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Looking for a manual cayman. Which model should I be looking at. I have a 2007 bas or a 2014 base I am looking at. Price is not a issue 2014 has less than 20k miles 2007 less than 45k. Which is the better car
Last edited by travelin77; 06-19-2021 at 09:44 PM.
Looking for a manual cayman. Which model should I be looking at. I have a 2007 bas or a 2014 base I am looking at. Price is not a issue 2014 has less than 20k miles 2007 less than 45k. Which is the better car
The 2014 (981) is objectively the better car. The 2007 (987.1) has an M97 engine which can have some issues. The 9A1 engine in the 2014 was much improved and is very reliable. Some may prefer the hydraulic steering in the 2007 but the pump can overheat with track use. The 2014 has electric power steering. The interiors differ quite a bit and the 2007 won't have modern electronics to integrate with smart phones etc. I actually prefer the 987 exterior styling but that's subjective. Cost no object, then the usual advice is buy the newest, lowest mileage, best condition car you can find.
one other to consider is the 2009-12 987.2. This car has similar styling to the 987.1 but with the improved 9A1 engine. They are somewhat rare due to low numbers produced. Arguably the pinnacle is the 2012 Cayman R, they are pricey though.
Also check the subforums for the 987, 981 cars. If you find a good candidate and want specific opinions you'll find many willing to chime in! Good luck in the search.
I was in a similar position but ultimately the interior styling won me over. I do not mind the electric steering either, feels great to me but also it's my first Porsche so I might not know what I would miss.
I had a 987.1 Cayman S as my first Porsche (bought in 2017). Sold it last year to buy a 2014 Boxster S with < 20k miles. I agree with zedcat that the 987 style body is a cleaner design, but the 981 is simply a newer car all around. Engine is more reliable (although I'm comfortable with the M97 engine as well); Cockpit is slightly larger (wife likes that). And the infotainment is significantly updated (e.g. BlueTooth, USB port, "jukebox", actually usable GPS, etc.) My 987 and my 981 are noticeably different cars; the 981 feels more precise, easier to place on the road. That may be partially due to PASM on the 987 contrasted withX73 and PTV on the 981.
As I understand, Cayman headliners are still a failure point on 981's, but a very cheap fix. Door panels will warp on 981's, but again a reasonable fix is available through Pedro's Garage.
If budget is not a major factor, I would strongly suggest a 981.
I owned a 987.1 Base Cayman and absolutely loved it. The hydraulic steering felt perfect when the road conditions changed, you can feel everything through the steering wheel so the confidence was sky high straight out of the box. The car is so small and lightweight that you can throw it around all day on public roads with no issues. It seems the Cayman S model 987's seem to have the most issues related to IMS but proper oil levels will lower the chances of a major failure. The 2.7 in the base is rev happy and "comes alive" around 5K. The exterior styling still turns heads but the interior is very basic (good if you just want the driving experience). Something I realized quickly is that the cars are so well built that they become "boring" if you're just driving back and forth to work.
I currently have a 981 Boxster and it's fantastic. 92K miles with no squeaks, rattles, or odd sounds from the motor or interior. The electronic steering does have a "numb" feeling when driving spiritedly but tires can change this easily. I can't describe how great the chassis is on this car, but way better than the hardtop Corvette I had. It defiantly took me some time behind the wheel to get use to the new steering feel but a lot of the confidence comes from driving it quicker each time. I've yet to find the breaking point but I also drive a little conservative because I like my driver's license.
My best advice is to drive both back to back and see which one you prefer. The 981's have way more interior room and more "creature comforts." But if you're looking for a raw experience, then 987 all day long.
I prefer the exterior styling of the 981 and chose the 2015 GTS model after a lot of research and comparisons. I like the steering, as it has enough feel for me. The interior is more modern and with the GTS I got a few more options and more leather which makes the cockpit feel more classy. Am totally in love with the car - it is everything that a sports car should be and also great for longer distance touring, so ticks all the boxes imho.
Have owned both. The 981/991 platform is all around superior to the 987/997 platform. Evolution and technology.
Agreed.
