Bought my 987, 2.7 three years ago next week. Just keeps getting better. So much fun. The car is superb. Only negative is social media “experts” clamouring that it will need a new engine. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Nailed it. I have 987.2 and agree on all fronts. What a wonderful machine. I wake up thinking about driving it. Bad day at work, no prob, hop in the cayman. It is so rewarding to drive. Hit 4K, floor it and try not to smile. Not possible.
To cure the rattle, try winding the hatch rubber stops out, so it's really hard to close it, see if that stops it. If it's not that, it's probably the suspension top mounts, couple of hundred a side, not hugely expensive. I would also upgrade your gear shift cables, as with your type of usage they will eventually snap leaving you stranded.
If in ‘stranded’ situation it’s possible to reach out under car and manually stick it in second gear by pushing the linkage… learn how to do it and it’ll save getting a tow, as long as your not a million miles from home you can get to garage or home all the way in second
@@Jwdude123 I know this response is late, but I think it's worth noting: From what I've heard it's the six speed versions that have the cable problems. This car is a (rare) base model with a six speed.
Great video! Very helpful in firming my decision to buy one! I’d love to see a video where you compare the 2.7 to a 2.9 if possible, just like you did with the 3.4!
Enjoying your posts Mark. Over the Xmas break picked up a 2010 base Cayman (34000kms and single previous owner) which is now sitting in the garage waiting for the Canadian winter to subside. Needless to say, I'm counting the days.
Agree 100%. I’ve had my cayman base 987 for past two years, best car I’ve ever owned and I’ve had more experience cars in the past. Rear rattle and I’ve got the same issue I think it’s the rear light not firmly connect to rear window. I noticed I have these white soft sponge tabs along the rear sides of inner boot, but it does not help. I think it’s just boot being a little loose. But I live with it
Bought 987 Cayman at the end of last summer - they are an absolute bargain, a joy to drive and beautifully put together. Its currently in winter storage but can't wait to get it back on the road in the spring.
picked up my 2011 987 this past summer and it’s been my dream car since i was a kid, so i was really cautious with it at first, but once i got a chance to finally see what she could do on an open highway road i never looked back and loved that it kept on giving and giving…such a fun experience each time i get to drive it, simply thrilling.
Had mine for four months, fun car so far with no issues! Savr one minor one, the audio on the original CDR-24 head unit cuts out for seemingly no reason occasionally, though I checked the forums and apparently this is a common issue. Performance wise though, fun little sports car, next best to a proper 911, with the advantage of being mid-engine and half the price.
I have a 2011 Boxster S from new. At the time I took a 911 base out for a drive and then drove the Boxster S and bought the Boxster. I have been back to the Porsche dealer to try a 911 again and don’t see the point of owning one, just for bragging rights (I have the $). My wife and kids enjoy it and the only costs have been brakes, batteries, tires and oil changes.
I've got roughly £25k to spend next year for my 50 th and can't decide between a full fat 911, Cayman or Lotus Elise. Weekend fine weather car mainly. Which would you go for? Full fat 911 may be ruinous to run. Lotus is more of a track car. Cayman seems the obvious choice.
I've had my 987.1 S for two weeks now and it puts the biggest smile on my face every time that flat six revs behind me. Anyone who has a desire for a Porsche sports car that doesn't break your pockets please aquire one you won't regret it....
I’m fortunate to own a 986s Boxster and a early 996, I have thought a few times of changing the 996 to a cayman 987, I wasn’t to sure on the looks years ago but think they have aged so well. Keep the videos coming and hopefully see you on track one day at Goodwood, plan on booking a couple of half days this year.
@@tracktimevideos5164 Bollocks...I've had mine nearly 10 years as an every day driver, 130,500 miles, no major issues, just replaced every suspension component with Bilstein PS9, great car, eats a work mates 235i for breakfast on fast twisty roads, great car.
