981 Vs 981S - Which would you choose and why? - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hello I'm thinking of selling my my current Mégane RS Trophy which is an absolutely phenomenal car, but I miss the soft top openness that I used to have with my S2000. After a lot of research, I am eyeing up either a 981 Boxster or Boxster S. I've watched all the videos saying how they differ etc but would like real world opinions from owners, ideally those who have had both. Coming from the Mégane, I do wonder if the base models 265 HP would suddenly feel slow? On paper it's actually not far off the Megane, but would lack the torque I've become accustomed too be too noticeable? Driving is mostly on country back roads and villages to work, but on occasion I can get to put my foot down for a bit fun. I'm sure this has been asked hundreds of times before, but as per the title, which would you choose? Or would you not choose either and go for a base 718 instead? I've seen a few 981 2.7 for around the £20-£25k mark, with the S going for around £35k (albeit the S at this price having the PSE). Would you save the £10-£14k and go for the base 2.7 and spent extra getting upgrades done, such as infotainment upgrade and perhaps the PSE? Finally, I've always been a die hard manual fan. I know how good autos are now days but I find they lack something. Are there any reasons to go for one other the other though? Thank you

We've got a 2.7 981 Cayman and my wife used it as her daily for more than 5 years. Based on what you want I think it'll meet your criteria easily. She likes it that much I don't think we'll ever sell it. I also had a 2.0 718 Boxster and that is, in my opinion, the best sports car Porsche makes today for the money. If you can push the budget a bit more, that would be my choice. The only thing you lose is the flat six howl (which is aural utopia) but that doesn't mean the flat 4 sounds bad especially with PSE and pre PPF. Others will likely disagree with that but what's important is your ears not theirs. Best thing is to drive examples of all and see which one you would be more happy with. Also don't discount the PDK box, it's a god send when stuck in stop start traffic and quicker than the manual. Edited by Voodoo Blue on Monday 12th August 14:55

I had a base 987.2 with the 2.9 engine & then went to a 981 GTS with 3.4 tuned so it's not the same comparison as it spans two generations. You can have a lot of fun with the base model, even in that you'll be pushing 70 in second gear. Will that be fun in a manual though? £10k premium of base over S seems steep but to each their own. Although PSE will be £3k+ if installed at OPC (you might want to enquire the costs rather than rely on the website price which is always 'starting from'). So man maths can quickly sort that out for you! It'll be cheaper if you go for a non-switchable version. 718 depends if you want a Turbo or NA engine. I think for a lot of owners the rawness & sound of the NA howl is addictive; and do sacrifice that for power over the turbocharged 718. There's a reason Porsche eventually launched the GTS 4.0 litre. Would recommend a test drive of PDK vs manual too. Good luck!

I always found the 2.7 a bit sluggish so would want an S minimum. 718 also a good shout as mentioned above. This would be equivalent to a 981S in power terms with far more to choose from. https://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/t1bz8aupp1pe 981s are quite old now coming up to ten years minimum although you can extend a warranty up to 15 years / 125k miles if it’s kept in the dealer network. 4.0 was reintroduced at a considerable premium to capture the die hard F6 market.

OP, I bought my 981 Boxster 2.7 PDK back in February after agonising over the same question. I came from a manual 987.2 Cayman with the wonderful 2.9 engine so the performance is comparable. I totally get the want for a manual, however I wanted to try a PDK car as mine is a daily and my use case is going to be changing soon with a lot more motorway miles. So far so good, the PDK has exceeded my expectations and having the sports steering wheel with the paddles works for me when I want have a bit of fun on the right road. So I’d try it and see what you think, especially as the PDK box has 7 gears vs the manual’s 6 which helps with the tall gearing. I test drove both the 981 3.4S and 2.7 base over a few hours on mixed roads. The 3.4 is significantly quicker and great fun, but I decided it wasn’t worth the cost premium over the base car for a daily and I wouldn’t be able to use the extra performance very often. That said, I think your comment about missing the torque of the Megane RS is valid, you have to rev the nuts off the 2.7 for it to feel quick, so again, I think test driving both is needed for you to know for certain. I also test drove the 2.0 718 and agree with Voodoo’s comments about it being great. They’re quick cars and the extra torque is lovely. I didn’t mind the sound and only didn’t go for a 718 as the spec and condition of my 981 was perfect and it saved me £16k on the price of getting in a newer Boxster. My car’s thread is here if you are interested.