I had a 987.1 S now have a 981 S. In every way (except maybe for the hydraulic steering on the 987.1) the 981 is the better car. Of course, looks are subjective and I like both equally well.
Looking for a manual cayman. Which model should I be looking at. I have a 2007 bas or a 2014 base I am looking at. Price is not a issue 2014 has less than 20k miles 2007 less than 45k. Which is the better car
I used to own a 2015 base 981 Cayman with a 6-speed manual gearbox and NO options. The car was well-balanced, predictable, forgiving and a real joy to drive. The base Cayman is also a capable and fun car to learn how to hone your skills on a track. Unfortunately, many people I know wouldn't even consider buying a base 981 Cayman because they're hung up on horsepower ratings. The 981 Cayman's naturally-aspirated 2.7 liter flat 6 engine is a feat of German engineering that outputs over 100 hp per liter, which ranks it up there with some of the best naturally aspirated motors of all time. In my opinion, the 981 Cayman’s engine is FAR superior to the turbocharged flat 4s in the 718 Cayman. I highly recommend the base 981 Cayman. It's a great car.
I used to own a 2015 base 981 Cayman with a 6-speed manual gearbox and NO options. The car was well-balanced, predictable, forgiving and a real joy to drive. The base Cayman is also a capable and fun car to learn how to hone your skills on a track. Unfortunately, many people I know wouldn't even consider buying a base 981 Cayman because they're hung up on horsepower ratings. The 981 Cayman's naturally-aspirated 2.7 liter flat 6 engine is a feat of German engineering that outputs over 100 hp per liter, which ranks it up there with some of the best naturally aspirated motors of all time. In my opinion, the 981 Cayman’s engine is FAR superior to the turbocharged flat 4s in the 718 Cayman. I highly recommend the base 981 Cayman. It's a great car.
Fully agree with that statement, no regrets about getting my base 981. Taking it into the twisty Hill Country backroads is where it shines. Lots of other higher-powered cars are unable to keep up other than on the straights when driven correctly. Keeping the RPM around 6k produces an unmatched sound is the secret, such an amazing and exhilarating car to drive!
I used to own a 2015 base 981 Cayman with a 6-speed manual gearbox and NO options. The car was well-balanced, predictable, forgiving and a real joy to drive. The base Cayman is also a capable and fun car to learn how to hone your skills on a track. Unfortunately, many people I know wouldn't even consider buying a base 981 Cayman because they're hung up on horsepower ratings. The 981 Cayman's naturally-aspirated 2.7 liter flat 6 engine is a feat of German engineering that outputs over 100 hp per liter, which ranks it up there with some of the best naturally aspirated motors of all time. In my opinion, the 981 Cayman’s engine is FAR superior to the turbocharged flat 4s in the 718 Cayman. I highly recommend the base 981 Cayman. It's a great car.
Fellow 981 Base owner here, agree it's an underappreciated gem. The 2.7 is a delight.
Looking for a manual cayman. Which model should I be looking at. I have a 2007 bas or a 2014 base I am looking at. Price is not a issue 2014 has less than 20k miles 2007 less than 45k. Which is the better car
I'm selling my '09 with 33.7k miles. It is the generation between the two you're looking at.
as a former multiple first gen NSX owner....I've always been intrigued by the Cayman ever since it was introduced...coincidentally soon after Honda killed off the original NSX in 2005,
but it wasn't until the 981 came out that it captured my interest enough to actually sell my last NSX and get into what I consider the closest thing to the original NSX in a modern form.
The more muscular exterior and much more modern interior over the bit dated 987 should make it an easy choice.....not too mention the better tech and power plant
as a former multiple first gen NSX owner....I've always been intrigued by the Cayman ever since it was introduced...coincidentally soon after Honda killed off the original NSX in 2005,
but it wasn't until the 981 came out that it captured my interest enough to actually sell my last NSX and get into what I consider the closest thing to the original NSX in a modern form.
The more muscular exterior and much more modern interior over the bit dated 987 should make it an easy choice.....not too mention the better tech and power plant
Out of curiosity, how much do you find yourself missing the NSX? You agonized for quite a while over that decision, as I recall.
06-19-2021, 09:41 PM
Cayman advice
