A Cayman 2.9 manual is the best Porsche money can buy. You have aa top notch reliable engine with a solid indestructible gearbox and no DFi. It's a no brainer
@Ont785 3.4 has more power yes, buy has DFI so you have to deal with carbon build up and the complexities of the additional fuel pump. It also has had cases of bore scoring, something not reported on the 2.9. If you don't have the money for a Metzger, the 2.9 is the most reliable NA Porsche flat 6 in the past 25 years
@Ont785 I'm glad you have had no issues, but you are talking a sample size of one. 2.9 is vastly more reliable than the 3.4 DFI and is what @markuk4599's comment is about.
Part of me misses this car, but the 3.4 that replaced it is a monster. One fallacy I always heard was that the 3.4 has more torque blah blah blah. In my opinion you don't notice the extra torque over the 2.9 (it happily accelerated from 50 > 80 in 6th when changing from dual carriageway to motorway). But at the top end the 3.4 has even more zing than the 2.9 which feels like a revvy engine. No doubt the 3.4 is the one to have, only downside is with the extra power you start to notice the major flaw in the 987S which is the lack of LSD
@@pintsizedpistons Trouble with wheel spin? Porsche themselves meant that the Cayman was so well balanced that it did not need LSD... I plan to buy a older Porsche Cayman, most likely a 3,4L even if it is risky for bore score.
Love your cayman, I have just bought a 2.9 because my previous car was too fast for the road and had to give it a lot to enjoy it more. Do you have a link for your exhaust mod as sounds awesome 👌. Look forward to more videos 👍
@@0xFluke Thanks that's nice to read. I've never actually driven a PDK, it looks like a fantastic gearbox I wish I could have both.... HOWEVER.... Not sure I'd risk a PDK on track, you hear horror stories of them overheating and rebuilds are not easy from what I understand. Manual is simpler and can be rebuilt if anything breaks. Really depends if you're going to use it hard on track or not.
great work mate. I was with you in the big exhale after the 2nd carousel / 3rd sector...I remember doing the same...its the mental exhaustion I found. Great controlled concentration and rapid smooth pace. How many laps of green hell have you done before this video? It sure is less bumpy on the Playstation!
:)) Thanks Scott. I do remember to breath sometimes, seems to be a common thing I forget though. Thank you for the kind words, I try to be smooth - but watching this back I can do better in terms of smoothness. In terms of pace I am cautious relative to the car's ability and it's a shame I couldn't keep this car for a few more trips as I'm certain there was a 7:59 in there. I've done in the region of 50 laps total, and about 50% of those were in my old Clio 80hp diesel lol... (video= ruclips.net/video/Xo8tvPtulCQ/видео.html )
2.9 Cayman is a corker, but the 3.4 is a better car - mine just needs a few bits doing (rear suspension arms) before it'll be as tight as the 2.9 I had.
@@pintsizedpistons I understand the 3.4 is 'more' car, however I think I’d enjoy the 2.9 as I won’t get up to silly speeds as quickly! (S2000 isn’t exactly torquey either)
They were a very rare option, more commonly found in 997 GT3 and GT2, they weren't original in my car but I traded my seats (plus some money) with a car a friend saw for sale with them. I recently sold them and replaced with Recaros since I wanted to be a bit lower in the car (and the value was hard to ignore)
thanks man! they’re very cool seats - probably pinnacle road setup, but for track the position isn’t PERFECT which for how much they’re worth is a shame in my opinion. hard to ignore how good a package they are for light track use with the perfect seatbelt placement and built in airbags for safety - plus they are very light- about 17kg including sliders. Recaro race seat is a little lighter, but you don’t have airbags or sliders… Always a compromise!
@@pintsizedpistons Thanks for your reply. I just bought a base 987.2. Absolutely wanna change the stock electric seats. They are way too heavy. I'd better go for the recoro which is bang for the buck! Looking for more videos!
@@Qsamscorp Recaros are a safe option for sure! Enjoy your car, loved my 2.9 - such a good engine. You definitely want to get a set of decat downpipes for it ;-)
Nice lap...that car really sings! What shocks did you run? Cayman R springs and stock Porsche Cayman R shocks? You add sway bars too? Car sounds great!!!
Thanks Ric! The car is on Cayman R springs, shocks and sway bars although it's only the rear that differs in thickness, front is the same (frankly it's the rear you want to stiffen from stock anyway) Looking forward to next season!
@@pintsizedpistons I've got an 09 2.9 manual cayman as well. What s the exhaust/ intake you have ....it sounds so good!!! Of course I don't have any place to run WOT for any length of time in the USA without heading to a track. I just love these cars.
