Talk me into/out of a Cayman - thinking about making a change

[steved0x]

I've had my 2000 S since 2012 and have put nearly 50,000 mostly trouble free miles on it (a single breakdown due to CPS sensor a few years back) and I have had a really fun journey learning to work on it, building it out for track work, etc..., but I am getting the itch to try something new. I've got my eye on getting a 2009-2012 987.2 Cayman. At first I thought about a PDK, but I am leaning to staying with a 6 speed. I wouldn't mind a base, and I think the sweet spot for price/performance might be a 2009 base although if a well priced S were to appear I would not be opposed.

Must have options:

• Not a tan interior.

Really want:

• Xenon light with active cornering (or whatever they call it)
• Cruise control (maybe that is standard on the newer cars?)
• Blue body, although that seems really rare. I would be happy with any color though.

Would be nice:

• Sport seats
• Sport chrono
• PASM - but any suspension it comes with will probably get replaced in short order with some coilovers or a Bilstein pro-kit with eibach springs, so this isn't key

I just had a great weekend in my Boxster at Roebling Road, broke into the 1:25's for the first time and I am just over a second within the time that a pro coach drove my car there back in 2017, and I think that is a good way to go out on top.

The week before that I drove a Spec Boxster for the first time, what a rush. But it has got me thinking about moving forward. I am thinking about building out some sort of race car, or maybe joining an endurance racing team for some events, either in that same Spec Boxster, or I have a few other possible seats.

So the Cayman would be used for just driving around, and maybe taking to PCA HPDE events when I instruct.

Has anyone else had the same thoughts? Or is this going to be the one that got away when I look back in 2-3 years and am missing the Boxster?

Any thoughts about my must haves/wants on the option list? Or does anyone know of a sweet deal on a car for sale?

Thanks,

Steve

[The Radium King]

do it. stay away from pasm if you can - it can never be turned off; cayman owners are forced to put switches on the yaw sensor to disable it. or pay big $ to get a replacement dsc (?) controller with sportier settings. do the pdk; it will make you faster. do the S for the same reason. also, only the S got dfi in 2009, not the base; not sure about ims?

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

do it. stay away from pasm if you can - it can never be turned off; cayman owners are forced to put switches on the yaw sensor to disable it. or pay big $ to get a replacement dsc (?) controller with sportier settings. do the pdk; it will make you faster. do the S for the same reason. also, only the S got dfi in 2009, not the base; not sure about ims?

PASM seems to be rare, at least out of all the cars I looked at so far, none have had it SO I think I might be good there by default...

2009 Cayman base is the new 9A1 engine at 2.9L but with no DFI, 2009 Cayman S is 3.4L 9A1 with DFI.

PDK... my friend has a 2016 Cayman S with PDK and he is really fast... I love how it zips off the shifting, especially downshifting into 2nd for a quick burst when exiting a corner... I'm still on the fence there....

[Quadcammer]

9a1 motor is a yes. Cayman is a great car. Trust me though, dont build a race car, just buy one.

987.2 cayman is a great DE car

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

9a1 motor is a yes. Cayman is a great car. Trust me though, dont build a race car, just buy one.

987.2 cayman is a great DE car

RennsportKC has a beautiful 2009 Cayman S track car for sale for $40K, i am drooling over that one... But for this car i still want to street drive it. Just suspension and front gt3 lca and i would be set

[356Guy]

I had an 08 Cayman S. Its a very capable car but has no character and I don't care for 987 interiors. I didn't get attached to it. It only lasted a year.

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by 356Guy

I don't care for 987 interiors.

I realize it's just personal taste, but what don't you like about them?

[356Guy]

Originally Posted by BoxMann

I realize it's just personal taste, but what don't you like about them?

It just looks dated but not enough to be considered classic. I don't mind the 986 interiors at all. It probably doesn't make sense and yes its just personal taste.

[Luckyed]

I had an '07 Cayman S. Once it got above 4200 RPM's it was a BEAST.

[steved0x]

Found one, did a PPI, clean overrevs and DME report, but popped out of 2nd gear several times, i didn't think that was as common on the 987.2 generation, uggg. I considered it to be $110 well spent I'll post up the vin to possibly help the next buyer, but if they give me a big enough discount i might deal with getting it solved (also pending what my local Indy says but i am 99.999% a no). Other than this, the car was perfect

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by steved0x

Found one, did a PPI, clean overrevs and DME report, but popped out of 2nd gear several times, i didn't think that was as common on the 987.2 generation, uggg. I considered it to be $110 well spent I'll post up the vin to possibly help the next buyer, but if they give me a big enough discount i might deal with getting it solved (also pending what my local Indy says but i am 99.999% a no). Other than this, the car was perfect

Here is the VIN, look at this option sheet

https://vinanalytics.com/car/WP0AA2A80BU761477/

I don't know how simple it is to swap in a used transmission (there seem to be several on eBay) but then I would lose the locking diff, and I have too many projects already, I just want to get in and drive And then do some suspension work, but mostly just drive

Maybe this could be a wheeler dealer car?

