987.2 Boxster - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Ive decided to put my Elise up for sale and look for a Boxster, as good as the Elise is its a bit too hardcore for my tastes these days. It was between the two above cars a year ago but even though ive enjoyed experiencing it i made the wrong decision. I dont do track days and its purely a weekend car really but could get used a bit more. Ideally it would be a 987.2 3.4s but the 2.9 is a contender too, 2009 on to avoid as many issues as i can. Around £20k budget. Probably a manual as i would like to try and avoid as much borkage factor as possible with the tech. Just wondered what things you would consider a must such as pasm etc.

I have a 987.1, RS60, which has all the bells and whistles. Apart from the fact it’s a point one. They are pretty much the same. I have done a handful of Track Days with mine and the PASM is brilliant. Saying that, I would never use that setting on the road as it makes the car far too stiff and the standard setting is perfect for our roads. Mine has the switchable exhaust, which gives you a lovely quiet roof down motoring at low revs where you can chat with your wife or whoever and gives that wonderful howl at higher revs. Switch it into sport and not only does the exhaust note change to a harsher note throughout the rev range but the throttle dynamics change to give it a more urgent feel. Definitely go for one with the sports seats as they give far more support and look the part. As for the Chrono pack, mine has it, looks great, but have never used it! Apart from that, get the best one by condition and you won’t go wrong. Mine had 80 K on the clock when I bought it and hasn’t missed a beat in the last four years. Do look underneath as many are uncared for like the majority of cars on our roads but one that has been well looked after, driven in better weathers, and garaged will pay dividends in the future.

Your budget should get you a nice circa 2010 fairly low miles car. If you can wait until after summer a better deal will be had with perhaps a few more cars to choose from. I personally wouldn’t worry about PASM a basic car with little extras is fine, most importantly it is a manual. Condition and history are more important to look for. The 3.4s is nice to have but there is nothing wrong with a 2.9 both fantastic cars.

The 3.4 is the much more torqueyer engine and the 2.9 needs a little more revving for the same performance envelope. Looking at the performance figures on paper, there isn’t much in it. Of course, it all depends where you live. If like me, you are in the crowded southeast and most of your motoring sticks to a 50 mile radius then you won’t be using the performance that either can offer. If you are after comfortable roof down motoring then the 2.9 will be fine although for me, I would have always regretted not getting a 3.4. Whatever you choose, they are both brilliant, underrated cars.

The RS60 does appeal to me but I'm still terrified of the engine issues. Not a fan of the red interior though. I suppose you would need to get a bore scope done as a minimum before buying but if looked after well and it's just a weekend car the risks will be quite low? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023071998... Edited by Belle427 on Saturday 8th June 09:51

That does look like a nice example. Personally, the red does it for me and I get nothing but positive reactions to it with usually the comment, “better than the boring black”. As for the bore score Etc. I did a bit of research a few years ago and it seems Ccrs that are used on a regular basis and consequently with higher mileage suffer less than garage queens with lower miles. Also, another aspect is putting the car away when the engine isn’t hot. As we know, combustion generates moisture and if the engine isn’t hot and is switched off and left, there could be moisture residue that sits on the bores affecting the long-term life of the cylinders.

Looks good that, the yearly tax is a bit of a kick in the nuts though, didn't realise it was that high.

That does look like a nice example. Personally, the red does it for me and I get nothing but positive reactions to it with usually the comment, “better than the boring black”. As for the bore score Etc. I did a bit of research a few years ago and it seems Ccrs that are used on a regular basis and consequently with higher mileage suffer less than garage queens with lower miles. Also, another aspect is putting the car away when the engine isn’t hot. As we know, combustion generates moisture and if the engine isn’t hot and is switched off and left, there could be moisture residue that sits on the bores affecting the long-term life of the cylinders.

Having owned 986.2 BS - 987.1 CS - 987.2 BS (Spyder) if it was me I would only look at a manual 987.2 either 2.9 or 3.4. Problem with the 986/987.1 the bigger the engine the more likely hood of bore score and all later engines less likely to suffer ims failure! So if looking at 987.1 a 2.9 is the safest bet.

Yes I think as a first Porsche it will pay me to stick to a 987.2.

Do recognized your name? Are you an ex TVR owner?

Yes had a Chim some years ago, regular poster in that section.

