Porsche Cayman S 987.1 | Affordable With Risks

We do a complete look at the old Porsche Cayman S 987.1, a hidden gem and budget-friendly Porsche that includes high rewards. Launched in the 2000s era, the car offers plenty of engine and emotion, but there are risks. We discuss the pros and cons and discuss the problems with this generation of Cayman S. Other cars to consider in this price range are the AP2 S2000, Nissan 370Z, Mazda RX8, and Corvette C5.
#cars #porsche #tech
Index:
00:00 Intro
1:02 Interior and Exterior Impressions
3:51Mechanical Impressions, Aero, and Changes
10:11 Driving Impressions
16:35 Final Thoughts

[@flat6croc]

The scoring on the 3.4 is nothing to do with oiling in the sense you highlighted. It's to do with the plastic piston coating breaking down and then the exposed piston skirt damaging the bore. The piston coating breaks done partly because it's not up to the job but also because the lokasil bore material isn't stable and spits out small pieces that get trapped between the bore and the piston skirt, which compromises the coating on the skirt, which in turn breaks down and then you have the wrong skirt material facing the bore and you get scoring.

[@billycontinental1849]

was this fixed in the 987.2?

[@geogsi88]

@@billycontinental1849Yes. DI engines use classic Alusil material instead Lokasic BS

[@flatsix1943]

9A1s have begun to show scoring as miles accumulate, albeit not as prevalent as M9x

[@flat6croc]

@@billycontinental1849 Yes. Completely new engine known as the MA1 or 9A1. It's a pretty solid engine with a far, far lower failure rate than the larger 3.4L+ M97 lumps. Not absolutely perfect, but what engine is? The 2.7L M97 is pretty reliable, though.

[@flat6croc]

@@flatsix1943 Think the issue with the 9A1 / MA1 is quite different both in terms of scale and character. First, it's a tiny number of engines versus the larger M97 lumps. Second, think it's caused by the piston partially seizing in the bore when a user leans on the engine too hard from cold and the piston heats up and expands faster than the bore. Significant user error factor. With the M97, engines that are treated perfectly can and do fail from scoring. So, it's not a case of the same problem but less common, but a completely different issue.

[@AFJDM]

Keep reviewing affordable sports cars, everything interesting today starts at over $50K which most people can't drop on a second car, let alone one car, so it's great to hear professional perspectives on great cars that people can actually get into!

[@Rockit181]

MX-5, 86, Elantra N, WRX, Si, GTI....

[@papa_pt]

Ya MX-5 and 86.. foot to the floor, 90% of roads, the Miata is probably more fun to toss around than this already

[@alexstromberg7696]

Most people cant have a second car period.

[@dre32pitt]

@@papa_pt I cross shopped the RF and a .1.. got the .1

[@chopinhauers]

Jaguar F-Type 3.0 V6 gives you more than you need....

[@mattandallthings]

I own the 987 2.7l. 245bhp. No scoring issues, no IMS issues. Has plenty of power. Would definitely recommend to anyone worried about the S version.

[@wma6019]

All hail the long gone days of Naturally aspirated engines paired to manual transmissions being a commonality.

[@Syncopia]

Embrace the turbo charged CVT crossover dystopia.

[@wma6019]

@@Syncopia and Don't forget to wear a mask that doesn't work to protect you from a cold you've already had, and get an untested vaccination while you're at it OR ELSE.

[@nelzelpher7158]

@@Syncopia And you will be happy..

[@deanparker7867]

I bought my first ever Porsche last year and it happened to be a Guards Red 2006 Cayman S with 48,000 miles that I got a decent deal on. My perspective is a bit different as I daily drove a 2000 Honda s2000 for 22 years before I had to sell it and a 2009 Nissan GTR for 12 years now. Out of those 3 cars I enjoy driving the Cayman S the most even though my GTR now has around 630hp at the crank. The reasons for this are pretty simple.... it is light, accurate and you feel absolutely everything you need through the wheel at all times while having _just enough_ power. It also gets just as many looks as the GTR does but from a very different crowd. When I first got into it for a test drive at the dealer I was actually slightly underwhelmed... almost like what you heard in this review. It is important to know that this car grows on you swiftly after you learn how to drive it and what it requires from you to get the most out of the experience. It was totally unmodified except for a nameless cat-back that I simply could not identify. I now have Soul Performance Exhaust, Numeric shifter cables, Wavetrac LSD, Girodisc 2 piece rotors, IPD Plenum, DSC Sports Controller (think SUPER PASM), LN Engineering Ultimate AOS, new Fuel Injectors, spark plugs, coils and water pump. I also switched over to Driven DI40 Motor Oil. The injectors, oil, water pump and AOS are all designed to keep me from having to do a 20k+ engine rebuild far sooner than I should. I needed a proper controlled baseline as this car had 3 prior owners all over the country in various cold climates. It is absolutely critical you pay attention to these items if you really are serious about owning this car. In particular, leaking old or faulty injectors will wash away the oil in your cylinders which is a leading cause of bore scoring. Always let it warm up by driving it under 3k rpm and never let it idle to warm. Drive it every day if you can as most of the typical bore scoring issues seem to be with cars that are garage queens. Also, don't do what I did and skip the PPI. I was too eager and just pulled the trigger after my test drive. I had a bore scope done after I bought it and before I started doing my mods. I just got lucky as the engine was perfect upon inspection. I also drove a 2016 Cayman GT4 and a 2021 718 GT4 back to back a few weeks ago. Even though I'm lucky enough to be able to afford either car, I CHOSE to stick with my 987. I feel connected to it when driving it in a way the more modern Caymans simply lacked. This is highly subjective but I have never been more certain of anything in my life after driving all 3 so close together. I prefer the 987.1 Cayman S to the s2000, GTR and both GT4s. Just drive one if you ever get the chance. I let my friends drive all my cars so they can understand why I am the way I am.

