Cayman 987.1 to 987.2S or 981GTS?
Discussion
Guys,
Simple one this. And no concrete answer - I appreciate that.
I have a 987.1 Cayman 2.7 (non-S). Bought at about 97k miles, currently about 140k miles eight years later. Never missed a beat, fully maintained by me. Mainly used as a winter car as my 944 is tucked up in the garage from October to April.
I'd planned to hold on to this car until it fell apart. It's a very unusual spec and I now have it pretty much as I want it (wheels/suspension bushes/audio etc). However a friend's son took a shine to it several months ago and is getting quite serious with offers to buy it. Which leads me to wonder what I'd replace it with.
So, the question: how much better is a late 987.2S than my 987.1 non-S? It would have to be another Cayman.
And another question: how much better is a 981GTS than my 987.1 non-S? Again, it would have to be another Cayman.
Money is not a major object. The question is whether the step up (to either 987.2 or 981) would be worth the extra £ I'd have to put into it. And yes, I know that this is entirely subjective so there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer.
Things to make it more complex are that I would insist on having a manual model of 987.2 or 981, and I'd be picky about spec. My current 987.1 has everything (I've never seen another 987 with as many options boxes ticked), and I'd want full leather, heated seats, PASM and so on. I'd also not want a car with a black interior and preferably not a black exterior either.
I know the simple and sensible answer is to hold on to the car I already have but the (significant) offer from my friend's son has got me thinking ....
Thanks!
Simple one this. And no concrete answer - I appreciate that.
I have a 987.1 Cayman 2.7 (non-S). Bought at about 97k miles, currently about 140k miles eight years later. Never missed a beat, fully maintained by me. Mainly used as a winter car as my 944 is tucked up in the garage from October to April.
I'd planned to hold on to this car until it fell apart. It's a very unusual spec and I now have it pretty much as I want it (wheels/suspension bushes/audio etc). However a friend's son took a shine to it several months ago and is getting quite serious with offers to buy it. Which leads me to wonder what I'd replace it with.
So, the question: how much better is a late 987.2S than my 987.1 non-S? It would have to be another Cayman.
And another question: how much better is a 981GTS than my 987.1 non-S? Again, it would have to be another Cayman.
Money is not a major object. The question is whether the step up (to either 987.2 or 981) would be worth the extra £ I'd have to put into it. And yes, I know that this is entirely subjective so there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer.
Things to make it more complex are that I would insist on having a manual model of 987.2 or 981, and I'd be picky about spec. My current 987.1 has everything (I've never seen another 987 with as many options boxes ticked), and I'd want full leather, heated seats, PASM and so on. I'd also not want a car with a black interior and preferably not a black exterior either.
I know the simple and sensible answer is to hold on to the car I already have but the (significant) offer from my friend's son has got me thinking ....
Thanks!
I made the move from 987.1 (non-S) to 987.2 S a few years ago and was definitely a significant step up, with the later S model engine feeling considerably beefier particularly in mid-range torque. Cabin interior feels more modern too as you’d expect in the .2. I liked the revvy nature of the 2.7 but had no regrets upgrading at the time.
Never driven a 981 although from everything I read they’re a great car but a bit less raw/analogue than 987 generation, which for my use as a B-road tool/weekend car swings in favour of 987.
Never driven a 981 although from everything I read they’re a great car but a bit less raw/analogue than 987 generation, which for my use as a B-road tool/weekend car swings in favour of 987.
Hi T1547,
Thanks for your posts. They're really helpful comments.
Did you go for a manual 987.2S, or settle for PDK? I am aware that manual versions of those cars are not that common - there aren't any on Pistonheads Classifieds either! Given that I'd really want a manual, plus I happen to hate cars with black interiors, I suspect that I may be some time finding something which would tick my boxes. And that's before I start wanting PASM and whatnot as well.
Thanks for your posts. They're really helpful comments.
Did you go for a manual 987.2S, or settle for PDK? I am aware that manual versions of those cars are not that common - there aren't any on Pistonheads Classifieds either! Given that I'd really want a manual, plus I happen to hate cars with black interiors, I suspect that I may be some time finding something which would tick my boxes. And that's before I start wanting PASM and whatnot as well.
I had a 981 S with a lot of the GTS options ticked, I then had it tuned to produce GTS power + a little more, loved that car! it was PDK but I had the PDK tuned as well so you pushed forwards for down and backwards for up gears like a sequential.
It might be worth getting out there and driving a few though as some people dont like the steering in the 981 compared to 987.
It might be worth getting out there and driving a few though as some people dont like the steering in the 981 compared to 987.
