Ran against a 986 Boxster S

99 C2 Cab 6 speed, PSE, stock 17" rims, no mother mods (+300lbs) vs 986 Boxster S (+200lbs). First run: The Boxster sprinted from a dead stop from a traffic light stop and I was 4 car lengths behind coasting at 40mph in 3rd. Didn't downshift to 2nd, stayed in 3rd but couldn't pass - "big lazy mistake". Both came to a stop at the next traffic light. Second run: I was about half a car length behind at dead stop and the lights turned green. Off we go and just as I caught up while in 1st, I heard the Boxster upshift. I shifted close to redline and started pulling. At the end of 2nd, I was half a car length ahead and when I shifted into 3rd, I was 1 car length ahead. I am not sure if I beat a 986 6 speed or Tip. Lesson learnt here is that the sweet spot of the 3.4 is above 5k rpm and the Boxster S with the newer VarioCam probably has a flatter torque curve that comes up quicker. In the end, 296/3400 > 258/3100. Regardless, the Boxster S is still a quick car and yeah, don't give it a half car length advantage. How would a 99 C2 cab fare against a 02 C2 cab, both comparably equiped?

3.6L Cab should be about .2s quicker to 100kph than 3.4L Cab.

our back seats sure are expensive!

Just make sure you don't sneeze on take-off.

You'll have to clue me in on your humor............ I don't get it.

I could be wrong but I don't think the 986 S has a newer version of VarioCam when compared to the 3.4l 996. That could change if you were comparing a 987S. And the new Cayman has the VarioCam+ that comes in the 997S.

Kevin, 0.2 seconds is the difference between a good launch and a great launch. Blinking could account for the difference. Let's put it this way: a well trained pilot in a Boxster S would take most of us in a 911 on the way to 100kph. I'd be much more interested in hearing anecdotal evidence on the way from 100 to 200kph.

I don't disagree in the least. Just didn't see the rolling on the the floor part. The time I quoted is from Porsche factory specs, that one could probably assume could be achieved by testing both cars at the same location, with the same driver, and under similar conditions. The .2s delta probably a fairly realistic comparison of the two 996 versions taking the driver out of the equation.

This comparison (racing on the streets) between the 996 and the BoxsterS is very unreliable. Take the car on a track where it's safe and more reliable to do such comparisons. .2 difference "by the book" is totally irrelevant. This time difference has no meaning unless you can take the subjective elements out of the equation: like driver skill, that particular run, fear of getting caught racing on the street, etc. The BoxsterS is a great track car...and, frankly, I don't remember being passed by many by 996's...

Kevin and Agio, That's exactly what I meant. I was rolling on the floor because I thought it was insane to split hairs over .2 seconds. I think tracks and driver skill are what matters most. Indeed, notice what happens on many tracks in motorcycle racing where 500cc bikes have the huge horsepower and speed advantages, but often just barely edge their 250cc brethren. Handling is the biggest plus, especially for daily driving. You won't use that .2 seconds often, but you'll clearly hug corners tightly on the twisties in the country.

If you are responding to my post: The .2 delta I quoted is the factory time difference between 3.6L 996 and 3.4L 996 to 100kph. Has nothing to do with Boxsters. But I do agree with you that a well driven Boxster can be faster than a less well driven 996. I used to own a Boxster, btw; I love 'em, but prefer the 996 Cab.

Come on guys, who's driving...... That might play a big factor....... -Eli

That seems to be exactly what we're saying.....

So if the Boxster S is competitive with a 996, the Cayman S should be faster. It weighs less and has more HP than the Boxster S.

I saw the Cayman on Thur for the first time in person and I've got to say...... I'm not too impressed but that's only my opinion...... They had a nice silk-like cover to show off but hey I'd rather have seen my car under there..... I didn't get a test drive..... Now that I think about it, I didn't even ask. This one was not for sale though...... -Eli

Don't jump to conclusions. Given equivalent drivers, a 996 will easily beat a 986S. Been there, done that, several times, on a race track during DE. The newer Boxster, the 987S, feels fast, is fast, a lot of fun, but I can't beat my own time in the 996 C4S with the 987S. So the 996 C4S is still faster. One caveat, though. I do have more seat time in the 996 C4S, so theoretically I'm better as a C4S driver than as a 987S driver. Along the same vein, given equivalent drivers, the 997 should easily beat a Cayman. Porsche designed them that way. Now, a Cayman vs a 996? My unbiased opinion , the 996 wins, heh-heh-heh .