On 2.9L stock cooling system is ok. It gets hot for sure, coolant goes up to 94C when stationary (which suggests oil would be around 105-110) which isn't the target, but nor would I class it as overheating. I'm getting a 3.4L soon, expect that will want the 3rd radiator but I will try it stock and see how it goes.
Thanks for the message - I think the 2.9 is a better car for enjoying on the road as you can really hammer it for longer, before you're doing high speeds. If you don't care about speed limits so much then of course the 3.4 is the better car. For me, the main thing is whether you plan to do ANY performance modifications. I had decats on my 2.9 (and it made sense because if I ever switched to 3.4 I could take them with me) but if you start doing remaps, third radiator for track use, additional coolers etc then the extra money for the 3.4 becomes incredible value. If you're happy with keeping it stock and maintaining it then I don't think you can lose with either.
@@pintsizedpistons thank you for your reply! my 2.9 is stock, just a cargraphic exhaust with goud sound and a pedal box , i think i will buy a decats has you ! i follow you :-)
Stock rear system, but a set of these* on the engine... I doubt you'll get a better setup for £900** (plus time spent fitting, gaskets etc) Actually have a short vid showing the difference I need to upload * www.topgear.co.uk/porsche-987-2-boxster-cayman-decat-manifolds-headers ** discount code 911uk
@@pintsizedpistons I have a 2.8 bmw. Nothing can be justified because "it could go towards a better car". Yet it is a good drivers car. I envy the americans, they just put LS into anything legaly.
A Cayman 2.9 manual is the best Porsche money can buy. You have aa top notch reliable engine with a solid indestructible gearbox and no DFi. It's a no brainer
Mr Mezger is turning in his grave
Absolutely not.
For the boxster or cayman It’s a 3.4 L engine with 315 hp…
@Ont785 3.4 has more power yes, buy has DFI so you have to deal with carbon build up and the complexities of the additional fuel pump. It also has had cases of bore scoring, something not reported on the 2.9. If you don't have the money for a Metzger, the 2.9 is the most reliable NA Porsche flat 6 in the past 25 years
@@indianapwn3s
I have had zero issues.
Less power would not be an option.
@Ont785 I'm glad you have had no issues, but you are talking a sample size of one. 2.9 is vastly more reliable than the 3.4 DFI and is what @markuk4599's comment is about.
2.9 is a belter, no bore score , no IMS Bearing, top knotch reliability and can be daily'd without having to baby it
Part of me misses this car, but the 3.4 that replaced it is a monster.
One fallacy I always heard was that the 3.4 has more torque blah blah blah.
In my opinion you don't notice the extra torque over the 2.9 (it happily accelerated from 50 > 80 in 6th when changing from dual carriageway to motorway). But at the top end the 3.4 has even more zing than the 2.9 which feels like a revvy engine.
No doubt the 3.4 is the one to have, only downside is with the extra power you start to notice the major flaw in the 987S which is the lack of LSD
@@pintsizedpistons Trouble with wheel spin? Porsche themselves meant that the Cayman was so well balanced that it did not need LSD... I plan to buy a older Porsche Cayman, most likely a 3,4L even if it is risky for bore score.
Right on well done.
Thanks!
Wow. That was great sensation. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks @mentezari !
Love your cayman, I have just bought a 2.9 because my previous car was too fast for the road and had to give it a lot to enjoy it more. Do you have a link for your exhaust mod as sounds awesome 👌. Look forward to more videos 👍
Enjoy in good health!
I do have an exhaust video in draft (how to fit + before and after acceleration runs) - I'll finish it one of these days lol...
2.9 with pdk worth a look? Looking at my first Porsche and I’m in love with the 987.2 caymans!
Also great video, watching you take corners with speed and control is so 🤌🤌
@@0xFluke Thanks that's nice to read. I've never actually driven a PDK, it looks like a fantastic gearbox I wish I could have both.... HOWEVER.... Not sure I'd risk a PDK on track, you hear horror stories of them overheating and rebuilds are not easy from what I understand. Manual is simpler and can be rebuilt if anything breaks.
Really depends if you're going to use it hard on track or not.
great work mate. I was with you in the big exhale after the 2nd carousel / 3rd sector...I remember doing the same...its the mental exhaustion I found. Great controlled concentration and rapid smooth pace. How many laps of green hell have you done before this video? It sure is less bumpy on the Playstation!
:)) Thanks Scott. I do remember to breath sometimes, seems to be a common thing I forget though.
Thank you for the kind words, I try to be smooth - but watching this back I can do better in terms of smoothness. In terms of pace I am cautious relative to the car's ability and it's a shame I couldn't keep this car for a few more trips as I'm certain there was a 7:59 in there.
