Drove a 981 'S' tonight...
 

Went to the unveiling of the new Boxster 'S' tonight, people were great, food was awesome, cars were fast. Had a great time. I had been driving a 991 'S' for a few days and was excited to see how the 981 'S' drove and how it compared to my 2000 'S'.

Looks - Everything I didn't like in the photos were not even noticeable in person, everything blended so nicely. The door air scoops/intakes didn't even catch my eye, totally a none issue. The spoiler and tail lights again blended nice and didn't catch my eye at all. The rear diffuser (that plastic area at bottom of bumper) that to me looked so bad in the photos, it was much smaller in person and really hidden out of the way. The car really is nice looking, it still has a nice roadster look. I would rather see 19s on the car, these had 20s. I'm not sure if it was the 20s or if the car just needs to be lowered 1/2 inch, there is too much space between the tires and the fenders, the 991 was done right, they goofed with the 981. The interior...well it is basically a 991. I guess i would have liked it to be a little more raw, I will say if you want more then you'll like it, everything is right where it should be and it all looks wonderful. A lot of car companies could learn from Porsche. Nothing looks out of place.

Ride - Let's put it this way, the 991 is a Lion and the 981 is a Cheetah. In regular mode the car muted bumps the same if not better than the 991. I know a lot of folks will say it is too refined and I would understand, but for daily driving or that long highway drive home from the mountains it can be nice if you have a bad back. Push the Sport button and stiffen the shocks and you are now back to all the road feel you might want, is it jarring like my 2000 'S' on man hole covers...well no but the ride is pretty stiff. Plenty of power and torque under 4500 rpm...and plenty fast. Sorry to all those 991 lovers, the Boxster is the new standard. It still feels like a Boxster. The steering still has a too strong to center pull like the 991 but they did a better job with the electronic steering I think. I could do without it, there is a lose of feel, but then I haven't driven a late model 987 so I didn't have that to compare to. I took a look under the car and at all the suspension and they basically didn't change it, sure the shape of things changed a little but it still is a Boxster, I'm guessing that is why it kept its overall feel.

Sound - Finally they put some growl into it. About time.

Overall - This is a great car guys, it will sell. I'm temped myself. I will get up in the morning and drive mine just to clear my head. I really didn't know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised. Porsche is seriously holding back on HP with this car, there is no reason they couldn't have gone 330hp with a 3.4 engine like this. The base 991 would have still been safe with it's 350hp.

I would like to see Porsche do a one year limited Turbo and Turbo 'S' version. They would all sell and be collector cars in 5 years.

Anyway, had fun, here is a crappy pic from my phone:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1340940528.jpg

Great review! Thanks for taking the time to give us an update (from someone who's actually experienced the cars).

I would have liked to go to the local opening this Sat but I'm leaving on vacation and can't make it. Dang. I would have really liked to drive this car for myself!

I've just received my invitation for the official Boxster opening at the OPC Brisbane (Australia) on Saturday 7th July - and they (Porsche) also sent me a very nice coloured hardback brochure in the post too.
But I don't think my wife will support the proposed ~$150,000 pricetag that Porsche Australia want for the S version.....

I got my book in the mail too. I am going to the Gold Coast day. They already have the Carrera GT sitting in the showroom for the open day. I popped in to have a look whilst it was in the workshop.

Saturday is "our day" here for the Boxster. Can't wait!

This might as well be our new car in time.....

looking puuuurty

Great write up. The 981 is pretty awesome to say the least and ever since I saw the car, I knew it was only a matter of time before I traded up. Go ahead and take the plunge...

Here are a couple pics from JPA Nashville last weekend where they hosted their Boxster launch breakfast.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1341059950.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1341059983.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/rear1341060014.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/side1341060054.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1341060079.jpg

Commercially might be interesting, but personally couldn't think of much worse you could do to a Boxster than turbocharge the engine. There's so much more to a good driver's car than lots of power and bolting turbos onto the Box would ruin in.

It will be mine, oh yes it will....

After it ages 3-5 years!

Are you kidding me...... They STILL don't have clear side markers? Haha other than that, it seems like a beautiful, and well engineered car!

Excited to see one in person!!

Clear side markers are illegal in the U.S for auto manufactures. Unless the law is changed, they will always be yellow. In Europe however, they use clear side markers, and you can fit them onto your car as a preference.

That's the nicest Mercedes that Porsche has built yet.

Ditto! ... Or the new Cayman S when it comes out, 5 years down the road:)

Love that color--which is it?

BTW, having owned 2 GR boxsters, I'd like to see some pictures of yours when the car arrives. The silver looks great but I like a sports car in a hot color myself.

+1
Too generic.
It does not have the nice rear end that the early Boxsters have like my 2001.

Thank for the nice pics Mike. One more thing everyone noticed, more room for tall guys. I think you 6 footers will be happier.

Let me know if anyone else gets a chance to drive one, would be interested in your thoughts too.

WhipE350

Did you notice any restriction to your vision compared to your 986? I read someone who purchased new 981 but indicated vision was obstructed by taller rear end.

And headrest/roll bar seemed to restrict vision.

What say ye?

Can't say I did. Didn't get to drive it long enough. We got off the main road and hit the twisties and I was looking straight ahead. I do remember trying out the side view mirrors though. Since this wasn't my car I wanted to be sure I didn't lane change into anyone (both left and right). The mirrors are in the right place. I will say I felt smaller and lower then I do in my car...but not so much that I felt like I couldn't see over the hood.

