Porsche Cayman 981 2.7 PDK, 2013-on. Is it too slow?

[PaulD86]

I own a Cayman R so last gen Cayman and a 3.4 but I've driven the 2.7 and 3.4 Boxster and Cayman in both manual and PDK.

My thoughts. The 2.7 is fast enough to have a riot on a good B-road but the PDK gearing is long to the point of silliness. I'm sure someone will correct me if I have this wrong, but I'm sure I saw 104 mph in 3rd in the 2.7 PDK Boxter. That aside, it'sa great fun car.

Regarding quick enough - I used to look drool over low 0-60 cars and think it was the be all and end all. Then I got to drive lots of different cars from hot hatches to sport scars and realised it really wasn't. Yes in a 2.7 Cayman you may be out dragged by some diesel audis but as a thing to drive the Cayman is in a completely different league. Less power and a great chassis is much better than more power and an inferior one in my opinion. And I wouldn't swap my Cayman for any hatchback on sale at present.

[chrispmartha]

I sold my Cayman and got a lease on an M135i.

When the lease runs out I'm getting another Cayman as I miss it. The Beemer is ridiculous fast for a hatchback but it's got nothing anywhere else on the Porsche.

As for feeling gutted off a Renault hatchback over takes you, I couldn't give two hoots, there's always something faster than you and personally I'd prefer to be driving a Porsche Cayman rather than a Renault hatchback any day of the week, however 'slow' it is

[jonny996]

Most of the bigger engined diesel rep estates will do a faster sprint than the Caymen & still get your IKEA stuff home, so why not get one of those over a hot hatch if praticality & pace is your wants, for me it is the X factor about a sports car that makes going to work each day a bit more bearable knowing you will be driving that home.

[nickfrog]

lord trumpton said:

I've a 997 turbo and that's ridiculously quick and a great drive. I bought that for driving fast on track and that's how a spots car should be - fast and chuckable.

A 997 Turbo as a track car ? Not exactly chuckable nor fun compared to a lighter mid-engine Porsche like a Boxster Spyder. Having experienced both at the Ring last year, one was vastly superior for the purpose, and it was NA. Turbo was impressive in its own right, particularly on the way there of course, but not on track. Heavy and high PMOI don't help.

[nickfrog]

em177 said:

200bhp is absolutely plenty in a rwd sub 1500kg car. If you need more power to go faster then you're probably would be cheaper investing in some track driving instruction than more power...

Which 99% of performance car drivers won't do. Hence the fact that massive power deficits still often means keeping up with loads of "fast" stuff on track days, which in itself is very good fun. A well driven 2.7 981 will stay with a lot of "quicker" stuff plus it won't cook its brakes after 3 laps.

[sparkythecat]

GT03ROB said:

My wife doesn't like the GT3, says the clutch is too heavy, it's too low, the steering feels too sensitive, the ride so harsh she claims she needs a sports bra on just to sit in it, etc., etc.

[Joratk]

If you're worried about losing the traffic light grand prix, get a Turbo S! Can't see any real world car beating that!

[lord trumpton]

nickfrog said:

lord trumpton said:

I've a 997 turbo and that's ridiculously quick and a great drive. I bought that for driving fast on track and that's how a spots car should be - fast and chuckable.

A 997 Turbo as a track car ? Not exactly chuckable nor fun compared to a lighter mid-engine Porsche like a Boxster Spyder. Having experienced both at the Ring last year, one was vastly superior for the purpose, and it was NA. Turbo was impressive in its own right, particularly on the way there of course, but not on track. Heavy and high PMOI don't help.

No, not as a 'track car' but for driving fast on track (as opposed to the public highways)

I'm nowhere near good enough a driver to find the limitations of the Turbo and as such it's immensely enjoyable for pleb talent like me.

[neil1jnr]

lord trumpton said:

nickfrog said:

lord trumpton said:

I've a 997 turbo and that's ridiculously quick and a great drive. I bought that for driving fast on track and that's how a spots car should be - fast and chuckable.

A 997 Turbo as a track car ? Not exactly chuckable nor fun compared to a lighter mid-engine Porsche like a Boxster Spyder. Having experienced both at the Ring last year, one was vastly superior for the purpose, and it was NA. Turbo was impressive in its own right, particularly on the way there of course, but not on track. Heavy and high PMOI don't help.

No, not as a 'track car' but for driving fast on track (as opposed to the public highways)

I'm nowhere near good enough a driver to find the limitations of the Turbo and as such it's immensely enjoyable for pleb talent like me.

I'd say yes to a 997 turbo as a track car. At a recent trip to Scottish Super Lap at knockhill, one of the entrants was doing the time attack event in a 997 turbo, he drove it there and competed pushing the car to the limit and then drove it home again. Interesting to watch amongst a sea of ridiculously quick Imprezas and Evos.

http://www.superlapscotland.co.uk/drivers.htm

[Funkstar De Luxe]

I've owned a Cayman 2.7 (the first Gen) for just over two years now.

I don't find it slow at all, in fact I quite enjoy being able to use the full range of the engine as well as knowing that the 2.7 lump is one of the most mechanically robust units Porsche ever produce.

What can make it feel slow is a driver who doesn't realise how long the gearing is, and expecting diesel like torque.

