If you're thinking of getting a 987.2, here's some considerations on you options list: 1) Interior color. The tan looks great...until you get reflections off the dashboard on to the windshield and that's super annoying. I'm surprised Porsche didn't spec black under the windshield. Maybe there's a treatment to diffuse the reflections. 2) Headlights. The Xenon lights do a superior job lighting the road and they swivel with the steering which is super helpful at night. 3) Sound system. You're buying the car to listen to the engine but it's nice to have a respectable stereo. If you have the Bose you have much better sound but it steals storage room from behind your head. The base stereo is tragic. At least get Sound Package Plus if you can. 4) Windscreen. Kind of a requirement if you want to have a normal conversation with the top down. 5) Auto Climate control. An embarrassment this was even an option in such an expensive car but you can live without it if you're a fiddler. 6) Wheels. You really want the 18" wheels like shown on this car and it's the sweet spot in the wheel lineup. 7) PDK. Introduced in 2009, you'll notice this is still Porsche's go-to transmission and you'll want it, too. Yeah. Yeah. No Manual? Get over it. Common Problems: 1) Soft top. Watch to make sure the top folds back naturally into the side window grooves and not over the grooves, else you'll need to tighten the elastic bands that perform this function (a cheap fix but you need to be careful). New top is $$$. 2) Water pump. Just make sure the timing belt job included a new water pump. 3) Pneumatic trunk props. Easily replaced but you don't want to be the one to have the fronk lid fall on your head. 4) Battery. It's great to install a H7 in the car vs an H6 but this is a job for experts who know how to bridge the battery so you don't lose everything. A number of locking options can only be reset by someone with dealer capability so you don't want to go through a reprogramming cycle. 5) Brakes. A new set will last ~40k unless you track and hard-drive the car...and then a proper full set will set you back ~$1,800 per axle (assuming you want a full set and not just pads) so knowing the # of mm's left isn't trivial. All in all: 987.2 = Maximum ratio Fun / Cost to be had.
I'm about to buy a 36k mile boxster and was wondering if you could elaborate on "proper full set" of brakes. Assuming only the basic maintenance has been done, am I about to have to spend a ton at 40k miles?
You lost me when you said PDK over a manual. I get it that people prefer PDK in the newer models like the 981,718 but in this (slower) 987 i think the manual would be sublime. Also financially speaking in a 15 year old car replacing the manual box would be a lot cheaper. Just my 2 cents
@@Scifo321 There's a reason Porsche's PDK has remained nearly unchanged since its introduction in 2009: It's superbly engineered and shifts faster than a manual. The Boxster is faster with the PDK and also gets better gas mileage. Manuals are lots of fun but if you don't want to row your own, the PDK, being a double-clutch system, is a far cry from Porsche's previous mushbox auto.
Very nice car. I purchased a 987.2 Boxster S with a PDK. My only regret is the same as yours, should have got the manual. I just purchased a 986.2 2004 Base with a manual. The car is Carmona red metallic which I love. It has a full saddle leather interior. I'm really enjoying both cars. Enjoyed the video.
The essence of Boxster ownership is the Porsche sportscar experience at a price that mortals can afford. With the 987, it is a car that you wrap yourself around with, like a well tailored sports jacket. The low seating postion, the audible feedback with the roof down, the backpack feeling of having the engine strapped just behind your back - everything is designed to amplify sensations of being in harmony with the car. You quickly sense that the car is not only responsive to driving inputs, but it has predictable qualities that you can trust. Driven sensibly, the Boxster will not bite. The downside? It is a Porsche, so ownership costs will be higher (but not prohibitively so). It is mid-engined, so engine maintenance and repairs will be more fiddly. Even a simple change of spark plugs, for example, require a hoist and the rear wheels to be removed first. The manual box is good but not the best - I have driven other cars that allow more intuitive gear changes. If you come from a turbo car, be prepared to change your driving technique. You have to be ready to rev the base engine to get the most out of it (not hard in a flat 6). There is no fat band of mid-range torque to rescue you from fluffed gear changes. And the car battery needs to be connected to a trickle charger if the Boxster is not driven regularly. Nothing drains a battery quicker than a parked Porsche. These are relatively minor shortcomings in the overall scheme of things. Kevin is right about the reliability of the 2.9 litre engine. The 9A1 engine was designed to address reliability issues associated with earlier M96/97 engines. Among other improvements, the engines in the 987.2 have superior oiling and can be tracked with little or no modification. Stick to the recommended maintenance schedules and allow the engine to warm up properly before you thrash it.
987.2 2.9L is a very smart choice as new engine yet only one in line-up that is non DFI. Hydraulic steering final years never equaled. I swear prior 987.1 engine sounded better per Variocam changes at 5k n 6k. Sigh. While lacking torque of bigger 911 motors, a supremely balanced vehicle whose key strength is in the curves. Love my 99 996.1 cable throttle manual 911, yet 987.2 PDK I also own is a sweetheart (3rd Boxsterexperience), good build quality, and likely far lower running costs than 911.
