Is This 981 Boxster S Really $20,000 Less Fun than the GTS?

I drive the 2014 Boxster S which was purchased for under $50k. With some basic exterior modifications it resembles a GTS for quite a bit less cash. Is the premium for the GTS really worth it on the second hand market, or is the clever choice to opt for the financially savvy S trim?
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[@TedwardDrives]

The S trim is more than enough for most, but I will say when shopping for a boxster/Cayman equipped with the Limited Slip Diff and the Sports exhaust is a heck of a lot easier if you focus on the GTS model. Some GTS models are selling used for $70+ which puts it dangerously close to GT4 territory if you use "Man Math". My advice is to set a budget and stick to it. It is far too easy to start looking at the 981 for $45-50k and suddenly justify a $95k Spyder or GT4.

[@DevonRegan]

I had this same debate and bought an S. I was able to find a car that checked almost every box I had on my list. I really wanted a manual trans, black interior, white, black or silver exterior, sport chrono, 20" wheels, and sport exhaust. I found a car with everything but sport exhaust. I put and AWE exhaust on the car first which was about $1500, the drone was brutal. AWE thankfully has a money back guarantee and I got my money back. I finally bit the bullet and spent the $2500 to buy the factory Porsche Sport Exhaust. A tough pill to swallow but Porsche Westwood actually had a special on labor for performance parts so it wasn't terrible to do. Every 981 needs PSE though, it changes the entire personality of the car. I do love that I don't have to be so in your face all the time with the pops and burbles of the PSE and I can switch it off when I want (rare but it happens). Have you driven a 981 with PSE?

[@TedwardDrives]

The 981 Boxster GTS I reviewed on Winding Road Magazine from Porsche Westwood Had it... The sound was really impressive and I can absolutely see why it was worth adding it to your car.

[@QuintonTV]

Been lucky enough to own a 911 and i'd still gladly drive a Boxster any day. Awesome car that catches unnecessary hate.

[@mikewright2858]

I fail to see how anyone could HATE this car ... it's literally amazing. Never drove a 911, and I am sure it's Da Shizzle even more, but it also costs considerably more specced similarly. I see the CPO Boxster S as an amazing bargain ... mine only had 14,600 miles on it ... hardly broken in, and a great warranty for a used car, at 2/3 the price of a new one.

[@TheTopher]

Nailed it on this review! The 6-speeds in these cars are magical.

[@rasharddauvergne342]

Guy: yh tires are shot Ted: yh lets just open it up here

[@TheBobodrink]

Perfect length for a review! Keep posting longer vids

[@TedwardDrives]

Definitely appreciate the feedback!

[@mjon5706]

I think the GTS is worth it if you want the performance items guaranteed and do not wish to modify it. Things like sports exhaust that you can open/close without having some strange aftermarket keyfob is very nice. Also if you're used to limited slip you'll notice the lack of it right away in most off-the-lot S cars.

[@93455Driver]

The few times I have been lucky enough to drive a Boxster/Cayman, the sound is amazing. Tbh a base Boxster that requires more go pedal/higher revs maybe even more fun (on the road) if the engine noise is what you crave (along with the right exhaust). Never driven an EPS boxster/cayman, hope they did not lose the magic.

[@JohnStax98]

Great review! And its awesome to see more Massachusetts you-tubers. Keep it up man!

[@TedwardDrives]

Thanks John!

[@jackeely54]

Thank you for this video. Refreshing to see real people talking about cars how they really feel

[@bellathe5.031]

I currently have an NB Miata and I’m looking to upgrade to a Boxster. I feel like it’s the perfect move up because the Boxster is the Miata of the Porsche world. Its small, light, nimble and not overpowered. I can’t wait to test drive one to see how it compares. I’ve driven the S2000 which was originally the next car I was gonna go for but I was honestly disappointed at how it drove compared to the Miata. If you don’t get into VTEC, it’s heavier, slower and less comfortable than the NB. Really hoping that a 987.2 or 981 won’t be that kind of disappointment

[@dhgoodall1]

Great video as usual! Love the Cayman S and GTS. Had the 981 Cayman GTS, as you know. For the S owner, I don’t believe the 981 GTS came standard with PTV or LSD, so he’s not missing out. 👍🏽

[@cayman9815]

hi even the base Cayman 981(2.7) is already great fun on public roads ! I drive mine daily and enjoy every ride since 4yrs now a dream car

[@QuintonTV]

@6:32 was badass! Nice save dude.

