Boxster S (987) - Rennteam's Short Review
First we have to apologize for the short review but our plans were to take out the Boxster S for a very fast ride but unfortunetely the weather in Germany didn't permit it. 
We apologize! 
I saw the new 987 for the first time many many months ago on an unofficial factory picture, so the final product wasn't a surprise. But picture don't tell the whole story, in reality, the new 987 looks very nice and it is a perfect evolution of the successful 986 with a touch of Carrera GT style. Compared to the declared competitors of the 987, the new Mercedes SLK and the BMW Z4, the Boxster actually makes a pretty good addition to the Roadster world and definetely looks much more attractive than the SLK. The BMW Z4 is a different story, people either hate it or love it.
Viewed next to a 986, the 987 looks not much different, especially from the rear. The new front is actually the best side of the 987, the 986 looks pretty much outdated if you compare both cars side to side. Overall, most people would probably have a problem to seperate both cars one from each other but the line flow of the 987 design is definetely almost perfect and the interior is completely different story because it reached new heights.
Design: Almost perfect, only the double exhaust pipes look cheap and most customers would expect something round, something larger in diameter, definetely not this and Tequipment/Exclusive will surely take care of it sooner or later.
The front lights have been finally "simplified", the 986 design always reminded of the first 996 series and this wasn't Porsche's masterpiece regarding looks.
The Boxster S we testdrove had 19'' wheels with summer tires (Michelin Pilot Sport N1), PASM, Chrono Sport package, sport seats, full leather.
Drive "feel": It is no surprise that the interior feels a little smaller compared to the 997 but it is a surprise that the steering felt a little bit more direct at the beginning, even if it isn't. The 987 actually uses the same steering with variable steering ratio like the 997 but apparently Porsche decided to slightly change the setup and made the steering wheel turn in the middle position a little bit less easier than it was the case on the 997 Carrera S we testdrove. It could be also possible, that the steering feels different because of the smaller front tire setup, the front suspension setup and the track.
The 997 Carrera S steering definetely feels a little bit more nervous when driving fast curves, especially with the 20 mm chassis option. Due to the bad weather conditions, we weren't able to drive the car at the limit but even with summer tires at around 5-6*C outside temperature and partially wet and even icey streets, the Boxster S felt rock solid and never showed traction problems, despite the fact that the car was brandnew and of course the tires weren't run in yet.
The PSM jumped in very late once or twice but only when the street was pretty wet and the car was under full acceleration.
With Chrono Sport turned on, the PSM didn't come on at all but the weather conditions didn't permit it to go to the limit, for the sake of the car and the driver.
And Chrono Sport also had a suprise for us: the throttle response was almost the same, with Chrono Sport turned off and turned on. It is definetely a different setup compared to the 997 Carrera S but the advantage of the Chrono Sport package actually lies with the modified PSM setup and not only with throttle response. Judging from the throttle response only, the Chrono Sport would be a "no go" on the Boxster S but of course there is more to it.
PASM is a great thing to have on the Boxster, especially if you live in an area with bad streets. Even on good streets it makes immediately a difference by the push of a button.
Unfortunately we didn't have a car without PASM for comparison testing but if you want comfort and stiffness, PASM is the way to go.
Engine: 280 HP sound like fun but they actually were a little bit of a disappointment. Of course the Boxster S we testdrove was brandnew and the engine just has to be set "free" but it definetely felt less powerful than the 997 Carrera (not S) engine. The engine revs freely up to over 7200 rpm without hesitation but the ultimate "kick" is missing. And over 5000 rpm, the engine sounds very good but not even close to the incredible "resonator" sound of the 997 Carrera S. We enjoyed a lof the nice and throaty sound in the mid revv range but although the 987 has a soft top, the engine sound is less loud compared to the 997 Carrera S.
