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As a firm believer that 981 is the best Porsche you can buy for the money, I am on my 3rd 981 Boxster. I finally got my low mileage base boxster in my dream configuration and I am loving it. In the same time, there is always this "neighbor's grass is greener" look towards the 911. Sometime I think instead of the Boxster I could have bought a 911 but when I look at the 911 market I see how crazy the market is. With my Boxster I got a time capsule with 6k miles on. For the money I paid for my Boxster and even with all the additional money I put in to get all services up to date, I could have not bought any decent 911. I really wouldn't want any model older than 2010 but ideally I would have wanted the 991. Best I could have gotten for the money i paid for the boxster would have been a 997.2 with 50-60 miles in a fair condition. In order to buy a decent 991, I needed to spent twice the money I paid for my Boxster. I know that the 911 keeps its value much better than the 981 but the question is, do you get twice the value when you pay twice the price? I think besides the "coolness" of the 911 there is really not much and even the fun is bigger with the 981. What do you guys think about this topic? Those of you who went this path, can you share your experience. Same for those who have both 981 and 911, please share your thoughts. Thank you!
Back in 2012, I test drove a 911 CS. It was fast, sounded good, but ultimately, it felt grown up. The car told me "You have grown up, you have made it. No need to have fun on your commute. Yes, I can give you fun, but you don't really need to." I missed the fun that the earlier 911s used to communicate. Then I drove a 981 BS 2 months later. The car felt like a puppy wanting to play. Yes, the car was down 85bhp in power and 1s slower to 60mph. But it was telling me "come and play. Let's have fun. Let's go for a drive and make some noise. I will make even your wait in a traffic jam during your commute fun!". So half a year later, I took delivery of a 981 Boxster S in Leipzig and have been driving 981/718 cars since.
The only 911s since 2012 that have spoken in a similar voice to me have been GT3s, GT3RS (the 991.2 was a lot of fun on track), and some of the special edition cars. I have not driven a Sports Classic, S/T, R or Dakar. They look more interesting than a 911 Targa S. I recently drove a 992.1 GTS. Still told me the same as that 991.1 CS. Steering communicated more, but sound was more muted.
Ultimately, I may add a 911 to my stable. Either when I find one that speaks to me or when I feel that I am really grown up and don't need to play with a puppy every time I am going for a drive.
And money, in my case, is - fortunately - not the major deciding factor (though I would not be paying over $750k for an 911R at the height of the R bubble). But if you add money into the equation, then a 981 or one of the H6 versions of the 718 are an even more compelling choice.
I bought a 996. My first Porsche. An Aero car. Silver over box to red interior with a ton of leather and carbon fiber to make the cheap 996 interior classic. It was a nice car but ultimately I didn't enjoy the 911 rear wood weight bias. I sold it. That and all the maintenance that that generation required. I had other cars but yearned for a Porsche again.
Next up was the move to mid-engine. I decided to buy a 2022 Cayman GTS 4.0 brand new. Specked it out. This car is a keeper. In fact that's what my license plate says. Absolutely love it. Love love it.
Then I had the opportunity to buy a new 911t last year. Again specked it out, of course keeping the Cayman. Spectacular car, but sold it in 6 months because it was too big for my taste. Also the electronic dashboard layout was just too sterile for my taste. Still love looking at that car but I sold it for more than I paid so I'm okay.
This summer I decided a Boxster was in order and came upon a 9,000 mile 2025 Boxster GTS. Loving this car. My first Boxster. I could see a spyder in my future someday, either 981 or 982.
But the Cayman is my keeper. 400 HP is the right number for this car.
Someone once said to me the only thing wrong with the mid-engine cars is that the 911 exists. They are sexy as hell and have such a reputation and long tradition. But from a pure Street driving perspective. I'll take the mid-engine every time.( On the track 911 wins.)
Lastly, as for value, the right model and spec will hold its value regardless of mid-engine or rear engine.
Have only driven a 997.1 and a 991.1. I enjoyed both and the rear bias I thought was fun. The 997 is at least a similar size. The 991 felt larger. I could have both without issue but they felt more of cruiser car. It could be that my 981 base setup with headers, tune, PSE and X73 just shines. I am thinking if I setup the 997 or .991 correctly I would enjoy it more, maybe as much as my 981. I do prefer lighter cars and have no need for two extra small seats. I know we are biased but the cayman with any flat six will stand the test of time.
Is good to hear from those of you where the money is not the issue and to see that you still prefer the mid engine Porsche. If I had enough money, I would have still kept my Boxster but added a new 992 Targa/Cabriolet to the portfolio just because (like every big boy), I always dreamed of a 911.