[@TedwardDrives]

haha thanks... seriously caught me off guard since we weren't carrying much speed and I had only fed it a touch of throttle. Better to find out slow than fast!

[@copperry4381]

LOL

[@smilepermile888]

Great video Tedward! Speaking of affordable 2 seater sportscars, would be great to hear your thoughts on a Mazda MX-5 RF Club edition (features brembo brakes, BBS wheels, recaro seats), if there's a friendly owner to let you drive it!

[@DriversSide]

I really want to drive a boxter/cayman to experience the mid-engine feel

[@noseonscent1935]

Actually 2013 saw the introduction of electric assisted power steering in the Boxster just fyi. Fun review though.

[@TedwardDrives]

You're right I was off by a year! Insane how long these cars have been around.

[@netcrashYT]

Did I hear Boston? Got a base, which definitely ticks the “enough” button ... and even more savage has! - you got any fave roads to drive in the area? Kancamangus rally? ;) and yes in the area ... base suspension is plenty.

[@coldshiver1]

Drove a PDK one last year, loved how balanced it was, still need to drive one harder to figure out if it'd be a good fit.

[@TedwardDrives]

if the car was more powerful PDK might sense. Honestly the clutch has a great weight and its very tactile. Not true for all cars, but you'd be missing out on that fun without the manual

[@coldshiver1]

True, though if it was a daily i might lean for the PDK on comfort and convenience alone

[@TedwardDrives]

I think the 718 makes a lot of sense as a PDK. 981 is still asking for a stick =)

[@Jay-xr3sb]

Gears are too long for a manual, you'll mostly be cross shifting between 2-3. Or just leaving it in 2 (sports plus like) or 3 (sports). The rest will feel like cruising gears. This car really needs shorter gears, in the pdk it's fine.

[@shughes911]

Now this is what I want to know

[@Kevin-ss1by]

PDK on my 2014 981 is kick ass with Sport Mode on. Pedal to the floor and it changes gears at 8400 rpm perfectly without a delay. If you want manual mode just switch to M. I never use Manual Mode.

[@copperry4381]

i have the gts 981 with pdk and agree, it goes as fast as you need to go and little bit more, fantastic fun porsche.

[@clu4u]

Rev limit is 7600 on the 981, I have a Spyder

[@IWillSmurfYou]

8400?? Lol

[@antwha5526]

tons of space!!! 2 adults and a dog for a weeks vacation!

[@Fzr005]

Hey man, what cameras are you using here? Would love to get these for my car!

[@dylandavies9637]

Get the S, do a remap and upgrade the exhaust. That’s pretty much the gts!

[@JMartinni]

"engaging drive where you can push it into a corner and you can feel a really balanced chassis with a mid-engine - there's nothing else that does this other than a Cayman" - You mean other than the Elise/Exige/Evora, 4C, A110? But yeah, not many sports cars like that anymore.

[@TedwardDrives]

The US only gets the Evora and 4C out of your list. They are pretty uncommon cars here. We discussed the 4C in this video and that it is much more hard core than a boxster/cayman so it sort of falls outside of the usability realm. The Evora falls into similar pricing (50k USD) as the boxster/cayman so that is certainly an option...but it never really took off in the US

[@kamilkapitan2216]

Surprised the back tried to get away at 6:32! I've driven my buddies 981 Cayman S (manual, 20mm suspension) here in Arizona and it seemed incredibly well planted (that being said the tires melt on the pavement here so that sure does add a lot of grip lol). Also, since you have driven quite a few different cars, what car would you buy with an +/- $80K budget? I've owned an M4, and just sold my automatic C7 Z51 and have been really looking at the C7 GS with a manual and Z07 package. I've also looked at the 981 Spyder and 991.1 S, but the tech seems a lot more dated than the C7 (Apple CarPlay, front and rear cameras, cooled seats that actually work)

[@TedwardDrives]

Same! It doesn't have a lot of torque and I just leaned on throttle a little bit. Definitely a surprise. For Daily driving id go 991.1 alllll day. If you just want a silly obnoxious sports car C7 GS

[@TDS981]

I agree a well specified S is a bargain in comparison.