I went for a 981 and have loved every minute. The 2.7 engine is a proper gem but it does need to be worked for the performance, not a lot happens under 4500rpm which if you've come from a turbo car it will be a shock. I picked the 2.7 as I felt that it was fast enough and gave me everything I needed, yes its nice to have more but to be honest the 981 is such a good car you dont really feel its missing anything. I'd go and drive both, the lesser torque in the 2.7 might be a deal breaker. The below is from the brochure and compares the outputs from the 981 and the S. Helps illustrate how peaky the 2.7 is. I also tried both PDK and manual, manual just edged it for me as it completed the package. Saying that, if I went for an S i'd go PDK as I feel it suits the car more.

Depends on car history, usage and expectations I guess. Assuming that RS is the 300bhp one? I think you're really going to feel a step down in power going to the base 981. The S is not a ballistically fast car anyway, it's quick when it's on the boil - i.e. about 5000rpm to redline - but it still needs to be worked. FWIW, I've been on track with my 981 CGTS against an A110S (same engine/power as your Megane?) and the GTS will pull away in a straight line, but it needs to be wide open throttle and red line in each gear. I certainly wouldn't want less power. I think the platform feels so capable and like it could take more power too, which exacerbates the issue. I'd get the S. Edited by rawenghey on Tuesday 13th August 10:45

Thanks for the replies guys. All very useful information. I'm not too scared about the lack in torque (at least in my head!) per se, as you say, on paper the base 2.7 is almost as quick as the Mégane (yes it's the 300hp/400nm trophy). Having come from an S2000 previously too, I'm used to weak torque and revving the engine to get the most out of it but do wonder how much of a shock it would be now... I've mostly been looking at models around the 40k miles mark, but should I be scared of higher mileage ones? I've seen a few around the 60k mark and these are often around the £20k mark which seems reasonable. I need to have a look about test driving one as you say, but there are only a few near me within 30 miles. Out of interest, do all models have the xenon lights? The Meg does have dual LED and I'll be honest, now I've had them I'm not sure if I could live without them or Xenons

Think Xenons were a paid option on 981s and then standard on 718s. Mileage shoudn't be an issue but they will wear through consumables like tyres and brakes and some service items.

Champion Hero said: I've mostly been looking at models around the 40k miles mark, but should I be scared of higher mileage ones? I've seen a few around the 60k mark and these are often around the £20k mark which seems reasonable. No reason to be scared of higher mileage ones. It's more important to buy on condiiton. An extreme example but I was speaking to a 981 Cayman S owner last week. He bought his car on 20k miles & in 8 years ownership it's now on 188k! If you saw the car you wouldn't know it at all it's so well looked after, and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines. What you will find though is most Porsche specialists seem to seek cars at <10 years old & 60k miles which must say something about the market.

There's definitely not a £10-15k premium for the S, I think it's around £5k like for like. You're probably looking at some very ambitiously priced 981Ss but in reality they will be changing hands for a lot less than that. I picked one up for sub £20k (albeit high mileage). But as long as it's been well maintained mileage shouldn't be an issue at all.

