I have a black 2011 987.2 Cayman S and would take an R all day long, even if I've 90-95% of that experience now. On looks alone, the first-generation Cayman is (in my biased opinion) one of the prettiest cars on the road these days - I think the lack of "flair" or "flash" will guarantee it becomes a timeless classic.

Have to agree with the fact that this is a gem of a car. I’ve had mine for 4 years - put ~45K miles on it: ~20 track days, ~20 autox, countless canyon drives, and almost daily driving. With an NA flat-six, manual gearbox with perfect pedal placement, hydraulic PS, LSD, mid-engine balance, light weight, low ride height, and virtually no driving aids, the Cayman R is a pure driver’s car. I’ve made a few minor mods to make it a bit faster around a track, but it’s essentially the same raw, fun to drive car that Porsche intended it to be. Thanks for the review, Magnus!

I feel like these early Cayman's have aged really well. Love the R and the early Boxster Spyder....

I had the 987 Spyder. Possibly the best sports car I've owned. I used and loved it more than my 997.2 GT3 RS. Such a sensual car to drive hard or gently, and without so much power that it needs more discipline than abandon when driving ! ❤

Absolutely adore my 987.1 Cayman. Yes, it has way more chassis than HP, but that's where the magic really is. It begs you to rev it higher, brake later and lets you be so connected to the business of driving. Every last HP is usable and lets your skills shine instead of having gobs too much power, so the theater itself is the nuance of pushing it to the limit versus a 911 where you have more than you need.

I love my R. So fun to drive and own. Gem hidden in plain view.

I bought a Peridot Cayman R new in Feb 2012 and put 67K miles on it in 11.5 years. I really enjoyed putting all those miles on it on mountain roads. Truly a great car. Traded it in and still got 81% of my original purchase price back from the Porsche dealer.

what a beautiful profile this car has. Thank you for sharing.

I love my manual Cayman R, had it almost 2 years now and although I'm looking at buying either a 718 GT4 or a 991.2 GT3, I just can't part with my R so I'll have to keep it. Wish we had Canyon roads like that here in the UK! Looks awsome! Thanks for the review, spot on!

Love for the 987 from Magnus Walker, who knows his Porsches like a book! My first Porsche was a base 987.1 Cayman (2008), not a lot of power (more than my E46 BMW had though), but you could rev it all day on back roads and it cornered like a go kart. It's still a car of choice for PCA Club Racing. I am still surprised to see how rare the R is though, especially with all the GT4's around these days.

Love my Cayman R and happy I bought it when I did. I still enjoy driving it just as much as the first day I bought. My only regret is after watching this video I might not be making a Cayman R Safari car.

I do like Porsche from this era. Have the 987 spyder and the 997 c4s cab. I know newer Porsches are faster, better equipped, etc, but one of the reasons why i like this era is because they are more simplistic. Wouldn't swap either for anything newer, as of yet anyway.

987.2 is absolutely beautiful

Thank you for a nice video. I have a 2012 Cayman R. Love the car 😎

Best looking Porsche ever.

Side profile is magnificent… this design ticks all the boxes

Makes me also reconsider the Cayman. Again 😀

This car is a future classic. One of the best lines on a Porsche and performance is amazing. The steering feel and balance along with the feedback are hard to match. Lotus might be the only thing that really compares.

Love the early morning roll-out

Great car and video. Well done

Every Porsche is a hidden gem for fuck sakes people are collecting first gen cayennes now.

Love the Cayman R, is a real future classic sleeper, so overlooked. My RS60 Spyder shares similar DNA and drives epic. Good old hydro steering, 10mm lower springs, manual, PSE, PASM, 3.4L, no cover over the clocks, just epic.

RENNLIST stats show 563 Cayman R came to the US. I have a Turbo S and a Cayman R in the Launch color of Peridot (green) I would sell the Turbo S and keep the Cayman R. Much more involved to drive, better-sounding engine, wraps around you, better feeling seats. So it really is not at all about speed. Brilliant little nugget.

