Episode 39 of Friends Green Porsche Prep Book features a pair of Porsche Cayman 981 S', firstly following their sales preparation work in the FGP workshop, and then exploring which gearbox is best, the 6-speed manual, or the 7-speed PDK.
I continue to be so impressed by your work ethic, knowledge and in depth preparation of your cars. If I was in the market for an “older” car (current 992 owner) I would have no hesitation buying from you and using you for service. I have recommended you to a 996 friend. You so deserve to succeed. Don’t ever change except to get even better. Well done guys.
Glad to see you feature the 981. My own manual 2.7 had a leaking shock at 17k miles too. OPC didn’t seem to think it was unusual. Took the opportunity to upgrade to x73. Was a good move
A great car. Typically saw this video, went straight to the website to find out the details and cost with the hope of purchase and the car has been snapped up already! Not surprised. A great, fun everyday sports car!
I had a manual car with a very stiff racing clutch a long time ago. Commuting was not fun. Now that I don't have to commute I'd take the manual. I love 6 gear manual boxes. Most are smooth and fun. That Cayman would be my ideal car.
Really enjoyed that video yer manual for me only because of track days. Other wise PDK is as good as it gets . If ya can afford it have both. Ha ha . Good show keep up the good work boys…
Interesting video. Im hoping to save up and start looking for a 981 cayman id say in the next year. Manual or pdk was my question. Im used to manual myself and find it more engaging compared to a auto which is good for cruising but also the flappy pads may add that sense or engagement which is why im stuck at which gearboxes to go for 😅
I love this channel! I’d go manual, I’m not a fan of the PDK manual shifters on the wheel, much prefer when they are paddles behind the wheel. Not that I’ve experienced either of them mind… Question for anyone with experience or in the know, has there ever been bore scoring issues on the 981? I’ve read/viewed content that the 987 can suffer it
In the Cayman range bore scoring only affected 987 generation, 987.2 Porsche rectified the problem of bore scoring, the 987.2 and the 981 have the same engine with DFI (2.9 base did not have DFI ). There are no reported record of bore scoring in both the 987.2 or 981 generation of Porsche.
Hi Oliver, Thanks for your thoughts. They’re both great gearboxes. The PDK has certainly improved the automatic option relative to the previous Tiptronic transmission We’ve never encounter a 981 generation with bore scoring.
I'm a manual die hard, but for track days I'd actually want PDK. Manual is great for adding involvement on the road where, realistically, you're not absolutely on the car's limit. On track, you can be on the limit and there's plenty to do managing the grip and balance. Manual just gets in the way.
Unless you're racing for time or money the manual is still the more engaging transmission on the track than a PDK is. PDK is faster but the point of a track day is enjoyment. A lot of us enjoy a manual both road and track.
@@wymotome Yeah, I really don't think it is. By way of example, I spent a day driving a 991 Cup car, a 996 R, and a 993 Cup car at Silverstone GP. Like I said, I wouldn't go near an auto box for the road, but on track I don't find manual more engaging. I couldn't care less about laptimes, but on track paddle shift allows you to push harder and put all your brain bandwidth into carrying more apex speed, braking later, managing the mass of the vehicle. That's what is thrilling on track. Shifting is not thrilling. On the road, I absolutely adore manual shifting, the tactility, the involvement and engagement. I'd never want to give that up. But track drive is so different, it needs different tools.
I have a left knee jury and simply can’t use a manual in traffic, so a PDK is my choice for my 981 GTS - it is everything that I could want in a sports car and it does not compromise driver engagement in my opinion.