Furthermore, there is that typical Boxster "turbine" sound which can be heard together with the throaty roar, some people might not like it. And even if the overall sound is really nice, it sounds less race car like compared to the high pitch throaty roar of the Carrera S over 5000 rpm. This is actually an interesting thing: if Porsche ever offers a sport exhaust for the Boxster S, it will probably produce more sound at higher rev figures. And a 997 Carrera S sport exhaust will probably produce a throatier sound in the mid range rev figures.
Overall, the 987 S engine/exhaust sound is sporty but we think that the 550 Anniv. Edition Boxster sounded a little bit sportier, especially in the higher rev band.
Torque feel is good, the Boxster S engine feels more torque oriented than the 997 Carrera S engine.
The top speed we achieved was 244 kph (153 mph) due to weather and traffic conditions but there is no doubt that the Boxster S runs the promised top speed. At that speed, the Boxster S felt rock solid, even in a wide Autobahn curve. PASM was active most of the time of our review.
Gearbox/Clutch: The new gearbox is a very pleasant surprise, it shifts very easy and precise and it feels easier to operate than the Carrera S gearbox. The clutch feels completely different compared to the Carrera S. While some people might have difficulties with the Carrera S clutch feel and operation, the Boxster S clutch feels like the clutch in a Volkswagen Golf, easy to operate without the need of a sensitive clutch foot. Because of our very good experience with the short shifter option on the Carrera S, we can imagine that a short shifter would be a very nice option for the Boxster S too.
Brake: The brake works very nice, no problems at all. Of course we weren't able to check it under extreme driving conditions but brake feel is good and we didn't encounter any problem.
Seats: The new sport seats are worth their money. For people who don't want to spend much money on the adaptive sports seats, the sport seats are highly recommended. They're definetely much better than the optional sports seats on the 986, in our opinion a MUST HAVE option for the Boxster. They provide a better side grip and are similar to the adaptive sport seats up to a certain point. For somebody who isn't too fat or thin, the perfect solution.
Interior: With the 987 interior, a new level of build quality has been achieved. It reminds us a lot of the 997 interior, something very pleasing for 987 owners but maybe not so pleasing for 997 owners and with full leather and an open top, the 987 looks absolutely great.
Even without the full leather option, the interior looks great but we do not recommend to go for light interior colours without full leather.
The oval air vents look somehow strange because in our opinion, they do not match perfectly with the speedo cluster. We also would have loved to see an oil temperature gauge, maybe even optional.
The reviewed car didn't have any strange squeaking or rattle noises, the quality impression was very good.
Conclusion: The new Boxster S is a huge improvement compared to the old one but we would have expected a little bit more power. A fully specced already enters 997 Carrera price regions and if power is more important than an open top, the 997 Carrera is the better choice.
Judging by the drive feel, the Boxster S would easily be good for at least 30 HP more.
Is it worth to exchange a 986 for a 987? Definetely yes, even more than moving up from a 996 to a 997. Especially the 986 front part makes the Boxster look outdated and nobody really liked the "sunny side up egg" design of the 986. But the new 987 also shows where Porsche sees the future of the 987: clearly below the 911 as an entry level Porsche. The 987 is fun to drive and the fabulous suspension/steering setup makes it a little racer on those little country road. It is a very fast car and the Boxster S is as fast as a 993 now from 0-125 mph. But don't expect a camouflaged race car, it has a different soul than the 911.
Final note regarding options and colours: if possible, go for the Boxster S and not the standard Boxster. Almost every option can be retrofitted (not full leather!), buying a "naked" Boxster S makes more sense than buying a fully loaded Boxster. The 280 HP engine is the MINIMUM power source for the new Boxster, the chassis could easily take more and it feels like that. We just don't want people to get frustrated with the 240 HP setup.
And if money is an issue, go for a Boxster S with black interior, sport seats and without PASM. This should provide a very nice setup for sporty driving. It just doesn't make sense to go for 240 HP and then add 19'' wheels, PASM, Chrono Sport or even the PCCB brake. And save some money for a nice sport exhaust because although the Boxster S has a nice roar, it definetely isn't what we expected.
