not to other people-You should see the way people stare when the top is down! Envy. The Cayman is just another car-granted beautiful-but just another car. There is nothing better than a Porsche convertible. 911 or Boxster. I hope you speak from experience? Now a Cayman Targa, that would be different!
both looks almost same but boxster doesnt comes with hard top...if you want to hear that amazing exaust sound when the roof is down then surely you can go for boxster obviously..
Yup...I've officially decided in my dreams that I will buy a Cayman GTS or even an S over the 991 911s any day of the week. These are true driver's cars. No crazy horsepower, turbos, or all those electro nannies raping the feel of a car. Thank the good Lord for a manual gearbox availability. Some people STILL care about an involved driving experience rather than a fast lap time, and while the 911's have done away with the manual tranny, the real party pieces are right here: Cayman and Boxster. An awesome review XCAR !! TAKE MY MONEY !! *I wake up*
You can get a 911 with the new 7 speed manual.. don't know what you're talking about unless you're thinking the GT3? Though, with how good the PDK is, why would you want (or need) a 7 speed stick?
I was talking about the high end 911's. Why would I want a manual? Cuz I give a shyt about being involved with a sleek and fast car which I have put my hard-earned dollars towards. If Formula 1, or any other professional motorsport paid me to shave lap times, I may just consider flicking a paddle to won races so I could earn my bread. Reality is, I'm a car enthusiast/purist and do track days and lots of canyon runs, I NEED a manual for sheer driving pleasure. Which is why a lightweight, fun to drove involving car like the Cayman or boxster will always be more appealing to me than the modern uber fast 911 gt3 and Turbo. Hell I'd take a Miata or any Lotus over a 911 for pure enjoyment. Just my opinion though and I understand im from the 2% purists group lol.
647killa You don't *need* a manual, you may want one though (and I feel that sentiment as well, I drive a stick daily) I'd be happy with the PDK though - they really are that good. If you don't care about and aren't interested in the higher end GT3, why worry about the lack of a manual? Those cars are all about lap times, so the PDK makes perfect sense. Besides, you can't use the full performance of even a base model Boxster on public roads. The S models? Well, third gear runs into the 100mph zone, so you're well into losing your license and maybe jail time my friend. All of these cars can offer driving pleasure on public roads, but you can't use their full potential by a long shot (unless you live around German autobahns.) Besides the Cayman and Boxster both have 6 speeds as standard, so if you buy one, you save a few thousand w/o the PDK. You'd be better served with a Miata or BRZ or something like that. You can actually use most of what it has to offer on said roads, they're still nice, and while losing out on status, would save a boatload of cash. If the lack of torque is a problem, plenty of money to strap on a small S/C or turbo. I'm having a bad day (a close relative is in major surgery) so please don't take anything I said as being combative. You're not the typical YT troll, so I don't mean to stir up an argument.
pursuinginsanity Your absolutely right about getting in trouble with these cars. However, I regularly track my E46 M3, which I feel is also too much car for every day driving. So if I were spending my hard earned money on a supercar, be it Porsche or whatever, I feel the need to have a manual transmission in such a car to suit my driving tastes. Doesn't work out for everyone, but I have enough skill and practise to drive a manual transmission properly on road and track, and therefore do not need a PDK AT ALL. If I got paid to do fast lap times, then i'd throw in the towel. Since I'm a car enthusiast and a purist, I wish the new GT3 was as driver focused and good to drive as the 997 GT3 (which of course will go down into history as the last great analogue Porsche). Just my opinion and I don't mean an argument either. Hope your relative gets speedy recovery.
The Boxster is better. Lower center of gravity makes it more precise going into corners. The hardtop Boxster (a.k.a. Cayman) has more rigidity up top but the already rigid Boxster doesn't need any more rigidity at the cost of a higher center of gravity. The Boxster will always be quicker, that's why Porsche gave the Cayman the 10 extra HP. A great track duel was conducted with professional racing driver J. Overbeek as the driver and everyone of the laps by the Boxster (Spyder) was quicker than the Cayman's (R). But more importantly contrary to what magazines and bloggers will say, these are not different cars. Porsche report their sales as one car, the Porsche 981. Calling them Caymans is just a marketing term that the public bought into 7 years ago. It's like trying to say that 911 Cabriolet and 911 Coupe are anything more than variants of the same model.
Paragon Wealth Strategies Actually the wife's car is a Cayenne or Range Rover. All roadsters pretty much across any brand are driven primarily by middle-aged wealthy white males. When you get away from roadsters and look at convertibles like the 911 Cabriolet or BMW, Mercedes, etc. you get a slight increase in professional women and gay men, they find two seaters like the Boxster/Cayman and Z3 inconvenient for storing all their shopping bags. Also, the Boxster and Miata are perhaps the two cars most commonly found at track days and autocross club racing events all across the U.S. because they are the most well balanced cars to use in high performance driving instruction. For example, the most competitive form of grassroots Porsche racing is with the first generation of Boxster utilizing the 2.5 flat 6. At a curb weight of roughly 2,600 pounds it's easily the quickest and most cost effective platform, if such a thing is possible in Porsche racing.
