Porsche Boxster 2nd Gen Guide

In 2008, the second generation of the Boxster received new technologies and more power. It reached almost the same power as the former Boxster S, from the first generation. The 2.9-liter unit replaced the older 2.7-liter engine and offered 10 hp more than the older engine. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed manual, and a 7-speed PDK (Porsche dual-clutch) automatic was available as an option. The outside gets some welcome design tweaks also, while on the inside we get some updates and more technology options.

The 2007 model year Boxster got a change that most people don't think is significant, but is. Model year 2007 is when the base Cayman joined the 987 lineup. The interior and exterior remained mostly the same, but the Boxster S received the Cayman S 3.4-liter flat six while the 2.7 in both the Boxster and new Cayman received VarioCam Plus, which bumped horsepower up to 245. Think of this model year as Porsche taking the changes to get the base Boxster 2.7 to the same level as the recently introduced base Cayman. 

The original Porsche Boxster was a huge success and help Porsche grow its customer base, so when the second-generation Boxster (987) came to the US market as a 2005 model it wasn’t a surprise that it followed a similar formula. While the 987 Boxster retained only 20 per cent of the 986’s DNA, it looked similar enough to us that it felt more like a mild refresh than a totally new model update. The engine and transmissions were, for the most part, carry-overs, albeit with the obligatory and customary modest bump in performance and power (now at 240 horsepower).