Gen11 2.9 Cayman v Cayman S Gen1

[DC5TEG]

Still hard at the research, but there is not a great deal of info floating about on the 2.9 Generation 2 Cayman.
From the quotes i could see, some owners on here commented that straight line speed on the 2.9 was very similar to the Cayman S Gen1 cars.

What other similarities are there as far as the drive goes.

Any Gen2 2.9 owners on here who've experienced both cars mentioned.


Just trying to weigh up all my options. If i cannot afford the Gen 2 S, then is the Non S gen2 a good substitute with very little performance difference to the Gen1 S that i would end up with??

[Trev450]

I can recall a particularly spirited drive in my Gen 1 S with a friend who had a 2.9 gen 2, and despite the fact that we have competed on track many times together previously and have found ourselves to be on a par in similar machinery, on this occasion I was not having any problem in keeping up and still had some more in reserve. You have to work the 2.9 harder than the S and although this can be quite rewarding at times, it can also be a bit tiresome.

I would suggest you drive both and make your own mind up.

[Mutt]

As Trev says. They're broadly similar most of the time, but when it comes down to it the S still has 40 more bhp and this will be felt when driving hard.

I was very impressed with the gen 2 Cayman 2.9 and would consider one, even above a gen 2 S. Sometimes less is more!

[LTCayman]

Either Gen 2 car is great IMO, but I did notice a considerable difference when in a new 2.9 for a week compared to my own Gen 2 'S'

If you can put a considerable value on the 'difference' i.e £5k or so on purchase price then you have a tough choice. The 2.9 Gen 2 has all the advantages & with decent wheels/spec, it looks pretty much identical, it could have PCM 3

I found like a poster above you have to work the 2.9 harder than the 's' but on todays roads how useable is an 's' compared to a 2.9................its hard to use anything like the potential available.

I did drive the gen 1 'S' with sport chrono & nice spec & was really impressed, but I wanted the additional features of the Gen 2 car, tough one really, If I had the choice it would probably be a Gen 2 2.9 over a Gen 1 'S', unless of course you can find a mint Gen 1 'S' for sub 20K!

Edited by LTCayman on Tuesday 20th March 13:27

Edited by LTCayman on Tuesday 20th March 13:30

[DC5TEG]

Thanks very much guys for your honest opinions, much appreciated.

I am home from Iraq fairly soon, and OPC is my first stop. Just hoping i get the option to drive the 2.9 and the Gen 1 S back to back.

I am fully with you guys on some of the points, mentioned, more is not always best. I sold my EVO 6 for this very reason, it was just to damm quick for B roads as far as i was concerned. I class myself as a fairly competent driver and for me to get enjoyment out of my EVO i had to be going at silly speed, something thankfully i have grown out of!!

I do like Power, don't we all, and the car will be used on track, but the biggest % will be on B roads. As you say, try both, drive both, however always nice to get some honest opinions on it.

[DC5TEG]

Meant to add.

I actually enjoy cars you have to work hard to get the most from. Currently drive an FD2 and had plenty Type Rs previous to this, its all part of the buzz.

[NA55]

DC5TEG said:

... and the car will be used on track

based on the above requirement I would 'urrr' on the side of caution and get a 2nd Generation. It is well documented that the Gen1 models can suffer oil starvation when being tracked (checkout planet 9 forums for detailed prognosis).

[DC5TEG]

NA55 said:

based on the above requirement I would 'urrr' on the side of caution and get a 2nd Generation. It is well documented that the Gen1 models can suffer oil starvation when being tracked (checkout planet 9 forums for detailed prognosis).

Will have a look mate, cheers!

[FisiP1]

I'd go for the Gen2 2.9 for added peace of mind with regards the superb DFI engine personally, unless you only intend to keep it for the duration of the OPC warranty, in which case drive both.

What feels fast enough to you is subjective, but you have to be a pretty suicidal driver to get away from a well driven 2.7/2.9 on a twisty B road. Just to echo what Cmoose said.

[DC5TEG]

Is it not just the 3.4 S that has the DFI engine, did'nt think the 2.9 did? or am i talking crap.lol

[mayes911]

2.9 has no dfi but has the same improved block of the gen 2 which is the important bit

[petop]

Take this comment in jest but.......IS THERE ANY PORSCHE ENGINE THAT DOESNT HAVE A RMS/IMS/BORE/RINGS/BLOCK PROBLEM??!!!lol

Edited by petop on Wednesday 21st March 08:03

[FisiP1]

Sorry for that was in a rush, my point though was it is still the more solid engine in all likelihood, so you can have somewhat more confidence in keeping it in the long-term if you are the worrying sort.

I had the use of a 2.9 for a few days in the autumn, I personally wouldn't want anything quicker for a B road car.

[Squonk]

I test drove both in 2009, went for the 2.9 and looking at various comments on here since was glad I did. The price of a second hand Gen 1Cayman S was also in the ball park of a new Gen 2 2.9 at the OPC though I did pay the list price only for a car with over £6000 of extras/RTI cover/Supaguard. Based on my experience not much difference

[baz1985]

I'd go with the Gen 11 2.9, but only with the LSD.

[atom111]

What year did the Gen2 start hitting the UK all the OPC Gen II seem to be later 2011 early 2012's, earlier 2.9's are just 2.9.

[LTCayman]

Bought a 09 plate Gen 2 3.4 from an OPC, reg date late April