986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - 986 vs. 987

Doug427 · 02-10-2019, 10:02 AM

I now own a 2005 Boxster S - a 987. Prior to this I owned a 2002 Boxster S 986. From a number of perspectives, the 986 spoiled me. Now make no mistake, I actually like the 987 better for what I use it for - a fun weekend, fair weather car. I don’t track it or anything like that.

What spoiled me with the 986 was the resources available for the 986, vs. virtually nothing at all for the 987. Even something like this forum - there is just nothing like this available for the 987. This forum has so many active talented people, and you can learn anything you want about the 986 here. There are a couple of forums that dabble in the 987, but there is little traffic on them, and so much of that is Cayman track use centric.

There are no used parts gurus like Woody on the 987. I’d asked Woody why there were no real 987 specialists like him, and why he doesn’t really deal with the 987, and his answer made perfect sense - guys commonly race the 986, and racing tears cars up, and Woody and guys like him fill that need for replacing the stuff torn up in racing. Then I ask myself why guys don’t race the 987. I have no answer for that. They’re not a whole lot more valuable than the 986’s - certainly not more valuable than 986’s were when guys first started racing them. My 987 handles better than my 986, and it’s certainly faster than my 986. Beats me why guys don’t race them. Anyone have any knowledge on why that is?

If you look at repair information, the 986 has so much information available, and the 987 virtually none. The 101 Projects for your Porsche Boxster, and the 986 Boxster Bentley manual have no equivalent for the 987. I don’t know why that is.

I’m guessing that lots of information on the 986 will cover the similarities on the 987, but there is no real way to tell what is the same and what is different. I’m hoping that some of you guys on here who are so much more knowledgeable than I am will start commenting on this thread with what you know, not just for me but for the many to come behind me with the same questions.

Given all that, here’s what I know so far.

First of all, all I really know anything about is “S” models, and even then what I know is somewhat limited as compared to some of the very knowledgeable guys on here. I know nothing at all about base models. For the 987, there are two “versions”, the 987.1, which is model year 2005 - 2008, and the 987.2 which starts in 2009 until the 987 ended in 2012. There are lots more 987.1 available than 987.2, with the most common reason usually given being that the economy crash in 2008 basically killed off sales of the 987.2’s.

There are numerous differences between the two, but the main and primary difference is the engine. The 987.2 engine has direct port injection with no IMS bearing. It’s a major redesign. 2006 to 2008 engines have a newer design IMS bearing. It’s bigger and some say less prone to failure than the IMS bearing that is in the 986 engines. However, the engine casing has to be cracked open to replace it. It can’t be easily replaced like the 986 IMS bearings. 2005 is a strange model year for the 987, in that some engines have the old 986 IMS bearing, while some have the 2006 style IMS. Apparently there is no way to tell which one you have until you drop the transmission and look at the rear face of the engine. My understanding is, the 2005 engine with the old style IMS is essentially the exact same engine that is in the 2003-2004 986, with a bump in HP.

Obviously the styling of the car is different. Some like it better, some not. Personally I like it better because I was never a fan of the headlights in the 986. All in all it is pretty similar though. The interior styling is different too.

So, as I said, my knowledge is somewhat limited. All you guys on here who know so much more than I do, can you chime in for those to follow to learn too? What is different on the car? Just as important, what’s the same? Electrical, suspension, body components - what is the same and what is different between 987 and 987? What parts of the 101 book and Bentley book apply to the 987? What can’t it be used for? Hopefully one day this thread can be used for guys buying 987’s to work on their cars too.

02-10-2019, 10:02 AM	#1
Doug427 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 163	986 vs. 987 - Commonalities and differences? I now own a 2005 Boxster S - a 987. Prior to this I owned a 2002 Boxster S 986. From a number of perspectives, the 986 spoiled me. Now make no mistake, I actually like the 987 better for what I use it for - a fun weekend, fair weather car. I don’t track it or anything like that. What spoiled me with the 986 was the resources available for the 986, vs. virtually nothing at all for the 987. Even something like this forum - there is just nothing like this available for the 987. This forum has so many active talented people, and you can learn anything you want about the 986 here. There are a couple of forums that dabble in the 987, but there is little traffic on them, and so much of that is Cayman track use centric. There are no used parts gurus like Woody on the 987. I’d asked Woody why there were no real 987 specialists like him, and why he doesn’t really deal with the 987, and his answer made perfect sense - guys commonly race the 986, and racing tears cars up, and Woody and guys like him fill that need for replacing the stuff torn up in racing. Then I ask myself why guys don’t race the 987. I have no answer for that. They’re not a whole lot more valuable than the 986’s - certainly not more valuable than 986’s were when guys first started racing them. My 987 handles better than my 986, and it’s certainly faster than my 986. Beats me why guys don’t race them. Anyone have any knowledge on why that is? If you look at repair information, the 986 has so much information available, and the 987 virtually none. The 101 Projects for your Porsche Boxster, and the 986 Boxster Bentley manual have no equivalent for the 987. I don’t know why that is. I’m guessing that lots of information on the 986 will cover the similarities on the 987, but there is no real way to tell what is the same and what is different. I’m hoping that some of you guys on here who are so much more knowledgeable than I am will start commenting on this thread with what you know, not just for me but for the many to come behind me with the same questions. Given all that, here’s what I know so far. First of all, all I really know anything about is “S” models, and even then what I know is somewhat limited as compared to some of the very knowledgeable guys on here. I know nothing at all about base models. For the 987, there are two “versions”, the 987.1, which is model year 2005 - 2008, and the 987.2 which starts in 2009 until the 987 ended in 2012. There are lots more 987.1 available than 987.2, with the most common reason usually given being that the economy crash in 2008 basically killed off sales of the 987.2’s. There are numerous differences between the two, but the main and primary difference is the engine. The 987.2 engine has direct port injection with no IMS bearing. It’s a major redesign. 2006 to 2008 engines have a newer design IMS bearing. It’s bigger and some say less prone to failure than the IMS bearing that is in the 986 engines. However, the engine casing has to be cracked open to replace it. It can’t be easily replaced like the 986 IMS bearings. 2005 is a strange model year for the 987, in that some engines have the old 986 IMS bearing, while some have the 2006 style IMS. Apparently there is no way to tell which one you have until you drop the transmission and look at the rear face of the engine. My understanding is, the 2005 engine with the old style IMS is essentially the exact same engine that is in the 2003-2004 986, with a bump in HP. Obviously the styling of the car is different. Some like it better, some not. Personally I like it better because I was never a fan of the headlights in the 986. All in all it is pretty similar though. The interior styling is different too. So, as I said, my knowledge is somewhat limited. All you guys on here who know so much more than I do, can you chime in for those to follow to learn too? What is different on the car? Just as important, what’s the same? Electrical, suspension, body components - what is the same and what is different between 987 and 987? What parts of the 101 book and Bentley book apply to the 987? What can’t it be used for? Hopefully one day this thread can be used for guys buying 987’s to work on their cars too.