Cayman 981 vs 987 Dimensional Comparisons

[Motorhead]

Here's an interesting comparison between the new and old cars:

http://www.planet-9.com/news-items/82702-tale-tape-does-981-measure-up-987-a.html

The increased rear boot depth, and the reduced height above the engine deck in particular, confirm my intial impressions when I viewed the new car at the launch. The poster makes the point that the increased deck height above the engine could be to create space to allow Porsche to install a taller engine and suggests, perhaps, a turbo-4 or even a GT3 flat-6 with a taller intake system. Who knows, but food for thought anyway.!

Jeff

 

[Buddy]

I had a new Cayman S for an extended test drive recently and the one time it felt bigger was reversing into my single garage due to it being wider in the middle. The problem being that my garage like many others has buttresses along the sides so when I reverse in I swing the front of my 987 to the left but this new car being wider at that point... it was inches off but not enough to position the car lined up straight unless I left the rear further to the right. The best alternative I can come up with is to build a bay on one side of the garage with the access door in it as it's something of a squeeze to get in or out.

 

[dereksharpuk]

My 981 slides in very easily. One reason why I sold the Ferrari 430 Spider. Too big. But not the only reason []

 

[chrisH]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Here's an interesting comparison between the new and old cars: http://www.planet-9.com/news-items/82702-tale-tape-does-981-measure-up-987-a.html The increased rear boot depth, and the reduced height above the engine deck in particular, confirm my intial impressions when I viewed the new car at the launch. The poster makes the point that the increased deck height above the engine could be to create space to allow Porsche to install a taller engine and suggests, perhaps, a turbo-4 or even a GT3 flat-6 with a taller intake system. Who knows, but food for thought anyway.! Jeff

Jeff, This is rather revealing article and not in-keeping with my experience of it feeling like a bigger car. Acknowledge the reduced height above the engine deck but this has not proved to be a problem as I only use it for storing jackets and papers. On the other hand the rear storage being deeper is more useful even though it's no wider. Seated inside it feels more roomy and the driving position is ideal and has more legroom to stretch out. There are no oddments trays except for a tiny box in the centre console so you have to use the rear centre console, glove box or door storage. The sports seats are a lot better in every way than the standard seats in my 987.2 and well worth the small extra cost.

 

[PaulJ]

For what it's worth I took a tape measure over to the dealers as I was concerned about the width over the door mirrors. With the help of a staff member we measured 197cm over the generation 3 car and 195cm over my Cayman R, (my 5th Porsche - 3 x Boxster and 2 x Cayman). On another issue I bought three (non-Porsche) fitted cases for the first Boxster and they have been in use ever since. I will try to get the same luggage into the new car when I borrow one to test, but looking at it, my gut feeling is that the rear luggage compartment is way smaller and less practical. That said I do like the look of the new model, and my only other doubts are the ridiculous new parking brake and decision to adopt an inferior steering system to achieve an immeasurable improvement in fuel useage. All things cosidered the new car has some ground to make up to prise me out of the Cayman R when the time comes.

 

[chrisH]

Paul. Having had a Cayman Gen 2 I comfirm the rear boot space is deeper than the previous model. On the other points the new handbrake is OK once you get used to it and has hill-hold assist and seems to release when you drive-off any way. I agree with you about the steering and stop/ start for that matter, so much redesign effort for no change in fuel consumption in the real world. You do get used to the start/stop although it is alarming (and to passengers) that at every traffic light the engine dies, it does restart very quickly. The electric steering makes the turn-in feel very numb in my experience and that has spoiled the go-kart-like road holding of the Gen 2 for me, it all feels a bit woolly now. On the other hand it has very handsome styling in the main ( apart from those huge air intakes just waiting to suck in stones to puncture the rads) and is more comfortable and quieter, but seems more of a GT than sports car, IMO. Intereting to hear what you think, try to find a manual demo car as it is great and well worth trying before you get sucked into the defacto PDK choice which salesman assume you will go for. Chris

 

[PaulJ]

Thanks for the insight Chris. Nottingham Porsche are well aware that I only drive manual 'box cars as I turned down a free day in a PDK Cayman R before I took delivery of my manual R! I explained that one day (hopefully in the distant future) my last road trip will be in a manual 'box hearse, as I wouldn't want to be seen dead in an auto!

 

[Motorhead]

Paul, It seems as though you, Chris and I are among the current 20% of (new) Porsche owners who stilll prefer to shift the gears manually rather than rely upon the impressive electronic wizardry of modern dual-clutch auto 'boxes. What's the betting that inside 10 years you won't be able to source a manual 'box because the manufacturers deem the take-up too low to warrant it? On the plus side, it could make manual 'box cars more desirable and, perhaps, collectable in the future. Sadly we're also seeing the demise of the manual handbrake, to be substituted by the infernal electronic variety which shouldn't have any place in a proper sports-car in my opinion. One of the consequences of Porsche trickling down the electrical achitecture from their biggest seller, the Cayenne, I suppose for cost reasons and much less important for PDK-equipped cars too. Jeff

 

[John H]

I was genuinely surprised when I parked my Cayman up against a new one. I had expected the new one to dwarf my car, but it almost seemed the other way around. Notice how the windscreen in the new car is much smaller, which visually makes the car seem smaller, even though it's not.