987.1 v 987.2 v 981 - Page 4 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I was in similar position. Looked at the prices, decided on a 987.1S and then decided to go extra for a 987.2S. the car is far superior to a 981 in similar price range.

I have previously owned 986 3.2S and a 981 Spyder and quite fancy a 987.2. I have read about the DFI engine and other enhancements of the 987.2 over 987.1 but are they worth it? The 987.2 is almost as much to buy as a 981 so the 981 also comes into contention but that leaves the 987.1 as a bit of a bargain, or false economy? I want a manual and dont mind if its a 2.9 or S as it will be for euro touring not hooning. Looking for best ride quality, steering feel and interaction over outright speed. Advice and experiences of all would be appreciated, thanks. Edited by Bispal on Saturday 5th March 14:16

There's overlap, but 981 still much more expensive like-for-like, eg a 981 S with 35k miles versus a 987.2 S with 35k miles. Best ride quality will be a 981 with PASM on 18s, though a 987 PASM on 17s ride OK, too. The rest is pretty subjective. 987.1 is a bargain, but needs some due diligence on the 3.4. Other 987.1 engines are OK. Probably best value while retain decent performance would be a 987.1 3.4 with a quality rebuild in place. There's a 987.1 3.4 Cayman on AT with Hartech cylinders for £19K. Bit pricey by historic standards, but perhaps decent in today's market.

Thanks for the replies. Still weighing up the pro's & con's but as always I will probably see one in a colour I like and all the research will go out of the window!

Bispal said: Thanks for the replies. Still weighing up the pro's & con's but as always I will probably see one in a colour I like and all the research will go out of the window! TBH, not a bad way to go about things. One can do all the due diligence in the world, and still buy a dud. At least you'll like the colour for sure!

I had a 987.2 Cayman S with 25k then 12 months later had a demo in a 981 Cayman S. No comparison, the 981 CS was on a different level altogether. Love mine!

I had a 987.2 Cayman S with 25k then 12 months later had a demo in a 981 Cayman S. No comparison, the 981 CS was on a different level altogether. Love mine!

andygo said: I had a 987.2 Cayman S with 25k then 12 months later had a demo in a 981 Cayman S. No comparison, the 981 CS was on a different level altogether. Love mine! What did you find better? The 981 definitely feels quite a lot bigger, which is not a good thing for me. Also feels a bit more synthetic with reduced steering feel, more servo assistance to brakes, artificial exhaust pops (compared to a 986). However its very polished and exceedingly consistent on track and comfortable to tour, at least that's what i found. I am not after ultimate speed, I want feel and engagement at low speeds and I was thinking the 987.2 would give all the benefits of the DFI engine but retain the feedback and character of the early cars without being over synthesised?

Not that it’s hugely important, but the 2.9 isn’t a DFI engine - only the 987.2 3.4 was. Went through a similar thought process myself when buying a 987.2. My logic was - the performance of the 2.9 wasn’t far off the 987.1S, but it comes without the risk of scored bores and IMS failure. If you factor in the cost of a rebuild on the earlier car, and then take into account all the small enhancements that make up the 987.2 vs 987.1, I think the price difference is justifiable. I think then you’ve got the 987.2 vs 981 debate. If you’re thinking PDK, the newer car will be a bit sharper there. However, I personally preferred the smaller dimensions of the 987.2 - deceptively small car - which made it feel a bit more nimble. 981 is more advanced in terms of design, materials and infotainment, which are the bits that probably matter when you’re living with the car daily. Tough choice!

If the budget allows, is a Cayman R out of the question? Far and away the best in terms of feel, driving pleasure of those listed and although may be a greater initial outlay, the cost of ownership will be limited due to it being a special edition. Still has an amazing ride for passive dampers yet the way it drives is in a different league to the others. (bias Cayman R owner)

The 987 is perhaps a smaller car, but that means smaller inside too which is why I ruled it out after several test drives in 2015. Just couldn't get comfortable. Went off and bought a TTS instead and then a year later, bored with that, stumped up for the far superior (and bigger) 981.

DJMC said: The 987 is perhaps a smaller car, but that means smaller inside too which is why I ruled it out after several test drives in 2015. Just couldn't get comfortable. Went off and bought a TTS instead and then a year later, bored with that, stumped up for the far superior (and bigger) 981. I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy.

Bispal said: I have previously owned 986 3.2S and a 981 Spyder and quite fancy a 987.2. I have read about the DFI engine and other enhancements of the 987.2 over 987.1 but are they worth it? The 987.2 is almost as much to buy as a 981 so the 981 also comes into contention but that leaves the 987.1 as a bit of a bargain, or false economy? I want a manual and dont mind if its a 2.9 or S as it will be for euro touring not hooning. Looking for best ride quality, steering feel and interaction over outright speed. Advice and experiences of all would be appreciated, thanks. Good condition late 987.2s are close to early average condition, poorly optioned 981s, but there's a still a chunky 10k? gap on like-for-like I think. I spent a while mulling over this a few years ago and ended up with a Gen 2 987 2.9 manual. My thinking was to buy the best of what was available of the improved non-IMS engines: loved but not modified, with the 6 speed gearbox, and I think Gen 2 is just a bit more pleasing to look at on the inside and out. I really enjoyed driving and owning it: throughout the 2 years I had some fantastic road trips around Wales, Scotland, Europe etc. On the Scotland trip it did just shy of 32 MPG which included some pretty spirited driving at times. Only slight niggle was a tallish 2nd gear on the tight n twisty stuff. Just a thought re DFI - 2.9 indirect injection may be a reliability benefit at 10+ years old? Pictures because I got nostalgic!

julian987R said: I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy. Naturally, you would be the only person to prefer being in a 987 cabin. The 981 cabin is on a different level to the 987 - it was a significant step up.