@@kw8757 sorry but what is bollocks? The chocolate gen 1 engine is well documented, not by me but by Porsche forums and engineers. A quick google will show you that. They are good cars but the gen 1 3.4 engine is known to have issues. You see the green ine behind my car in my profile pic? A friends car that I have a video of me driving at the Nürburgring, 35k miles, rebuilt engine.
@@tracktimevideos5164 IMS problem was massively overblown, actually affected very few early cars, Bore score more of a problem but still no where near as bad as Porsche haters would like to believe.
Hi Mark I bought a Cayman 3 months ago, my first Porsche. Its a 987 gen 2 2.9 pdk and its a joy to drive. It feels like a special occasion every time I drive it which is only once or twice a week. It just flows down the road although the state of some of our roads does detract from the enjoyment a bit. Even the buying experience was the best I've had from the dealer in Hertfordshire. I did a lot of research before purchasing so was aware of all the horror stories but if you buy from a reputable dealer and have it inspected you should be ok. So far no problems and I'm looking forward to getting out in it more once the better weather comes along. Prices are on the up though but they are still a performance bargain.
Came into a boxster 987 from a stage 2 plus 240i. Apart from the straight line speed I don't miss anything. I get way more looks in the Porsche aswell despite it being 15 years old. Only thing I would change is probably of gone for the S model.
I've got an Aston Martin and been lucky enough to drive a few awesome cars including vintage Porsche's but routinely drive my moms 987, it's a brilliant car.
Had a rattle from the rear on mine too. Turned out to be the struts on the rear lid. They didn't fail, and held the lid up but when you took them out and shook them they rattled. Replaced with new ones ($22 per side) and the rattle disappeared.
Owned a 987.2 cayman base (2.9) for near a year now myself, Spent maybe.. 1.2K in total. Serviced it, Mot, Minor wear and tear. Love it to bits, Drives fast enough for me, handling is superb, Cannot recommend it enough
I think you also got in at the right time, I have a mate who started looking for a Cayman in early 21 hoping to find a 987 Gen 2 for around £15k but left it to long as they suddenly started climbing!
Fantastic :) Hoping to take the plunge soon too. WRT that bumping noise from the rear, I've heard talk about "damper mass weights", which are positioned inside the rear tailgate just below the brake light . They come loose and move around. The solution is to glue or wedge them in place.
Great video as always mate! Love the look of the Cayman! Just wanted to ask what do you use to create these graphs? I love numbers and graphs with total spend etc (nerdy I know)😂👍 thanks in advance 👍
I have the same car (2.7)and was a porsche demo and lucky for me had neary all the options available! It's a great thing to own but not the fastest car in the world. That said , I'm in no hurry sell!! I love it!
From a country boy in middle Tennessee, enjoyed your English gentleman’s review. Have a guards red ,2007, base with 17k miles (sitting next to my ‘72 pimento red Triumph TR6) and couldn’t
Hey Mark - thanks for the various vids on your Cayman. I've had a 2009 one for a while now, and was close to selling it over Xmas but have decided to keep it for a few more years and do some small upgrades. Which head unit did you go for? I'm ideally after something with a touchscreen of course, and more modern music and satnav capabilities. Thanks for any guidance you can offer.
That's good to hear! Head unit wise I have a Pioneer SPH-DA160DAB. It's Android Auto only, is far from premium when it comes to sound (limited somewhat by the standard speaker/amp installation), but with Google maps, Spotify, DAB etc. it makes it way more usable and is perfectly adequate.
I've been subscribed since the pre RS days and love your videos mainly as your so down to earth. Would be good to see some more open road videos along with your track day ones. Keep up with the good work I've had to put my Cayman dream on hold for a year as just started a new business but it's definitely coming.
Thanks Chris 👍 I'm planning a bit more road content this year including reviews of a few other choice cars, and I've also got full days on two new circuits, Donnington and Blyton Park. Should be good!
Great vid Mark! Can you get a Garmin Catalyst and give us your feedback? It’s a bit pricey, but track addicts are raving about it as a great driving coach and data acquisition.