Paragon Wealth Strategies Who told you that the Boxster GTS is "quicker" than the Cayman GTS? Perhaps you are referring to the 0-60 times? That would be the only way it's quicker and that's a mater of an eye blink. Reality: If both Cayman and Boxster in GTS trim are fitted with the same options and rubber, the Boxster will be quicker than the Cayman at any track. Why? Because the Cayman GTS has no significant advantage over the Boxster GTS: A) The power and weight differential between the two cars is not sufficient to put the Cayman GTS into a different class for any racing series you can name. B) The suspension on either car are still both street set ups. It's not the case that one is a track-oriented set up and the other is not. C) The Cayman GTS is stiffer, but at the cost of adding weight where you want it *LEAST*: on top. The Boxster GTS is already one the stiffest cars you can buy at that power/weight yet scores the advantage of lower center of gravity over the Cayman. This advantage, or more like distinction, is the most important of all as it allows for more balanced and neutral weight transfer at turn in which frees up more grip at every point in the turn. The Cayman must make due with a more restricted racing line. How do we know this? Professional ALMS Porsche racing driver J. Van Overbeek proved this in a 987 Cayman R and 987 Boxster Spyder shoot out and the result was not remotely close. Advantage to the Boxster on every lap. Lower center of gravity wins every day of the week when the cars are so similarly spec'd like the GTSs: www.excellence-mag.com/issues/196/articles/open-and-shut-case-track-test#.VFFJpPldV8E I'll go one further, if you put the base 991 Carrera GTS engine in the Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS and took all three to the track, the Boxster would be the quickest. The Boxster is the best combination of #1 short wheel base, #2 light weight, #3 mid-engine neutrality, and #4 lowest center of gravity. The Cayman would be next and then the Carrera. So the exact reverse of common perceptions.
No tuning needed. Put the 2012 Boxster Spyder, 2014 Cayman GTS, 2014 Boxster GTS and 2014 Carrera in a track test, the twistier the better, and the Boxster GTS comes out on top. I know someone at one of the car magazines, they are considering this shoot out for an upcoming issue. Long overdue.
Porsche 911 I think "driver involved" is more correct. I love the PDK gearbox for what it is. It's one of the best! But knowing that the car downshifts automatically when coming to a stop kills it for me. I want to get to feel EVERYTHING the car is doing. I want to feel involved 100%
Brent Taylor But when you are actually going having the PDK is amazing. You can do a lot more with the car through a corner because you aren't focused on shifting as much.
I drove every variant of the new 911 in the past 8 months. As much as I love the heritage and name 911 and had the money to buy a new one, the cayman and boxter gts models were much more fun and the 911 is now a executive car. driving the gts boxter/cayman is an "experience" as opposed to the 911 which can be more fun but only on a track. Please noteI prefer handling over power Boxster GTS owner...
+1. .. Great 981 review. .. To compliment a Carrera C2S (993) it's the 981 Boxster S, er GTS. .. If the Frau didn't want another Boxster S it would be the Cayman coupe all the way. .. The Cayman coupe aesthetic fits the sports car mold. .. The Boxsters cabriolet soft top is sort-of Hairdresser-ish IMHO. .. Great chassis these twins. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
i like this change. considering the old boxster to have a reputation of a pure ladys car, which fitted quite good how it looked, this boxster is just superb it's looking extremely good and is now also performance oriented ! well done
I'm not sure if I would get the cayman or the boxster, but i have owned a cayman before and I love it but the boxster looks more pleasing and aesthetic
Porsche 911 What do you mean a by-product? It didn't happen by accident. It was Porsche's target to make it a fantastic driver's car. The good lap times are actually a by-product of the car's engineering. They didn't build it with the purpose of being a track car. That would be the future RS.
More quality content from XCAR. I've got a 981 Boxster S with the PSE and I can concur it is the best sounding car they make. It is loud, distinguished and best fun you can have without breaking the speed lint. Better than a 991 with PSE IMO. Better than my 997 with PSE too (but a close call).
Nothing beats the top-down driving experience of the Boxster especially when combined with that sick exhaust note! But the Cayman is also awesome, just depends on what “experience” you you prefer.
***** I found this out after the fact, although from what I understand it's still speculation with a hint of truth...or is it going to be a reality? If so, f_ck yeah, I can't wait!
This is exactly what I mean. You have basically stolen/plagiarised my comment and made it your own. It's exactly what you do with the material from other automotive journalists. Once you watch one car review, you've seen them all. Thanks for vindicating my point - so quickly may I add.
lol hahahaha lovely !! He is quite the presenter. Can't lie about cars like those, they are really good to drive. I mean, who wouldn't get excited about a drivers car. And ya he is nowhere near as bad as Tiff Needel with commentary lol.
