987 2.7 vs 986 2.5 review

[Perfectlap]

my 2 cents on the 987 styling vs. past and future..

I really like the back of the 987. Even better than the rear of the 981. But the front of the 987 I personally like the least. It has a sort of Japanese character about it. while the 981 seems like a straight copy of the Ferrari California, sort of what I was expecting would come immediately after the 986. From the side I didn't care for the odd shape of the 987 intake. I really don't care for the 981 side intake, seems very gimmicky to me and anything reminiscent of the Carrera GT just reminds you that its not a CGT and frankly shouldn't be on a roadster in the first place as the scale is too small to be that busy.

I guess my perfect car would have a 987 rear, 981 front end, 986 side (or more like the 996 Turbo side).

As for interiors, I literally don't like a single thing about the Panamera interior in the 981. It's like they shoe-horned another car's interior into a roadster. The 986 interior just lacked better quality materials but I think the 1993 concept car design/theme was genius... a sort of bare minimalism like on previous Carreras that was not remotely Audi/VW'esque like the 987/997/991.

[woodsman]

I'd like a minimalist boxster S with no luxurious at all--a spyder would do nicely. I think about starting with a bare-bones S and then building a track/street car with no HVAC,stereo,power accessories or sound insulation-- no comforts , just pure speed including slammed coilovers and WAY more power- oh , and cayenne (GT2 6 piston) brakes! And then, another boxster that's loaded, comfortable and quiet(like the one I now have ) and IMPRESSIVE. All I need is the money. Maybe a GT3 could be BOTH!

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

But the front of the 987 I personally like the least. It has a sort of Japanese character about it.

I know what you mean. Looks similar to a early 2000s Infiniti G35 or Toyota MR2.



what I don't get is the boxster is ~700 lbs heavier than the toyota MR2 yet they look so similar and are mid-engine RWD. If the Boxster was 700 lbs lighter it would be a beast!

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

what I don't get is the boxster is ~700 lbs heavier than the toyota MR2 yet they look so similar and are mid-engine RWD. If the Boxster was 700 lbs lighter it would be a beast!

I used to autocross a Miata and had a few laps in this MR2 (weird sight lines from the cockpit). When you then step into the 986 the first thing you notice is that unlike the other two the 986 acutally feels like a full-sized car and not a tight fitting sardine can. Actually if I'm not mistaken from wheel to wheel the 986 is slightly longer than the 996 Carrera. And of course the cockpits themselves are identical. This may sound sort of weird but in that respect the 986 is kind of big for a traditional roadster.

One of advantage of the earlier 986's was weight. SCCA autox C-stock under ~2,800 lbs, in STR rules allow a drop of another 200 lbs which is just a whisker from a SpecBoxster at ~2,500. Which is why you don't see such a dramatic difference in lap times (and not just "seat of the pants" feel) from a 2.7. And this is before taking any serious lightweight measures that could be applied to a 2.5 like an Optima battery, light weight exhaust/headers, losing 2 cats, cut out the airbox and radio, light flywheel/race clutch, ultra light magnesium wheels and light rotors. Even now after nearly 17 years in bone stock form the 2.5's are practically in the mirrors of a base 987 over a lap.
Or in the case of the light weight Boxster Spyder a well prepared example (tires/suspension) from TC Kline without a single engine modification was able to outlap a modified 997 GT3 with nearly 130 HP advantage. Still the lightest water-cooled Porsche.