Discussion
My comments are not cayman r related but boxster Spyder. I picked mine up at 11k miles and I did initially think it was a bit stiff for road use. As the miles went on, after 16k it's started to feel a touch more supple. On rough roads at low speed it is still stiff, but not as jumpy when there were less miles. As you get up to speed it's literally gliding on the surface. Truley a joy to drive.
I think that it's a car that takes a while to really gel with. However, once you've spent some serious wheel time in it, you realise that it is just an excellent car, beautifully balanced, superbly well-judged suspension, lovely flat six howl, and just a great spec. Only car in of its generation with a passive Porsche-tuned sports suspension.
Well the short version is I had a 987 S which was almost uniquely spec'd with almost every option including PCCBS and LSD. I sold it when the opportunity of an R came up and having bought into the hype on here let a really awesome car go. The R was very disappointing. Some elements like the PSE are better but overall it's just not a great road car in the same way the S is.
Fortunately by chance I managed to buy the same old S back which will now never be sold. The lesson here is try both for yourself and make your own mind up. The R is a desirable car but the paradox of the R is that it's only really desirable because there are so few of them because they weren't really worth the premium new. A PASM equipped S is just a better road car. When you dig down into the detail of the R they are really just the same as the base car with a nod to some weight saving and a diff. And cheaper fixed dampers.
Fortunately by chance I managed to buy the same old S back which will now never be sold. The lesson here is try both for yourself and make your own mind up. The R is a desirable car but the paradox of the R is that it's only really desirable because there are so few of them because they weren't really worth the premium new. A PASM equipped S is just a better road car. When you dig down into the detail of the R they are really just the same as the base car with a nod to some weight saving and a diff. And cheaper fixed dampers.
Interesting - I drove the S pretty extensively before getting the R and didn't like it as much. It's not enormously different but it's certainly enough for me to notice. I reckon the R is at least 5% better in every area. Although I freely admit I'm somewhat unusual. I drove a 981, 981s and a 981GTS back to back on track and thought they could well have been 3 completely different cars.
fridaypassion said:
The R is a desirable car but the paradox of the R is that it's only really desirable because there are so few of them because they weren't really worth the premium new.
That might be your opinion but I'll wager the R owners in this thread did not buy an R because of its rarity. We bought them because they're more focused, more edgy and feel more special than the bog standard S. There are plenty owners that have pointed out these characteristics in their posts in this thread. But keep trying to put the R down...someone might eventually believe you! 
boxsey said:
That might be your opinion but I'll wager the R owners in this thread did not buy an R because of its rarity. We bought them because they're more focused, more edgy and feel more special than the bog standard S. There are plenty owners that have pointed out these characteristics in their posts in this thread. But keep trying to put the R down...someone might eventually believe you!
I'm not trying to put the R down at all. How often have I repeated that it's a desirable car? It is a desirable car it's just not what it's hyped up to be. Well thats the essence of a forum isnt it? You can express your view on something. My view was educated and unbiased which is a rare nugget in the world of the interwebz. If someone wants to do some research on the R they will find lots of positive stuff on this thread and some Northern fella saying they are a bit Meh. People can make there own minds up. But the constant stream of gushing praise is not representative IMO.
PDK might well be ruinous for a drivers car but I would counter that by saying that a properly ultra focused drivers car might not have a Cayman badge on it at all. I have a VX220 thats a vasty superior Sunday driving type road car and an Elise with a Honda Engine in it thats a vastly better track car than a CR. I wouldnt want either of those cars to have an automatic box but the Cayman been more of a daily driver type car suits it. Each to their own but I'm not telling anyone else they are wrong. They are but I'm not saying it explicitly
PDK might well be ruinous for a drivers car but I would counter that by saying that a properly ultra focused drivers car might not have a Cayman badge on it at all. I have a VX220 thats a vasty superior Sunday driving type road car and an Elise with a Honda Engine in it thats a vastly better track car than a CR. I wouldnt want either of those cars to have an automatic box but the Cayman been more of a daily driver type car suits it. Each to their own but I'm not telling anyone else they are wrong. They are but I'm not saying it explicitly
fridaypassion said:
Well thats the essence of a forum isnt it? You can express your view on something. My view was educated and unbiased which is a rare nugget in the world of the interwebz. If someone wants to do some research on the R they will find lots of positive stuff on this thread and some Northern fella saying they are a bit Meh. People can make there own minds up. But the constant stream of gushing praise is not representative IMO.
PDK might well be ruinous for a drivers car but I would counter that by saying that a properly ultra focused drivers car might not have a Cayman badge on it at all. I have a VX220 thats a vasty superior Sunday driving type road car and an Elise with a Honda Engine in it thats a vastly better track car than a CR. I wouldnt want either of those cars to have an automatic box but the Cayman been more of a daily driver type car suits it. Each to their own but I'm not telling anyone else they are wrong. They are but I'm not saying it explicitly
Apart from just then obviously PDK might well be ruinous for a drivers car but I would counter that by saying that a properly ultra focused drivers car might not have a Cayman badge on it at all. I have a VX220 thats a vasty superior Sunday driving type road car and an Elise with a Honda Engine in it thats a vastly better track car than a CR. I wouldnt want either of those cars to have an automatic box but the Cayman been more of a daily driver type car suits it. Each to their own but I'm not telling anyone else they are wrong. They are but I'm not saying it explicitly
I like Elises, a mate of mine has an Exige Sprint and I think it's a wonderful bit of kit. I don't like it as much as the R though. On track that flat six wail behind your head, great gearbox and superb balance make for a huge amount of fun and then on the way home, you still have a vastly superior road car to travel home in. So you're wrong, the R is better anonymous said:
[redacted]
One thing I can be very sure of is the current 987 will break my record for longest ownership. This time round I'm only 2 months in. Previous record is 3 years for a Clio 172 and Elise I just recently sold. I cant foresee anything replacing it given the ongoing trend for turbos etc. I even have an Evora on site currently and even thats not calling my name!
Edited by fridaypassion on Sunday 8th May 20:58
Well I have a reasonably unusual position in that I trade in sportscars. I have a pretty broad personal experience of driving all kinds of different cars. Although I believe Lotus cars are the perfect/ultimate drivers car I'm pretty open minded on anything else. I just speak as I find. I'm not sure how that could make me unbiased. I have no depreciation to nurse that clouds my view as all my car purchases are prudent ones. I will just feed back based on pure experience and a low threshold for putting up with anything thats not up to scratch. I should really be crowing about how superior the Evora is. Anyone that runs a Cayman R should try one by the way. Should I get a drive in anything thats better than my 987 I'll let you know but honestly at the moment for a daily drive I really dont think I could better it. If its any consolation the R would probably be in 3rd place behind an Evora. Thats not a bad result.
fridaypassion said:
Ah the Exgie Sprint. Must be quite a sight as it comes past you on the outside 
You have a better paint job thats for sure
Or not... this is us at the 'ring - enjoy!You have a better paint job thats for sure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO8q_SyCZ2U
boxsey said:
fridaypassion said:
The R is a desirable car but the paradox of the R is that it's only really desirable because there are so few of them because they weren't really worth the premium new.
That might be your opinion but I'll wager the R owners in this thread did not buy an R because of its rarity. We bought them because they're more focused, more edgy and feel more special than the bog standard S. There are plenty owners that have pointed out these characteristics in their posts in this thread. But keep trying to put the R down...someone might eventually believe you! boxsey said:
That might be your opinion but I'll wager the R owners in this thread did not buy an R because of its rarity. We bought them because they're more focused, more edgy and feel more special than the bog standard S. There are plenty owners that have pointed out these characteristics in their posts in this thread. But keep trying to put the R down...someone might eventually believe you!
I had no idea how rare the R would be when I bought it. I got it because for me it sounded like a close to perfect spec and as Boxsey says more focused and edgy. I think it's a very compelling proposition.
I sold the unicorn 987 to Jon (Friday Passions) which he then sold, regretted and bought back.
Had some great times in the car on road and track but for me it wasn't track focussed enough so went for the GT4. If I was using it as a road only car I wouldn't think about swapping it for a Cayman R. If I was looking at a road and track car the R would drive me potty as it is too harsh day to day.
Now I'm happy as I have a daily snotter and the GT4.
Had some great times in the car on road and track but for me it wasn't track focussed enough so went for the GT4. If I was using it as a road only car I wouldn't think about swapping it for a Cayman R. If I was looking at a road and track car the R would drive me potty as it is too harsh day to day.
Now I'm happy as I have a daily snotter and the GT4.
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