I always though that Porsches are good for nothing cars, and that was because i was only looking at their carreras, after i saw the Cayman & Cayenne i saw myself driving one
I suppose I'd have to go Caymen too.. but only because I could fit me, my wheelchair, a passenger, AND groceries in it without having to leave the boot wide open, lol. (like I do my Miata) Of course somehow I doubt I'll be able to afford either in 10-15 years, like an original Boxster. :-/
As much as I love the Cayman, I would take a Jaguar F-Type S over it. Realistically, if I had a $100,000 budget, I'd have my eyes on either a '13 E90 M3, '14 C63 AMG, or a '11 1-Series M.
Yeah. That's the fly in the ointment:) So close, yet so far. $15k is still make or break for a lot of people. You could buy a like new 911 turned in on a 2 year lease.
Who cares what the 911 costs vs. a Boxster/Cayman? The 911 is a big grand touring car now. It's not a mid engine car with superior handling, it's not a car with a low center of gravity like the Boxster, it's not a car with a short wheel base. And the most recent 911's are nothing like the smaller 911's that made them famous in the first place. The Boxster/Cayman are a lot more like the 911 of the past than the 911 is today.
i think this presenter completely missed the point in the gts badges... the gts represents the "best we can offer in this class" makes more sense now doesn't it... the cayenne gts is one of the most fun vehicles to drive while lugging around your bike in the trunk (suv style)... the panamera gts is the best bang with 4 seats... the cayman gts is the best two seater coupe and the boxster is the best with the roof gone... none of these cars were designed to go against each other... only other cars in similar class... period!
Xcar usually have it spot on but this was a bit misleading. There is absolutely no difference in handling feel on the road and you'd need to be a pro on the track to reach the limits of either.
My new Boxster S PDK (981) is meant to be substantially more fuel efficient than my previous car, a Boxster S manual (987 Gen2) but it actually averages about 4-5mpg LESS. I think that's because you have to drive a PDK much harder to get a similar feeling of involvement. The PDK is very impressive, but it's like a condom - sensible, but takes away a lot of the sensation ;)
james737 You are absolutely correct. I have driven both and I prefer the manual transmission - it is just much more visceral and real. The PDK is a splendid component... but it is stil... meh compared to the manual. IMHO
There is no 991 GTS .. yet. You can get a 991 Carrera S with a +30hp power kit (something like USD $17k! for 30 hp?!), but by that time, you're paying GT3 prices. I think I'd take the GT3..
I really love the Cayman, and to a lesser extent the Boxter. I know it may sound like shallow reasoning, but I wouldn't get either due to their reputation. There are just too many people who think the Cayman / Boxter to be a poor mans 911.
So... in other words, you're just a shallow person who cares more about what his neighbours think than what he wants to actually drive? At least you can admit it's shallow reasoning, but.. That's sad. Fuck what "people think." I'm sure most people would be impressed it's a Porsche at all, unless you live in some gated community where every other house has a new Ferrari in the garage.
pursuinginsanity No, I wouldn't consider myself a shallow person. You speak as if I've done some great atrocity by caring about the reputation of the car I drive. I care about the thrill of the drive, believe me, but I also care about the opinions of others. See, you may not be aware of this, but some people don't have the "fuck what other people think" mentality.
JSoulstorm I speak in no such way, I actually commended you on something most people can't do - tell the truth about themselves (that it was shallow reasoning in this case.) And yes, you are shallow if you care what other people think of 'your ride.' Sorry if the truth hurts. The Cayman/Boxster have a great reputation - so being ashamed to drive one? That's sad to see in what I feel (through our short 'net discourse) is an otherwise good human being.
pursuinginsanity Personally I can't respect someone who would chose which Porsche to drive based upon what his neighbors might think. My love of Porsche has only to do with the magnificence of the machines more than anything else.
Porsche (the person) actually way very ahead of his time and made a ton load of incredible projects to other companies (one of my all time favorites: the auto union racers with rear mounted engines). those incredibly capable cars you don t consider Porsche, are pure brilliance oozing from a brilliant brand. cayman and the new 918 are my favorites, but the reality is that Cayenne, Panamera and Macan, are astonishing in their own right. one thing is to be Porsche fan, another is to be a 911 fan.
James Tennier Every day. A driver's car can be enjoyed in low speed as well. At least if you're still pushing it in places you know you can during your daily commute.
ianiva Yeh, I give up. Well you're making me travel waaay back in time now. I remember screeching tires on Woodside Road after midnight, (in the sixties) I also remember driving the Bayshore to work stop and go in my 356 Roadster about that point in time as well. Much preferred the midnight rides. Old now. 993 with Tiptronic is just me I suppose.
I was planning to get a Cayman GTS in 2017 - BUT Porsche dump it for the 718, so screw you Porsche as I will not be buying anything new off you again! Not everybody wants a 911 or a 4 pot 718 (which may be fast BUT has lost its soul as well as its sound). Anyone selling a good used Cayman GTS?