Royal Jelly said: julian987R said: I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy. Naturally, you would be the only person to prefer being in a 987 cabin. The 981 cabin is on a different level to the 987 - it was a significant step up. Yep agreed. I found the 981 cabin a significant step forward over my old 987 Boxster including getting rid of the silly SIM draw to enable mobile comms

Royal Jelly said: julian987R said: I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy. Naturally, you would be the only person to prefer being in a 987 cabin. The 981 cabin is on a different level to the 987 - it was a significant step up. i am not sure i would alone with that POV. i don't claim to be. You are twisting my words as if I claim to be the only one, but it wouldn't surprise me if others felt the same. And I don't disagree - it was a significant step up - I am questioning room and airiness - not the quality.

tim2100 said: I was in similar position. Looked at the prices, decided on a 987.1S and then decided to go extra for a 987.2S. the car is far superior to a 981 in similar price range. What price bracket comparison and so what 981 equivalent ; and in what sense far superior?

andygo said: I had a 987.2 Cayman S with 25k then 12 months later had a demo in a 981 Cayman S. No comparison, the 981 CS was on a different level altogether. Love mine! In what way?

julian987R said: I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy. Or a 981 boxster 😉

Had a 986S (2003 facelift), 2007 987.1S & 2009 987.2S - all manual. Each one was a step up in quality/modernity from the previous one. Loved all of them but the 986 dash definitely felt like a mark 2 VW Golf and was very dated. The 987 dash was a huge leap forward. Ended up with a brand new 981S PDK as a courtesy car for over a week when someone ran into the back of my 987.2 & that was a massive leap in quality fit & finish, the rear boot was slightly smaller though (couldn’t fit a big headed driver in comfortably!) My issue with the 981 was I wasn’t keen on the rear design particularly the rear lights & blended in spoiler, also the “stacked” headlights. So I missed out on the 981 & jumped straight to a 718 base PDK where all the criticisms of the design were addressed - in my mind anyway. I love mine and the steering feel is superb along with the build quality inside - no annoying rattles! Favourite one probably the 987.2S as it was so highly specced (ex Porsche launch car I think) very closely followed by the 718.

delays said: Not that it’s hugely important, but the 2.9 isn’t a DFI engine - only the 987.2 3.4 was. Went through a similar thought process myself when buying a 987.2. My logic was - the performance of the 2.9 wasn’t far off the 987.1S, but it comes without the risk of scored bores and IMS failure. If you factor in the cost of a rebuild on the earlier car, and then take into account all the small enhancements that make up the 987.2 vs 987.1, I think the price difference is justifiable. I think then you’ve got the 987.2 vs 981 debate. If you’re thinking PDK, the newer car will be a bit sharper there. However, I personally preferred the smaller dimensions of the 987.2 - deceptively small car - which made it feel a bit more nimble. 981 is more advanced in terms of design, materials and infotainment, which are the bits that probably matter when you’re living with the car daily. Tough choice! Thanks, that's very helpful, esp. regarding size, I 100% want a manual.

frayz said: If the budget allows, is a Cayman R out of the question? Far and away the best in terms of feel, driving pleasure of those listed and although may be a greater initial outlay, the cost of ownership will be limited due to it being a special edition. Still has an amazing ride for passive dampers yet the way it drives is in a different league to the others. (bias Cayman R owner) Absolutely out of the question. I have had a 981 Spyder and own other more track focused cars for my adrenalin fix. This is purely for touring with a good mix of comfort and fun but not leaning towards any too heavily. i also want a convertible. Cayman R is a great car but not for me this time.

Voodoo Blue said: Royal Jelly said: julian987R said: I found the 981 and 718 cabins more claustrophobic and hemmed in and I am not a large chap. That center column really boxes you in I felt. I get its probably to feel more driver focussed, but I found the 987 much more airy and roomy. Naturally, you would be the only person to prefer being in a 987 cabin. The 981 cabin is on a different level to the 987 - it was a significant step up. Yep agreed. I found the 981 cabin a significant step forward over my old 987 Boxster including getting rid of the silly SIM draw to enable mobile comms As an NA MX5 and Lotus Exige owner the 986 Boxster feels like a well made luxury car. I'm not interested in OTT quality and toys. I'm happy with AC and central locking. In fact the fewer screen's the better, they don't interest me at all. Owned several cars with built in sat-nav and never used them. Everything I need is on my phone, sat nav and music via a radio Bluetooth adaptor. All I want is a car that feels good and has a good view out with as few distractions inside as possible. My wife likes cup holders, door pockets, a rear shelf (for coats and bags) and seats that can recline to snooze in. That's all we need. Comparing a 987 interior to a 981 interior is like comparing a 5 bedroom house to a 6 bed house, both are way more than enough.

Bispal said: Thanks, that's very helpful, esp. regarding size, I 100% want a manual. Yet in fact the 981 and 982 are only a couple of CM wider. Those that think it feels bigger are poor drivers. It isn’t, and the 981/2 are very precise, if less feelsome

Royal Jelly said: Bispal said: Thanks, that's very helpful, esp. regarding size, I 100% want a manual. Yet in fact the 981 and 982 are only a couple of CM wider. Those that think it feels bigger are poor drivers. It isn’t, and the 981/2 are very precise, if less feelsome I've driven back to back with the 986 and the 981 feels a lot bigger than the 986. My thoughts were verified when i watched the everyday driver comparison and they said exactly the same, compared to 987 though. The 981 felt like a much bigger car to me than my 675LT, even though its obviously not. Your 'poor drivers' remark is poorly considered bait that I won't take. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxikL9CxBiM Its a very good comparison. Edited by Bispal on Wednesday 9th March 19:08

I have had my Boxster S 981 for a few years although in the last 3 to 4 it's not seen much use. Mine has standard passive suspension. If you want a car which can eat up bumps and still handle well this is the winning choice. You can glide around in comfort or attack speed bumps at licence losing speeds. The downside to this is you lose some engagement. You can't have both. The roof is very slick and you can open and close it just using the key. I've never had a 987 so no basic for comparison - can you operate a 987 roof with just the key? If you really want engagement and feel then the older cars win. I've recently bought a 986 and it's charming but obviously an old car. On any given day its a difficult decision between 981 and 986. If I was going to drive to Europe would the 981 be easier to munch up the miles in, probably yes. Only the most serious of Older Porsche fans would choose the 986 for a euro trip but I guess the 987 is somewhere in between. Its also a quick car the 981 and can be a bit of an animal when you want to be silly. The 3.4 should have enough power to get your juices flowing. If mpg interests you I've seen over 40mpg tickling the throttle along the motorway at 60mph in the very long top gear, mine is PDK.

