Cayman R Chat

[freedman]

Andyoz said:

Yes, I did notice that PSE was missing.

I've never had a chance to try one with it. Is the PSE on the CR the same as the PSE on a stock CS, i.e. same exhaust pipe diameters etc?

I purposely made sure the my current CS was no frills stripped back spec as I think that's what the Cayman is about.

Any other things 'missing'. I could do without the Chronos TBH as for me, it ruins the simple dash lines.

The smart money is probably to seek out one with the exact spec I want but with 10k more miles. Still not totally sure about color.

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 09:22

I wouldn't worry about PSE too much personally

Mine has it, but I have a mate who has one without and its no big thing

Given the choice of 2 identical cars for the same cost, yes take it, but its way down the desirable options list IMO

Buckets, and Spyder Wheels, plus a proper history, but apart from that everything else is very subjective

[Andyoz]

With cars, I tend to like ones that aren't configurable as this won't be a daily driver. So the PSE isn't high on my list, i.e. it would always be at the Loud setting. Does the PSE exhaust just add s quieter option to the stock or is there more to it?

With my current Cayman, I'd planned to swap the exhaust if it gave trouble but no sign of that yet (it's a Gen 1 with less than 50k miles and has had a very pampered life). I don't mind it stock though really.

I now see the absence of light washers which I think is the indicator of non Xenon? I know there's a weight saving with non Xenon and again I barely ever have the lights on.

I guess the Chronos makes sense as it alters throttle response but again, I like a car to just have one 'configuration' and you just deal with it. I might change my mind when I try one with it though ??

Anyone else spot stuff missing?

I just think 987 is such a great car that I'm keen to get a prime example. A tricked up Gen 2 may be the smarter money but I'm 50 and my days of modded cars are behind me

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:02

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:04

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:06

[andy.yeow]

Andyoz said:

With cars, I tend to like ones that aren't configurable as this won't be a daily driver. So the PSE isn't high on my list, i.e. it would always be at the Loud setting. Does the PSE exhaust just add s quieter option to the stock or is there more to it?

With my current Cayman, I'd planned to swap the exhaust if it gave trouble but no sign of that yet (it's a Gen 1 with less than 50k miles and has had a very pampered life). I don't mind it stock though really.

I now see the absence of light washers which I think is the indicator of non Xenon? I know there's a weight saving with non Xenon and again I barely ever have the lights on.

I guess the Chronos makes sense as it alters throttle response but again, I like a car to just have one 'configuration' and you just deal with it. I might change my mind when I try one with it though ??

Anyone else spot stuff missing?

I just think 987 is such a great car that I'm keen to get a prime example. A tricked up Gen 2 may be the smarter money but I'm 50 and my days of modded cars are behind me

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:02

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:04

Edited by Andyoz on Saturday 2nd November 16:06

After years of ownership im on my second R, mines white also!

first one had no PSE and after looking into a retro fit it is not very easy, most dealers wont do it as the R has a slightly bigger manifold so S PSE does not fit, the one dealer that did quote only did so off the parts for an R and was a good few grand to do it.
i then looked at aftermarket but opted to sell the car in the end.

If you don't mind aftermarket then there are good options out there and isn't a big sticking point as the exhaust isnt going to make handle any better, there really are so little of these cars about in a good spec, took me two years to find mine.

as for Xenon i have only ever seen a few come up with the other desirable spec so if this is a must it could take some time! i hated the normal lights so installed the Phillips LED bulbs which i have to say are alot better to look at.

Good luck with the hunt

[frayz]

Mr R has no PSE but an aftermarket system and in my opinion sounds miles better than a PSE example, easy to swap back come sale time if it was an issue.
Xenons are nice but not essential, i have a bulb upgrade in the stock lamps and they're surprisingly good. Certainly not something ever worried about and the lack of lamp washers keeps the bumper cleaner in design and obviously adds to the lightweight ethic of the car.
Chrono is nice but IMO only really important on the PDK examples as it sharpens the gearbox i believe. Apart from the funky dash clock, i don't think it does anything on a manual variant.

My advise would be to buy the car that ticks "your" boxes, you're not buying it for the next owner.
My personal "must haves" would be, carbon seats, spyder wheels, manual box and short shift.

The Cayman R is a mega car in any guise anyway, just some that little sweeter than others.

Happy shopping

Edited by frayz on Sunday 3rd November 08:58

[WingNut]

Mine has Bi-Xenons and they are OK but not a revelation. It also has Chrono which is pointless in a manual as far as I can tell.