[@86Digilio]

Future 987 owner, with plans to hot rod it if the engine ever needs rebuilt. Thank you for your comment and solidifying my future build “dream”. Fun fact: every performance and body part from a 997 gt3 (from the door forward) will bolt up to a 987!

[@deanparker7867]

@@86Digilio That's right, I forgot I also have a GT3 Master Brake Cylinder on the way with stainless steel brake lines. It's just a great platform if you do your research first.

[@86Digilio]

Look up road scholars cayman gtr if you ever get bored.

[@iluvcakes19]

Why didn't you get a 987.2?

[@deanparker7867]

@@iluvcakes19 Like they say in the video, the 987.2 is harder to find and more expensive. Getting the spec you want at the price you want is a crap shoot. Yes, I would have gotten a .2 if both were on the lot that day. I figured get the spec I loved PASM and Sport Mode right in front of me and use the savings to modify it the way I want.

[@eurly93]

I don't understand how Mark can say a Cayman isn't a 'driver's car'. What the hell is if a Cayman isn't? It's midengine, lightweight, manual, revvy NA motor, what on earth more could you want? They literally DANCE through corners, it's unlink anything else. Oh that's right, it needs to be slow like a Miata or BRZ then it would be a real 'Driver's Car'.

[@pvtcmyers87]

I do love these reviews of older cars that are more affordable. Please keep this up.

[@Ill06Taco]

Each Porsche review is another step deeper of Marks descent into madness and I'm here for it

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

I'm counting the days till he gets a yellow Boxster with red interior

[@jacktaylor2472]

The base model 987.1 is also a gem and good value. Had mine for 5 years now, always a blast to drive and hasn’t missed a beat.

[@tanmanrico]

Gotta love the poverty spec. Everything you need and nothing you don't. #teampovertyspec

[@gordondemuynck6579]

Best car I ever owned.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

@@gordondemuynck6579 Same here. I had a 2008 (ordered new, my first Porsche) base model. What I found was many 356 folks also owned Caymans as opposed to 911s. Until a few years ago, it seemed like a well-kept secret.

[@WJJ3rd]

You can easily see that Mark is not impressed with the older Cayman. Maybe that's because he's used to more modern hyper-fast cars. I just got a 987.1 2.7L "base" Cayman and it's a blast to drive. No, it's not as fast as the "S" model, but it'll still get you into trouble really quick and I'd rather have a smaller engine that I can wring out without getting a speeding ticket. The 2.7 begs you to wring the piss out of it. BTW, the '06-'08 2.7 engines do not suffer from IMS or bore-scoring issues like the 3.4s.

[@steelgator412]

I’ve owned a 2006 Cayman S for over a year now. I love it. It’s a fantastic car for the money.

[@thrumyeyesphoto]

Almost 2 years into my 987.1S Boxster ownership and I absolutely love it. It’s been extremely reliable and a joy to drive. Hard pressed to find something more fun in a similar price range.

[@MK-su6eg]

Got my 2006 boxster S in 2019, and loving it! Especially in paradise, Aloha from Hawaii MK!

[@wthisdaftpunk6847]

Had a 987.1 Base and drove it from 100k to 160k miles. Besides basic maintenance, only thing that ever went wrong with it was a window regulator and a water pump

[@j.clayton1206]

This is soooo timely. I'm actually looking at 987 Boxsters and Z4M's because I can't justify dropping $40-50K on something that will be a weekend driver.

[@JJL206]

When I was looking at 987 Boxsters I also looked at the Z3 (closest competitor at the time). The Boxster was hands-down better on all counts. Especially storage and drivability. The cowl shake on the Z3 was terrible.

[@mattyp3119]

Boxster is a lot better

[@taylorc2542]

Same. Was just researching 987.2. It would be my first Porsche and I'm not rich.

[@andrewrossnagel9433]

The Z4M is WAY more fun. It's not even comparable. It's as raw as M cars come and the engine can have one of the best induction noises germany has to offer if you get a carbon plenum. I highly recommend to test drive both at 8/10ths before you make a decision.

[@aaronnudelman1967]

@@taylorc2542 I was hoping to find an affordable one too. Turns out finding them at all was a bigger challenge than I thought especially the 09 or 10. Right in the heart of the recession made those pretty uncommon cars.

[@conditionone2320]

Love the sound of that engine after the 2-3 upshift. I can't believe how acclimated I've become to seeing things like the BMW beaver teeth and Lexus PredatorFace -- that Cayman front end looks like an old 356 or something to modern eyes.

[@RustyCyler]

I own a manual transmission base 2005 Boxster with 179K on the speedo. I bought it six years ago with 142k miles. Mechanically its been near perfect, last fall I had to replace the water pump. I figured it would be expensive and tough to fix the water pump but hell no, it was super easy and I did the work in my driveway in one day. I drive my Boxster nearly daily and although its only a base model, I love it every time I drive it. My car shows some wear and tear and has some patina but overall the car is rock solid. Its not the fastest car in the world, but if you rev it out and keep it above 4k on the tach, its fun as hell to drive. I do my own oil changes and I do it every 5k miles. I love my Boxster and I can honestly say its the best car I ever drove.

[@RuneDest]

I picked up a 77k mile 06 cayman s manual at the end of last year for $29k and it’s been an absolute dream to own. Love to see that you two reviewed it!

[@RuneDest]

Traded from a b8.5 s4 to this and I couldn’t be happier. Owning this car with how connected it feels is an absolute joy.

[@saphiretamer]

@@RuneDest Ive been looking into the b8.5 S5 for a DD. how was your experience with the s4?

[@RuneDest]

@@saphiretamer oh and if you get the automatic, though less common on the 15/16 years, you’ll end up replacing the gearbox solenoid control module at some point.

[@chanjasonsk]

Where’d you find your car?