I had to make the same decision, and it came down to a few factors: 987 - Don't think it looks as nice as either the 981, or the 718. Also getting a bit old and wanted a more modern car 981 - Better looking, more modern car 718 - Didn't want the 4 pot turbo as I've never had a higher displacement car So on a cost / engine / design / modernity ratio the 981 won out. Couldn't be happier with mine. It's taken a little bit of fettling to get it where I want it but very happy with it now. Let's just hope I don't get priced out of ownership

Hi Rich TT , What fettling have you done to your 98l please ? Does anyone know a reasonably priced , reliable way of getting over the over-long gear ratios in a 981 S ? Thank you

Interesting thread this,I’ve had over 100 cars from Escort mexicos,Subaru p1’s,Evo 6’s ,SIerra and Escort Cosworths ,996 C4s,M3 Csl,996 Gt3 and DMS mapped 996 turbo and still own 996 GT3RS ..I bought a 981 s in 2013 and it has had the longest longevity of any car I’ve owned as its such a good fun car..not too quick,not too big,really balanced and imo the only Boxster that looked good enough to even consider ..tbh mine is for sale as I never use it,I would find it very hard though for someone not to be impressed by a 981 s for what it does.

kayc said: Interesting thread this,I’ve had over 100 cars from Escort mexicos,Subaru p1’s,Evo 6’s ,SIerra and Escort Cosworths ,996 C4s,M3 Csl,996 Gt3 and DMS mapped 996 turbo and still own 996 GT3RS ..I bought a 981 s in 2013 and it has had the longest longevity of any car I’ve owned as its such a good fun car..not too quick,not too big,really balanced and imo the only Boxster that looked good enough to even consider ..tbh mine is for sale as I never use it,I would find it very hard though for someone not to be impressed by a 981 s for what it does. Any photos? Is yours a manual or pdk?

celica88 said: Any photos? Is yours a manual or pdk? PDK ,it’s in the ads…22k miles,2 owners etc..white/ black roof etc,just not getting used so looking to sell it

carspath said: Hi Rich TT , What fettling have you done to your 98l please ? Does anyone know a reasonably priced , reliable way of getting over the over-long gear ratios in a 981 S ? Thank you Sorry, perhaps not the right word. More just a case of getting it where it should be. Sorted the tracking with an alignment, replaced a shock, refurbished the alloys and will be getting a full detail and ceramic coating soon. Only thing I might do from here is the sports exhaust system. The rest is just as good as I wanted it to be. Whilst I would love to step up to a 991 gen 911 the prices are still just too high.

I've owned all types of boxster bar the 718. Funnily enough I test drove a 718 and it was the most comfortable of all, probably not surprising as its the newest. Just couldn't get on with the sound. Comfort wise the newer the car the more comfortable. I had a 981 with 20" and passive set up and that was more comfortable than my 987 with pasm and 18" s. Steering feel, brakes, mechanical feel the 986/987's win Although my 987.2 spyder was excellent on all those just at a different price level. If mechanical drive and feel is more important than comfort then 987/986 if comfort and reliability then 981 imo. With the sounds of it your preference maybe a compromise of all, with the 987.2 with 18" and pasm. Just finding a good one that you like the colour of maybe the issue. I'm going back to classic and on the look out for a low mileage 986.1 with full leather! Good luck.

jimmy p said: I'm going back to classic and on the look out for a low mileage 986.1 with full leather! Not got full leather but .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

ATM said: jimmy p said: I'm going back to classic and on the look out for a low mileage 986.1 with full leather! Not got full leather but .... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Are you selling?

Thanks everyone for your replies. My thinking has gone completely full circle and while looking at 987's I just kept drifting back to 986's. I had one last year for 6 months just to use for a 3k Alpine trip to keep miles off my McLaren and make use of the extra boot space. I just think it looks best to me, which I appreciate is personal and subjective . After owning a 981 Spyder and going on a 3 week Alpine tour and several UK tours over 18 months I found the car 'felt' too big for me. It also had a synthetic feel to it which the 986 does not. As good a car as the 981 is, and it is, the 986 is more in tune with me. So I am now on the hunt for a really good 986S bit still with an eye on a 987. Pic of my 986 on Grimsel Pass and 981 on Route Napoleon Cheers

Bispal said: Are you selling? No Unless you make me a very serious offer because then everything is for sale

I've bought 986 S in Rainforest Green from Sean at Flat Six Classics, a great chap to deal with. Thanks for all your replies.

Good man How are you 2 getting on?

Bispal said: ...and seats that can recline to snooze in. Congrats. Just wondered about the snoozing? At 6’ 1” my seat doesn’t recline at all from my driving position. Isn’t your head lolling in snooze mode?

ATM said: Good man How are you 2 getting on? Great thanks. In my first week I did around 800 miles, including 550 miles in one day. The car drives superbly and I think much of that is down to the 17" wheels. The difference between the 17" on my current 986s and the 18" on my previous 986s is considerably more noticeable than I would have thought. Not only does the car ride better but every input seems sharper and more feel-some, perhaps its the lower un-sprung weight? The net result is a car that feels much more nimble and light on its toes, more like a Lotus. I do think the 18" look better but there is no way I will ever go back to them. the 17" are here to stay. Sean at flat six has taken the car back to sort out a suspension rattle. We suspect its the tuning forks but as the rattle is only noticeable after an hour or more of driving I would not have expected a trader to have picked that up so its good that he is sorting it. I do miss the trip computer, I naively thought they all had it, and cruise control would be welcome with all the average speed cameras. I might look into getting both retro fitted. I bought the car for its colour over other spec items. Waiting for a rainforest green car with trip and cruise may have taken a few years! The only other rainforest I know of that changed hands recently was between friends so it didn't even go up for sale. I believe there are only 50 in the UK? I will update later when the necessary suspension is refreshed but so-far very happy with my choice and the way it drives.

Bispal said: I've bought 986 S in Rainforest Green from Sean at Flat Six Classics, a great chap to deal with. Thanks for all your replies. That looks sublime!