I faced the same dilemma when these cars were quite new, I test drove both engines, and settled on the 2.7. The reason is that I wanted an engaging road car, and I found the 2.7 to be the right power level for exploiting on the road without worrying about your license too much. Also, and a big thing for me, I found the 2.7 to be a sweeter sounding engine, due to its smaller displacement, it has less of a boom and more of a wail in the way it sounds. The only real trouble with a 2.7 is trying to find one with decent spec. Naturally people who added a load of options and went for the 3.4, in for a penny in for a pound. A sports exhaust is a must, however at this age the valves, will likely be at the end of the free moving life, and will potentially be close to if not already stuck. They default to being stuck open, which isn’t the worst thing in the world. The giveaways is when you hear a large chirp as they open and close, that means the end is nigh. This is not a serviceable item. I think the extended leather inside is a must, and try to avoid the base seats, they really aren’t very comfortable.

Dunbar871 said: I always found the 2.7 a bit sluggish so would want an S minimum. this, have driven both extensively and personally wouldn't even bother with a non S

WCZ said: Dunbar871 said: I always found the 2.7 a bit sluggish so would want an S minimum. this, have driven both extensively and personally wouldn't even bother with a non S I'd disagree to a certain extent. My current car is a 4.0 PDK Boxster which is bonkers fast and on a clear road is a magical experience. Problem is there is no such thing as a clear road in the UK and because of that it's just got too much power to enjoy the car's full capabilities, in second gear if you want to hear the engine scream you're doing plus 70mph which obviously creates other issues if you don't want any legal complications. The 2.7 Cayman we've got on the other hand loves to rev, has real world useable performance and screams at anything over 3k rpm which generally keeps you the right side of legal. Yes, you can go faster and enjoy the extra power the S has but in my opinion you'll get more pleasure more of the time from the 2.7 mostly keeping the right side of the law. Having said that I still bought a completely useless 718 4.0 after having a very capable 718 2.0 so what do I know Oh, and our 981 sounds 10 times better with PSE switched on than the 718 4.0 every day of the week

Voodoo Blue said: I'd disagree to a certain extent. My current car is a 4.0 PDK Boxster which is bonkers fast and on a clear road is a magical experience. Problem is there is no such thing as a clear road in the UK and because of that it's just got too much power to enjoy the car's full capabilities, in second gear if you want to hear the engine scream you're doing plus 70mph which obviously creates other issues if you don't want any legal complications. The 2.7 Cayman we've got on the other hand loves to rev, has real world useable performance and screams at anything over 3k rpm which generally keeps you the right side of legal. Yes, you can go faster and enjoy the extra power the S has but in my opinion you'll get more pleasure more of the time from the 2.7 mostly keeping the right side of the law. Having said that I still bought a completely useless 718 4.0 after having a very capable 718 2.0 so what do I know Oh, and our 981 sounds 10 times better with PSE switched on than the 718 4.0 every day of the week I get what you're saying and imo this applies to something like a 458 vs the 296 etc where supercar performance has basically gotten absurdly unusable outside of the track but at a lower level I personally found the non-s to just sit a little below the threshold of what I'd want a sports car to be

lol, no point having something slow when you going to speed, best reason yet.

I ran a 981 2.7 for 40k miles and it was actually bought by one of the members who replied above, coming from a m140i it did feel pretty slow but it was actually the long ratios with the manual that killed the joy on roads as most of the time you're basically in 2nd which tops out at 70+mph, once in 3rd the car doesn't have enough torque down low to really provide much fun coming out of corners etc. I moved on to a manual e92 m3 which was no torque monster but the shorter gearing and bigger engine actually made it a more enjoyable experience most of the time. It's also not helped by the 265 section rears which is way too fat for the amount of power the car has!

I went for a 2.7 Boxster 981 as I wanted something I had to thrash to make good progress I’ve previously had much faster cars including a 3.4 Cayman, M5, CLS63 and EV’s I love this car, sometimes it feels a little flat lower revs but get those revs up and it’s sublime

WCZ said: Dunbar871 said: I always found the 2.7 a bit sluggish so would want an S minimum. This, have driven both extensively and personally wouldn't even bother with a non S IMO 2.7 is fine with the very clever and rapidly shifting PDK but if you favour a manual go for the S with a chunk more torque.