I have had mine over 5 yrs, in that time 3 bulbs and 2 front tyres, plus services and passed all mots, cost me less than my daily driver ford focus, since i only do 2000 miles a year in the porsche.
Good question! Having extensively driven one without sports seats, sports Chrono, PASM or any of the other options I have, there are only two that would be a must for me; PASM and the rear wiper. The rest make a difference, but not enough. PASM gives me two cars for the price of one, and the rear wiper means my rear dashcam isn't obscured for the first 5 minutes of each journey.
@MarkCup thanks for the quick reply. PASM makes sense to me and my current car doesn't have a rear wiper so I have to manually clear the rear screen for my cam! 😁
Incoming car.. you said similarities but very different. Also for domestic duties so i guess more practical. I reckon its still rear wheel drive and two door, though larger. Mmm, i have a left field guess but its not a manual... Edit: and currently on sale ( as you mentioned a lead time)
Thank you for this, brilliant video! Currently looking for a Cayman i can daily now. Are there any places you would recommend for a full check before buying?
Good video mark, what are your future plans for the car? Are you keeping it or will be moving onto something new? I went from my 987s (Purchased from Mortimers also!) to a 997 carerra S and at times I do miss the drive of the cayman! Wish I could have both lol, look forward to more content! 👍🏼
I've recently made it my goal to own this car someday (the plan is to treasure it until the day I die) and of course, before that I've read and watched a lot of reviews made by the owners of this car. One piece of information has been inconsistent and that's the only thing left that's still bugging me. It's whether I'll be comfortable in this car being about 6'3/193cms tall. Can anyone answer me?
I can't say if you'll be comfortable as we're all different shapes, but size wise and specifically height wise, you should fit into one just fine. I'm 6'1 and I have a minimum two inches clear headroom with the seat on its lowest setting (helmet wear on track is no issue at all), and I can push that seat base back so far that I can't fully depress the clutch pedal. Occupant space in the cabin of the Cayman is very generous. Remarkable really when you also see how much luggage you can load it up with...and they manage to fit an engine in there as well 😂
@@MarkCup70 Alright, thank you for the reply. I'll definitely be looking for a chance to sit in one and take it for a test drive, so I can experience it myself.
I wouldn't bother, I doubt you'll find it and that wasn't my intention. I just threw it in at the end of the edit to see if anyone picked up on it. It's small and it's only on screen for 1 frame... Good luck 🤣
I've wanted a Porsche since I was 11 and after 43 years finally got one. I've had my 987 2.7 5spd since May and drive it daily. Pure fun.
I can't argue with those negative points. Literally. I can't.
Could not agree more with the negatives🤣🤣🤣 loving mine to
Bought my 987, 2.7 three years ago next week. Just keeps getting better. So much fun. The car is superb. Only negative is social media “experts” clamouring that it will need a new engine. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Nailed it. I have 987.2 and agree on all fronts. What a wonderful machine. I wake up thinking about driving it. Bad day at work, no prob, hop in the cayman. It is so rewarding to drive. Hit 4K, floor it and try not to smile. Not possible.
To cure the rattle, try winding the hatch rubber stops out, so it's really hard to close it, see if that stops it.
If it's not that, it's probably the suspension top mounts, couple of hundred a side, not hugely expensive.
I would also upgrade your gear shift cables, as with your type of usage they will eventually snap leaving you stranded.
S models models had trans cable issues. Not the base.
If in ‘stranded’ situation it’s possible to reach out under car and manually stick it in second gear by pushing the linkage… learn how to do it and it’ll save getting a tow, as long as your not a million miles from home you can get to garage or home all the way in second
@@Jwdude123 I know this response is late, but I think it's worth noting: From what I've heard it's the six speed versions that have the cable problems. This car is a (rare) base model with a six speed.
Beautifully said
Great video! Very helpful in firming my decision to buy one! I’d love to see a video where you compare the 2.7 to a 2.9 if possible, just like you did with the 3.4!
