Porsche Cayman S vs Cayman R

[Marlon Targa 86]

YouTube - Porsche Cayman S vs Cayman R

[FIG]

Love the UK presenter wearing a Holden shirt lol

[jackb911]

Good video, thanks for posting.

It would seem that a standard Cayman S equipped with the LSD that the R comes with would have similar chassis dynamics at a lower price point. The difference in wheelspin on exiting corners between those two cars is significant.

While this is the wrong forum to express this, I would LOVE to own a Cayman S, preferably a zero option one to keep the cost and weight down. After I sell off a couple of the current garage residents, maybe I can make this happen in a year or two. I had an early Boxster when they first came out and thoroughly enjoyed that car. The 996 that replaced it...not so much.

I'm also curious about the reliability of the supposedly improved DFI engine.

Interesting (and sad) that the $51,400 standard Cayman is absent this new technology that is standard on new Hyundai Sonatas, Chevrolet Equinox's and many other less expensive cars.

[GrantG]

Originally Posted by jackb911

I'm also curious about the reliability of the supposedly improved DFI engine.

Interesting (and sad) that the $51,400 standard Cayman is absent this new technology that is standard on new Hyundai Sonatas, Chevrolet Equinox's and many other less expensive cars.

It's possible that the lack of DFI will mean improved long-term reliability (some of the photos of carbon build-up in the DFI motors is frightening).

Also, the 450hp 3.8L GT3 RS doesn't seem to suffer from its lack of DFI either

[jackb911]

Originally Posted by GrantG

It's possible that the lack of DFI will mean improved long-term reliability (some of the photos of carbon build-up in the DFI motors is frightening).

Also, the 450hp 3.8L GT3 RS doesn't seem to suffer from its lack of DFI either

As much as I'd love to own a 997 GT3 RS (or even a regular GT3), those awesome cars are way, way out of my price range.

The DFI is not that important to me but the RMS and IMS issues that the M96 and M97 engines were born with do trouble me. The fact that Porsche failed to properly address these issues over a ten year period is also disconcerting. I haven't read whether or not the 2.9 engine in the base Cayman has the new crankcase. And even if so, the jury is still out on their reliability of the supposedly upgraded engine until there are enough high mileage ones to study.

Until I am certain that Porsche has corrected these problems I'll keep driving my comparatively bulletproof '87. Yes, it has new head studs and valve guides.

It seems that every generation of rear engine Porsche came with a fairly significant problem...rust-prone bodies on 356's and the early 900 series, 911 chain tensioners, head studs and valve guides, SAI on 993's, IMS and RMS on the water pumpers and so on. If I'm going to spend 60K, I want something that is at least as reliable as a recent Corvette.

Perhaps Porsche should hire the engineers who designed the GM LS series of aluminum V-8's; these are truly great powerplants...lightweight, simple, powerful and dead reliable. A Cayman with a 430 HP LS3....now that would be interesting! Purists need not apply, of course.

[GrantG]

Originally Posted by jackb911

I haven't read whether or not the 2.9 engine in the base Cayman has the new crankcase.

Yes, it does (no RMS nor IMS issues), so this combination of non-DFI and 9A1 engine is unique and possibly the most trouble-free.