Swapping 987.2S for 981S

[Briggy]

I've had my 987.2S since 2016 and I'm thinking that it'll soon be time for a change. Not gone off the car in any way, but it's change for the sake of driving something different. Too much money to go to a 997.2S, so a 981S seems like a reasonable choice. Expecting to spend about 10k by making the change.

Mine is a PDK, which is brilliant, but I miss the extra level of control you get with a manual, so that would be very high on my list of priorities.

Has anyone else gone from 987 to 981 and got any comments to make? I'm aware of the non-hydraulic steering in the 981. I'm not expecting to notice the slight power increase, but I would imagine that it feels a bit more modern inside.

I wouldn't be changing until April, but just keen to get a few comments from peoples' experiences.

Cheers,
Bryan

 

[Changedstate]

Whilst not directly answering your question when i bought mine, it was a close run between a top spec 987 and an lower spec 981... I found the 981 to be just that little bit more refined both driving and visually. Agree with the steering point but again i fine the 981 to be much better than any car i have owned.

What sealed it for me it that the 981 still looks bang up to date, not just more modern like you state but in actual fact most people I speak to (although clearly not Porsche owners..) just presume that my 981 is brand new.

My only others comments would be I really miss climate control.. don't be put off by no sat nav. Originally that was a deal breaker for me but i simply got car play installed and its way better that the standard kit. And finally again this is the first car i have bought with no premium stereo and i presumed i would need to change it, just get the right inputs and its more than sufficient. That said i still rarely actually have it on

 

[JonathanB]

Hi Bryan

I went from a 987.2 manual to a 981 PDK - so can only comment from the 'reverse' perspective.

This is a personal view, but I always found second gear too tall in the 987 manual, and the 981 manual I test drove felt no different. That was the reason I went PDK - and why I find the manual hard work and dissatisfying for twisty / fun British roads.

It took me a month and 2000 miles as a regular drive to really get the hang of the 981, whereas in the 987 I'd done the same within the first week and 500 miles. Probably because I did a few long motorway drives - where I think the car is much better than the 987.2. It's the cosseting thing. It wasn't until I drove it in Sport Plus properly with loads of full throttle and hard braking on a summer early morning drive to North Wales - that the car really came alive and made more sense over a spirited drive in the 987.2

I would say I'm glad I made the change from the 987.2. I also think it looks ace!

 

[Wollemi]

Hi Bryan

I had a 987.2 for seven years during which time I drive a good number of 981s and was never tempted to change, principally because of the lack of steering feel in the 981. Whenever I handed the 981 back and drove off again in my 981 I was delighted to do so, because I realised that steering feel is very important to me.

I am aware though that it is not an issue for many people; I have many friends with 981s who are very happy with their cars and their cars steering. However I do have a friend who changed his 987.2 for a 981 two years ago and still very much regrets doing so; because of the steering.

There is no substitute for you driving a few 981s and finding out whether you will accept the 981 steering or not. This is something you can only discover for yourself.

 

[AndrewCS]

I changed a manual 987.2 Cayman R for a 981 Cayman S PDK ... and never had any regrets at all about moving on

I strongly disagree with the view that a manual provides `more control` than a PDK

The electric steering of the 981 is just fine

 

[BrianJ]

Not quite the comparison you asked for but I went from a manual 987.2 Cayman S (non-PASM) to a PDK 981 Boxster S (with PASM). I use my cars primarily for long drives, mostly car club or holidays of up to 400 miles/day, often on very challenging roads. It depends on your age and fitness but although the manual was great the PDK gives you the opportunity to just let the car get on with it when you wish. Unless you want to attack normal driving like a racer, most people would agree that PDK (particularly with stop/start/coasting turned off) changes gear up or down just when you were thinking about it anyway. You arrive at your destination feeling much less fatigued than otherwise. On my 10-mile trip to work, even at an unearthly hour, I counted 115 gear changes as a typical effort. That's a hell of a lot of effort if you scale it up to say a 300 mile twisty B-road journey. It can be very enjoyable in a manual, but sometimes not. And like AndrewCS, I don't have any problem with the 981 steering feel, but each to their own.

 

[Briggy]

With regard to PDK v manual, I completely get the advantages of PDK (as mine is now), but I just miss having a manual. It's a personal preference thing.

On the other points made, it's pretty much what I was hoping for i.e. there's no "right" answer, just what's best for me. Time to find something to test drive and take it from there.

Cheers,

Bryan