Cayman S Trackday car and Mods?

[e46m3c]

Hi Chaps,

Fancy a change from my M3 and wanted some info on the Cayman S?

I wondered how they are as a dual purpose trackday and daily machine. Do they come with LSD stock?

I do also like to tune and tweak cars, and wondered if there is much room for modding. Exhaust, perhaps intake or weight loss?

On paper they look pretty capable out of the bag, do the engines need any work to survive some track abuse? Nothing too hard, perhaps 6+ trackdays a year.

The M3 is great, but fancy a change. Ive tried a few 996 911's but they are very dated and tired. So im hoping the Cayman would be a good stop gap before a 997 911.

Also, do they have the same engine as the boxster spyder? As one of those at rockingham sounded unreal. Keen for that sound track in my life!

[mrdemon]

depends if you are looking at Gen 1 or gen 2 cars.
but yes you can do a lot to them quite cheap to turn a few heads.
Gen 1 needs a bit more work for track work imo due to oil issues.

[Trev450]

As above, you need to do some research on oil surge and also overheating issues that can cause bore scoring. The Cayman S doesn't come with an lsd as standard.

[Actus Reus]

The Gen 2 car has the same engine as the Spyder, but down slightly on power. Cayman R has an LSD, otherwise no, it's not standard, but I think appeared on the options list?

[e46m3c]

I take it they dont come with an oil cooler as well then if they suffer overheating?

Ill get looking into this gen 1/2 thing

[e46m3c]

What year was the change. Im looking at 06/07 range

2009?

[e46m3c]

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=10588...

o dear.

just read this topic.

[mrdemon]

loads out there running ok though.

you can find that on any forum inc the M series BMW's

[barchetta_boy]

Modern 'cooking' Porsches are not suited to hard or frequnt track work (other than the GT / special models) for the reasons outlined above.

Maybe consider a Z4M coupe. You'll be going quicker, the car will cost a lot less to buy and will hold up far better on track.

Joel

[Jakub]

e46m3c said:

What year was the change. Im looking at 06/07 range

2009?

Yes, 2009. The price difference will be quite a bit.
The Gen I shortcomings are: possible IMS failure, RMS leakage (not a big deal really), oil starvation on a fast turns (I think that this may occur only on slicks but may be wrong here), bore scoring. Also no PDK on first generation Caymans.

[mrdemon]

barchetta_boy said:

Modern 'cooking' Porsches are not suited to hard or frequnt track work (other than the GT / special models) for the reasons outlined above.

Maybe consider a Z4M coupe. You'll be going quicker, the car will cost a lot less to buy and will hold up far better on track.

Joel

Z4m
would eat rears on a track day. does 17 mpg normal running, servicing is expensive.
VANOS issues, bush issues, coil packs etc etc

You will def not be going quicker on track in a Z4m than a Cayman

you can find issues in most cars.

[nickfrog]

LSD on a high traction mid-engine car is not really crucial, particularly on track where it might even promote understeer.

[cpufreak]

Gen II Cayman S makes a great track car. the 9A1 engine in the GenII's has (so far) proven to be rock solid.

The need for a slippy diff is IMO overstated, mine doesn't have one, and I'll bring out this much used picture, to prove that it doesn't need it:

[Raitzi]

Some also say that optional LSD can induce understeer like in fifth gear review.

[e46m3c]

mrdemon said:

Z4m
would eat rears on a track day. does 17 mpg normal running, servicing is expensive.
VANOS issues, bush issues, coil packs etc etc

You will def not be going quicker on track in a Z4m than a Cayman

you can find issues in most cars.

Yes thats an option. Same engine as my M3 but lighter package.

the s54 does not have vanos issues, thats the s50b32 from the m3 evo. Sure some vanos failures but not an "issue". Bushes are ware and tare and to a certain extent are coil packs. Cant compare these items to catastrophic engine failures of these porsches it seems due to poor design.

[spyderman8]

Might be worth fitting the lower temperature thermostat and perhaps running a different oil. None of the modern Porsches can be tweaked much in terms of power; start fiddling with exhausts and you'll run into sound level issues anyway.

Picking car car with carbon fibre bucket seats will cut your weight a fair bit and I've seen Caymans with harness bars fitted which would certainly be worth having if you're going to track it alot. A set of 18" race wheels with Toyos, Yokohamas or Federals are certainly worth doing if you've got space to store them.

You might want to talk to Hartech or some of the other companies preparing Boxsters for either BRSCC or PCGB Club Championships.

[mrdemon]

spyderman8 said:

. None of the modern Porsches can be tweaked much in terms of power; .

mmmm you can get 350BHp from a Cayman/Boxster that's a good % gain for little out lay, lets not even say what you can get from a turbo car.

[Nurburgsingh]

Get a 968, get it prepared for track and stick the rest of the cash in your pocket!.

[Trev450]

e46m3c said:

I take it they dont come with an oil cooler as well then if they suffer overheating?

I was referring to cooling

[Popolou]

As above, I'd read up on the US forum planet-9.com. There is a healthy tracking and modding scene over there that has identified what needs improving for the sole purpose of track days. Upgrades that come to mind are the power steering pump under-drive pulley and the extended sump.

In fact, there is a UK supplier that caters for them lot and has a very good rep. He led the design of the 987/c LSD which was heavily tested. I believe they were called Motordrive.