[Quadcammer]

tranny swap is no big deal if you have a way to support it. But I'm not sure it makes sense to go into a car having to do that. there are plenty around.

[husker boxster]

Here are my observations based on the perpetual hunt for the next Wheeler Dealer car...

There were only apporx 5000 total 987.2 Caymans sold across the 4 yrs (base & S), so there aren't many to choose from. Prices drop significantly once you pass the 60K mi barrier. In typical Porsche fashion, 80% of the cars are silver, gray, black, or white. The other 20% are divided amongst the rest of the colors.

Here is my guestimate on the options you listed:
Cruise - 100% as it's std
Bi-xenon - 50% (not sure if the dynamic corning was std with xenon)
Sport Chrono - 35%
Sport Seats - 20%
PASM - 15%

Finding one with all these options would be rare, esp in a base. S models tend to have more options but there are fewer S models compared to base (prob 2-1 base vs S). But you probably have a better chance of finding a manual in the base.

You mentioned the race car at RennsportKC. I know you're not interested, but I know the owner Karl. He's a good guy and a very good mechanic.

There's a nice black base '11 Cayman that been for sale in the San Diego area for quite a while. Don't remember how many of the options it has but it's around 30K mi and he wants $31K. Prob a bit ambitious for a base and he may be willing to deal since it's been for sale for 6-8 mo. But for that money, you could have an 09 Box S.

Just my $.02 worth on what I've seen across the market. Hope it helps. Good luck.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

You mentioned the race car at RennsportKC. I know you're not interested, but I know the owner Karl. He's a good guy and a very good mechanic.

I've been reading their blog for some time, I would have no hesitation about buying a car from them or based on their recommendation. I actually even called him one time to chat about Boxsters and chain ramp guides and the like, even though it was clear I was too far away to be his customer, he was very helpful and friendly and gave lots of good info to me.

Thanks for that other info as well.

[husker boxster]

Went back to SD CL to see if the black 11 was still for sale. Don't see it but found this one:

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ctd/d/san-juan-capistrano-2011-porsche-cayman/6801134079.html

Has a lot of the items you want except 6sp and PASM. $30.6 Once again, it will be hard to find one with everything. This one prob isn't for you since it's a PDK, but you don't see many bases with bi-xenon w/ DC, SC, and sport seats. Plus Sport Steering wheel w/ paddle shifters AND limited slip diff.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Went back to SD CL to see if the black 11 was still for sale. Don't see it but found this one:

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ctd/d/san-juan-capistrano-2011-porsche-cayman/6801134079.html

Has a lot of the items you want except 6sp and PASM. $30.6 Once again, it will be hard to find one with everything. This one prob isn't for you since it's a PDK, but you don't see many bases with bi-xenon w/ DC, SC, and sport seats. Plus Sport Steering wheel w/ paddle shifters AND limited slip diff.

Hello Steve,

This looks like a really nice car, my office is about 20-30 minutes away if you want I could check it out for you.

And, like someone already mention, you don't want PASM as this car is begin for coilovers, and perhaps a nice OS Giken LSD :-)
.
PS: It has the right color too ..

[The Radium King]

https://pcaucr.org/classifieds/show-ad/2306/2012-cayman-r/limehouse/ucr-porsches-for-sale-wanted/

$35k usd before haggle.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

https://pcaucr.org/classifieds/show-ad/2306/2012-cayman-r/limehouse/ucr-porsches-for-sale-wanted/

$35k usd before haggle.

That might be worth a stretch to my budget, the Cayman R is my dream car

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Went back to SD CL to see if the black 11 was still for sale. Don't see it but found this one:

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ctd/d/san-juan-capistrano-2011-porsche-cayman/6801134079.html

Has a lot of the items you want except 6sp and PASM. $30.6 Once again, it will be hard to find one with everything. This one prob isn't for you since it's a PDK, but you don't see many bases with bi-xenon w/ DC, SC, and sport seats. Plus Sport Steering wheel w/ paddle shifters AND limited slip diff.

I heard that the "big" PDK with the limited slip is very robust, so I would not be opposed to it

I guess now that I am getting more close to pulling the trigger it is time to see how deep I will dig into the pocketbook. I guess that is one way to tell how ready I am

[husker boxster]

Just looked at the CarFax on the 11 in SJC. It's not a virgin.

And wonder about the R up north. Ad says the body is perfect yet it has a salvage title. Wonder how that happens?