Besides being a great drive, the 987 Cayman is such a gorgeous car ; an all-time classic Porsche design

I owned a 987.1 Cayman S and loved it and now I own a 981 Boxster S. Both are great cars. After not being a convertible fan, I now know that the ultimate way to experience that magical Porsche flat 6 is with the top down on a warm summer night. I can’t imagine a more pure motoring experience. If you want top down, go with the Boxster. If you don’t, get the Cayman. Driving dynamics is basically identical whether comparing the 987 Boxster/Cayman or the 981 Boxster/Cayman.

So good to see these 2 getting the love they deserve. I've owned my 987 boxster S for about 6 years now and I never tire of the car. As far as the maintenance goes it's really not all that scary so long as you get a PPI and you don't do the maintenance at the Porsche dealer ( any independent shop that services germans can work on it). In fact I do all my own maintenance it's truly quite easy. For the money it's hard to think of a purer, more enjoyable car. But to answer your quesiton, the answer is the boxster. And if you want better looks, buy the boxster spyder :)

Correction > The PDK transmission was not offered until 2009 in the 987.2 models. The Tiptronic automatic gearbox was offered on 987.1 models.

I chose the Boxster and ordered the removable hardtop for the winter: Best of both worlds. Admittedly the looks are not as smooth as the Cayman but the Boxster with the factory hardtop look grows on you. You can go with a contrasting color top for a unique look. Just got it last month: 2009 base model, blue top, blue interior, white exterior, Lagoon Green Hardtop on its way. I love the Manual Transmission!

I got a 987.1 Cayman S and I love it. After driving it for the better part of a year, the only thing missing was a convertible top. A quick search on autotempest found me a beautiful 987.1 Base model Boxster for a great price. I flew to California and drove it back to the east coast. What a great week. Now I have a nice choice to make in the morning. eeny meeny miny moe... You don't need two S's. The Cayman is the better S. The boxster's strength is the top. Get both.

I've owned three 987S Caymans, and currently own a 986 Boxster S. I've loved them all, but the Boxster is the keeper. Nothing like an open Porsche.

I was 100% in the Cayman S with PDK camp for many years and had planned on getting one. But I recently became a fan of convertibles . . . so I pulled the trigger on a 2006 Boxster S 6MT just yesterday!

Cayman all day every day.

Especially if you go for a drive on driving roads, or scenic landscapes like a national park, canyons, mountain roads etc, having the roof down makes the experience soo much better every time. Also revving out the first gears is much more glorious with the roof down acoustically. Unless you get this to convert it in to a track car, which it really isn't anyway, the Boxster is the more involved experience with the car, the elements and the environment. The Cayman looks better compared to the closed soft top, but you are not supposed to date it, you are supposed to drive it.

This year I purchased a 2003 Boxster S, a black convertible with only 5,800 miles, yes less that 6K miles. It cost a few dollars to change the fluids and I also need to have the IMS bearing replaced and even though the tires look new, they are 17 years old and need replacing also. It’s worth every penny, driving this 6 speed with the top down makes this old man feel young again. Of course I put Gertrude away for the winter and I can’t wait for spring to go out and play.

former 911 owner, want a boxster now, my son has one and its terrific.Gotta have a soft top.

As a fellow daily 987 Cayman owner and pandemic Porsche purchaser. I completely relate to the Cayman owner as I too came from a GTI (MK6). The Cayman ticks all my boxes for a fun and practical daily. I hope to run into these guys driving around the NOVA area or at a local PCA event.

I have a 987 S as a weekend drive absolutely love it :)

Nice video. I have a Cayman S as I'm not a convertible person but the older I get the more I fancy a convertible. I really think these 987s will be future classics.

Cayman first came out in late 2005 !! I have one from 2006, an S model and love it. Added some nice mods to to incl a full Capristo exhaust and bigger 19 inch wheels from the 911 S, the lovely Lobster claw design, and lowered the suspension with Eibach springs. Looks limes better now.

Simple. If you are ugly get a Cayman if you are not get a Boxster

I’ve got an 08 987 Cayman S Sport Limited Edition, I absolutely love it.

I think I’d rather have the Cayman, but the huge price difference between them would sway me to the Boxster.

I have a 987 boxster and I love mine soooo much! Nothing drives like a Porsche.

I've had 2 Boxsters, the 981 and currently a 718. I really can't imagine why I would ever buy a Cayman. They look good but here in Florida you've got to put the top down....and you still get 2 trunks.