I have a 17 Mini Cooper S and recently got a 2010 Cayman S. Funny to hear you had a JCW before this. Love both cars and it's a toss up which to drive each day. Waiting for some nicer weather to really enjoy the Cayman.
Perhaps. But bear in mind that the 987.2 is now close to the bottom of its depreciation cycle. A $5K difference is not that much to pay for the right car.
@@pervertt mine is about as good as one gets and isn’t worth $30k, based on recent values. Last year it was, easily. Prices are crashing. S models will hold value better and aren’t much more at the moment. The Boxster to have is the 987.2 Spyder. Really keep value, looks like they’re already trending up again. (Even though the roof is a pain to use and performance no different).
Here in Belgium my 2011 987.2 was €31k one year ago. It was a low mileage car, appr. 30k miles. Indeed, prices are crashing, here in Europe as well unless you can afford the special types like Spyder. As long as I can keep the car low mileage the price will be stable around the price I paid. For me it’s a weekend car. The steering is incredibly sharp, and yeah, with the the carnewal exhaust it produces a great sound. I really love the car.
Prices are down on base, value is high. I paid $35k for mine a year ago. Had 14500 miles. I drove it 6k since then and would definitely lose some cash if I tried to sell. But mileage doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s a perfect driver. Synchros, clutch, everything feels perfect. I’m gonna keep driving it.
Not really to be honest, I don't feel like there's not enough power for the base. The S has more low end torque, but they're similar when you're going over 4000 rpm. When I test drove the S, I didn't feel like it's significantly faster than my base, especially when you're on a twisty road when handling matters more than power.
@@KevinonCars yeah... before I got my 718 Cayman, I was looking at a PDK one. My friend talked me out of it saying, sure PDK is fine, but you're buying the car for the experience and PDK takes away from it. I'm glad he talked me out of it. Sure it stinks when I'm stuck in traffic, but all the times I'm on the open highway and I can just downshift and take off far outweighs any kind of traffic.
If you're thinking of getting a 987.2, here's some considerations on you options list: 1) Interior color. The tan looks great...until you get reflections off the dashboard on to the windshield and that's super annoying. I'm surprised Porsche didn't spec black under the windshield. Maybe there's a treatment to diffuse the reflections. 2) Headlights. The Xenon lights do a superior job lighting the road and they swivel with the steering which is super helpful at night. 3) Sound system. You're buying the car to listen to the engine but it's nice to have a respectable stereo. If you have the Bose you have much better sound but it steals storage room from behind your head. The base stereo is tragic. At least get Sound Package Plus if you can. 4) Windscreen. Kind of a requirement if you want to have a normal conversation with the top down. 5) Auto Climate control. An embarrassment this was even an option in such an expensive car but you can live without it if you're a fiddler. 6) Wheels. You really want the 18" wheels like shown on this car and it's the sweet spot in the wheel lineup. 7) PDK. Introduced in 2009, you'll notice this is still Porsche's go-to transmission and you'll want it, too. Yeah. Yeah. No Manual? Get over it. Common Problems: 1) Soft top. Watch to make sure the top folds back naturally into the side window grooves and not over the grooves, else you'll need to tighten the elastic bands that perform this function (a cheap fix but you need to be careful). New top is $$$. 2) Water pump. Just make sure the timing belt job included a new water pump. 3) Pneumatic trunk props. Easily replaced but you don't want to be the one to have the fronk lid fall on your head. 4) Battery. It's great to install a H7 in the car vs an H6 but this is a job for experts who know how to bridge the battery so you don't lose everything. A number of locking options can only be reset by someone with dealer capability so you don't want to go through a reprogramming cycle. 5) Brakes. A new set will last ~40k unless you track and hard-drive the car...and then a proper full set will set you back ~$1,800 per axle (assuming you want a full set and not just pads) so knowing the # of mm's left isn't trivial. All in all: 987.2 = Maximum ratio Fun / Cost to be had.
I'm about to buy a 36k mile boxster and was wondering if you could elaborate on "proper full set" of brakes. Assuming only the basic maintenance has been done, am I about to have to spend a ton at 40k miles?
You lost me when you said PDK over a manual. I get it that people prefer PDK in the newer models like the 981,718 but in this (slower) 987 i think the manual would be sublime. Also financially speaking in a 15 year old car replacing the manual box would be a lot cheaper. Just my 2 cents
@@Scifo321 There's a reason Porsche's PDK has remained nearly unchanged since its introduction in 2009: It's superbly engineered and shifts faster than a manual. The Boxster is faster with the PDK and also gets better gas mileage. Manuals are lots of fun but if you don't want to row your own, the PDK, being a double-clutch system, is a far cry from Porsche's previous mushbox auto.
Brakes: figure 40k per set and count in doing a brake job soon thereafter
Ok. It’s not that the PDK is better than a manual but that it’s not a showstopper either. Both have their own advantages.
