Z4MR to Gen 2 987 Boxster 2.9

[doclip]

Hello there

So I currently have a Z4MR and I'm umming and arrhing about getting into a gen 2 Boxster 2.9

Always fancied a Porsche and my budget is around 18-20 k mark

What are the must have upgrades - I believe PDK ,chrono , heated seats are nice options to have

Is the pdk that much nicer to drive than the manual ?

Do these cars miss having an LSD like my M -i'm taking about road not track use as i wont be doing the latter

I've driven a Boxster 2.7 gen 1 and a Cayman S gen 1 , but not a 2.9 gen 2 Boxster or a gen 2 S

The Cayman S gen 1 totally blew me away with its handling -night and day better than my M but didnt feel quite as quick

Im assuming the Cayman woukld be much stiffer than the Boxster even a gen 2 model

BUT I think i would miss the rag top in the summer -this is going to be a summer weekend toy only

The 2.7 Boxster underwhelmed me TBH-so not so sure how the 2.9 would compare

So in the real world of sensible road use (mostly on rural twisty B roads where I live )-will i really notice much difference between the plain jane vs S
Also does the S handle that much different to the 2.9 and is the S much more coslty to maintain

What are the main things to look out for in an early say 2009 Boxster -i believe the RMS ,IMS ,score boring stuff was all sorted with the new gen 2
I have heard they eat brake discs and tyres for fun and the condensors are a bit flaky
What are the best tyres ?

Cheers

[Cunno]

Not had a Z4m but did own a 3.0 loved the way it handled and preferred it to either the 2.7 boxster or my 06 Cayman S. Not sure I'd be keen to change

Edited by Cunno on Wednesday 6th March 19:51

[doclip1]

Hmm - I thought the Cayman wiped the floor with my M in terms of balance and handling
And my M has ahad a full geo and new F1 Eagle tyres all round

[gsewell]

I've got a 987.2 Cayman (not S) that is a weekend car and occasional holiday car (Swiss Alps last year, nc500 next September).
Brake discs need to be replaced on the front every 3 years because they rust if the car is not routinely thrashed.
Tyres at 3000 miles per year need to be replaced every 6 years because they get old and hard. I use n rated Continentals although everyone has their own opinion.
The front condensers and rads are easily protected with Zunsport grilles. Just make sure you removed all the leaf mulch before fitting the grilles.
Real world driving, on a clear road it is fantastic. If caught in traffic could do with a GT4 to overtake!!!!

[Cunno]

Yes don't disagree balance of the porsche car is at a higher level than the Z4 chassis but the Z car was the one I remember as being more fun on track or road you just bullied it into submission. I keep checking the classifieds for a Z4m look good value to me

[doclip]

Aside from the top down experience on the odd summers day -how do Cayman vs Boxster compare wrt handling
Im assuming the Cayman must be much stiffer -even the gen 1 drove seemed incredibly well balanced in the twisty stuff
Has anyone owned the same gen 2 of both to compare H2H
Dont get me wrong im not knocking my M -i'm just looking something a bit more refined all round
The M is very old school and raw but still makes me grin every time i drive it

[g7jhp]

I'd look for a 987.2 Boxster S or Cayman S if I was you. Personally it would be the Boxster S as you get the benefit of top down motoring and get to hear engine.

[jontysafe]

I think it kinda depends on how many miles you’re doing. I had a z4mc and loved it but it’s quite uncompromising. The chassis is not set up to flow over a road like the Porsche but again it’s what you prefer.

You might go from point A to point B 2 seconds quicker in the Porsche but will you be having as much fun?

I got out of mine into an M6 as I was doing too many miles for the uncompromising set up.

[AW10]

Not quite the answer to your question but I went from a Z4M C to a 981 Boxster GTS. In no particular order...

On the 981 I can not discern any chassis flex; for a soft top the chassis is more than as stiff as it needs to be
I always found the Z4M hard work on anything other than a smooth road. Great fun if that's what you wanted and did give a bit of a sense of accomplishment. But tiring/exasperating when you didn't. Sort of like an eager young spaniel - will never leave you alone and go lie somewhere quietly.
The Boxster is amazingly composed virtually regardless of the road surface. Yet it has superb grip and rarely twitches unless you push it real hard. And all that on 20" wheels. Almost too easy to drive? Perhaps. Particularly with PDK it will flatter almost any driver.
Z4M engine sounds far better - induction and mechanical noises from up front and exhaust from the back. 981 is OK but not as good.

No regrets on making the switch. I did also buy an M2 - that is a lovely combination of playful when you want to it be yet tame when that's what you're after.

[doclip]

Prob do 1-2 k pa as a 2nd weekend toy
Dont have budget for low miler gen 2 S with all the trick bits
Do you think this one is priced sensibly on PH-reasonable miles and seems to have all the right bits albeit not an S
Does anyone have experience good or bad of Dove House ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[doclip]

This one also caught my eye but looks like a gen 1 S
Would the low miles mitigate the issues with a gen 1 S engine ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...


