Model Guide: Type 987 鈥?Boxster Matures, Cayman Coupe Launches
Above: 2006 Porsche Cayman S cutaway diagram. One of the differences between the previous and new engines was that the new M97 flat sixes had a mechanical vacuum pump and an electronic oil management system, which did away with the beloved oil dipstick. The main difference though was that the M97 was offered with a larger and stronger single-row intermediate shaft bearing that, unfortunately, is not replaceable without splitting open the engine case. But we鈥檙e getting ahead of ourselves. Let鈥檚 look back to model year 2007, when the base Cayman joined the 987 lineup. Above: Diagram of VarioCam Plus, showing how the system advances and retards camshaft timing. For 2008, the 987 continued on mostly unchanged. Up to now the engines were all M97-type engines with an intermediate shaft (IMS), and they were closely related to the previous M96 engines. Despite the lower failure rate of the larger IMS bearing, the perception of the intermediate shaft as a design flaw could not be shaken. Porsche replaced it with a brand-new design without an IMS: The 9A1 type engine. Above: Seven-speed PDK automatic transmission cutaway image.
Arguably an even larger bump in performance for 2009 was the new automatic transmission option, a double-clutch type with seven gears as opposed to the old torque converter Tiptronic. The Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission greatly decreased shift time compared to the Tiptronic and, for the first time, performance in automatic cars rivaled, and even beat, those with slower-shifting manuals. The 987.2 continued on through 2012 with only minor changes, and for 2013 Porsche introduced the 981-generation Boxster 鈥?we鈥檒l cover that model in a future article. As was customary, the factory offered several Special Edition cars, especially towards the end of a model鈥檚 production run. 2008 鈥?Boxster RS60 Spyder. Only 1,960 units were made. This car celebrated Porsche鈥檚 1960 overall win of the 12 Hours of Sebring with the 718 RS60 Spyder. It was offered with a GT Silver Metallic exterior and Carrera Red interior and top. Many options came as standard in the package. Above: 2008 Boxster Spyder RS60 Spyder.
2008 鈥?Boxster and Boxster S Limited Edition. This limited edition was offered with an eye-catching GT3 RS Orange exterior and Alcantara- and orange-accented interior. 59,900, respectively. This Limited Edition Boxster has been one of the most popular Boxsters yet produced. Above: 2008 Porsche Boxster S Limited Edition. 2009 - Boxster S Design Edition 2. This special Boxster had a very limited production run of 500 cars. Only 50 of them were destined for North America (US 32, Canada 18). This version was offered in Carrara White, two-tone black/gray interior, and light gray stripes on the exterior. 2011-2012 鈥?Boxster Spyder. The Spyder was a lightweight, higher-performance Boxster introduced for model year 2011. It was the lightest Porsche offered, weighing in at only 2,811 pounds. It had a manual convertible top and many aluminum components, such as the doors, trunk lid, and hood. It also came standard without air conditioning or a radio, although they were a no-cost option to add back in.
The engine produced 320 hp. Above: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder. Overall the 987 is a very good car. It鈥檚 fun to drive, with an intoxicating exhaust note 鈥?especially if equipped with the optional sport exhaust system (PSE). No car is void of issues and the 987 is no exception. The IMS bearing, although much stronger than in the previous 986 Boxsters, still has the potential to fail 鈥?albeit at a much lower rate than before. Even though the bearing cannot be replaced without splitting the engine block, there are ways to improve its long-term reliability without breaking the bank. The interior finish has brought the most complaints. If not a full-leather-optioned car, the interior is finished in a rubbery-type paint that tends to peel quite easily, revealing the unsightly black plastic underneath. Many people have opted to re-paint the interior or upholster those surfaces in leather. Also, the 987 had a high incidence of broken shift cables.