Bit of background - I have owned two 981 Boxster S cars. First one was pretty basic, the second one has PSE, PTV, PASM, Sport Chrono etc etc. Both cars were manual. I've also driven the 987 Cayman R, the 718 Boxster S (2.5) and the 718 Cayman GTS4.0, all three PDK, as well as various 911s in 997 and 991 flavours in both manual and PDK. The reason I've had two 981 Boxster S cars is that my first one was written off by a dozy taxi driver. I got the second one after the insurance payout, but in the meantime I had a 718 Boxster S as an insurance loaner for several weeks. The 718 Boxster S is an amazing car, but I really missed the sound of the flat six engine which is why ultimately, I bought another 981. But the 718 has much nicer steering than either of my 981s. More feel and more feedback and a nicer weight. But the 987 Cayman R felt even better than the later cars due to its hydraulic steering. If you are like me and really want a manual car, then be aware that the S with its 3.4L engine has quite tall gearing. You can reach 82mph in 2nd gear, which means that for blatting around mountain roads there really isn't as much opportunity as I would like for stirring the box. And if you want to pull through the gears, you'll be in licence-losing territory before you're out of third. These same gear ratios are shared between the S, the GTS and the GT4. Meanwhile, the ratios on the smaller engine as shorter meaning you get to change gear more often. I've not actually driven a base model car, but I think I would much prefer its gear ratios. They aren't that much different - top speed in third gear on the S is 113mph vs 110mph on the base model. But I'm told that it does make a difference when driving and you get much more opportunity to shift on the base model. However, if you want a PDK gearbox (they are fantastic and the best way to go fast) then the gear ratios are exactly the same for the base model, the S and the GTS so it doesn't matter which you choose. PDK will make sure you are always in the right gear, so the tall gearing matters less. In fact the PDK cars have 7 gears, the last of which is VERY tall which gives a nice cruising gear which the manual cars with only 6 gears don't have. They could really use a taller 6th and a shorter 1st to 5th in my opinion. The reason for the tall gearing on the 981 S cars is to prevent them from accelerating faster than the base 911 models. That's necessary because the 981 (being mid engined) actually handles better than a 911 and if not hobbled by its gearbox, ECU and induction system, would easily beat the 911 around a track. And that would be no good for Porsche's profit margins on 991s which cost a similar amount as a 981 to build - it is after all much the same car, with a different body and with the engine and gearbox mounted the other way around. Boxster/Cayman 981 Gear Ratios. I got this table from some forum somewhere several years ago - can't remember where. Manual Gear Ratios 981 (Base Model): Gear Ratio KPH MPH (7700rpm) 1 3.67 70 44 2 2.05 125 78 3 1.46 176 110 4 1.13 228 142 5 0.97 265 166 6 0.84 306 191 Manual Gear Ratios 981 (S, GTS, GT4, NOT Base): Gear Ratio KPH MPH (7700rpm) 1 3.31 77 48 2 1.95 130 82 3 1.41 180 113 4 1.13 225 141 5 1.08 268 167 6 0.95 314 196 PDK Gear Ratios 981 (Base, S, GTS): Gear Ratio KPH MPH (7700rpm) 1 3.91 79 49 2 2.29 134 84 3 1.65 187 117 4 1.30 237 138 5 1.08 285 178 (approx. drag limit GTS) 6 0.88 359 219 (effectively overdrive) 7 0.62 497 310 (effectively overdrive) Final reduction axle ratio 3.25 Note: Speed calculated at 7700rpm with 20 inch wheels and 265/35 tyres for a diameter of 694mm. PDK ratios for the 981 are the same as the PDK ratios found in the Carrera S. The final reduction axle ratio in the Carrera S is 3.44.

My 2 cents: -> I’d want the S purely for added torque. It makes the car more driveable at lower speeds. -> I’d pick PDK purely because you can play around with the gears more often, paired with higher torque it’s a better driving experience -> I’d consider a manual 2L as it might be the sweet spot in actual driving pleasure, even if the auditory one isn’t as good.