Will need to look to sell my M come the Spring when the market picks up again

[doclip]

How does tip compare to pdk in terms of driving experience on the road and also wrt reliability
Am i correct in assuming the tip is just an ordinary torque converter box ie old school tech
Would any of you consider a low miles 2008 gen1 3.4S
Not sure i could relax knowing i'm sitting on a potential time bomb
Also would a 6k miles 11 yo car worry you in terms of not being driven much or is that not an issue in reality .
ie what im trying to say is an 11yo low miler going to be free of the usual issues in respect to RMS ,IMS ,bores
I guess the tyres might have become degraded after this length of time

[tracydeedance]

My advice would be go for the Gen2 version if budget can stretch less engine problems.
PDK is far superior to Tip technology moves the game on. Heated seats a must for a cab.
Discs can corroded especially on the insides pretty standard for a lot of cars with light use.

You will notice a big power drop coming from an M unless you go for a bigger engine. But the road handerling on the twisty bits is excellent one of the best road car chassis in its class.

Horses for courses really what your looking for.

As with any Porsche my advice would be get any potential purchase checked by a Opc or a very good independent could save heartache and lots of money.
Goes without saying look for a full service history and bills.

Good luck.

Edited by tracydeedance on Thursday 7th March 08:54

[doclip]

To be fair it's not possible to safely and responsibly explore the potential of my M on public roads esepcially the rural narrow B roads where I live . So in that regard would I really miss the extra power of the S ? I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about the handling and chassis of the Boxster gen1 or gen 2 ,whereas many folk seem to complain about the M. The M reminds me of my old TVR ,an auditory delight and sense of occasion but rather tiring . I recall when I drove the Cayman S1 I thought it was the closest thing to my previous Caterham BDR in terms of point ability and overall driving pleasure ,but with the creature comfort and safety of a modern car . Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed my M over the past 4 years and would not be dissapointed if I didn't manage to sell it come the Spring . I also had an S54 Z3M which is now worth a small fortune . I just feel the need for a change and would like to experience the Porsche . I really hope I don't end up being disappointed .

[doclip]

I see that 2008 6k 987.1 S has now been sold -no longer an option -maybe just as well TBH

[boxsey]

doclip said:

To be fair it's not possible to safely and responsibly explore the potential of my M on public roads esepcially the rural narrow B roads where I live . So in that regard would I really miss the extra power of the S ? I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about the handling and chassis of the Boxster gen1 or gen 2 ,whereas many folk seem to complain about the M. The M reminds me of my old TVR ,an auditory delight and sense of occasion but rather tiring . I recall when I drove the Cayman S1 I thought it was the closest thing to my previous Caterham BDR in terms of point ability and overall driving pleasure ,but with the creature comfort and safety of a modern car . Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed my M over the past 4 years and would not be dissapointed if I didn't manage to sell it come the Spring . I also had an S54 Z3M which is now worth a small fortune . I just feel the need for a change and would like to experience the Porsche . I really hope I don't end up being disappointed .

The Gen II 2.9 Cayman or boxster has nearly the same performance stats as the Gen I Cayman S. As you liked the latter, I don't think you would be disappointed with the 2.9. It's no drag racer (and neither is the S to be fair) but that's not the point of a Cayman or Boxster. This site gives some succinct performance stats:

https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Porsche/12...

[Ultrafunkula]

I have a 987.2 3.4 S, I would say it has more performance than it needs generally. I expect you'd feel the difference between that and the 2.9 more in traffic, the 3.4 having more midrange torque so making low speed driving a bit easier.
I'd say the Gen 2 S is about the same performance as my previous 2014 Audi S3 but the performance is less easily accessable due to the lack of a turbo, never a problem on the road though - quite the opposite.
Mine is a manual so a PDK may make the low speed stuff easier I suppose?

[khushy]

I have owned 3 x Z3M Roadsters - 1 x S50 and 2 x S54's and I covered around 200,000 miles in the three of them in total - the S54 is, imho, without doubt one the finest and funnest engines BMW have ever made and I think you will find the 2.9 Cayman DULL in comparison!!

Now have a 3.4 2010 Spyder and have done over 114,000 miles in it since I got it at 700 miles in 2011 - A to B one of my old M's, with all 3 body braces + the right tyres, would easily piss over any 987 and they never once failed to bring a grin to my face every single mile I drove them.

The Spyder, however, is on another level - it's not quite as hooligan as the M - but it does everything better!

Just IMHO!

[doclip]

Hmm thats an interesting perspective

[doclip]

khushy said:

I have owned 3 x Z3M Roadsters - 1 x S50 and 2 x S54's and I covered around 200,000 miles in the three of them in total - the S54 is, imho, without doubt one the finest and funnest engines BMW have ever made and I think you will find the 2.9 Cayman DULL in comparison!!

Now have a 3.4 2010 Spyder and have done over 114,000 miles in it since I got it at 700 miles in 2011 - A to B one of my old M's, with all 3 body braces + the right tyres, would easily piss over any 987 and they never once failed to bring a grin to my face every single mile I drove them.

The Spyder, however, is on another level - it's not quite as hooligan as the M - but it does everything better!

Just IMHO!

So i agree the S54 is indeed a fine engine but surely the 987 chassis is a much better sorted than the Z
As for the Z3M S54 i had i found the handling very dissapointing although it looked much better than the Z4M
I guess its all about the whole package not just the engine
What I still find amazing is how brittle the gen 1 engine is and how despite that the marque still has an incredible following