[@RenoAK82]

Love my white boxster S....

[@richardking3288]

Would you change your M3 to a 981S after this drive?

[@TedwardDrives]

I don't think I would, but I would need to spend more time with it. Given how slippery and skiddish it felt under partial throttle, I felt like the car was snappier than I'd feel confident pushing hard on the street. To be fair it was greasy, wet, and on nearly bald tires lol.... I'm sure its a little beast on the track, but the road gives unforgiving changes and sometimes surprises that will ruin your day, car, or life...

[@carolyngaulin7822]

Tedward. Your so lucky to drive this Porsche. How do get people to let people to give you your keys 🔑 🔑🔑 my dad say school first next year going to University of Lowell ,

[@TedwardDrives]

Always happy in a Porsche! =)

[@inikkor61]

I had a 14 S that also gave me some scares. The 981 and maybe even the 718 are just snappy and I end up trading it very quick for a 991.1 P.S. I also had older Pzeros. Could that have been the issue?

[@TedwardDrives]

When they go they go fast (just ask david...)! I had Pzeros on my M5 for a bit...honestly terrible lol. I can't put it all on the tire because the road was very greasy and I was admittedly on the wear bars in the rear. Good lesson for those who want to be ham fisted and let their ego drive these cars. There are great stability systems in place, but they can absolutely still get away from you. I honestly wonder if I had stabbed the throttle, would the stability control have stepped in sooner? I felt like i was riding it just on the limits of where it wanted to catch me lol

[@netcrashYT]

It’s gotta be a lot due to worn tires... I have the opposite problem I can’t get it to step out! Unless with traction off and even then car grips too well... a Miata slides out more!

[@JNatella]

I love that road, but it's proximity to the staties makes me paranoid. I'm on the south shore btw, was in the black lotus in the last rally to the cape.

[@TedwardDrives]

It was a wet day out there for the lotus! Great cruise

[@JNatella]

@@TedwardDrives Especially on 3 year old R-Comps. Good time regardless

[@TedwardDrives]

Loved the shot of you on the bridge

[@JNatella]

@@TedwardDrives Car is still under construction, you won't recognize it next year, so I'll come up and say hi =)

[@TedwardDrives]

Cant wait!

[@arrek6773]

I have the 2013 981BS. The prices are high in Sweden. I payed 59k$. 18k miles. Sport chrono, pse, padm, pasm. It is a great car. They say it is a poor mans Porsche but is 59k$ for poor? LOL. It is only jealous people who comments shit like thay. Anyway at my workplace. I could have bought a M2 or M4 for less money but Porsche is a Porsche and it is a real proper sports car. Porsche is my dream car brand. Finally i bought my dreamcar. 😀

[@TedwardDrives]

Porsche sounds and Porsche quality are far beyond anything BMW makes today. You bought one of the best sports cars on the market.

[@arrek6773]

@@TedwardDrives Thanks, but try saying that to people who does not know what a proper sports car is. They only measure the horse power like it is their dxxick. By the way, I have the PDK and it is great. Sport design steering wheel is better looking too. Love my 981 BS.

[@TedwardDrives]

Sport design wheel is a MUST HAVE! I'll never forgive Porsche for the push pull shift buttons lol

[@irvineoc4804]

@@arrek6773 "people who does not know what a proper sports car is. They only measure the horse power like it is their dxxick" Super agree

[@exiges]

Coming from BMW and being sold on the dual-purpose-ability of cars, sounds like look for an S with the LSD and do the cosmetic stuff when you're bored and save up a few pennies.

[@TedwardDrives]

S with LSD is really appealing. I love the sound of the sports exhaust, but I'd sacrifice if it meant having the LSD. Definitely a slower car than the m3 in a straight line, but it makes up for it in its quality as a driver's car

[@thedudeabides1443]

When you spec an S with what the GTS has standard.... you have the price of a GTS. So why not get the GTS?