I am just coming back from my weekend ride. The feeling of driving a 981 Boxster with X73, top down in the California morning sun, is probably one of the best things you can experience with any car out there.
before I bought my 981 BGTS I spent some time in Europe in a 991.1 GTS cab. it availed itself very well on twisties and had substantial bottom end power. a worthy competitor. For budget, rarity, sound and appearance I went with the 981 . never regretted it. its also a great roadie car with the frunk and trunk being more secure for storage than 911.
I currently have 2 911s and a 981. I also just got an allocation for a GT3RS. But I prefer driving my 981 on the street. It is THE best sports car in the world IMHO. I love it.
I currently have 2 911s and a 981. I also just got an allocation for a GT3RS. But I prefer driving my 981 on the street. It is THE best sports car in the world IMHO. I love it.
@subshooter quite the stable, what lift and ceiling height do you have there?
I never really longed for a 911 but thought I should be "moving up". I recently turned down a 992.1 S allocation and got my deposit back. I might look for a 997.2 manual but do plan to ever get rid of my Boxster.
Of course this is a Cayman forum and I have never driven a more modern 911. But the comments all feel right and what I would expect really. The Cayman is actually louder inside than my 1983 928, which was really an early precursor to todays; more gentrified feeling of the 911 possibly - an awesome GT car that can do literally everything well. Would love to have one for those reasons. But it also feels like the first time almost when you get into a 981 S or GTS and blast off.... it is a waterbug with seemingly endless energy. Also able to get groceries or fly down the track. Louder, less refined but still comfortable and rock solid, and will throw you around quite nicely on any kind of surface. No I would not get rid of my Cayman, but I would get a 911 if I could.... kind of sums it up for me. Porsche rules !
Have a 981 Spyder. Had a 981 BGTS before. Test drove a 911 Turbo S cabrio prior to 981. Did the Porsche Track Experience and drove 911s and 981s.
On a track, a 911 is a hoot. Mostly PTE was in a 911 GTS, but did a circuit in a 911 Turbo S. If i had a GT3, I'd get it to the track whenever i could.
But I'm not a track guy. I enjoyed the PTE immensely, but it didn't fill me with the urge to be on the track. My idea of a nice driving experience is "spirited" but legal driving on the twisties near where i live and the Spyder works perfectly for me. In a 911, I'd probably never push it to more than 30% of what it's capable of (don't even push the Spyder that much, TBH). So for me, it didn't make sense to spend $$$$ for a 911.
I've often said the mid-engine 981 makes me feel like a much better driver than i really am.
Anesthetics of the Spyder with the top down appeals to me more than Boxster or 911 cabrio. Since I'm not the sultan of Brunei, I doubt I'll ever get a chance to own a 911 Speedster.
Have nothing against track guys. IMO, debating whether the 981 is "better" than the 911 isn't the point. It's a very subjective, idiosyncratic decision and, for me, the 981 works.
@subshooter quite the stable, what lift and ceiling height do you have there?
Direct-Lift Pro 8S. I love it. It's paid for itself 4 times over since I do all my own maintenance. Garage is only 108" so I have zero margin for error. See pic below.
Folks in this thread pretty much nailed it and I can only add my experience moving to a 981 Spyder from a 991.1 C4S earlier this year. The two cars are so completely different and I’m amazed that two cars with 70% parts overlap and the same engine block, could feel so different.
The 911 C4S just oozed competence and refinement, but underpinned by tremendous capability. The AWD gave it extreme confidence and quickness. PDK made it point and shoot. Revved up, the NA Flat 6 sounded sublime. More refined and sonorous than the 981 but not nearly as loud. It’s the ultimate GT car, ready to do whatever you wanted and do it well, but I was probably using 30% of its capability on the street.
By comparison, the 981 is much more “alive”. From the moment you crank the engine, it is just daring you to push it. The car just wants to rev and corner in the most viscerally exciting way possible. The 6-Spd RWD setup just adds to the sense of occasion and playfulness boosted by a thrilling and urgent exhaust note. Also I find the Spyder attracts a lot more attention than my 911 ever did.
If the 911 is James Bond then the 981 is Jason Bourne.
Both cars are a hoot, I wish I had the money and space to keep both but as a street car, that gives me the most thrills for my limited driving time, the 981 might be the best car on the planet at any price.
06-28-2024, 10:15 PM
981 vs 911
and I have never driven a more modern 911. But the comments all feel right and what I would expect really. The Cayman is actually louder inside than my 1983 928, which was really an early precursor to todays; more gentrified feeling of the 911 possibly - an awesome GT car that can do literally everything well. Would love to have one for those reasons. But it also feels like the first time almost when you get into a 981 S or GTS and blast off.... it is a waterbug with seemingly endless energy. Also able to get groceries or fly down the track. Louder, less refined but still comfortable and rock solid, and will throw you around quite nicely on any kind of surface. No I would not get rid of my Cayman, but I would get a 911 if I could.... kind of sums it up for me. Porsche rules !
