Best residuals - 987 Cayman R vs 981 GTS
Discussion
Think of it this way one is a 987gts the other a 981gts ( as long as the sports suspension box has been ticked on the 981 they are same same but different)
I do think the 981 Gts will loose a bit more money over the next few years but it's a newer car but the R will cost more to look after as its 4-5 years older !
Drive both there is no right or wrong choice or alternatively save some cash on the 981 and buy a nicely specd 981 cs for a lot less than a 981 Gts same can be said for the 987 also as the base non pasm 987cs is already a good drive
I do think the 981 Gts will loose a bit more money over the next few years but it's a newer car but the R will cost more to look after as its 4-5 years older !
Drive both there is no right or wrong choice or alternatively save some cash on the 981 and buy a nicely specd 981 cs for a lot less than a 981 Gts same can be said for the 987 also as the base non pasm 987cs is already a good drive
Edited by GT4P on Friday 20th January 18:17
I think that if you drive a good example of both, you'll instantly know which one you prefer. If it's a fun/weekend car I would vote Cayman R, if it's more of a daily driver I'd vote Cayman GTS.
The ride of the Cayman R isn't to everyone's taste, I personally thought it was just on the wrong side of acceptable on bumpy roads. But it's a lovely thing to drive and definitely steers better than the 981. The 981 is a lot plusher, I think the GTS looks more cohesive than the S. It's a fabulous all-rounder but it's not as special a driver's car as the Cayman R in my opinion.
In cold hard financial terms I don't think you would go wrong with either. The Cayman R's entry point is lower though, so perhaps that's a factor in your decision. Finding a good R in your desired spec (gearbox, seats, wheels, colour) may prove difficult though. I'd have an Aqua Blue manual with buckets and the standard wheels...
The ride of the Cayman R isn't to everyone's taste, I personally thought it was just on the wrong side of acceptable on bumpy roads. But it's a lovely thing to drive and definitely steers better than the 981. The 981 is a lot plusher, I think the GTS looks more cohesive than the S. It's a fabulous all-rounder but it's not as special a driver's car as the Cayman R in my opinion.
In cold hard financial terms I don't think you would go wrong with either. The Cayman R's entry point is lower though, so perhaps that's a factor in your decision. Finding a good R in your desired spec (gearbox, seats, wheels, colour) may prove difficult though. I'd have an Aqua Blue manual with buckets and the standard wheels...
I agree with cmoose, the R moniker is more "valuable" than the GTS.... esp now that the 911R helped the "R" to more prominence with people who before Were not aware of the historical relevance of the letter
GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail on every model they build, so would not even say that it will perform better in the residual stakes than a normal 981 subject to the current prices reflecting the attractvity of the GTS
GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail on every model they build, so would not even say that it will perform better in the residual stakes than a normal 981 subject to the current prices reflecting the attractvity of the GTS
MDL111 said:
I
GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail
So what do you think the CR is ! GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail
Would you also add the 997/991gts to the above at least they have a unique body in 2wd form and an engine that is more than an ecu tweak!
Please tell what has been done differently on a 987cr to a sports suspension shod 981gts?
Just to add over the past couple of years the CR prices have stagnated if not come off the boil whereas its sister the 987spyder that use to be priced lower as caught up and now on par and IMHO will rise above and beyond the CR cause it ain't no boxster Gts!
But just to add balance if someone said to me 987CR or 981 Gts I would take the CR but then I would take a manual non pasm 987cs over a 981gts!
But just to add balance if someone said to me 987CR or 981 Gts I would take the CR but then I would take a manual non pasm 987cs over a 981gts!
Edited by GT4P on Friday 20th January 22:58
Don't forget that although the GTS badge is on other models the 981 GTS is the final NASP version in a road-based sports car. Look at how the 911.1 versions are doing in the market.
I think there will be fans of both models, for different reasons, so as I said earlier you can't go wrong with either.
I think there will be fans of both models, for different reasons, so as I said earlier you can't go wrong with either.
GT4P said:
MDL111 said:
I
GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail
So what do you think the CR is ! GTS is pretty much just a parts bin / trim level specail
Would you also add the 997/991gts to the above at least they have a unique body in 2wd form and an engine that is more than an ecu tweak!
Please tell what has been done differently on a 987cr to a sports suspension shod 981gts?
That fact all these models are just a way to move more cars without any significant improvements is a whole different discussion
Twinfan said:
Don't forget that although the GTS badge is on other models the 981 GTS is the final NASP version in a road-based sports car. Look at how the 911.1 versions are doing in the market.
.
This is very true but if the next gt4 is turbo the 981 gt4 will be the holy grail!.
Back to the R badge the CR is not in the same league as the 1967 911R or the 991R or even close!
Porsche also called a 986boxster a 550spyder or what about the RS 60 spyder 987 boxster so the badge means nothing! There even some who bemoan that the gt4 is not a proper gtcar due to the engine so as I said before they might as well have called the 987 CR a 987 Gts also the 987 black edition is pretty much the same car but with pasm you don't here much about that and the manual version is way rarer, you could replace the pasm with some descent coil overs and you would have the better car!