Bispal said: The car drives superbly and I think much of that is down to the 17" wheels. The difference between the 17" on my current 986s and the 18" on my previous 986s is considerably more noticeable than I would have thought. Not only does the car ride better but every input seems sharper and more feel-some, perhaps its the lower un-sprung weight? The net result is a car that feels much more nimble and light on its toes, more like a Lotus. I do think the 18" look better but there is no way I will ever go back to them. the 17" are here to stay. Yes Going from 18 to 17 is a game changer on the 9x6 platform. I also experimented with 4 fronts on my 986 and it drove lovely - no lurid sliding around or other such nonsense even when I tried to provoke it. You really dont need the over sized tyres but I can understand it feels like a down grade going down in width and diameter. This pic is of the car wearing 4 fronts. Not sure if you can see how inboard the rear wheel looks.

ATM said: Bispal said: The car drives superbly and I think much of that is down to the 17" wheels. The difference between the 17" on my current 986s and the 18" on my previous 986s is considerably more noticeable than I would have thought. Not only does the car ride better but every input seems sharper and more feel-some, perhaps its the lower un-sprung weight? The net result is a car that feels much more nimble and light on its toes, more like a Lotus. I do think the 18" look better but there is no way I will ever go back to them. the 17" are here to stay. Yes Going from 18 to 17 is a game changer on the 9x6 platform. I also experimented with 4 fronts on my 986 and it drove lovely - no lurid sliding around or other such nonsense even when I tried to provoke it. You really dont need the over sized tyres but I can understand it feels like a down grade going down in width and diameter. This pic is of the car wearing 4 fronts. Not sure if you can see how inboard the rear wheel looks. So you went down to 225 or 205 on the rear? I currently have new Toyo Proxes 17" all round, 205 front and 255 rear. Did you try the rears with spacers? What tyre pressures do you run with the normal staggered set up? I've tried 29 psi all round and 29 psi front and 36 psi rear but interested to hear what you think works best? Cheers.

Bispal said: So you went down to 225 or 205 on the rear? I currently have new Toyo Proxes 17" all round, 205 front and 255 rear. Did you try the rears with spacers? What tyre pressures do you run with the normal staggered set up? I've tried 29 psi all round and 29 psi front and 36 psi rear but interested to hear what you think works best? Cheers. 205 50 17 all round I tend to use the same pressures between 29 to 32 depending on my mood. The 17 setup on the 996 is the same sizes as your car. Factory recommended pressure is 36 36. So I used to run the 996 on 32 32. Then when I got the 986 I found that they recommend the same pressure for 17 as they do 18 which is 29 36. So I think 36 is way too high personally. So I've done as low as 29 29 and not noticed much difference compared to 32 32. My advice is play around and see how you get on. I'd prefer to go a bit low as high tends to wear the centre first which makes me think the tyre is ballooning. I've been as low as 12 - not intentionally - on the front of my 996 and the only difference I noticed is under heavy braking when the car scrabbled a bit.

ATM said: Bispal said: So you went down to 225 or 205 on the rear? I currently have new Toyo Proxes 17" all round, 205 front and 255 rear. Did you try the rears with spacers? What tyre pressures do you run with the normal staggered set up? I've tried 29 psi all round and 29 psi front and 36 psi rear but interested to hear what you think works best? Cheers. 205 50 17 all round I tend to use the same pressures between 29 to 32 depending on my mood. The 17 setup on the 996 is the same sizes as your car. Factory recommended pressure is 36 36. So I used to run the 996 on 32 32. Then when I got the 986 I found that they recommend the same pressure for 17 as they do 18 which is 29 36. So I think 36 is way too high personally. So I've done as low as 29 29 and not noticed much difference compared to 32 32. My advice is play around and see how you get on. I'd prefer to go a bit low as high tends to wear the centre first which makes me think the tyre is ballooning. I've been as low as 12 - not intentionally - on the front of my 996 and the only difference I noticed is under heavy braking when the car scrabbled a bit. Thanks. I didn't notice much difference with the rear pressures 29 'v' 36. I would probably keep at 36psi to rear for long m-way runs but will try 32 psi at rear for everyday and B roads. Will experiment.

Such an interesting thread this. Currently on a 987.2 Cayman, with the 2.9 engine. Absolutely love the thing but I do like the look of the 981 cars & want to get into something a bit more modern. Seriously considered a GT4 but after assessing practicality & taking into account this is my only car have settled on a GTS. I've read about/heard comments on the steering differences between 987.2 & 981. But with various comments on PH about people actually preferring the 987.2 I am wondering which dealers actually allow a proper test drive? Understandably most are reluctant unless you're putting down a deposit first but how are you supposed to without knowing if it truly is the right model for you?

The thing about the 981 Box is that it is the only one with a genuinely rigid body. The 987 is a bit bendy, the 986 is really quite bendy. Of course, the 987 Cayman is very rigid. That aside, I'd say the 986 and 987 are quite a bit more enjoyable to drive than the 981. 987 is definitely more insulated and generic to drive at lower speeds than the 986. The 986 feels special at any speed. But the 987 has a bit more competence and depending on what you like, can be more fun to really fling down a great B road. And as you say, with the gen 2 987 you get basically all the power of a 981 from the same more reliable engine. That said, a 987.1 3.2 is pretty reliable and has an adequate turn of speed. A low mile one of those in a good spec is stupendous value for money, even in the current market. You'd get a really, really nice one privately for £15k and even the priciest dealer will struggle to charge you £20k for one. Lots to choose from, plenty of low mile cars left. When you compare that to, say, a 997.2 for £40k+, or shagged 996s going for £20k...or awful, rotten, bitsa air-cooled cars going for telephone numbers...