Enjoying your posts Mark. Over the Xmas break picked up a 2010 base Cayman (34000kms and single previous owner) which is now sitting in the garage waiting for the Canadian winter to subside. Needless to say, I'm counting the days.
How did it go
Agree 100%. I’ve had my cayman base 987 for past two years, best car I’ve ever owned and I’ve had more experience cars in the past. Rear rattle and I’ve got the same issue I think it’s the rear light not firmly connect to rear window. I noticed I have these white soft sponge tabs along the rear sides of inner boot, but it does not help. I think it’s just boot being a little loose. But I live with it
Brilliant car, nailed it. Handling is king.
Picking mine up tomorrow. Feel like a kid again on Christmas Eve.
The Cayman community is brilliant, actually a part of our decision to get one.
It looks absolutely gorgeous and drives like a champ
Bought 987 Cayman at the end of last summer - they are an absolute bargain, a joy to drive and beautifully put together. Its currently in winter storage but can't wait to get it back on the road in the spring.
picked up my 2011 987 this past summer and it’s been my dream car since i was a kid, so i was really cautious with it at first, but once i got a chance to finally see what she could do on an open highway road i never looked back and loved that it kept on giving and giving…such a fun experience each time i get to drive it, simply thrilling.
Had mine for four months, fun car so far with no issues! Savr one minor one, the audio on the original CDR-24 head unit cuts out for seemingly no reason occasionally, though I checked the forums and apparently this is a common issue. Performance wise though, fun little sports car, next best to a proper 911, with the advantage of being mid-engine and half the price.
I have a 2007 Cayman 987.1 with 6 Speed manual with PASM 2.7 I have prev had a 996.2 C4S which was great but my Cayman is awesome 😀
Fantastic 12 month summery. I've had a 986 and recently got into a 987.2 Boxster S, can relate to all your points raised. Thanks for sharing!
I have a 2011 Boxster S from new. At the time I took a 911 base out for a drive and then drove the Boxster S and bought the Boxster. I have been back to the Porsche dealer to try a 911 again and don’t see the point of owning one, just for bragging rights (I have the $). My wife and kids enjoy it and the only costs have been brakes, batteries, tires and oil changes.
I've got roughly £25k to spend next year for my 50 th and can't decide between a full fat 911, Cayman or Lotus Elise.
Weekend fine weather car mainly.
Which would you go for?
Full fat 911 may be ruinous to run.
Lotus is more of a track car.
Cayman seems the obvious choice.
I've had my 987.1 S for two weeks now and it puts the biggest smile on my face every time that flat six revs behind me. Anyone who has a desire for a Porsche sports car that doesn't break your pockets please aquire one you won't regret it....
I’m fortunate to own a 986s Boxster and a early 996, I have thought a few times of changing the 996 to a cayman 987, I wasn’t to sure on the looks years ago but think they have aged so well.
Keep the videos coming and hopefully see you on track one day at Goodwood, plan on booking a couple of half days this year.
The best sports car ever made ! Your enthusiasm shows it Keep it going top man. 👍
Excellent video Mark, it's always good to enjoy what you have got.
Just bought a 987S myself and take delivery in a few days, can't wait. Great video.
Hope it's a Gen 2. If not then budget for an engine at some point.
@@tracktimevideos5164 the 3.4 isn't that of an unreliable engine from what I've been told, the only real big issue is the IMS.
@@tracktimevideos5164 Bollocks...I've had mine nearly 10 years as an every day driver, 130,500 miles, no major issues, just replaced every suspension component with Bilstein PS9, great car, eats a work mates 235i for breakfast on fast twisty roads, great car.
@@kw8757 sorry but what is bollocks? The chocolate gen 1 engine is well documented, not by me but by Porsche forums and engineers. A quick google will show you that. They are good cars but the gen 1 3.4 engine is known to have issues. You see the green ine behind my car in my profile pic? A friends car that I have a video of me driving at the Nürburgring, 35k miles, rebuilt engine.