Slightly more power, better/wider powerband, a much stiffer body thanks to said roof which means more precise handling. (Not that a boxster is a turd in that category though). It's odd it took you this long to figure that out. The sad part is that most companies (even Porsche when it comes to 911s) charge more for the cabrio than the coupe. The Boxster OTOH is cheaper than it's coupe counterpart. Silly marketing if you ask me.
The price of a base 2014 Porsche Cayman is 52,600. The price of a 2014 Porsche Boxster $50,400. Both cars are pristine and sumptuous. But I'll go with Cayman. I just love the design of car itself. Only problem is maintenance. The 5 years cost of ownership totals close to $62,000. But that's what happens when a you a car from a brand like this.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I prefer the boxster it has no roof and it's fun.. Thats my opinion
Neil Leisenheimer Yeah, I didn't really see a point in this review
not to other people-You should see the way people stare when the top is down! Envy. The Cayman is just another car-granted beautiful-but just another car. There is nothing better than a Porsche convertible. 911 or Boxster. I hope you speak from experience? Now a Cayman Targa, that would be different!
No your not .....atleast mostly off the time ...i have owned both boxter is only fun in a good climate otherwise pick the cayman
I like more a Cayman with all the option available than a base 911
Which one should I buy?Some say cayman is better than boxster but i like the look of the boxster when roof down.
both looks almost same but boxster doesnt comes with hard top...if you want to hear that amazing exaust sound when the roof is down then surely you can go for boxster obviously..
Which did you buy?
The world just wouldn't be the same without xcar.
I took delivery of a 2015 Porsche Boxster 718 GTS Conv 2 weeks ago. 3.4l Flat 6. It’s my daily drive, and my first Porsche ever. What a fun car!
That bit in the tunnel had me grinning from ear to ear. Great review!
Yup...I've officially decided in my dreams that I will buy a Cayman GTS or even an S over the 991 911s any day of the week. These are true driver's cars. No crazy horsepower, turbos, or all those electro nannies raping the feel of a car. Thank the good Lord for a manual gearbox availability. Some people STILL care about an involved driving experience rather than a fast lap time, and while the 911's have done away with the manual tranny, the real party pieces are right here: Cayman and Boxster. An awesome review XCAR !! TAKE MY MONEY !! *I wake up*
You can get a 911 with the new 7 speed manual.. don't know what you're talking about unless you're thinking the GT3?
Though, with how good the PDK is, why would you want (or need) a 7 speed stick?
I was talking about the high end 911's. Why would I want a manual? Cuz I give a shyt about being involved with a sleek and fast car which I have put my hard-earned dollars towards. If Formula 1, or any other professional motorsport paid me to shave lap times, I may just consider flicking a paddle to won races so I could earn my bread. Reality is, I'm a car enthusiast/purist and do track days and lots of canyon runs, I NEED a manual for sheer driving pleasure. Which is why a lightweight, fun to drove involving car like the Cayman or boxster will always be more appealing to me than the modern uber fast 911 gt3 and Turbo. Hell I'd take a Miata or any Lotus over a 911 for pure enjoyment. Just my opinion though and I understand im from the 2% purists group lol.
647killa
You don't *need* a manual, you may want one though (and I feel that sentiment as well, I drive a stick daily) I'd be happy with the PDK though - they really are that good.
If you don't care about and aren't interested in the higher end GT3, why worry about the lack of a manual? Those cars are all about lap times, so the PDK makes perfect sense.
Besides, you can't use the full performance of even a base model Boxster on public roads. The S models? Well, third gear runs into the 100mph zone, so you're well into losing your license and maybe jail time my friend. All of these cars can offer driving pleasure on public roads, but you can't use their full potential by a long shot (unless you live around German autobahns.)
Besides the Cayman and Boxster both have 6 speeds as standard, so if you buy one, you save a few thousand w/o the PDK.
You'd be better served with a Miata or BRZ or something like that. You can actually use most of what it has to offer on said roads, they're still nice, and while losing out on status, would save a boatload of cash. If the lack of torque is a problem, plenty of money to strap on a small S/C or turbo.
I'm having a bad day (a close relative is in major surgery) so please don't take anything I said as being combative. You're not the typical YT troll, so I don't mean to stir up an argument.
pursuinginsanity Your absolutely right about getting in trouble with these cars. However, I regularly track my E46 M3, which I feel is also too much car for every day driving. So if I were spending my hard earned money on a supercar, be it Porsche or whatever, I feel the need to have a manual transmission in such a car to suit my driving tastes. Doesn't work out for everyone, but I have enough skill and practise to drive a manual transmission properly on road and track, and therefore do not need a PDK AT ALL. If I got paid to do fast lap times, then i'd throw in the towel. Since I'm a car enthusiast and a purist, I wish the new GT3 was as driver focused and good to drive as the 997 GT3 (which of course will go down into history as the last great analogue Porsche). Just my opinion and I don't mean an argument either. Hope your relative gets speedy recovery.