SV_WDC said: Such an interesting thread this. Currently on a 987.2 Cayman, with the 2.9 engine. Absolutely love the thing but I do like the look of the 981 cars & want to get into something a bit more modern. Seriously considered a GT4 but after assessing practicality & taking into account this is my only car have settled on a GTS. I've read about/heard comments on the steering differences between 987.2 & 981. But with various comments on PH about people actually preferring the 987.2 I am wondering which dealers actually allow a proper test drive? Understandably most are reluctant unless you're putting down a deposit first but how are you supposed to without knowing if it truly is the right model for you? Is an odd scenario but myself and some mates, who are all fortunate enough to be able to buy 981 / 718 spyder's and GT4's if we wanted to, are regressing to 986 Boxster's, in preference to the newer cars. For me the 986 is the best looking of the Boxster's BUT I have heard many times that the 987.2 is the driving sweet spot with all the power of the 981 but with hydraulic steering in a smaller footprint. It also does not suffer from the fake pops / bangs / farts of the newer cars. I still have not driven one but would really like to try one. I think going forward, if what I hear is correct, eventually 987.2 desirability and values will surpass the 981. Edited by Bispal on Wednesday 20th April 17:08

I think it really depends on what you want from the car. Do you want an occasional use car to enjoy at sensible speeds. Do you want something to tour Europe in relative comfort. Do you want maximum lateral g when in full attack mode. Do you want something in the middle so comfy and charming and quite quick. When I drive my 986 it feels nice but it isn't what you would call fast. But it does feel nice driving around in a 21 year old Porsche which has a lot of charm and character and has bags of feel. Then I drive my 981 and it feels way way faster if you provoke it but for pottering around in it just feels like a nice modern civilised car which means very little feel if any.

ATM said: I think it really depends on what you want from the car. Do you want an occasional use car to enjoy at sensible speeds. Do you want something to tour Europe in relative comfort. Do you want maximum lateral g when in full attack mode. Do you want something in the middle so comfy and charming and quite quick. When I drive my 986 it feels nice but it isn't what you would call fast. But it does feel nice driving around in a 21 year old Porsche which has a lot of charm and character and has bags of feel. Then I drive my 981 and it feels way way faster if you provoke it but for pottering around in it just feels like a nice modern civilised car which means very little feel if any. I'd agree with this when also comparing 987.2 to a 986. I sold my last 986 S (with full m030 suspension refurb and new clutch), for a 2009 BS. The former was way, way more fun at any speed. The engine has bags more charm, the steering is more feelsome, and I actually felt I could work the chassis a bit more even if the speeds i'd be doing were lower than in the replacement 987.2 over the same roads. That said, the 987.2 is quicker, torquey-er in gear, more economical on a cruise, much more comfortable for my dodgy hip and in the right spec, I believe a better looking car (mins is aqua blue with 19" carreras and looks stunning). 2 out of the 3 986's i've owned have crippled me on a medium-long distance drive. No amount of adjustment of the seat, or using small bean bag cushions to bolster myself, seemed to resolve it. If it weren't for that, i'd have not sold my last one. Bar a few creaks it was perfect.

KPB1973 said: ATM said: I think it really depends on what you want from the car. Do you want an occasional use car to enjoy at sensible speeds. Do you want something to tour Europe in relative comfort. Do you want maximum lateral g when in full attack mode. Do you want something in the middle so comfy and charming and quite quick. When I drive my 986 it feels nice but it isn't what you would call fast. But it does feel nice driving around in a 21 year old Porsche which has a lot of charm and character and has bags of feel. Then I drive my 981 and it feels way way faster if you provoke it but for pottering around in it just feels like a nice modern civilised car which means very little feel if any. I'd agree with this when also comparing 987.2 to a 986. I sold my last 986 S (with full m030 suspension refurb and new clutch), for a 2009 BS. The former was way, way more fun at any speed. The engine has bags more charm, the steering is more feelsome, and I actually felt I could work the chassis a bit more even if the speeds i'd be doing were lower than in the replacement 987.2 over the same roads. That said, the 987.2 is quicker, torquey-er in gear, more economical on a cruise, much more comfortable for my dodgy hip and in the right spec, I believe a better looking car (mins is aqua blue with 19" carreras and looks stunning). 2 out of the 3 986's i've owned have crippled me on a medium-long distance drive. No amount of adjustment of the seat, or using small bean bag cushions to bolster myself, seemed to resolve it. If it weren't for that, i'd have not sold my last one. Bar a few creaks it was perfect. Can't you put 987 seats in a 986? I'm sure the are a direct fit? The 986 seats are not the best and do give me a bit of leg pain if over 2 hours, i do wonder how much of that could actually be fixed by cruise control for a leg stretch? Interesting comments re 987.2, i still need to try one to experience for myself. The 981 is obviously faster than a 986 but faster isn't always better, especially on real roads these days where involvement and interaction at medium speeds, 7/10ths, is often as much as you can hope for.

Bispal said: Can't you put 987 seats in a 986? I'm sure the are a direct fit? The 986 seats are not the best and do give me a bit of leg pain if over 2 hours, i do wonder how much of that could actually be fixed by cruise control for a leg stretch? Yes I was considering selling my 986 until I got the 987 seats in. Totally transformed the car. By far and a way the best mod I have ever done to a car. I liked them so much I got some for my 996 too. I'm still a bit cramped in the 986 but its not painful now. I should try removing the centre console and maybe a different steering wheel. I really do think the 9x6 seats are just rubbish. I may try some different seats at some point but the 987 seats are good enough to make the car usable and enjoyable.

ATM said: Yes I was considering selling my 986 until I got the 987 seats in. Totally transformed the car. By far and a way the best mod I have ever done to a car. I liked them so much I got some for my 996 too. I'm still a bit cramped in the 986 but its not painful now. I should try removing the centre console and maybe a different steering wheel. I really do think the 9x6 seats are just rubbish. I may try some different seats at some point but the 987 seats are good enough to make the car usable and enjoyable. Good job. Are they a direct fit, in and out? Any issues with air bag / heated seat connectors?

SV_WDC said: Such an interesting thread this. Currently on a 987.2 Cayman, with the 2.9 engine. Absolutely love the thing but I do like the look of the 981 cars & want to get into something a bit more modern. Seriously considered a GT4 but after assessing practicality & taking into account this is my only car have settled on a GTS. I've read about/heard comments on the steering differences between 987.2 & 981. But with various comments on PH about people actually preferring the 987.2 I am wondering which dealers actually allow a proper test drive? Understandably most are reluctant unless you're putting down a deposit first but how are you supposed to without knowing if it truly is the right model for you? I am sure most dealers will let you drive a 981 GTS, find one you would buy if it ticks the test drive box, call them up and explain your situation. As your already in a Cayman I'm sure they will be more inclined to get you out in a 981 GTS.