I'd choose the 987 R over the 981 GTS.
It's more focused, rawer, there are fewer cars and it's further down the life curve so prices are solid and have moved up again, plus it was a hardcore following.
It'll be one of those cars which gets highlighted over the years a little like the 968 CS.
And I'd take it in Peridot Green as that was the launch colour. JZM have a nice one (or had after this post)!
It's more focused, rawer, there are fewer cars and it's further down the life curve so prices are solid and have moved up again, plus it was a hardcore following.
It'll be one of those cars which gets highlighted over the years a little like the 968 CS.
And I'd take it in Peridot Green as that was the launch colour. JZM have a nice one (or had after this post)!
g7jhp said:
I'd choose the 987 R over the 981 GTS.
It's more focused, rawer, there are fewer cars and it's further down the life curve so prices are solid and have moved up again, plus it was a hardcore following.
It'll be one of those cars which gets highlighted over the years a little like the 968 CS.
And I'd take it in Peridot Green as that was the launch colour. JZM have a nice one (or had after this post)!
lack of air-con will be an issue for many with the JZM Peridot carIt's more focused, rawer, there are fewer cars and it's further down the life curve so prices are solid and have moved up again, plus it was a hardcore following.
It'll be one of those cars which gets highlighted over the years a little like the 968 CS.
And I'd take it in Peridot Green as that was the launch colour. JZM have a nice one (or had after this post)!
981 has a much better interior though and whilst many lament the electric steering, it is supremely accurate and the car is much more composed than a 987 cayman. I don't understand the steering feel complaints really, you are meant to steer lightly and guide the car accurately, all that jiggling is just noise to me.
I say the 981 is the better driver's car. but the R badge is the R badge.
I say the 981 is the better driver's car. but the R badge is the R badge.
That car at JZM is not only the launch colour but also the press car if what I'm told is right. They are rarer than hen's teeth with PCCB + with aircon delete fits from what I remember of the press car. If you've ever been in a 987 or 981 without aircon on a hot day or on track, you'd have to be insane to not spec aircon. If weight saving is that important, burn a bit of driver fat. 
I've had a Cayman R from new and depreciation wise, it has cost me around £2,500 a year over 5 years. Little has needed doing but add to this - run in oil change, major and minor service in that time as well.
I think a lot comes down to personal preference - I've got a GT4 and have kept the R alongside. They're different cars. I think the GTS had more options in terms of PASM, sport suspension and so forth so you're likely to encounter more variation in the specs. I think the R has a market for PDK and manual and the options associated with each are different. For example, if you opt for PDK and don't have sport chrono, it's a problem same so if you don't have sports buckets or spyder wheels. If you move away from the concept of what the R is, you get an S with a bodykit and a badge, that's what will impact residuals.
The 981 is more resolved as a design and the interior is more usable. You lose some steering feel and gain an electric brake and I think the GTS has stop start. Things like satnav in the 981 are good versus the R which was like having a ZX Spectrum in your centre console. I think they're both good and the lack of emotional appeal in the 718 engine mean both will hold their value. I would say the R is the better bet on the basis that it was the top of the 987 range whereas the GTS is second fiddle to the GT4. As the 981 is newer, you'll have longer to wait to see a return potentially but you don't mention your timeline.
I've had a Cayman R from new and depreciation wise, it has cost me around £2,500 a year over 5 years. Little has needed doing but add to this - run in oil change, major and minor service in that time as well.
I think a lot comes down to personal preference - I've got a GT4 and have kept the R alongside. They're different cars. I think the GTS had more options in terms of PASM, sport suspension and so forth so you're likely to encounter more variation in the specs. I think the R has a market for PDK and manual and the options associated with each are different. For example, if you opt for PDK and don't have sport chrono, it's a problem same so if you don't have sports buckets or spyder wheels. If you move away from the concept of what the R is, you get an S with a bodykit and a badge, that's what will impact residuals.
The 981 is more resolved as a design and the interior is more usable. You lose some steering feel and gain an electric brake and I think the GTS has stop start. Things like satnav in the 981 are good versus the R which was like having a ZX Spectrum in your centre console. I think they're both good and the lack of emotional appeal in the 718 engine mean both will hold their value. I would say the R is the better bet on the basis that it was the top of the 987 range whereas the GTS is second fiddle to the GT4. As the 981 is newer, you'll have longer to wait to see a return potentially but you don't mention your timeline.
Mutema said:
That car at JZM is not only the launch colour but also the press car if what I'm told is right. They are rarer than hen's teeth with PCCB + with aircon delete fits from what I remember of the press car. If you've ever been in a 987 or 981 without aircon on a hot day or on track, you'd have to be insane to not spec aircon. If weight saving is that important, burn a bit of driver fat. :
No aircon in this one either, so suspect this is an ex press car too : (price has dropped again)http://www.top555.co.uk/stock/details/Porsche-Caym...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5EkUiPqtKA
t and secondly the sport classic might be up for big bucks but they ain't selling the only 997.2 bar a gt3 selling well has the Gts badge!Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff