Boxster GTS 4 litre v 992s cab - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I am lucky enough now to be able to treat myself to a weekend car I want a convertible and it needs to be PDK so that Lady K and some of my errant offspring can drive it, but I am stuck between these two cars and I would really love to hear some real world views I have owned a Boxster 2.7 years ago and loved it but have never owned a 911 and always wanted one, but with the 4 litre GTS I do wonder if this would be the better option Budget is an absolute max of £100k many thanks

Simple - go and get test drives of both and make sure your Mrs gets a go also. Then you'll know which fits.... tbh it's a question of 911 'image' / tick-box vs Boxster dynamics.

You may still be able to order (available slots) a BGTS 4.0 new, or there might already be a new one in the network that suits with the option of procuring a nice discount. Seen a couple of new delivery miles pre registered 992 cabs around coming in just over budget. Personally I think the Boxster represents better value for money over the 911 but if you have an itch to scratch…..

I've got a Cayman GTS 4.0, and have friends with 992.1 Cab S. Driven back to back they have very different characters. 992 is quick, classic Turbo shove and quite refined. GTS feels quite raw and angry when you hop from one to the other, although in isolation it is in no way hard to live with. If you are over 6 ft 2 and/or a bit chunky the Boxster might start to feel a bit tight, the 911 offers a little more room.

Nice looking 911 cab under budget and maybe able to squeeze some more off.. https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/details/porsch... Or how about this one that’s over budget but a bit of negotiation might get a discount… https://finder.porsche.com/gb/en-GB/details/porsch... Edited by GT4P on Friday 17th January 17:23

That car looks great for your budget and I suspect your OH would prefer it to drive than the Boxster. My wife loves to drive the 911's we've had and certainly feel more of an event as a weekend car.

Much depends on what sort of driving you will be doing. If mainly motorway and A roads then either will be fine. If weekend B road blasts then I would recommend the Boxster. I have not driven a 992 but I did have a 991 for a day many years ago and it felt big. It reminded me of a 928 and I always wanted one of those till I drove one ! I currently have a 718 Spyder (PDK) which is only slightly more powerful than the GTS 4.0 and it is a blast around the local Dorset B roads . As suggested above, drive both before buying.

Personally, not keen on the Cabs, especially 992 which, to my eyes, looks too big with heavy proportions. The Boxster looks better resolved as a roadster But, I’d definitely throw the Targa into the mix.

Had this same quandary, albeit with different generations of both, for my wife's car. Suffice to say that she loves the 911 (997 C4s cab in our case) and would never go back (indeed we have had it for 14 years). But it is a very individual thing. Forget the image, and go by which you prefer to drive. Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 17th January 17:41

As others have said you would be best driving your chosen cars to see which you prefer there are huge differences between this 911 and the Boxster not just engine and its position which clearly affects the dynamics of the car. Boxster great value great engine too depends also if you want to pay extra for a 911. One point if you are happy to pay up to £100k why not add a 718 Spyder to your potential choice...far more focused than the GTS better engine more power more of an occasion to drive rarer and gives little up in terms of refinement and compliancy despite its focused GT3 underpinnings. Finally if depreciation is relevant to you the Boxster would undoubtedly be more robust than the 911 and the better choice.

av185 said: One point if you are happy to pay up to £100k why not add a 718 Spyder to your potential choice...far more focused than the GTS better engine Since when has a 4.0 engine in a Spyder been a better engine than in a 4.0 gts? It s the same engine albeit with an ecu tweak!!

Only you can tell, OP. If you need to tick the 911 box, you have the answer. IMO rearward visibilty in the 911 is poor; the Boxster is easier to live with.

Thanks v much for your comments I have spent a day at Porsche experience driving a 992s cab but haven’t yet had a drive in a boxster but I never find a short drive at the dealer tells me much hence the post but I will organise a test drive I assume that a GTS is a bit more focussed

GT4P said: av185 said: One point if you are happy to pay up to £100k why not add a 718 Spyder to your potential choice...far more focused than the GTS better engine Since when has a 4.0 engine in a Spyder been a better engine than in a 4.0 gts? It s the same engine albeit with an ecu tweak!! Quite. More power with additional 20hp. Higher revving 8000 v 7800 max. Max power at higher revs. Max torque across greater rev range. Faster accelerating and higher top speed. Only the OP will know whether the above performance difference is an advantage to him personally and whether it is worth paying more for the Spyder. Imo it would be a no brainer but others would clearly consider the softer and slower less focused GTS more suitable. Edited by av185 on Friday 17th January 19:11

