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Got a shock today: Boxster 987.2 to a 981 boxster or even a Caman!

911hillclimber

PCGB Member
Member
Wife asked if we should drop 20K and our 987.2/2009 Gen II/ 66K Boxster for a 981 of some sort.
We are doing a mega Euro tour next year and she may fancy a younger car to do it in.
so:
For £30K what 981 could I expect?
Base spec:
Base model, no special S types etc.
Heated seats if leather
Auto (!)
Sub 35K miles
Immaculate service history
Not black or silver
All comments welcome.
Graham.
 
Yes, I'm not too enthusiastic tbh, really is better the devil you know.
Looking at Pistonheads to get a feel and that only gives me one conclusion, the 981 is a more modern looking car and the Caman is a lot more expensive!
 
I think you will first have to drive a 981 - find out if the EPAS rules out the car for you.
for many people, it’s not an issue, they adjust perfectly well to it.
for others the lack of feel is a significant drawback to the point where they wouldn’t consider a 981.
you need to find out whether it matters to you or not.
 
That's a comment I did not expect!
The steering on my 987.2 to me is a bit disappointing but I'm comparing it with my 1973 911 so maybe unfair.
The ride quality could be an issue.
my 987.2 is on 19's and is harsh due to lack of tyre wall height, so 18's would be my choice to get a bit of forgiveness into the car.
 
Back in 2017 I went from a 987.2 (2012 Cayman R manual) to a late 2013 Cayman S PDK on 20`s ... never had any regrets at all. A much better car for me, no issues with ride - with PASM and Chrono it was the perfect set up.


The R had the Sports Plus seats, the S had the same `in name` but being the later spec. was much improved. A far more comfortable and dynamic performer !
 
I went from a 987.2 Cayman 2.9 on 19” wheels to a 987.2 Cayman S on 19” wheels and with PASM which I leave in comfort mode for road use and find that to be more comfortable than the non-PASM car. Mind you, when I had 17” wheels on the 2.9 Cayman it was better still, but didn’t please me visually.
 
You kept that quiet at the weekend Graham!! If I'd have known, you could have had a drive in my Boxster 981S. I haven't looked back - once I had the front toe-in set properly! I don't find the EPAS a problem. I wouldn't go Cayman - you'll miss the roof-down days. Are you at Shelsley Breakfast next month? You can have a look then and take it for a run.

Laura
 
A Cayman makes a great tourer (we did 5 euro trips in our 981CS). It gains a bit in storage space compared to Boxsters as you can place items on the engine cover.
There's a lot of talk at the moment about 981's not having the steering feel of 987's, but they in turn aren't as good as the 964 I had, so it's all relative.
981 prices are quite keen at the moment, so for £30k you'll be looking at high mile S's or lower specced 2.7's.
One thing I found even with an S is that when fully loaded, a bit more torque would be nice on alpine climbs of which 718's have plenty :)).
 
I would go for a 981 2.7 manual in your case, I couldnt get on with it in PDK form though. Its a cracking car and better overall imo than the 987.2, better suspension and sounds far better, steering not as good as this wasnt fully sorted until the 718/991.2 generation.
Ive had 987,2 BS, 981 spyder etc. I have also had 997 GTS manual supposedly the steering nirvana and like you I dont think 997 /987 steering is THAT exceptional and the ride most certainly isnt.
I currently drive 991.2 GTS PDK so not against PDK btw.
 
Thanks as ever, esp to Laura!
On hols in the 987.2, typical.
It is the ride as much as anything and the 987 is a real looker.
However, finding one with a lower mileage even with 30k is near impossible.
People like to use them.......
Personally like the Cayman as we very very rarely have the top down for one very important reason, but Camans are even more expensive!
 
Laura makes a very good point about geo. My 981CS was transformed by a set of PS4S's and a set-up at Center Gravity. The new geo is outside of Porsche's recommended settings, but grip and feel are much improved.
 
I loved my 981 2.7 Cayman - so versatile, great for touring Europe and in Racing Yellow it looked superb on 20" Classics.

I never had any issue about it being under powered and the electric steering felt just as good to me as any other car I have driven. The 981 will be a classic Porsche one day.

Although I now have a 992 I still very much miss my 2.7 Cayman in many ways.
 
I managed to get my S for sub £30K in December of last year, I am glad I did as at the current prices being asked I would not have been able to buy the car I now own. I really love driving this 981 and, as said above by others, I would get out and about in a few, ignore the tin top version, think its called a Cayman or something and enjoy those sunny European roads with the roof down. ;-)
 

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