Chapter 1 · Cayman · by HBi Auto
Buying a 987 Cayman (2006–2012)
The 987 brought the Cayman coupe in 2006.
The 987 brought the Cayman coupe in 2006. Like the 997, the 2009 update (987.2) moved to direct-injection engines with no intermediate shaft and offered PDK.
The Cayman R and Boxster Spyder are the enthusiast versions.
- 987.1 engines
- 2.7 / 3.2 / 3.4
- 987.2 engines
- Direct-injection 2.9 / 3.4
- Gearboxes
- Manual, Tiptronic, then PDK
- Buy for
- Light, balanced and affordable
911 Tracker does not follow this generation yet, so this page has no market numbers. HBi Auto can price one for you directly.
What to look for
IMS bearing (987.1)
As on the 997.1; the 987.2 does not have it.
Bore scoring
Check with a borescope on 987.1 cars.
Coolant system
Radiators and the expansion tank.
Maintenance schedule
Maintenance planner
Pick the car, enter its miles and model year: the planner shows what is due now, the next services and the full schedule, whichever comes first, miles or years.
| What is done | 20k | 40k | 60k | 80k | 100k | 120k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filterEvery 20,000 mi, 2 yr · Single source · The factory interval when new | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Brake fluidEvery 2 yr · Porsche US | ||||||
| Spark plugsEvery 60,000 mi, 4 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ||||
| Engine air filtersEvery 40,000 mi, 4 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Manual gearbox oilEvery 120,000 mi, 12 yr · Porsche US | ● |
Boxster & Cayman (987.1), 2005–2008: what is done, version by version
Not verified yet: Drive belt, Tiptronic fluid and cabin filter intervals.
Confidence: Medium-low. Sources: 1, 2.
Full table: Boxster & Cayman (987.2), 2009–2012, every 10,000 miles
| What is done | 10k | 20k | 30k | 40k | 50k | 60k | 70k | 80k | 90k | 100k | 110k | 120k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filterEvery 10,000 mi, 1 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Inspection: lights, brakes, tires, leaks, fault memory, test driveEvery 20,000 mi, 2 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Cabin (pollen) filterEvery 20,000 mi, 2 yr · Porsche US · Changed at the 20,000-mile inspection | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Brake fluidEvery 2 yr · Porsche US | ||||||||||||
| Spark plugsEvery 40,000 mi, 4 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Engine air filtersEvery 40,000 mi, 4 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Drive beltEvery 60,000 mi, 6 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| PDK clutch fluidEvery 60,000 mi, 6 yr · Porsche US | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Manual gearbox oilEvery 120,000 mi, 12 yr · Porsche US | ● | |||||||||||
| PDK / automatic transmission oilEvery 120,000 mi, 12 yr · Porsche US | ● | |||||||||||
| Tire sealant (if fitted)Every 4 yr · Porsche US |
Not verified yet: Cabin filter interval.
Confidence: Medium. Sources: 1, 2.
Intervals are whichever comes first, miles or years. "Porsche factory (converted from km)" means Porsche's own figure for another market, turned into miles with the same km-to-mile pairing Porsche uses in the US. Your car's own maintenance booklet is the final word. HBi Auto's recommendations for cars that are tracked, driven hard or stored are being added by our service team.
The 111-point checklist: 987 Cayman
HBi Auto's full 111-point inspection, the same list our technicians sign on every car we certify. Tick as you go; your ticks stay on this device. Print it, or download the blank form (PDF) and take it to your inspection.
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The buying process
Find and price it
Compare the car with what the same model actually sold for, adjusted for miles, options and records.
Ask the right questions
Who serviced it, why it is for sale, any accidents or paintwork, and can you see every record before you travel.
Inspect it
A specialist pre-purchase inspection, paid by you, reported to you.
Agree the deal
Price, what is fixed before delivery, deposit terms and a written bill of sale.
Pay safely and ship it
Wire only to a verified account, never on instructions that arrive by email alone. Ship enclosed for anything rare or valuable.
Dealers we trust
Independent Porsche specialists we know and buy from.
Written by the 911 Buyers and HBi Auto team in Mocksville, NC. Market numbers come from 911 Tracker's VIN-checked US sales and say what they are based on; maintenance intervals say where each one comes from. This course is general information, not an inspection, an appraisal or legal or tax advice.