@@tracktimevideos5164 IMS problem was massively overblown, actually affected very few early cars, Bore score more of a problem but still no where near as bad as Porsche haters would like to believe.
Hi Mark
I bought a Cayman 3 months ago, my first Porsche. Its a 987 gen 2 2.9 pdk and its a joy to drive. It feels like a special occasion every time I drive it which is only once or twice a week. It just flows down the road although the state of some of our roads does detract from the enjoyment a bit. Even the buying experience was the best I've had from the dealer in Hertfordshire. I did a lot of research before purchasing so was aware of all the horror stories but if you buy from a reputable dealer and have it inspected you should be ok. So far no problems and I'm looking forward to getting out in it more once the better weather comes along. Prices are on the up though but they are still a performance bargain.
The side silhouette alone is to die for.
Came into a boxster 987 from a stage 2 plus 240i. Apart from the straight line speed I don't miss anything. I get way more looks in the Porsche aswell despite it being 15 years old. Only thing I would change is probably of gone for the S model.
I've got an Aston Martin and been lucky enough to drive a few awesome cars including vintage Porsche's but routinely drive my moms 987, it's a brilliant car.
Had a rattle from the rear on mine too. Turned out to be the struts on the rear lid. They didn't fail, and held the lid up but when you took them out and shook them they rattled. Replaced with new ones ($22 per side) and the rattle disappeared.
Good to see a car put thru its paces and given some stick !
Owned a 987.2 cayman base (2.9) for near a year now myself, Spent maybe.. 1.2K in total. Serviced it, Mot, Minor wear and tear. Love it to bits, Drives fast enough for me, handling is superb, Cannot recommend it enough
I think you also got in at the right time, I have a mate who started looking for a Cayman in early 21 hoping to find a 987 Gen 2 for around £15k but left it to long as they suddenly started climbing!
Been looking at caymans recently and i think this video is giving me the nudge I need. Need to get my other summer toy sold now!
Fantastic :) Hoping to take the plunge soon too. WRT that bumping noise from the rear, I've heard talk about "damper mass weights", which are positioned inside the rear tailgate just below the brake light . They come loose and move around. The solution is to glue or wedge them in place.
Great video as always mate! Love the look of the Cayman! Just wanted to ask what do you use to create these graphs? I love numbers and graphs with total spend etc (nerdy I know)😂👍 thanks in advance 👍
I have the same car (2.7)and was a porsche demo and lucky for me had neary all the options available! It's a great thing to own but not the fastest car in the world. That said , I'm in no hurry sell!! I love it!
I've struggled to watch the Porsche videos. Just hasn't clicked with my like the RS and BM did. Glad you've enjoyed it, not dissing the car at all.
Same used always watch and enjoy the focus and bmw vids stopped watching after Porsche just non relatable but as long as hes enjoying it
From a country boy in middle Tennessee, enjoyed your English gentleman’s review. Have a guards red ,2007, base with 17k miles (sitting next to my ‘72 pimento red Triumph TR6) and couldn’t
be happier - you hit all the spots. 👌😎 Cheers!
Hey Mark - thanks for the various vids on your Cayman. I've had a 2009 one for a while now, and was close to selling it over Xmas but have decided to keep it for a few more years and do some small upgrades. Which head unit did you go for? I'm ideally after something with a touchscreen of course, and more modern music and satnav capabilities. Thanks for any guidance you can offer.
That's good to hear! Head unit wise I have a Pioneer SPH-DA160DAB. It's Android Auto only, is far from premium when it comes to sound (limited somewhat by the standard speaker/amp installation), but with Google maps, Spotify, DAB etc. it makes it way more usable and is perfectly adequate.
100% agree. Had mine the same time as you and its perfect.
I've been subscribed since the pre RS days and love your videos mainly as your so down to earth. Would be good to see some more open road videos along with your track day ones. Keep up with the good work I've had to put my Cayman dream on hold for a year as just started a new business but it's definitely coming.
