Which bodystyle do you like the best?
 

We might be a bit biased on here, but which do you like the most?
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389381703.jpg

I have a 1997 986 base model. Boxster's have under gone the same development progression as the 911.

The early (under powered) Boxster is a momentum sports car and is a rawer drive then newer iterations. I had a 1973 2.0L 914 and I would add this car at the beginning of the boxster model list, very much the first boxster.

Like all Porsche's newer is better in many ways but if you have owned any early series Porsche they all have the seat of the pants sports car drive that can start you down the isle with the Porsche brand.

My brother-in-law bought a 2006 (987) Boxster after driving mine and the refinements make the car more comfortable and easier to drive but my 986 compels me to squeeze the juice out of it by driving in a sports car mode all day long.

Would I buy a 981, hell yes!!!

A lot of Porsche for the money ($8,500)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389383415.jpg

I actually wish there was a fourth, one that was one step more retro than the 986 Boxster. Make the fenders flare out more but keep the freid egg LMP headlights.
(see pic below for inspiration). I'd love to see an aftermarket kit sorta like what Singer has done with their clay modeling for their Carreras.

Everything after 986 is becoming more and more 'flattened'.
Eventually it will become a mini Corvette!


http://www.lmpcars.com/image/lmpcars651-1-thumb.jpg

I have always favored the 986, for body style (not necessarily mechanically). It was designed to be a throwback to the 550 and I think it succeeds. I have always felt the redesigns have moved away from the original design ideal, and 'tacked things on' to make it 'new.'

[QUOTE=Perfectlap;380346]I actually wish there was a fourth, one that was one step more retro than the 986 Boxster. Make the fenders flare out more but keep the freid egg LMP headlights.
(see pic below for inspiration). I'd love to see an aftermarket kit sorta like what Singer has done with their clay modeling for their Carreras.

Everything after 986 is becoming more and more 'flattened'.
Eventually it will become a mini Corvette!

Something like this?

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389385137.jpg

Given that the question was about which body style, as opposed to which car, I think I like the 981 best, followed by the 986, and then the 987, which I don't really like at all.

Now, if we are going back to the "original" Boxster, then the 550 is a hands-down winner in my book. What I wouldn't give to have an hour in one of those. The 914 is cool, but I don't have any real desire to own one.

I think the 986 and 987 share enough of the same DNA - one can could call it a toss-up. However, I must say, the look of the 981 is truly an advancement over previous designs. Except the Dangermobile of course. :p

needs more cowbell! the front fenders are too muted, looks like a 993 with fried eggs.

I mean removing the 986 front fenders completely. And replacing it with:
1) composite fender with an extra "15%" more flare, like the GT1 LMP pic I posted.
2) Extending the front bumper out (sort like our GT3 front bumper, but even longer).
3) Replacing the rear quarters with more prononuced hips as well, so that it bulges out sorta like the 993.
4) Using a pointier, lower-sitting rear bumper instead of the high-sitting, (] shaped 986 rear bumper.
5) definitely need side skirting, too much dead space under the doors when on 18-19" wheels.
6) adding some sort of aero shroud over the roll hoops similar to what's on the 918 Spyder that could 'targa-fy' the 986 during winter. Cool right?

If you look at what Singer did with a vanilla 911 or 964, the same maginification/backdating could be done with the 986.
It has a great base to work with, but without the GT3/aero treatment, in bone stock form the 986 looks too high on 18"s and too short up front with the stock bumper. To be fair, same thing happens with the 996 in bone stock form.

Extending the existing angles/trajectories further out and wider would completely transform the car so that it would be much closer to the '93 Boxster Concept car. I mean if you're in the business of doing this sort of thing like Singer they could make such a kick ass 986 with a simple $7K donor car. Stylistically speaking, it would be a mix between the GT1 and the 918 Spyder without having to pay $800K.