Belle427 said: Yes had a Chim some years ago, regular poster in that section. Me too. Remember my 5.5. Chim?

Yes very well.

I haven’t regretted going with a Boxster. It suited me at the time. Of course the Boxster is better engineered. The Tiv by comparison had character in spades. The Boxster has never let me down and is super reliable. I do love driving it, the standard switchable exhaust howl never fails to put a smile on my face!

I too was a TVR owner , first a V8S and then a Griffith 500 which I replaced with a 987.2 Cayman 2.9 with Sport Chrono and manual gearbox. I usually drove in sport mode as the throttle response was better, with the long gearing I seemed to spend much of my time in 3rd gear. I did a few hillclimbs in that Cayman and from time to time still managed to fluff the 2nd to 3rd gearchange under red mist conditions. I replaced that Cayman with a 987.2 Cayman S with PDK, PASM, and Sports Chrono+. On the roads I usually drove in sport mode and with PASM in comfort mode although I believe that adjusts itself to match your driving. I did a couple of UK tours in that car covering around 3k mikes each and comfort with PASM in comfort mode was, I think, better than the 2.9. I also hillclimbed the S and then used PASM in sport mode, and sport chrono + as the PDK box made quicker more accurate gear changes than I did even with the shift paddles. The PDK S was significantly quicker hillclimbing than the manual 2.9, so good in fact that I stopped hillclimbing it because the potential for financial loss was greater than my desire to shave further 100ths of a second off my times. I get as much fun hillclimbing a 1.0l ecoboost Fiesta. If I were to get another Cayman, or even a Boxster, I might well go for a manual 2.9 rather than a PDK S.

Driven 981 2.7 manual and 3.4S pdk back to back some years ago and the 2.7 was more fun on the road. So I would go low cc manual than high cc of pre 718 cars

Belle427 said: Yes I think as a first Porsche it will pay me to stick to a 987.2. For a little more than your £20K budget, Ashgoods have a lovely .2 Black Edition with the desired lightweight spyder alloys. https://www.ashgood.co.uk/vehicle-details/used-por...

Looks lovely that, im not a fan of black but that looks great.

Belle427 said: Looks lovely that, im not a fan of black but that looks great. No affiliation to the sale, but I think when you see that in real life you'll be won over. And black with the black hood, in my opinion, when its up, looks less odd as other colour combos.

The description mentions it has "A proper roof mechanism" What does that mean?

Belle427 said: The description mentions it has "A proper roof mechanism" What does that mean? They mean that in context of the 987 Spyder which doesn't have an electronic roof mechanism, hence 'Basically a Porsche Boxster Spyder with the benefit of having a 'proper' roof mechanism'

Belle427 said: The description mentions it has "A proper roof mechanism" What does that mean? Also bear in mind those wheels alone are a £4K bonus to have. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186377934005?var=0&...

I had my eye on this bad sadly ive got to sell mine first, it ended yesterday. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226137684503

Lovely colour… Out of interest regarding engine woes. I also have a 986S which gets thrashed for Track Days. It has done 116 K miles, doesn’t use any oil and sings like a soprano! I believe the worries about earlier engines are well presented in the press but actually quite a small minority.

I think they are cars that need to be used and enjoyed as intended, can't do the engines much good just sitting around with lack of use.

Looks great in Aqua Blue. P.s. wonder what software is used to blank out number plates so cleanly?

how's the search going Belle? I'm considering a 987.2 2.9 to replace my Caterham for track use to replace. strange choice maybe, but I'm scared of other drivers on public roads in the Caterham, so time for a bigger car to provide the comfort and security. And scratch the F6 itch. @Phazed - do you think a 986 is that much better for track use?

Market has crashed somewhat so the Lotus isnt going anywhere soon sadly, I'm not loosing a huge amount of money in 1 year! No rush to sell though. I'm still a bit undecided tbh as I'm starting to use a garage car less so am seriously thinking of just buying something cheaper such as another Mk1 Mx5 and doing a Turbo conversion, something I've always fancied doing. I was initially offered a swap for a 2.9 Cayman that had just had an expensive suspension refresh, may be worth keeping an eye out for, it may pop up on Facebook soon and looked a very nice car.