No PSE so was going to go to Carnewal to get the OEM CR large bore system modified. Seems like a good cost effective approach.

[Budflicker]

The sports chrono definitely sharpens the throttle response when in sport mode.

[Andyoz]

That's good info.

I'd say PSE is pretty important then.
If I get one without the PSE what exhaust is it - is it same as with PSE On or Off or somewhere in between?

I'm trying to stick to cars that I feel zero inclination to modify. The Porsche brand seems to give me that without insane supercar money. I had a seriously modded Starion etc in the 90's.

For the manual I'm chasing, I'd pass on the Chronos though as TBH I find the throttle response of my CS good enough anyway. Otherwise heel/toe would get even more complicated switching between the two?

I don't really care about Xenon.

Was out in the CS today at a Cars & Coffee day here in Ireland. Even the CS got a good bit of attention...there were at least half a dozen 911's but I was the only CS. The Midnight Blue color seems to attract attention. Had a ball driving her today and it costs peanuts relative to a CR.

I might just sit on the CS and watch CR values. They are definitely waivering a bit this year..

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 17:21

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 17:21

[s3 akr]

Andyoz said:

With cars, I tend to like ones that aren't configurable as this won't be a daily driver. So the PSE isn't high on my list, i.e. it would always be at the Loud setting. Does the PSE exhaust just add s quieter option to the stock or is there more to it?

With my current Cayman, I'd planned to swap the exhaust if it gave trouble but no sign of that yet (it's a Gen 1 with less than 50k miles and has had a very pampered life). I don't mind it stock though really.

I now see the absence of light washers which I think is the indicator of non Xenon? I know there's a weight saving with non Xenon and again I barely ever have the lights on.

I guess the Chronos makes sense as it alters throttle response but again, I like a car to just have one 'configuration' and you just deal with it. I might change my mind when I try one with it though ??

Anyone else spot stuff missing?

From the Cayman R brochure :- "With the optional Sport Chrono Package, the engine and PSM are even more directly and finely tuned. Selecting the SPORT button on the centre console activates 'Sport' mode, which makes the throttle response more immediate. The rev-limiter is then adjusted to a harder setting and the engine dynamics are tuned for performance driving."

It goes on to talk about with PDK it comes with a SPORT PLUS button featuring 2 functions: Launch Control and a 'motorsport derived gearshift strategy' for faster shift speeds.

In reality on a manual car, with sport button engaged it allows a little more movement on the rear end before the PSM reigns it in, and it increases throttle response noticeably. In conjunction with the sat-nav, it also allows you to record a lap and store lap times, drawing your lap on a blank screen. You can set a reference lap and download the data to a memory stick. My car has it - never used it other than to see if it works! I do use sport mode for the throttle response and to allow the rear to move around a little more (the car has more talent than I, so I prefer the option to soften the PSM but to keep it there as a safety net).

The standard headlights are fine - I just upgraded the bulbs with some ultra high performance bulbs from Philips (they don't last as long but I rarely drive at night) and they are up to the job. I prefer the non-Xenon just because I don't like the washer jet on the bumper, but the Xenons do have the directional stuff and would be brighter.

PSE - someone recently referred to it as "pig iron" on here, but I like it. The sound is worth it and for me, it was a must-have option. The sound is an important part of the whole driving experience and my mates car had it so I'd had a taster. That said, I would suggest that if you never had PSE, you wouldn't miss it, but you'd notice the difference in a car with it. I've had it now and would not be without it. As others say, there are some good aftermarket solutions if you didn't have PSE and really felt you needed more sound - but I doubt you will!

PCM - we all need phones hands free and it works if a little basic on some phones due to age of the PCM software. Useful to have the USB connections and music on a memory stick that is easily controlled through the PCM screen. The sound system is crap unless its BOSE. Mine has the non-BOSE upgraded one and its crap, but I rarely use it.

NAV - ancient and out of date (most recent maps are 2015 according to my OPC a few months back, and a lot of work to install as the entire car has to be reflashed at a cost of about £500 IIRC - but you can phone around to get deals. This also gives you full postcode entry. Earlier versions are partial postcode entry only). The one advantage is the trip computer is better tied into the journey with NAV and you can record tracks and laps with the Sport Chrono.


