987 Boxster - 2.7 or 2.9?
Discussion
Hello,
I’m considering a manual Boxster as my next daily driver and would appreciate some advice.
I have a budget of £15k which will buy me a nice 987 2.7. I will be looking for a car from 2006 onwards with the upgraded IMS bearing.
However I have noticed that the gen 2 cars are now down to around £20k for the 2.9. If I wait a few months I can save more money and the later cars will also fall slightly in value making the choice between a 2.7 and a 2.9 much closer.
I don’t need a 3.4 Boxster ‘S’ as the base cars have more than enough power for the public road and I would prefer as new a car as I can afford. 17” wheels are also fine and I don’t feel the need for PASM. The only nice to have would be leather seats.
What are the main differences between the 2.7 and 2.9? Would you recommend going for the cheaper 2.7 or the later more expensive 2.9?
Are the service intervals on the 2.7 and 2.9 cars the same?
What would a typical service cost at a Porsche indie?
Thanks in advance
I’m considering a manual Boxster as my next daily driver and would appreciate some advice.
I have a budget of £15k which will buy me a nice 987 2.7. I will be looking for a car from 2006 onwards with the upgraded IMS bearing.
However I have noticed that the gen 2 cars are now down to around £20k for the 2.9. If I wait a few months I can save more money and the later cars will also fall slightly in value making the choice between a 2.7 and a 2.9 much closer.
I don’t need a 3.4 Boxster ‘S’ as the base cars have more than enough power for the public road and I would prefer as new a car as I can afford. 17” wheels are also fine and I don’t feel the need for PASM. The only nice to have would be leather seats.
What are the main differences between the 2.7 and 2.9? Would you recommend going for the cheaper 2.7 or the later more expensive 2.9?
Are the service intervals on the 2.7 and 2.9 cars the same?
What would a typical service cost at a Porsche indie?
Thanks in advance
The 2.9 is probably one of the best engines porsche put in the boxster, and actually delivers more power than the original boxtser S.
No DFI to complicate things but with the bottom end from the new engines to finally remove the earlier issues with IMS/RMS.
They also coupled it with the 6 speed box - the 2.7 unless specified as an option was always shipped with a 5 speed box - it makes it one hell of a more refined car. I ran a 2.7 cayman for 2 years and a 2.9 Boxster for 3 and much much preferred the capability of the 2.9 with the 6 speed box than the 2.7 with the 5.
The 2.7 only came with a 6 speed box if you bought it bundled with pasm on the 987.1.
If you can get a 2.9 - do it...
I woudl also specify heated seats and get a wind deflector .. means you can drop the top on a cold winters day and still stay warm and they are some of the best cabrio days of the year... the ride on 18's is good, most 2.9's were upspecced to 18's finding 17's might be hard.
Simes.
No DFI to complicate things but with the bottom end from the new engines to finally remove the earlier issues with IMS/RMS.
They also coupled it with the 6 speed box - the 2.7 unless specified as an option was always shipped with a 5 speed box - it makes it one hell of a more refined car. I ran a 2.7 cayman for 2 years and a 2.9 Boxster for 3 and much much preferred the capability of the 2.9 with the 6 speed box than the 2.7 with the 5.
The 2.7 only came with a 6 speed box if you bought it bundled with pasm on the 987.1.
If you can get a 2.9 - do it...
I woudl also specify heated seats and get a wind deflector .. means you can drop the top on a cold winters day and still stay warm and they are some of the best cabrio days of the year... the ride on 18's is good, most 2.9's were upspecced to 18's finding 17's might be hard.
Simes.
Edited by 51mes on Tuesday 9th October 12:49
Dare I say it the 2.9 engine has a little less character than the 2.7? 
The service intervals are the same at 20K or 2 years whichever comes sooner.
Either car is great.
We just sold a 47k 2008/58 2.7 manual Boxster with FPSH and a bit of spec. for £14k...
Agree, totally, that the 6 speed box is better than the 5...and that heated seats and wind def. are great for top down cool days.
The service intervals are the same at 20K or 2 years whichever comes sooner.
Either car is great.
We just sold a 47k 2008/58 2.7 manual Boxster with FPSH and a bit of spec. for £14k...
Agree, totally, that the 6 speed box is better than the 5...and that heated seats and wind def. are great for top down cool days.
Edited by anniesdad on Tuesday 9th October 12:53
I have had a 2.9 since Jan and love it.
I drove a Cayman R and a Boxster S and in the end went for a 2.9 Boxster that came up that was the right spec.
Its fast enough for me and the face lift 2.9 looks more up to date imo.
I have just had the oil and filter done after 1 year (i cant see how they are supposed to go 2 years from new with the same oil) along with a general check for £200 using Mobil 1 at my local ind.
I will have to pay the main dealers to carry out the official first service next June to keep the warranty but as far as I can see, when you drill down to it, thats all they do anyway for approx £400.
The main dealer issue aside, I love the car and I'd suggest waiting till you have the funds for a 2.9
Cheers
I drove a Cayman R and a Boxster S and in the end went for a 2.9 Boxster that came up that was the right spec.
Its fast enough for me and the face lift 2.9 looks more up to date imo.
I have just had the oil and filter done after 1 year (i cant see how they are supposed to go 2 years from new with the same oil) along with a general check for £200 using Mobil 1 at my local ind.
I will have to pay the main dealers to carry out the official first service next June to keep the warranty but as far as I can see, when you drill down to it, thats all they do anyway for approx £400.
The main dealer issue aside, I love the car and I'd suggest waiting till you have the funds for a 2.9
Cheers
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