Driving a track by a competent experienced driver (such as Sebring or the Glen) with practically any recent version of the Porsche compared to an inexperienced driver, the likelihood is that the former is faster...nearly every time. Now, to make a point: if the latter driver has, say, 50 hp more and all other things (roughly) equal, the latter will usually be faster. But 20 or so hp, most likely will not make that latter driver faster. Of course, equal drivers, the latter is faster. I guess y'all know this already, but felt like typing. hehehe.

My dad can beat up your dad, too...

You mentioned that you didn't know if the Boxster had an auto. I have no experience with any manual Porsches, just my Boxster S Tip. It's ridiculously easy to just plant the throttle and listen to the tranny shift at redline while I hold on and watch for cops. I've yet to lose a stoplight drag to an Evo or WRX STI, cars which should have more power than mine. In my opinion it's pretty hard to outshift a modern high performance automatic. Your results may vary!

FWIW, it's my understanding that the Cayman S is actually faster around Nurmburgring than a base 997. Driving for the factory, Walter Rohrl posted an 8:11 'Ring time in the Cayman S. In the real world, I agree that driver skill is the determinative factor. Alas, my own skills fall slightly short of Mr. Rorhl's.

In this month's Panorama, in their Cayman S "first drive" article, this 8:11 time is mentioned, and the time is qualified as having been with a Cayman S with PASM, PCCB's, Sport Chrono Plus, and 19's, and that the time is slightly SLOWER than a 911 Carrera. I read somewhere in the last couple of weeks that this 8:11 time is four seconds slower than the base 997. In the Sept 2005 issue of Excellence, at the factory technical introduction to the Cayman in Weissach, Wolfgang Durheimer, head of Weissach Research and Development, when asked how the Cayman S stacks up against the 997 Carrera at the N'ring, replied (and this is a quote), "The Cayman S is eight seconds slower than the Carrera." Perhaps this is for a base spec Cayman S.

i is sooooo easy to get official numbers when you drive tiptronic cars.... manual is avery different situation..... 6 monts ago.... a friend of mine ( 996 stock tiptronic) raced a slightly moded 996 turbo....(450 ps or something like that) the tiptronic was in fornt one car in every of 6 races made that day.... changing gears is not that easy... you need to synchronize feet, know when to change gear, and how to synch clutch and gas pedal.....

a 996 will easily beat a 986S.....and it should be like that.... marketing purposes... when 944 turbo 250 ps came out 964 had very diffecult days...... almost same perfomance for a fraction of a cost....

On a recent track day, a new 987S started behind me (1/2 lap) on the long course at Shannonville. I have an 01 C2 Cab with 25k miles, 18's (crummy Kumhos with 14k miles....new tires next season) and the M030 suspension and am an intermediate driver (smooth, but a little slower than I'd like!). I had the hardtop installed which is an extra 80 lbs. Of interest to all those of advanced years, I was the oldest driver with the oldest car of all those in attendance.....Paul Newman is my idol. 987S did catch me about lap 8 and passed.....he was trying hard as he had a good spin on the next session....quite a car I would say. On a previous track day on the same course, I was slightly faster than the 2 996 C4S cars in my group Conclusion...it's the driver that makes the difference! I would like to purchase a 987S for my wife. The 987S driver had changed from a C2 coupe and said that they are very small inside compared with the 996......one of the many reasons I chose the 996 on initial purchase. We are fortunate to have so many great cars to chooose from.

One of the great things about Porsche's current line-up of the Boxster, 997 and Cayman is that the powertrains are pretty much interchangeable. If any available boxer 6 can be put in any of the three chassis' then we really don't know what we might see over the next 5 years. The question then gets down to which is the best chassis. That is a no brainer. The Cayman is clearly the best Porsche has to offer. If the marketing guys choose to keep it from beating the 997 then it's certainly a marketing decision, not a technical one. And from my standpoint, a very disappointing decision. Jim