Porsche Cayman 987 Performance Parts & Tuning Mods
Find compatible performance parts for the Porsche Cayman 987, from ultimate styling modifications and power gaining hardware to handling upgrades from the world's leading performance brands.
154 parts available for the Cayman 987.
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Expert Advice & Workshop
Popular Mods for Porsche Cayman 987
The Porsche Cayman 987 is the sweet spot in Stuttgart’s mid-engined line up, bringing classic Porsche balance with a more focused, driver-first feel than many of its bigger brothers. With a revvy flat-six, sharp steering and that compact chassis, it is a seriously capable road and occasional track toy straight out of the box. It is no surprise the 987 Cayman has a strong following in the tuning and club motorsport scene. Owners love how well it responds to sensible mods and performance upgrades, from exhausts and intakes to coilovers and brake packages.
Most Porsche Cayman 987 owners start with simple breathing mods, so an upgraded panel filter or intake kit plus a performance exhaust are usually first on the list. These tuning parts sharpen throttle response, add a bit of horsepower and torque, and give the flat-six a louder, richer sound without ruining everyday drivability. A sensible ECU remap to suit these upgrades can tidy up power delivery and make the car feel keener across the rev range. From there, the tuning journey often moves into more serious performance enhancements. On the naturally aspirated cars that usually means manifolds, sports cats, and more track-focused coilovers and brakes. For those chasing big gains, properly engineered turbo or supercharger kits with supporting intercoolers, fuelling upgrades, and clutch improvements can deliver a substantial step up in power, as long as the work is mapped and installed by someone who knows Caymans inside out.
Top Brands For Porsche Cayman 987 Mods
The Porsche Cayman 987 is well supported by a strong line-up of premium aftermarket brands. Below you will find leading names offering proven tuning upgrades, handling kits and motorsport-focused performance parts developed specifically to unlock more from your Cayman.
Exterior Styling Upgrades for Porsche Cayman 987
To sharpen the look of your Porsche Cayman 987, you can pick from a range of exterior styling upgrades including body kits, spoilers, splitters, diffusers and custom grilles. Whether you want a clean OEM+ vibe or a more aggressive track-inspired presence, these visual mods help your Cayman stand out from the crowd.
Porsche Cayman 987 Handling & Suspension Upgrades
The Porsche Cayman 987 is already sharp, but a few choice mods really wake up its agility. Start with premium performance tyres and uprated brake pads and fluid, as the factory setup can get a bit hot and vague on hard road or track use. Stickier rubber instantly improves grip and cornering confidence, while better pads and braided lines give you a firmer pedal and more consistent stopping power. Next, look at suspension tuning. Quality lowering springs or a matched coilover kit will reduce roll and tighten up response without ruining road comfort if you choose sensibly. The 987 can feel a touch safe and understeery from the factory, so stiffer anti roll bars, fresh performance bushes and a proper geometry setup help it rotate more keenly while staying stable at high speed. Add a front or rear strut brace for extra chassis stiffness and you get a more precise, playful feel in every bend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best first performance mods for a Porsche Cayman 987?
For most Cayman 987 owners, the sweet spot for first upgrades is a quality cat-back exhaust, a panel or intake upgrade, and fresh performance pads and brake fluid. You will get a nicer soundtrack, a bit more throttle response and braking that matches spirited road or track use.
From there, look at suspension tuning. Uprated springs and dampers or a decent coilover kit transform how the 987 turns in and puts power down, without ruining the ride if you choose sensibly.
Can a Porsche Cayman 987 remap give big power gains?
The Cayman 987 is naturally aspirated, so an ECU remap on its own will not add huge horsepower. You can expect small but noticeable gains in torque and mid-range response, plus sharper throttle behaviour and smoother power delivery.
The best results come when you combine a remap with breathing mods, such as a freer flowing exhaust, sport cats and an improved intake. Together, these upgrades allow the tuner to make the most of the engine while keeping reliability in check.
Will performance tuning affect the reliability of my Cayman 987?
Done properly with quality parts, sensible mapping and regular servicing, most common mods on a Cayman 987 are very reliable. Porsche built these engines and drivetrains with a fair amount of headroom for spirited driving.
Issues usually come from cheap components, poor fitting, or skipping maintenance. If you are increasing the car’s performance, stay on top of oil changes, cooling system health, coil packs and plugs, and make sure any ECU tuning is from a reputable Porsche specialist.
What suspension upgrades work best on a Cayman 987 for fast road and occasional track use?
