OK, I'm sure the topic has come up before, but this is a discussion board-not just an archive so please humor me! Besides, the Boxster board needs new posts anyway!
So...what made you choose the 987S over the 997 cab? Was it just the price? Seems like people say the 987 is more fun...how exactly?
I did drive a 996 and a 986 Boxster but haven't driven anything newer. Besides, a test drive doesn't help that much.

 

For me, it was a matter of aesthetics really. The 911 was designed as a coupe from the ground up. It looks and performs best as a coupe. The 911 cab, to me, looks like an after-thought. It just doesn't look right (I think I'm going to get flamed for that statement).

The Boxster, OTOH, was designed as a cab from the ground up. It was/is the way it's supposed to be, and it just looks right. A ragtop for middle age crisis should also be a 2 seater, which the Boxster is, and which the 911 cab is not. It took them a while for them to get a coupe version for the Boxster, but to me, the Cayman just doesn't look right ( now, I KNOW I'll get flamed for that one).

Driving impressions. I have a 996 C4S and a 987S , so I guess I can give it a shot. The 987S is a quick, playful, fun-loving, forgiving car that is easy to drive fast. The 996 C4S is a fast, powerful, serious car that requires more skill to drive faster. The 987S is nimble, the C4S purposeful.

Of course, all the above may be colored b my pre-conceptions. So, this is just my .02. You want a Porsche cab, get the Boxster. You want a Porsche coupe, get the 911.

 

Hey Palting, no flames from me. I totally agree with you that the cab versions of the 911 have never looked nearly as appealing to me as the coupe. That roof line is a thing of beauty. I will depart slightly when it comes to the Cayman though. The rear 'hips" are very beautiful too.

I'm not a convertible guy overall, but the Boxster is the one convertible I could happily own.

 

Palting, good post. But I would add that the C2 is more nimble than a Boxster. I like 911 cabs from 993 backward. 996 and 997 cabs look like an afterthought. All of the 911s before that had the funky ragtop look of the old days. The look that invited you to high-jump the door into the seats. 996 and 997 cabs have the Hunchback of Notre Dame look. Yep the scratch-built Boxster design is smooth and made with purpose.

 

Palting hit it on the head. Exactly why I bought the 987S when I needed a cab.
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Thanks for your impressions-good posts. Palting: I agree with you about the styling of the Cayman. designman: You think the C2 is more nimble than the 986-87? That surprises me.

It seems like there are way more tuners/aftermarket stuff for the 911. Do you miss that with the Boxster, or are you basically satisfied with the car that you don't want to change it (or are satisfied with what the aftermarket DOES offer)?

Thanks!

 

I would absolutely disagree - having owned both a 986 and 996, the C2 is certainly not more nimble! Both cars have their plusses, but the boxster certainly gets the nod for "nimble" and "agile".

 

One thing that I miss for me is the sound of a 996 with PSE compared to the Boxster. The only great exhaust sound for the Boxster that I read about was the Ruf one. However it is really expensive and until I hear one I cannot seem to justify the price.
I drove both 986/996 extensively and for me as Palting pointed out I did not like the bathtub look of the 996 convertible. Also I found the Boxster so much more fun in the twisties while the light front end of the 996 was downright scary at high speeds. I am sure I would need to spend more time with one and learn how to drive it but the Boxster handles so beautifully it is hard to resist. Don't bash me because I own a Boxster S, I will probably ****** a nice 997S to add in the garage in a few years once the prices have come down.

 

Hmm, I’m scratching my head here. I would agree that the Boxster is easier to handle and more effortless to drive. But the C2’s shorter wheel base, considerably different weight balance which is skewed toward the rear, and same front end as the Boxster means it's more nimble. I don't know how it could not be. But that's the paper analysis. My experience driving both supports this even though I have never owned a 911. I love the Boxster handling and steering but the 911 is a live wire... responds, snaps and darts like fighter jet... tough to handle at high speed because it's too nimble, and the rearward CG makes it more aerodynamically sensitive at high speeds.

 

I'll throw in my 2 cents. I owned a 1987 Boxster and loved it. I always wanted a Porsche and initially felt that the 911 was 'unatainable'. The Boxster was an unbelievable, fun, rewarding car to have, and even though I lived in New England, once I had a covertable I will always 'need' one.

3 kids latter, a 2 seater is not possible, as my 2 boys are car crazy and no way would they be able to wait till the age of 12 before being able to sit in one. Since I wanted a Porsche and wanted a convertable, the 997S Cab was it (the boys love it and do not complain about the back seats). I have had the cab for about 6 weeks now and it is one SWEET ride. The exhaust note (with PSE) is almost worth the difference. With reguards to ride, in day to day commute, I do not think you will notice any difference (ride quality, especially with PASM off). The biggest difference is the enourmous amount of power on tap with the 997. The car just begs to be pushed harder. The Boxster was opposite. You push the pedal and didn't get that whiplash, neck jerking aacelleration as with the 911. Also, interestingly, I found that with the boxster many a time I was not aware of how fast I was going as the 'feel' was different, perhaps a little 'numbed' down, and as a result gave one the extra sense of confidence to push the car faster (some may view that as a negative). The problem being that one was yerning for more power, more omph (maybe this has changed with the S, but I did test drive one and though quicker than the base, it had the same feel). With the 911 the feeling is quite the opposite. The car is extremely stable, and capable, but the car is just daring you to push it faster, harder, but the limiting factor is my skills (or lack off).