[@JETZcorp]

The solution to the scored-bores issue is simple - buy the non-S model. Because those have the shorter stroke, the piston skirt never protrudes beyond the bottom of the bore and therefore the skirt coatings don't become damaged. Also, the lower power output means you get to rev it (and hear it!) more without being dragged away by the paramedics or constabulary. I'm kinda maybe probably shopping for a 987, and I'm looking for a non-S, although if an S popped up for non-S money in the right color, I probably wouldn't say no. IMO the ideal would be one of the VERY rare non-S 6-speed cars. They do exist, but only like 2% of customers ticked that box.

[@JK-ns5dr]

I just bought a 2011 base with 100.133 miles. I was happy to see it has the 6 speed. I didn't even notice at first because I assumed it had the 5 speed.

[@JETZcorp]

@JK-ns5dr You have a 987.2 car with the all-new engine. I think the 6-speed may have been more common on those. Either way, bore scoring and IMS are not a problem at all for you. History has shown that engine is a real solid sweetheart, which is why there's a large premium on the 09+ cars. Well bought!

[@darkblueturbo]

I bought a 987.1 nonS in 2.7 guise because there was nothing on the internet about bore score and it’s been trouble free. It is wonderful. Yes, a bit more power from the S wouldn’t go amiss, but I do enjoy being able to use all the power more of the time. And it still makes all the wonderful noises.

[@Matt77346]

Great video!...IMO the 987 is the best of the Cayman generation if you want a more engaging driving experience. Last of the hydraulic steering, hand brake in the proper place, lower door sills, a quality and solid "no-frills" interior, great sounding exhaust (especially when upgraded), and arguably the best looking rear end of all the Caymans. I have a 987.2 S and its one of the best cars I've ever owned, and I've had a lot...(Elise, two 911's, Z06, GT500, XKR-S, Alfa 4C, etc...) And, let us not forget the 2009 987.2 S was Motor Trend driver's car of the year, and it was up against cars MUCH higher in price. As of this moment, the Cayman 987.2 S is the only generation of Cayman to win the MT driver's car comparison.

[@iamshevanel]

8:26 I get the same look when explaining to people why my E90 M3 is such a great platform…..after you replace rod bearings, actuators and idle control valve, to the tune of 4-6k

[@qikqbn77]

I have a 2008 987.1 Cayman S. Owned 10 years now. Adding some lowering/stiffer springs and wheels/tires to this car will dramatically improve the "connection" you may think are missing from the softer stock suspension. Add a short shifter and all the control points feel very well matched. I have driven all the new stuff and the 987.1 still holds it's head high and is a keeper. No plans on selling anytime soon.

[@lne9070]

Remember pre-Covid, these were going for the mid to high teens for a good example…..and yes, I’m talking about the Cayman S, not the base model.

[@davidvonslingshot]

3.4 owner with Soul Performance headers and street exhaust, tuned with softronic - turns a 987 from a solid 8 to a 9.5. So much more fun.

[@1ROCKY89]

987.1 is a lot of car for the money a real joy to drive and timeless. The manual gearing is excellent for the road and the steering feedback as well. The classic sound and those beautiful hips are classic imho. The ownership experience has been solid for me.

[@MarkCup70]

I've had my 2.7 .1 car for over two years now, 17k miles, and I regularly beat on it both on trackdays and competitive sprints. Six speed, normally aspirated, 7,300 RPM redline, I honestly can't think of another car I'd prefer to have parked outside. Love it 😍

[@Jwdude123]

I have the same, it’s the best car in so many ways.

[@prof_tim]

The only other car that I’d want parked outside is another 987.1 (2.7) in a different colour …. just so I had a choice of which colour to drive.

[@MatthewGaither]

I don't think I've ever seen a 987.1 Cayman with those wheels before and I really like the look. Thanks for doing this one!

[@JJL206]

Those are aftermarket faux-Fuchs. I had a set on my ‘07 Boxster from TireRack (no longer available). They look great but are definitely a heavier wheel than the stock 18” S wheel version. You can feel the difference.

[@jeffreysalzman1497]

I looked them up, they Fuchs wheels and they are around $8000 for a set of 4.

[@mwahlert]

Humm, personally I think they look terrible on this car.

[@jimiverson3085]

Tires change the steering feel a lot. Contis like the ones on the test car tend to be a bit soft and less responsive. Put a set of Michelins on it and upgrade the stock dampers and the car will be a lot more connected. It's also one of those cars that doesn't really come to life until you push it hard, which you can't really do on most roads.

[@basithph8958]

I honestly did not see this one coming but I’m glad to see a Savagegeese vid on the 987.1 S which is now one of the best performance bargains you can get on the used market literally 997 S performance for half the price and it’s still a real Porsche Would love to see a Part 2 of this vid with the 987.2 especially on the value, updates, changes, reliability, performance especially with the PDK

[@ForgetfulFoot]

Finally! Been asking about this on the live Q&As for ages. Can't wait to see the eventual 987.2 video too! Lots of love from Australia.

[@jayjohnson3732]

I have an ‘07 Boxster S 6sp and absolutely love it. It does not (to me) feel disconnected in any way. When I bought it it was by far the quickest thing I had ever driven, let alone owned, and remains a far more capable car then I am a driver. Reliable as well at ~130,000 mile.

[@daneav8]

Social media does what social media does. It leaves people anxious and nail biting, and keeps them from jumping into the water. Meanwhile, there are tons of happy owners driving their 987.1’s with a smile on their face and no issues at all. I have had my 987.1 S 6-speed for 9 years now, and have zero issues. Turning 70,000 miles sometime this year I suspect. Love this car. Completely stock except for 7mm wheel spacers in front and 15mm in rear. Buy it. Enjoy it.

[@dannoyes4493]

After the 914, these 1st gen Caymans are quite posssibly the best Porsche ever. Check out the lap times of the Cayman v. comparble 911's of the day. I swear you must be reading my mind.... this video is timely I've beeen on the hunt for one of these 1st gens. Good to see the youngster's take on it. Thank you. Well Done!

[@jackholmes8105]

Thanks dan. Its a shame the prices now are getting so high.

[@bookerwooten4393]

Love these throwback reviews!!! Please review a 350Z! Great to hear about more affordable sports cars.

