981 vs 987: Which Porsche Boxster or Cayman to Buy

01981 vs 987 at a glance

The comparison most buyers are really making is 987.2 vs 981: both have no IMS bearing and a six-speed manual across the range. If you're weighing a 987.1, start with our 987.1 vs 987.2 guide.

02Years and models

• 987 Boxster: MY2005–2012. 987.1 is 2005–08, 987.2 is 2009–12.
• 987 Cayman: MY2006–2012. 987.1 is 2006–08, 987.2 is 2009–12.
• 981 Boxster: MY2013–2016 (Boxster, Boxster S, then GTS from 2015 and Spyder for 2016).
• 981 Cayman: MY2014–2016 (Cayman, Cayman S, then GTS and GT4 for 2016 US).

The 981 Cayman arrived a model year after the Boxster, so a "2013 Cayman" is a 987.2. The 981 was replaced by the four-cylinder 718 for 2017, which makes the 981 the last Boxster and Cayman with a naturally aspirated flat-six in the regular models.

03Engines: 987.2 vs 981

Both generations use the 9A1 engine family with no intermediate shaft. The differences are displacement, injection and output.

• 987.2 base 2.9: port injection. Boxster 255 hp, Cayman 265 hp.
• 987.2 S 3.4: direct injection. Boxster S 310 hp, Cayman S 320 hp.
• 981 base 2.7: smaller, but direct-injected, with VarioCam Plus. Boxster 265 hp, Cayman 275 hp @ 7,400 rpm, 213 lb-ft.
• 981 S 3.4: direct injection. Boxster S 315 hp, Cayman S 325 hp @ 7,400 rpm, 273 lb-ft.
• 981 GTS 3.4: Boxster GTS 330 hp, Cayman GTS 340 hp.
• 981 GT4 and Spyder 3.8: from the 911 Carrera S. GT4 385 hp, Spyder 375 hp.

The trade-off: the 981's 2.7 makes more power than the 987.2's 2.9, but it's direct-injected, so it brings DFI's high-pressure fuel pump and intake-valve carbon build-up. The 987.2 base 2.9 is the only port-injected car in this comparison.

04Steering: hydraulic vs electric

This is the difference enthusiasts argue about most. The 987 uses hydraulic power steering. The 981 switched to electromechanical steering with a variable ratio (16.5:1 on center, quicker off center, per Porsche).

Porsche says the electric system saves fuel and needs no fluid service. Many owners still feel the 987's hydraulic rack talks more through the rim. The 981's is quicker and accurate, but lighter in feel. Drive both back to back before you decide. If steering feel is your top priority, that alone can make a 987.2 the right car.

05Chassis, weight and size

• Longer wheelbase: 2,475 mm on the 981, 60 mm more than the 987, with wider tracks and bigger wheels (18 in. base, 19 in. on the Cayman S).
• Lighter body: the 981 uses a steel-aluminum lightweight body. Porsche says the 981 Boxster is up to 35 kg lighter than its predecessor.
• Weight: Porsche lists the 981 Cayman at 2,888 lb (manual) and the Cayman S at 2,910 lb. PDK adds about 66 lb.
• Options: PASM adaptive dampers, Sport Chrono with dynamic transmission mounts, and PTV torque vectoring were all offered on the 981.

On the road, the 981 feels more planted and stable at speed. The 987 feels smaller and more nimble. Neither is the wrong answer.

06Interior

The 987 cabin is simpler and older: a flat dash, PCM (DVD navigation on 987.1, PCM 3.0 touchscreen on 987.2), and fewer buttons. The 981 brought the 991-style rising center console with rows of switches, a higher-quality feel, and an updated PCM.

The 981 is the nicer place to spend a long drive. The 987 is easier to live with if you like fewer screens and fewer things to break.

07Manual vs PDK

• 987.2 and 981 manual: six-speed on every model. The 981 did not get the 911's seven-speed manual.
• PDK: seven-speed dual-clutch on both. Porsche quotes the PDK 0.1 sec quicker to 60 mph on the 981 Cayman and Cayman S.
• GT4 and 981 Spyder: six-speed manual only. No PDK was offered.

As a manual shop, we'd buy the stick in either generation. In the market data we follow, manuals hold value better than automatics, and on the GT4 and Spyder there is no choice to make.

08Known issues on each

987.2: borescope anyway. LN Engineering says 9A1 engines can score, at much lower rates than the 987.1 3.4. Check the water pump, the power-steering reservoir and lines (it's hydraulic), the air-oil separator, PDK records on automatics, and on the 3.4 DFI the high-pressure fuel pump and intake carbon.

981: pcarwise's buyer's guide lists the common items as intake-valve carbon build-up (often noticed around 60,000–80,000 miles), updated ignition coils, high-pressure fuel pump faults, and water pump leaks and electronic thermostat failure on early cars. Check PDK fluid-service history on automatics.

Both: a PIWIS scan with the over-rev ranges, a borescope, cooling-system leaks, the Boxster's top, and the records. Our DME report guide explains how to read the scan.

09What to check on a 981

1. PIWIS or equivalent scan: stored faults and the DME over-rev ranges. Look for fuel-rail pressure faults (high-pressure fuel pump), misfire counts (ignition coils) and thermostat codes. Our DME report guide explains the ranges.
2. Coils: ask whether the updated ignition coils are fitted. If not, budget to replace all six.
3. Intake carbon: near 60,000–80,000 miles, check for rough idle and ask whether the intake valves have been cleaned.
4. Cooling: look for weeping at the water pump, check for wobble, and ask whether the pump and thermostat have been updated on early cars.
5. Borescope and records: scoring is rare on these engines, but a borescope is cheap insurance. On PDK cars, check the fluid-service history.

Want it done properly? See how our pre-purchase inspections work.

10What 981s and 987s cost now

These are CLASSIC.COM Market Benchmark values, viewed Oct 26, 2026. They average every condition CLASSIC.COM tracks, so they're a guide rather than a price for any one car. The 987.2 figures are manual cars. CLASSIC.COM does not split the 981 by gearbox.

The rough pattern: a 981 costs about $7,000–$10,000 more than the equivalent 987.2, and the GT4 and Spyder are a market of their own. Clean, documented, low-mile manuals often trade above these averages.

11Which should you buy?

• Steering feel and the best value: a 987.2 Cayman S or Boxster S manual. Hydraulic steering, no IMS, and a lower price.
• Lowest-risk daily on a budget: a 987.2 base. Port-injected 2.9, so no DFI carbon or high-pressure pump.
• Modern cabin and a long-distance car: a 981 S manual. More power, a nicer interior and a more stable chassis.
• Best all-rounder in the regular range: a 981 GTS, if the budget stretches.
• Collector or track-day buyer: a Cayman GT4 or 981 Boxster Spyder. Manual-only, 3.8 liters, and priced like it.

Whichever you choose, get a proper pre-purchase inspection first.