The Boxster is better. Lower center of gravity makes it more precise going into corners. The hardtop Boxster (a.k.a. Cayman) has more rigidity up top but the already rigid Boxster doesn't need any more rigidity at the cost of a higher center of gravity. The Boxster will always be quicker, that's why Porsche gave the Cayman the 10 extra HP. A great track duel was conducted with professional racing driver J. Overbeek as the driver and everyone of the laps by the Boxster (Spyder) was quicker than the Cayman's (R).
But more importantly contrary to what magazines and bloggers will say, these are not different cars. Porsche report their sales as one car, the Porsche 981. Calling them Caymans is just a marketing term that the public bought into 7 years ago. It's like trying to say that 911 Cabriolet and 911 Coupe are anything more than variants of the same model.
I concur; the Boxster is definitely the superior car.
Lmao. What makes it the wife's car?
Paragon Wealth Strategies Actually the wife's car is a Cayenne or Range Rover. All roadsters pretty much across any brand are driven primarily by middle-aged wealthy white males. When you get away from roadsters and look at convertibles like the 911 Cabriolet or BMW, Mercedes, etc. you get a slight increase in professional women and gay men, they find two seaters like the Boxster/Cayman and Z3 inconvenient for storing all their shopping bags. Also, the Boxster and Miata are perhaps the two cars most commonly found at track days and autocross club racing events all across the U.S. because they are the most well balanced cars to use in high performance driving instruction. For example, the most competitive form of grassroots Porsche racing is with the first generation of Boxster utilizing the 2.5 flat 6. At a curb weight of roughly 2,600 pounds it's easily the quickest and most cost effective platform, if such a thing is possible in Porsche racing.
Paragon Wealth Strategies Who told you that the Boxster GTS is "quicker" than the Cayman GTS? Perhaps you are referring to the 0-60 times? That would be the only way it's quicker and that's a mater of an eye blink. Reality: If both Cayman and Boxster in GTS trim are fitted with the same options and rubber, the Boxster will be quicker than the Cayman at any track.
Why? Because the Cayman GTS has no significant advantage over the Boxster GTS:
A) The power and weight differential between the two cars is not sufficient to put the Cayman GTS into a different class for any racing series you can name. B) The suspension on either car are still both street set ups. It's not the case that one is a track-oriented set up and the other is not. C) The Cayman GTS is stiffer, but at the cost of adding weight where you want it *LEAST*: on top. The Boxster GTS is already one the stiffest cars you can buy at that power/weight yet scores the advantage of lower center of gravity over the Cayman. This advantage, or more like distinction, is the most important of all as it allows for more balanced and neutral weight transfer at turn in which frees up more grip at every point in the turn. The Cayman must make due with a more restricted racing line. How do we know this? Professional ALMS Porsche racing driver J. Van Overbeek proved this in a 987 Cayman R and 987 Boxster Spyder shoot out and the result was not remotely close. Advantage to the Boxster on every lap. Lower center of gravity wins every day of the week when the cars are so similarly spec'd like the GTSs:
www.excellence-mag.com/issues/196/articles/open-and-shut-case-track-test#.VFFJpPldV8E
I'll go one further, if you put the base 991 Carrera GTS engine in the Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS and took all three to the track, the Boxster would be the quickest. The Boxster is the best combination of #1 short wheel base, #2 light weight, #3 mid-engine neutrality, and #4 lowest center of gravity. The Cayman would be next and then the Carrera. So the exact reverse of common perceptions.
No tuning needed. Put the 2012 Boxster Spyder, 2014 Cayman GTS, 2014 Boxster GTS and 2014 Carrera in a track test, the twistier the better, and the Boxster GTS comes out on top. I know someone at one of the car magazines, they are considering this shoot out for an upcoming issue. Long overdue.
I tend to enjoy a lot your reviews. This was definitely one of the best.
Oh man that Boxster exhaust note. I instantly regretted buying a base 981 and now I’m saving up to upgrade to a GTS.
"driver-focused"... so that means there's a manual option, correct?
Of course! I talked to a guy at a dealership and he said he doesn't see the manual option going away for the cayman anytime soon!
You don't need a manual to be driver focused. I don't see why people think that.
Brent Taylor
Ahh, thank God, great news indeed.
Porsche 911 I think "driver involved" is more correct. I love the PDK gearbox for what it is. It's one of the best! But knowing that the car downshifts automatically when coming to a stop kills it for me. I want to get to feel EVERYTHING the car is doing. I want to feel involved 100%
Brent Taylor But when you are actually going having the PDK is amazing. You can do a lot more with the car through a corner because you aren't focused on shifting as much.
Picking my Cayman GTS up next week so I’m binging all the reviews! Nice one Alex 👍🏼👍🏼
Next to being a pro athlete guys like you have the best career in the world. Love your reviews...they always make me want a new ride.
