981 Boxster / Cayman S for c£25k?
Discussion
Afternoon All,
Just getting out of a BMW PCP deal, and almost seduced by massive discounts on current out-going M4 Comp and to a lesser degree, M2C, with a warranty. But I'm also being (almost) sensible and wondering whether to go down the cheap loan, reasonably priced used route with something that's already deprecated a bit and should hold value better.
To get payments to a similar level, I'd be looking at a budget of c£25k.
So I'm starting to look at early to mid 981 Boxster/Cayman S - PDK.
Would be grateful for any advice on what to look out for?
Is mileage an issue for reliability/future resale value?
Is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) a must?
Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
HBT
Just getting out of a BMW PCP deal, and almost seduced by massive discounts on current out-going M4 Comp and to a lesser degree, M2C, with a warranty. But I'm also being (almost) sensible and wondering whether to go down the cheap loan, reasonably priced used route with something that's already deprecated a bit and should hold value better.
To get payments to a similar level, I'd be looking at a budget of c£25k.
So I'm starting to look at early to mid 981 Boxster/Cayman S - PDK.
Would be grateful for any advice on what to look out for?
Is mileage an issue for reliability/future resale value?
Is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) a must?
Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
HBT
Most decent 981Ss are going to have ‘asking’ prices closer to £30k, I would have thought.
And, while the sun is shining, sellers may hope to achieve good prices, especially for Boxsters.
However, in the real world, there should be room for some firm negotiating, and the better value may be in the coming months.
And, while the sun is shining, sellers may hope to achieve good prices, especially for Boxsters.
However, in the real world, there should be room for some firm negotiating, and the better value may be in the coming months.
Couldn't sell my very nice 981 CS privately, possibly affected by lockdown travel restrictions, so it went to the trade for £26.5K a couple of weeks ago. There is obviously doubt as to which way it will go over the coming months and if prices go down £25K may well get the OP a well specked average mileage car.
paul chocks said:
Rusty wheel bolts not too much of an issue but a bill already looming with scored and lipped brake discs.. handbraketurn said:
Afternoon All,
Just getting out of a BMW PCP deal, and almost seduced by massive discounts on current out-going M4 Comp and to a lesser degree, M2C, with a warranty. But I'm also being (almost) sensible and wondering whether to go down the cheap loan, reasonably priced used route with something that's already deprecated a bit and should hold value better.
To get payments to a similar level, I'd be looking at a budget of c£25k.
So I'm starting to look at early to mid 981 Boxster/Cayman S - PDK.
Would be grateful for any advice on what to look out for?
Is mileage an issue for reliability/future resale value?
Is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) a must?
Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
HBT
Go and drive one, they're not for everyone. I wasn't overly enamored with mine and sold it after 10 months (bought new when they came out). They're not engaging and the long gearing strangles the fabulous engine.Just getting out of a BMW PCP deal, and almost seduced by massive discounts on current out-going M4 Comp and to a lesser degree, M2C, with a warranty. But I'm also being (almost) sensible and wondering whether to go down the cheap loan, reasonably priced used route with something that's already deprecated a bit and should hold value better.
To get payments to a similar level, I'd be looking at a budget of c£25k.
So I'm starting to look at early to mid 981 Boxster/Cayman S - PDK.
Would be grateful for any advice on what to look out for?
Is mileage an issue for reliability/future resale value?
Is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) a must?
Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
HBT
Just to counter that, I think that the 981 is one of the sweetest cars Porsche made.
Granted, there are spec differences that make some models better than others and, when buying used at budget level, then greater care is needed to find a good one.
But my experience was always excellent, and any criticism of the steering or gearing is relative, as the rest of the car is so great - especially the NA flat-6.
Granted, there are spec differences that make some models better than others and, when buying used at budget level, then greater care is needed to find a good one.
But my experience was always excellent, and any criticism of the steering or gearing is relative, as the rest of the car is so great - especially the NA flat-6.
981 is overrated in my view. Funny thing is due to the torque and extra power model for model, any of the 718s can absolutely obliterate them now, either on the track or off the lights, not that I’m sure anybody on PH would ever consider doing the latter 
.
Still at 25k maybe a 981 is worth considering.
.Still at 25k maybe a 981 is worth considering.
I have had my 981 Boxster S for over three years and love it . In that time I have also had an M4 Comp and an I8 and the BMW's just don't engage or bring the same smiles.
Out with some friends in the Ferrari 430 scuderia and 812 TDF and they both agree that the Boxsters represent incredible value for money and sound superb. I have driven the 911T and would not even look at a current turbo Porsche as they just sound dull. As for the above poster who said the 981s not being fast, maybe they needed to find some bends
PDK and the sports exhaust are my recommendations as that gets rid of the short gearing and creates a great noise. Mine has PASM and I do drive it in sports plus just to stop it moving around on the A and B roads at speed.
Out with some friends in the Ferrari 430 scuderia and 812 TDF and they both agree that the Boxsters represent incredible value for money and sound superb. I have driven the 911T and would not even look at a current turbo Porsche as they just sound dull. As for the above poster who said the 981s not being fast, maybe they needed to find some bends
PDK and the sports exhaust are my recommendations as that gets rid of the short gearing and creates a great noise. Mine has PASM and I do drive it in sports plus just to stop it moving around on the A and B roads at speed.