I had a 987.1, 987.2 ,981 S and now a 2016 981 GTS which I have had for nearly 4 years. Each subsequent version was appreciably better than the previous, in particular the 981 examples. The GTS however is just lovely, I'm sometimes moved to update, but I cant justify the price difference to a 718 or indeed anything that fits my requirements better.
I'd suggest a GTS as apart from it being a lovely place to be, seems to hardly depreciate.
I paid £50k for mine in mid 2016 from a Porsche dealer, and they are not far off that now. Weirdly 2014 versions are up for nearly the same price as 2016 ones generally.
I'd suggest a GTS as apart from it being a lovely place to be, seems to hardly depreciate.
I paid £50k for mine in mid 2016 from a Porsche dealer, and they are not far off that now. Weirdly 2014 versions are up for nearly the same price as 2016 ones generally.
In driving terms, the 987.2 is very little changed.
I've owned both and done about 70k miles in each version and I'd say 3.4 versus 3.4, the reality is that it's less than 10% more power and torque and that's how it feels. The main benefit of the .2 9A1 engine in driving terms is that it revs out a bit better. The .1 is pretty flat above 6k.
In other areas, the .2 PASM is a bit better, but still not that great, and I'd say if anything the .1 has nicer steering. I think they re-valved the rack for the .2 and there's a touch less feedback.
The interior upgrades are likewise very limited, contrary to most characterisations. It's just the updated centre console control panel, that's it. And the .2 is seriously dated at this point, too. It's also a nightmare finding a .2 with decent spec. They're nearly all poverty, including the Black Edition, which personally I definitely would not hold out for.
I mean, buy one if you like the black paint etc and a nice one comes up. Just don't prioritise one on the basis of a materially different driving experience, which it isn't. Standard spec on the Black Edition is crap, too, and most of them are also poorly specced.
As mentioned, very few 987.2 manual are available at any one time, and nicely specced ones with the extended leather interior, which for me makes a huge difference to the cabin ambience, are very rare. Probably four or five appear annually, of which one or two are nice examples and even those will probably require compromising on some spec items and very likely on colour. It's actually easier to find a nice R, much easier.
Main benefit of the .2 therefore is a far, far more reliable engine (incidentally, ignore some of the recent noise around 9A1 reliability or lack thereof, it's overhyped nonsense, failures remain very much the exception). But a Hartech rebuilt .1 is a god alternative in that regard.
Re the 981, it's a fairly different beast. More refined, but more remote. I think a well-specced 981 interior is pretty unambiguously a nicer place to be and it's a more pleasant car for touring. But for driving fun, it's more subjective. The 987 is more involving, the 981 more capable. Take you pick. Oh, the 981 does sound better. Easily.
I personally find having owned a lot of these cars, you always miss some aspects of whatever version you don't currently own. I've ultimately landed on the 987.2 as my long term favourite, but the caveat is that I've done quite a few things to wake the car up. All 987s are a bit dead behind the eyes is factory spec.
If I wasn't allowed to make any changes to the factory spec, I'd have a 981 S manual with X73 and PSE. A GTS adds very little in terms of driving thrills to a 981S with that spec, but costs a chunk more. But nice 981S manuals are also very rare. Again, it's a lot easier to find a GTS.
If allowed to make changes, the 987.2 is my pick. Good luck.
I've owned both and done about 70k miles in each version and I'd say 3.4 versus 3.4, the reality is that it's less than 10% more power and torque and that's how it feels. The main benefit of the .2 9A1 engine in driving terms is that it revs out a bit better. The .1 is pretty flat above 6k.
In other areas, the .2 PASM is a bit better, but still not that great, and I'd say if anything the .1 has nicer steering. I think they re-valved the rack for the .2 and there's a touch less feedback.
The interior upgrades are likewise very limited, contrary to most characterisations. It's just the updated centre console control panel, that's it. And the .2 is seriously dated at this point, too. It's also a nightmare finding a .2 with decent spec. They're nearly all poverty, including the Black Edition, which personally I definitely would not hold out for.
I mean, buy one if you like the black paint etc and a nice one comes up. Just don't prioritise one on the basis of a materially different driving experience, which it isn't. Standard spec on the Black Edition is crap, too, and most of them are also poorly specced.
As mentioned, very few 987.2 manual are available at any one time, and nicely specced ones with the extended leather interior, which for me makes a huge difference to the cabin ambience, are very rare. Probably four or five appear annually, of which one or two are nice examples and even those will probably require compromising on some spec items and very likely on colour. It's actually easier to find a nice R, much easier.
Main benefit of the .2 therefore is a far, far more reliable engine (incidentally, ignore some of the recent noise around 9A1 reliability or lack thereof, it's overhyped nonsense, failures remain very much the exception). But a Hartech rebuilt .1 is a god alternative in that regard.
