Guards Red Porsche 987.2 S
Discussion
I’ve sold my Cayman R, and just bought a 987.2 S to replace it:
Surely a downgrade from the pinnacle of the 987 range? To understand the switch, let me take you back to my first Porsche, a 986 Boxster S:
The 986 was a wonderful example, low mileage and always garaged. Out of the box, it was surprisingly fast on circuit, posting 58 second laps around Brands Hatch. Being able to get the roof down also took the seriousness out of driving - at the flick of a switch, it felt like you were going faster at lower speeds.
However, I’d had a bucket list car in mind for years: a white Cayman R with silver wheels, manual gearbox and carbon-fibre bucket seats. That’s exactly what I bought a few years later:
It was an absolutely epic car: fantastic steering, light on its feet, fast enough to get you into trouble, yet easy enough to drive fast.
But something struck me: it drove so much like the 986 Boxster S, just with 20% ‘more’ everywhere. 20% faster, 20% grippier, 20% more sound. Here’s the kicker - it cost 500% more than the 986.
Amazing as the Cayman R was, for me, it wasn’t the perfect driver’s car. As standard, the brakes felt weak - the discs and calipers were a direct carry over from the 986 S, but they had 70 more bhp to manage, and actually felt worse because Porsche moved to a different master cylinder for the 987. The gearshift was a touch sloppy. The engine - while powerful - had a slightly lazy character, with a linear power curve that started to flatten off after 5500rpm. And finally, there was limited geometry adjustment on the front end, meaning you couldn’t get enough negative camber.
There were all of these weaknesses, but because the car wore Porsche decals, had an aero-kit, pull straps instead of door handles, alcantara trim and carbon-fibre bucket seats, it looked like it belonged on a circuit. That was a slightly frustrating contrast to how it performed out of the box.
Comparing the 986 Boxster S to the Cayman R, pound-for-pound, the value of the 986 was off-the-charts. The Cayman R with better tyres, carrying 120kg less weight (inc. no passenger), and having 70 more bhp, was 2.5 seconds quicker than the 986 around Brands Hatch.
Faster, yes, but worth the 500% premium, given a similar driving experience?
That brings me back to the 987.2 S. It is, in my opinion, the best value Porsche that money can buy right now.
The 986 market has risen since I sold mine: Ashgood recently sold a very nice 986.2 S with 50,000 miles for close to £20k.
For little extra money, the engine in the 987.2 moves the game on completely. It has multiple oil scavenge pumps (like the 997 GT3), no IMS, and a more robust air-oil separator. In contrast, Hartech told me that I was playing with fire taking my 986 on circuit.
Values for the 987.2 seem to have bottomed out: mine has 18,000 miles, 2 previous owners, and a full service history. It’s the closest thing I could find to a brand new 987.2, yet it cost barely more than the 50,000 mile 986 mentioned above, and less than half the price of the equivalent Cayman R (or Boxster Spyder).
What does that mean? It means I’m hoping to have my cake and eat it: a car that’s usable with both the roof up and down, with plenty of money left over to address the same platform weaknesses as the Cayman R.
Will it ever match the Cayman R? I’m not sure. Stay tuned for modifications, road trips and track days
Surely a downgrade from the pinnacle of the 987 range? To understand the switch, let me take you back to my first Porsche, a 986 Boxster S:
The 986 was a wonderful example, low mileage and always garaged. Out of the box, it was surprisingly fast on circuit, posting 58 second laps around Brands Hatch. Being able to get the roof down also took the seriousness out of driving - at the flick of a switch, it felt like you were going faster at lower speeds.
However, I’d had a bucket list car in mind for years: a white Cayman R with silver wheels, manual gearbox and carbon-fibre bucket seats. That’s exactly what I bought a few years later:
It was an absolutely epic car: fantastic steering, light on its feet, fast enough to get you into trouble, yet easy enough to drive fast.
But something struck me: it drove so much like the 986 Boxster S, just with 20% ‘more’ everywhere. 20% faster, 20% grippier, 20% more sound. Here’s the kicker - it cost 500% more than the 986.
Amazing as the Cayman R was, for me, it wasn’t the perfect driver’s car. As standard, the brakes felt weak - the discs and calipers were a direct carry over from the 986 S, but they had 70 more bhp to manage, and actually felt worse because Porsche moved to a different master cylinder for the 987. The gearshift was a touch sloppy. The engine - while powerful - had a slightly lazy character, with a linear power curve that started to flatten off after 5500rpm. And finally, there was limited geometry adjustment on the front end, meaning you couldn’t get enough negative camber.
