Boxster 981 2.7 NA - What's it like?

[Koln-RS]

A friend has the opportunity to buy a 2012 981 Boxster 2.7 (manual) from his company at a fairly good price.

He's had several performance cars, but asked me what they are like. I've driven 986, 987 and 718 Boxsters but not the 981.

I presume they are pretty good, but any specific opinions - are they perfect for UK driving - or, will he always wish he had the 'S' ?

Edited by Koln-RS on Tuesday 20th June 18:53

[jimmy p]

Depends what he is used to,
Its doesn't have a turbo so needs to be revved, it has 265bhp same as the old S,
so no slouch. I had a 987.2 S previously along with older 911's. As long as you dont change gear too early and lets face it, should you be buying a porsche if you are that type of driver he will love it. Im going to carnewal on monday to have the gt exhaust fitted as mine is a bit too quiet at times for me after 911's with sports exhausts. That should make it perfect!

[kilarney]

I think as a manual it works very well and is enjoyable to drive being fast enough. Alas the PDK I drove just doesnt have enough low end puff to work. As is a manual I would consider it for sure

[bcr5784]

kilarney said:

I think as a manual it works very well and is enjoyable to drive being fast enough. Alas the PDK I drove just doesnt have enough low end puff to work. As is a manual I would consider it for sure

Not sure I can see that. Absolutely for sure you need to work the gears to make good progress - and if you drive PDK purely in auto mode you might well feel the car is lacking. But if you are prepared to override the box as necessary, the fact that the PDK box has lower intermediates makes it MORE responsive than the manual.

[Maxym]

kilarney said:

I think as a manual it works very well and is enjoyable to drive being fast enough. Alas the PDK I drove just doesnt have enough low end puff to work. As is a manual I would consider it for sure

Same engine, same amount of puff. And as the gearing is lower...

[kilarney]

Maxym said:

kilarney said:

I think as a manual it works very well and is enjoyable to drive being fast enough. Alas the PDK I drove just doesnt have enough low end puff to work. As is a manual I would consider it for sure

Same engine, same amount of puff. And as the gearing is lower...

Different revs. Simple. PDK is either too many or too few. I have driven both its as clear as day. Needs more mid to low torque to work much like autos always have. Put it in manual then might as well have a manual with the three pedal experience.

[bcr5784]

kilarney said:

Different revs. Simple. PDK is either too many or too few. I have driven both its as clear as day. Needs more mid to low torque to work much like autos always have. Put it in manual then might as well have a manual with the three pedal experience.

I'd agree, don't drive it as a pure auto - but I'd say the same of my S, or, for that matter any auto I've driven. Personally bought PDK because it makes faster smoother changes than I (or anyone else) can, not because it's an auto. But you don't have to put it in manual to get the benefit of more sensible ratios - just a pull on one of the levers gets you in the best gear. (do go for flappy paddles - the flippers are naff)

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 21st June 08:12

[bcr5784]

bcr5784 said:

I'd agree, don't drive it as a pure auto - but I'd say the same of my S, or, for that matter any auto I've driven. No auto (Rolls Royce apart) can read the road ahead, and none at all can read your mind (though PDK does try to judge your mood) so if you want to be in the right gear all the time you'll have to do some overrides. Personally bought PDK because it makes faster smoother changes than I (or anyone else) can, not because it's an auto. But you don't have to put it in manual to get the benefit of more sensible ratios - just a pull on one of the levers gets you in the best gear. (do go for flappy paddles - the flippers are naff)

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 21st June 08:12

[ATM]

Koln-RS said:

A friend has the opportunity to buy a 2012 981 Boxster 2.7 (manual) from his company at a fairly good price.

He's had several performance cars, but asked me what they are like. I've driven 986, 987 and 718 Boxsters but not the 981.

I presume they are pretty good, but any specific opinions - are they perfect for UK driving - or, will he always wish he had the 'S' ?

I have the S with PDK as do most it seems. Ignoring the PDK debate which seems to always rumble on I would say that in mine I rarely use all the performance if I am no a nice twisty road. So would I really miss the extra grunt - probably not. If you're interested in traffic light gran prix then yes more grunt is better.

On one side of the fence there is the belief that there is no such thing as a cheap Porsche so I would suggest the guy needs to decide what he wants and then decide if this will meet his needs.

On the other side of the fence any Porsche is better than none so if this is his first step into Porsche ownership then tell him to get on with it. The debate can then move on to his next Porsche.

[DJMC]

I chose 2.7 981 Cayman over S to have more fun... legally. 20k miles on I wouldn't change it.

[shakesc]

I had a 987.1 S manual and moved to a 981 2.7 PDK

I deliberately chose a PDK, not that I dont like manual but this is my daily drive and sitting on a jammed motorway most of the time it makes sense

I miss the grunt of the 3.4 a little but most times it not a problem and using it in manual mode you can push on

I did have a 718 S PDK on loan - wow, thats a step in torque. Not sure my license would take it

[ooid]

If your friend is asking in terms of reliability, 981 has been quite solid so far. There have been a few issues I've seen in this forum but most of them being repaired under warranty or small number of engine replacements. A few owners on boxa.net going over 50k without any major issue so far.

Apart from the reliability, i think your friend/mate should just drive and decide by himself, it's pretty different to everyone's taste and needs depending on where he would use (daily or occasional) etc...

[DJMC]

shakesc said:

I had a 987.1 S manual and moved to a 981 2.7 PDK

I deliberately chose a PDK, not that I dont like manual but this is my daily drive and sitting on a jammed motorway most of the time it makes sense

I miss the grunt of the 3.4 a little but most times it not a problem and using it in manual mode you can push on

I did have a 718 S PDK on loan - wow, thats a step in torque. Not sure my license would take it

Daily drive for me too, but it's true what is said about the PDK box. It really does do what you're thinking and in Sport gives power and correct gearing most times. Just use your right foot or paddles or gear lever in manual if you need to. Of course it's all relative to what you're used to and 0-60 in a tad over 5 seconds is fine for me as is the sublime handling. But it's all down to test driving the base and trying the S too. For me the S was too dull. Fast but missing the extra mechanical and engine noise of the 2.7. Noise is a major part of the joy of driving these cars.

[bcr5784]

Though I went the other way and chose the grunt of the S over the 2.7 (and happy with my choice), I'd have to agree the 2.7 is the sweeter engine. More economical too.

[bcr5784]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Seems a very balanced assessment - whatever ultimate conclusion you might come to. Try both PDK and manual, 2.7 and 3.4 and make your decision on the basis of your own priorities and the way you will use the car.

[James_R]

Not specific to the 981 I'm afraid, but I've just got my first taste of Porsche ownership with a 987.1 2.7 manual.

3 months in and I'm loving it.
I've stepped up from a Clio 172, EP3 Civic Type R, Clio 182 Cup, FN2 Civic Type R and now in to the Porsche.

I was initially worried about the 5 speed box, but the long gearing seems to make progress relentless and easy as you're not shifting as much/early as a six speed.

And the fact that I don't have to rev the nuts off it like a Honda is nice insofar as driving the car with a little more mechanical sympathy.

Carnewal incoming now I've spent two whole days of my week off machine polishing and detailing the car after last weekends North Yorks Moors road trip with my son.

I would have had to pump a load more cash in to get a 981, which I must admit I love the design of, but as a first step my 987 is great.
A 981 would sound like a great starter