Thanks Chris 👍 I'm planning a bit more road content this year including reviews of a few other choice cars, and I've also got full days on two new circuits, Donnington and Blyton Park. Should be good!
What radio unit did you fit ????
Great video. Why a base not a S? Thoughts on the PDK? I’m presently looking into a 2010 S PDK. Thanks
Great vid Mark! Can you get a Garmin Catalyst and give us your feedback? It’s a bit pricey, but track addicts are raving about it as a great driving coach and data acquisition.
I have had mine over 5 yrs, in that time 3 bulbs and 2 front tyres, plus services and passed all mots, cost me less than my daily driver ford focus, since i only do 2000 miles a year in the porsche.
Enjoying your Cayman videos. If you were to buy another 987, what options could you NOT live without?
Good question! Having extensively driven one without sports seats, sports Chrono, PASM or any of the other options I have, there are only two that would be a must for me; PASM and the rear wiper. The rest make a difference, but not enough. PASM gives me two cars for the price of one, and the rear wiper means my rear dashcam isn't obscured for the first 5 minutes of each journey.
@MarkCup thanks for the quick reply. PASM makes sense to me and my current car doesn't have a rear wiper so I have to manually clear the rear screen for my cam! 😁
great looking. want one
Great review of a superb car Mark. I’m looking for a headset for my boxster 987. Could you enlighten me where you purchased yours from?
Incoming car.. you said similarities but very different. Also for domestic duties so i guess more practical. I reckon its still rear wheel drive and two door, though larger.
Mmm, i have a left field guess but its not a manual... Edit: and currently on sale ( as you mentioned a lead time)
Thank you for this, brilliant video! Currently looking for a Cayman i can daily now. Are there any places you would recommend for a full check before buying?
Good video mark, what are your future plans for the car? Are you keeping it or will be moving onto something new? I went from my 987s (Purchased from Mortimers also!) to a 997 carerra S and at times I do miss the drive of the cayman! Wish I could have both lol, look forward to more content! 👍🏼
Shocked at how much this cost you compared to the m140 genuinely thought it would be more
thanks. i've got an EV, pleasant and easy to drive, practical but boring. I think a 987 manual would restore my motoring enjoyment.
I’m a bit late to the party, but.....
how much did this car cost?
Am looking on EBay after watching this video, 2.7 litre Cayman 987 🤔
So you're saying you like the Cayman?
It looks really good cost and make please
Haha brilliant
I've recently made it my goal to own this car someday (the plan is to treasure it until the day I die) and of course, before that I've read and watched a lot of reviews made by the owners of this car. One piece of information has been inconsistent and that's the only thing left that's still bugging me. It's whether I'll be comfortable in this car being about 6'3/193cms tall.
Can anyone answer me?
I can't say if you'll be comfortable as we're all different shapes, but size wise and specifically height wise, you should fit into one just fine. I'm 6'1 and I have a minimum two inches clear headroom with the seat on its lowest setting (helmet wear on track is no issue at all), and I can push that seat base back so far that I can't fully depress the clutch pedal. Occupant space in the cabin of the Cayman is very generous. Remarkable really when you also see how much luggage you can load it up with...and they manage to fit an engine in there as well 😂
@@MarkCup70 Alright, thank you for the reply. I'll definitely be looking for a chance to sit in one and take it for a test drive, so I can experience it myself.
2022 toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ as the new car? I assume you get those in England?
We do, but you're not even close! There's an image of it hidden in the video somewhere...
@@MarkCup70 I was thinking slow, front engined, 86/BRZ came to mind. Way to get a 2nd view. I'll have to watch again now.
I wouldn't bother, I doubt you'll find it and that wasn't my intention. I just threw it in at the end of the edit to see if anyone picked up on it. It's small and it's only on screen for 1 frame... Good luck 🤣
@@MarkCup70 hahahaha. I'll wait for the reveal then.
I can think of way more reasons why you shouldn't buy one. They are decent to drive but certainly have their foibles and issues.