Hello,
I am going to view a
987.1
Cayman
tomorrow. As a potential first-time buyer of a
Porsche
, I would like to know if I have done enough research into the overall ownership of a
987.1
Cayman
and if there is any advice or information that would further help me.
So far I researched the engine and potential issues that present themselves on the M96/M97 platform when poorly maintained, however, based on the FPSH maintained by the previous owners I see no reason to be concerned.
My daily commute includes a variety of start-stop town roads, short dual carriageways and motorways over a 25 minute / 14 mile journey (each way). I do not see this journey being detrimental to the longevity of engine?
I have read the attached document, which I found on this forum and it does mention the importance of the cooling system being in tip-top shape, is there any critical places or points to check given the age of the cooling system when viewing the car?
Other notes I have are;
Headlining sag; Only seen issues of this in hot/humid environments so far.
Dim headlights; any aftermarket recommendations?
Aftermarket Bluetooth connectivity; I see Dension GW500 + BT reciever being mentioned often, is this the simplest way to connect my iPhone for phonecalls and music?
Thank you for any advice or input, it is appreciated.
Hopefully your quest ends in a satisfying purchase experience. Since mine is a
Boxster
I can’t comment on the sagging headliner issue, but as far as the dim
headlights
you can replace them with
LED
’s which are a marked improvement.
And if you replace the aging head unit, your car will be brought up to modern tech conveniences. I installed one from Crutchfield, not sure if they are in your market but I purchased a BOSS head unit giving me
CarPlay
/Android connectivity, hands free phone use, Bluetooth, Navigation through
CarPlay
with Google Maps, iMaps or
Waze
,
Spotify
, Sirius, a mini
SD card
reader and a USB-A port to read portable devices for added choice. I’ve been very happy with this unit.
I have used the Dension adapter with a
Pioneer
double DIN head unit for several years. Works great!
Your daily commute will be fine, long enough to get the oil up to temperature.
In the experience of many of us here, the weak link in the cooling system is the water pump. It does tend to start making noise before it fails, though, so just just pay attention. Replacement is not very difficult if you are an experienced DIYer. The hardest part is the coolant refill, I recommend an AirLift which makes it so much easier.
The sagging headliner is a common problem. Another DIY project if you want, or any local car upholstery specialist can handle it.
Good luck!
I have a 2015
Cayman
and have just (unfortunately) learned that
Porsche
has a history of terrible glue choices, my headliner having collapsed on my head. It cost about $900 to repair by a non-
Porsche
service. When I picked it up the guy who did the work told me the glue on the upper interior door panels was failing as well. When I asked my local
Porsche
dealer for a quote to repair the headliner....Never got a response. Perhaps
Porsche
is embarrassed?
At 10+ years, the headliner on a 987 is likely to have sagged or been replaced. Check the headliner directly above the driver and passenger area. There should not be a gap when pressing against headliner. I had mine repaired/replaced at year 14. Find a good local automotive upholstery shop, if needed.
Door panel delamination is not a problem with 987. It is a problem for
981
.
PDK
or manual? If its the latter, then check the overrevs to see if it's been driven hard or not. Keep in mind, just because there are overrevs doesn't mean there's a problem... but it's good to know before getting into it.
Also, is this an S or base? S tend to have some issues of bore scoring... not a lot, but good to be aware of this. That said, if it's an S, then a bore scoping may be advised. I see the article you linked has some mention of this.
For all of these cars, checking the intake scoops to ensure there isn't too much detritus in the radiators is a good idea. Again, this tells you how well the car has been maintained.
Again, none of these are necessarily deal-breakers, but it's good to know what you're getting into.
That's what I'd look for... in addition to the things you're already looking at.
