Fake S?

I'm wanting and looking at what I think is a 2.7 base. It's a 2007. It has an 'S' after the word Cayman on the back. It's been repainted and I don't see any stickers when I open either trunk. It's also a six speed. When I searched the vin it said cayman, not cayman S. I'm not super knowledgeable on anything Porsche but love the cayman and want one. Any way I can make sure it's not the 3.4? I have heard it's rare to find a 2.7 mated to a six speed but they do exist. Edit: when I asked the dealer about it he says, "all I can tell you is what the vin says".

https://vinanalytics.com/ is a great place to see what the VIN says. If it's not an S, it's not an S... easy peasy. It's not that rare to find a base with a manual - my 2010 (987.2 instead of the .1 you're looking at) is a 6-speed. They are certainly in demand, generally speaking, simply because there aren't that many out there. There may be other ways to identify the difference, but I doubt anyone would bother swapping in a motor for no reason. Fake stickers are easy. Honestly, I'd recommend driving both... I did that before I bought mine, and for me, the S wasn't worth the $10k premium price... the base is plenty fast for me! These aren't drag cars... it's about handling, which both do supremely well.

Are the brake calipers painted red? The S comes with red brake calipers . . . not that it would be super difficult to fake that also.

The big reds are larger calipers as well. Not sure this is true of the series you are looking at but 986 = single oval out tailpipe. 986S = twin outs.

Schwinn and others, I did the vin search on the site recommended. BASE Porsche Base Model 342 Heated Front Seats 401 18" Cayman S Wheel 56 Cobalt Blue Metallic 573 Automatic Climate Control 680 Bose High End Sound Package M6N Sand Beige Floor Mats P04 Sport Package 6-spd plus PASM P74 Bi-Xenon Headlamp Package TD Sand Beige Standard Leather I appreciate y'all's help. The calipers are red. Single pipe out the back.

As the final nail in the coffin, I would also ask for the engine number....I think the S model should be M97 26 xx xxxxxx....right?

Another conflict. Mine is the opposite (but I did it so I know..) I have dual pipe tips out the back, and have kept my calipers black. Funny thing is - the calipers on the base and S model are actually identical except for color. What's different is the rotor is very slightly thicker on the S. Porsche has two parts numbers for front rotors - ones for base, ones for S.. but the aftermarket just assumes everyone wants thicker rotors and simply sells one size.

That sounds like a base that was "up-badged" to an "S." To be honest, if I was seriously looking at buying the car and there was real question about which model it is, I'd likely have a dealer check it out -- and have the run a quick check on their PIWIS (computer hook-up) and run a VAL (long report) to determine exactly what it is...any overrevs, etc. That kind of check-up and PPI shouldn't cost a fortune to do.

Playing cards in the spokes principle. I'm fine with customizing whatever way you want, but you shouldn't mislead anyone at sale time.

I believe that all the 6 speed 987's are S, as the base models came out with 5 speed gearboxes..

Although rare, I think a 6 speed tranny was an option for the 2.7 model, perhaps???

I guess if you have the engine number and options codes you can get everything from V-Pages ?

The model should be shown in the door sill (unless this was changed also) and also on the instrument panel on start up if I recall correctly. Just curious if you noticed what the logo in the door sill said.

987S has white gauge faces. Base model is black.

Yes...I was thinking the same...a good point!

With all the help, I'm pretty sure it's a base model; like I wanted. Should be picking the car up this coming Wednesday and trailering it six and a half hours back home. I'll be removing the s badge and hopefully not damaging the paint. It does have black gauges, which I also am a fan of. Y'all be patient with me as a new owner. But I'm sure you will. Been reading a lot on this forum already and everyone seems super helpful. Planing on engine oil, trans fluid change, aos change, new calipers first off. Then plugs & wires and clutch within a few months.

Super nice non S, really great options.

So did you pick the car up? I guess what really matters is that the car is in good condition and you're happy with it. Just don't pay "S" money for it!

I'm picking it Wednesday so long as it is in the same condition I left it in two weeks ago. Pretty excited.

M97/21

Do you have info like this for a gen2?

As far as I can remember you can add these "S" upgrades as stand-alone factory options: • 18 inch wheels (base has 17) • 6-speed manual (base has 5) • upgraded brake rotors with red calipers (base has smaller rotors and non-painted calipers) The base had a single exhaust pipe tip; the S had dual trapezoid-shaped pipes. There was an option for dual stainless steel round pipes. Any of the tips will simply bolt onto either of the cars. I don't think the trapezoid-shaped tips were an option for the base, but if you ordered your base with the dual stainless I bet you could reach a swap deal with some S owner. My car had the stainless, which I kind of didn't want until the dealer told me that the 2009 face-lift S cars had the dual stainless as default. The base had black background behind the instruments, whereas the S had white background. I don't think you can order white background for the base. Swapping in the S background would throw off the markings for the speedometer (and probably tachometer). The S (at least) had an option for yellow or red background; I don't know if the base had that customization, but if it did that would be a way to at least not look like a base. Strangely, the yellow background doesn't match the speed yellow color! I hope that didn't come as an unwelcome surprise to come customer. The engine, for sure, can't be ordered as a stand-alone option. But if you blew up your engine, you could swap in an S. Actually, you might as well go for the 3.6L from the 997.1 . If you have the 6-speed transmission, you already have the 997.1 transmission. I remember thinking at the time that upgrading the wheels, transmission, and brakes cost something like $7k. You might as well just get the S and spend only $3k more.

I think that on both the 987 and 981 the speedometer reads to 280 km/h in the base and 300 km/h in the S. Not sure about the mph equivalents.

Got the car home this morning. Glad I trailered it home because the oil was overfilled. Everything seems to be in good working order. No leaks anywhere. No smoking. Just acting like a weak battery on start ups but battery checks good. Also alarm for thin pads. Overall I'm very happy. Reminds me of my mom's old Miata but better.

A real PPI is mandatory.!!! (from a real place that actually will do it) I was going to buy a 2012 Black Edition with super low miles. For the PPI the owner had the dealer picked out as he went there. (ahem) ding ding and red flags. The dealer wanted 600 for the PPi. I asked what was included - mostly a tire pressure check, paint, and scratch observation, and a test drive! I asked about checking for Bore score he said no! About looking into the computer for details, He said not allowed! I told the owner I wanted to take it dwn the street to a recommended shop and a better PPI. That a bore score check was needed no matter the mileage, and a computer look into was required. The owner said NO! .The car is still for sale and I smell a dead fish.