987.2 - Leggy S or low miles base?

987.2 - Leggy S or low miles base?

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AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
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I'm currently thinking about getting a Cayman, budget dependant the 987.2 is top of the list as I want to do 4-5 track days a year and I've been guided away from the 987.1 as it may need things like a deep sump and low temp thermostat etc in order to handle the track. If I end up getting a 987.1 due to the budget I'll look at getting those bits done.
However, I've seen a couple of 987.2's for ~£18k, one is an S with 89k miles and the other is a base model 2.9 with 37.6k miles.
The 2.9 has full main dealer history and a Porsche warranty for another year.
The S has "Porsche service history".
What would the knowledgeable PH Porsche guys think is the better option?

3.4S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
2.9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Wednesday 10th June 2020
quotequote all
turboman786 said:
Probably not the answer you're looking for but would a 981 base not be a much better buy for just a few k more.....?
Without a doubt, I'd be stretching to get one of these two, so the few k more will certainly stress the budget too much to be honest.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th June 2020
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Excellent, thanks for the replies everyone. Much appreciated.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th June 2020
quotequote all
They're really good points, I came from a VX220 (which I sold when I moved abroad for a few years). So the handling and feel of the car are as important as the pace. The VX wasn't slow, but it didn't set the world alight either, on track days I was usually somewhere in the middle pace-wise, got over-taken as much as I was over-taking and it was fine. I wasn't chasing laptimes, had a strict set of rules for myself to protect the car and also ensure I didn't run out of what little talent I have and I was happy, just enjoying the track, the lines and having fun.

I think a Cayman of any description will give me a similar feel, though possibly not quite as raw. The Cayman will be my daily as well as track car, where as the VX was always a toy/track car, I probably couldn't live with on as a daily now, hence the Cayman being, what appears to be, a very good compromise.

I'll see what budget I have in a couple of weeks and go from there, but I'm leaning toward a 2.9 if I can get one, if not then a nice 2.7 will probably be just as adequate if funds can't stretch that bit further for a 987.2. I've heard rumours around the 987.1 S which makes me a little nervous with the track days (oil starvation in the bends, which needs a deep sump, AOS, low temp thermostat needed etc), but we'll see.

I also think a manual will be better, I definitely don't want tiptronic, however could be tempted by PDK, but in reality I still think a manual would be nicer to actually "drive" if that makes sense.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th June 2020
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T1547 said:
Adding another 11k to that S (maybe a year or two of driving?) takes it over 100k - might be difficult sell on (rightly or wrongly), whereas the 2.9 will still be low mileage.

I had a 2.7 987.1 before my current 3.4 987.2 and to be honest although I prefer the more muscular 3.4 over the 2.7, the base car was great fun and wouln't say the overall experience is massively that different. Just a bit faster and use the mid-range torque more in the bigger engine, whereas used to rev the nuts off the 2.7! biggrin
yeah, I think I'm angling toward 2.7 or 2.9 dependant on budget, thanks for the info.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
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All, thanks very much for all your replies and thoughts, it's very much appeciated.

I do like the silver one posted, but I won't buy private again, every time I've bought private I've been burned, so I'd rather pay the bit extra to go trade and have some protection. I was burnt massively recently when I bought a car to sort as a weekend/track toy, it went legal and caused all sorts of grief, also it meant as I couldn't enjoy it while the legal crap was on-going. So a trade sale is a must, for the added security for me.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
That would, however, limit me to getting all and any work carried out at a Porsche centre thought wouldn't it, with the main dealer costs?

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Thanks cmoose, the grey one I've been looking at and linked to earlier says it has a Porsche warranty until 4th July 2021, and has a full main dealer history, so the warranty on it may be a main dealer one. If I get to a stage where I'm looking properly (hopefully in a couple of weeks), then I'll ask them and phone Porsche too, thanks again for the info and advice.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
quotequote all
SarlechS said:
AshVX220 said:
All, thanks very much for all your replies and thoughts, it's very much appeciated.

I do like the silver one posted, but I won't buy private again, every time I've bought private I've been burned, so I'd rather pay the bit extra to go trade and have some protection. I was burnt massively recently when I bought a car to sort as a weekend/track toy, it went legal and caused all sorts of grief, also it meant as I couldn't enjoy it while the legal crap was on-going. So a trade sale is a must, for the added security for me.
sounds juicy, more details please biggrin
It's exceptionally juicy and I'll probably put a thread about the experience, once it's all done and dusted, the car gets collected tomorrow and I'll give it a few days to see if the issue raises it's ugly head for the new owner. The new owner has been thoroughly briefed on what happened as I don't want anymore comeback.
The short version is;
after a good test drive, the car broke down 20 miles into a 130 mile journey home,
Seller had the car "registered to trade" when he bought it a month earlier to do up and sell (I know who he bought it from and what he paid, he made a significant profit in the space of 4 weeks and having "sorted the car out")
Seller said it was a private sale and refused to allow me to reject the car.
Court case ensued
Agreed a settlement in mediation (he'd pay for a specialist to fix it)
Specialist fixed it
He still hasn't paid the specialist

I just want to move on with my life and the money I've actually lost isn't important enough to drag things out further, especially with COVID playing havoc with the normal court/small claims process.

