Advice on buying a used Cayman S
Discussion
Hi - I'm new to the forums and I could do with some advice! After considering it for ages I'm finally in a position to buy a used Gen 2 Cayman S either from an OPC or a specialist like RSJ. This will be my first Porsche (I've had mainly M3's before) and there is probably a hell of a lot that I am ignorant about when it comes to buying and owning one.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the exact spec I'm looking for and have decided that I would like PASM and it has to have a manual gearbox. I would prefer Xenons but I can't say that they are essential (unless anyone can advise otherwise?)
I've read a lot of comments about the Porsche Sports Exhaust including some that seem to suggest that it's a 'must have' option. Can anyone explain why because the PSE option seems quite rare from what I've seen?!
Also could anyone give me some help with what they think are must haves whilst I am looking prospective specs?
Thanks in advance
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the exact spec I'm looking for and have decided that I would like PASM and it has to have a manual gearbox. I would prefer Xenons but I can't say that they are essential (unless anyone can advise otherwise?)
I've read a lot of comments about the Porsche Sports Exhaust including some that seem to suggest that it's a 'must have' option. Can anyone explain why because the PSE option seems quite rare from what I've seen?!
Also could anyone give me some help with what they think are must haves whilst I am looking prospective specs?
Thanks in advance
Jedidja said:
Hi - I'm new to the forums and I could do with some advice! After considering it for ages I'm finally in a position to buy a used Gen 2 Cayman S either from an OPC or a specialist like RSJ. This will be my first Porsche (I've had mainly M3's before) and there is probably a hell of a lot that I am ignorant about when it comes to buying and owning one.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the exact spec I'm looking for and have decided that I would like PASM and it has to have a manual gearbox. I would prefer Xenons but I can't say that they are essential (unless anyone can advise otherwise?)
I've read a lot of comments about the Porsche Sports Exhaust including some that seem to suggest that it's a 'must have' option. Can anyone explain why because the PSE option seems quite rare from what I've seen?!
Also could anyone give me some help with what they think are must haves whilst I am looking prospective specs?
Thanks in advance
Since I had xenons in a car, standard lights have been inadequate so I've just accepted the cost and ticked the box wherever they've not been standard. But that's just me and I find myself out of London enough to justify them. There is nothing in it for city driving due to the amount of street lighting. I've been doing a lot of thinking about the exact spec I'm looking for and have decided that I would like PASM and it has to have a manual gearbox. I would prefer Xenons but I can't say that they are essential (unless anyone can advise otherwise?)
I've read a lot of comments about the Porsche Sports Exhaust including some that seem to suggest that it's a 'must have' option. Can anyone explain why because the PSE option seems quite rare from what I've seen?!
Also could anyone give me some help with what they think are must haves whilst I am looking prospective specs?
Thanks in advance
PSE question depends on whether your car is in warranty or not. PSE tends to be preferable if you are in warranty and is switchable via a dash control. If the car isn't under manufacturer warranty, there are a number of options, the only ones I have direct experience of are Akropovic and Carnewal. Dealer can retrofit PSE as Tequipment for circa £2k but if you're buying a car from them, you would likely be able to negotiate a better price. There are lots of videos on YouTube which will give you a sense of the different exhaust sounds and that would be by immediate starting point to understand the options you have.
There are loads of threads on this if you have a look.
PSE is nice to have but hard to find.
PASM - makes for a more comfortable ride for sure, especially on 19s. You won't use 'Sport' anywhere except the track
Full leather looks nice inside, sports seats are best on an 'S' in my view, Bose is always there, but is pretty average tbh, PCM is frequently in specced, and makes the dash look nicer, and useful come resale as so many cars have it.
Sports steering wheel is lovely, well worth trying the short shift kit on the gearbox too, and Sports Chrono is a nice to have option which can be retrofitted.
Brilliant cars and as much performance as you'd ever need on the public road I reckon. You can't make alterations if you want to keep the warranty valid, so bear that in mind when you buy an OPC car, everything must be Porsche approved.
PSE is nice to have but hard to find.
PASM - makes for a more comfortable ride for sure, especially on 19s. You won't use 'Sport' anywhere except the track
Full leather looks nice inside, sports seats are best on an 'S' in my view, Bose is always there, but is pretty average tbh, PCM is frequently in specced, and makes the dash look nicer, and useful come resale as so many cars have it.
Sports steering wheel is lovely, well worth trying the short shift kit on the gearbox too, and Sports Chrono is a nice to have option which can be retrofitted.
Brilliant cars and as much performance as you'd ever need on the public road I reckon. You can't make alterations if you want to keep the warranty valid, so bear that in mind when you buy an OPC car, everything must be Porsche approved.
The 'S' came with zenons as standard anyway didn't it??
Mine is an 'S' and has 19's, Parking sensors, Sports steering wheel, Sports seats, and Nav......the only thing I miss is cruise control which can be retro fitted for £400 and I beleive Sports Chrono can also be fitted for £800.
Mine doesn't have PASM and I find the suspension fine.....it can be a little bumpy over certain pot holes but in the main I find it acceptable. If you're coming from an M3 (you don't say which one) I would have thought the ride would be comparable with an E48 on 19's??
