986/987 clutch feel

[rotaryjam]

Hi all

I've tested 3 Cayman 987's and a Boxster 986 and I've noticed that the clutch feel is absolutely awful, it's so 'squishy' and not at all smooth compared to other cars I've driven. Some were worse than others but all bad.

Since it's been the same for all 4 cars I can only conclude this isn't an isolated issue.

I'm looking to buy a 986 Boxster now but this is really putting me off. Does anyobe have any insight in to this?

[LennyM1984]

I think you may just have picked four crap cars to test. The clutch feel on the 986s and 987 that I have had has always been perfectly fine.

They may just need bleeding. It's not a hard job to do but it is usually neglected.

[J Chitty]

My 2006 Cayman S clutch was great.
718 GT4 it seems they tried to make it a bit easier to push but the throw is longer i think.

[edc]

If the action is jerky or overly stiff then it probably needs a new clutch. My first 986 was only 12 years old at the time with 58k but had quite a stiff clutch. My indy said it needed a replacement but I carried on without. It drive and worked fine butt was just overly stiff. It wasn't until I did a replacement clutch on my next 986 a you get but higher mile car that I realised how stiff it actually was. New 986 with new clutch felt brilliant. Same modulation just much easier to operate without massive left thigh.

[fozzymandeus]

Mine is a bit old school - it’s hard to be smooth with it until the gearbox oil is warm but once up and running the gear change is lovely and the clutch is smooth. I really enjoy full chat second - third up shift, getting the timing spot on and making the change perfectly.

The clutch isn’t light like my wife’s Golf GTI but it’s lighter than an R53 Mini Cooper S or a Clio 172

[ATM]

rotaryjam said:

Hi all

I've tested 3 Cayman 987's and a Boxster 986 and I've noticed that the clutch feel is absolutely awful, it's so 'squishy' and not at all smooth compared to other cars I've driven. Some were worse than others but all bad.

Since it's been the same for all 4 cars I can only conclude this isn't an isolated issue.

I'm looking to buy a 986 Boxster now but this is really putting me off. Does anyobe have any insight in to this?

Where in the world are you?

[Schwarz930]

A new clutch on a 986/987 is a nice clutch. They get stiffer as they wear to the point that they can be very heavy.

The squishiness is most likely the need for a fluid change, it's something that gets overlooked and potentially they could have 20 year old fluid in them.