I've done in the region of 50 laps total, and about 50% of those were in my old Clio 80hp diesel lol... (video= ruclips.net/video/Xo8tvPtulCQ/видео.html )
damn, impressive! congrats,
Very kind thank you
You could have grabbed a bottle of milk off that float as it passed you. 😂😂 only taking the mick great drive. I would love to try that once. 👍🏻
By milk float you mean GT3RS ?
Did you enjoy the 2.9? I can’t think of a better next car to my S2000!
2.9 Cayman is a corker, but the 3.4 is a better car - mine just needs a few bits doing (rear suspension arms) before it'll be as tight as the 2.9 I had.
@@pintsizedpistons I understand the 3.4 is 'more' car, however I think I’d enjoy the 2.9 as I won’t get up to silly speeds as quickly! (S2000 isn’t exactly torquey either)
is this one with stock exhaust? sounds good!
Thanks yeah it sounds wicked doesn't it. It's the stock exhaust with decat manifolds.
The seats they seem so cool. Is that original? How much do they cost?
They were a very rare option, more commonly found in 997 GT3 and GT2, they weren't original in my car but I traded my seats (plus some money) with a car a friend saw for sale with them. I recently sold them and replaced with Recaros since I wanted to be a bit lower in the car (and the value was hard to ignore)
@@pintsizedpistons Yeah, absolutely rare to see that in a cayman. Love it
thanks man! they’re very cool seats - probably pinnacle road setup, but for track the position isn’t PERFECT which for how much they’re worth is a shame in my opinion.
hard to ignore how good a package they are for light track use with the perfect seatbelt placement and built in airbags for safety - plus they are very light- about 17kg including sliders. Recaro race seat is a little lighter, but you don’t have airbags or sliders… Always a compromise!
@@pintsizedpistons Thanks for your reply. I just bought a base 987.2. Absolutely wanna change the stock electric seats. They are way too heavy. I'd better go for the recoro which is bang for the buck! Looking for more videos!
@@Qsamscorp Recaros are a safe option for sure! Enjoy your car, loved my 2.9 - such a good engine. You definitely want to get a set of decat downpipes for it ;-)
Could barely hear those tyres working. Drive faster 😉
Think he did well
Thanks man, MarkCup is just hard of hearing lol
Nice lap...that car really sings! What shocks did you run? Cayman R springs and stock Porsche Cayman R shocks? You add sway bars too? Car sounds great!!!
Thanks Ric!
The car is on Cayman R springs, shocks and sway bars although it's only the rear that differs in thickness, front is the same (frankly it's the rear you want to stiffen from stock anyway)
Looking forward to next season!
@@pintsizedpistons I've got an 09 2.9 manual cayman as well. What s the exhaust/ intake you have ....it sounds so good!!! Of course I don't have any place to run WOT for any length of time in the USA without heading to a track. I just love these cars.
is stock cooling system enough for a track? no coolant/oil overheat?
On 2.9L stock cooling system is ok. It gets hot for sure, coolant goes up to 94C when stationary (which suggests oil would be around 105-110) which isn't the target, but nor would I class it as overheating.
I'm getting a 3.4L soon, expect that will want the 3rd radiator but I will try it stock and see how it goes.
Down shift blips automatic?
All me!
Hi, nice drive, I also have a 2.9, what do you think compared to the 3.4, circuit and daily use. ?
Thanks for the message - I think the 2.9 is a better car for enjoying on the road as you can really hammer it for longer, before you're doing high speeds. If you don't care about speed limits so much then of course the 3.4 is the better car.
For me, the main thing is whether you plan to do ANY performance modifications. I had decats on my 2.9 (and it made sense because if I ever switched to 3.4 I could take them with me) but if you start doing remaps, third radiator for track use, additional coolers etc then the extra money for the 3.4 becomes incredible value. If you're happy with keeping it stock and maintaining it then I don't think you can lose with either.
@@pintsizedpistons thank you for your reply! my 2.9 is stock, just a cargraphic exhaust with goud sound and a pedal box , i think i will buy a decats has you ! i follow you :-)
Custom exhaust?
Stock rear system, but a set of these* on the engine... I doubt you'll get a better setup for £900** (plus time spent fitting, gaskets etc)
Actually have a short vid showing the difference I need to upload
* www.topgear.co.uk/porsche-987-2-boxster-cayman-decat-manifolds-headers
** discount code 911uk
Did you fit the “cayman r” bucket seats to this? Looks amazing
Yes the folding buckets from various other Porsches of the era. They are shockingly light in comparison (and look the business)
You bought carbon seats for a 2.9? Brave man.
It was a lovely setup! But I know what you mean - they're in my 3.4 now and feel very appropriate.
@@pintsizedpistons I have a 2.8 bmw. Nothing can be justified because "it could go towards a better car". Yet it is a good drivers car. I envy the americans, they just put LS into anything legaly.