LunarOne said: PDK Gear Ratios 981 (Base, S, GTS): Gear Ratio KPH MPH (7700rpm) 1 3.91 79 49 2 2.29 134 84 3 1.65 187 117 4 1.30 237 138 5 1.08 285 178 (approx. drag limit GTS) 6 0.88 359 219 (effectively overdrive) 7 0.62 497 310 (effectively overdrive) Those numbers can't be right surely. I don't have any scientific evidence other than I was redlining in 4th at the end of the straight at Snetterton and that would have been around 130mph, definitely not 138mph. Also I really doubt top speed would be reached in 5th gear.

Voodoo Blue said: I also had a 2.0 718 Boxster and that is, in my opinion, the best sports car Porsche makes today for the money. If you can push the budget a bit more, that would be my choice. The only thing you lose is the flat six howl (which is aural utopia) but that doesn't mean the flat 4 sounds bad especially with PSE and pre PPF. Others will likely disagree with that but what's important is your ears not theirs. Couldn't agree more. My (entirely Cayman) ownership history is 1. 718 2.0, 2. 981 GT4, 3. 718 2.0, 4. 718 GTS 4.0. All of those manual, and I'm just about to take delivery of a 718 GT4 RS with the inevitable PDK. I've also driven most 981 and 718 variants with PDK, some with roof, some with tent. (I'll accept that it's more like glamping once you get the roof up). I still own numbers 2 and 4. For me, the first car was probably the best everyday road car. My heart says a 2.7 981 would be better, but honestly, the pre-PPF 718 2.0 turbo was sublime in so many ways. The post-PPF version is also good, but somehow doesn't drive as sweetly, especially from cold. Importantly, someone said it earlier, the 718 has nicer steering and "road feel" than the 981. And that's not to say the 981 is bad, but it's my subjective opinion too. But if I were to go for a 981 for road use, I'd be looking for a 2.7, preferably manual, even though I know PDK is objectively better in very way. Fiery little engine, and you get to stir the box yourself to get it moving! What's not to love? They are all quicker than anyone could ever need for the road (as others have said, the GTS 4.0 slightly crazily so), so don't discount the enjoyment of having one that actually needs to be driven to get that enjoyment. If the "need to stir it up" doesn't appeal, try to hold out for a 718 2.0. Honest to god, they do it all! Liam

Voodoo Blue said: Problem is there is no such thing as a clear road in the UK and because of that it's just got too much power to enjoy the car's full capabilities, in second gear if you want to hear the engine scream you're doing plus 70mph which obviously creates other issues if you don't want any legal complications. Slightly off topic, but quick fact check on this could be relevant. There are loads of clear roads in the UK and it just so happens such roads are almost entirely unpoliced. Low traffic means little or no policing. That includes the south of England. Sure, if you're driving on A roads or on the outskirts of urban centres, it's all a bit pointless. And plenty of B roads are rat runs with too much traffic to get a clear run. But just to give one example to show I'm not talking about really remote roads, there's a great route just south of the M4 in England and running roughly parallel with it where you can have a largely clear run even at rush hour. It's a good hour-long stretch, mix of white roads and B roads, mostly the former but mostly wide enough (just!) for two cars, I'm not talking single-track lanes. You can absolutely dismantle it in the right car. Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire West Sussex, Dorset and on and on. Loads of fantastic routes across those counties which are low traffic and zero policing. Lots of bad ones with traffic and police, too. Don't go on those! Oh and get the 3.4. It's not rocket ship, but it does have substantially more torque. The 2.7 is a very nice engine and if that's all that was available, it would be a great buy. But the 3.4 is better and has no downsides.

The only issue you’ll have if you get a 2.7 is dick envy over the 3.4. That’s it. But it’s not about size it’s how you use it, right? Unless you track the car either variant is constrained for road use and more torque only means you get there faster at a lower rpm. In the real world the 2.7 will be more fun, you’ll be able to rev it out, just, while the 3.4 will be too fast, much faster. In any event if you get a manual of either the gearing is super long - PDK will suit the car better for daily driving. If you intend tracking it however, go for the S.