Mine is also out of Porsche warranty as I have taken the decision to go with an independant warranty company (again this is an topic which gets covered alot with Porsche ownership) but I'm not going to pay the ridiculous high prices for parts such as brake discs & pads etc.
You will NOT be dissappointed with Cayman S ownership....they are brilliant cars and more practical than people give them credit for.
Mine is an 'S' and has 19's, Parking sensors, Sports steering wheel, Sports seats, and Nav......the only thing I miss is cruise control which can be retro fitted for £400 and I beleive Sports Chrono can also be fitted for £800.
Mine doesn't have PASM and I find the suspension fine.....it can be a little bumpy over certain pot holes but in the main I find it acceptable. If you're coming from an M3 (you don't say which one) I would have thought the ride would be comparable with an E48 on 19's??
Mine is also out of Porsche warranty as I have taken the decision to go with an independant warranty company (again this is an topic which gets covered alot with Porsche ownership) but I'm not going to pay the ridiculous high prices for parts such as brake discs & pads etc.
You will NOT be dissappointed with Cayman S ownership....they are brilliant cars and more practical than people give them credit for.
Sport mode for a manual Cayman S can be retrofitted for £655incl VAT before haggling as OPC Hatfield mailed me about it this morning - my car doesn't have it, and I'm toying with the idea.
In contrast to the above I DO have an OPC warranty, and I'm booked in to renew it - though I'm wondering if I'm wasting my money - part of me wants to sleep at night, another part of me thinks 'Sod it, spend the money on sport mode and a Carnewal exhaust mod'...
In contrast to the above I DO have an OPC warranty, and I'm booked in to renew it - though I'm wondering if I'm wasting my money - part of me wants to sleep at night, another part of me thinks 'Sod it, spend the money on sport mode and a Carnewal exhaust mod'...
There are some who reckon Sport Chono+ is a must for PDK cars. I don't have a PDK so couldn't really comment on that, but it's not for trackie types I wouldn't have said. In fact, for me, it's the opposite - I drive on road pretty much exclusively, and the idea is that I can keep PCM on, but relax it a bit, to allow the car to move a bit more, but still have the safety net.
I have a gen 2 S manual and really enjoy it. Mine is on the standard 18in S alloys and also has PASM - makes for a brilliant ride considering how the car handles. PASM lowers the suspension slightly too, which helps the looks. I have the full leather dash, and find it really lifts the interior. I also have Bose, pcm, sports seats, all of which I like. I don't have xenons but that doesn't worry me - I've never has them on any car so don't miss them. I don't have pse, but it can always be retrofitted...
Good luck with the search, as long as you don't need back seats, they're a great "do everything" car.
Good luck with the search, as long as you don't need back seats, they're a great "do everything" car.
I know how you feel my first Porsche and current car is a Gen 2 Cayman S...I love that car, enjoy everything that comes along with buying your first Porsche its a very special moment...
.
What colour and wheel combination are you going after.
There has been a Porsche re-call on the DFI fuel pump and the clutch pedal switch make sure these have been done.
.What colour and wheel combination are you going after.
There has been a Porsche re-call on the DFI fuel pump and the clutch pedal switch make sure these have been done.
Edited by Klippie on Friday 7th June 00:33
I've ended up going for a Basalt Black Cayman S with 19" turbo 2 alloys, PASM, Xenons, heated sports seats and the BOSE stereo upgrade (although I understand it's not up to much....) I just couldn't find a used one for the right price with the full leather (which I would have really liked) and the PSE upgrades. If I need the extra noise then I guess I can always get a quote from the OPC to upgrade it.
I also went for the added piece of mind of getting from an OPC and having the two year warranty. Picking it up next week and am really looking forward to owning a Porsche at last!
The advice on the PH forums has been absolutely invaluble so thanks to everyone that contributed and hopefully I can contribute to other threads when I get over the noob phase of owning one.
I also went for the added piece of mind of getting from an OPC and having the two year warranty. Picking it up next week and am really looking forward to owning a Porsche at last!
The advice on the PH forums has been absolutely invaluble so thanks to everyone that contributed and hopefully I can contribute to other threads when I get over the noob phase of owning one.
Jedidja said:
I've ended up going for a Basalt Black Cayman S with 19" turbo 2 alloys, PASM, Xenons, heated sports seats and the BOSE stereo upgrade (although I understand it's not up to much....) I just couldn't find a used one for the right price with the full leather (which I would have really liked) and the PSE upgrades. If I need the extra noise then I guess I can always get a quote from the OPC to upgrade it.
I also went for the added piece of mind of getting from an OPC and having the two year warranty. Picking it up next week and am really looking forward to owning a Porsche at last!
The advice on the PH forums has been absolutely invaluble so thanks to everyone that contributed and hopefully I can contribute to other threads when I get over the noob phase of owning one.
Sounds sweet, black with turbo 2 wheels will look great.I also went for the added piece of mind of getting from an OPC and having the two year warranty. Picking it up next week and am really looking forward to owning a Porsche at last!
The advice on the PH forums has been absolutely invaluble so thanks to everyone that contributed and hopefully I can contribute to other threads when I get over the noob phase of owning one.
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