Bispal said: Good job. Are they a direct fit, in and out? Any issues with air bag / heated seat connectors? Here we go. These pics are form my 996 thread. These are also easier to understand because red seat = 9x6 seat. I did some butchering of the driver seat buckle. I removed this form the 9x6 seat and transferred it over to the 9x7 seat. in this way the little plug on the wire from the buckle just plugs into the wiring harness in exactly the same way. There is no wire on the passenger seat buckle. Picture 3 shows the little white plug removed from the main plug of the original 9x6 seat. This is the one which runs to the seat belt buckle. So you remove the buckle with wire and plug and transfer it to the 9x7 seat. It is held on with a big 17 or 19mm bolt and has some little metal clips keeping the cable tidy along the underside of the seat. Then I just plugged this little white plug into the big socket of the car's harness and held it in with a zip tie. I think it works fine. You may be able to use the original 9x7 buckle but I didn't want to risk an airbag light on. They are difficult to turn off. So I dont have power wired up for the adjustment. Seats are locked in position. My mate did the same thing to his 996 and wired up the power to the adjuster. It was not difficult but I was too excited about just getting the seats in to try. So I'm happy leaving the angle as is for now. If I want to do the wiring I would need to remove them again. Airbag in the 9x7 seat you can just ignore.

Thanks ATM, definitely something to consider. Would really like alcantara too which is probably cheaper, or green pepita inserts :-) Cheers

Bispal said: Thanks ATM, definitely something to consider. Would really like alcantara too which is probably cheaper, or green pepita inserts :-) Cheers I did quite well on both pairs of seats. The standard seats are perfectly comfortable. I'm not sure I'd get too excited about the sports seats. I think mostly people are upgrading from standard to sports so the sports do command a premium.

Bit of a thread resurrection / update. I owned my Rainforest Green 986s for 18 months and 15k miles. Some of the touring we did included the South of France, The Dolomites, Slovenia & NC500. I had cruise and OBC fitted and it was the best touring car I ever had. It even reached 165mph on the A-bahn and surprisingly was still pulling. I took it from 65,000 miles to 80,085 miles (yes that's really where it ended up as I p'xd it). I replaced it with a 718 Spyder. In which we toured France (twice) Dolomites, Isle of Skye, Wales & Northumberland. Completing 11k miles in 12 months. My honest opinion. I preferred my RFG 986 to the 718 Spyder, even though it cost 10 times more (exactly). My 986 is now owned by a photographer who has an active Instagram page with 100's of pics of it posted, so I miss it even more and am constantly reminded I should not have sold it. So I sold the 718 Spyder last week and am back to square one and on the hunt. My green 986 was so much nicer to drive than my silver one, I put this down to the 17" wheels it had over the 18" on the silver one. So the green 986 is the best Porsche I have owned, even over my 911 (996). My 981 Spyder sounded nice but was too hard and the engine map (as standard) was not great. The 718 Spyder just didn't do it for me, at all. Strangely neither did the polar silver 986. So here I am, as I said back to square one, looking at 987.2s manual's and realising there is not a lot of choice. I have a short list of other cars including the Z4M, MX5 (30th anniversary) and SL63AMG. But the 987.2 has floated to the top. Its a fact that the 2 boots on the Boxster make it supreme for touring, its mid engine, NA, RWD & properly engineered. The 987 is the only Boxster variant I haven't owned. So any 'new' words of wisdom on what do go for in regards of 987.2 ??? I'm even open to a 2.9 with a good spec. 718 Spyder - Sold Last week 986s - Sold 18 months ago with BIG regrets

What about a 987 spyder?

986s definitely drive much better on 17s. I mean, far, far better than the 18s. The thing is, so do 987s. But they do look pretty crap on 17s. It's the price you pay for the car feeling miles more nimble and engaging. I experimented a bit with tyres. Found the factory 205/55 front, 235/50 rear 17s for the 987 were pretty understeery and confidence sapping (and the braking performance wasn't great with the narrow 205 fronts). So, I've settled on 225/50 fronts, which maintain exactly the same rolling radius as the factory 205/55 spec. Front end is much more confidence inspiring, car generally feels more keyed into the road, but you maintain most of the lovely transparent high-feedback feel of the 205 17s. And you're nearly square. It's my favourite setup for a 987 and I've tried pretty much all of them, including the 18 and 19s (not much difference between the 18s and 19s, probably because the tyre widths are the same, 235 front and 265 rear on both). You can fit 17s to the S, you just need some slim 5mm spacers on the front to clear the calipers. Personally, I'd go 3.4 as there are really no downsides, you just get a bit more thrust. The price differential isn't huge, either. The DFI thing isn't proving to be a problem and even if it was, it's not expensive to get the intake cleaned if it comes to that. I had it done on a previous 987.2 when trouble shooting what turned out to be an unrelated problem, and it cost £400 to get the intakes walnut blasted, so not a major cost if that ever needed to be done. If I had somewhere to keep it, I'd buy a 986S. They're stupid cheap and, in many ways, the nicest Boxster of all to drive. Preposterously under rated. If you've got the space, I'd get a 986S, too, to go with the 987. I suspect eventually the 987 will go and the 986 will stay. And I say that as a serial 987 owner. The 986 is, ultimately, the sweeter driver's car. A 986 with the 996.2 3.6 dropped in would be just about perfect.

cayster said: I experimented a bit with tyres. Found the factory 205/55 front, 235/50 rear 17s for the 987 were pretty understeery and confidence sapping (and the braking performance wasn't great with the narrow 205 fronts). I did some experimenting too. Ran my 986 with 4x fronts so 205 50 all round. You can see how inboard the rear looks here. Definitely not understeery. Sometimes less is more.

I had the same dilemma at the beginning of the year when I started looking at options for a “high days & holidays” car. I discounted the 987.1 straight away due to the well documented engine issues. I set myself a budget of £30k so either a 987.2 S or a 981 2.7. Very few 981 S for £30k, the ones that dipped under were generally quite leggy. I looked at a few cars of both types & tbh liked them all to varying degrees. Almost all of the privately advertised cars needed work ranging from services, tyres, discs/pads,bodywork, wheel refurbs. The sellers on the 987.2 cars were adamant the cars were worth the asking prices & wouldn’t budge. In the end I plumped for a lovely 987.2 S from a well known indie. I couldn’t be happier. It has great spec, the condition was perfect & the buying experience was top notch. No doubt I paid strong money for a .2 but the car needs for nothing, has a years warranty so a fair degree of security for me.