Re the 981, it's a fairly different beast. More refined, but more remote. I think a well-specced 981 interior is pretty unambiguously a nicer place to be and it's a more pleasant car for touring. But for driving fun, it's more subjective. The 987 is more involving, the 981 more capable. Take you pick. Oh, the 981 does sound better. Easily.
I personally find having owned a lot of these cars, you always miss some aspects of whatever version you don't currently own. I've ultimately landed on the 987.2 as my long term favourite, but the caveat is that I've done quite a few things to wake the car up. All 987s are a bit dead behind the eyes is factory spec.
If I wasn't allowed to make any changes to the factory spec, I'd have a 981 S manual with X73 and PSE. A GTS adds very little in terms of driving thrills to a 981S with that spec, but costs a chunk more. But nice 981S manuals are also very rare. Again, it's a lot easier to find a GTS.
If allowed to make changes, the 987.2 is my pick. Good luck.
My tuppence worth...I've owned my 987.2 S manual for fourteen years (sorry you can't have it) I did plan to change it at one point to a 981 GTS.
Just by chance I was given a driving morning by my OPC at the time and what turned up was a 981 GTS which had the X73 suspension package...it was a lovely thing I thought that's it I am having one.
Then I drove it, what has been said about the steering is 100% true, after driving a hydraulic set-up its electric steering is quite poor by comparison, the lack of feel is very noticeable so much so that it put me off buying the GTS, I was kind of gutted to be truthful.
Jumping back into my own car it felt tighter if you know what I mean, I don't know why but it just did.
Just by chance I was given a driving morning by my OPC at the time and what turned up was a 981 GTS which had the X73 suspension package...it was a lovely thing I thought that's it I am having one.
Then I drove it, what has been said about the steering is 100% true, after driving a hydraulic set-up its electric steering is quite poor by comparison, the lack of feel is very noticeable so much so that it put me off buying the GTS, I was kind of gutted to be truthful.
Jumping back into my own car it felt tighter if you know what I mean, I don't know why but it just did.
Context - I've had an early 996.1 C2 Manual Coupe, a 987.1 Cayman S Manual, and now have a 981 Boxster S PDK.
Readers Cars Threads:
996 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
987 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
981 and now https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I did consider getting a 987.2, but I couldn't find a good one. I'd have happily had a Boxster Spyder or a Cayman R, but they seemed very punchy pricing for me. I think if I didn't already have a 987 I might have felt the change would have been more significant and thus worth it.
So. The electric steering is different. There is no denying that. But it isn't anywhere near as bad as people make out after reading the latest evo magazine or nipping one round the block. Get in one and spend some real decent time driving some good backroads. You can 'map' the steering to the GT4 settings with a ThinkDiag box off Amazon.
The 981 is, in my mind, a huge leap on from a 987 in the overall package. I loved my 987.1, but the 981 feels *really* special.
What I would say, is don't discount a well optioned 981 Cayman S. My Boxster S has 'basically' GTS spec. With a remap the only different would be the seats not saying GTS on them. It was also ~£10k less.
Readers Cars Threads:
996 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
987 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
981 and now https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I did consider getting a 987.2, but I couldn't find a good one. I'd have happily had a Boxster Spyder or a Cayman R, but they seemed very punchy pricing for me. I think if I didn't already have a 987 I might have felt the change would have been more significant and thus worth it.
So. The electric steering is different. There is no denying that. But it isn't anywhere near as bad as people make out after reading the latest evo magazine or nipping one round the block. Get in one and spend some real decent time driving some good backroads. You can 'map' the steering to the GT4 settings with a ThinkDiag box off Amazon.
The 981 is, in my mind, a huge leap on from a 987 in the overall package. I loved my 987.1, but the 981 feels *really* special.
What I would say, is don't discount a well optioned 981 Cayman S. My Boxster S has 'basically' GTS spec. With a remap the only different would be the seats not saying GTS on them. It was also ~£10k less.
conanius said:
Context - I've had an early 996.1 C2 Manual Coupe, a 987.1 Cayman S Manual, and now have a 981 Boxster S PDK.
Readers Cars Threads:
996 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
987 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
981 and now https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I did consider getting a 987.2, but I couldn't find a good one. I'd have happily had a Boxster Spyder or a Cayman R, but they seemed very punchy pricing for me. I think if I didn't already have a 987 I might have felt the change would have been more significant and thus worth it.
So. The electric steering is different. There is no denying that. But it isn't anywhere near as bad as people make out after reading the latest evo magazine or nipping one round the block. Get in one and spend some real decent time driving some good backroads. You can 'map' the steering to the GT4 settings with a ThinkDiag box off Amazon.
The 981 is, in my mind, a huge leap on from a 987 in the overall package. I loved my 987.1, but the 981 feels *really* special.