[@jacquesc3166]

Supported. Hopefully an 07-08. Please do it, Mark/Jack. -Jacques

[@Smllc22318]

Gross

[@anydaynow01]

It would be awesome if they did two back to back, one that is stock, and one that has had the SPL catalog thrown at it, Wavetrak or Quaife LSD upgrade, some good quality street/track pads in the stock Brembo calipers, with a set of good quality street/trackday coilovers like the Öhlins DFVs, those modifications turn a 350Z from a nice grand touring car to a very solid fun sports car.

[@bookerwooten4393]

@@anydaynow01 Outstanding idea!!!

[@wma6019]

350Z + S2000 + RX-8 combo video would be 🔥

[@julianc.6589]

Excellent work, I've been looking at picking up one of these so this is perfect. The close up of Mark's face was hilarious too lol.

[@natemallory9141]

THANK YOU. Love your channel and am a subscriber. Really appreciate you FINALLY doing this car. I own a .2 987 Cayman base manual and WISH i were closer to Illinois to give it to you to beat on. Everything you like about the 987.1 got slightly more refined and way more reliable with the 987.2. Owned mine 8 years and all that’s happened was a coil pack shitting the bed. These are wonderful Porsche red headed step children. Keep making great videos 👍🏾

[@FdoLee]

What a great generation porsche, honestly my favorite. Had a 987.1 boxster S and loved every min. Thank you for covering specific generations and affordable sports cars!

[@hughmann1908]

As an owner of a launch year Cayman S with PASM, I can say in 45 years of driving, it’s the best driving car I’ve ever driven! I’m sure the GT4RS is the pinnacle of Porsche driving. I change my oil every year and store it for the Canadian winter, and do oil analysis, with no issues. I would guess up to 5% will have these issues…

[@jmf_5]

I'm loving these non crazy priced fun car reviews! I hope we get many more. The 987.1 is still competitive in autocross in B-Street, which says quite a lot. The rear of the 987 Cayman definitely stands out and makes you look twice.

[@SebiKoerner]

I'm 21 rn. I want to own a Porsche by the time I turn 25. Hopefully theses things continue to age well and stay affordable in the future. Current daily is my Granny's 2007 VW Polo. Driving that thing until it falls apart.

[@GR71393]

Currently researching cars and I’m looking into the Cayman as an introduction into porsche. So glad y’all are doing an in-depth review to help my research.

[@tigim101]

This is why I appreciate this channels views. There aren't many channels that really give "driving enthusiasts", not just "car enthusiasts", a good comparison. To most normal people and on forums people would say this is basically a track car but it's definitely not. I think except for the GT porsches and some odd car here and there, you have to go to the aftermarket to make a drivers car, with stuff like stiffer bushings and suspension.

[@romeundernero]

Nice surprise to see you guys reviewing a 987.1. Looking forward to the 987.2 video! Bought a base 987.2 a few years back after 'discovering' them and the Numeric short shifter kit is a must. It brings up the shifting feel to 9/10 of my old S2000.

[@michaelnguyen2975]

Do take a look at Function First Shifter Cable Ends! That will get that last tenth of direct mechanical feel into the shifter.

[@stevenh766]

Really enjoyed this piece and it's what finally made me click the all important subscribe button. Some of the flash and tech in all the new cars is great but they're are tons of amazing options out there in this $50k ballpark that will deliver 100% of the smiles and 90% of the performance for 50% of the cash outlay while having already eaten the steepest part of the depreciation curve.

[@mattlau]

Love your choice of intro music. The guitar and drums always sounds so good and set the tone for the rest of the video

[@patricklinkous]

Great video. My mom has daily driven her '07 Cayman 2.7 for 13 years and absolutely loves it. It's right around 100k miles now and runs great. It hasn't given her any problems over the years.

[@km6832]

100k miles in 13 years isnt a lot. Therefore you mum didnt have to drive far to work or the supermarket

[@patricklinkous]

​@@km6832 She drove it 60 miles a day for a few years and then retired. So yeah for the last 10 years she hasn't driven it as much. But still, 100k trouble free miles on a somewhat problematic Porsche engine is pretty good.

[@km6832]

@@patricklinkous i agree

[@BrianJohnson-kh7mg]

I'm a 911 owner and I love the 987. Hope to add one to my garage someday. Fantastic cars!

[@bbartlow0307]

Love you guys. For me and many others you're 'numero uno' . Regardless, you must be (or should be) the Top 5 for any serious car buyer, and that's saying something. The depth and seriousness of your reviews is what keeps car buyers coming back, rightly so. The frivolity is just a bonus...and while a big bonus, spending 50+ big ones (or being on the hook for 5-7 years) is no joking matter. We know it and we can tell you know it; you feel our pain because it's your pain too. So take a bow gentlemen, you deserve it.

[@Anya-Prime]

Damn it I remember when you could get a 987.1 non-S manual for like 10-15k. I shoulda jumped on it then. Or I shoulda gotten an S2k around that same time for 10-15k. This era was definitely peak naturally aspirated cheap-ish sports cars. We may have some downright maniacal NA motors coming out today but they’ll never drop to accessible prices and might even start appreciating immediately. Personally I love the practicality and livability of the standard cayman. I was coming from a Miata and wanted something less frustrating to commute in, but I ended up going too far in the other direction at the time. Plus, from what I understand, these cars could get a lot more direct and exciting with the sportier suspension packs or even Gt3 parts on the aftermarket. Struts are a compromise and while you can work around that, the non PASM models definitely softened up the experience for the rich suburb market. These and the boxsters were always cars for midlife crisis moms, at least based on what I’ve seen. I’ve also gotta ask, I wonder if the aftermarket wheels on that owners car messed with the offset and screwed up the suspension dynamics. Wider wheels without accounting for scrub radius can ruin steering, so I wonder if that change has made this car a little too numb in normal driving. I also didn’t realize the engines on these weren’t as problematic as people insist. They do sound so sweet, especially if you open them up with some extra parts. Or maybe it’s for the best that I didn’t get a car that’s liable to spontaneously drop a couple thousand dollar repair bill in my lap.