So, it's sold, new owner should collect tomorrrow and has plans to do a really good job sorting/refurbing the car, which I'm glad about, it's a good car now it's fixed and has no major rust issues which they're prone to (MR2 Turbo). I've just fallen out of love with it after all the BS I've been through. It should have hit the track last August, but this has dragged on and I want to move on with my life. I'm a firm believer in Karma and the seller will get his eventually I'm sure, the bloke is just chavvy scum of the highest order. Wanna be trader, but doesn't want to play by the rules.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ah OK, wasn't aware that was the case , so that's where the problem lies in the dealership warranty claim.
Also, another thought, as I plan to do a few track days I was going to put different brake pads on it, would this also invalidate any warranty? Also, is it even worth doing, I guess the standard pads are pretty good anyway.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 12th June 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeah, good idea, thanks for that. beer

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Tuesday 16th June 2020
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
So, if I could a 55 plate 3.4 it shouldn't suffer from the bore score issues? But still potentially have an IMS issue?

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Tuesday 16th June 2020
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ah, OK, I'm thinking this one, from what you said it may suffer bore score then, correct?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Friday 19th June 2020
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Tomm3 said:
Well I'm in! Pick her up early next week, wanted 12 months mot so slight delay on that.
2005 3.2s, low miles with a fsh. Loved the way it drove and the engine noise is spectacular.
Shame I can't get enough motivation to level and paint the garage floor as planned but never mind. Very excited to get the car next week. Mats already ordered :-)
Nice, I'm very jealous as I'm still probably a couple of weeks away at least from getting my Cayman!
Pics please.

AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Thursday 2nd July 2020
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ATM said:
I'm a bit late to this party but I'd be telling the OP to get a simple 2.9 with basic spec and a Porsche warranty. The gen 2 car with 2.9 engine has enough go to be fun I'd say - but I've never driven one. Especially if you're coming from an NA vx220 rather than a turbo - wasn't sure. I have a 981 3.4 and you dont get much chance to properly attack it on public roads unless you live somewhere very rural and isolated.

I'm in the new PH less grip is better camp. Its no big secret that modern tyres have way more grip than older ones. The 2.9 cars can be found with simple little 17 wheels which have a smaller footprint of 205 front and 235 rear. That's plenty to keep you out of the kitty litter and the lighter wheels and tyres will give the car a more delicate steering feel and compliant ride. I switched to 17s on my 996 and the car drives much much better. Simple standard ride height passive dampers too I'd recommend so the basic basic spec 987 where possible. My 981 has the standard dampers and you can glide over speed bumps at insane speeds like they're not there.

Once you start talking about going on track I think you're better off with the simpler standard 2.9 car because if you can ring out all the performance of that then you're doing very well. The 3.4 will just eat through more tyres and brakes and all that for the odd second quicker. Plus I think the gen 2 car gives you less concerns about engine robustness unless we start talking about a gen 1 under warranty.

As moo has said if you buy privately you can transfer the warranty which is the only warranty worth having on one of these cars. Other dealer warranties just dont cover the amounts required in replacing engines and gearboxes. An engine for one of these is probably 15k and a gearbox 10. Other warranties limit claims to say 5k. Having a Porsche warranty is a pita, having to use a Porsche approved battery and tyres etc but if you are worried about stuff breaking you need one!
Hi ATM,
thanks for the info, I did start another thread thanking people for their input and to let people know I'd bought a 2.9 Gen Cayman, which I collect on Saturday. biggrin


AshVX220

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Thursday 2nd July 2020
quotequote all
ATM said:
AshVX220 said:
Hi ATM,
thanks for the info, I did start another thread thanking people for their input and to let people know I'd bought a 2.9 Gen Cayman, which I collect on Saturday. biggrin

Link?
The thread is here;
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Ash_

Original Poster:

5,929 posts

190 months

Monday 12th October 2020
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Johnny5hoods said:
Slightly off topic, anyone know what happened to Cmoose? I can see replies to his comments, but not the comments themselves.

I also can't see him on any other threads on the entire Porsche PH forum, and he was one of the most frequent contributors on here.

He seems to have vanished. I hope he hasn't left the forum, as I really appreciated his insights and experience into Porsche ownership. Anyone know? Thanks.
That's very strange, even when someone leaves the forum I think their posts remain, unless they went through all their posts themselves and deleted them......which would take an age!