Porscheliebe1

Should I buy a 2006-2008 Cayman S or a newer 2009-2012 standard Cayman with similar milage.

danschy

987.2 has some improvements to the engine - no IMS bearing, better oil scavenging, more hp - so would be preferred. Some slight body tweaks also which I like. They are also harder to find. I like my 07 Cayman just fine, but if I were buying one today I'd go for 2009-2012.

billwot

The engine failure risk for the 987.1 is a hotly debated issue. In terms of frequency of failure, it's a fairly small number, but if it happens, its almost always a catastrophic failure. Actually, because of this, 987.1 cars probably represent a good bargain.

That being said, I opted for a 987.2, and only considered 987.1 cars. Your tolerance for risk, and other personal circumstances are really the determinants.

You'll probably be pretty happy with your purchase, regardless of which way you go .

Bill Lehman

For a street car I'd go with a 987.1, for a track car, 987.2. I had a 987.1 and did 150 track days, sold it and it has done probably at least 20 more. The car did have a deep oil sump and motorsports AOS which kept it alive. When the 987.1 goes, its terminal. IMS is not an issue.

wanderingwheelz

For sheer fun on public roads, the base Cayan is all the car anyone really needs. Once you go beyond that you're never able to touch the additional performance unless racing Corvettes at stop lights is what you're into.

Jack-Porsche

This is well said. I have a base Cayman, and on windy two lane roads, this car has incredible pull and handling. Keep it in the proper gear and keep the revs up and it is a blast.

danschy

I could not agree more. It seems the prevailing wisdom on the forums is that only misguided fools would buy a Base, but when I bought mine I drove both S and Base and bought the Base, not because I could not afford the S, but because I liked the Base way more. It probably depends on your background - I grew up with low powered sports cars of the 60s/70s, so raw HP is not what turns me on. I love cars that feel light and nimble and the Base did it for me (although not quite as much as my old 914!).

Jack-Porsche

yep. In the days of the Dodge Demon, most just think more is better.

wanderingwheelz

Base Cayman buyers are definitely not "more is better" people, although I confess to paying up for PSE for more soundtrack when I'm in the mood for it. But for a car that doesn't spend substantial time on race tracks, a base Cayman is the absolute perfect sports car, in my opinion, and it is absolutely true that the revs need to be kept up for it's talents to be fully appreciated, which incidentally is precisely where the car sounds like it should too.

olegd

I track my base Cayman regularly. Mine has PDK with Sport Chrono and makes me very happy!