Such a great video! Making my daily driver decision easy
The interior is in beautiful condition, congrats on the purchase
i bought in august a manual 987.2. i agree with every point you have made, this car is insane value for what it costs :)
Very nice car. I purchased a 987.2 Boxster S with a PDK. My only regret is the same as yours, should have got the manual. I just purchased a 986.2 2004 Base with a manual. The car is Carmona red metallic which I love. It has a full saddle leather interior. I'm really enjoying both cars. Enjoyed the video.
The essence of Boxster ownership is the Porsche sportscar experience at a price that mortals can afford. With the 987, it is a car that you wrap yourself around with, like a well tailored sports jacket. The low seating postion, the audible feedback with the roof down, the backpack feeling of having the engine strapped just behind your back - everything is designed to amplify sensations of being in harmony with the car. You quickly sense that the car is not only responsive to driving inputs, but it has predictable qualities that you can trust. Driven sensibly, the Boxster will not bite.
The downside? It is a Porsche, so ownership costs will be higher (but not prohibitively so). It is mid-engined, so engine maintenance and repairs will be more fiddly. Even a simple change of spark plugs, for example, require a hoist and the rear wheels to be removed first. The manual box is good but not the best - I have driven other cars that allow more intuitive gear changes. If you come from a turbo car, be prepared to change your driving technique. You have to be ready to rev the base engine to get the most out of it (not hard in a flat 6). There is no fat band of mid-range torque to rescue you from fluffed gear changes. And the car battery needs to be connected to a trickle charger if the Boxster is not driven regularly. Nothing drains a battery quicker than a parked Porsche.
These are relatively minor shortcomings in the overall scheme of things. Kevin is right about the reliability of the 2.9 litre engine. The 9A1 engine was designed to address reliability issues associated with earlier M96/97 engines. Among other improvements, the engines in the 987.2 have superior oiling and can be tracked with little or no modification. Stick to the recommended maintenance schedules and allow the engine to warm up properly before you thrash it.
987.2 2.9L is a very smart choice as new engine yet only one in line-up that is non DFI. Hydraulic steering final years never equaled. I swear prior 987.1 engine sounded better per Variocam changes at 5k n 6k. Sigh. While lacking torque of bigger 911 motors, a supremely balanced vehicle whose key strength is in the curves. Love my 99 996.1 cable throttle manual 911, yet 987.2 PDK I also own is a sweetheart (3rd Boxsterexperience), good build quality, and likely far lower running costs than 911.
I have a 17 Mini Cooper S and recently got a 2010 Cayman S. Funny to hear you had a JCW before this. Love both cars and it's a toss up which to drive each day. Waiting for some nicer weather to really enjoy the Cayman.
That is awesome! They offer completely different driving experiences, but both give me a smile on my face at the end of the day :) Congrats!
You forgot to mention the S2000 when talking about beautiful cars!
Thank you
$30k is overpaying. I own one with only 30,000 mi. I’ve watched prices lately. A top condition car like mine is struggling to reach $25k now.
Perhaps. But bear in mind that the 987.2 is now close to the bottom of its depreciation cycle. A $5K difference is not that much to pay for the right car.
@@pervertt mine is about as good as one gets and isn’t worth $30k, based on recent values. Last year it was, easily. Prices are crashing.
S models will hold value better and aren’t much more at the moment.
The Boxster to have is the 987.2 Spyder. Really keep value, looks like they’re already trending up again. (Even though the roof is a pain to use and performance no different).
@@f.kieranfinney457you have pdk or manual?
Here in Belgium my 2011 987.2 was €31k one year ago. It was a low mileage car, appr. 30k miles. Indeed, prices are crashing, here in Europe as well unless you can afford the special types like Spyder. As long as I can keep the car low mileage the price will be stable around the price I paid. For me it’s a weekend car. The steering is incredibly sharp, and yeah, with the the carnewal exhaust it produces a great sound. I really love the car.
Prices are down on base, value is high. I paid $35k for mine a year ago. Had 14500 miles. I drove it 6k since then and would definitely lose some cash if I tried to sell. But mileage doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s a perfect driver. Synchros, clutch, everything feels perfect. I’m gonna keep driving it.
Would you change it into race header?
Thanks for the insights! Looking at this very generation, do you wish for an S instead? Wondering if the extra power is worth it.
Not really to be honest, I don't feel like there's not enough power for the base. The S has more low end torque, but they're similar when you're going over 4000 rpm. When I test drove the S, I didn't feel like it's significantly faster than my base, especially when you're on a twisty road when handling matters more than power.
有空来北边可以一起走SR38
Do you regret buying a PDK over a manual?
Yeah I wish I got a six speed
@@KevinonCars yeah... before I got my 718 Cayman, I was looking at a PDK one. My friend talked me out of it saying, sure PDK is fine, but you're buying the car for the experience and PDK takes away from it.
I'm glad he talked me out of it. Sure it stinks when I'm stuck in traffic, but all the times I'm on the open highway and I can just downshift and take off far outweighs any kind of traffic.
😍
😘
Ideal car for private high school girls
You’d look great in one.
Is a 2.9 engine reliable? What mileage can i expect? Mine has 40k miles