A few things.

1. Get the S. Scale back the options. Or get a CPO 981 Boxster S. The power Porsche has added makes this car a whole new ball game in mid-engine Porsche world. For the track/autox the base is plenty. For the real world having the extra power in a world of 300-400 HP pick up trucks and Mercs is handy when overtaking cars on the highway and merging. Porsche has increased the front plant, added power and reduced weight. Coming off braking and out of turns that level of power gives the S a whole different feel. Like it runs on RedBull instead of petrol. It has a personality all its own that you're not going to get anywhere else in the Porsche line up.

2. Contrary to popular notion, it's not a convertible. The 991 Cabriolet is a convertible. This is a roadster. It was designed to be a roadster from the start. And better yet it was designed to be a mid-engine roaster. That's full of win, nevermind what the average Porsche owners thinks (a.k.a. Porsche marketing upselling B.S./Kool-Aide). And frankly now that Carrera is fully a GT like the Turbo has been for some time, the 981 is closer to the 964 or 911 than the actual present Carrera.

3. The Cayman is a Boxster variant. It's not a different car as evidenced by the way Porsche report the sales -- as ONE car. Only in Porsche world does adding a fixed roof create a whole new marketing campaign geared at presenting a faux hierachy: "for those that can't yet afford a lesser handling more over-priced car, please consider the next best thing". LOL. And people buy into this...
But what do you expect from a car company that would put an inexplicably tall first gear in mid-engine car just to give the base Carrera more 0-60 margin on the time sheets.

4. Under the hands of the average driver, the Boxster is the best handling mass-production sports car Porsche offers. There's nothing inherently better about mid-engine vs. rear engine. In fact a front engine GT-R is quicker than both. But a mid-engine car is the least likely to lure the driver into errors. Then you move onto fixed roof or no roof. The Cayman does have more rigidity but it's not a net benefit over not having a roof at all as you avoid the weight altogether. Excellence had an ALMS pro drive Cayman R and Boxster Spyder at a karting track, in order to empasize grip and handling over power and aero. The Boxster Spyder was the clear winner, faster on every lap with no extra attention needed to set up car for corner entry and exit. It was the epitome mid-engine: point and shoot. I also remember at test at Fontana where a PDK Cayman S was also beaten by a manual Boxster Spyder. Which tells me the best handling mid-engine Porsche is the one that avoids weight up top.

As far as styling, I think the Cayman looks better but missing out on the open air experience is asking too much.
A 981 Targa with some sort of RS flavoring to compensate for the extra weight would probably be the best of both worlds.

 

+981. The new Boxster simply looks better. This was more of a toss up with the prior versions of each model.

 

aye! but to answer the OP's question..did you have the top down?

 

If you're interested, I have a client of mine selling a base 981 boxster. It's black, has 3k miles or so- very minimal, PDK. I'll send you my contact info. If interested, send me yours and I can get you in contact. He is selling because he just bought a 991 Carrera S.

 

To my opinion the choice is very basic. If you ask me why I love roadsters my answer is simple. To me, a roadster is like a motorcycle with 4 wheels. I never been comfortable on a motorcycle for reasons of safety and skills. Riding my Boxster surrounded by the noises of the road and the nature, earing accelerations of my friends during a ride with my Porsche club (PCA) brings to me happiness. Combined with the comfort and the opportunity to cover you up when it is raining, this is the best of both world. In conclusion, the choice is not a matter of performance, to me it's a question of a lifestyle. For most of us it's a dream of a lifetime, so please, let's your emotions speak a little!

 

The deciding factor for me was when I saw Rennlist user "slc" Mexico Blue Boxster S over in the 987-981 forums.

 

I would be happy with either, they are very close. I happen to have a 986 S Boxster FWIW.

However, if I were buying new today, I would lean toward a Cayman. My personal reasons are:

1) Looks. To my eye both 981s look great, but the Cayman edges it for me.
2) I have learned something about open top motoring: I only like it when I am alone (i.e. on a country road). In those cases, I do like the open air experience. In any sort of traffic, I much prefer the top up. I tend to be introverted and perhaps this is part of it. I have also found that the cockpit feels very tight and close with the roof up, and I like that (many people feel exactly the opposite though!!)
3) I am super fussy about noises (aside from the mechanical sounds of the engine etc.). The soft-tops are never as perfectly quiet. The Boxster is very good… there are no rattles or intrusive noises, but if you listen, there are some “sounds” here and there (with the top up). You have to understand that I am ridiculously picky here! Plus, the 981 is stiffer than the already excellent 986 and that will have an effect too.

But all that said, I come back to my original point: I would take either.

 

The convertible. There is NO better feeling than driving a convertible home after work with the top down. Worries that were insurmountable 10 minutes before fade away on a warm late afternoon drive.

Unlike older convertibles, the Boxster with the top up is very comfortable to drive, and the top is so elegantly engineered. I love my 911, but i MISS my Boxster.

If I was choosing a car PURELY for driving, I'd pick the Cayman. Once you factor in the whole experience (especially in a place like San Diego where 90% of days are convertible days, the Boxster is the right car.

 

Ragtop - Owned a Boxster for 5 years. Can't beat rolling with the top down on sunny days or moonlight nights. A much more visceral experience. Drive them both and you will know.