981 or 987s

Author
Discussion

rObArtes

Original Poster:

538 posts

254 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Currently have a 2.9L Cayman and i'm in the market for a new car in the new year. really like my current car, so thinking with the budget i have in mind, do i go for a 981 2.7 or a 987 Gen II Cayman S ??

opinions please

ORD

18,120 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Not a straightforward decision. The 981 2.7 is a gorgeous engine but does lack the torque to fill those crazily long gears. The platform is even more solid and neutral than the 987, so it's both terrifically capable and confidence inspiring. It's also a bit dull, especially when you combine the fairly weak engine with very big tyres (which is now the norm). Both lovely cars. The 981 is more comfortable and refined.

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!

rObArtes

Original Poster:

538 posts

254 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
FrankCayman said:
I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!
how different is the old 2.9 to the new 2.7 on the road (normal use) ?

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

271 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Drive both, buy the one you like.

It's quite simples :-)

ORD

18,120 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
FrankCayman said:
I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!
I never noticed that at all. I kept reading about it and thinking 'Are my ears broken?' smile

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
rObArtes said:
how different is the old 2.9 to the new 2.7 on the road (normal use) ?
I didn't notice any difference in performance ...I personally find the 981 gives the same amount of driver enjoyment but with more refinement, better ride over the rubbish UK roads.....much prefer the sound of my 2.7 too ...which doesn't have PSE. Cabin is a huge improvement. It just feels a more complete and coherent design....I always felt the 987 Cayman had the roof grafted on the Boxster as an after thought, hence the need to have acoustic weights hidden in the rear hatch to sort out the weird cabin pressure issue.

All my Porsches owned have been my only car and daily drives that cover approx. 25 - 30K per year. Perhaps if it were a weekend car, the smaller, slightly more analog feel of the 987 may appeal. But please don't listen to anybody who says the 981 has gone too 'Audi'...that's just rubbish!

Purely my thoughts that probably won't be shared by many on here!

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
ORD said:
FrankCayman said:
I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!
I never noticed that at all. I kept reading about it and thinking 'Are my ears broken?' smile
I did get used to it after a few months....but even friends would get in and say it felt like they were in a car with the window down slightly...if that makes sense?!

Greshamst

2,193 posts

126 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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If I had this choice, i'd definitely go for the 981.

You'd have to drive the 2.7 to comment on whether it has enough torque or power for you. But having to work the engine harder in higher revs isn't a bad thing in my mind, means you get to hear the lovely engine more, especially with PSE, and also more involved driving, with less chance of losing your license.

Personally I prefer the styling, the 981 looks more aggressive, I prefer the deeper side scoops. And as far as connectivity for audio etc, the 981 is going to win hands down.

DarkMatter

1,476 posts

237 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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FrankCayman said:
I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!
That 'ear buffeting' is the most irritating thing about my 987.2 2.9.

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
DarkMatter said:
That 'ear buffeting' is the most irritating thing about my 987.2 2.9.
Phew....glad you notice it too! I first noticed it when I had a gen 1 Cayman loaner when my then Boxster 2.7 gen 1 went in for a service. I still bought a Cayman gen 2 at a later date...managed to reduce the effect by fiddling around with the rubber bump stops on the hatch...but never truly eradicated the issue.

ORD

18,120 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
I forgot to mention control weights and feel. The brakes and steering in the 987 are notably better. Steering feel is goodish in the 987 and barely there in the 981. 987 brakes are lovely. 981 brakes are strong but getting towards Audi-like assistance and lack of feel. Not sure why.

DJMC

3,505 posts

109 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Having test driven the 987 2.9 last year and having bought a TTS in preference due to cabin ambiance and space, I found the TTS too torquey and peaky so tried a 981 2.7 PDK after reading countless reviews of that and the 3.4 S 981.