In theory, something like the RUF in this link below.
this pic really captures the degree of fender flare I would swap to in a second.
http://www.gtspirit.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery_black_ruf_ctr3/gallery_black_ruf_ctr3_001.jpg

http://www.gtspirit.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery_black_ruf_ctr3/gallery_black_ruf_ctr3_006.jpg

2002 and earlier model years (preferably an S), Cleanest Looking buy far IMO. Buy one on the cheap, put a new LN IMS Bearing in along with a water pump and GAHH glass rear window top in it, you are set.

Always love the 986, but the 981 really is a nice improvement.

I love my 986, looks dang nice. Having said that, how can anyone not like the look of the new Boxster? Love the air intakes that are sculpted thru the doors and into the intakes, just a thing of beauty.
Actually all of them look pretty dang sweet in my book. I wouldn't ******************** about having any of them.

I feel fortunate to own a 2001 with only 33K miles on it and so far no signs of IMS problems, bought it on the cheap a few months back. First owner was total anal about it and it is in basically mint conditon, actually has never been out overnight unless it had a cover on it (I knew the first owner for over 30 years). So I ain't ********************in with my 986, looks cool, looks classy and is a blast to drive. So whatever model you have, enjoy it for what it is.

Newer models will always look better at the time they come out because of updated styling. In a few years, they will also look dated.

I still prefer the original 986. Everything afterwards is softer in search of appealing to a wider demographic, and I fear, this will continue to be the trend.

mr. lap - if you tour through the air website, they have the rear flares:

American International Racing

and the front flares:

American International Racing

Jacemond also make a nice widebody kit:

http://www.jacquemond.com/gt27.jpg

rockers there are many, but the gemballa captures the ruf rk, which does the 904 thing quite well:

Gemballa Porsche Boxster s GT New Side Skirts with Air Intake 50 Discount | eBay

http://www.cartype.com/pics/3634/full/ruf_rk_cayman_rs1.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/2865/RUF-RK-Spyder_1.jpg

many choices for tasteful front bumper upgrade. roofs, however, are limited. i'm a fan of the zeintop, but the dmoris unit is nice also. I wish someone would make a top that replaced the tonneau to give the car a fastback appearance, but kept the rear trunk in place (the dmoris almost does this, but it sits on top of the tonneau and looks a bit tacked on as a result):

http://www.9legend.fr/upload/117/600/1/3/2048.jpg

beware your targa idea, as you might start heading in boxster Carrera gt kit car territory:

http://www.evocars-magazin.de/wp-content/gallery/porsche-boxster-carrera-gt-verkauf-2012/porsche-boxster-carrera-gt-mobile-2012-7.jpg

The best thing about the 986 is that you have a car designed in the 1990s that doesn't look like a '90s car.

Porsche guys done it right. Only details I wasn't flattered about was the headlights and side vents on the 986. Beautiful car. 987 was a nice update. Love the lights and side vents. Interior much improved but still a little raw. That 981 is a bastard. Everything I want in my boxster:matchup: Nice progression.

I agree with thstone except the 987 never appealed to me in any way! I drove a 2005 2.7L today & everything feels over insulated. I liked the 981 on 1st sight & that's rare for me. Now that I've been behind a few on the road I'm not liking the rear.

I believe the timeless classic design of the 986 will be popular the longest. :)

I can't thank you enough for posting all these great pics/offerings! I like the wide-body with 911 ROUND headlights best!

I thought those boxsters looked familiar here are some more shots from that


dayhttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389402336.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...pscc32b8da.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps4263342d.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps485f1626.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psc5c3eece.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psf212b5f2.jpg

What kind of rack is that on the 981? It looks like it is for a bike, but I am curious as to how it mounts. :cheers:

its a wheel chair mount it is attached right to the frame

981 has the neatest wing.

Why which?

*.*

Just saying...

I keep getting hung up on the 981 with the spoiler whatever that is, going across the brake light. Then again, that 987 has the wrong tail lights. Cayman brake light upgrade? But I guess you can see my bias. These 987s are brilliant. Verified at least two or three times when walking away before it gets completely out of sight.