With reguards to the 'look', initially I liked the look of the boxster and not the 911. However as time has passed (its been 9 years since the intro of the Boxster), the 911 Cab is just striking, the boxster looks anorhexic (I guess I like the fat *** and large hips). No arguement with regards to the lines of the coupe, but as many cab owners will attest to the rear looks more pronounced with the top down and to my eye, looks better than the boxster.

The funny thing is, if I did not have the need for rear seats, I probably would have stuck with the Boxster S and saved the 40K or so difference and not bothered to even look at 997 and been just as happy. HOWEVER after owning a 997 now I cannot go back (for day to day driving).

I know I may get flammed for bringing it up, but the 997 is really the flagship, and there is some 'prestige' in owning one as well, and though many will not admit it, I am sure that plays a role in decision making as well. I do not think that there are many 997 owners that secretely yern for a Boxster but the reverse is likely true.

 

Ahhh, a 997 guy come to spoil the fun . Just kidding. The opinion was nicely put.

Here's how I ended up with the C4S and the 987S. Late 2001 I was shopping for a middle age crisis car. A ragtop it just HAD to be. Looked high and low, and one of the the first ones I looked at was actually the 996 cab. They had a red one with Savanna interior. Salesman was extolling the virtues of the 996 cab. It just didn't look right, is the best way I can put it. Right beside it was a GR 986. That's the one I actually sat in and test drove. I ordered one, a 986 over the 996 cab, in SY with Black full leather, SY roll bar hoops, classic wheels, and I forget now what else. Came back a few days later to finalize the deal, and the darn salesman wouldn't give up. He knew I was good for a 996, so he whipped out the sales photos of the C4S. He got lucky. I got the very first C4S delivered to the dealership. I actually had to drive it back the following weekend as a favor to the salesman since it was to be their unveiling day for the new C4S, the one I had bought. No regrets, I love the car. But, 4 years later, I still bought my original dream car, the Boxster S. This time I never even gave the 997 cab a thought.

 

A lot depends on your definition of "nimble." A 964 is far more nimble than the larger more modern 911s...it is also as light as a Boxster and yes the rear polar moment means it changes directions on a dime (given that you manage the traction in the front via proper weight transfer). It is a nimble car.

Similarly, the 987 also changes directions well, has perfect steering feel, but it also has the benefit of a lower center of gravity and better weight distribution/more neutral handling. In my opinion the Box feels more planted and more tossable in more driving conditions.

The rear weight balance of a 911 definitely allows a skilled driver to rotate the car quickly...that's where nimble turns into edgy and unpredictable for mere average drivers

I find the Boxster S also feels lighter and more agile than my 993 coupe, although the weight hp numbers are very similar.

On the styling front, sorry but they still can't integrate the roof well enuf (given the motor's in the way!) into the rear deck on the 911. It's personal of course, but it always looks to me like a coupe with its top cut off, whereas the Boxster design flows and looks sleek top up or down. O love how the 987 echoes the CGT lines from a number of angles, and head on front and rear views are just awesome

Lastly, Deven, no doubt that the 911 is the star in the lineup, though it's not the flagship in my mind (CGT). I have owned 911s and will own one again (in coupe form) in 2-3 years when I'm over my cab fixation.

I would turn your conclusion around though and suggest that far more 911 owners than you think would prefer the looks and improved handling of the Boxster, but can't buy one BECAUSE they feel they have to spend more on the prestige car and because 911 guys will always accuse them of buying an entry level car.

 

Just curious, did you drive a new 987S? (There's a major difference between that and the early Boxsters!) I'm just curious how different the 997 or 997S really feels compared to the 987S.

My dreamcar...well, one of my dreamcars...is a 987S with a 3.8 997S motor in it. That just sounds like perfection...

 

I'll be the first to admit, I liked my 986S better. My 911 is around 3100lbs dry and makes 296hp, my 986S was 2850lbs and makes 250hp. The butt-dyno found the Boxster to be almost as fast as the 911, and I genuinely prefer the neutral, stable, properly distributed weight of the Boxster. To me, the car feels much more light and "tossable" instead of the insane understeer that the 911 brings to the table. There IS something to be said for owning a 911, the "big daddy" of the Porsches, but realistically I never ever met a woman who saw me in my Boxster and said "nice car, too bad it's not a 911!" whereas I met lots that went "wow, you drive a Porsche?!?!" That's my $0.02

 

No unfortunately I have not driven the 987S, it was a 986S so I cannot comment on the difference between the two (as the title asked). I am sure there is an improvement between the 986 and 987. I was just offering the reverse opinion for why perhaps people choose the 997. But judging from the numerous posts that crave more more power in the boxster/cayman, the same 'concerns' exist as they did eight years ago?