A great review, as always, guys! Just one tiny remark, what's with the Super Mario meets Macarena background music? :))
I drove every variant of the new 911 in the past 8 months. As much as I love the heritage and name 911 and had the money to buy a new one, the cayman and boxter gts models were much more fun and the 911 is now a executive car. driving the gts boxter/cayman is an "experience" as opposed to the 911 which can be more fun but only on a track. Please noteI prefer handling over power
Boxster GTS owner...
Best word of the review:
"GTS-ification"... Love it. 😎👍
as an owner of a 986 boxster, i'd really like to drive one of these and see how they compare.
+1. .. Great 981 review. .. To compliment a Carrera C2S (993) it's the 981 Boxster S, er GTS. .. If the Frau didn't want another Boxster S it would be the Cayman coupe all the way. .. The Cayman coupe aesthetic fits the sports car mold. .. The Boxsters cabriolet soft top is sort-of Hairdresser-ish IMHO. .. Great chassis these twins. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
The 981 is one of best products of Porsche in last years.
The clay model of the 904 is most likely the origin of VW's XL1 rear. Very similar.
I enjoy much your reviews. Thanks a lot, Mr. Carfection.
I’d rather have the Boxter GTS, very nice to the sound of the engine and the sports exhaust, especially on sunny day.
Great review as usual! I'd happily go with the Boxster GTS. I'm not the biggest fan of convertibles but it just attracts me more than the Cayman.
but there's a convertible in your avatar.
Um, okay...
you said your not the biggest fan of convertibles but there's a convertible in your avatar...umm
porscheoscar Because I like the picture itself.
True
i like this change.
considering the old boxster to have a reputation of a pure ladys car, which fitted quite good how it looked, this boxster is just superb
it's looking extremely good and is now also performance oriented !
well done
I'm not sure if I would get the cayman or the boxster, but i have owned a cayman before and I love it but the boxster looks more pleasing and aesthetic
Excellente présentation avec un excellent présentateur .
Why did Alex talk about the ultimate driver's 911 and didn't mention the GT3? What's going on? He totally ignored it...
GT3 is about setting fast lap times hence the name. Anything that doesn't have GT and then a number is a driver focused car.
Porsche 911 That's really not true. The GT3 is one of the very best driver's cars out there.
ianiva And that is a bi-product. The GT3 is focused on lap times hence the switch to PDK.
Porsche 911 What do you mean a by-product? It didn't happen by accident. It was Porsche's target to make it a fantastic driver's car. The good lap times are actually a by-product of the car's engineering. They didn't build it with the purpose of being a track car. That would be the future RS.
ianiva RS is hardcore track car whereas the GT_ is the track car.
More quality content from XCAR. I've got a 981 Boxster S with the PSE and I can concur it is the best sounding car they make. It is loud, distinguished and best fun you can have without breaking the speed lint. Better than a 991 with PSE IMO. Better than my 997 with PSE too (but a close call).
Nice film and review !!!
Were the two specs identical ?
And why the difference in power, seems silly to not use the same one in both ?? !!
Can't wait for the 991 GTS. That car will be epic.
The Cayman is an amazing car!
which is better cayman GTS or cayman R ?
Sunyata wow thanks for answering mate!
ALEX the man himself is back. :)
Sob wow. This cars are amazing, and sexy. Great review as always, i like to see to see that this channels audience has grown so much. Congrats guys.
XCAR, how would you compare the Cayman GTS to the Jaguar F-Type?
Where was this filmed?
Nothing beats the top-down driving experience of the Boxster especially when combined with that sick exhaust note! But the Cayman is also awesome, just depends on what “experience” you you prefer.
06:02-06:08 = eargasm
^
I absolutely love the styling, just wish Porsche would release a turbo'd version or one with 400 hp. This may never happen...
It will come, it's named the cayman gt4 (400-420 hp).
***** I found this out after the fact, although from what I understand it's still speculation with a hint of truth...or is it going to be a reality? If so, f_ck yeah, I can't wait!
ReticentIndignation Well, it's actually clear, but now they say, only 360-400hp. Otherwise, he would beat the 911
GT4! 385 hp!
Charles Lu GT4! MANUAL!
you failed to mention the Boxster has a lower centre of gravity and this fact makes a very big difference!
Automotive journalism in 2 lines
"it's so balanced"
"The steering feels so good"
This is exactly what I mean. You have basically stolen/plagiarised my comment and made it your own. It's exactly what you do with the material from other automotive journalists. Once you watch one car review, you've seen them all. Thanks for vindicating my point - so quickly may I add.
I drove a Boxster GTs last week and liked it but not so much that I would sell my 987.2 and have to add another £50,000 on top!
What's the color of this Boxter GTS?
carmine or guards red?
daibak2015 I’m pretty sure it’s Carmine. It’s definitely not guards red.
Yeah! Alex is back!
Its year 2020, what ever happen to our hipster narrator? .. The fella knows automobiles!