Values stay very strong for low mileage cars. Anything above 30k starts to get a bit cheaper. I prefer a car that has been used a little more than 1500 miles a year myself but these cars are well maintained so probably just a personal view that doesn't really hold water! Mine had 29,980 when I got mine in May 2016, and its now done 39,150 so probably lost £2-3k in value.

That private autotrader car has the interior painted trim in the rear around the edges of the engine cover - pretty rare option. It also has cup holders which I miss in mine!

There are a number of good mods that can be done, but like you, I am on the verge of 50 now and I see this car as not needing it. Yes, you can improve and refine it further, but for me, that's a "want" more than a "need" as these cars are sweet as they are - but that's just my personal preference and there are many views on the must have mods on here, and it depends how you will use it.

These are just my honest views having had my car for 3 years now, but obviously based on how I use my car, my driving preferences and what works for me personally.

My last comment - get a car that you wont be afraid to put mileage onto - either one with a few miles that is priced accordingly, or one that is so low in miles that it won't matter! You will want to drive it. A lot.

[frayz]

^^^ This - Great advice

[PaulD86]

Yup, some good advice there. Personally I would want sport mode. I drive with the car in sport mode 100% of the time. I find the driver aids too intruisive with it off. Sport mode doesn't allow a lot of slip, but it means you can slightly cross the grip limit without the car stepping in so aggressively. The throttle response feels much nicer with it on too.

[Porsche911R]

PaulD86 said:

Yup, some good advice there. Personally I would want sport mode. I drive with the car in sport mode 100% of the time. I find the driver aids too intruisive with it off. Sport mode doesn't allow a lot of slip, but it means you can slightly cross the grip limit without the car stepping in so aggressively. The throttle response feels much nicer with it on too.

agree but you can add it for £800 at your OPC so not all lost.

[Andyoz]

Porsche911R said:

agree but you can add it for £800 at your OPC so not all lost.

I actually think buying one where the owner has done that would be the best of both worlds.

I don't like the Chonos dial on the dash personally. If it's added aftermarket by OPC, is the switch added on centre console as if it was factory?

That may be a dumb question, but my Gen 1 is purposely light on centre console switches so I don't know how all these modes are switched...

[Andyoz]

s3 akr said:

From the Cayman R brochure :- "With the optional Sport Chrono Package, the engine and PSM are even more directly and finely tuned. Selecting the SPORT button on the centre console activates 'Sport' mode, which makes the throttle response more immediate. The rev-limiter is then adjusted to a harder setting and the engine dynamics are tuned for performance driving."

It goes on to talk about with PDK it comes with a SPORT PLUS button featuring 2 functions: Launch Control and a 'motorsport derived gearshift strategy' for faster shift speeds.

In reality on a manual car, with sport button engaged it allows a little more movement on the rear end before the PSM reigns it in, and it increases throttle response noticeably. In conjunction with the sat-nav, it also allows you to record a lap and store lap times, drawing your lap on a blank screen. You can set a reference lap and download the data to a memory stick. My car has it - never used it other than to see if it works! I do use sport mode for the throttle response and to allow the rear to move around a little more (the car has more talent than I, so I prefer the option to soften the PSM but to keep it there as a safety net).

The standard headlights are fine - I just upgraded the bulbs with some ultra high performance bulbs from Philips (they don't last as long but I rarely drive at night) and they are up to the job. I prefer the non-Xenon just because I don't like the washer jet on the bumper, but the Xenons do have the directional stuff and would be brighter.

PSE - someone recently referred to it as "pig iron" on here, but I like it. The sound is worth it and for me, it was a must-have option. The sound is an important part of the whole driving experience and my mates car had it so I'd had a taster. That said, I would suggest that if you never had PSE, you wouldn't miss it, but you'd notice the difference in a car with it. I've had it now and would not be without it. As others say, there are some good aftermarket solutions if you didn't have PSE and really felt you needed more sound - but I doubt you will!

PCM - we all need phones hands free and it works if a little basic on some phones due to age of the PCM software. Useful to have the USB connections and music on a memory stick that is easily controlled through the PCM screen. The sound system is crap unless its BOSE. Mine has the non-BOSE upgraded one and its crap, but I rarely use it.

NAV - ancient and out of date (most recent maps are 2015 according to my OPC a few months back, and a lot of work to install as the entire car has to be reflashed at a cost of about £500 IIRC - but you can phone around to get deals. This also gives you full postcode entry. Earlier versions are partial postcode entry only). The one advantage is the trip computer is better tied into the journey with NAV and you can record tracks and laps with the Sport Chrono.


