987 owners...no offence - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

edbelton · 06-28-2010, 05:13 PM

Today I parked my white 1998 boxster next to a similar white 2009 987...
more agressive lines, lower, so much sleeker, sexier... the 986, of course

Lil bastard · 06-28-2010, 05:55 PM

I agree.

I think the 986 is the car and the one which in years to come will be the most collectible and sought after.

That said, with it's larger displacement, full vario, and such, I conceed the 987 may be the better car, just not the nicest.

All IMHO of course.

Cheers!

RandallNeighbour · 06-28-2010, 07:20 PM

LB, I do hope you are right. This is one of the reasons I'm working hard to keep my 97 look as good as possible. It's a first year Boxster that just might be worth something one day.

944boy · 06-28-2010, 09:58 PM

Sorry guys! I prefer my 987. I drove a pristine '98 and it just didn't feel as composed. I like the more modern headlights better too.

But there is nothing wrong with 986's at all! I'm just biased I guess.

I don't hate... I just love what I drive, and drive I do. Besides I gotta stand up for the late-models!

mikefocke · 06-29-2010, 03:18 AM

Just different.

I'm enjoying mine, hope you have equally good luck and fun with yours...or even better.

eightsandaces · 06-29-2010, 04:18 AM

I like them both but I'm partial to the 986 as long as the HR Puffinstuff eyes/ headlamps with the hideous orange are swapped for litronics...

7404 · 08-22-2010, 11:52 AM

Welcome
I traded in my 986 w/5 speed on a 987S with PDk. First time in the 987 I got the impression of a bigger heavier car. The raised front fender line reminds me of my 81 corvette. The 986 IMHO is a light steering whip it around the corner slot car that says I am light, fast and nimble so lets scream. The 987S is feels more sophisticated, steering a little heavier but more precise. The suspension is very good is stiffer being an S but it absorbs uneven road bumps. The S says I have 65 more horses a transmission that you or it can and will shift down in a turn and not upset the suspension. TAKE ME TO THE LIMIT! It can and I do.
I find the PDK to be a tool that me to be a better driver. PDK challenges you to compete with it. I have had 5 Porsche 5 speeds but the PDK gives me an edge that you may or may not need. When I first got the car it was a little less responsive the dealer reprogrammed both ecu's and it works great.
I don't know if it s good or not but now my wife demands her wheel time.

eightsandaces · 08-22-2010, 01:13 PM

RE: PDK

My best friend works directly for Hyundai, the last time I saw him he had the 6 cyl Genesis coupe. The car had manual shift paddles, I'm not sure it shifted anywhere near as quick as a PDK can shift but it was way faster than my other friend's Malibu. Anyhow, I always thought I'd love PDK, the perfect shift every time, no need to drop a transmission to learn heal/toe... I didn't leave the Genesis in that mode for five minutes, I felt bored and detached from the drive versus rowing my own manual. It's just my opinion but even though I view PDK as an awesome advance I prefer manual. I feel the same way about the direct cabled clutch over hydraulic.

blue2000s · 08-22-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eightsandaces

RE: PDK

My best friend works directly for Hyundai, the last time I saw him he had the 6 cyl Genesis coupe. The car had manual shift paddles, I'm not sure it shifted anywhere near as quick as a PDK can shift but it was way faster than my other friend's Malibu. Anyhow, I always thought I'd love PDK, the perfect shift every time, no need to drop a transmission to learn heal/toe... I didn't leave the Genesis in that mode for five minutes, I felt bored and detached from the drive versus rowing my own manual. It's just my opinion but even though I view PDK as an awesome advance I prefer manual. I feel the same way about the direct cabled clutch over hydraulic.

For a car driven on the road, it's still an automatic transmission. One that actually reacts to driver inputs as needed (as opposed to a normal auto) but it's still doing the shifting. I've driven a number of manual shifting autos and after playing with the manual buttons I realize that there's really no point to it and just leave it in drive and go about my business. I HOPE they never stop offering a real manual transmission because it's the way sports cars should be experienced.

Lil bastard · 08-22-2010, 07:38 PM

I think there's little question that the PDK is somewhat of an engineering marvel.

That said, I recently had the opportunity to drive the Boxster Spyder w/ PDK both through an auto-x course as well as a half dozen hot laps on a 2.8 mi. road course, and I did not like it. I didn't just not like it, I mean I Seriously didn't like it! And, that after a half dozen years with a 2.5 Tiptronic.

I would have much preferred to have had the Tip S. The launch control/throttle response of the PDK seemed to lag like a 1st gen SAAB Turbo and the car shifted twice at the apex. I felt like screaming: "Open the Pod Bay doors HAL...!!!"

It always defaults to saving the motor and you as if it were programmed by the Risk Management Team rather than Test drivers and engineers. The last time I remember being so far removed from the driving experience was in my Great Aunt's old '61 Coupe de Ville. And that's not to say that every other car I've driven didn't have their own disappointments, they all do. But the PDK equipped car was one of the few cars I've driven that actually annoyed me.

I agree with blue2ks, if I owned one, I'd just leave it in 'D' and accept my role as systems monitor and semi-interactive passenger. But, to me at least, this has never been what sports cars were all about.

And, I apologize in advance to those who may think I'm dissing their ride, I'm not. This is one case where perspectives are everything, mine have led me to these conclusions, yours may take you elsewhere. There is no right or wrong here.

Cheers!

eightsandaces · 08-23-2010, 02:54 AM

The only surprising thing about your post IMO is your sentence that you prefer the Tip over the PDK. That's where we part ways, the tip is heavier and makes the car slower.

ekam · 08-23-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

I agree with blue2ks, if I owned one, I'd just leave it in 'D' and accept my role as systems monitor and semi-interactive passenger. But, to me at least, this has never been what sports cars were all about.

The paddles becomes a gimmick quickly because the computer is smarter than the driver - it knows exactly when to down/upshift and it'll do it faster than you. It's better to leave it in auto for it to do its work.

It's great if you're living in a city like NYC, London or Hong Kong. Otherwise I'll take the manual thanks.