Always loved Porsche but never cared much for the Boxter but the new GTS looks amazing.
If I listen the narrator's voice for 10 more minutes I would go to rob a bank and then buy whatever he tells me to buy.
lol hahahaha lovely !! He is quite the presenter. Can't lie about cars like those, they are really good to drive. I mean, who wouldn't get excited about a drivers car. And ya he is nowhere near as bad as Tiff Needel with commentary lol.
my dream convertible second to the 458 spyder!
I love the new GTS line of Porsches they seem much better and awsum and deliver a better road and track experience for the driverrr
I always though that Porsches are good for nothing cars, and that was because i was only looking at their carreras, after i saw the Cayman & Cayenne i saw myself driving one
I suppose I'd have to go Caymen too.. but only because I could fit me, my wheelchair, a passenger, AND groceries in it without having to leave the boot wide open, lol. (like I do my Miata) Of course somehow I doubt I'll be able to afford either in 10-15 years, like an original Boxster. :-/
Boxster is better
As much as I love the Cayman, I would take a Jaguar F-Type S over it. Realistically, if I had a $100,000 budget, I'd have my eyes on either a '13 E90 M3, '14 C63 AMG, or a '11 1-Series M.
"Sports Car" def: top down April 1rst and not up till Nov.
sounds like a tie fighter
which one is cheaper
Hefty price tag though, 15k away from the 911.
Exactly. Just buy a certified used 911.
Well debatably more fun than a 911.
As soon as you get the 911 the way you want it, it will be NOWHERE near the base price.
Yeah. That's the fly in the ointment:) So close, yet so far. $15k is still make or break for a lot of people. You could buy a like new 911 turned in on a 2 year lease.
Who cares what the 911 costs vs. a Boxster/Cayman? The 911 is a big grand touring car now. It's not a mid engine car with superior handling, it's not a car with a low center of gravity like the Boxster, it's not a car with a short wheel base. And the most recent 911's are nothing like the smaller 911's that made them famous in the first place. The Boxster/Cayman are a lot more like the 911 of the past than the 911 is today.
Was I the only one that lost track of what car was... what car? The specs are so fucking close. They look so fucking similar.
Well, they are basically the same car... You could call them Cayman Cabrio or Boxster Coupe :)
And that is the point...
I prefer the boxter GTS
i think this presenter completely missed the point in the gts badges...
the gts represents the "best we can offer in this class"
makes more sense now doesn't it...
the cayenne gts is one of the most fun vehicles to drive while lugging around your bike in the trunk (suv style)... the panamera gts is the best bang with 4 seats... the cayman gts is the best two seater coupe and the boxster is the best with the roof gone...
none of these cars were designed to go against each other... only other cars in similar class... period!
I wish I could give you more likes. One like is not enough.
Pull your sleeves up. You're a grown man reviewing Porsche's.
Other then that, it was pretty damn good ;)
Xcar usually have it spot on but this was a bit misleading. There is absolutely no difference in handling feel on the road and you'd need to be a pro on the track to reach the limits of either.
MassiveGlove, right, everyone thinks they can corner at 1.02g in a Cayman, whilst the Boxster is 'only' 1.00g. It's the DRIVER...
Did he say Nazi black spoilers at 3:48?
Believe he said 'natty', meaning 'a bit trendy'.
Just wait cayman gt4...
LOL.... I feel the same way.
I am not picky, I'll take either one of them!
Brilliant I’ve been a Porsche nut since I was about 5
The manual blows 5mpg out the tailpipe for not only zero performance gain but it's actually notably SLOWER lol
My new Boxster S PDK (981) is meant to be substantially more fuel efficient than my previous car, a Boxster S manual (987 Gen2) but it actually averages about 4-5mpg LESS. I think that's because you have to drive a PDK much harder to get a similar feeling of involvement. The PDK is very impressive, but it's like a condom - sensible, but takes away a lot of the sensation ;)
james737 You are absolutely correct. I have driven both and I prefer the manual transmission - it is just much more visceral and real. The PDK is a splendid component... but it is stil... meh compared to the manual. IMHO
I think everybody is more interested in a comparison between the Cayman/Boxster GTS with the 991 GTS than this.
There is no 991 GTS .. yet.
You can get a 991 Carrera S with a +30hp power kit (something like USD $17k! for 30 hp?!), but by that time, you're paying GT3 prices. I think I'd take the GT3..
What a beautiful car. I'm in lust.
Brilliant.....
I would have said they are both winning cars.
The last great cayman/boxster. the new 718 has lost its soul.
yeah it looks like a vw porsche
I really love the Cayman, and to a lesser extent the Boxter. I know it may sound like shallow reasoning, but I wouldn't get either due to their reputation. There are just too many people who think the Cayman / Boxter to be a poor mans 911.
So... in other words, you're just a shallow person who cares more about what his neighbours think than what he wants to actually drive? At least you can admit it's shallow reasoning, but..