Love my manual base 987 so much I decided to change my daily driver to a Macan S. Missed an opportunity to snag an R a couple of years ago before the price started shooting up. Owning a Porsche is such a rewarding experience if you like driving simply for the joy of driving.

I have 192k miles on my 987.2 cayman S. Bought it in 2019 and it’s been such a great car since.

Amazing video, Magnus. Happy to see the Cayman in the spotlight. I love my gen 1 cayman and I have the base 2.7 engine with the 5-speed manual in black. I think it’s a gorgeous car, especially in non-metallic black. It’s definitely not fast, but a pleasure to drive. It feels very mechanical, very analog. If you put in some work in the suspension to lower it and space the wheels so that it looks more planted, then the design comes alive. There’s nothing like waking up early on a Saturday morning, cold-starting it, and going for a drive on empty roads, just listening to the engine at your back. Great video.

Started out looking at 987.1 then found out about the 9A1 engine upgrade and went to 987.2 but in the end I just saved up a bigger down and got a 981 BS. Sensational cars all. I daily my Boxster S with PDKand when it’s paid off I’m getting a 981 Spyder with 6M. You can’t beat a mid engine Porsche, pure enjoyment in a durable reliable package

❤😂😢😮😊 manus I hope you do get a Cayman keep up with your collection and you do damn good work peace brother take care

Iconic overload 😂

Love my cayman r...sold the kremer you looked at in fort lauderdale but never the R

Ive owned one for over 4 years, it’s an awesome car, i dailyed it for a year and its long since been a garage queen. A tiny bit more power would have been perfect you feel the chasis would take 400bhp and be a touch more lively and fun for it. It’s a shame porche didn’t give it the full fat 3.8 my main issue is the cost to upgrade 981 30k plus more just seems such a huge amount. When I think I have to hand this great car over with all that money. I think the production numbers quoted were a little out, there is just over 200 in the U.K. alone so not sure it’s quite as limited production run as suggested, I’ve only ever seen one other on the road in 4 plus years though!

I recall seeing a green 987 R back in the day..... I may be misremembering but (at least the one I saw) had a limited split differential and a slightly smaller fuel tank to both aid handling and reduce weight. Wikipedia at the time of writing says 1,621 Cayman R's were made worldwide with 220 for the UK market. Whether or not that is correct I know not, but I can well imagine a good half of that production number going to North America. I agree that the styling is far more voluptuous both in the rear quarter, air intake and front headlights than the much lauded GT4 which came later.

A “Coop” is something you keep chickens in, just saying, carry on. 😊

Thanks for the ride. Always awesome.

Cool

I've been lucky enough to have a Platinum Silver Cayman R, sat on Ohlins with a GT3 master break cylinder for the last 2 years, I love it, it's sublime to drive. However I have an itch for a 911 that wont go away and looking at a 997.1 S (was going to get a 997.2 for the DFI engine and the safety that offers, but I think the general consensus is the earlier engine has more soul) But I can't help think I will regret selling the R. Especially now Magnus has done this video. These cars are hugely undervalued. All the small tweaks Porsche made to this car make a BIG difference to a standard S.

Purchased my .2 S in 2013. After 10 years of ownership only has 28k miles. I need to drive it more.

I may be biased in having one, but I would say that the 987.1 S Sport was the precursor to the R and was actually the first performance cayman (above S). It (at 303hp) had 10 more horsepower than the 987.1 S just like how the R had 10 more horsepower than the 987.2 S. It came with better suspension, press colors were the same orange and green from the 997.1 3RS, and had a bunch of other little changes that made it better than the standard .1s, and It was numbered limited production too, only 700 made worldwide each example numbered with a plaque on the glove box. I drive number 520.

very nice magnus remember Tokyooutraw?

Sumptuous curved rear fenders and rear side windows are a nod to the gorgeous Volvo 1800 as per Pinky Lai, Porsche Boxster/ Cayman chief designer.

Cayman R and 981 GT4 are peak Cayman

Loved the Mickey Mouse voiceover at the beginning

I'm so glad all of the Cayman R owners are sharing their agreeance that this is a good car.... I would have never guessed they felt that way

Just as I was about to buy one of these, this hobo has to come and ruin the market. Thanks!

