Would like a Cayman R but can’t afford one...

Would like a Cayman R but can’t afford one...

Author
Discussion

swimd

Original Poster:

350 posts

120 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
... what would it take to make a plain Cayman S to handle and "feel" like one?

I know there is no substitute for lightness but are there modifications that can be done to reach the same performance for a lower price?

The last few Cayman Rs I’ve seen sold for around 50k+ but I'm limited to 35k. Missed the train etc.
How far would a set of bilsteins, a remap + exhaust and a quaife LSD get me?

IMI A

9,410 posts

200 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
I'd just buy a Cayman S and not bother with the mods apart from maybe a more aggressive geo. The differences whilst significant aren't going to make a huge difference in day to day driving.

m33ufo

4,959 posts

230 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
There are three on Autotrader for less than £40K? Not looked at PH yet.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
You can buy the r shocks and arb's. They are not that expensive.

You are 85% there then.
Yes a remap and one of gerts R modded exhausts will get you to 95% there.

All things will easy sell 2nd hand come sale time also.

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
i would buy a standard gen2 cayman s on 18"wheels and standard suspension (very underated next to a cr)! 10 hp is neither here or there.one of the reasons i bought a spyder over a cr is that it offered something extra over my 987.1 cs riding 18"wheels and standard suspension

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
The R just that bit better as a drivers car than the Spyder though, just that bit tighter, better arb's much smoother remap.
A one off exhaust system which not only sounds better lets a few horses loose.

The Spyder just uses Boxster arb's and the map from a standard cayman and a stock PSE, no real extra work done.

Every little tweek on the R makes it what it is, and why I think people look over it because people wanted it more hardcore.

The Spyder wins on that very bespoke look which I hope will never be repeated, but the R is more finished as a product even down to the black rimed headlights.

Saying that I took my Spyder to Spa not the R , something just cool about driving the Spyder :-) but then it does have tweeks...

Edited by mrdemon on Friday 11th July 20:33

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
imho the caymanr v caymans is very much like the 981 cs with x73 v cayman gts x73,the gts doesnt bring alot more to the party just a few body tweeks and 10 hp.i am sorry MrD although the cr is a good car but unless you do a lot of track work the standard cs riding 18s on std suspension is just as good on the road as an everyday car if not better.

ajondyh

680 posts

123 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
itsybitsy said:
i am sorry MrD although the cr is a good car but unless you do a lot of track work the standard cs riding 18s on std suspension is just as good on the road as an everyday car if not better.
I can't believe I just read that eekeek

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Friday 11th July 2014
quotequote all
ajondyh said:
itsybitsy said:
i am sorry MrD although the cr is a good car but unless you do a lot of track work the standard cs riding 18s on std suspension is just as good on the road as an everyday car if not better.
I can't believe I just read that eekeek
ever since driving porsches since 2003 my cars have been boxster s and cayman S on standard suspension and 18" wheels.when i test drove a cr early 2011 it just didnt blow me away,yes it was good but not worth the premium over my 987.1 cs.likewise today if you have a 987.2 cs or a 981 cs (non pasm car)the gts is not worth the premium.but if you want to buy new then the gts over the cs is a no brainer likewise the cr before it.the cr is basically a cs with x73 plus 10 hp and a fixed spoiler.but what you got for your money buying new was a lot more ie buckets and spyder wheels but if you like pasm and weight is not such an issue the black edition was offering a similar deal (ie 330hp and extra kit)and is a lot rarer and values seem to be holding up but never dismiss the humble standard cs which has always been a great car!!

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
ajondyh said:
I can't believe I just read that eekeek
People do say daft things Andy :-). Those who own them know it' s a hidden gem of a car when driven a little harder.