Values stay very strong for low mileage cars. Anything above 30k starts to get a bit cheaper. I prefer a car that has been used a little more than 1500 miles a year myself but these cars are well maintained so probably just a personal view that doesn't really hold water! Mine had 29,980 when I got mine in May 2016, and its now done 39,150 so probably lost £2-3k in value.

That private autotrader car has the interior painted trim in the rear around the edges of the engine cover - pretty rare option. It also has cup holders which I miss in mine!

There are a number of good mods that can be done, but like you, I am on the verge of 50 now and I see this car as not needing it. Yes, you can improve and refine it further, but for me, that's a "want" more than a "need" as these cars are sweet as they are - but that's just my personal preference and there are many views on the must have mods on here, and it depends how you will use it.

These are just my honest views having had my car for 3 years now, but obviously based on how I use my car, my driving preferences and what works for me personally.

My last comment - get a car that you wont be afraid to put mileage onto - either one with a few miles that is priced accordingly, or one that is so low in miles that it won't matter! You will want to drive it. A lot.

That's a great summary.

On the issue of exhausts I have been checking out videos of aftermarket.
I'm not convinced about what these guys are doing TBH. Some seem to verge on Impreza WRX type character to me and lose the high end almost scream/rattle type quality I associate with a Porsche.

I think it's best to let Porsche chose how their cars should sound so the PSE might be a must for me.

Here's video of a popular after market exhaust: https://youtu.be/mxQ9Qb9LACI

In the drive-bys later in the video I think I prefer the original exhaust. If I heard the modded exhaust coming up behind me, I'd struggle to pick the exact car make out from it.

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 13:49

[Andyoz]

Has Redline dropped the price of their grey one by £1000 over the weekend? I might be mistaken but though it was £39,950

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Anyway, not sure about that color but seems to have the options including PSE and that sort of mileage doesn't worry me. No Chronos but could be added (I'm getting the hang of this...)

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 13:59

[Porsche911R]

Andyoz said:

I actually think buying one where the owner has done that would be the best of both worlds.

I don't like the Chonos dial on the dash personally. If it's added aftermarket by OPC, is the switch added on centre console as if it was factory?

That may be a dumb question, but my Gen 1 is purposely light on centre console switches so I don't know how all these modes are switched...

yes that inc the new Switch which is oem.

[Porsche911R]

Andyoz said:

Has Redline dropped the price of their grey one by £1000 over the weekend? I might be mistaken but though it was £39,950

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Anyway, not sure about that color but seems to have the options including PSE and that sort of mileage doesn't worry me. No Chronos but could be added (I'm getting the hang of this...)

its a nice car and while the mileage is not a worry at all, these will do 120k miles no issue, the price is a tad high for the miles imo.

[Andyoz]

Porsche911R said:

its a nice car and while the mileage is not a worry at all, these will do 120k miles no issue, the price is a tad high for the miles imo.

Yes, I can see what you mean - if it was White it mightn't still be hanging around maybe...

Then there is the JZM which is nearly perfect but no PSE.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

I'm probably going to watch things from the sidelines for a bit and just enjoy driving my Gen 1. At some stage I will be jumping to a 'long term keeper' Gen 2 if it appears in either S or R form. The supply of R's onto the market is definitely healthy ATM.

I'd like to test out a 981 but from what I am seeing/reading, they have softened the Cayman edges a bit which defeats the cars purpose IMO (unless you daily it).

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 15:47

[s3 akr]

This is one of the cheapest times of the year for an R purchase. Leave it much later and the more canny owners will await the market awakening again around Easter time. That said, given time, the right spec will come up.

I am pretty sure you can get the sport button added without the chrono clock by the dealers too. It is the OEM button in the right place too.

[manracer]

My father in law is has just purchased a new m340i touring and had advertised his Cayman R for sale. Never thought he would sell it tbh. I've driven it twice, great car.

[Mogsmex]

Andyoz said:

Has Redline dropped the price of their grey one by £1000 over the weekend? I might be mistaken but though it was £39,950

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Anyway, not sure about that color but seems to have the options including PSE and that sort of mileage doesn't worry me. No Chronos but could be added (I'm getting the hang of this...)

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 4th November 13:59

showing as sold now, personally I love the colour looked at one at the PCGB national Concours last year in that colour and it was stunning

if your new to the market you will soon notice the right spec ones don't actually hang around