Cayman 981 2.7 - Perfect first Porsche? - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi All, I have a significant birthday coming up this year and i'm planning on buying a car. I always wanted to buy a Porsche for this birthday and a 981 2.7 seems to fit the bill perfectly. I've driven a PDK car and really enjoyed it, but i'm not ruling out a manual. Budget is £25-30k and the car will be used as a daily. I work from home and its just me and my partner so no need for space for dogs/children etc. I wanted to get some ownership experience of what they are like as a daily and what others think about them as a first foray into Porsche? I had originally wanted a 997 C2S but I really like the Cayman and it seems like a more dependable daily. Thanks Alex

Whilst I don't have the vehicle in question you are asking about, I'm lucky enough to have access to 3 vehicles - so the Porsche I have isn't a daily. Love driving it, perfectly usable as a daily etc, but I do appreciate it even more for the fact it isn't my daily. Makes driving it a bit of an occasion each time if that makes sense.

Absolutely. Drive a couple - and just be aware that they are sensitive to wheel geo setup - as long as it feels otherwise tight, if the handling seems underwhelming, it’s just a case of geometry setup. I say this as I’ve just re-done mine and it’s made a significant difference. It sounds like a 2.7 will fit the bill. Reliable, quick enough, beautiful engine and exhaust note. Handling is fabulous. PDK and manual are both brilliant examples. It depends what experience you’re after, but I’d say PASM suspension, sport Chrono and PSE (switchable exhaust) are the three options I wouldn’t be without. They add the most to the drive for me. Interior stuff (extended leather/upgraded seats/stereo etc) are nice for my wife, but are of secondary importance to me.

My wife's had her 2.7 Cayman for nearly 8 years from new and still loves it to the point where I don't think we'll ever sell it. She used it as her commuter for the first 4 years of its life until she retired and found it perfect for the job especially as hers is also PDK so you should have no worries there. It's been pretty reliable as well with no major issues to report. I drive it from time to time and have even had it out on the track as well so its capabilities are pretty comprehensive. The best thing about it though is the noise. It absolutely screams with PSE switched on and for the money sounds better than a lot of far more exotic stuff (and my 4.0 Boxster) so that will add to the experience. Hopefully you'll find a good one and don't forget to post some pictures when you've bought it. Good luck

Thanks all. I did start out looking at 987s but due to my 6"4 frame I couldn't get comfy and found my knees hit the steering wheel. 981s seem to be much more roomier. Only real deal breaker options for me are heated seats and the sports steering wheel if its a PDK car, i'd love the PSE but its not the end of the world. It looks like cruise and PSE can both be retro fitted from what i've seen online.

TheOctaneAddict said: Thanks all. I did start out looking at 987s but due to my 6"4 frame I couldn't get comfy and found my knees hit the steering wheel. 981s seem to be much more roomier. Only real deal breaker options for me are heated seats and the sports steering wheel if its a PDK car, i'd love the PSE but its not the end of the world. It looks like cruise and PSE can both be retro fitted from what i've seen online. FYI the sport design steering wheel can be retrofitted for about 1k, too. PSE is an expensive retrofit - but there are other options, like the Carnewal; whereby the exhaust is essentially always in its louder setting.

I don't understand this 'starter Porsche' idea... as if somehow we all must hanker after and gravitate to a 911 or Cayenne... I bought a 981 2.7 manual on 18s - my son (who's a suspension/handling consultant) advised I should buy the lightest, with as few options as possible. In his (and my) opinion(s), this gives the purest driving experience ... my other cars are S2K Elise and RWA KSeries Midget. A couple of weeks back my wife suggested I should go for a 4 litre Cayman, but I wasn't bothered as it (for me) wouldn't offer any additional benefit. I've driven friends' Cay GTSs, 911 Turbo-S, GT3 and others... doesn't make me want one. I've been on extensive tours (UK and Spain) with the above Porsches, and have never felt I had to try hard to keep up. I find cornering forces and speed limits determine progress.. I'm interested in an Emira... but see the weight of 1400+kg as a disappointment (for a Lotus!). I don't think Porsche will create a better car for me, esp. with the move to batteries... hence I'm sticking with a 1310kg 981.

Well I picked up a Cayman last weekend, more info in here! - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Alex, simple answer- yes. I agree with all the other posters and your point about legroom is correct, 981s have a longer wheelbase than 987s. I am on my third Cayman (981 GT4) and the only car I would change for is a 781GT4 PDK as it would be newer, last of the line and a keeper, but too expensive at present.