A Cayman S is not a Cayman R or a 987.2 Spyder for that matter - It’s been recognised from the launches of both cars that the end result of the changes to the R and Spyder deliver a very different and involving driving experience. That’s not to say the S is bad it’s just that those changes to the R and Spyder lift those cars to a place and set of capabilities that’s quite rare and as latter cars get fatter is something people are realising is quite special and only found in other cars if you are spending serious money and even then the R and Spyder beats them on everyday enjoyment - I like the quote from Evo magazine in 2020 when the retested a 987.2 Spyder which they gave 5 stars, the summary was ‘I’m not convinced I’ve enjoyed another Porsche more'. Think about that in the context of all the great Porsches that have come to market since the R and original Spyder were launched!

Cool car. Based on Cayman S, with 10 more HP, slightly modiffied exhaust (bigger diametre pipes), aluminium doors from 997 turbo, LSD as standard (rare option on 987), many had bucket seats, bigger fixed wing, lighter wheels, same brakes as S, around 15% stiffer and lower springs (-20mm vs standard suspension and -10mm vs sport suspension), different shocks, bigger diametre rear anti-roll bar and some visual changes. Probably forgot something. 987 generation's front was quite similar to 997, including the same doors and the biggest difference is that is has slightly longer wheel base (although has only two seats) and the engine and gearbox compared to 911 is rotated by 180 degrees and moved forward. I have 987.2 base Cayman with Cayman R suspension, track biased alignment, third center radiator, GT3 brake ducts and some other minor mods and I love how that car handles on race track - had 7 track days with it this year and many weekend drives through local twisty roads.

This is much more of a Cayman video than an R video. The interesting thing to hear would have been the difference (or perhaps lack of) between the R and the S

Don’t forget lack of aircon but I really like this in Peridot Green. There’s 2 for sale in Australia for around AU$138,000

I love mine. Did you buy one?!

I would like to see magnus his transaxle collection😎

❤😂😢😮😅😊 I love that came in. I wish I had one keep up the good work Mangus take care peace I won’t see any more videos until Christmas. Have a merry Christmas and happy new year buddy buddy keep up the good work and I know you do cause I like the OPP.

Most of the things Magnus Walker loves about a Cayman R are included in every 987 Cayman and they made a whole lot more Cayman and Cayman S than the 5-600 that they made of the 987 . I'd love to see what magnus would do with a ratty cayman.... Come on Magnus you know you want a Cayman!!!

Great video Magnus. I have a 2018 718 Cayman S with Sport Crono Pack chipped to 400BHP and I love it. If you remember I told you all about in when I met you in LA last year. You have to get a Cayman in your collection, you will not regret it.

Magnus … how tall are you? Any issues fitting in a Cayman?

Still pulling $70k

I love how they captured the gas cap click!

I have one and would never sell it ❤

What were the cars that didn’t live up to your expectations Magnus 😮

You ok Magnus? Your voice seems a bit 'off'. Hope so ✌️

Did Magnus put regular unleaded in his buddy’s R?

gg

Kinda weird how the Cayman rotates better being a mid-engine chassis, just bringing the engine closer to the center where the driver is at, makes it a lot more precise, sharp and nimble, but some how the rear engine 911 beats it being shorter wheelbase, wider and with better design

Definitely not a hidden gem. These have sold for a large premium on the market for a long time, though they're not significantly better then a cayman S.

Small’s K. O.

I feel like I watched the video three times by the eight minute mark couldn’t stand the next six minutes Most of your videos are great because they entail historical content It’s also nice that you’re finally featuring a car that’s acceptable to more people but there doesn’t seem to be much to say about this car other than that it’s a derivative of the boxster and weighs under 3000 pounds What is fundamentally different in the way that someone can’t turn their Cayman into an r? How do they achieve the lightness? I love how people talk about how few could be sold as though it’s the defining virtue Like the widebody non turbo 964 and 993 Created to move the remaining chassis out of inventory

That rear spoiler needs to be bigger. That wings looks like a killer whale tail on a humpback whale.