ATM said: I did some experimenting too. Ran my 986 with 4x fronts so 205 50 all round. You can see how inboard the rear looks here. Definitely not understeery. Sometimes less is more. Well, you're all square, so I don't doubt the balance isn't understeer. But as much as I'm all about the feel and engagement, I suspect 205s all round would be a step too far for me!

Bispal said: I've bought 986 S in Rainforest Green from Sean at Flat Six Classics, a great chap to deal with. Thanks for all your replies. A bit late in spotting this, but what a great colour!

CanAm said: Bispal said: I've bought 986 S in Rainforest Green from Sean at Flat Six Classics, a great chap to deal with. Thanks for all your replies. A bit late in spotting this, but what a great colour! Was 3 years ago! Sold 18 months ago But yes, lovely colour I think only 30 x 986's in UK in RFG.

Just to say, I bought my 987.1 Cayman S from Sean and can only echo what you said that he was great to deal with. He bore score checked the car and gave me the report as part of the purchase - as well as showing me over rev counters and all sorts. A proper enthusiast doing a good thing for the community. The 986's he had in were absolutely glorious.

I’ve got a very highly specced 981 Cayman S, but I’m actually also interested in a well-loved 986 to run alongside. They’re so pure, and criminally good value.

Royal Jelly said: I ve got a very highly specced 981 Cayman S, but I m actually also interested in a well-loved 986 to run alongside. They re so pure, and criminally good value. If you buy a good one. A s te example will need lots to bring up to standard.

ATM said: Royal Jelly said: I ve got a very highly specced 981 Cayman S, but I m actually also interested in a well-loved 986 to run alongside. They re so pure, and criminally good value. If you buy a good one. A s te example will need lots to bring up to standard. Obviously.

Royal Jelly said: ATM said: Royal Jelly said: I ve got a very highly specced 981 Cayman S, but I m actually also interested in a well-loved 986 to run alongside. They re so pure, and criminally good value. If you buy a good one. A s te example will need lots to bring up to standard. Obviously. Even one that 'appears' good could need a small fortune spending on it. Suspension refresh can be best part of £4k, and you won't know from a test drive as it doesn't start knocking until warmed up, after 30 mins. IMS & RMS are preventative, £2k for 100% peace of mind. Then there is the BIG one that no-one discusses, camshaft deviation. You need to check this (can be checked from OBD) If its out the Variocam Chain guides will need changing. £50 part + £3,000 in labour! That's what I was quoted. Bore score is fatal. That must be checked. Air oil separator, these go a lot, about £500, will be smoky on start up. Front radiators £750 fitted Window regulators. I had 3 go in 12 months at £300 + labour each time Hood issues, they tear at the back, beneath the window, £1k plus fitting. If you have a dent in a rear wing, its un repairable as its double skinned. Even a minor dent can't be repaired so its ££££££, unless you accept a filler bodge job. And they all have stone chips and front end respray £1,500 If you buy a cheap, high mileage one, you could consider it 'disposable' if a few of above happen. You would certainly never get your money back if you did some of the above. My advice is buy the absolute best (low miles) and if some of above do occur there is at least some inherent value. This is why 986's are so cheap. If you can 'spanner' they are a great choice. If you can't you have to love them. I actually do. I preferred my 986 as a drivers car to my Ferrari F355 & M635CSi (and they really are expensive to run), I even preferred my 986 to my 981 & 718 Spyder's. As good as a 986 is though, as an all rounder, its not as much fun to drive as an MX5, but it is better for touring and as an all rounder.

Bispal said: Royal Jelly said: ATM said: Royal Jelly said: I ve got a very highly specced 981 Cayman S, but I m actually also interested in a well-loved 986 to run alongside. They re so pure, and criminally good value. If you buy a good one. A s te example will need lots to bring up to standard. Obviously. Even one that 'appears' good could need a small fortune spending on it. Suspension refresh can be best part of £4k, and you won't know from a test drive as it doesn't start knocking until warmed up, after 30 mins. IMS & RMS are preventative, £2k for 100% peace of mind. Then there is the BIG one that no-one discusses, camshaft deviation. You need to check this (can be checked from OBD) If its out the Variocam Chain guides will need changing. £50 part + £3,000 in labour! That's what I was quoted. Bore score is fatal. That must be checked. Air oil separator, these go a lot, about £500, will be smoky on start up. Front radiators £750 fitted Window regulators. I had 3 go in 12 months at £300 + labour each time Hood issues, they tear at the back, beneath the window, £1k plus fitting. If you have a dent in a rear wing, its un repairable as its double skinned. Even a minor dent can't be repaired so its ££££££, unless you accept a filler bodge job. And they all have stone chips and front end respray £1,500 If you buy a cheap, high mileage one, you could consider it 'disposable' if a few of above happen. You would certainly never get your money back if you did some of the above. My advice is buy the absolute best (low miles) and if some of above do occur there is at least some inherent value. This is why 986's are so cheap. If you can 'spanner' they are a great choice. If you can't you have to love them. I actually do. I preferred my 986 as a drivers car to my Ferrari F355 & M635CSi (and they really are expensive to run), I even preferred my 986 to my 981 & 718 Spyder's. As good as a 986 is though, as an all rounder, its not as much fun to drive as an MX5, but it is better for touring and as an all rounder. The 987.1 is dipping into this territory. Where you could spend the purchase price again making it good. And never recover any of that spend if you sell. Sure 986 cars are cheaper but only by a few grand. The entry price at the bottom end is almost irrelevant. It's the potential maintenance bills you need to think about. Sure buy the best you can but still have you eyes wide open. On the flip side there are bargains out there. If you can find cars where lots of the red flags have already been addressed recently you could have a brilliant car. And that's why the very experienced Porsche sufferers always have their eye on the market, just in case they spot a very nice car for sale.

Bispal said: > > Air oil separator, these go a lot, about £500, will be smoky on start up. > > What sort of labour time are we talking about? Mine smokes every now and again on startup.