Thanks guys. Some really interesting info here. I am leaning towards the base model from the comments I think for a few reasons. Obviously cost - there are more options available (although colour choices seem limited but that's another issue and a personal one ofc!). Running costs on the 2.7 would be better too, lower tax, lower insurance etc Driving experience similar to the S2K and similar performance to Meg Driving my car home last night (and actually getting to put my foot down on the back roads for once) the Mégane is plenty quick, with it reaching 70 in 2nd/3rd in the blink of an eye and it got me thinking. The 2.7 is 0.2 secs slower on the 0-60 which isn't going to be noticeable and not why I got the Mégane in the first place - I got it for the handling. It's one of the best handling cars on the road and I'm sure the porka would be just as good. The extra torque in the meg is lovely theres no denying that but then I started thinking about how much I loved the S2000 and in reality, the 2.7 almost sounds like an evolution of that (the Type R Honda never made). With that I had to pull every gear long to get the most of it (making peak power at 8200rpm) - but despite it's pathetic torque, it didn't matter as it was fun (and the 9k Redline helped). Looking at the gearing above, it's very similar to the S2K Transmissions Gear Ratios: . 1st gear 3.133 2nd gear 2.045 3rd gear 1.481 4th gear 1.161 5th gear 0.971 6th gear 0.811 Reverse: 2.800 Primary Gear Reduction 1.160 Final Drive Ratio 4.1 I do think the manual would still be my preference though. My wife has the Clio RS Trophy 220 with the EDC in that, and it's a fantastic car, more than quick enough but I do lose some of the engagement when I drive that. I'm sure the pdk is an even better box than the Clios but my wife also thinks I'll 'get bored' in the auto after a while. I've contacted a couple of vendors to see about having a test drive of a base one. I think I probably need to hear a 718 in the flesh too. The 4 pot in the Mégane sounds great for a 1.8 so I imagine the 718 would still sound good but I just wonder if part of me wants to hear that flat 6 sing whilst I'm not too old to enjoy it!&#128514;

Panamax said: IMO 2.7 is fine with the very clever and rapidly shifting PDK but if you favour a manual go for the S with a chunk more torque. +1 in a nutshell. I've had a 2.9 manual 987 with PSE. The manual underperformed was on mountain roads - where 1st was too low and 2nd was too tall. I found the combination of ratios and torque frustrating. Everything else I loved about it. From the day I got it I became a better driver using anticipation and the feedback was wonderful. The 2.7 PDK 981 was a rare Christmas Tree car with all the baubles like Ceramic Ceramic Brakes, Carbon bucket seats, Sport Chrono, PASM etc. I used it as a daily driver in all weathers for 2 years and really enjoyed it - the lightness, the balance, brakes, sounds all combined to create a natural flow on a drive. It totally expunged the joyless lazy driving habits nurtured by some of the head turbo rush between corners, average brakes and nose heavy cornering.