[@ryanpatterson9526]

3 years later and the used prices are still the same. :-(

[@williammorris3334]

Getting a 981 in a few months and no IMO the GTS is not worth it. You can now purchase a well optioned S Model with 40-50,000 miles for 45-49,000. I’m putting headers and titanium exhaust on mine anyway so sport exhaust has no value for me. Alcantara os hard to maintain so don’t want that either. These with a tune will take the S beyond the GTS power output and be more responsive from what I’ve researched and I’ve researched A LOT. I’m waiting to find one with PDK, sports chrono, sport steering wheel, and these almost always have the premium package with heated seats, Nav and Sat radio as well. PASM, premium stereo and extended leather would be nice but wouldn’t really improve the driving experience much if at all. I’ll leave it in sport mode all the time anyway. For me othe S is all I need and this is one of the best all around sports cars ever made, is perfectly practical as a daily AND gets close to 30mpg highway, so what more could you want?

[@tomangle1603]

Ever find one? I have a 2015 S with pretty much those specs, and it’s awesome. Done a few upgrades, might put a tune on it next.

[@eddiesegal5541]

I warned you before you left ... it’s slick and greasy AF

[@jamesmccray6488]

1600 !!!!! dollars for lights Please that car looks good as it is, save your money for a set of wheels.

[@MatthewGaither]

So I take it you guys have never experienced a Lotus Evora 400? Because none of what you said about Lotus applies to that one! That being said, the Boxster is great (coming from a 987 myself) but I would own an Evora 400 in a heartbeat!

[@TedwardDrives]

I would absolutely love to drive one but it is definitely competing on a newer level (718 boxster/cayman). I still think its a massive shame that we dont get the current Exige/Elise here =(

[@MatthewGaither]

Totally agree regarding the Exige/Elise but you owe it to yourself (and your channel) to drive the Evora 400. The quality of your content is excellent and I enjoy watching so keep up the good work!

[@TedwardDrives]

greatly appreciated! If I can find one I will do everything in my power to drive it. Honestly haven't even seen a 400 yet

[@Rick1984FL]

@@TedwardDrives you got to drive a 400 AND a GT ;) lol

[@Tahvyy]

I think the owner looks better than the Boxster 🤔😋. lol

[@wickedvq491]

Most people wouldn't appreciate the handling of there cars. Only thing these dudes know how to do these days is 123 GO!!!

[@gatoraddison]

It’s not always HP.

[@saucyp123]

Surprise mattress van, always ruining the fun >:(

[@JBOsurf]

GTS isn't worth the difference. But it's worth stretching to a GT4!

[@Baerchenization]

That is 911 money. Also, there is no GT4 Boxster.

[@netcrashYT]

Baerchenization now there is... the spyder, even in 981 era it was close but in 982/718 it’s now equivalent

[@Mark-rt6fy]

@@Baerchenizationspyder has gt4 engine

[@Baerchenization]

@@Mark-rt6fy A Spyder is not a Boxster. You can daily a Boxster, you cannot daily a Spyder.

[@Mark-rt6fy]

@@Baerchenization It's all a matter of pov. One of my car guy friends daily a 718 spyder, and tracks his 992 gt3, road trips in a defender 130, I wouldn't complain if I were him

[@dylandavies9637]

You seem to be driving a very low spec S!! Shame.

[@TedwardDrives]

It’s never a shame when someone offers the keys to their Porsche

[@dylandavies9637]

@@TedwardDrives To be fair, that's true but a higher specced S would be a better comparison. There was a lot of "no, doesn't have that' in the video. But I guess that could be the point? The GTS is Porsche ticking the options list on your behalf.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

I have a gts specced boxster S, bar the LSD. The sports exhaust, paddle steering wheel if pdk, heated seats and climate control as the preferred options. I would want the 20 inch wheels, I have the techno wheels. The pasm is also good I don't think the difference is huge. Sport chrono seems pointless on the road. Other options are nice to have, like leather and sports seats. A stripper S is fine with PSE for the right price.

[@SloanZurnToto]

The GTS is no way worth getting over the S.

[@thedudeabides1443]

If you spec an S with all the sweet GTS options (same year cars), it’s not $20 less, maybe $5-8k. Also, the GTS definitely has a more aggressive look especially the front fascia. For those reasons I’d take a GTS over an S.

[@copperry4381]

@@thedudeabides1443 gts haters dont have gts cars lol

[@Jay-xr3sb]

​@@thedudeabides1443if specced new. The gts costs about £45k used in the uk, my fully loaded S cost me £31k this year. Not worth the premium for a body kit you can buy for 2-3k