I’m happy with my 987.1 with mods below and will never look back at other cayman models. It’s a one hell of a drive in the backroad and the tracks here in northern CA. 1. B16 Bilstein Damptronics for PASM 2. DSC Suspension Control Module with 3 axis accelerometer 3. Remus race exhaust 4. BMC air filter 5. GT3 brake ducts 6. IPD Plenum and 997 GT3 Throttle Body 7. Tarett UnderDrive Pulley Kit 8. FVD Brombacher Motorsports Oil Pan w/ X51 Baffles 9. OEM 3rd radiator kit 10. Beru coil packs 11. RSS tarmac Lower Control Arms 12. Sparco QRT-C seats 13. Schroth GT4 four point harness 14. RSS harness bar 15. Pagid Yellow pads 16. EVOMsiT ECU calibration 17. 997 GT3 short shifter kit 18. Acrylic clear engine cover 19. Volk wheel 19 lbs 20. Serbo disk brakes 21. Rennline Front Strut Brace 22. Rennline Track Mat Floor Covers 23. Raceseng circuit cylinder shift knob 24. 10 pound battery 25. Driven XP racing oil every year change. 26. Motul 600 brake fluid 27. Motorsports AOS

2:00 er...it`s a "boxster".

Hidden gem? NO... sadly not. Here on the used market the R model cost 2-3 times more then the base model with same engine and same power.

I've been a fan of Magnus for a long time but I wish he would ditch the sing-song-y vocal cadence that he uses to narrate these videos. I feel like a voice coach steered him in the wrong direction or something. Natural is better.

Is it not correct to say that the Cayman S is 3.4L is 295 hp and the R is 330 hp ???

😁mmmmm

The Cayman R has the cool factor. However, for those on a budget, a very similar driving experience can be found in the 987.2 Cayman S for 25k less. Maybe the S is the true hidden gem?

Hmmm for me it’s an almost car, very nice, but shy of greatness. More interesting and special was the Spyder of that generation. As always with the Cayman, for similar money you can buy a 911 which will always be more soulful to drive, in part because of its imperfections.

PDK on R dies on a racetrack because diff has no cooling (added in 981)

The brakes are not BIG hahaha!!

Production numbers for the Cayman R are miles out. Porsche made 1,621, not 621. And there's nothing "race" about the Cayman R. It has very slight stiffer springs and dampers, a very slightly thicker rear roll bar, plus aluminium doors. And that's it.

The R is beautiful minis the awful Batman wing. Much classier without the wing and unless you are tracking it, the wing is unnecessary

8:45 someone ran out of talent

Perhaps the most over rated porsche ever. For sure the most over rated cayman ever by far

It was influenced by the 718RSK… what is he talking about?? FFS, they actually changed the numerical designation to 718…. Sigh

The best 30-40k you will spend

Meh. I think the first gen cayman are a bit ugly.

There's nothing "hidden" about it. Its price is outrageous.

Bore scoring eol akways plauge the collectibility

Sorry…not a fan of these early cayman models.

stop manipulating the used car market.

Not air cooled - not interested

R stands for redundant. It's a bit of a scam, actually. For example, they made it "lighter" by reducing the fuel tank capacity😂. I can do that by filling mine only to half. Anytime I wish. If you start with a Cayman S, you can upgrade it to the same performance or better, depending on your taste. Just a mapping will get you 10hp extra, and if you need an engine rebuild anyway, it can add .5 liters to be 3.9. Yes, the R is a "classic". Only because it's rare. Kind of like an Edsel...

I've had my 2011 987.2 Cayman S since 2019 and I love driving it every day. It has not gotten old. the .2 S is very close the the R, 10hp extra, a little lighter, and a little stiffer. Such great cars. Would still have an R if it was in my price range. So excellent!!

The R is beautiful minis the awful Batman wing. Much classier without the wing and unless you are tracking it, the wing is unnecessary