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Porsche Boxster / Cayman 987

Boxster / Cayman (987.1 / 987.2)2005–2012

Porsche's mid-engine two-seater — from the 986 that saved the company to the last flat-six GTS.

11 reviewers · 42 videos · 5 hours watched · 13 press articles

Generations
9861997–2004986 S2000–20049872005–2012987 S2005–20129812013–2016981 S2013–2016981 GTS2015–20169822017–2025982 S2017–2025982 GTS2018–2025
// 00 the verdict

Reviewers agree on its fun to drive and value, but split on performance and handling.

across 11 reviewers

// scorecard at a glance
// where reviewers split
Performance
8 say · liveable

"this engine is just on a completely different level to the boxer 4"

Zygrene · ▶ 8:36
1 say · critical

"7.91. We were all wrong. That was my fastest. 7.91. It's just not enough torque and a mile above sea level. It's not going to be fast."

The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 13:20
Handling
8 say · liveable

"Back end comes around nicely. Actually, too nicely. This thing is so much fun to drive. Oh my god. You could just steer this with the back end coming around."

The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 7:00
1 say · critical

"adding the power just brings me terminal under steer."

Fifth Gear · ▶ 1:45
Daily drivability
2 say · liveable

"It's the better everyday car. It's a better cruiser than the Miata by far, especially because we have a pretty cavernous front trunk and a rear trunk."

Zygrene · ▶ 16:13
4 say · critical

"I have noticed though driving it for a week is a lot stiffer than I was expecting... it's a lot more of a weekend car"

Car Chaps · ▶ 2:45
// the categories
// 01

Performance

4.0/511 of 11 reviewerssplit

“7.91. We were all wrong. That was my fastest. 7.91. It's just not enough torque and a mile above sea level. It's not going to be fast.”

critical · The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 13:20

“this engine is just on a completely different level to the boxer 4”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 8:36

“A much smoother engine. ... Of course, much greater power delivery as well.”

positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 11:55
// 02

Handling

4.5/510 of 11 reviewerssplit

“Back end comes around nicely. Actually, too nicely. This thing is so much fun to drive. Oh my god. You could just steer this with the back end coming around.”

positive · The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 7:00

“this hydraulic steering rack gives so much more feedback about the road surface”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 8:04

“adding the power just brings me terminal under steer.”

critical · Fifth Gear · ▶ 1:45
// 03

Fun to drive

4.5/511 of 11 reviewersconsensus

“I've never actually taken this car around the track. So, I want to try it. This thing is so much fun to drive.”

positive · The Fast Lane Car · ▶ 6:44

“it's more pure than the Cayman S because it's even more of a momentum car... that makes me enjoy it dare I say even more”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 10:23

“it's an event every time I step foot in it and that's what matters”

positive · Car Chaps · ▶ 4:06
// 04

Daily drivability

3.0/59 of 11 reviewerssplit

“It's the better everyday car. It's a better cruiser than the Miata by far, especially because we have a pretty cavernous front trunk and a rear trunk.”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 16:13

“I have noticed though driving it for a week is a lot stiffer than I was expecting... it's a lot more of a weekend car”

critical · Car Chaps · ▶ 2:45

“cabin definitely feels of the era 2007”

critical · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 2:11
// 05

Value

4.5/511 of 11 reviewersconsensus

“it's surprising to me that these could be had now for right around 20K that seems like really good value”

positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 3:15

“the 987s, if you really were looking hard, you could probably find one as cheap as like $15,000.”

positive · Sam Pappas · ▶ 3:32

“for around 20 grand... it's really hard to beat”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 12:16

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

Zygrene
Posted May 27, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Sam Pappas
Posted Nov 8, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
High Peak Autos
Posted Jan 2, 2023Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
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Head to head
From the press · 13 articles
Power265 hp
TX5- or 6-speed manual; Tiptronic (987.1) or 7-speed PDK (987.2)
Curb2,866 lb
Manual✓ available