Enjoy the pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions, we might not have been able to tell all details.
We apologize!
I saw the new 987 for the first time many many months ago on an unofficial factory picture, so the final product wasn't a surprise. But picture don't tell the whole story, in reality, the new 987 looks very nice and it is a perfect evolution of the successful 986 with a touch of Carrera GT style. Compared to the declared competitors of the 987, the new Mercedes SLK and the BMW Z4, the Boxster actually makes a pretty good addition to the Roadster world and definetely looks much more attractive than the SLK. The BMW Z4 is a different story, people either hate it or love it.
Viewed next to a 986, the 987 looks not much different, especially from the rear. The new front is actually the best side of the 987, the 986 looks pretty much outdated if you compare both cars side to side. Overall, most people would probably have a problem to seperate both cars one from each other but the line flow of the 987 design is definetely almost perfect and the interior is completely different story because it reached new heights.
Design: Almost perfect, only the double exhaust pipes look cheap and most customers would expect something round, something larger in diameter, definetely not this and Tequipment/Exclusive will surely take care of it sooner or later.
The front lights have been finally "simplified", the 986 design always reminded of the first 996 series and this wasn't Porsche's masterpiece regarding looks.
The Boxster S we testdrove had 19'' wheels with summer tires (Michelin Pilot Sport N1), PASM, Chrono Sport package, sport seats, full leather.
Drive "feel": It is no surprise that the interior feels a little smaller compared to the 997 but it is a surprise that the steering felt a little bit more direct at the beginning, even if it isn't. The 987 actually uses the same steering with variable steering ratio like the 997 but apparently Porsche decided to slightly change the setup and made the steering wheel turn in the middle position a little bit less easier than it was the case on the 997 Carrera S we testdrove. It could be also possible, that the steering feels different because of the smaller front tire setup, the front suspension setup and the track.
The 997 Carrera S steering definetely feels a little bit more nervous when driving fast curves, especially with the 20 mm chassis option. Due to the bad weather conditions, we weren't able to drive the car at the limit but even with summer tires at around 5-6*C outside temperature and partially wet and even icey streets, the Boxster S felt rock solid and never showed traction problems, despite the fact that the car was brandnew and of course the tires weren't run in yet.
The PSM jumped in very late once or twice but only when the street was pretty wet and the car was under full acceleration.
With Chrono Sport turned on, the PSM didn't come on at all but the weather conditions didn't permit it to go to the limit, for the sake of the car and the driver.
And Chrono Sport also had a suprise for us: the throttle response was almost the same, with Chrono Sport turned off and turned on. It is definetely a different setup compared to the 997 Carrera S but the advantage of the Chrono Sport package actually lies with the modified PSM setup and not only with throttle response. Judging from the throttle response only, the Chrono Sport would be a "no go" on the Boxster S but of course there is more to it.
PASM is a great thing to have on the Boxster, especially if you live in an area with bad streets. Even on good streets it makes immediately a difference by the push of a button.
Unfortunately we didn't have a car without PASM for comparison testing but if you want comfort and stiffness, PASM is the way to go.
Engine: 280 HP sound like fun but they actually were a little bit of a disappointment. Of course the Boxster S we testdrove was brandnew and the engine just has to be set "free" but it definetely felt less powerful than the 997 Carrera (not S) engine. The engine revs freely up to over 7200 rpm without hesitation but the ultimate "kick" is missing. And over 5000 rpm, the engine sounds very good but not even close to the incredible "resonator" sound of the 997 Carrera S. We enjoyed a lof the nice and throaty sound in the mid revv range but although the 987 has a soft top, the engine sound is less loud compared to the 997 Carrera S.
Furthermore, there is that typical Boxster "turbine" sound which can be heard together with the throaty roar, some people might not like it. And even if the overall sound is really nice, it sounds less race car like compared to the high pitch throaty roar of the Carrera S over 5000 rpm. This is actually an interesting thing: if Porsche ever offers a sport exhaust for the Boxster S, it will probably produce more sound at higher rev figures. And a 997 Carrera S sport exhaust will probably produce a throatier sound in the mid range rev figures.
