You could easily "desnork" the car while installing the Spyder vents. Both procedures are very simple -- 2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. You're right that "desnork" or "desnorkeling" is probably a misnomer because what's removed is the big restrictor plate, not the snorkel itself. There might be owners who remove the snorkel as well, but I don't think I see the point in that; besides, the fine mesh that most drivers install during the desnork is attached to the base of the snorkel IIRC.

Here is the vent with the grilles removed but the restrictor plate still attached (note: this is not my car but a picture I found on the internet). As you can see, it covers the entire vent opening; I'm not sure how ANY air gets through:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1465466325.jpg

And this is the same vent with the restrictor plate removed. That oval opening is the bottom of the snorkel, which I see no reason for removing.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1465466394.jpg

I would attach the mesh even if getting the Spyder vents. The Spyder vents have very large hexagonal openings within its "mesh" (I actually think it's all just plastic, alas), and I could see debris getting through.

Let me know if you have any further questions about the procedure, but once you get in there, I think you'll see it's pretty straightforward and self-explanatory.

As far as I know I think the enthusiast kit only limits the number of VINs that you can use to three, but double check the site. They have a pretty good FAQ.

Don't waste your time on the SSK, it's a marginal improvement at best. Still fairly vague and not very precise. Get a 2010 GT3 shifter or a Numeric, both have a reduced throw comparable to the SSK but metal bushings so they are much more precise. The GT3 is about the same price as the SSK, the Numeric is pricey.

Lots of great info here!

I need to remove that intake plate. My biggest complaint, after all of the weight and power steering, is the shifting. The shifter balks and is just garbage. I need to upgrade.

That's interesting. I rather like the shifter on the Cayman S, and the Boxsters I've driven seem fine, too.

Of course, my previous P-cars were 944s, which aren't exactly known for razor-sharp shifts...

Compared to a well set up Wevo shifter in a 911, the cable shifter in the Cayman is really vague, and engages with a limp bouncy click, not the rifle bolt feel that you get with a Wevo.

Good info, thanks tons.
Good stuff. I'd seen the GT3 piece and the SSK, and thought that maybe you needed both, but sounds like the GT3 piece is kind of like a phase 2 or 3 to the SSK being a phase 1 upgrade. I'm not actually unhappy with the way my car shifts, but the shifter in my last miata was pretty impressive when I put a short shift kit in it.

Interesting, like I said, my shifter really doesn't bother me.
Ditto, the shifter in my Boxster seems pretty good to me.
Maybe that's the thing. The shifter in my Boxster isn't near as positive as my last miata was. The factory shifter in the Mazdaspeed miata 6 speed isn't great, but there's a short shift kit for them that isn't just a shorter rod, but actually changes the fulcrum point of the shifter while retaining the stock rod height. The shift really does feel like a rifle bolt, but in that trans, the shifter actually bolts into the top of the transmission tailshaft. I've always assumed that when working with cables that are far removed from the trans, it will only shift so good, and my boxster is pretty darn good to me.

In addition to the shifter, fresh OEM fluid can smooth out shifts quite a bit as well.

I should try fluid then. But I think the solution will be a new shifter design.

My '11 Cayman S has around 33K miles on it. It's really noticible when jumping right out of the 911 and into the Cayman. The first reaction is that the controls on the Cayman are really poor. Seating position, steering is heavy, shift and throttle are like you're in an Audi or BMW sled compared (this is the key) to an air-cooled 911.

Back to the original topic. I can't add anything that hasn't been said in defense of the boxster. I think Porsche got it right with the 986/987. Is the IMS bearing an issue. Maybe? I replaced mine at 50k with an LN. Dual Bearing replaced was in perfect shape. I unfortunately drank the cool aid.:(

As far as worrying what others think, that is just crazy and juvenile.
So some 911 guys don't like Boxster. Really?
Well some Corvette guys don't like 911's. Think they are glorified volkswagons. Have they ever drive one?
Probably not.
Sound familiar.;)

David

According to a friend of mine (incidentally, a Corvette owner, who has never owned/driven any Porsche), he doesn't like Boxsters because they're "women's cars." Personally, I like them.

I love my Boxster....


...but it's not my old stock '88 targa.