What I would say, is don't discount a well optioned 981 Cayman S. My Boxster S has 'basically' GTS spec. With a remap the only different would be the seats not saying GTS on them. It was also ~£10k less.
I think there is a reason the GTS's tend to be £10k more - slightly more exclusive, bit nicer front end and definately hold their price better, so overall cost actually is less when you actually decide to swap.Readers Cars Threads:
996 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
987 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
981 and now https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I did consider getting a 987.2, but I couldn't find a good one. I'd have happily had a Boxster Spyder or a Cayman R, but they seemed very punchy pricing for me. I think if I didn't already have a 987 I might have felt the change would have been more significant and thus worth it.
So. The electric steering is different. There is no denying that. But it isn't anywhere near as bad as people make out after reading the latest evo magazine or nipping one round the block. Get in one and spend some real decent time driving some good backroads. You can 'map' the steering to the GT4 settings with a ThinkDiag box off Amazon.
The 981 is, in my mind, a huge leap on from a 987 in the overall package. I loved my 987.1, but the 981 feels *really* special.
What I would say, is don't discount a well optioned 981 Cayman S. My Boxster S has 'basically' GTS spec. With a remap the only different would be the seats not saying GTS on them. It was also ~£10k less.
andygo said:
I think there is a reason the GTS's tend to be £10k more - slightly more exclusive, bit nicer front end and definately hold their price better, so overall cost actually is less when you actually decide to swap.
No doubt at all 
Just a 981 S is comparable pricing to a 987.2 S.... a 981 GTS isn't a million miles off double the price so the comparison starts being a little unfair andygo said:
definately hold their price better, so overall cost actually is less when you actually decide to swap.
That hasn't been true for some years.GTS depreciated less initially, but all of these cars - 981 S, 981 GTS, 987.2 - have been flat and essentially not depreciating (ignoring inflation and assuming no additional mileage) for five, six, seven years, whatever. But the GTS has a higher buy-in cost and thus more money tied up and not working for you.
Over that time frame you'd have been better off financially by far buying a 981 S and putting the spare £10k into the markets if what you're worried about is minimising losses. That £10k in the S&P 500 seven years ago would be worth about £25k today,
Of course, in future the GTS may take off and the gap widen. Or not. It's impossible to say. So, buy if GTS if you really like the GTS. But the idea that it's been cheaper to buy in and out of in recent years isn't accurate.
Biased here but had my 987.2 (boxster) for 6 years now. Purchased on 7.5 k miles and now on 55k. Wont ever sell as nothing like it for the price in my view.
Brilliant daily driver and used in all weathers. If comfort more your thing then defo 981 GTS, but if driving is of more priority than luxury, 987.2 all the way.
As mentioned all 987.2 are generally povvo spec and mine no different. Only thing I really wanted were heated seats. You could always retrim if you wanted extended leather etc. The porsche oem stuff isn't up to much.
Gone to town elsewhere, rear end poly bushed + engine mount. Ohlins set up by CG. Spyder rear arb, side vents and front splitters.
Big difference was full manifolds, exhaust and 200 cell cats with remap. Feels like the car it was meant to be and the perfect a & b road weapon. Roof off in summer is icing on cake.
I think 987.2 reliability vs price means you will probably never have to sell, especially if you make it your own with a few tweaks.
Keep the suspension refreshed every 3-4 years, the oil changed every 6k and its just bliss.
Brilliant daily driver and used in all weathers. If comfort more your thing then defo 981 GTS, but if driving is of more priority than luxury, 987.2 all the way.
As mentioned all 987.2 are generally povvo spec and mine no different. Only thing I really wanted were heated seats. You could always retrim if you wanted extended leather etc. The porsche oem stuff isn't up to much.
Gone to town elsewhere, rear end poly bushed + engine mount. Ohlins set up by CG. Spyder rear arb, side vents and front splitters.
Big difference was full manifolds, exhaust and 200 cell cats with remap. Feels like the car it was meant to be and the perfect a & b road weapon. Roof off in summer is icing on cake.
I think 987.2 reliability vs price means you will probably never have to sell, especially if you make it your own with a few tweaks.
Keep the suspension refreshed every 3-4 years, the oil changed every 6k and its just bliss.
I had a 987.1 3.2S Boxster followed by a 996 3.4 and now a 981 S.
I went to look at a 987.1 2.7 Cayman before the 981 S and it's definitely worth the change/upgrade. As one of the other posters has already said, the prices between 987.2 and 981 mean it was always going to be a 981 for me. It's much more modern inside and imo, looks better.
I went to look at a 987.1 2.7 Cayman before the 981 S and it's definitely worth the change/upgrade. As one of the other posters has already said, the prices between 987.2 and 981 mean it was always going to be a 981 for me. It's much more modern inside and imo, looks better.
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