I drove a 981 3.4S too, around town and on the motorway and couldn't find any real life advantage for a DD other than mid range acceleration which would more easily get me into trouble. As you've no doubt read the 2.7 engine in the 981 is lively and it's the NOISE that makes up 50% of the driving pleasure for me. You get more of this with the 2.7 due to using its revs more.

As for manual gearing being too long in the 981 2.7, buy a PDK! I've used my PDK far more in manual mode than in my S-Tronic TTS as you can really rev the engine, plus you get throttle blip down shifts with the PDK even in normal mode (as opposed to "Sport").

My favourite "chance" bit of spec on my 2014 used Cayman is PASM. It wasn't on my "hit list" of spec but it is sublime in operation, smoothing out the crashiness you DO get with standard suspension. Well, to be fair, that's no worse than my TTS but PASM would be near the top of my spec list next time. Not that common on a base car if buying used however.

Go try both. Try them in manual and PDK. Take your time. Go back and try them again if uncertain. I take it by "new" you mean used?If so, use the OPCs and don't feel guilty you may not buy from them. They'll be keen to have the chance to sell you a car. I found the three I went to very helpful and obliging.

TB303

1,042 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Personally I'd avoid PDK - there's plenty of time left to flap at paddles and not much left of manual gear boxes.

mollytherocker

14,372 posts

215 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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FrankCayman said:
I went from a 987 2.9 to a 981 2.7.....love it ...if you're tall it has more room inside...and you don't get that weird 'ear buffeting' from the old Cayman cabin - always amazed people don't moan about that design flaw more!!!
I thought that was a well known and easy fix? Its just an adjustment of the hatch isnt it?

DJMC

3,505 posts

109 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
TB303 said:
Personally I'd avoid PDK - there's plenty of time left to flap at paddles and not much left of manual gear boxes.
PDK is as good as a manual as a manual, even dropping two gears faster PLUS you can "lazy drive" too. Godsend when crawling behind a motorway pile up. Or... get much bigger left leg muscles from that heavy clutch...

OP will no doubt find all the "Manual vs. PDK" threads so lets not get into that... or shall we...?

TB303

1,042 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
DJMC said:
PDK is as good as a manual as a manual, even dropping two gears faster PLUS you can "lazy drive" too. Godsend when crawling behind a motorway pile up. Or... get much bigger left leg muscles from that heavy clutch...

OP will no doubt find all the "Manual vs. PDK" threads so lets not get into that... or shall we...?
I'm not proposing we do, I'm just voicing my opinion.

DJMC

3,505 posts

109 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
TB303 said:
I'm not proposing we do, I'm just voicing my opinion.
Understood. No worries.

Strangely, I've been using the PDK gear lever much more than the paddles. I had a manual Boxster on loan whilst cruise was fitted a few weeks ago and did enjoy revving it. So I tried to emulate the feeling in my PDK the next day with just the gear lever. Far better - no crunched gears, no fluffed take-offs from rest, no leg ache, one finger gear changing, plus the down shift blips.

TB303

1,042 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
DJMC said:
Understood. No worries.

Strangely, I've been using the PDK gear lever much more than the paddles. I had a manual Boxster on loan whilst cruise was fitted a few weeks ago and did enjoy revving it. So I tried to emulate the feeling in my PDK the next day with just the gear lever. Far better - no crunched gears, no fluffed take-offs from rest, no leg ache, one finger gear changing, plus the down shift blips.
Both systems have their merits - PDK is going to be more efficient/slick for most people, let's face it. Driving daily in London or for ultimate track times PDK probably makes a lot of sense.

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
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mollytherocker said:
I thought that was a well known and easy fix? Its just an adjustment of the hatch isnt it?
Well....my OPC tried and failed to fix it admitting there really wasn't a lot they can do....and EVERY 987 Cayman I have driven (probably 8) has had it....

You can minimise the effect by fiddling with the rubber bump stops, but that's it.

Edited by FrankCayman on Wednesday 2nd December 07:55