[Hitch78]

Funkstar De Luxe said:

as well as knowing that the 2.7 lump is one of the most mechanically robust units Porsche ever produce.

Is this true? I had a 987 S a few years ago but now have a hankering for a 2.7 on 17s.

[kambites]

lord trumpton said:

I'm nowhere near good enough a driver to find the limitations of the Turbo

I think for many people that's precisely why it's not much fun on the track; for me at least the point of a track day is to spend as much time as close to the car's limits as possible so a car whose limits are way above mine is pointless. Each to their own though.

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Hitch78 said:

Is this true? I had a 987 S a few years ago but now have a hankering for a 2.7 on 17s.

From what I've seen, yes. I also have 17s on mine, and the ride is great (plus I can afford really good tyres on the 17s).

When did 250BHP become too little? I agree that the chassis and running gear could handle considerably more (isn't that true of almost all cars?), but it drives great.

The 3.2 S was actually less expensive than mine, but I do not want to own a car I'm scared to drive because of major issues like bore scoring and IMS failures.

My one complaint is that I've got a 5 speed, which is quite loud at 80MPH.

[blueg33]

Axionknight said:

blueg33 said:

I often find low sports cars are slower because you can't see as far down the road.

A solution for you, Sir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMW3Q7TQars

Dammit, I don't have an old armchair!

[juansolo]

Hitch78 said:

Funkstar De Luxe said:

as well as knowing that the 2.7 lump is one of the most mechanically robust units Porsche ever produce.

Is this true? I had a 987 S a few years ago but now have a hankering for a 2.7 on 17s.

Certainly appears to be. Sadly it's tarred with the same brush as it's bigger brethren (they're the ones prone to bore scoring) and older bigger brethren (IMS). The 2.7 was only made from 2007 to 2009 and appears to be one of the most solid water cooled lumps out there (thankfully). Utter bargain to buy at the moment. Painful to sell though.

Funkstar De Luxe said:

My one complaint is that I've got a 5 speed, which is quite loud at 80MPH.

6 speed was a cost option and super rare on the 2.7 sadly.

I've got the Carnewal GT mods done to my exhaust and find the noise (which is there standard, just quieter) is from about 2300-2700 RPM. 80 is a little over 3000 so it's not all that bad. Just over 70 is also ok. 60, I use 4th to avoid the noise. It's not a motorway cruiser though, that's for sure

Edited by juansolo on Tuesday 4th August 08:11

[lord trumpton]

kambites said:

lord trumpton said:

I'm nowhere near good enough a driver to find the limitations of the Turbo

I think for many people that's precisely why it's not much fun on the track; for me at least the point of a track day is to spend as much time as close to the car's limits as possible so a car whose limits are way above mine is pointless. Each to their own though.

You know, I feel the complete opposite to you on that one

Being an OK driver and learning then I've got a car that has plenty of room to allow me to improve and slowly learn to eek out the treasure. I think if I bought a car that my track driving could exploit then I wouldn't keep it too long.

I also think that a lot drivers feel that they have found their cars limits whereas in reality they have found the limit of the flattery it has to offer them. A lot of really good drivers can take every last drop from a car. Like a pro golfer can drive 300yds with a £20.00 driver

Obviously I'm generalising and not aiming this at you

[kambites]

lord trumpton said:

I also think that a lot drivers feel that they have found their cars limits whereas in reality they have found the limit of the flattery it has to offer them. A lot of really good drivers can take every last drop from a car. Like a pro golfer can drive 300yds with a £20.00 driver

Obviously I'm generalising and not aiming this at you

Oh I'm a crap track driver which is why I like really slow, low grip cars on the track. The most fun I've ever had on a track day was in a car with less than 80bhp and a live axle at the back. That was very easy to find the limits of.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 4th August 19:15

[James McScotty]

Late to this one. I traded a 997 Carrera S 3.8L, which I'd owned for four years as a daily driver and put about 38,000 miles on, for a then-new March 2016 Cayman 2.7 manual, almost totally base spec (not even SatNav!). This would have been one of the last few flat-6 981s on sale, as the new turbo 4s had been announced and were about to go on sale.

It's poverty-spec but still has aircon, and the basic seats are great. The only frippery is an alcantara wheel, which feels great, but the steering feel is a little muted compared with the 911. It's not quite as fast as a 911, but it's plenty fast enough for British road use, and the engine sounds terrific after 4000 rpm. It's an absolute blast to drive at full throttle. I think it handles far better than a 911, and it inspires and rewards confidence when cornering. I get to "floor it" far more often. Brakes awesome as well.

It's a beautiful car to look at and drive, and gives me about 10 mpg more than the 911. It's also Porsche's slowest-selling model, so seeing another one is a rare event. I always wave!

[T1547]

As a current 2.7 owner (987 - with the 6 speed manual and PASM) I agree with a lot of the sentiments that other owners have posted. It's a lovely amount of power for the road, particularly B roads, where you can really rev the engine out to it's limits without constantly backing off or excessive braking. It makes for very smooth swift progress. Also the excellent handling of these cars, sound of the flat six and overall feeling of driving a Porsche make the engine power only one component of the overall experience.

Edited by T1547 on Friday 11th May 08:11