Belle427 said: Market has crashed somewhat so the Lotus isnt going anywhere soon sadly, I'm not loosing a huge amount of money in 1 year! No rush to sell though. I'm still a bit undecided tbh as I'm starting to use a garage car less so am seriously thinking of just buying something cheaper such as another Mk1 Mx5 and doing a Turbo conversion, something I've always fancied doing. I was initially offered a swap for a 2.9 Cayman that had just had an expensive suspension refresh, may be worth keeping an eye out for, it may pop up on Facebook soon and looked a very nice car. I did the TVR thing for 18 odd years, enjoyed all of them but changed camp/defected about 3 years ago and I have to say the Boxster (981S in my case) is quite simply the best sportscar I have ever owned. The engine is a masterpiece of engineering, the whole car is really and beautifully put together. I am not a fan of the 4 cyl engines in the later ones, for me the 3.4 6 cyl is the best of the crop and sounds absolutely brilliant. I have no interest in doing track days, I tend to use my cars for eurohoons/weekends and being able to use the roof without touching the luggage has been a revelation. I have loads of mates who do and have owned them, I was advised to avoid the active engine mounts (sports chrono), they are most unreliable part of the car and quite expensive to replace, this is not a TVR parts bins situation. I went PDK and wanted the PSE as a must have, other than that condition and history are everything. The car does everything I ask of it, I can leave it outside in a monsoon, it swallows up luggage no problem, great car - my advice, buy one.

Price of cars is relative in reality, it’s the cost to change. I lost less than £2k in 2 years and 20k miles on the 335d I had before my Boxster (and could have got more for it) but paid top whack for the Porsche. It’s planned as a keeper so I don’t think about the equity. I went straight for a 3.4S as I didn’t want to be yearning for more after buying a 2.9 no matter how good the reviews. After a lot of research I settled on the 987.2 as the sweet spot. No major engine issues, last with hydraulic power steering and more manuals around than the 981. I did what you shouldn’t do - bought the first one I tested as it almost perfectly met my spec requirements and had good history with only one owner. Funnily enough I did the same with my Tuscan 10 years previously. That had to go when it tried to bankrupt me and I needed space for a learner car for my two daughters. I was hoping the Boxster would prove cheaper to run than the TVR but that isn’t necessarily the case. Last winter had £4k of advisories, two of which I did (coffin arms and radiator transfer pipe) and deferred the other two to next year. The pipe was a s tter as it’s only available from Porsche and is £1,000+ with the front subframe having to come out. The coffin arms were non-OEM and just as good as the Porsche ones. I use a very good indie near me (Charles Ivey) who are a good chunk cheaper than OPC’s. What’s it like to drive ? It’s such a beautifully balanced thing I completely trust it (couldn’t say the same for the TVR). Mine doesn’t have PASM but I like the way it naturally communicates. The 6-speed manual is a delight but benefits from being warm. Mine’s on 20’s which I think make ride a bit harsh and crashy, suspect 19’s would be the best option. It has a sports exhaust (not switchable) which makes a lovely noise and with the induction, you just can’t beat a flat 6. Good to hear Peter’s followed a similar path, was always fun thrashing our TVR’s over the Surrey Hills. I went for the more subtle interior !

I think the are one of the best value sportscars money can buy but it's the maintenance that puts most off. Luckily I do all my own work which softens the blow a lot. They can be tricky cars to buy as most are run on a shoestring and not owned by enthusiasts like us.

Belle427 said: I think they are cars that need to be used and enjoyed as intended, can't do the engines much good just sitting around with lack of use. Dont listen to weird internet story mongers. Not using them is bad / changing the oil infrequently is bad / letting them warm up on idle is bad etc etc etc. Most people have had 1 or 2 of these cars and tell you they know best. Just look for well known facts and cut out the noise. The earlier engines have well known weak points. This is a fact. The 986 3.2s included but these are very unlikely to score but can destruct in other ways. I bought one about 2 or 3 years ago - this is my 2nd - my first was in 2003. Super low mileage when I got it - 22800 miles - pics below from the day I bought it. You have absolutely no idea how an engine has been used before you bought it. The engine in mine is fine .. for now. Will it last I don't know. But you have to make a decision and stick to it. I would avoid the earlier gen 1 3.4 because of the bore score concerns. But thats just Me. My personal theory of the rise of bore score was the switch to 20000 mile service intervals but again not a fact. Modern oils are better than they were in 2004 when Porsche made this change and can handle 20000 miles between service interval. But back then I am not so sure. Again not a fact. As of today there are very very few or zero concerns over the gen 2 engines. This is a fact. I wanted a 986 because my first Porsche was a similar 986 and thats why I like them. I am not saying they are better or worse than a 987 just different. It is my slowest car. It is not slow but I would find it difficult to say it is fast. Lets say it is quick enough. The gen 2 987 2.9 has the same power pretty much as the 986 3.2s. My first change was to remove the massive wheels. I prefer how these feel with smaller wheels and chunky tyre walls.