maz8062 said: T In the real world the 2.7 will be more fun, you’ll be able to rev it out, just, while the 3.4 will be too fast, much faster. This can end up being a regressive argument. You could easily argue that the 2.7 is too fast, what you really want to be able to wring a sports car out is a 1.5L ND MX-5. But then a Fiat Panda 100hp will let you rev it out even more. And so on until you're pedalling. Personally, I've rarely found any NA car to be too fast for the road. Late model 4.0 litre Porsche GT cars are getting a tiny bit borderline. But the 981 3.4 doesn't even come close. It's really only megapower turbo cars - Mclarens, late model Ferraris et al - where it's become a major issue. You can't get near their full performance. But a 981 3.4? You can rev it completely out in 2nd and 3rd, no problem. It's all about time and place. The bottom line is that even in a 2.7, if you don't want to break the speed limit you're not revving it fully out even in 2nd gear on a "good" road and it's a redundant purchase. So, it's really a question of driving to conditions not posted limits. The 3.4 is not particularly quick. But it does have additional torque that makes it more fun and satisfying to drive more of the time in the real world. The 2.7 just feels too gutless, too often. Even the 3.4 can feel a bit flat on smoother, quicker roads. I actually think you can make the opposite argument re the 2.7. It's a pretty low torque engine that's gutless until you get right up it. Even with PDK, it's geared very high. So, if it's only really enjoyable at the top of the rev range, how often is that? With the 3.4 you can enjoy the top of the rev range as much, it's not a 700hp supercar. But you also have the added texture of a reasonable slug of mid-range to drive the car on and enjoy. In the end, it's all subjective, there's no right or wrong. But I do think fairly objectively the 3.4 has more bandwidth and gives you more options for driving enjoyment, with the 2.7 being a bit more one trick.

I've recently changed from my old 986 into a 981. Both had the 2.7 engine. I didn't get a 718 as I wanted the 6 cylinder noise. I didn't look at any 981S as I'd been round the houses with that when buying the 986 and decided to stick with the 2.7. I've found the 2.7 does every thing I want, it can sit in stop start traffic (and has done for 7 hours on the M6), is perfectly fine for driving day to day on British roads, can do long distance drives but is also for good having some fun without being into licence loss territory. It's easy to drive day to day but is a tap of the gear stick away from being able to press on if the road ahead clears. As others have said - more real world fun! The 981 is a pdk - I do find it needs revved away from stationary, as it seems a bit sluggish to get it going but that probably a me problem - once I got used to being a bit right foot heavy it's been fine!

I owned a 981S (PDK) for a few years and thought it was the perfect sports car for UK roads. Just occasionally I wished it had a little more outright acceleration so convinced myself to part with it and move on. I fully expected to replace it with the then newish 718S but a test drive revealed not just the disappointing aural experience but also surprising turbo lag which seriously detracted from its appeal in my view. Two 911s later and I still hanker after the pure fun of the 981 but I couldn’t imagine having less than the S.

f6box said: Voodoo Blue said: Problem is there is no such thing as a clear road in the UK and because of that it's just got too much power to enjoy the car's full capabilities, in second gear if you want to hear the engine scream you're doing plus 70mph which obviously creates other issues if you don't want any legal complications. Slightly off topic, but quick fact check on this could be relevant. There are loads of clear roads in the UK and it just so happens such roads are almost entirely unpoliced. Low traffic means little or no policing. That includes the south of England. Sure, if you're driving on A roads or on the outskirts of urban centres, it's all a bit pointless. And plenty of B roads are rat runs with too much traffic to get a clear run. But just to give one example to show I'm not talking about really remote roads, there's a great route just south of the M4 in England and running roughly parallel with it where you can have a largely clear run even at rush hour. It's a good hour-long stretch, mix of white roads and B roads, mostly the former but mostly wide enough (just!) for two cars, I'm not talking single-track lanes. You can absolutely dismantle it in the right car. Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire West Sussex, Dorset and on and on. Loads of fantastic routes across those counties which are low traffic and zero policing. Lots of bad ones with traffic and police, too. Don't go on those! Oh and get the 3.4. It's not rocket ship, but it does have substantially more torque. The 2.7 is a very nice engine and if that's all that was available, it would be a great buy. But the 3.4 is better and has no downsides. Well we're all entitled to voice our opinions based on our own personal experiences. As I said above, the only way to objectively know what is "better" is for the OP to drive them all and reach their own conclusion.

