What Should the Next Mod Be?

I'm actually not that big into heavily modifying my car (base 987.2 Cayman ); I actually like the stock look and feel for the most part. But there are two things that I do want to change on the car on top of what I've already done (clear turn signals, Numeric short shifter, and Numeric shift cables): 1. a new, better-sounding exhaust; and 2. paint protection film for most of the front Depending, of course, on brand and installer etc., these two generally cost around the same - $2,000 +/-. Because the Cayman is my daily driver, my brain says "duh - go for the PPF." But my heart - oh, my heart says "the stock exhaust is so wimpy! You've got to at least get a better sounding exhaust!" So - what say the Planet-9 braintrust? Exhaust or PPF?

I would go for a Top Gear UK very inexpensive long tube header connected to your choice of muffler. (Please see Cayman / Boxster modifications bottom of page 3). That will give you about as good of sound as there is from these cars. I have a Milltek that sounds wonderful. I see that you have both the Numeric shifter and cables, which means you like to shift. Using your shifting skills and the manual transmission when ever the notion comes along is perfect way to take your mind to another level for a few seconds whenever you feel the need. The exhaust just magnify that feeling. New paint products are now coming out that allows you to wax easily after your wash, almost to a point where the film is not necessary, just washing and applying. I know as I have a black car and worse, no shade to wash, but still get compliments regarding the paint and look of the car from PCA autocrossers. There is a lot of activity in the detail section of P9 now regarding using form cannon for not much money. They do work well with the liquid gloss and thick drying towel is the latest method from Griot's Garage.

a good exhaust definitely improves enjoyment by a big factor! depends on the condition of your front - if its already got some stone chips - just do the lights and fogs/DRL.

For me the biggest shortcomings for my 6MT base 987.2 was the sloppy shifter feel, lazy throttle response (in non-sport Chrono), and the quietness of the car. Porsche short shift kit, sprint booster , and soul exhaust fixed all of those areas. Car is awesome after that.

Same car here. Sprint Booster and Carnewal GT Exhaust (via Cantrell Motorsports in Washington state) transform the sound and driving experience for around $1000!

It’s funny how effective the sprint booster was. Seriously the best $200, or whatever it was, I have spent on the car. I find people that don’t have one always deride it as a placebo mod or say “it just tricks the ecu into thinking you are pressing the pedal down further.” Whatever it does, it works amazingly well. Literally transformed the driving experience of the car. Folks with sports chrono may not see the same jump in throttle response but it was night day on my non-sc equipped car.

I believe the long tube Top Gear headers are about $475 (only 987.1 though), add the Carnewal GT muffler and Sprint Booster along with a buffer and wax products, you should be good to go before the slippery suspension slope catches you. You might even think about your motor mounts, I use a Function First Orange insert, along with 997 GT3 rear transmission mounts to control the motion of the motor without much NVH and maybe a front strut brace and rear frame brace under the $2000 budget for stage 1.

Well, I already have a Porter Cable 7424XP random orbital buffer and a large bin full of Griot's and Chemical Guys products for both the inside and outside of the car, so I'm good there. Suspension-wise I don't think I'm changing much. I just had the front re-done with Bilstein B4s, and when it's time for the rear I'll do the same. This is a daily driver for me, and so I'll need to be able to drive it in the snow if / when we get some. So it sounds like an exhaust (either cat-back or with headers) is the way to go, along with a Sprint Booster. *sigh* I need a GoFundMe....

I have the same 987.2 base. My mods include: - front clip and leading edge of roof filmed. A must. - Cat back which adds greatly to the ya ya factor. - Softronics tune which eliminates the flat spots and throttle lag. Feels much more analog. - 3rd radiator since I live in Florida and track the car now and then. - 170F thermostat as above. - Durametrics so I can clear the damn oil change light without visiting the stealership. - Desnorked which was a total waste of time. BTW, mine is no garage queen but is a daily driver.

I struggled to decide what exhaust mod to do as the good ones were very expensive and the cheaper ones had a bad reputation for fitting. I ended up going with the Carnewal Modification and am entirely pleased. Great sound and since it is the original exhaust, it fits right in place. I removed it, boxed it up, shipped it and within less than a week I had it back ready to install.

I did a cat-back system on my 987.1 S 6spd and it was to loud and I removed it, the car is already on the loud side with the de-sorkal. The problem is that the quality of the sound is so-so. I did this upgrade (see link) to the tail pipes that eliminated the exhaust on the left and right running into each other before exiting. I did not expect much difference, but turned out to sound great it is not much louder than stock. I think Porsche dumb the 987 with the T-pipe so it would not sound as good as a 911 . I asked the guys a SharkWerks for the one up grade they would recommend, and they said to go with the software flash, mostly for the throttle response. Jim Roal: Porsche Cayman S Exhaust Outlet Modification

Thanks a bunch for posting this modification. I have wanted since buying my 07 base Cayman to modify T-pipe, it seems just wrong to jam the two sides of exhaust together like that. Looks like I have a good winter project ahead. Thanks again.

Look at the Soul Performance exhaust. I have it along with their cat-less headers and it sounds great. Quiet around town but wails when you stomp on it.