[@alkoenig8519]

Great video! One minor correction (03:12), oil level is via a separate menu due to electronic dip stick, the dash gauge is coolant temp. Beyond that, a very fair & objective evaluation...I have a 987.1 and still absolutely love it!

[@alexkroeger1]

Came to say the same! I went from a 987 caymanto a 997 911 and I weirdly care a lot about having the oil temp gauge. On the cayman, I just had to a wait a few minutes after coolant temp came up and assume oil was at temp, but I appreciate now with the 911 how long that gap can be depending on driving (highway vs city) and like seeing how it adjusts to hard driving

[@BarnStangz]

This is a great segment and I hope that you'll continue to review older sports cars. There are so many great older fun cars out there and the absolute best part is the old cars seem to have a more pure driving experience. This Porsche looks like it has enough room for my One Wheel board out back, but not my shower chair. Oh well...

[@jlo6388]

I bought a 987.1 S manual w 60k miles. I put another 40, and traded it in with 99k miles. I had to replace a window regulator, and an air-oil separator during that whole time. It has an amazing chassis-so confident.

[@porkchopexpress6969]

Then why did you get rid of it?

[@scottlachapelle8892]

Recently picked up a 987.2 S so was excited to see this! Might be one of the few who was cross shopping a C6 Z, loved the vid you did on that, but ultimately this won out. Love the reviews, keep it up!

[@moralesmedia4282]

How has it been owning it? Looking at getting a C6

[@guitarcrazy02]

Please review more cars from this era! This was a great time for obtainable enthusiast cars.

[@aaronlabeau]

👍like the others have said thanks for doing this review. As it has been mentioned many times on this channel it's hard to come to terms with the 'affordability' of cars in general these days let alone prices for Porsche's. This and the 987.2 S and the 981 S and the 718 S are all on the list of cars I'd love to own for their various things each one does well vs the other generations.

[@hazlgreen]

Guys, thank you! I have waited patiently for your review of the 987.1, and it is awesome to have my patience rewarded with a great quick objective overview. Unfortunately, you did NOT trash the car overall, so maybe I’ll have to hang onto my 987.1 a little bit longer! Hah.

[@misternordberg3675]

Good to see you base your decisions on other people's opinions.

[@hazlgreen]

@@misternordberg3675 I include humor in my writing sometimes. I guess not everyone caught the sarcasm.

[@zec.4491]

@@hazlgreen Maybe they were being sarcastic as well🧐

[@ky7037]

@@zec.4491 nah you can tell

[@hazlgreen]

Did I also get it wrong? Let’s rewind the tape. Were we both being sarcastic? I dunno. Let’s end the suspense!

[@theday2learn]

I owned a 2010 cayman S, saddest day was when I had to sell mine due to a growing family. Loved the cayman and still remember it fondly, such a well built car

[@StraightUpHippo]

I have a 987.1 base, you can get them for sub £15k in the UK and honestly can't recommend it enough. The base Cayman doesn't have any bore scoring issues, revs out slightly more and cheaper to insure. I've had no issues with mine after a year of ownership. Mega value for money.

[@obi-wankenobi7160]

I had one of these as well, 987.1 base and had no issues whatsoever. Maintenance is expensive as with all Porsches, and after two years I traded up to a 991.2 carrera manual.

[@StraightUpHippo]

​@@obi-wankenobi7160 Not sure where you are but I'm West Mids (UK) - Major service is £400~ and minor service is £200~. Given the fact these are done on multiyear intervals I honestly don't think it's too bad. It probably is a stepping stone to a 997 for me but a great way into sports car ownership. Not sure how much more car for your money you'd get with a 997 other than the obvious layout and power differences.

[@WeirdNeville]

Just got a 62k mile Cayman S with a 15k miles engine supplied new by Porsche for £14k. It's a great car and really looking forward to taking it to the ring this summer!

[@johnbanks8269]

I really enjoy how Jack loves German cars, and Mark is the Japanese car geek. Accidentally hilarious dynamic

[@misternordberg3675]

Mark is older and wiser. German cars are and have always been overhyped, they're NOT anywhere near as connected as even a Japanese economy car from the 80's and 90's. Sorry, them's the facts.

[@hazardeur]

@@misternordberg3675 you fool. the modern japanese and asian cars in general are just as disconnected in terms of feeling, maybe even more. all cars are. 20 years back, all sport cars had a good connection to the driver and the germans are no exception. at least with the germans you always had performance.

[@paulbugoni2846]

Keep up the excellent reviews. Educational and entertaining review of a nice automobile, informative re the bore scoring issues on the 987.1. Porsches aren’t bulletproof but find a good one and you are looking good.

[@jayvkman]

I'm a fan of the channel, but as former owner I have to disagree with the conclusions based on the test car spec and limited drive time on the roads. The Cayman S is IMO a proper drivers car. I put 20k track miles on mine, it came with 10k miles when I had it 2011-2013, and those were all track miles (not a daily driver) I put in over 100 laps on the Nurburging Nordschleife as well as multiple trackdays at Spa, Zolder and other tracks in Europe. It is a super capable car, and all it ever needed in those years and all track miles was new brake pads and tires... Mine was a 987.1 S 6 speed with Sport Chrono pack and PASM, of all the things steering and chasses was it's strong suit, it felt super direct and so connected to the road like riding on a scalpel, not at all GT like as mentioned in the review. FWIW I got a BMW 1M afterwards and that felt less connected to the road than the Cayman S. Also the PSM is the least invasive traction and stability control system out there, I always ran with it enabled and only had it interfere on the few parts on the Nordschleife where the cars goes airborne.... My favorite and only upgrade to the car was a Carnewal GT exhaust (= modified stock muffler with more airflow), it sounded so good, tunnel run video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKLCfYOYqaiLgtE

[@RichardWarner-df7dz]

I have a red 987.1 S manual. Awesome car. I have a borla exhaust on it and it sounds super cool. Just enough HP(300). Just change the oil a lot and I’m pretty sure no bore scoring. Also let it warm up and drive below 3k rpm until nice and warm. It’s a over looked car. I also have a 996 turbo S manual, very different cars,both very fun. Cheers boys. Another thing, it has two trunks basically and is a great grocery getter.interesting side note. I believe Porsche used the 550 for styling the rear and the 904 for the front, both mid engine cars as well. In reality it’s probably the best place for the engine.