Edited by jjr1 on Monday 1st June 15:42
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Most reviews are conducted over a short period of time and under good conditions (nice fun roads etc) Objectively they are an extremely capable car. However if you live with one and use it as a daily, as Venison says they are not as engaging as they might be - at least not at sane speeds. At more normal speeds the car is so capable that you can feel a bit of a passenger. I kept my 981S for 3 years - but I knew within a couple of weeks that it was a bit of a disappointment. I was thinking of posting a similar thread.
I have started looking at 981 S, and BMW M2's with less than 40k miles.
I am trying to understand the market currently for both cars. Definitely more M2's are coming on to the market, but the 981 market seems quite static....maybe the Porsche market just is in general?
Prices for nice spec and mileage appear to be £31-£33k at the minute, I am in no rush to buy (which is painful in this nice weather we have been having). Porsche history and warranty included.
Some bits I have read have suggested the market has been as low as £25k for the 981s but I don't see it at the moment apart from 981 and very high mileage.
OP go and test drive one. I drove a Cayman S 2 weeks back with 11.5k miles that was on the market for £38k (main dealer). Main thoughts. Everything a sports car should be, very easily got in to it and was able to drive it quickly through bends, that noise! It did make me realise that I could go for the PDK (but only with sports steering wheel).
I have read other people saying they think the Boxter / Cayman is 'dull'. This bit does worry me to an extent. I used to have a 2.0 MX5 with sorted suspension. It handled brilliantly but was incredibly dull as the engine was not powerful enough to push the chassis. The fact that I could drive the Cayman straight in to a 2nd gear bend and full throttle out without the back end considering stepping out (dont get me wrong there was lots of communication going on) does that eventually get 'normal' and I am back to driving an MX5 all but with a beautiful noise?
My hope would be that the BMW M2 doesnt allow you to plant your right foot through every corner and you have to think about it and feed the power in. But then nearly everyone I speak to who has driven both cars says that the BMW just doesnt have the same balance etc as the Porsche.
Personally I think I will keep watching the market and probably buy a Boxter 981s some time in the autumn. For me spec wise, PDK, sports steering wheel, sports exhaust, PASM, extended leather, bluetooth phone, cruise, 20" carrera wheels, sports chrono (I believe gives snappier changes?)
I have started looking at 981 S, and BMW M2's with less than 40k miles.
I am trying to understand the market currently for both cars. Definitely more M2's are coming on to the market, but the 981 market seems quite static....maybe the Porsche market just is in general?
Prices for nice spec and mileage appear to be £31-£33k at the minute, I am in no rush to buy (which is painful in this nice weather we have been having). Porsche history and warranty included.
Some bits I have read have suggested the market has been as low as £25k for the 981s but I don't see it at the moment apart from 981 and very high mileage.
OP go and test drive one. I drove a Cayman S 2 weeks back with 11.5k miles that was on the market for £38k (main dealer). Main thoughts. Everything a sports car should be, very easily got in to it and was able to drive it quickly through bends, that noise! It did make me realise that I could go for the PDK (but only with sports steering wheel).
I have read other people saying they think the Boxter / Cayman is 'dull'. This bit does worry me to an extent. I used to have a 2.0 MX5 with sorted suspension. It handled brilliantly but was incredibly dull as the engine was not powerful enough to push the chassis. The fact that I could drive the Cayman straight in to a 2nd gear bend and full throttle out without the back end considering stepping out (dont get me wrong there was lots of communication going on) does that eventually get 'normal' and I am back to driving an MX5 all but with a beautiful noise?
My hope would be that the BMW M2 doesnt allow you to plant your right foot through every corner and you have to think about it and feed the power in. But then nearly everyone I speak to who has driven both cars says that the BMW just doesnt have the same balance etc as the Porsche.
Personally I think I will keep watching the market and probably buy a Boxter 981s some time in the autumn. For me spec wise, PDK, sports steering wheel, sports exhaust, PASM, extended leather, bluetooth phone, cruise, 20" carrera wheels, sports chrono (I believe gives snappier changes?)
Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:44
Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:45
Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:46
Can’t speak for the BMW M2 specifically (although can imagine to a degree having /had other Beemers), but yes you can definitely push the Cayman through corners at very high speeds without having to lift off or break traction.
Never gets boring to me personally
Eta: mine is manual and perhaps this is part of the key to engagement, having to drop down the gears manually for the best corner entry/exit speed. Can imagine adding pdk might make it ‘too easy’.
Never gets boring to me personally
Eta: mine is manual and perhaps this is part of the key to engagement, having to drop down the gears manually for the best corner entry/exit speed. Can imagine adding pdk might make it ‘too easy’.
Edited by T1547 on Saturday 13th June 09:15
Funkydunc said:
I have read other people saying they think the Boxter / Cayman is 'dull'. This bit does worry me to an extent. I used to have a 2.0 MX5 with sorted suspension. It handled brilliantly but was incredibly dull as the engine was not powerful enough to push the chassis. The fact that I could drive the Cayman straight in to a 2nd gear bend and full throttle out without the back end considering stepping out (dont get me wrong there was lots of communication going on) does that eventually get 'normal' and I am back to driving an MX5 all but with a beautiful noise?
I'm one of those who bemoans the 981 drive. It is a very capable car with a terrific handling balance and more grip that you'll ever need on the road. It just feels filtered and uninvolving unless you're right on the edge which equals high speeds that are inappropriate for most roads. The lack of brake feel is the worst aspect and the steering close behind. Add in further irritations of messy switchgear and tyre roar (Cayman mainly) and it sort of falls between many stools. The best features are load space, fuel consumption and day to day viability - not fun.Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:44
Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:45
Edited by Funkydunc on Saturday 13th June 09:46
It's not a bad car per se just, well, dull.
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