That's sad. Fuck what "people think." I'm sure most people would be impressed it's a Porsche at all, unless you live in some gated community where every other house has a new Ferrari in the garage.
pursuinginsanity No, I wouldn't consider myself a shallow person. You speak as if I've done some great atrocity by caring about the reputation of the car I drive. I care about the thrill of the drive, believe me, but I also care about the opinions of others. See, you may not be aware of this, but some people don't have the "fuck what other people think" mentality.
JSoulstorm
I speak in no such way, I actually commended you on something most people can't do - tell the truth about themselves (that it was shallow reasoning in this case.)
And yes, you are shallow if you care what other people think of 'your ride.' Sorry if the truth hurts. The Cayman/Boxster have a great reputation - so being ashamed to drive one? That's sad to see in what I feel (through our short 'net discourse) is an otherwise good human being.
pursuinginsanity Personally I can't respect someone who would chose which Porsche to drive based upon what his neighbors might think. My love of Porsche has only to do with the magnificence of the machines more than anything else.
Poor mindser man…
Im sure so as to run araound in these cars freely for the day you signed up to say the Caymen was best, he he, you think we are daft.
$75,000 dollars for one of em. WORTH
Now THESE are Porsches. The Cayenne, Panamera and Macan are not Porsches, they're VAG marketing products
Porsche (the person) actually way very ahead of his time and made a ton load of incredible projects to other companies (one of my all time favorites: the auto union racers with rear mounted engines). those incredibly capable cars you don t consider Porsche, are pure brilliance oozing from a brilliant brand. cayman and the new 918 are my favorites, but the reality is that Cayenne, Panamera and Macan, are astonishing in their own right. one thing is to be Porsche fan, another is to be a 911 fan.
Cayman looks better, but not having a roof while driving is amazing LOL. If only the cayman had the panoramic glass roof available as an option
If you are thinking about panoramic sunroof on a Cayman.. you are missing the point.
You either want a convertible or a hardtop....both do pretty much the same thing
I’m a hardcore enthusiast. I prefer the Cayman’s precision.
Yep, Cayman for me as well. But maybe the S is better value for money ;)
I would buy the GTS with NO options.
How often can this "drivers car" be really utilized is my question? 2% of the time? Five %? None? Seriously.
James Tennier Every day. A driver's car can be enjoyed in low speed as well. At least if you're still pushing it in places you know you can during your daily commute.
ianiva Yeh, I give up. Well you're making me travel waaay back in time now. I remember screeching tires on Woodside Road after midnight, (in the sixties) I also remember driving the Bayshore to work stop and go in my 356 Roadster about that point in time as well. Much preferred the midnight rides. Old now. 993 with Tiptronic is just me I suppose.
James Tennier They sound like really good times! And the 993 is a beauty!
Lovely!!
Both are great, but aesthetically, the Cayman looks much better.
Yes however to drive in Mallorca, the B is fantastic !!!!
Better. Which is BETTER.
Targa, Targa, Targa! Test drive the new Targa! :)
Panamera X Boxters
Am I the only one, who would prefer the Cayman S over the GTS? I think the S model is better looking to.
Yes. When you spec up a Cayman S to have all the equipment that the GTS has standard, the S is also more expensive.
Yes you are
I was planning to get a Cayman GTS in 2017 - BUT Porsche dump it for the 718, so screw you Porsche as I will not be buying anything new off you again! Not everybody wants a 911 or a 4 pot 718 (which may be fast BUT has lost its soul as well as its sound).
Anyone selling a good used Cayman GTS?
These cars look exactly the same, with about the same specs. So what's the difference?
Didn`t he just explain that in the video? Apart from the obvious one has no roof....
Cayman RULES-
Boxster is more expensive than the Cayman by like £3000. Probably because of no roof...
because of more expensive electric roof system
Very tame and subdued press delivery for something so exciting.
Shut up and take my money.
How is he choosing the Cayman after all that 😂
So a Cayman is just a Boxster with a roof?
Slightly more power, better/wider powerband, a much stiffer body thanks to said roof which means more precise handling. (Not that a boxster is a turd in that category though).
It's odd it took you this long to figure that out. The sad part is that most companies (even Porsche when it comes to 911s) charge more for the cabrio than the coupe. The Boxster OTOH is cheaper than it's coupe counterpart.
Silly marketing if you ask me.
GTS aka $$$ Option
The price of a base 2014 Porsche Cayman is 52,600. The price of a 2014 Porsche Boxster $50,400. Both cars are pristine and sumptuous. But I'll go with Cayman. I just love the design of car itself. Only problem is maintenance. The 5 years cost of ownership totals close to $62,000. But that's what happens when a you a car from a brand like this.
take away the roof of the Cayman than its the same car
For almost half the price I would get Rs3 and beat the Porsche easily !
718gts is faster than an M2 in track. The M2 is faster than the RS3. So there is the point... xD
The background musics sucks!