[@dre32pitt]

It is the best place.. which is why Porsche nerfed the Cayman so much when it first came out.. It's still nerfed to a degree, but nothing like in the beginning..

[@JJL206]

I think there’s also a hint of Carrera GT in the styling if you look dead head-on at both cars. Most 987 owners say: Don’t warm your car up…just start it and drive it while it warms up.

[@boredalchemist]

the 987.1 and 987.2 are best looking Porsches since the 930 imo

[@jjchockey]

Agreed

[@popi785]

Been following for long. Thanks for the good reviews, I really enjoy your attention to details. I do have a 1991 318is and I am looking to upgrade to something more modern but I want my next car to still be nimble and fun to drive. I just need a fun weekend car that can still bring back 4-5 bags of groceries. Seems like the Cayman S could fulfill my needs.

[@orthoagnostic3364]

the outro is hilarious... glad you guys are having fun in the editing room.

[@mullner88]

I had a Basalt Black launch spec 987.1S. Fantastic car and ownership experience. Sport seats are a must. Just address the oil baffling and add some cup shift cables and the car is phenomenal

[@filip000]

I would go nuts if I couldn't turn off all the electronics, and without a mechanical LSD.

[@dre32pitt]

Do you track regularly? I don't, so didn't look into getting better oil circulation for long, high g, sweepers.. Im definitely doing the numeric shift cables w/ GT3 short shifter.. You still have yours?

[@carverac]

There are many people who track with oil system improvements and the engines still fail. The M97 simply wasn't designed with enough safety factor for track work. If you want to do track days, get an '09+ with the 9A1.

[@dre32pitt]

@@carverac Those command, on avg, another 10-12k over .1's because of the rarity of the .2's and the engine improvements.. For that kind of money, you could also cross shop an SS 1LE, which will be far more capable on track

[@carverac]

@@dre32pitt Yes, less than the cost of a failed M97 rebuild and the 987.2 drives nothing like a Camaro, especially important for a dual use car that's not only for the track, but to each their own

[@gzeus6332]

9a1 Still had the Bore scoring issue in the "S" variant of the 987.2. if you want a fun, "cheap", reliable 987, get a 987.1 with the 2.7 (much less likely to have bore scoring and less than 1% IMS issue just get one with 40k miles or more, it'll be fine). Still a ton of fun, sounds great, and for the 3 years I Daily Drove it, never had a major issue. Had to change out Spark Plugs and Coils, which was a real pain in the ass, but other than that, normal maintenance. Only annoyance i really had with it was doing oil changes without a phycial dipstick, and having to use the stupid digital oil level sensor.

[@tself77]

I lucked into finding a 987.1 base 2.7 and have really enjoyed it. Coming from a Miata the 2.7 feels just right power wise for the chassis - meaning you can really push it anytime and anywhere without overwhelming the car or driver. I've had a blast autocrossing mine. Plan to keep it until I find the right 981 to upgrade to.

[@GadgetMart]

@@tself77 That makes a lot of sense, all more power gives you is straight line speed, need more caution on the bends.

[@gzeus6332]

@@tself77 congrats on the 987! Glad you've enjoyed it! I just hope it doesn't sky rocket up in price before I can get another one (traded for an Evora). I find the 987.1 base to be an excellent porsche enthusiasts kept secret. More reliable than the S counterpart, more reliable/less problematic, parts are fairly cheap on Pelican Parts, you get that epic 2.7 scream to redline and the 5 speed it excellent to row gears in! Makes it feel almost like the 63'-73' air cooled Era of 911's good power/weight and tons of fun for the corners!

[@SlimJinGyms]

Which one is the more reliable out of the two then? The 987.1 or 987.2 base?

[@GadgetMart]

@@SlimJinGyms Well I drive a N52 powered Z4. I would like a Porsche but scared off it lunching itself

[@apordonez]

Love the fact that you’re reviewing older, special cars. Hope you review the Cayman R when you get around to the 987.2 generation!

[@Ws6er97]

I love my '08 Cayman S. Mine is Carrera White and it's spec'd out almost exactly the same as the test car rolling on the same tire. It was a daily driver from when I picked it up new till about five years ago. Just under 60k miles. It's one of the few cars that to my eye has gotten better with age. Still special every time I get into it. Can't think of anything else I'd rather have. The 987.1 has been having a moment as the affordable Porsche. Lot's of videos. All the the reviews are the same. Wow this car is a little soft, and too easy to drive, okay this is really good and you should get one. Sort of grows on the reviewers who get into it thinking that it will be less than because the nameplate isn't a number. Great review.

[@MLHunt]

Interesting, entertaining, as always. I'm not in the market for a weekend/fun car but if I were this would be very helpful.

[@atrechi]

can't wait for the 987.2 video :P

[@verdict1163]

Love the curb weights! Such an informative piece of info.

[@jdarms3370]

Thank you again for another fantastic episode.

[@positivesecret]

When you drive one then you understand . I never knew a car could drive like this. I take turns at 60.

[@jeffreysalzman1497]

I completely agree.

[@ky7037]

Mid engine is a game changer

[@sul6an92]

One of the best cars ever Mid-engine , PDK, flat six with an exhaust it sounds and drives insane

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

First gen didn't have PDK yet, it's 987.2 from 2009+ and I'd be cautious buying an older PDK, unless you're sure it was serviced more frequently.

[@misternordberg3675]

@@rosgoncharuk2403 I agree, and would also be cautious buying a PDF because it's not a manual, thus not a driver's car.