CABC said: how's the search going Belle? I'm considering a 987.2 2.9 to replace my Caterham for track use to replace. strange choice maybe, but I'm scared of other drivers on public roads in the Caterham, so time for a bigger car to provide the comfort and security. And scratch the F6 itch. @Phazed - do you think a 986 is that much better for track use? Just catching up! My 987.1 RS60 as used on several TVR track days has been faultless. Relatively fast, handling superb and confidence inspiring, brakes more than up to the job with track pads, sports seats and standard seatbelt surprisingly good, I really can’t fault it as a straight out the box, (apart from a set of Triple 8’s fitted). Just press sport button for exhaust flaps open, PSAM engaged and a different throttle response, it’s that easy! I have prepped my 250 bhp, 3.2 986 with 30 mm lower suspension and Bilstein B6 suspension, polybushes ARB’s, same track pads, same track tyres, lost a bit of weight and increased bhp slightly with a few mods. Will be visiting Surrey Rolling Road soon. RS60 is quicker but on both, handling is very similar, both confidence inspiring. I wouldn’t pick a 2.9 for track use, every bhp counts, it really does. Go for the best that you can afford, defo a 3.4 or a late 3.2. 3.4 will always be quicker. I also agree with build quality, it is brilliant. As for those repairs mentioned above, once you start working on them they are no different from any other decent car, in fact, everything underneath is relatively easy to work on. Dropping the front subframe is just 6 bolts and you can leave it hanging few inches while you are renewing/replacing anything above. I feel that I know my cars pretty well now, as much as my much worked upon 5.5 Chimaera!

My 2 babies. Coincidentally the same body and hood combo. 996 and 987.1 both great, RS60 slightly more imho.

You won't be disappointed by either imo. 3.4 is noticeably faster stock for stock, but even a live remap will wake the 2.9 up enough to make it more enjoyable and eek another 3mpg out quite easily. Driving on the momentum is where the 2.9 makes you a better driver. Easy mods, do the oem short shift kit for approx 300 Bmc air filter in stock box 80 Cayman R brake pads and braided lines (basically 911 pads) 50-60 Cayman R rear roll bar (approx 150) Then just make sure it's aligned, serviced and had a brake fluid change. Like with most porsches, check the suspension component wear. Plus point is if you are good at fixing things, they come apart and go back together very well. Almost like they are designed to be spannered by a DIY person. Enjoy [

Well the TVR link seems a common theme here! Had a 2001 450 Chimaera for nearly 4 years - loved it but my wife wasn’t a fan. Loads of character but a few little idiosyncrasies like the fuel filler inside the boot that spilt petrol everywhere, seat belts that locked on the slightest incline etc etc First Boxster was a 2003 facelift manual 986S in speed yellow followed by a guards red 2007 987S manual. A brief reset after a 2 year hiatus got me back into a speed yellow 2009 987S gen 2 manual which was highly specced with PASM, sport chrono, BOSE, PCM, MME etc and I absolutely loved that car. It didn’t have PSE but it sang at 5,000 RPM anyway. I sold that car reluctantly after 4 years to fund our house build but put almost 40,000 miles on it with zero issues including a few Euro road trips. It’s still going strong following a DVLA check! I’m now in a 2017 718 PDK base model which is also brilliant although I miss the drama of the F6 engine - the PSE on the 718 makes up for it a bit and compared to a 987.2, it is a more rounded car with better steering feel & better build quality. We’re currently in France on one of our Euro road trips taking in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France & Italy and this is where these cars really excel - roof down motoring on far superior roads in brilliant weather with stunning scenery - do it before driving is frowned upon even more than it appears to be even now.