This rear bumper really puts a damper on the rear end. What do you guys think.... Looks like there will be ALOT of Euro bumper additions after the Cayman S hit US soil. I know mine will be one.
I'm assuming you mean the 'bumperettes' the pieces that stick out on either side of the license plate. I guess it could be worse, they could be black like in the 986/996 days. You can take them off but I believe it leaves some holes to fill if you do. You know what it strikes me that they need, some sort of sticker on them that looks like a rocket engine exhaust, let me see if I can photoshop something...
Here we go something like this... with flames shooting out of course...
The US bumper is plain ugly. Those bumperettes will be off quickly. The question becomes is it cheaper to order the European bumper or remove the ugly warts from the Cayman bumper. I don't remember my 1999 911 looking that ugly.
You're right, those don't look as good.....Hope they come off easy.
I'm also thinking about moving to a state where you need a front plate....
My dealer said that he would order the Euro bumper for me. I just got an email from him. He has done it on a few 996's in the past..... I do not know if he is charging me or not. He does not like the look either.
Remind me to go pull the bumperettes off my Boxster S to see how they attach to see if a separate euro bumper is really needed or if the US bumper can be converted. I assume certain colors will show these more or less depending on lighting conditions, etc.
If they are anything like the 996, they attach to a squaremetal piece. You need an allen driver to remove the screws from the bottom. So if you take them off, you will have these two ugly metal attachment points sticking out. It would look better to keep them on IMHO. See if they changed it with the 987 style Boxster.
They don't bother me, and I think the picture over emphasizes them. These have been on all 986/996 Porsches since 1998, only now in body color. One thing to remember inthe USA is that changes to the safety equipment of the car, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, will have an effect on your warranty and possibly your insurance status if you are in an accident and litigation results.
While I prefer the cleaner look of the Euro style, I really don't think this is a big deal. I never even noticed it on the 987 cars I looked at for color, nor did I ever notice that the Euro 987 pictures didn't have them.
The other point is that all we have had to date is a limited number of Cayman pictures to obsess over, so we have every inch branded in our brains. A small change, therefore, seems significant. That particular angle and that particular color probably also emphasize the bumperettes.
Perhaps I am just drinking my own Cayman kool-aid, but I don't think this will make the Cayman any less desirable to look at.
Mark
I think you better read this article before proceeding!
Removing Bumperettes
Thanks K-Man-S. I am beginning to like the looks of the US bumperettes. They kind of grow on you after reading your article. Thanks for taking the time.