Overall, the 987 S engine/exhaust sound is sporty but we think that the 550 Anniv. Edition Boxster sounded a little bit sportier, especially in the higher rev band.
Torque feel is good, the Boxster S engine feels more torque oriented than the 997 Carrera S engine.
The top speed we achieved was 244 kph (153 mph) due to weather and traffic conditions but there is no doubt that the Boxster S runs the promised top speed. At that speed, the Boxster S felt rock solid, even in a wide Autobahn curve. PASM was active most of the time of our review.
Gearbox/Clutch: The new gearbox is a very pleasant surprise, it shifts very easy and precise and it feels easier to operate than the Carrera S gearbox. The clutch feels completely different compared to the Carrera S. While some people might have difficulties with the Carrera S clutch feel and operation, the Boxster S clutch feels like the clutch in a Volkswagen Golf, easy to operate without the need of a sensitive clutch foot. Because of our very good experience with the short shifter option on the Carrera S, we can imagine that a short shifter would be a very nice option for the Boxster S too.
Brake: The brake works very nice, no problems at all. Of course we weren't able to check it under extreme driving conditions but brake feel is good and we didn't encounter any problem.
Seats: The new sport seats are worth their money. For people who don't want to spend much money on the adaptive sports seats, the sport seats are highly recommended. They're definetely much better than the optional sports seats on the 986, in our opinion a MUST HAVE option for the Boxster. They provide a better side grip and are similar to the adaptive sport seats up to a certain point. For somebody who isn't too fat or thin, the perfect solution.
Interior: With the 987 interior, a new level of build quality has been achieved. It reminds us a lot of the 997 interior, something very pleasing for 987 owners but maybe not so pleasing for 997 owners and with full leather and an open top, the 987 looks absolutely great.
Even without the full leather option, the interior looks great but we do not recommend to go for light interior colours without full leather.
The oval air vents look somehow strange because in our opinion, they do not match perfectly with the speedo cluster. We also would have loved to see an oil temperature gauge, maybe even optional.
The reviewed car didn't have any strange squeaking or rattle noises, the quality impression was very good.
Conclusion: The new Boxster S is a huge improvement compared to the old one but we would have expected a little bit more power. A fully specced already enters 997 Carrera price regions and if power is more important than an open top, the 997 Carrera is the better choice.
Judging by the drive feel, the Boxster S would easily be good for at least 30 HP more.
Is it worth to exchange a 986 for a 987? Definetely yes, even more than moving up from a 996 to a 997. Especially the 986 front part makes the Boxster look outdated and nobody really liked the "sunny side up egg" design of the 986. But the new 987 also shows where Porsche sees the future of the 987: clearly below the 911 as an entry level Porsche. The 987 is fun to drive and the fabulous suspension/steering setup makes it a little racer on those little country road. It is a very fast car and the Boxster S is as fast as a 993 now from 0-125 mph. But don't expect a camouflaged race car, it has a different soul than the 911.
Final note regarding options and colours: if possible, go for the Boxster S and not the standard Boxster. Almost every option can be retrofitted (not full leather!), buying a "naked" Boxster S makes more sense than buying a fully loaded Boxster. The 280 HP engine is the MINIMUM power source for the new Boxster, the chassis could easily take more and it feels like that. We just don't want people to get frustrated with the 240 HP setup.
And if money is an issue, go for a Boxster S with black interior, sport seats and without PASM. This should provide a very nice setup for sporty driving. It just doesn't make sense to go for 240 HP and then add 19'' wheels, PASM, Chrono Sport or even the PCCB brake. And save some money for a nice sport exhaust because although the Boxster S has a nice roar, it definetely isn't what we expected.
Enjoy the pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions, we might not have been able to tell all details.
. I appreciate all your hard work.
.
and a cayenne for traveling 
really enjoyed the black boxster