The headlights are very generic and not Porsche-like at all. Thumbs down for me. Nice car, but the looks don't really do it for me...especially not for the price.

It looks like an Acura...blah. :(

I got to sit in one before our rally and LOVED how low I felt. Loved the burble when letting off of the throttle after revving it up!!

Not Porsche-like?? Are you mad?

The Boxster front end is the closest thing to the Carrera GT the company has yet produced. IMHO.

I repeat, it looks like an Acura...period. Porsches have always had that distinctive round or oval headlight design that is easy to spot, even from far away. Not liking it.

It looks like someone stuck a Porsche emblem on an Acura NSX. If I wanted a Carrera GT like front end, I would buy a Carrera GT, lol! Yeah, not for me.
And yes, I am mad! :)

I don't know about the law you are talking about, but mine came from the dealer with clear side markers. It is one of the thinkgs the dealer in Dallas takes pride in.

IMO the headlights, like in the pic above, from 987II is the closest looking to carrera GT
The new headlights, other than being in dark housing, looks more like Infiniti G35 variants
But with that said, they are really growing on me

So did mine but they glow amber, bet yours do too.

That is my thought as well. I REALLY see the Carrera GT when I look at the front end of the new Boxster.

That they do

This is something that I don't understand...why would you want a Boxster to look like a Carrera? They are two separate cars and should have their own identities. Jmo...but if you like the Carrera GT so much, look at or buy a Carrera. I like the original Boxster look much better.

I'm biased but I think this looks more CGT eske, however I also agree that the Boxster has carved out it's own enthusiastic Porsche place in the marques history.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/0021341253019.jpg

You do know Carrera GT /= Carrera? Sounds like from your post you are confusing the two. Which would be easy, given the Carrera line is nothing remotely like the Carrera GT line, but does in fact offer a GT3 and GT2 (without the Carrera nomenclature).

Anyway, your incredulity as to why anyone would want their bottom-of-the-line $50k Porsche to look like the top-of-the-line $440,000 Porsche lead me to believe you were thinking people mean the 981's lights look like the Carrera, not the Carrera GT.

Not at all. I have zero interest in the Carrera, GT, GT2, 3, ABC, #@0, or any other possible variant. I think its a little insecure is all. Like sticking those Walmart chrome stick on vents on your Pinto's fenders, lol! Ok, that's a drastic comparison, but not much different than people wanting their Boxster to "look like a GT". Why? To deceive people into believing you're loaded? To fool yourself? Maybe you just like the way it looks?

Which brings me back to my original post about the 981; those headlights completely suck(!) and are not classic Porsche like at all. I don't care if they look like the Carrera GT's and you think that's cool. They look like lots of other modern hl's and frankly, the body has lost some of that distinctive shape as well. Pass!

Hi! I'm Tony! I own a 986 and love it! :D

Can we all just get along?

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/06/17/0...ng-getty-2.jpg

Pictures always help (unless Johnny Danger's involved)

Carrera GT (a 997/987 era car, all by its lonesome in exotic/supercar territory)
http://www.sportscarcup.com/cars/sil...carrera-gt.jpg

Boxster (981)
http://www.speedrizz.com/wp-content/...7298866563.jpg
The resemblence can't be denied, Porsche themselves have pointed out that they intentionally designed the car's look with the spirit of the Carrera GT in mind.

Carrera (991 in this case)
http://www.egmcartech.com/wp-content...34-Profile.jpg

We're talking apples, oranges, and peaches here. Hoepfully this helps with any possible confusion.

Personally, I don't like the idea that they designed this car to look very much like a Carrera GT, because I feel that in doing so they've made it look like a big MR2:

http://static.cargurus.com/images/si...e-pic-874.jpeg

I will also admit, however, that much like the 987's changes, the longer it's around, the more it grows on me to the point of toleration.

Can't wait for Hoffman down the road from here to take delivery of some so I can take one for a test drive on a lunch break. :D

Nope, it's a 9x6 era car, the steering wheel and instrument gauges are 9x6 design...

I didn't like the 981 much when I first saw it, especially the fussy rear end. Then it grew on me a bit. Now I don't like it again. It just looks a bit generic now, has lost too much Boxsterness. Pre facelift 986 with ambers is still easily the prettiest Boxster to my eye (well, except for the concept).

Only other production Boxster I really like the look of is the 987 Spyder. They did a nice job on that.

I still don't like the headlights, lol! :D

Now, that blue Carrera 991 has some sexy peepers!

Can't say I didn't like them in person...but I did very much notice them. I'm starting to agree with you. I detail a 991 frequently and can say the headlights do seem more 'classic'. Remember what happen the last time a Boxster's headlights looked like a 911...it upset a lot of 911 owners.

LOL! Insecure is installing a fake Carrera GT body kit and badges on your twelve thousand dollar 986. Buying the car Porsche chose to produce and leaving it stock... Well, if that's insecure I'm afraid we've all succumbed, your own sweet self included...

Oh, and in case you missed the late nineties, there's some historical precedent for boxsters looking like Carreras. :)

For the 1467th time...the headlights, man, the headlights! Lame! Your opinion is valued. :)

Particle - I'm sure both you and I can agree on one more thing...

P O R S C H E on the trunk above the word Boxster ;)