J-P

4,350 posts

205 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
itsybitsy said:
ajondyh said:
itsybitsy said:
i am sorry MrD although the cr is a good car but unless you do a lot of track work the standard cs riding 18s on std suspension is just as good on the road as an everyday car if not better.
I can't believe I just read that eekeek
ever since driving porsches since 2003 my cars have been boxster s and cayman S on standard suspension and 18" wheels.when i test drove a cr early 2011 it just didnt blow me away,yes it was good but not worth the premium over my 987.1 cs.likewise today if you have a 987.2 cs or a 981 cs (non pasm car)the gts is not worth the premium.but if you want to buy new then the gts over the cs is a no brainer likewise the cr before it.the cr is basically a cs with x73 plus 10 hp and a fixed spoiler.but what you got for your money buying new was a lot more ie buckets and spyder wheels but if you like pasm and weight is not such an issue the black edition was offering a similar deal (ie 330hp and extra kit)and is a lot rarer and values seem to be holding up but never dismiss the humble standard cs which has always been a great car!!
I recently drove a new base 981 Cayman, followed by a CS and then a GTS. I was stunned by how much better the GTS is than the standard car or even the S. It was hard to believe that they were actually the same car. The base car is a lovely car in isolation but the GTS is just miles better.

I wouldn't trade my CR in for one though - Lots of people overlook it as a posh S and a lot of reviews missed its brilliance down to disappointment over the nomenclature and final spec but it's a wonderful car though. It sound epic and it's very very quick too!

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
OP I would make sure you have sat in an R to see how you feel about the bucket seats. I just don't like them or how they are set, I have a Cobra Suzuka Pro in my race car, fits me like a glove and is very comfortable but I just couldn't get comfortable in those Porsche buckets.

nsm3

2,831 posts

195 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
Good point - also check you can fit comfortably into a 987 anyway - it was the main reason I didn't buy a CR, as a 1 day drive gave me backache - 1-2" too short in the legroom department.

They fixed it with the 981 and I find it more comfortable than the 2 - 997's I have had previously (they both had adaptive seats - the Cayman has simple 2-ways, so perhaps I could never adjust them quite right?).

Edited by nsm3 on Saturday 12th July 09:46

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
ajondyh said:
I can't believe I just read that eekeek
People do say daft things Andy :-). Those who own them know it' s a hidden gem of a car when driven a little harder.
Don't forget I own a spyder so I know how good the R is i!! But if I had bought/owned a 987.2 cs I would not be disappointed.My point is some of us who have driven boxsters/caymans for years while others laughed know how good the standard cars are,that's why if purely driving on the road a well specs cs is all you need!like I said before if buying new a Gts is the one to get with x73 and not pasm
But I would say porsche could have made the cr a little more special if they had gone the spyder/911gts route ie more bespoke body to set it apart from the regular cs

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
To the op I think you will struggle to find a nice late low mileage manual 987.2 cs at £ 35k even they are holding up well price wise if you can find one!

IMI A

9,410 posts

200 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all

itsybitsy

5,188 posts

184 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
IMI A said:
Nice but like the RS 60 they really were a tarted caymanS/boxsterS IMHO much better to buy a cs on standard suspension and save some cash or look for a gen2

ajondyh

680 posts

123 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
itsybitsy said:
Don't forget I own a spyder so I know how good the R is i!! But if I had bought/owned a 987.2 cs I would not be disappointed.My point is some of us who have driven boxsters/caymans for years while others laughed know how good the standard cars are,that's why if purely driving on the road a well specs cs is all you need!like I said before if buying new a Gts is the one to get with x73 and not pasm
But I would say porsche could have made the cr a little more special if they had gone the spyder/911gts route ie more bespoke body to set it apart from the regular cs
So by your own logic the only difference between your spyder and a Boxster S is 2 x humps???

RB_987s

132 posts

200 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
I used to have a Cayman S and test drove an R. Other than things like the bucket seats really couldn't tell the difference

ajondyh

680 posts

123 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
RB_987s said:
I used to have a Cayman S and test drove an R. Other than things like the bucket seats really couldn't tell the difference
I think that ppl tend to expect a staggering difference on a test drive on normal roads. Thats not where it happens. I think you also need some sort of competition driving experience, and the ability to take a car to its limits to enjoy the benefits of the R. I know Mr D and ChrisW can drive, and some other R owners who don't post so much on here who would probably agree.