2009 - Std Cayman S headlights any good?
Discussion
Hi folks,
Seriously considering a post 2009 Cayman S. I have seen a few nice ones advertised that sadly don't have Bi-Xenon headlights.
Is this is big issue or are the std ones OK? We live out in the sticks and decent headlights are a must. Had a JCW Cooper S a while ago and the lights were tragic - certainly don't want to repeat that, but also don't want to discount cars just based on the lights unless the std ones really are rubbish.
Whilst I'm at it, is PSE a must, or is it relatively cheap to get a decent exhaust sound from a non PSE car?
Thanks in advance for the advice and sorry if this has been done to death a thousand times - I did a search and found some useful info but figured I'd ask here to get some real owners' input.
TD
Seriously considering a post 2009 Cayman S. I have seen a few nice ones advertised that sadly don't have Bi-Xenon headlights.
Is this is big issue or are the std ones OK? We live out in the sticks and decent headlights are a must. Had a JCW Cooper S a while ago and the lights were tragic - certainly don't want to repeat that, but also don't want to discount cars just based on the lights unless the std ones really are rubbish.
Whilst I'm at it, is PSE a must, or is it relatively cheap to get a decent exhaust sound from a non PSE car?
Thanks in advance for the advice and sorry if this has been done to death a thousand times - I did a search and found some useful info but figured I'd ask here to get some real owners' input.
TD
It depends what you're used to. If you've never had xenons then you'll be fine, if you have then I think you'll be dissapointed with the standard lights. I find the problem with most cars is that once you've had something you don't want to go back. I didn't see the point of cruise control, until I had it, I didn't see the point of full climate, until I had it. Heated seats? Who needs those? Now I've had them I don't want to go without.
Scrap all that if it's an occasional car though
If it's a daily driver I would, and did, only consider cars with xenons (and all of the above plus more).
Scrap all that if it's an occasional car though
If it's a daily driver I would, and did, only consider cars with xenons (and all of the above plus more).Fair points chaps.
I don't suppose there is any great mystery to solve. Xenons will be better but the std ones will still light the way well enough.
A few of my previous cars have had Xenons and they were very good so I guess plan A should be to see if I can locate a car with the right spec.
I don't suppose there is any great mystery to solve. Xenons will be better but the std ones will still light the way well enough.
A few of my previous cars have had Xenons and they were very good so I guess plan A should be to see if I can locate a car with the right spec.
the standard units aren't fitted with very good "bulbs" - I upgrade those on my 987 gen 2 to the latest and greatest for less than thirty quid - not xenon levels but better and acceptable. PSE on a boxster with the roof down is fun, I had one fitted to a 997S Gen 2 and a 991S and frankly I couldnt hear the thing without dropping the windows so in a coupe I'm not sure its really that critical to the fun aspect.
My previous car had led headlights the new ones bi xenons and the Porsche has halogens. They are perfectly fine and on high beam I actually think they are excellent. More than likely as you sit low in the the car. My jcw had preface lift xenons which were pony worse than halogen. Upgraded them to facelift xenons and weren't much better. Stock Porsche halogens are twice as good as mini projectors (if you are talking r53 Minis)
I have the standard lights on my 2009 Cayman. They are ok but you will not be happy after xenons, they are poor compared to the LEDs on my other car. I uprated the bulbs with some Phillips ones for £30ish quid like the other poster and they are definitely an improvement. Trouble is there as so few gen 2 cars coming to the market it is difficult to be specific on spec unless you are happy to wait a while.
In terms of exhaust, I would head straight to Carnewal. Had one fitted to my 2.9 a couple of months back by Gert and it's now run in properly, it sounds lovely. No drone on the motorway, but noticeable when you add the revs. A nice, raspy Porsche noise. It's the best mod I have ever done on a car. It's also relatively cheap at about £500 if you use the exchange service. The only plus side of the PSE is compliance with the warranty.
In terms of exhaust, I would head straight to Carnewal. Had one fitted to my 2.9 a couple of months back by Gert and it's now run in properly, it sounds lovely. No drone on the motorway, but noticeable when you add the revs. A nice, raspy Porsche noise. It's the best mod I have ever done on a car. It's also relatively cheap at about £500 if you use the exchange service. The only plus side of the PSE is compliance with the warranty.
I think that you have answered the question yourself -
I had a 981 on loan for a few days and I considered that it's headlights were some of the worst lights that I've ever come across; far worse than numerous hire cars on holiday. I think it's shocking actually that Porsche can fit such poor headlights to an expensive car. Maybe they take the view that if the purchaser want decent lights then they will specify the xenons, but the car should be fit for purpose for all subsequent owners, and there is no upgrade path. A performance car should have performance lighting.
It's interesting why so few people specced xenons when they ordered cars, maybe many people don't drive that much on unlit roads? Or perhaps they assume that the standard lights will be ok, because after all how many get a test drive at night?