For a mixed road and track Cayman 987, a quality set of coilovers or matched springs and dampers, combined with upgraded anti-roll bars, makes a big difference. You will get tighter body control, better steering feel and more confidence on the limit.
Pair that with a proper geometry setup, including camber and toe adjustments, and you will feel more benefit than from raw power upgrades alone. On a 987, chassis tuning is where the car really comes alive.
What wheel and tyre fitment works well on a tuned Porsche Cayman 987?
The Cayman 987 responds well to lightweight alloys with a sensible width and offset. Most owners stick with 18 or 19 inch wheels, using performance tyres to keep grip consistent on road and track.
Going too wide can hurt steering feel and ride, so it is worth chatting to us about offsets and tyre sizes that suit your suspension mods, ride height and intended use. The right rims and rubber combo will improve traction, braking and feedback without ruining daily usability.
Is it worth upgrading the brakes on a lightly tuned Cayman 987?
Even on a stock car, brake upgrades are one of the most worthwhile mods, especially if you drive hard or do track days. Performance pads, high temperature brake fluid and quality discs significantly improve consistency and pedal feel.
If you are running stickier tyres or regular circuit work, consider braided lines and possibly a big brake kit on the front. Better brakes do not add power, but they let you use the performance you already have, more often and more safely.
How much should I budget to start modifying my Cayman 987 sensibly?
As a rough guide, a sensible starter package of exhaust, intake, pads, fluid and basic suspension upgrades can sit in the low to mid four-figure range, fitted. Costs move up as you add higher end coilovers, big brake kits and more involved engine tuning.
The best approach is to plan an upgrade path based on how you use the car. Talk to us about your goals and budget, and we can recommend a staged list of mods that makes sense, rather than bolting on random parts that do not work together.
Porsche Cayman 987 Alloy Wheels & Rims
- Production years: Porsche Cayman 987 built from 2005 to 2012, covering 987.1 (2005–2008) and 987.2 (2009–2012)
- Layout: Mid‑engined, rear‑wheel drive (RWD) 2‑seat coupe
- Engine type: Naturally aspirated 6‑cylinder 24‑valve horizontally opposed (flat‑six) petrol
- Base Cayman 987.1 (2005–2008): 2.7 litre flat‑six, approx. 245 PS (242 bhp) at 6,500 rpm, around 273 Nm at 4,600 rpm
- Base Cayman 987.2 (2009–2012): 2.9 litre flat‑six, approx. 265 PS (261 bhp) at 7,200 rpm, around 300 Nm at 4,400 rpm
- Cayman S 987.1 (2005–2008): 3.4 litre flat‑six, approx. 295 PS (291 bhp) at 6,250 rpm, around 340 Nm at 4,400 rpm
- Cayman S 987.2 (2009–2012): 3.4 litre direct injection flat‑six, approx. 320 PS (316 bhp) at 7,200 rpm, around 370 Nm at 4,750 rpm
- Transmissions: 5‑speed manual (early base models), 6‑speed manual, 5‑speed Tiptronic S auto (987.1), 7‑speed PDK dual‑clutch (987.2)
- 0–62 mph (approx.): base Cayman 987.1 around 6.1 seconds, 987.2 2.9 around 5.7 seconds, Cayman S 987.1 around 5.4 seconds, Cayman S 987.2 around 5.2 seconds (depending on gearbox and spec)
- Top speed (approx.): base Cayman 987.1 around 160 mph, 987.2 2.9 around 165 mph, Cayman S 987.1 around 171 mph, Cayman S 987.2 around 172 mph
- Kerb weight: typically around 1,320 to 1,410 kg depending on model and options
- Chassis and suspension: Porsche mid‑engine platform with MacPherson struts front and rear, ideal for suspension tuning and track‑focused setups
- Brakes: Ventilated discs all round, larger diameter and 4‑piston calipers on Cayman S versions
- Steering: Hydraulic power‑assisted rack and pinion, widely praised for feedback and precision
Cayman 987 Platform Specs & Compatibility
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- Model generation: Porsche Cayman 987, first generation, produced from 2005 to 2012 (model years 2006–2012)
- Layout: Mid engined, rear wheel drive sports coupé based on the 987 Boxster platform
- Engine type: Naturally aspirated flat six (horizontally opposed 6 cylinder), water cooled
- 987.1 Cayman 2.7 (2006–2008): 2.7 litre flat six, approx. 2687 cc, engine code family M97.20
- Power (987.1 2.7): 245 PS (242 bhp) at around 6,500 rpm, approx. 273 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm
- Performance (987.1 2.7): 0–62 mph in around 6.1 seconds (manual), top speed approx. 160 mph (257 km/h)
