981 Cayman S - performance / power modifications - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Anyone on bear try, or know anyone who has tried, power upgrades on the 981 Cayman S? I took delivery of my S in Nov 2013 before the GTS came out and I pretty much paid for all the options you get on the GTS, but obviously don't have the torque or power upgrade. I realise the difference between the S and GTS is small, but has anyone tried the FabSpeed exhaust options for a bit more shove? Any thoughts on who to go to in the UK who has carried out proven upgrades on this model? Swapping into a GTS after 2 years would appear expensive for not much more gain given the spec i already have. Thanks

I suggest a 911 At the end of the day 981 is a "handling" car rather than a "power" car.

Ozzie Osmond said: I suggest a 911 At the end of the day 981 is a "handling" car rather than a "power" car. Agreed, and I don't feel short of outright power, but the hole in the torque curve between 2500 and 4000 rpm is (for me) the engines weakest feature. It has been said that a manifold change would fix that, and any (relatively) low cost solution without significant economy or driveability issues would appeal.

bcr5784 said: Ozzie Osmond said: I suggest a 911 At the end of the day 981 is a "handling" car rather than a "power" car. Agreed, and I don't feel short of outright power, but the hole in the torque curve between 2500 and 4000 rpm is (for me) the engines weakest feature. It has been said that a manifold change would fix that, and any (relatively) low cost solution without significant economy or driveability issues would appeal. A remap may sort that.

Beknown said: A remap may sort that. I'd like it if it would - but I've not seen anything to convince me yet, and I have been looking.

Clevers said: Anyone on bear try, or know anyone who has tried, power upgrades on the 981 Cayman S? I took delivery of my S in Nov 2013 before the GTS came out and I pretty much paid for all the options you get on the GTS, but obviously don't have the torque or power upgrade. I realise the difference between the S and GTS is small, but has anyone tried the FabSpeed exhaust options for a bit more shove? Any thoughts on who to go to in the UK who has carried out proven upgrades on this model? Swapping into a GTS after 2 years would appear expensive for not much more gain given the spec i already have. Thanks you can get about 370bhp from it there are a few routes.

PorscheGT4 said: you can get about 370bhp from it there are a few routes. quite a few in America has tuned the S to about 370 as suggested, i think its a full exhaust, cat back, headers and intake side throttle body and remap. Though from my understanding the remap is currently restricted on the ECU... seems a bit grey at the moment but have a search on the USA forums.

Re ECU remap http://www.eliteremaps.com/tuning/porsche/cayman-9... claim 340bhp 390nm with just a £300 remap. I have seen it said that the GTS engine is the same as the S with just a remap - but I don't know if it's true or not. Don't know if you've seen this Some useful gains with BOTH manifolds and exhaust - but at a high cost. I've seen a fabspeed manifold only graph too- and that seems to be the main area of improvement. - still around £3000 though. I couldn't see my way to paying for a Fabspeed system, but I'm a bit dubious about a simple remap. I suppose if you could have a remap on the condition that unless it met the claims on a dyno they would refund and restore your car to standard.....

All of these upgrades seem way over priced fro the gain. Wouldn't the OP be better just saving their money and buying a 911 or something more powerful later on.

Krobar said: All of these upgrades seem way over priced fro the gain. Wouldn't the OP be better just saving their money and buying a 911 or something more powerful later on. Personally I agree wholeheartedly wrt the bolt on goodies - but not the remap if it really does do what it says. That said, plenty of people spend thousands (or even tens of thousands) on extras that I wouldn't spend a penny on (I am a tight wad), so the value view lies very much in the eye of the beholder. If you've spent 3k on PCM, 2k on wheels, 1k or so each on X73, sportchrono, PTV and PSE, a few thousand on trim and seat upgrades, 2k(?) on PTS then 3k on some manifolds might even seem reasonable! Some people like to tinker. (actually I do too, but, like I say, not at those prices) A 911? Not everyone would actually one in preference to a 981. Edited by bcr5784 on Thursday 22 October 16:18

Surely by the time you've paid for these mods, there won't be a whole lot of difference between that and part exing yours for a gta of similar age (not sure when they were released).

Krobar said: All of these upgrades seem way over priced fro the gain. Wouldn't the OP be better just saving their money and buying a 911 or something more powerful later on. A lot of people don't want a 911 and a 370bhp Cayman with 300lbft torque is a nice thing, well worth the outlay.

chriscoates81 said: Surely by the time you've paid for these mods, there won't be a whole lot of difference between that and part exing yours for a gta of similar age (not sure when they were released). That's quite likely true if you buy and sell privately - but less likely if you go via a dealer - and only if GTS power is actually what you want. And then there is the issue of whether you can actually FIND one that has all the bits that you so carefully chose for yours when you bought it new. Which ever way you go about getting a different spec is going to cost unless you are very lucky.

Clevers said: Anyone on bear try, or know anyone who has tried, power upgrades on the 981 Cayman S? I took delivery of my S in Nov 2013 before the GTS came out and I pretty much paid for all the options you get on the GTS, but obviously don't have the torque or power upgrade. I realise the difference between the S and GTS is small, but has anyone tried the FabSpeed exhaust options for a bit more shove? Any thoughts on who to go to in the UK who has carried out proven upgrades on this model? Swapping into a GTS after 2 years would appear expensive for not much more gain given the spec i already have. Thanks have you talked to Jens @ Ehresmann Automotive GmbH yet ;-) get it sorted

Thanks for everyone's comments. I did have a 911 a few years ago in 996 C2 trim and I did love that car as my first Porsche. When it came to buying again, it just felt to me in 2013 that the 911 in 991 C2 trim was getting luke warm reviews for steering feel and the 7 gears on the manual. The Cayman S felt like the better car at the time, more compact, better looking with an all new design and rave reviews. I have to say that i love the car and don't regret not shelling out for the 911, but may be I jumped too soon and should have waited for Cayman GTS or GT4. I have been in liaison with Fabspeed .......what is putting me off their product is the exhaust note sounds too boomy for my liking. i love the sound of the OEM sports exhaust that I have. I did see on another forum a story about a guy who went to Jens at Ersh-whatever they are called and who had a 991 engine put in the Cayman. That sounds expensive to me, but I would imagine the net result is a bloody good one. Very interested in the power kit that jens does for the 981 - was there a comment that by having this fitted you lose some power lower down the rev range? That is the last thing I want to happen because that would be my only criticism of the Cayman S.