I sympathise with your plight - when I was looking for my 2009 (Boxster in my case) I was having difficulty finding one with xenons and like you, tried to convince myself that it wouldn't matter. I am really glad that that I was persuaded to keep looking and found one that actually had the swivelling xenons which I though would be a gimmick but in practice are very good indeed.
TorqueDirty said:
We live out in the sticks and decent headlights are a must.
If you're going to be driving on unlit roads and want to enjoy night driving then you will need to get the xenon lights. The halogen lights are poor and in my view only really suitable for driving if there is street lighting. On unlit roads the lights will be the limiting factor in the performance of your car, your honed performance machine reduced to one of the slowest vehicles on the road.I had a 981 on loan for a few days and I considered that it's headlights were some of the worst lights that I've ever come across; far worse than numerous hire cars on holiday. I think it's shocking actually that Porsche can fit such poor headlights to an expensive car. Maybe they take the view that if the purchaser want decent lights then they will specify the xenons, but the car should be fit for purpose for all subsequent owners, and there is no upgrade path. A performance car should have performance lighting.
It's interesting why so few people specced xenons when they ordered cars, maybe many people don't drive that much on unlit roads? Or perhaps they assume that the standard lights will be ok, because after all how many get a test drive at night?
I sympathise with your plight - when I was looking for my 2009 (Boxster in my case) I was having difficulty finding one with xenons and like you, tried to convince myself that it wouldn't matter. I am really glad that that I was persuaded to keep looking and found one that actually had the swivelling xenons which I though would be a gimmick but in practice are very good indeed.
Hi, I have a 2009 Cayman S too and to be totally honest the lights are bloody awful! I live in the middle of nowhere and they were probably the worst lights on any car I have owned, however as others have mentioned £30 bulbs will improve them. Not top notch but better.
I love the car and it's a great buy and fun to drive, if the budget allows set aside £3000 for some mods and you will have yourself a fantastic car. They get poo poo'd and haters will tell you to buy a GT3 however that's 65k for a 10 or 12 year old car and if you're on a budget like me it would be awesome but unachievable.
I highly recommend joining the Porsche owners club if you're new to Porsches, they have lots of functions and outings you'll meet some brilliant people who are happy to discuss mods and show off their cars. Join and go on a track day, learning to drive better is worth it's weight in gold and beats throwing money at mods before you get used to the balance and handling, Plus you can listen to some exhausts, £800 will get you a good one that makes a big difference, I went for a Remus it is considerably louder but the sound when you blip the throttle is highly addictive!
Being shown how to drive a mid engined rear wheel drive car after years of front wheel drive was a real eye opener. My personal opinion is that it's a great car and I love mine. It was a childhood dream to own a Porsche, now I smile just looking at the badge on the steering wheel. You won't regret it!
I love the car and it's a great buy and fun to drive, if the budget allows set aside £3000 for some mods and you will have yourself a fantastic car. They get poo poo'd and haters will tell you to buy a GT3 however that's 65k for a 10 or 12 year old car and if you're on a budget like me it would be awesome but unachievable.
I highly recommend joining the Porsche owners club if you're new to Porsches, they have lots of functions and outings you'll meet some brilliant people who are happy to discuss mods and show off their cars. Join and go on a track day, learning to drive better is worth it's weight in gold and beats throwing money at mods before you get used to the balance and handling, Plus you can listen to some exhausts, £800 will get you a good one that makes a big difference, I went for a Remus it is considerably louder but the sound when you blip the throttle is highly addictive!
Being shown how to drive a mid engined rear wheel drive car after years of front wheel drive was a real eye opener. My personal opinion is that it's a great car and I love mine. It was a childhood dream to own a Porsche, now I smile just looking at the badge on the steering wheel. You won't regret it!
This 100%
Hi beam is good, low beem is darkness to a point in winter I drive with front fogs on,
People on forums poo poo that, but the lights are so bad I have never been flashed with my fogs on EVER.
Drive and Audi with xenons and people flash you coming the other way they are so bright.
So fit the £30 bulbs drive with front fogs on and it,s just about passable.
As others have said the worse lights I have ever had really.
Full beam is good though so if you live in the sticks ie no other cars no issue with full Beam.
Put it this way my jcw works lights on low beam were far better so if you hate the jcw lights then you will really dislike the Porsche's.
Hi beam is good, low beem is darkness to a point in winter I drive with front fogs on,
People on forums poo poo that, but the lights are so bad I have never been flashed with my fogs on EVER.
Drive and Audi with xenons and people flash you coming the other way they are so bright.
So fit the £30 bulbs drive with front fogs on and it,s just about passable.
As others have said the worse lights I have ever had really.
Full beam is good though so if you live in the sticks ie no other cars no issue with full Beam.
Put it this way my jcw works lights on low beam were far better so if you hate the jcw lights then you will really dislike the Porsche's.
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