Presenting facelifted BoxsterS and CaymanS - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

litteng · 11-20-2008, 05:21 AM

porsche has updated their website video and it has the new cars with the usual pomp and ceremony, but the thing that caught my attention was that they stated "all new engine design" so i take that to mean the m96 is is dead. DEAD. DEAD...

long live the m96

the base boxster gets the new engine without direct fuel inj.

porsche can make all the noise they want about ongoing product updates etc. but i take this as the only admission we are going to get (unless someone starts a class action) that the m96 was an accountants engine, they nickel and dimed it and we know the result.

ekam · 11-20-2008, 05:52 AM

Topless · 11-20-2008, 06:30 AM

I love my 98 Box but I am afraid If I test drive one of these with 310hp, PDK tranny, and PASM, I may just have to dip in to my beer money a little bit and get one. I hope wifey does not read this.

eslai · 11-20-2008, 09:23 AM

For a mid-cycle refresh I think it looks awesome! My only gripe really is that the exhaust cut-out doesn't seem to have a surround like my 987 does. Makes that area look a bit unfinished in my eyes.

I'm also a bit ticked that the new car is down 10 horsepower from the Cayman, for no discernable reason other than "marketing".

Anyhow, the only feature I want from the new car is the ventilated seats. LOL Hopefully someone can find a way to retrofit those down to the older models.

9eighty6 · 11-20-2008, 04:08 PM

Looks nice ... I don't know about those bi-xenon headlights though. Look sort of funny IMHO. Even the 911 looks bug-eyed to me. I think they are supposed to invoke the look of the CGT but I don't know. Maybe it is better in person.

And I have always loved the look of the 911 ...

vincesf · 11-20-2008, 06:19 PM

With some facelifts, it's best to leave the face alone, as the plastic surgeon, can botch it up. Some aspects look like an improvement, but I still don't like the rear drooping lights and the lower rear panels, which are now black so that you can spend an additional $1,000 to color match them or have them in aluminum look. The front middle intake looks a bit odd shaped (I like the Cayman's more), and the 2 front air intakes now have black louvers, which again will allow you to spend extra to have them color matched or painted grey to match the side air intakes. The headlights do distinguish it from the 911 a bit more, and look a bit more like the Carrera GT; however, IMO the rounder light are a better fit to the car's appearance. Interior ipod connection and new engines/transmission are big pluses. In short, if you already own one, it is not worth to trade up and perhaps it is better to wait a few more years for the all new Boxster. If you are in the market for one, perhaps wait until they work out the bugs or until a $5,000 power pack option is available to upgrade the Boxster S hp to be on par with the add'l 10 hp of the Cayman S.

renzop · 11-22-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincesf

With some facelifts, it's best to leave the face alone, as the plastic surgeon, can botch it up. Some aspects look like an improvement, but I still don't like the rear drooping lights and the lower rear panels, which are now black so that you can spend an additional $1,000 to color match them or have them in aluminum look. The front middle intake looks a bit odd shaped (I like the Cayman's more), and the 2 front air intakes now have black louvers, which again will allow you to spend extra to have them color matched or painted grey to match the side air intakes. The headlights do distinguish it from the 911 a bit more, and look a bit more like the Carrera GT; however, IMO the rounder light are a better fit to the car's appearance. Interior ipod connection and new engines/transmission are big pluses. In short, if you already own one, it is not worth to trade up and perhaps it is better to wait a few more years for the all new Boxster. If you are in the market for one, perhaps wait until they work out the bugs or until a $5,000 power pack option is available to upgrade the Boxster S hp to be on par with the add'l 10 hp of the Cayman S.

If you go to the Porsche site and slog through the videos, there are lots of little tidbits. The base Box has body color radiator strakes. Only the S has them in black. The brakes on the base are the same as the S except for caliper color. The base uses the old engine block and internals but bored out to 2.9L. Only the S gets DFI. The 5 speed is dead in the base Box. It now comes standard with a 6 speed manual.

Amazingly enough the facelift was accomplished without changing a single body panel. Only the front and rear bumper caps had to be changed to accept the different shaped lights.

gcb · 11-21-2008, 07:08 AM

Frankly....i'm dissapointed in the re-design... the difference is really insignificant.. lights...LCD's ...whoooa..slow down there Porsche.. I love the look regardless however, there really is not much to be excited about in regards to the "changes".. perhaps the engine, PDK, horsepower bump, upgraded nav(finally), etc.... these are more interesting upgrades and updates in my opinion.

I have an '08 S and love the feel and improvements from my earlier '03 S much easier to drive, smoother, quicker, interior cleaner and updated.... so if the '09 is another jump in the same direction....should be pretty cool