05 Boxster S.....best of both worlds until 987.2s and bastard 981

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389418171.jpg



Crappy pic but I had to stop in the middle of taking off the wax to get a picture this gem before the sun went down.

I forgot to include this on, still only going on looks. I know it's still a 987 but it really deserves its own category.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389460238.jpg

I'd have to agree completely... but I may be slightly biased. :D
I'm working through that list of upgrades you mentioned, although I would probably prefer an '03 or '04 top instead.

i think that the 986 was trying to look retro (550) while the 987 and 981 are trying to look contemporary. further, i think the 987 was a miss; those side vents look tacked-on. the cayman incorporates the side vents ino the car much better. the 981 does contemporary the best.

the 911 has the benefit of porshe history, and all these cars have stying cues from the earliest 911, while still sucessfully incorporating modern stying cues (one could argue that the 996 deviated from this a bit, but porsche pulled it together with the 997). the 986 (and 987 spyder) tries to do the same and tie-in to porsche history, but the 987 and 981 stray from this and try to be their own cars. i'm not sure they do this successfully - if not for the fact that they are cheaper, i would be more interested in thier audi, ferrari and lambo contemporaries from a styling standpoint.

for the three you post, 986 all the way.

Early 986 (has to be pre-facelift) and 987 Spyder are my favourite Boxes.

I don't hate the 981, but it's fussy and overstyled. The rear in particular looks styled to suit the Asian market.

It also looks ****************ing huge. In terms of ambience / street presence, it almost feels like it's in SL territory. One of the best things about the 986 is that it looks and feels smaller than it is.

The 981 is the opposite. It's not actually that much bigger than the 986 (though the main body height it much taller, even though the overall height is not), but it looks much, much bigger.

Yup, the 986 will come good eventually. Cleanest and purest Boxster design by far. That will pay dividends in the long run.

Interior is a bit trickier. WIth extended leather, the door cards are really nice, nicer than the 987 and 981. But there are parts of the dash that are pretty grim, sadly and will never look good. Then again, I don't really like the bland 987 dash or the fussy 981 dash.

The 997.2 dash would be ideal, really lovely bit of work, that.

Totally agree. 987 Cayman vents so much better integrated. They look so cheap on the 987 Box.

Now that you mention it, probably purely intentional. 986 was the new affordable Porsche & now 981 is moving upmarket as a premium sports-car, more luxurious & comfortable.

I love the GT3 wheels but man are they too big. You can see clear through to the other side of the car.

The 981 wheels are even worse, and the wheel well arch is so large that anything smaller than a 19 or 20" wheels looks puny.

I will never understand this SUV sized wheel on a sports car trend.

986 facelift (03/04/550SE) and the 987 Spyder are my favorites. Still not 100% sold on the 981, will revisit when I can afford one in ~6 years after the 982 comes out.

(and I agree 100% on the huge 981 wheels, P-lap!)

They're not GT3 wheels. But they are big!

And agree re the stupidly big arches on the 981. Makes 18-inch wheels look tiny!

That said, still think the 981 Cayman looks best on 18s.

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps22162f53.jpg
http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3af11760.jpg
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Don't think it was intention per se. The range-topping 996 looks very small next to a 991, too. Looks small next to a 997, frankly.

981 being the best (in & out) of all 3, Captain

Have you sat in one of those yet?? I'm actually waiting until the warranty runs off these 981s so I can sort of afford a 'toy' like this. Recently seen a professionally tricked 981 here and it was simply breath taking :/

Few more years to wait but surely it will be worth the wait.

I've sat in them, even driven the PDK version. Awesome piece of equipment.

I love the timeless lines of the 986 but the 981 is definitely on the radar. I will just have to wait for a few years while they depreciate ;)

Had the pleasure to sit in it at the dealer but was embarrassed to take it for a test drive... was dressed with my 12months old shabby t-shirt

Actually, I didn't even need to drive the car to figure out I wanted nothing else LOL

Unique car.... not just a(nother) cliché 911 ;)

3-4 years min wait for me here :/