I always told myself I'd get a Cayman one day, because I didn't like convertibles. Then I test drove a Miata and realized that actually I freaking LOVE convertibles. I ended up buying an NC Miata but I'm still considering a move up to a Boxster. I just have to determine if it's actually a move up or not, since this Miata really is very fine. I don't need a fast car, I need a fun car. That said, if you're not sure about Cayman or Boxster, I'd say go Boxster because they're almost always cheaper. At least where I live (PNW, maybe that's why) the premium for a Cayman over a Boxster is almost as big as 997 over Cayman. You should be quite sure you prefer the Cayman if you're going to pay more. Or, like, just shop on price and condition and options and ignore the difference. For me, I'm after a Boxster. Unless I still like my NC better. We'll see.

I love that you struggle so much with the choice. Feel the same way haha. Think I'd get which one I could find the better deal on.

I’ve got a boxster but think I’ll get a cayman next. The roof makes it look better to me now

Nice review... I agree on the "convertible person"... I drive my 09 MX-5 in winter top down with blue skies and minus 10 celsius.. and the 09 Base Cayman anytime closed when I need more storage space!

Good video, wish you would please list out (and preferably link) the upgrades made to these cars (exhaust, shifter kit, etc.). Thanks!

Cayman is beautiful, I’ve had a 987 Boxter, it was superb and sounded immense. I’d buy another, Boxter that is.

I wanted a Boxter S but was swayed by the track ability of the Cayman S, in hindsight I wish I would’ve bought the Boxter instead as I wanted. Currently looking for a Boxter S

The mk2 came with optional PDk those came with automatic

i like the boxster due to the fact in the summer u can have the top down

I'm another Pandemic Porsche owner with an '07 CS. What I love is looking in my side mirrors and seeing the hips. They are 1.5" higher than a Boxster's. Great cars and to each their own. Rear 3/4 view is so sexy on the Cayman.

Cayman S if you really want a car to drive like a car. Stiffer and better handling. 987 looks gorgeous, even better in 2021.

Cayman S....a keeper EVERY ......moment...second of driving any of them. 😍A becoming legend. Before Cayman S I used to have a 80s 911 Targa (red). There are many magic things in common.

Boxster s2006, convertible views year round, night and day, even rain is warm, so in Hawaii, my choice is was automatic, not complaining about that. Aloha.

they are the same car for different people, so the question is bs.. not all things are equal, the drivers that pick em are different and that is the deciding factor

Why worry....they’re so cheap we bought both. They have very different characteristics cayman at the limit is better but the Boxster is just more fun.

Boxster engine is a 3.2 litre with 280 hp whereas the Cayman S is a 3.4 litre with 295 hp. The Cayman also has an extra 15 lbs of torque.

The transmission information is incorrect. The PDK was not offered during the run of the 987.1 / 997.1 model years. It wasn't available until the 987.2 / 997.2. The .1's had the Tiptronic which was a torque converter auto.

I've also bought a cayman 3.4 s, for me the rear of the Cayman looks so much beefier at the back I know its not a lot in terms of actual measurements but looks more in person to me.

obviously the Cayman is better, it has a roof that won't leak , make noise, has lower drag and adds chassis stiffness.

I will pick the boxster, the choice between driving with the top up or down makes the car feel more special over weekends. That said the 986 boxster will in future have the most value as it was the first generation. The cayman is now the cheapest model when looking at 718 models.

I would take my 99 Boxster any day over the Cayman. To boot, I did order mine with the ULTIMATE UPGRADE, the removable hardtop generally cuddled in the big linen closet during the summer months and then fitted atop come dec thru feb

What a cool couple of cars. They are soooo similar in the grand scheme of things it's kind of funny to be too opiniated about it. Sometimes when I drive a Boxster I wonder if the ride would be a lot quieter on a rough highway. Perhaps it's not so much that it's loud, but I just wonder if you'd get all that noise. I had to get AAA to pop one of the doors open on a Boxster and the technician said that seal was the tightest he's ever seen on a car. So it's not a floppy rag top by any means.

Bought 2005 boxster in 2016 with $92k miles for $12k. Year later sold for $13500. I did water pump,low temp thermostat even they weren't leaking and Trans service. Guy had first Gen Viper. He bought its from me while he was going through divorce with his wife. I bought 2005 911 c2 year later. Big driving difference. Boxster handled batter but I prefer 911.

Great video! Would like to find a 986 removable hardtop in Meridian Metallic for the best of both worlds but easier said than done...lol

Brilliant video!

You mentioned they both chose the manual over the PDK. The Tiptronic was the automatic in the 987.1, the PDK was offered in the 987.2 as the automatic

I pick the boxster. The body lines are made for the top to be down.

Did you notice any difference in the steering feel/responsiveness between the Cayman and Boxster? I thought I had read years ago the Cayman's was a little more responsively sporty. That may have been compared to the 987.1 Boxster from 2005-06 until Porsche level matched the horsepower in 2007 in the Boxster and Cayman.