I have owned both cars, the 981S (3.4) and 981 Base (2.7). Having driven both the entry-level model being fitted with a 2.7-litre flat six with 271bhp and 214lb ft. Its fair to say it may be a little flatter below 4500rpm but these flat 6 cars rev out much higher and the car will sing to you, it’s by no means a poor relation to faster versions, still more than fast enough, and soul-stirring when you rev it out on a country road - which, really, is the whole point! Look long and hard for a well optioned 981 (2.7) and you can't go wrong - PDK is amazing and faster gear changes than you will ever manage in a manual, but go manual if you want to feel more connected with the driver input. You can and will lose your license just as easily in a 981 (2.7) on UK roads and I can also tell you that the 0-62 times are negligible, when you are out together with an 981S owner, you will not be blown away by them leaving you in their tracks - naturally you will be if its a 981 GT4 (3.8), 718 GTS/GT4 (4.0) which all have crazy power. Get a 981 with Sport Chrono and PDK and it will absolutely keep pace with a 981S without Chrono/PDK. Don't be fooled into thinking it has to be a 981S. That said, go for what your budget affords you, you will not be disappointed with any Cayman, of any generation. And finally, I am a firm believer that when the Governments of the day decide to start pressuring us to go EV, the taxes and other disincentives will be hitting hard on all other models, the 981 base (2.7) could very well be the one to have. Kills me to say it, as a recent buyer of a Cayman 4.0 GTS - I am not as convinced as many that the larger engine variants will be as valuable as they are in todays market come the changes to EV becoming more widespread and enforced by governments.
@@jodymason5166 many thanks for your time writing such a comprehensive response. I used to own a 2007 987 2.7 manual (which was great for me) and am thinking about buying another boxster or Cayman. With all that is going on with the economy I will likely continue to wait for maybe 4 or 5 months when hopefully the market will have cooled. Like you say running larger capacity cars is most likely only going to get more expensive so I will likely go for either a 987.2 2.9 or a 981 2.7... just need to test drive a 981 as not experienced electric power steering. Cayman 4.0 GTS must be amazing fella.
@@robertmaddock1813 GTS 4.0 is lovely for sure, always easy to get swept away by the romance of a new car. But I must say, that comparing the price of the new GTS to my previous 981 2.7 Base and I cannot honestly say that I enjoy it more than double - if that makes sense. Pretty much cost me double and I don't get any more enjoyment out of it, aside from it simply being new. A 987/981 base will give you every bit of enjoyment that you need. Downt be swayed (as I was) into splashing lots more cash to keep up with the Jones's!
You should prob be careful having the speedo readout on the vids....! Don't have a Cayman but the blue one def my preference! Weird the 991 7 speed is bigger spaced gears than the 6 speed Cayman...
Hi Iain, We use “Mahle”, who recently bought out “Hella”. These are the OEM supplier. We use OEM suppliers on all components throughout the cars. I hope this helps.
That engine absolutely needs the PDK and if you’ve got sports chrono the engine Rev matches All the powers up top so keeping it on power the PDK just keeps it up there…you physically can’t change gear that quickly I’ve got a 981 S PDK previous had a E92 M3 DCT…I’ll definitely not be going back to manual I understand owners wanting manual but that PDK box literally reads what I want next at each corner …and btw, the sports button isn’t an option they all have that button, the sports plus button is the option (chrono)
Hi Johnny, If you want pure performance, then the PDK is the better option, but cars have progressed so much in recent years, that a lot of people / enthusiasts are less concerned with the top trumps performance stats, and just want a sports car that’s fun to drive. For that, they want to be in charge of the way the car’s driving, by, for example, doing some good old fashioned heel and toeing to rev match, and not having the gearbox read what they want in corners. This is just my two cents… thanks for watching. Luke, FGP
PDK versus manual makes zero difference on the road re speed. The driver willing to carry more speed and break the speed limit more extensively will be faster. The end.
@@flat6croc if you drive slowly it makes no difference. If you want maximum performance, PDK is the answer. Everyone knows it. Take a look at track lap times.
@@BubuBarong What are you talking about? What do track lap times have to do with road driving? Absolutely nothing. If a person in the manual car is willing to do 150mph on a public road but the person in the PDK car is only willing to do the speed limit, please explain how the PDK car will be faster? Like I said, in reality on the road, the faster car will be the one where the driver is willing to hit the higher speed. The gearbox makes no difference to that. On the road, a crazy person in a manual car will be way faster than a very careful person in PDK. And vice versa.
Glad to see you feature the 981. My own manual 2.7 had a leaking shock at 17k miles too. OPC didn’t seem to think it was unusual. Took the opportunity to upgrade to x73. Was a good move