In many ways, the Boxster is better, faster, more powerful, probably handles better, is more luxurious with better AC and a better sound system and the missus likes it better. Still, the old 911 had that something extra special that I miss.

I hear folks complain about the HVAC controls in the old 911s (I thought they were great). I also remember people talking about a stiff clutch pedal, heavy non-power steering, vague long-throw shifter (especially 915). The HVAC (climate control) in my boxster is pretty simple (though not as simple as you might expect), the clutch is not heavy, the steering is good (but certainly not like my old 911 also not as heavy), the shifter is much, much better than my old G50 911 (and I didn't think it was bad, never missed a gear)
I like the 986 and the 987 and the 981, and I suspect when I finally see one, I'll also like the 718.

Precisely, I don't give a rats ass what someone else thinks. I had a guy at work ask me today, why I bought the Porsche, and I think he rattled off several possible examples, the only one that stuck in my mind was "image". Oh, hell no.
Meh, your friend's a neanderthal wanker. ;)

What's not to love?

http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Po..._05_por-01.jpg

http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Po..._s_manu_01.jpg

http://carinpicture.com/wp-content/u...01-800x600.jpg

http://porsonly.com/wp-content/uploa...4/P12_0040.jpg

http://roa.h-cdn.co/assets/16/04/980...3-porsche1.jpg

And I've posted this before, but hey, I like my car.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1465511169.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1465511245.jpg

^ Steve,

All good points there. The Cayman (same as Boxter) is superior in weight distribution and power. But it lacks the feedback for me. It's like having sex with a condom haha. I love the heavy clutch of the 915 because I can FEEL the exact bite point. When I replaced the clutch and pressure plate at 400K miles, they were in such good condition, I put the clutch plate on my friend's SC and he's still using it.

What I really love about the Cayman is the 320 HP that Porsche claims, direct fuel injection, and limited slip. I think I should listen to Jeff Altman and maybe get a turbo 997 though. The Cayman AC is worlds better than my 911, no doubt. But the Cayman/ Boxter is no replacement. I guess I like to do it au naturale, haha!

I'm actually not a fan of convertibles, typically; however, I think the Boxster is one car that looks much better with the top down.

my Cayman

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1465511474.jpg

Funny, I'm also not a convertible guy. I'd be perfectly happy with a hard top, but I'm also not anti-convertible, so if I have 2 options, a great Boxster in great condition with great options at a good price, or a moderate cayman in ok shape with hardly any options at an OK price, I'll go for the Boxster.

The funny thing about me not really being a convertible guy is that my last 4 cars were an '88 targa, a '97 miata, an '04 turbo miata, and an 08 Boxster S RS60.

I looked for an at a few Caymans (Caymen? ;) ) when I bought this Boxster (which came with the optional hardtop), but the best Coxster that I found was the one that I bought. I didn't really have any choice with the Miatas (although the first one came with the optional hard top that I ended up putting on the miata that the wife got).

I do put the top down, but probably not more than 20-30 times a year (probably more like 15). Mostly only when I'm by myself, and mostly only in the dusk to dawn period, and only when the weather is nice and cool.

Absolutely, the steering and road feel in my old 911 were heavenly. It seemed like you could drive over a coin and tell which coin you'd driven over, but it was actually a very comfy ride. Also, the feedback through the steering wheel was fantastic. The brakes were excellent as well (better than my Boxster, which makes me wonder)

Great analogy by the way, vis a vis riding bareback vs not.

Very nice. THere are times that I think I might like a small tail, like I think yours has.

Going back to the comments a few posts ago (Corvettes vs. air-cooled 911s vs. Cayman/Boxster), it's always useful to remember that when 911 (901) was released, many 356 owners hated it, saying "it's not a real Porsche," that it's too bloated and heavy and with too much of a focus on luxury. Sounds familiar. Same thing happened with the impact-bumper cars; and then a similar situation with the 928. And the 924. And the 914. And ESPECIALLY with the 996.

I've talked to a few Cayman S or R owners who have done the usual power-gain mods, tightened up the suspension, taken out some excess weight, and they rave about how the end result feels more like a classic 911 than the current 911 does. Sure, steering feel isn't quite there, but the car is eminently tossable. Is that much different than someone who takes a luxurious 964 and backdates/lightens it and ends up with a car that's much more like a longhood?