It’s all very personal. I had a similar choice to make a few years back. The iconic 911 has to win right? Not for me, I didn’t need rear seats, I didn’t value the rear engine dynamic over a mid engine’d one, and actually the iconic aesthetic has been watered down too far for me in the 911…. The 718 is the neater product for just 2 people with luggage… A Spyder is a criminally under appreciated sports car. In 718 form, a true GT product with PDK available and no roof. I went 981 for manual and a ruder (chavvier?) more characterful noise….its not a true GT underneath, being more GTS but as such a smidge softer and thus more road biased…and rarer. I do still feel though that the often repeated “Porsche 911s are everywhere” is a load of bs though. A well specced one is still gorgeous, well made and special.

For me it’s not a difficult decision. The Boxster, as good as it is, is an entry level Porsche. The 911 is right at the top. A Boxster is a compromise, cheaper, the junior, less. But less can be more. You’ve had a Boxster, perhaps now is the time for an upgrade. Good luck

How about getting an older 981 boxster GTS, you can pick one up for mid 30's-40k? You can play with it for 6 months and then you can either keep if you like it, or sell with likely little loss and buy a 911 or a newer GTS...gives you lots of time to really get under the skin of a boxster driving dynamics and be in a better position to decide between the two.

Both great cars and a drive may sway you one way or another. Big question would be, if you’ve always wanted a 911, would you be content with a Boxster regardless of how good it is, or would you still think “one day I’ll have a 911”?

Koln-RS said: Personally, not keen on the Cabs, especially 992 which, to my eyes, looks too big with heavy proportions. The Boxster looks better resolved as a roadster. But, I’d definitely throw the Targa into the mix. Totally agree with every word of that. Targa is pricey though.

718 Spyder ! Prettiest car Porsche make (made) Much rarer than 911 - so will hold value better. NA engine. GT underpinnings. :-)

Save £20k and go for this. Looks lovely. https://911virgin.com/listings/992-carrera-s-cabri...

Not a 718 Spyder in my opinion. The OP clearly wants a car to use and to be used by the wife and family. The fiddly manual roof and compromised useability of the Spyder just doesn’t fit the brief. I adored my Spyders but Mrs BigM and the kids really didn’t like them at all. Plus they are noisy at speed with the hood up. Just go 911 for the win and stop messing about.

Thanks for all your comments - managed to have a short drive in a 4 litre GTS and loved it so have put down a deposit and should collect it at the end of the month Spent a bit of time looking at 992 cabs and for my budget it would have been a lot older and the turbo engine just did not feel as special to me as the normally aspirated Boxster engine Last time I had an open top sports car was my old 2.7 Boxster back in 2000/2 so really looking forward to it - plan to take it to Spain and Portugal in the summer Will post up some photos when I pick it up

Congrats and enjoy in good health

Congratulations & enjoy, sure you’ll will

That was quick. Congrats.

A superb decision! Anyone thinking Boxster is 'less' is a fool. It's only marketing and the state of engine tune that put it "lower" in rank. Them's with the time and brains to look deeper find out exactly what it is... The two wins for a 911 are more seats and the iconography/status perception The two wins for the Boxster are mid engine/balance and better vfm Having said all that though, the 992 is the first 911 to have different underpinnings and part numbers over the Cayster of the same year, since the Boxster's release in the 90's....interior and exterior dimension model year on year have actually been the same, 996/986, 997/987, 991/981 etc...given the 992s' continual (marginal) growth in size, anything that keeps the car more usable is a good thing.. so more points to the better balanced car. The GTS a really really sweet spot.

maz8062 said: For me it’s not a difficult decision. The Boxster, as good as it is, is an entry level Porsche. The 911 is right at the top. A Boxster is a compromise, cheaper, the junior, less. But less can be more. You’ve had a Boxster, perhaps now is the time for an upgrade. Good luck This always makes me laugh. The original 356/1, Porsche's first ever car, was a mid-engined convertible. The subsequent 356s were rear engined because there were cheap parts already available from VW from the Beetle. As we know the 356 evolved into the 911. So basically the 2 seater, mid-engine Porsche was the dream, the rear engined version the compromise.

VladD said: This always makes me laugh. The original 356/1, Porsche's first ever car, was a mid-engined convertible. The subsequent 356s were rear engined because there were cheap parts already available from VW from the Beetle. As we know the 356 evolved into the 911. So basically the 2 seater, mid-engine Porsche was the dream, the rear engined version the compromise. Boxster/Cayman are bargain Porsches. Same quality as a 911, even much the same underpinnings - they're closer-related than people think.