- 987.1 Cayman S 3.4 (2005–2008): 3.4 litre flat six, approx. 3387 cc, engine code family M97.21
- Power (987.1 S): 295 PS (291 bhp) at around 6,250 rpm, approx. 340 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm
- Performance (987.1 S): 0–62 mph in around 5.4 seconds (manual), top speed approx. 171 mph (275 km/h)
- 987.2 Cayman 2.9 (2009–2012): 2.9 litre flat six, approx. 2893 cc, engine code family MA1.20 with direct fuel injection
- Power (987.2 2.9): 265 PS (261 bhp), approx. 300 Nm of torque
- Performance (987.2 2.9): 0–62 mph in about 5.8 seconds (6 speed manual), as low as around 5.7 seconds with PDK and Sport Chrono, top speed approx. 165 mph (266 km/h)
- 987.2 Cayman S 3.4 (2009–2012): 3.4 litre flat six, approx. 3436 cc, engine code family MA1.21 with direct fuel injection
- Power (987.2 S): 320 PS (315 bhp), approx. 370 Nm of torque
- Performance (987.2 S): 0–62 mph in around 5.2 seconds (manual), down to about 5.0 seconds with PDK and Sport Chrono, top speed approx. 172 mph (277 km/h)
- 987 Cayman R (2011–2012): Lightweight focused variant based on 987.2 Cayman S with chassis and aero tweaks
- Engine (Cayman R): 3.4 litre flat six, approx. 3436 cc, MA1 family with direct injection
- Power (Cayman R): 330 PS (326 bhp), approx. 370 Nm of torque
- Performance (Cayman R): 0–62 mph in around 5.0 seconds (manual) and as low as about 4.9 seconds with PDK and Sport Chrono, top speed approx. 175 mph (282 km/h)
- Transmissions:
- 5 speed manual on early 2.7 models
- 6 speed manual on Cayman S and later 2.9 / 3.4 models
- 5 speed Tiptronic S automatic on early 987.1 models
- 7 speed PDK dual clutch gearbox on 987.2 models, including Cayman R
- Chassis and suspension: Front MacPherson struts with coil springs and anti roll bar; rear MacPherson struts with coil springs and anti roll bar; aluminium intensive structure for reduced weight
- Steering: Hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion
- Brakes (typical 987 S spec): Ventilated and cross drilled discs front and rear, 4 piston aluminium monobloc calipers; larger diameter discs on S and R models compared with base cars
- Dimensions (approx., coupé body): Length 4,341 mm, width 1,801 mm, height around 1,305 mm, wheelbase 2,415 mm
- Kerb weight (approx.): Around 1,320–1,350 kg for base models, 1,355–1,380 kg for Cayman S, about 1,295 kg for Cayman R in manual form
- Fuel system: Multipoint fuel injection on 987.1, direct fuel injection (DFI) on 987.2
- Induction: Naturally aspirated across the full 987 Cayman range, no factory turbocharged variants in this generation
- Drivetrain layout benefits: Mid engined RWD layout provides near 50:50 weight distribution and strong base for handling upgrades, track mods and suspension tuning
Final Thoughts On The Porsche Cayman 987
The Porsche Cayman 987 is a fantastic base car, with a balanced chassis, great steering feel and that trademark flat-six soundtrack. Even in stock form it is a proper driver’s car, but age and factory compromises mean there is plenty of scope for tasteful mods and performance upgrades. The character is already sharp and communicative, so the right tuning parts are about enhancing what is there, not trying to turn it into something it is not. From a workshop point of view, the Cayman 987’s suspension can feel a bit soft and underdamped once you start pushing on, especially on track or fast road. Quality coilovers, uprated anti-roll bars and fresh bushes tighten everything up, improve turn in and help the car stay composed over bumpy B-roads. Braking upgrades, from performance pads and fluid to big brake kits, also make a big difference when you are carrying more speed and want consistent stopping power. On the engine side, intake, exhaust and ECU remaps can unlock noticeable gains in response and drivability without hurting reliability, as long as the car is maintained properly and cooling is kept in check. Known weak points like clutch strength on higher power builds, or heat management on hard driven cars, can be addressed with uprated clutches, radiators and better oil and gearbox coolers. Add in a set of lightweight wheels and a few subtle styling tweaks and you end up with a Cayman 987 that feels fresher, more focused and still easy to live with day to day. Build it around your own priorities and you will have a genuinely rewarding, personalised Porsche that feels special every time you drive it.