Big shout out for the 987. I have a Cayman S. Yeah I know... but it doesn't, and enough is now known to avoid it and keep enjoying it 20250419_111931 by WilliaM340i , on Flickr Today was the first bit of work I needed to do on it. The exhaust bolts should be 3cm long. They rust to nothing, and need heat & hammer to get them out. This is the remains of two of them: 20250802_145106 (1) by WilliaM340i , on Flickr Its been fabulous, fantastic, good looking, fast, the small size really works when driving in the countryside. bug enough luggage space for a weekend away. le Mans would be a breeze. Another benefit of the 987 is that you can replace the stereo with a screen with apple carplay etc. Don't know if you can do this with the 986

williamp said: Big shout out for the 987. I have a Cayman S. Yeah I know... but it doesn't, and enough is now known to avoid it and keep enjoying it 20250419_111931 by WilliaM340i , on Flickr Nice! I had a lovely guards red 987 Cayman S, no sign of bore score at all on 60odd thousand miles, although I did change to millers nanodrive oil, oil consumption was negligible, I did a hell of a lot of work on my car myself, complete suspension refresh , new exhaust, everything was difficult due to the nuts and bolts being made of cheese, or being seized!! Loved the car, unfortunately it got smashed to bits in an accident a year or so ago, and was written off-I m going to have another 987, think I ll go Boxster S next time

Sorry double post

Bispal said: Even one that 'appears' good could need a small fortune spending on it. Suspension refresh can be best part of £4k, and you won't know from a test drive as it doesn't start knocking until warmed up, after 30 mins. IMS & RMS are preventative, £2k for 100% peace of mind. Then there is the BIG one that no-one discusses, camshaft deviation. You need to check this (can be checked from OBD) If its out the Variocam Chain guides will need changing. £50 part + £3,000 in labour! That's what I was quoted. Bore score is fatal. That must be checked. Air oil separator, these go a lot, about £500, will be smoky on start up. Front radiators £750 fitted Window regulators. I had 3 go in 12 months at £300 + labour each time Hood issues, they tear at the back, beneath the window, £1k plus fitting. If you have a dent in a rear wing, its un repairable as its double skinned. Even a minor dent can't be repaired so its ££££££, unless you accept a filler bodge job. And they all have stone chips and front end respray £1,500 If you buy a cheap, high mileage one, you could consider it 'disposable' if a few of above happen. You would certainly never get your money back if you did some of the above. My advice is buy the absolute best (low miles) and if some of above do occur there is at least some inherent value. This is why 986's are so cheap. If you can 'spanner' they are a great choice. If you can't you have to love them. I actually do. I preferred my 986 as a drivers car to my Ferrari F355 & M635CSi (and they really are expensive to run), I even preferred my 986 to my 981 & 718 Spyder's. As good as a 986 is though, as an all rounder, its not as much fun to drive as an MX5, but it is better for touring and as an all rounder. I agree with the spanner comment. If you don't have the time, inclination or space, they're expensive to maintain. Front radiators/condenser are a DIY job AOS - DIY Window Regulator - DIY Hood tear at the bottom - DIY Servicing is easy, including spark plugs. Camshaft deviation - check before you buy. If it is out of spec, walk away. The rest of the jobs including clutch/IMS are outside of my skills and are likely to be expensive. One to watch out for is coolant issues. Overall, I think the 986 is a good car but expensive to maintain. In fact, in my view, the Boxster/Cayman platform is more expensive and difficult to maintain than the pre-closed deck 911's (986/997)

maz8062 said: I agree with the spanner comment. If you don't have the time, inclination or space, they're expensive to maintain. Front radiators/condenser are a DIY job AOS - DIY Window Regulator - DIY Hood tear at the bottom - DIY Servicing is easy, including spark plugs. Camshaft deviation - check before you buy. If it is out of spec, walk away. The rest of the jobs including clutch/IMS are outside of my skills and are likely to be expensive. One to watch out for is coolant issues. Overall, I think the 986 is a good car but expensive to maintain. In fact, in my view, the Boxster/Cayman platform is more expensive and difficult to maintain than the pre-closed deck 911's (986/997) Great post-lots of stuff is easily done by a competent home mechanic.makes a huge difference to ownership costs

Slightly old topic but also quite interesting having recently dipped my toe into 987.1 Boxster S ownership largely by accident. I've come from a Z4 Coupe and a Boxster had been the cards albeit next year however the chance to sell my Z4 for a good price and easily was too good to be true. But the downside was that he replacement would be nearer the bottom of the market where there are some good cars but some absolute dogs too. The 987.1 seems to be in an odd place at the moment with lots of cheap cars run on a shoestring or just having the bare minimum done to pass an MOT. Some are less than a well sorted 986. The later cars are often very close to the bottom of the gen two market. I looked at a few 2.7's which were all dismissed for various reasons and actually ended up with a categorised Boxster S, written off for a minor front end bump. It drove better than the others I'd looked and and had clearly been loved with N rated Pilot Sports on it etc. It needs a few bits doing to it, but I'm happy to get stuck in. My Z4 coupe was quote an expensive car to run having needed quite a few things sorting including corroded wings (at least they bolt on / off). Had I not been happy to DIY, that would have been bloody expensive to run. The Boxster S costs a lot more in tax, is worse on fuel than the Z4 but is a much better to drive. I'm aware that it has the potential to throw up bigger bills, but I'll try to DIY.

I've just gone from 987.1 Cayman S Manual to 981 Boxster S PDK. Prior to the 987.1 I was in a 996.1 early 'lightweight' manual carrera 2 coupe. Read this as - I have been lucky enough to have some great drivers cars. The 981 is a totally different car to the 987. I think its fair to say it comes with *a lot* more refinement (even simple things like general driving around feel far more sedate). That isn't a good or bad thing, its just different. It feels more composed at speed, and that gives you the confidence to drive the car further than I would have done on the 987.1. My Cayman was in fine fettle. At Cotswold Porsche I had spent a minor fortune making it spot on, so its not comparing a tired car with a fresh one. I'm not even a week into owning it, so I will be careful making grand statements, but it is so hard to compare them. My initial impression is - this 981 S will be faster point to point. I found my 987.1 was a similar jump on from my 996 in that regard. That is probably personal preference and my driving capability more than anything, but with sport plus turned on (and on my car that means PASM, PADM and PSE al working their magic) the car feels absolutely alive. The steering absolutely is different, but don't think its the equivalent of driving an i10 or something. I don't feel that I've got no idea what the front wheels are doing. I don't really think the hate is warranted.