[@ky7037]

@@misternordberg3675 I’m an advocate for manuals only for a sports car but Porsche’s PDK is pretty damn sexy

[@romulus_]

@@rosgoncharuk2403 PDK is rock solid if maintained. and the only maintenance is the fluid/filter every 60-70k. no problems with mine at 90k.

[@Steve-jq4st]

Have a 987.1 Boxster S which I love. Nearly 130000 k and goes great. I’m a bit scared of the bore scoring issue but no problems yet. I always have it serviced by a Porsche dealer and only problems out of the ordinary have been with the roof operation once. Great car to drive.

[@JRGarage]

Fantastic video!

[@goldenboy8249]

I loved my test drive in the 981.1 Cayman S. Very well thought out car that's stable and precise. Easy to drive and natural feeling. It felt very special. I ultimately decided on the S2k as a second car because it was more fun to drive at the end of the day. But the Cayman S is definitely an awesome car....just a little too stable and precise.

[@jamespatterson1783]

I have an ‘06 Cayman S “launch edition”, it does have adjustable suspension, steering and throttle variability, which your tester did not. I’ll say that I must disagree with you regarding this being a true “drivers car”. I purchased this in 2018 from the original owner who paid $80K for it. It had 54,000 miles on it. Today, it has just shy of 100,000 miles on it. Other than brakes, tires and routine maintenance, I have had NO repairs whatsoever. I am planning to replace the adjustable dampers and all other suspension components this summer as I just feel it’s time, but nothing is leaking or a cause for concern. I will tell you that when you track this car, or take it on cross country trips, it is a true gem….I feel after 40,000+ miles of ownership, the sweet spot for this vehicle is between 90MPH and 135MPH, everything is totally locked down and stable in a way that is positively uncanny. I’m keeping this one forever!

[@TheEatre]

I've been daily driving my 07S for eight years. Runs like a top and is an absolute pleasure.

[@Linberrrr]

I love my old Cayman S. Done costco runs and carried bikes on the top. With a modified stock exhaust I get compliments of the exhaust note a lot. Good power for the streets, and most importantly, the analog steering is something you don't get with all the cars going EPS in the modern cars.

[@retrograde11]

How long / miles did you have it for? Has it been reliable? How heavy on maintenance? Thx!

[@Linberrrr]

@@retrograde11 had it about 5 years. The maintenance is easy to do. Done coil packs, spark plug, oil change in my garage, fairly easy. Just beware the water pump will go, not if but when. Things that broke during my ownership are the alternator. Cost me around 800 for the shop to do it. And the headliner will drop and touch your head (lol) take it out yourself and bring it to an upholstery shop, shouldn't cost more than $100-200. The door handle might break but you only need to buy a mechanism inside the door panel and just take the door panel off and replace it, fairly easy) I would own one again when my kids grow up old enough... 🥲

[@retrograde11]

@@Linberrrr very helpful! Thanks!

[@dre32pitt]

I struggle at costco with mine, lol.. I got shit in the frunk, hatch, and passenger seat lol..

[@aaronnudelman1967]

@@Linberrrr I just bought one that showed signs of a past water leak at the water pump. It was a bit speedy to replace. $1500 with water pump and low temp thermostat. Mine is an 07 and has 47K on it. Super fun car to drive.

[@basithph8958]

I’ve been liking the 987.1 a lot especially the S which is probably the best value for performance you can get especially as it is like the 997 S at half the price It’s also like the spiritual successor to the 356 and 550 especially looking at the design and body lines Would love to see a vid on the 987.2 as yes it is more expensive because it is more rare however it is still great value on the used market and a huge improvement over the 987.1 would be cool to see a comparison between the two models

[@hellomynameisdevio]

I have a 2008 Cayman S, ive owned it for 5 years and the engine is holding up. The previous owners put in performance/track suspension, and I put on a glass engine cover... it has really come alive. The engine roars and you hear every gasp and hiss from the throttle. It brings me such joy.

[@CecilBrian]

Attempting to qualify a few items regarding reliability. Changing the oil regularly and using a high quality oil should mitigate a lot of the bore score concerns. As will refraining from revving the piss out of it cold. That said, Jack suggests it was the 20k oil change intervals that may contribute to bore score. It’s more likely the Nikasil lining in the cylinders coming apart on the cylinder skirts and in the bores. Contrary to what Jack says, this is still an issue with the 987.2 engines because they too have nikasil coatings. I don’t believe this was resolved in the 987.2. My 2008 CS Manual has been a joy to own. I run Driven oil in it with the longest interval being 5k between changes. Threw a Kenwood Apple Car Play head unit in it and a full Fab Speed Exhaust. The car is awesome fun to drive IMHO. And, knock on wood, has been stone cold reliable.

[@damonbrooks8006]

I picked up my base 987.1 last year and it changed my perspective on horsepower and how much you need to go fast. Definitely a great car even though I need to update some suspension components.

[@michaelnguyen2975]

I suggest adding maximum negative camber (~ -1.5 degrees) on the stock front suspension if you want a more neutral/raw handling experience.

[@Mark-rt6fy]

+1 for 987.2 review

[@xiaodipan6203]

Nice video guys! Would love to see a review on 981 gen especially a Boxster or Boxster S next!

[@randybrown6709]

Great Porsche content - keep it coming! I really like the 987 Cayman S cars and wish they weren't so notorious for bore scoring and whatnot. The premium to move past that with the 987.2 cars is a decent jump and it seems like it's getting pretty difficult to find clean examples with manuals. I purchased a low mileage 981 Cayman S manual last year and love it. I have an E46 330i ZSP 6-speed that I have owned since new and use as a daily driver. If I were to replace the E46 with something a little more exciting at some point, I would look at the 987 Cayman S. Ideal spec would be Guards Red, Black interior, 6-speed manual and Lobster Claws! It might make a good restoration project one of these days.

[@duckylucky6505]

Jack: "What was that noise?" Mark: "I hit one of the barn cats passing the farm."

