Porsche Boxster & Cayman (981)

Model Years Produced: 2012-2016

Summary

The third-generation “981”-generation Boxster and Cayman pushed Porsche into the modern era together with the 991-generation 911. Featuring an all-new body and interior compared to the previous generation, updates to the recently-introduced PDK transmission and direct-injection flat-six engines, and electric power steering, the 981 served as the brand’s entry point to fun for just five years before the “718” update replaced them in 2017 – but they were a very good five years.

The 2.7L and 3.4L engines on offer in the base, S, and GTS flavors of the 981 have beautiful exhaust notes and excellent throttle response, and the handling is spectacular. The 3.8L in the more rare GT4 and Spyder versions is also a fantastic engine in its own right. The design of the cars themselves is much more attractive than the previous 987 and 986 generations, flowing over the wheels as if it’s the bare amount of car necessary.

Curiously, all variations of the Boxster produce slightly less power than the Cayman despite having the exact same engine. It appears that this is only due to slight tuning modifications done by Porsche to ensure that the Cayman maintains a performance edge over the Boxster. Aftermarket tunes are available by the community to bring parity to the two vehicles and allow the Boxster to output the same amount of power as its sibling – though be aware that applying such a tune would void any manufacturer warranty (such as in the case of a certified pre-owned vehicle).

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Base

Even in their base form, the Boxster and Cayman are sweet to drive, perfectly balanced with a beautiful 2.7L flat-six to wring out. 265/275 horsepower isn’t a huge amount, but it is more than adequate enough to motivate the ~2900 lb curb weight on offer here.

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S

The S provides a massive power boost to the Boxster and Cayman thanks to an additional 0.7 liters of displacement, resulting in 50 more horsepower and 60 more lb-ft of torque (69 in the Cayman). The extra thrust turns the 981 from a delicate sports car into a screaming rocket, especially if you’re lucky enough to find one equipped with PSE and Sport Chrono.

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GTS

The 981 GTS is just a little sharper than the S. In addition to an extra 15hp from the 3.4L flat-six, it also comes standard with either PASM or the “sport chassis,” both of which reduce the ride height, plus PSE and Sport Chrono. Unlike the later 718, a limited-slip differential is not standard on the GTS and must still be optioned.

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GT4 / Spyder

The Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 are more track-focused versions of the 981, featuring a 3.8L flat-six shared with the 991 Carrera S and a standard mechanical limited-slip differential along with Porsche Torque Vectoring. A 6-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox on offer. The bodywork is aggressive, the suspension is stiff, and the Spyder’s top must be manually buttoned in place instead of folding up and down. These are the ultimate roadgoing 981s.

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