owner of my Cayman had to fix the headliner at some point. Guessing I’ll have to do it again down the line.

[@knn3th]

My '15 981 hasn't had any problems (yet) with the headliner, door cards or window switches at all.

[@johnwilliams727]

Drive the car further than a mile please. Obviously this will provide yourself with a better understanding of the car.

[@thedamonlowney]

I’d say this drive was about 4-5 miles. We’ve been driving about that distance in recent reviews, noting feedback like yours. Thanks for the feedback.

[@blumahou4281]

So American Coop!.....Its Coupe

[@Vampirebear13]

Nice car of course but that color combo is gawd aweful, IMHO.