[@kk10494]

I've been shopping around for a 987.1 for almost a year now. They're getting harder and harder to find in decent condition. In 20 years they will be an absolute classic and unobtainable

[@hazlgreen]

Keep looking. It took me a good amount of time while casually looking to find the one I have now. It was worth the wait.

[@povertyspec9651]

Overrated junk.

[@thedudeabides1443]

I think they will be readily available and most likely not all that collectible simply because the .2 models are rarer and have an improved engine with no IMS worries. It’s the .2 models-especially the Cayman R-that will be the highly collectible ones and will continue to appreciate. The .1 models will always be pretty affordable.

[@royshavrick]

I don't really think so. The GT4 and GT4RS and the Spyder and the GTS 4.0 will be the super expensive ones, but the older base models will probably hover around where they are now imo.

[@thedudeabides1443]

@@royshavrick Yes I agree. But the OP mentioned that the .1 cars in 20 years will be classics and unobtainable. While they will be classics, there were a lot of them made and they will not be as collectible as the .2 cars, therefore they will be quite obtainable. And out of that class of cars, a .2 Cayman R will be quite collectible and valuable. Of course not as valuable as the GT4 or Spyder, which cost much more to begin with.

[@tubo8826]

Just picked up mine three weeks ago. Best call of my life

[@TheHunter1182]

I own a 987.1 cayman s and there absolutely is a way to beat the PSM there's a certain wire you can cut and splice in a switch (if you look up on Porsche forums) and you can completely disable PSM and I mean fully there are no nanny's except ABS. If you track I highly recommend you do it, if not, ignore what I just said

[@rafaelcordoba13]

Please do the same with 981! ❤

[@Krazy_Shorts]

Dang...i'd love one of these! Been too nervous to jump into my first Porsche...i don't want some major nightmare!

[@ky7037]

Issues with these cars are blown out of proportion

[@DeuceDeuceBravo]

Great info. The 987 is absolutely brilliant, if you get the manual. The base 2.7L is a ton of fun and doesn't have some of the serious issues of the 3.4L. Change your oil every 6-12 months even if you don't drive it much. Get a low temp thermostat. Don't idle to warm up; drive it gently until it's warm. Try to avoid starting it in cold weather if you can. One more note on the bore scoring: there is a popular Porsche engine builder who recommends the Joe Gibbs oil to supposedly help prevent it, but be aware that the oil could kill your catalytic converters. Get a good synthetic and you should be fine.

[@bassmaster1953]

I've had my '06 CS for 9 years now. Up to 113k miles now and never experienced the horrors the talking heads harp on. Buy it and be amazed.

[@tigim101]

holy shit that ending hahahaha

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

Lot's of them on the market but I would still look for 987.2 or 981 just because they are safer -- no bore scoring and IMS bearing to worry about. 987.2 are hard to find due to the time they were released -- simply much less were sold. So I went for 981 as soon as I found a good deal and it's amazing! So well balanced, rotates through corner -- enjoying every ride! Base model is more than enough, unless you're experienced driver and planning on doing track days.

[@dre32pitt]

Not enough torque on the base 2.7.. even with DI.. its 221ftlb... weksos

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

​@@dre32pitt but you can rev it out easier and for longer w/o being well into reckless driving territory. Of course the diff between S and base is huge, but so is the price. You'll enjoy Base just as much on twisted roads, but on a track it would feel slow, no argument there. Still, I rather get Base instead of any current enthusiast four cylinder under 40k.

[@dre32pitt]

@@rosgoncharuk2403 I understand that part, but if there isn't much sense of thrust or torque, I wont like the car.. it's just how Im built.. I have a .1 Cayman S and have driven the base, which the torque didnt change much going to DI (HP did though).. So, I spent more and got what I knew I wanted.. 7300 redline is good for a full 2nd gear pull onto the freeway.. much better than a 981+ with their 80mph 2nd gear lmao

[@rosgoncharuk2403]

​@@dre32pitt Yeah, the gearing is the biggest shame. Base vs S depends from the person, but it's a great car regardless, the question is just how much power you want/need. Which still feels more powerful then other cars at the wheels due to less power loss.

[@dre32pitt]

@@rosgoncharuk2403 It feels the right amount of power, for me, for the street.. what's understated is how well it rides.. i was kinda shocked lol..

[@jamesadey8744]

The 987.2 tend to cost at least ten thousand more than a 987.1. That's about the cost of an engine rebuild. If you get a good 987.1 it could be years before it needs a rebuild, or it may never need one. Then there is the option of capacity increase if you do find you need a rebuild which could be very exciting. I've owned my 987.1 for 8 years and is still going strong, but will definitely get a capacity increase if ever it needs a rebuild.

[@jimmythang7125]

Bought mine 5yrs ago with 92xxx miles on her and now she has 143xxx and I still love it

[@dre32pitt]

I bought one of these last year (07 987.1 CS w/SportChro). 1 Owner car.. All service done at the same place, with all the records. Tires, brakes, clutch, flywheel, and plugs were done 1 month before I purchased it. 78k on the clock. No IMS issues, per the shop. Mainly because it was driven regularly (.1's that are super low miles have higher potential for IMS failure due to lack of oiling while sitting). If you can find one these in good spec (GET A PPI!!!), for around the same price as a new (MSRP) ND2 RF or GR86/BRZ.. I'm lucky since I live in the PNW and there are plenty of quality Porsche/German specialty shops that are 50-70% cheaper than the dealership.. The roads where you guys aren't suited for the Cayman's strong suit. PLENTY of backroads where I am and that's where this car shines.. 7/10s or 8/10s.. I did take it to the Ridge in WA for a PCA day and it held up fine.. But I mostly do backroad bombing and 1-2 track/autox days a year, so it's well suited for my style of driving.. Edit: Oh and per my shop, who only work on Germans, the .1 is FAR more reliable than ANY M car outside of the E36 M3, which had a 'bland' motor, lol..