I have plenty of clear roads near me where I can exploit a car's performance, but there are limits to both my talent and the risks I'm prepared to take. So a lot of the time I'm driving at '5 to 8 tenths'. The lower end of that range is generally where I find the separation between good cars and the not-so-good. Both the S and the 2.7 will feel special at lower speeds, because they're brilliantly engineered, beautifully balanced and their control weights are so well matched (reservations about 981 steering feels aside). The difference for me is that low- and mid-range torque in the S gives more 'thrust' without having to wring it out, making it an easier car to punt around at decent speeds and overcomes some of the (in my view over-stated) challenges of the gearing. The 2.7 is a lovely engine in isolation but in general day to day driving I suspect there are times that it would feel flat-footed. I'd often have that slight sense of 'this car is great BUT...if only it had more poke'. Personally, if I wanted to buy the best Boxster I could for sub-£25k I'd be going straight for a 987.2S that's had lots of work done. Having had 3 I've had no issues with any of them bar a heavy clutch in one, and not lost a penny on them either.

I found the 981 GTS pdk a bit boring on the road - I sold it when I realised I had to be doing silly speeds to feel anything. The chassis is so capable and the balance is perfect. I wanted some imperfection! Although on track it was immense fun. Makes we wonder whether the 2.7 manual is the sweet spot, never driven one...

Kevin-y9fs3 said: Personally, if I wanted to buy the best Boxster I could for sub-£25k I'd be going straight for a 987.2S that's had lots of work done. Having had 3 I've had no issues with any of them bar a heavy clutch in one, and not lost a penny on them either. At that price point it’s certainly a good option.

n12maser said: I found the 981 GTS pdk a bit boring on the road - I sold it when I realised I had to be doing silly speeds to feel anything. The chassis is so capable and the balance is perfect. I wanted some imperfection! Although on track it was immense fun. Makes we wonder whether the 2.7 manual is the sweet spot, never driven one... Yeah, this was kind of my point earlier on. In the 981 you need to be seriously hauling ass, ideally at track speeds, for it to come alive and to appreciate how capable it is. But the trio of overly heavy steering, glacial gearing and massive grip mean the car can often feel quite heavy and numb at normal speeds. Add in the 2.7's very modest output and I just don't think it's the right choice. 270bhp in a boosty front-engined hot hatch probably feels about right, but this is a very different car. Maybe if you got the 2.7 you could put on narrower tyres...?

I can argue the toss for either. I’ve got a 981CS. By modern standards, it isn’t especially powerful, but the torque does come in handy. As enjoyable as it is to be wringing the 2.7s neck, sometimes a bit of effortless grunt is what you need. I’m fortunate to have my car close to some excellent, quiet roads up north so I do get to flog my S plenty. I would certainly be frustrated if I couldn’t stretch its legs, so I think location may be a factor. That said, this car is about the chassis and overall experience. Both are great cars, and I’d say options spec is important, and also subjective. I’d be happy with either, all else being equal - but I’d be happier with the S. Either way, I personally wouldn’t get one without the ‘button’ options - PSE, PASM and Sport Chrono. They all add to the driving experience. The other options are what I would deem ‘nice to have’. I think a test drive is essential for you, ideally on roads you’ll be driving it. You can’t go wrong, though. The 981 really is a brilliant thing for UK roads. Balance, grip, the N/A wail, size, ergonomics - all just work so nicely here. Buy on condition rather than mileage. They (and particularly the base) are definitely at a price point that makes them affordable for many to buy but not to maintain properly.

Back in 2016 I tried a 2.7 and 2.0 which had just came out. Bought the 2.0 litre new because it just had a bit more power, and was much more up to date. 75,000 miles and 8 years later I still have it, never kept a car so long previously. Based on the power that would mean a 981S which is similar but suspect you're talking £30k+ for either of those, even an early model. Note that base specs on the 718s include more options as standard like the xenon lights, PCM and bluetooth which were additional cost options on the 981.

Tested base and S Cayman 981 9 years ago and went for the base PDK which I still have and have enjoyed 50k+ miles. More opportunity to hear the howl of the engine at higher revs. That to me is more important than getting to 60 a few points of a second faster. I went off the S when test driving around Reading town centre and realised I was doing double the speed limit without thinking. I have PASM, and 14-ways for comfort.