There were all of these weaknesses, but because the car wore Porsche decals, had an aero-kit, pull straps instead of door handles, alcantara trim and carbon-fibre bucket seats, it looked like it belonged on a circuit. That was a slightly frustrating contrast to how it performed out of the box.
Comparing the 986 Boxster S to the Cayman R, pound-for-pound, the value of the 986 was off-the-charts. The Cayman R with better tyres, carrying 120kg less weight (inc. no passenger), and having 70 more bhp, was 2.5 seconds quicker than the 986 around Brands Hatch.
Faster, yes, but worth the 500% premium, given a similar driving experience?
That brings me back to the 987.2 S. It is, in my opinion, the best value Porsche that money can buy right now.
The 986 market has risen since I sold mine: Ashgood recently sold a very nice 986.2 S with 50,000 miles for close to £20k.
For little extra money, the engine in the 987.2 moves the game on completely. It has multiple oil scavenge pumps (like the 997 GT3), no IMS, and a more robust air-oil separator. In contrast, Hartech told me that I was playing with fire taking my 986 on circuit.
Values for the 987.2 seem to have bottomed out: mine has 18,000 miles, 2 previous owners, and a full service history. It’s the closest thing I could find to a brand new 987.2, yet it cost barely more than the 50,000 mile 986 mentioned above, and less than half the price of the equivalent Cayman R (or Boxster Spyder).
What does that mean? It means I’m hoping to have my cake and eat it: a car that’s usable with both the roof up and down, with plenty of money left over to address the same platform weaknesses as the Cayman R.
Will it ever match the Cayman R? I’m not sure. Stay tuned for modifications, road trips and track days
Great move, I agree on the value point. I've always thought the Cayman R was very overpriced, it doesn't offer much more than the 987.2 really.
I've looked at the 987.2 s before and think they represent superb value along with the 981, they just need a few mods to make them feel a bit less German. Spend £5k and I reckon you will have a cracking car!
I've looked at the 987.2 s before and think they represent superb value along with the 981, they just need a few mods to make them feel a bit less German. Spend £5k and I reckon you will have a cracking car!
CantDecide said:
What a beauty, looks to be in amazing condition and with such low miles should be an absolute joy!
Hopefully will be!Jonstar said:
Great move, I agree on the value point. I've always thought the Cayman R was very overpriced, it doesn't offer much more than the 987.2 really.
I've looked at the 987.2 s before and think they represent superb value along with the 981, they just need a few mods to make them feel a bit less German. Spend £5k and I reckon you will have a cracking car!
I think what you're really buying is the 'special' factor - it's a rare car, looks amazing, and I used to have people approach me to talk about it. You don't really get that in a standard Boxster or Cayman, even if the driving experience is similar.I've looked at the 987.2 s before and think they represent superb value along with the 981, they just need a few mods to make them feel a bit less German. Spend £5k and I reckon you will have a cracking car!
sc0tt said:
Hi, local here assuming those pictures were taken in bluewater.
Am i reading right you paid upwards of 20k?
Correct, just above that mark Am i reading right you paid upwards of 20k?
Mr Tidy said:
Your 987 looks great in that colour!
The money left from selling your Cayman should pay for plenty of tack days!
Thanks! Guards Red with silver wheels is one of my favourite colour combos on any Porsche.The money left from selling your Cayman should pay for plenty of tack days!
Belle427 said:
Looks great in red, I keep looking at these as they are the perfect sports car really and good value.
I really fancied a 996 Turbo/C4S but prices of both are silly now and I cant help thinking one of these is a better bet.
That rear end looks nice, is that the standard bumper?
The 996 was my poster car growing up, and I love both the Turbo and C4S. However, the reality is they're getting pretty old now, so you need to start treating them like classic cars and spend on maintenance accordingly.I really fancied a 996 Turbo/C4S but prices of both are silly now and I cant help thinking one of these is a better bet.
That rear end looks nice, is that the standard bumper?
A friend bought what looked like one of the best C4S' on the market - lower miles, full Porsche & specialist service history, sold by a well-known specialist 2 years prior. However, it absolutely loved to drink oil, and at the first service the list of items to fix was as long as your arm. He sold it shortly after as it was looking like a bit of a money pit.
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