I own a 986 Boxster S, I like the 986 better. But I might be a bit biased.

I am the owner of an 06 Cayman S and was admiring the center console in the Cayman shown here. Did the owner refinish the center console in the body color, or was it sourced? If so, what was the technique to refinish the console, or where was it sourced? Thanks.

Cayman every single day! I'm bias tho as I own a 987 S. Great video btw.

That engine is a 2007? Damn! It sounds somewhat hard core, what would a Carrerra be like then? Porsches are badass

Whenever I see a Dakar yelllow E36 M3 , I think of Dados M3 and the Tekademics Mischief videos

I've got a lot more headroom means nothing unless you say how tall you are.

buy both!

Porsche did not offer PDK in 2007. PDK was available ftom 2009.

I think these still has the IMS problem. Should I worry about that if I want to buy one?

Excellent video

.1 is triptronic

Solid video except for the lack of Cayman rear end shots 😢😆

Is that the same E36 that used in the Regular Car Reviews E36 M3 video?

Ok im about to be 17 im choosing between a 987 boxter or cayman idc about coupe or convertble but i want to know is the cayman worth 3-5 k more for the euquivent version

I wonder what my Porsche Cayman s 2010 is it a 987?

Both those cars being .1 would have been Tiptronic if not manual, PDK wasn’t until the .2

Great video.

I’d get the cayman

I wonder if I'd fit in a Cayman. I'm 6'4" and lean. I need to find one where I am and check one of these out.

Currently shopping these in central Florida. Prefer the Cayman, but DAMN are they overpriced compared to the Boxters! Decent 987 Caymans are 30K+, meanwhile, comparable Boxters are around 20K.. Caymans are a whopping 50% more expensive!!! I guess that means my preference for the Cayman is in the majority. Higher demand for the Cayman, higher prices...

that cayman really sounds like a 911, it is much better than the boxter. i think it the sound would make for more of an exciting drive too

"You don't hear as much exhaust in the Cayman." -Quotes that didn't age well.

Guys what is the name and size of the wheels on cayman please ??

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Matthew!!! ❤

Cayman all the time! More ridigity

My advice: buy one of each.

987.1’s did not come with the PDK. It was the tiptronic

Without watching the video, its the Cayman...150% stronger body shell, more power, handles better, looks better, is better.

Dude where did you get your jacket?

boxster s 981 OR E300 E COUPE ?PLS help

Touche to Tony for admitting that all money you put into it will be lost

Cayman s easy the better car.

PASM is AMAZEBALLS.

Great video y'all! Cayman

You said you fit comfortably in the Cayman, may we know your height please?

Cayman S >>>> Boxster S

I couldn’t get a Boxster after having an S2000, Cayman all the way for me. Boxster is kind of ugly I think.

I've got PASM on my Boxster S. Unless your roads are butter smooth it's simply too stiff to be enjoyable and can often upset the handling. I do love the sport mode throttle tuning though, it really sharpens the response and makes heal toe shifts that much better

Does Matthew have an IG?!

Awesome cars!! Love the comparisons!

i myself went for a 2009 base cayman with the 2.9 engine, 3.4's where out of my budget of the 987.2's. But it goes fast enough for me haha.

Cayman looks better aesthetically.

Well it only comes down appearance really. So Cayman obviously wins. The Boxter just isn't as attractive.

Tuff choice

I too made a pandemic Porsche purchase! Had to be a 981 Cayman S for me, looks so sexy and that MA1.23 3.4L flat 6 sounds better than any non-V10 in my opinion. I always feel too exposed in convertibles and the Cayman is ridiculously practical so I didn't look at a Boxster. I've never really been a big Porsche guy, but they know how to make a fun sports car. Also, I live in the UK so we get about half as many hours of sun per year as San Diego, for example. Partly because we're further north, obviously (here in the UK is level with the top of Newfoundland) but also it's just constantly cloudy- even Anchorage gets over 20% more sun than we do! Not many inches of rain here, just lots of days where it drizzles. Really not much point in buying a convertible...

lol @ the owner intro poses

Cayman for me ;-)

If the Cayman would have had a sunroof , I would have gone Cayman. opted for Boxster w PDK. Not sorry

The cayman S was clearly a custom build when new because it has the center console painted exterior color..strange it doesn’t have any other nice options

Cayman looks better, and doesn't get your hair fucked up, has lower maintenance problems with age (no roof mechanical issues) Boxster is good for slapheads who want to be seen.

OK the fact that this person compares a Porsche engine to a Subaru is all you need to know . He's just reading from a script , also he doesn't seem to know Porsches . If this person actually knew cars he'd realize the Cayman does handle better because it's body is more rigid so the choice is do you what a 2 seat convertible or a small sports car .