986 v 981 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

post any pics of your 986 with a 981 or 987 My 1999 base with a 2013 base: obviously very different...but very similar at the same time

Much as I like my 986, I can't disagree that it has kind of a push-me, pull-you look that Porsche could have done a better job controlling.

Rare to get to see the 986 and 981 side by side.The 981 surely looks to be the larger car.

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2001 S and 2014 Base with a Lotus in between

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Need to post a larger photo.

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The 981 is much wider than the 986, that is the first thing stands-out looking at them in person.

Not similar at all. You can't put your arm out the window on a 981 for one thing. It makes you feel like you're sitting in it like a tank versus sitting on the vehicle like the cockpit of a F16 where you can see everything.

I actually like the looks of the 986 better (why's the spoiler up; broken ?).

I think the 986 is a Classic Porsche form whose design will never get old just like a 550 or a 904. Will look good years from now when outlaw retro mods will be passing under the gavel at Barrett-Jackson, Mecum or some such. Just my humble opinion. AKL

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No I removed my decklid mounted spoiler to paint it, so I disconnected the spoiler motor so the stock one would stay up all the time! Hopefully after this weekend the spoiler will be painted...along with the rest of the car

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I just meant the body lines, of course the dimensions and driving position have changed

Someone here posted a 986,987 and 981 all parked next to each other. This was a great photo because it showed since "pre-production" in 1995 to actual production in 1996 all the way up to 2014, the car remained very similar in proportions. Sure the front plant of the 981 and 991 is now wider (a good thing obviously), but it's not like other Porsches or BMWs (see M3) where the car over a similar length of time went from small sports car to full blown grand touring coupe. It has to be one of the most consistent designs sold today. Take for instance the the first Corvettes and how they quickly became much bigger cars in their first two decades. Or say the 993 to 996 parked next to one another, and that was just from one series to the next. I still think the Boxster design was the best thing Porsche has put out since 1964. There simply isn't one person who wouldn't turn a neck to look at it, either car enthusiast or not. The 981 is very aggresive and sharp but I see it more as a collection of previous Porsche cars mashed up into one thing. Panamera rear, Cayenne interior, Carrera GT sides and the front end, which I think is the best part, especially on the GTS doesn't really have a Porsche flavor to it all, more like they hired away the guy putting out the recent Ferrari desgins. Again not a bad thing, but the Boxster design pulled off the interesting trick of being an entirely ground breaking design while still looking like it came from a Porsche factory.

Being so young, I have no recollection of what was normal back in the late 90s but if you go back and look, good lord was the boxster ahead of its time, or would i even say it was behind its time, a new relic. The design could've came out in the 60s and no one would have batted and eye.

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hey, where did you get pics of my wife?

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I was so disappointed with the 981. It lost the "fun" factor IMO compared to a 986 especially. You are right, you cannot even out your arm out the window now and it does feel like a tank. I'm on the hunt for another 986 now because the 981 let me down in multiple ways. I tried it a couple of times but it just lacked that raw, Boxster feel. Great comparison too, high in cockpit of plane (986) vs low in a tank (981).

Imagine the text for a future Boxster S advertisment: "Last of the 6 cylinder Porsche engined Boxsters. All the bugs were ironed out by Porsche and then they changed to a new ,smaller ,raspy engine in a bloated body Buy my classic and enjoy a real Porsche driving experience !" Sounds rather like the current air-cooled 911 ads? Seen the prices? Porsche will eventually see the error in this 'Euro compliance engine' and offer a 6 as an option ?Meanwhile the Jag F-Type with V6 TT is looking good !

I will say the interior is very nice in the 981 but it's almost impossible to see out the rear. I think I'll go for something in between and get a 987.2.

I just sat in a few 981s yesterday that my local dealer still has and even at 6'4" it is a much different feel. I guess tank like is a good description compared to the 986. To me it's just different but I guess it all comes down to what you like. I just wish both the 991 and 981 hadn't grown in size. Especially the 991. Compared to the 996/997 and especially the air cooled car they are huge in my eyes.