My old 2006 Cayman S with PSS9s, Cayman R ride height and alignment, Fabspeed headers and muffler, tune, and some other misc goodies was the closest to the air-cooled 911 experience that I've ever gotten in a water pumper. It was very raw and linear, the rush to redline was very similar to what you experience in one of the older cars. It was also more nimble and obviously easier to live with daily.

Great shot, really like this one. I'm also not a convertible fan but a chixster with a hardtop seems like a great combo.

This post warms my heart. I'm well on my way: my 2007 has the Fabspeed, the plenum and GT3 TB, an engine tune, and I've taken about 50lbs out of the car so far. Next is suspension work and probably lightweight seats. The character of the car is totally different than when I bought it -- it really felt more like a GT when I bought it, but now it is pretty raw and direct, and makes all the right noises.

PSS9s are incredible. I had two Cayman S at the same time, one the aforementioned modified car and another loaded one with PASM and Sport Chrono. The modified car was more responsive than the car with Sport Chrono, even with the Sport Chrono in Sport mode. The modified car with PSS9s rode better than the stock car with the PASM in normal, and was more responsive than the stock car with the PASM in sport. You are on the right track!

Yep -- the Bilsteins are the direction I'm leaning, too. I figured PSS9s, some new sway bars, and a couple of other little changes will really waken the car's handling up a bit.

Try a DSCSport controller in a PASM car with lowering springs.... :) Amazing...

Cheers

I was curious, but not shopping, and was on the Bilstein website. Apparently, Bilstein makes PSS9s specifically for PASM cars. They call them Damptronic, and they still work with the PASM. Interesting.

I've talked to a couple of guys with the DSC controller and Bilstein Damptronics, which they had nothing but rave reviews for.

I definitely need PASM to stay active. I find that the rear tires ain't going to last very long as it is, and I never turn it off. Sport mode is way too stiff. I need to look into fatter rear tires I think.

And BTW, I finally figured out how to get the intake grill off. I should make a helpful video about that (there are none) which shows the back side of the grill, and the location and orientation of the detents. I broke off one of the lugs on the black interior vent, so I'll be replacing that.

Anyway, without the stupid blocking plate thing, the engine really revs. MASSIVE improvement. I can't imagine ever putting that thing back on.

What is this "blocking plate"? I wonder why the engineers did this?

See Post #201. I can see needing it if you're driving in a monsoon. But if there is a monsoon, you're not going to be driving the Cayman.

You might be surprised.

I daily drove a 996 for a year. Toss on some snow tires in the winter and plow through the snow. Porsches don't melt in bad weather!

Again, part of the reason they did this was because there were several incidents involving early 986 Boxsters sucking cigarette butts thrown from cars into their intake grilles and igniting the engines. I'm not kidding.

I guess the solution is to attach some sort of mesh to the grill. Completely blocking the intake would be to prevent rain from being sucked into the intake, I would think.

Wow, so the tail/spoiler that you see on the Cayman was a Cayman only option, and just based on pictures looks like it requires a swap of an entire Cayman rear bumper.

I suspect I'll just live with my smooth round butt.

Do any of you folks with a cayman or Boxster put the tail up manually and drive around like that?

There's a Cayman in my neighborhood, a 981, that always has his tail up. I'm not sure that I've ever even seen mine. I assume it goes up and down at speed or I'd get some sort of warning light about it.

Mine is an '11 "S" with the aero package. It includes a fixed rear spoiler and the front splitters. PASM, limited slip, Sport Chrono, sport seats, etc etc.

Better picture of the rear spoiler in this thread here: 1st time Porsche buyer, 911 or Cayman? - Page 2 - Rennlist Discussion Forums

The fixed spoiler on mine came from the factory like that. The automatic spoiler is disabled. It is attached to the rear hatch, not the bumper.

The ducktail on the Cayman can be retrofitted to a Boxster. Cayman rear spoiler - Articles

Nice set of options. I'd like mine to have LSD.

Yeah, that's the one that I'm talking about, but it is a bit cleaner with the Cayman rear bumper which also gives it a dual spoiler look when deployed (not that I ever see it deployed)